faithmd

I can't really help with the food questions post-op because I haven't been banded yet. I know the beer may be an issue because you aren't supposed to have carbonation, the theory is that it stretches your pouch. You could stir it until almost all the fizziness is gone. For the pictures, and for a thread just for men, check out the General Lap-Band Discussion forum. And good luck!!!!

One that comes to mind was a recent run-in with an ex live-in boyfriend. I was parking at a supermarket and here comes Erik. I hadn't laid eyes on him in ages, and he had grown in weight exponentially since the day I threw him out about 9 years ago (he was lazy as hell and I wasn't taking it anymore). Anyway, he didn't even say hello, the very first thing out of his mouth was "Hey, I've been on Nutri-System since June and I've lost XX (don't remember 40 or 60) pounds" I was stunned. My reply? "Well hello to you, too. I'm glad Nutri-System is working for you, I never liked the stuff." And I walked away. Didn't hurt me, just pissed me off.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!! You can use the search funtion and put in ticker, there are a bunch of threads about this. Here's a link to a "sticky" thread (one that stays at the top of whatever forum it is on) about this. I'm still trying to figure out how to get my weight to change. I regularly dump my Cookies, so I end up making a new one. Here's the thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html Wishing you a speedy recovery!!!

I don't believe there is a 10cc band made by Allergan. The VG band is 11cc.

TexasP, do you mean to write 10cc or 10cm? BIG difference. The 10cm band is (according to Allergan) the most popular size being used. It holds 4cc's.

WOOHOO Wheetsin!!! Goodonya, woman!!!! On the MD's office paperwork, and at the psych consult they asked what is my goal weight. I listed a few pounds over the Met Life goal in my answer. My real response is that I want to weigh less than my husband. Reading your post I realize that with lots of hard work, it *is* possible. Thank you very much for posting that. It made my day!

I also live in Michigan, which insurance company is this? If your BMI is less than 40, most insurances will not cover it without two comorbidities. My surgeon considers having an immediate family member (father/mother/brother/sister) who has diabetes or heart disease as a comorbidity. So if you have family members who have these, there are your two comorbidities. Might be the way my surgeon writes it up. (I keep saying my surgeon, I haven't had my pre-op consult yet, but I did attend that seminar and he's the one my insurance will pay for. so I guess by default he will be my surgeon :eek: )

And HelenC, thank you so much for posting your experience, it has convinced me not to cheat after I get banded. I hate pain!

Btown, if it is stuck, I have read in other threads here to sip pineapple juice or get to a health food store and buy papaya enzyme as either of these agents help to dissolve foods if they are stuck in the stoma.

Nope, you didn't dicourage me one iota. You helped me plan for a possible painful consequence and for that I thank you immensely! I also married a fairly normal-sized man. I met him about 70lbs smaller than I am now. I honestly don't think he has noticed my gain. I don't think I did, either. Other than the scale creeping when I would get on one. When you are as big as I am, 50lbs doesn't really make a big difference in how I look (other than maybe my face). We bought a house in the north central part of Michigan a few years ago and I haven't been able to fully enjoy it yet. Hopefully I will be able to start enjoying it. I look forward to swimming upstream in the river for exercise. And tubing down the river without being deathly scared that I can't get back in if I dump it. I want to be able to walk around our private road without getting too tired. Many outdoorsy things to look forward to! :eek:

I like the zero cal flavored waters, too.

OMG Synical!! OWWWWWIIIIEEEEE!!!! How are you feeling now? I hope things are getting better. You just made me think of another question to ask my doc, does he give ABX post-op? If so, then I'll be buying some pro-biotic stuff (damn the pre-op diet) and getting my scrip for Diflucan.

Congrats on getting a band!! Hope you continue to have an easy recovery. Word of caution if the surgeon's office didn't tell you about it yet, but after you are able to take food in, you'll want to avoid the juices because of the high calories.

It really does make a huge difference in healing. I was in a trauma and burn unit for a number of years and there was a big difference overall in the healing times of smokers versus non-smokers. Smokers lost grafts faster and had wounds dehisce more often (not always, but generally) than non-smokers. We would give nicotine Patches but that also slows healing, though not as much as smoking itself. But it really is a discussion to be had with your surgeon. As Carlene said some do test, but as HelenC said, her doc was okay with it. Just as some docs require a pre-op diet and others do not. It is different depending on who you go to see. But ideally, stopping is a good idea. Though I haven't really been in support of someone stopping smoking when they are under another stress in their life, it just adds to that stress. (Unless it is a burn patient, that is.)

Another thought, double check the laws in your state, I know here in Michigan surrogacy is not allowed. No person in Michigan can be a surrogate, nor can a Michigan person hire a surrogate.

I have to echo all those above me, for all of the reasons listed. It is just a bad, bad, bad idea. I do understand that you really want a baby. I have a question for you, have you and DH considered adopting? Perhaps adopting from another country? This might be a slightly harsh question, and I do not mean it to be, it is one that a very dear friend asked his wife when they were having fertility issues (and it has stuck with me for years): What is the most important thing, having a baby, or being a parent? They went to Vladivostok and adopted.

EBay is a great suggestion. I have bought replacement phones on ebay myself because I didn't want to get hosed on my plan when my phone died.

Denise, first of all, congratulations on getting your band (I am looking forward to joining you as a bandster)! I echo what rdbiles said. There are sooooo many threads on here about this very topic. Use the search function and look for shoulder or shoulder pain. It seems the surgeons don't do a very good job sometimes of warning their patients about this pain... If you search and read some of the other threads you may get some other ideas about what to do for the pain. I know what I have read has suggested the Gas-X strips for easing the gas some and walking, walking, walking to get it moving and out. Also as rdbiles said, put heat on it. Many have said they lived with a heating pad on their shoulder for a few days. I know that is on my list of things to purchase before surgery. Target and Walmart have a moist/dry king sized pad for a pretty decent price (less than $25). Good luck!

Good luck, Hazelbunny! Best wishes for a quick recovery!

Here's a link to the thread that explains it all: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html

Hi Margi, look in the upper right hand corner of any page, it will say welcome, Margi Private Messages Click on the blue "private messages" and you can read the one I wrote you, then click reply and type a reply, then you click "submit reply" at the bottom of the message. I did not receive one from you yet. I'll send you another. I was in the class on the 21st of Feb. Yes, they scheduled appointments to see Dr. Obeid that evening when you turned in your paperwork. I was the large redhead sitting in the front on the left side if you were facing Dr. Obeid as he spoke. I kept asking him questions and he tried to gently take me to task about his son being a med student and needing to see things when I asked if Hurley uses residents to do surgery. That's not what I meant and I told him I didn't mind people watching, I just didn't want a resident PLACING my band. :confused: I have to get to be and take a nap (I work nights) I'll try to sign on from work.

Welcome!!!

Go to this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html It will describe it to you, welcome!!

LOL! But I have a .45 and my "other" husband has no clue where I keep it :heh: I like the fun this thread hs turned into. Much better than the alternative :clap2:

So I called the therapists office this morning to find out why I have to retake and to schedule it. I was told that my first MMPI-2 came out as "invalid." Well, I'm off to be "invalid" a second time. Perhaps this time around I will bug the heck out of the therapists in the office asking what I should put for the goofier questions.