faithmd

Yes it does! I think I'll try it with just juice (still on liquids) for now. Dang, that sounds Excellent!!!

No, the new AP band is just the newest version of the Allergan band, here's a link to Dr. Curry's post about it on his forum: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - New AP band And here's a link to the forum with a pic of it: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - pic of new AP band I am feeling a bit better, taking my Lortab elixir and my Reglan faithfully. Some folks just bruise dramatically, everyone is different. Did you receive and shots for bloodthinning pre-op? That may have had something to do with it. I also had to use an icepack on my abdomen for 24hrs post-op. I haven't taken my bandages off yet so I'm not sure how bruised I am, but we'll see in the morning. I'll take pics and post them in the scar stages thread.

Call your doctor and see if they have a number of someone where you are that can help. Go to obesityhelp.com and look up MD's in the state you are now in, you may find someone. If all else fails and you can't even keep liquids down, you may wish to go to the ER.

Using your thumb and first finger, pinch your earlobe as hard as you can stand it, hold it until they go away. It usually works.

Except if you buy the children's version, you will be paying a lot more for less volume. I bought adult Tylenol liquid and also Children's Motrin liquid (they don't make an adult liquid ibuprofen OTC yet that I've found). Avoid the Baby or Infant's drops, that is waaaayyy too expensive per dose. My surgeon is okay with later down the line using a Chewable Baby aspirin per day for the heart health effects, but he said we will discuss it later, certainly not soon post-op.

Welcome Lainy!!!

I get tired of seeing people write about being banned. It's BANDED! Not banned. I think we should place Dr. Phil and Oprah in the same large box, nail it shut and dangle it over a deep spot in the ocean supported only by dental floss.

Oh goodness, don't let one person get to you. I know how very frustrating it is to get your insurance to pay for this. I fought mine a bit, but nothing like some folks have had to do. I know that there is at least one person here who didn't want to deal with the fight so she just self-paid. I was too bull-headed, I figure that I pay for insurace, so they should pay out for me. I was lucky I didn't have an exclusion in my policy, I actually switched companies twice to get it paid for. Our frustrations with insurance are probably as painful to us as someone who HAS to self-pay and the frustrations they have trying to find financing. Don't feel bad, okay? We're here to support one another, through it all. I know I responded that I had a 12 month diet requirement, I wasn't getting down on you, I was just offering some insight that others have other struggles, too. I hope you get it all straightened out soon!

I don't know that there is an average. We are supposed to lose 1-2 lbs per week, so following that guideline I'd say you are right on target! Congrats on your loss, it's wonderful!

Bionic, here's the link to the thread you want: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/december-bandsters-25506/

I use fitday.com mydailyplate is also good. I didn't care for the format of sparkpeople.com, it was too structured into breakfast, lunch and dinner. I work the night shift and thus I have no set B,L or D.

You can do this! I was bunked in a room with another bandster. Ask when you are in the pre-op area, and have your wife ask while she is waiting to have you placed in a room with another bariatric patient. It made life a lot easier. My roommate was wonderful, neither of us were very talkative, but we did chat a little to help us get though the pain. I have to say it was a good experience.

You CAN do it! And remember, it isn't only two weeks pre-op, but the post-op is usually liquids as well. But you should hopefully not feel as hungry in the immediate post-op period. I don't. I'm struggling to get in my Protein and liquids. My surgeon's office has a contract with a company called BetterMD.net and they have kits they sell for pre and post-op. It cost me $249 including S/H for four weeks of food. IT requires no though at all, they give you a list of what has been packed for you, and then a sheet with check boxes for each day to check off what you've had. I don't have to think about which shake ot have or if broth from a certain soup is okay. I just look at my sheet and pick up a packet of what I am to drink next. Might want to consider it.

mommy, I would guess that at least 40% of folks here went to Mexico. Use the search function at the top of the page, click on advanced search, then pull down the menu to say Titles only, type Mexico in the box above that pull down menu, you'll find loads of threads about going to Mexico. The one I have read over and over to stay away from is Betencourt. Good Luck!

I had surgery Thursday and had the band placed, got a small AP, woohoo! I marked al over my belly where my braline goes, and my two waistlines (scrubs and then jeans) and wrote AP only on my stomach. The surgeon avoided all he could. I'm sore and tired and the staples pull a lot when I go to stand up or lie down. I have no idea what I weighed pre or post-op because no one weighed me. My scale here does not go that high. So I'll wait and weigh a week out at my PCP's office. I am now an official bandster!

Another Red Green fan! Woohoo! I was banded Thursday and was sooooooo happy that my surgeon's group puts people in the hospital overnight. I hated the feeling o fthe Morphine PCA, but I was in sooooo much pain, I needed it. I'm home now, loving my Gas-x strips and hating the taste of the Lortab Elixir. My surgeon really doesn't want anyone throwing up, I've got Reglan, Prevacid, Compazine suppositories and scopolamine patches to help control any nausea. WOW! I was my surgeon's practice's first AP. I asked for and received the box it came in. I have the small AP. I also drew all over my tummy hwere my bras sits, and where the waistband sits, so they didn't put the port there. It's right above my belly button. And it's (thankfully) numb right now. Okay, I can't sit much longer, take care!

I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, so if I drink anything other than unsweetened caffeine free tea or Water, I will drink Gatorade or Powerade or something else lower in sugar than soda, but in moderation. I understand that drinks with calories are empty calories, but my thought is that I am alredy going to be limiting myself with respect to caloric intake, so I'm going to enjoy what I do take in. I do log every bite and every sip of anything I ingest so I take credit for all the calories of fluids as well as foods. Along those lines, I will not use fat free cheese or sour cream, etc. I'm eating alot less of it, I'm going to eat something that tastes good, darn it! Yes, I had to stop my birth control pill before surgery, and for six weeks post-op. I argued it, but the internal medicine guy actually whipped out some recent and excellent studies about hormones (and the pill I take is NOT one of the low dose ones) and blood clots following surgery. I know it happens, and though the stats are low, I am creeping up in age and have been on them for about 20 years. I don't have sex anyway, the only thing that it will screw with are my periods (that was NOT fun) and my emotions. I figure I can do anything if I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm already counting down my six weeks from tomorrow to start them back up. Good luck!

Isn't A2 the best? But at least you guys got out before Pfizer closed the A2 facility. (In the process now.) To the OP, there is a great thread around here for lower BMI bandsters, check it out.

Thank you, MM!

John, welcome to bandland and LBT. Spend some time perusing this board, you will find that yours is a frequent issue. MANY people have this difficulty, and it's a toughie. I'm sure I'll be where you are in a few weeks. Unfortunately there isn't a great response. Many folks have found that increasing the Protein intake (either with shakes or supplementing puddings with protein powders, eating soft proteins) will help curb some of that hunger. Can I ask if you are using a lot of artificial sweetenters (most people do, Splenda, nutrasweet, etc)? There is a tendency for those to make you ravenous as well. Fills don't happen before a minimum of 4 weeks post-op and lots of time 6 weeks post-op because to fill too early does not allow for full scar formation to happen and that is what keeps the band in place on the back of the stomach. Filling too early increases the chances that the band may slip. I also should warn you that many people say they don't feel restriction with the first fill, it usually takes two, three or more fills to hit that "sweet spot" and that's going to be tough for me, I know. Also, sometimes it can take a week or two for a fill to "kick in." I've read some reports that folks had a fill ten days earlier and then BAM! out of nowhere, they got restriction. It is a slow process, finding out how you body will respond. Hang in there! We're here to go through it with you!

I hope that I don't start having problems with my taste changing. I hadn't thought about that! Not too forward for me. And I'll echo your thoughts, I can't remember the last time I received...

Here's a link to a UHC thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/uhc-choice-plus-wont-cover-28025/

Pam, this thread will be very helpful to you: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/lower-bmi-bandsters-26697/

There's a few UHC threads around here, use the search function and search for either united health care, or UHC as a thread title. You may find more info about other struggles. I wish you all the luck in the world!

Christine, I hear ya. I will definitely miss fresh bread. I haven't had white bread in months (I started eating only whole grains/fiber enriched breads in February) and I had a container of those dipping spices in the cabinet... Mmmmmm I hope I'm a good bandster. I've tried pertty hard to get accustomed to eating slowly, tiny bites, etc. It's the portions that will be tough. But I can do anything (I tell myself) to be smaller. I'd be happy to hit 199 at some point. I don't have to get near 167, that's just what MetLife says I should be.