Pammie Sue

I agree with Elcee. Banding will teach you to eat healthy..it will become a way of life! I kwow someone how had several complications after the by-pass surgery and had to have a couple more operations to fix things.

I agree with you! I have lost 56 lbs since my surgery 6/27/11! So glad I made the Lap Band decision.

Hi, I was the same way! Wanted to eat, eat, eat... But I had to do the Adkins diet for 4 weeks prior to my surgery and I lost about 10 lbs and that GOT ME EXCITED!!! Maybe you could try doing that because my doctor wanted me to try and lose weight before the surgery. At least on the Adkins diet, you don't get that hungry! Hang in there, it is all worth the work!!

Stay calm, this will be the best decision you ever made! Just follow your doctor and nutritionist's directions. They know what they are talking about. Think about how great you will feel! I had surgery 6/27 and I am already off my BP and cholesterol medicines! I was very nervous too, but I went in for surery at around 5 am and was home by 3 pm! If you have any questions, please contact me!

Very Informative! Thanks!!

I started my preop stuff June 2010. By the time I finished my final stuff, it was submitted last Novermber and of course BCBS Federal did not get back to me unitl Jan 2011 -- new year, new rules..I didn't think it was fair, but I had come to far! So I had to do 6 months of doctor suprvised diet and nutritional counseling. Finally I was approved early June and had surgery 6/27/11!

Hang in there, everyone's loss is different I have noticed. If you make sure you get 15-20grams of Protein per meal, it will help you stay full for 4 hours. This helps me! I also work, so I don't have much time to snack between meals, but I find I don't get hungry between meals. I use the unjury Nutritional shake mix. Also, try the Greek Yogurt (with fruit). Lots of protein, the taste is OK (not as good as Yoplait Cheesecake..LOL) but it will help keep u full. Also, drink as much Water inbetween meals as you can..I also like Diet Peach Snapple. I also like Adkins Nutritonal Drink. 15g of Protein and taste good. Also, I excercise 4-5x a week including lifting weights. This will really also make you feel good and you will see changes quickly. Oh, I had my first fill at my 4 weeks post appointment. Take care, and think how thin you will be by next summer...that will be awesome!!! We have to think long term.... Pam

You are right, Pre Op diets are all so different! I had to do the Adkins Diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery. This was to lose help lose about 10% of my weight and to help shrink the spleen. Evidently it is easier to to do the surgery if the spleen is smaller (since it is close by). My post diet for 4 weeks (liquids) sounds very similiar to what you mentioned in your post! I did NOT like the taste of the Muscle Milk. I use the Unjury Mix (Choc and Strawberry) for protein. I also like the Adkins Nutritional Drinks (they taste the best to me, but are only 15 g protein per serving, the Unjury Shake is 20 g of protein per serving. Getting 45-50 grams of protein per day will help make you feel full!!!! It is sometimes hard to do...

I had lapband surgery 6/27/11 and have lost 46 lbs. I am also working out 4-5 times a week. I have received all my doctor and hosptial bills already. I have BCBS Federal which pays 85%. After the surgery I owed the following: My surgeon = $200 Surgery (includes hospital, drugs, anethesiolgist, etc) = $2700 I know my the hospital bill alone was around $27,000. Hopes this helps. I am so glad I made the decision! I am off my Blood Pressure and Cholesterol medicine already!

Congrats! My doctor is Dr. Nazari too! I thought he was great! I had my surgery 6/27!

Congratulations! You look great!!!

Hi Kristen, My name is Pam and I am from North Carolina. I know how you feel, I was also nervous and excited. I had my surgery June 27 and I am doing GREAT. My surgery started about 7:30am and I was home by 3 pm. The actual surgery was less than an hour. You have to be completely awake before the hospital will let you go home. I had took a week off because I had plenty of vacation and it was also around July 4th dring that period. Many people go back to work in 3-5 days. I had to do the Adkins diet 2 weeks prior to surgery to help shrink the liver and I guess loss a little weight. You will loose around 10lbs and that gets u really excited! If you have any more questions, please contact me. I have lost over 40 lbs and I feel great! oint. I have a lot of bad habits to break and I hope that the band will help me take control and make big changes for my health. I am looking forward to looking through the posts and hearing your stories. How long can I expect to be off work? I am a kindergarten teacher and not sure if I will feel good enough after a week to be on my feet and run around like crazy with all the kiddos. Any pre-surgery advice would be greatly apprieciated.

I know how u feel. I started my preop testing last June 2010.. The paperwork was finally submitted to BCBS Federal in December, but BCBS did not reply back until Jan 2011..which by then they had changed the rules..I also had to do 6 more months of supervised diet and excercise by my doctor..Disappointing!! I finally had my surgery on June 27. Hang in there, it will happen, just not the way we want it to! It is worth every thing I went through! If you have any questions, please contact me!

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I had the same fear of being put to sleep. I hate it and have had once before! But my LapBand Surgery only lasted 45 minutes and I prayed before they put me to sleep (and the night before) and the next thing I knew I was awake! I was home by 2pm the same day of surgery! God will be with you!

I had my first fill this week (I was banded 7/27/11. It made a BIG difference!!!

I was banded 6/27/11 and have lost 35 lbs (including pre-op Adkins diet). My BP is down to 120/80 and I feel great! I went into surgery around 8 am and was home by 3pm. I am working out and feel GREAT... Go For It!!!

I was banded on 7/27/11 and have lost 36 lbs. I was also nervous, anxious, excited...everything went great for me and I know it will for you too. Keep a positive attitude! I was home by about 2pm the same day.

HI - I TOOK A WEEK OFF FOR THE LAP BAND AND IT WAS ENOUGH TIME FOR ME. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAD SURGERY ON A WEDNESDAY AND WENT BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY...EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT BUT THE NORM IS ABOUT A WEEK... I KEPT MINE QUIET TOO...

I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY MOTHER IN LAW HAD HER SURGERY ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO AND SHE WAS IN HER MID SIXTYS. HER DR WOULD ONLY PERFORM BOTH THE LAP BAND AND THE BY-PASS AT THE SAME TIME! I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT HER..SHE IS DOING GREAT..WEARING A SIZE 10 AND EATS VERY VERY HEALTHY.

DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF...WE ALL SLIP AND FALL OCCASIONALLY..JUST GET BACK UP AND DON'T LOOK BACK..I AM ONLY AT MY 2 WEEK POST SURGERY..BUT I KNOW WE ALL WILL SLIP AT TIMES.. YOUR POSTING HAS MOTIVATED ME TO WORK HARDER NOT TO SLIP.. REMEMBER " YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH THE LORD OUR GOD"!

I was banded on 6/27/11 and I have giving up on the crushing...now I just chew them up before i swallow...it's not to bad actually!

My cardiologist wasn't too happy about my getting lap band either. He kept saying you don't need this. In the end I got my clearance from him and then I got the band. FYI-My blood pressure was anywhere from 140 over 84 to 150 over 92 and this is with taking two BP pills daily. Now after losing just 25 pounds my BP is running the 120's over 70's!!!!! Still taking the two pills but Oh what a difference! I hope to drop at least one pill soon. So what the heck did my cardiologist know???? I had the same problem w/ my BP and now my BP is also running 120/80!

[Went to cardiologist appt for clearance, and could not believe how she was. Asking me how much the surgery is? Asking me do I know anyone that had it done, cause you have trouble swallowing & regurgitating. I don't know if she was just curios or just don't like the idea. But all I know is that she made me uncomfortable. The worst part is that I have to go back to see her again:( I had my surgery on 6/27 and I have not had any problems w/ swallowing or regurgitating. I can only drink about 3-4 oz at a time...but I feel full!!!

Hi Darlene, I was banded on 6/27/11 (I think the same day as you?). I have not taken any pain meds in about 3 days..not having trouble except that I get full fast -- it is hard to get 60-80 grams of protein shakes..I usually can only manage 50 grams per day. Keep in touch, it will be interesting to compare how we do! --Pam