faithmd

A one day pre-op diet is much different from the one and two week pre-op diets I think most folks are talking about. I agree that it is probably a really good idea to have low residue in your intestines as you are correct, things do get slowed down with narcotics (some with anesthesia, but not as big of an issue as the narcotics are). The data absolutely speaks to the fact that the ideal pre-op diet for defatting the liver should be SIX weeks. Studies have been done and research proves that the longer the diet, the better. Six weeks was ideal, four weeks still provided some changes. I think the reality is that not many people could follow a very restrictive six week pre-op diet. Not goning to happen, and four weeks is still a long time. I have not been able to find a single study that speaks to two weeks or one week diets. But perhaps I just have been missing them. Because there must be some reason for lots of docs to pick those numbers. Unless it's like much of history, the story is told by one and spread to the next and the next and the next and all of a sudden it's accepted as gospel. I think perhaps some doc somewhere started teaching the two week diet and it spread. But since that's what my doc orders, whether or not I agree with it (I don't because again, the data just isn't there) I AM going to do it. The surgical group I'm seeing has one of the best mortality rates in the country and hasn't had a slip yet. No matter the reason, I also cannot argue with those stats.

I have got to wonder about these dieticians... Are they directing folks based on beliefs held about bypass and not the band? (like the OP's dietician said she had to eat every two hours, and like cyndi's said about not ever eating butter/fats?) Or are they working *for* a surgoen who also does bypass and are trying to scare these patients into getting bypass? In any case, they are very, very sadly misinformed.

I was starting to think I was the only one.

No, Mexican banding is self-pay.

You'll need to call your insurance companies (both of them). It is possible, some insurances do pay for TT's based solely on medical problems (infections and rashes in the folds, etc). But I do not know of any insurance companies that pay for procedures for cosmetic purposes and that is what it would be considered after weight loss. Purely cosmetic. Also, please note that they will likely only pay for a tummy tuck, not for an abdominoplasty or abdominal lift (tightening the muscles), that is cosmetic in nature.

Thanks, HelenC! BTW, does that photo indicate how long the patient was on Myocel?

congrats on getting through it! Now your on your way to being a loser!

check out these threads: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/easyband-t31658.html?t=31658 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/easyband-t31659.html?t=31659

I agree it would be nice if they came back home, but folks, the war will come with them. Are you hoping to see a war on our fields and in our streets and cities? Us being over there trying to get the situation stabilized (which is sadly become fruitless because I fully believe our enemy was not only underestimated, but largely unknown) is largely the reason we haven't had another 9/11. That and our improved intelligence. Granted, our intelligence was wrong about WMD that took us in in the first place, but that's not Bush's fault, he acted on what he believed and was told to him was credible information. But our intelligence has kept us relatively safe since then. But there will be the day when that isn't enough. And if our men and women aren't fighting there, they'll be fighting here. The last time a war was fought on our soil was too long ago for anyone alive to remember. I think that complacency is part of the problem. These people cannot be rationed with, you do not sit down at a table and "discuss" being nice to one another and living happily together. Anyone remember the Nobel Peace Prize Carter won for bringing a peace accord to the Middle East? How long did that last? Do you think that those who chop off the heads of civilians and broadcast it on the internet can be reasoned with? Do you think that if we leave this will all just stop? How can we get it to stop without military force? I wish we could, I really do. Maybe we could put Prozac in the Water supply when we rebuild it. (that was a joke)

Uh huh, and the fundamentalists are sitting and waiting very patiently until we give them the date. Guaranteed the dayafter the last troops go, the Jihad will start because no one will be there to stop it. But ya know what? Maybe that's not such a bad idea... It is sad we are losing men, but guess what, it's WAR. Wait, it's not "war" it's a conflict because Bush (this I have a big beef with) declared the war over and us the victors when it was far from over and we are so clearly not the winners. In any case, (and NOT to say this next statement makes it better, because a life lost is a tragic thing) this is a conflict and in armed conflicts, people die. I think our troops are doing as good of a job as possible and are not deserving of this tactic. Consider this: Nearly 4,500 Allied and American troops lost their lives in mere hours on 6 June 1944 alone. There have been 3,503 coalition deaths in the war in Iraq as of March 29, 2007, according to a CNN count. WWII, which was from 1939 (but the US wasn't in it immediately) to 1945, resulted in a loss of 407,000 US troops. It is certainly not anything like what our parents and grandparents lived through and they supported those troops fiercely. They gave money and time and their scrap metal and drove on bald tires so the rubber was there for use in making weapons and tanks. They welcomed them home with a heroes welcome and thanked them for the job they did. I am saddened to see the lack of support this country has for our troops. And BTW, the President is the Commander in Chief (do I think Bush is a good one? No, but that's besides the point), he controls the Armed Forces along with men and women who have spent their lives learning about strategy and how to operate and lead in times of conflict. How many of our Reps and Senators can say they are career military? And yet they are trying to run a war? It is not their job, it is not what they know or are trained to do. And that's all I have to say about that...

I am so glad you are feeling better! Congrats on the weight loss!

You need to call and ask then to look you and your specific policy number up and make sure yours is covered. Most insurance companies have case managers that deal with things like bariatric surgery, ask the customer service person who answers at your company if they do. If so, ask to be connected to one of them. They are the true experts at this. That is all they do is complex cases. I have been working with my case manager for almost a year now and she's been a HUGE help. She sent me a copy of the requirements and has talked to me several times and given me tips on what to do. She calls and checks in on me to see where I am at in my process, too. I urge you to see if your insurance has a person like this and then always talk to that person. I read lots of stories where every time you call the insurance company, you get a different story. That's got to be sooo frustrating!

You'll also want to to search Spiegel as well as Speigel. here's a partial list for him: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/am-really-ticked-t18556.html?t=18556 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/doctor-speigel-houston-t20572.html?t=20572 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/dr-felix-speigel-t445.html?t=445 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/looking-dr-spiegel-t28892.html?t=28892 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/which-dr-houston-t25030.html?t=25030 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/dr-felix-spiegel-t13526.html?t=13526

Wait!! There are many threads already about these two doctors. Use the search function and put in one of their names, you should find good info. Go to the blue tool bar about 1/3 way down from the top of the page, click on "Search" then click "Advanced Search" and then on the left type in Spivak (or type in Spiegel, or whatever you want to know about) and use the pull-down box to select "thread titles" This way you will only get results of thread that are specifically about that topic. Here's a partial list of threads related to Spivak: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/spivak-and-spiegal-t23486.html?t=23486 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/question-dr-spivak-t31192.html?t=31192 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/hi-im-new-t30334.html?t=30334 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/dr-spivak-2007-t29128.html?t=29128 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/spivak-port-placement-t23902.html?t=23902 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/which-dr-houston-t25030.html?t=25030 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/anybody-go-dr-t16728.html?t=16728 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/dr-spivak-houston-t14780.html?t=14780 You may also want to look in the Texas forum. another place to look is on obesityhelp.com

baybee, it really stinks! Sadly, many many employers have that exclusion in their policies. It makes it cheaper for the employer's insurance costs. Which makes no sense to me that insurance would want to pay for cholesterol meds, CPAP, heart attack, insulin, etc..., when WLS is much much more cost effective. But, alas...for an employer to pay for the rider for weight loss surgery is like adding leather seats to a new car, it's an extra expense. Companies don't like to spend money. But it seems to me that heavier people are going to have more sick days and cost more in the long run, it would make sense to buy the rider... Never ever believe what anyone says about your insurance coverage unless it is the insurance company saying it, and then get it mailed to you so you have it in writing. Good luck, and I hope you can find another way.

Ahhhh, the ACLU... I have to step away for a moment. I believe they can be a wonderful organization, but more and more they are becoming...no, I gotta walk away...

I do have to agree with at least trying to eat like a bandster now. Noooo, not the portion sizes (because without the band you WILL feel starved), but just making modifications to your current diet so that when you get banded, it won't be as much of a change. I don't have a surgery date yet, but I've started eating with toddler utensils to get the smaller bites (and I really do feel fuller, faster) and the fact that it then takes me longer to eat because of it has helped me feel fuller with somewhat less food than I used to eat. I avoid all carbonation, I've given up caffeine. I know Jachut doesn't subscribe to this, and that's fine, she's doing AWESOME, but I eat my Protein first, then my veggies, then if I have room I eat my fruit/complex carbs. I have always only been a one thing at a time eater. I never start on another item on my plate until one item is finished. It's my quirk, but now I just make sure to start with the protein. I have given up all simple carbs and refined sugars and enriched flours. And I no longer crave carbs! It's AMAZING! (I also gave up most artificial sweeteners and I think that helped break the carb craving cycle.) I do eat fruits and whole grains and steel cut oats and Kashi, etc. I am NOT low-carb, but I'm trying to choose better carbs, ones that will fuel my body for longer periods. I don't drink with my meals, and I chew, chew, chew (that's the toughest). I have tried out various baby foods for the mushy stage and I've tried out different protein shake/drinks to see which ones I like and which ones I don't. But if I eat well and correctly, like I've seen Jachut say, you can get by without the shakes. Most things can go in a blender, no need to relegate yourself to only shakes and puddings and cottage cheese for weeks. I have lost 23# without "dieting" at all, I'm just making better choices in my foods, and I log EVERYTHING I eat on fitday.com I'm hoping all that I'm doing will make it easier to handle the changes in my life post-op.

I don't see the point of assault rifles being used for hunting, but they are SOOOOOO awesome to target practice with!!! If you want to take my guns, you will have to pry them from my cold, dead, rigored fingers. And even them, I might fight you for them.

It is very common for peope to react to staples, the skin gets red and can be quite itchy. The concern is if you have any drainage from the wound that looks purulent (yellow/green/creamy), if you are running a fever, or if the wound is hot to the touch and inflamed . Did the doctor tell you to put antibiotic cream on them? Usually they are best left alone if they are healing well. Covering them in Neosporin and bandages just makes a "soup" out of the bad stuff. But if s/he directed you to do that, then I'm sure it's fine. Though staples are not my favorite, the surgeon I consulted with this week described to me the surgical technique for skin closure and why staples are preferable to other methods. The center I'm going to has had only one infection, and that was a mild one at the port site that cleared with oral antibiotics. I'm going to have to trust him. But I still dont' want staples...

FYI, Sweet oil is olive oil. Makes life easier to get it out of your kitchen cabinet than going to the drug store. A gallon? Wow, that seems like a lot, lot, lot. Half a gallon I can see (64 oz).

So does Sanjaya...lol I have never watched Idol, ever...but I have seen enough clips of Sanjaya to determine two things: 1) he's not a he, he's a she! 2) s/he sucks but is still there because s/he is so controversially bad. Back to the topic: I got some agave sweetener, it's QUITE good!

Here's the link to the obesityhelp.com webpage that has patient reviews of Dr. Krause: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Kevin+Krause+gkl.html

12 months. 12 long months. I am on month #13 now. MCare also has a requirement of a 5% loss of your excess weight suring your MD supervise diet. They use the first time you saw your MD about weight loss and started your monthly visits as your highest weight. Is there a reason you haven't considered Hurley? I'm very impressed with what I have seen so far. I wish I knew more about Krause. Sorry.

Yep, been having that problem for a few weeks.

Check out this thread, it will help with the other abbreviations you see thrown around as well http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abbreviations-and-they-t7959.html