Karen2539

hey Nicole, I agree with Ruby, if this is your first visit from Aunt Flo after being banded you may really be retaining fluids. I know I sure did... I was up 7 pounds, but after a few days and a lot of drinking water I was back down with a few extra. Look at how great you have done so far!!! Keep up you hard work. Karen

ooooh, that pre op diet was the worst! I hate to admit it, but it was. By the time my two weeks were just about up, I think I was only drinking 3 of the opti fast shakes and eating one of the bars ( I found the chocolate bars best). I also got the ready to drink strawberry shakes... much, much better than the packets that you had to mix yourself. My poor family had to listen to me complain, but I think by the end I could have cared less whether I ate or not.

Hi Rose Wolf, I live in Commerce, so very close to you. I just had my surgery on July 9th by Dr. Deol and I can't say enough great things about her. As a matter of fact, tomorrow I go for my first fill. Rebecca was in her office when I first started the whole process, but Debbie is just as wonderful. They took care of everything I needed as far as insurance goes, and I really am enjoying the monthly support group she requires... well worth it! Good luck in your process and let me know how things go! Karen

Congratulations on the weight loss Jeanie! I go for my first fill on Tuesday and can't wait to see how this all starts works together.

Isn't it funny how we were all banded the same day, and our diets all differ. I am on stage 3, so I can eat just about anything with the exception of " Whole" meats, so it has to be ground or else I don't eat it. I have not had the carnation instant drinks,( are the powder or liquid?) are they pretty good? I am finding in the morning I just am not hungry, but feel that I should get some protein in some how. I am down about 20 pounds, but a lot came off during my pre op diet.

I was banded july 9th... but just wanted to wish you all good luck! Karen Commerce,MI

Hey Misty, For me, it was exactly 2 months from my original consult with the surgeon to the actual day of surgery. I was able to get all the tests that I needed done in that time.. blood work up, physical, heart eval., 2 visits with nutritionist, and my psych. eval. I thought it all went very quickly and smoothly. Good luck ! Karen

I go for my first fill in another two weeks. By any chance do you know how often you can go for a fill? Is it every week, month, etc?

Congratulations Kirajh! Keep up the good work. I am a little north east of you, in Oakland County. I was banded about 15 days ago. Between the pre op and the banding I am down about 19 pounds. I get to have my first fill in 2 weeks and I am looking forward to it. I am finding that I can eat almost anything these days, but I am trying to be very careful. Sounds like you went through an ordeal with your insurance company. Did it only take you 2 weeks from your first contact with Dr. Ortiz until you were banded? How do you now take care of your fills? Do you just have to make contact with a doctor in your area, and will your insurance cover these at all? Karen

I am new to this thread, but I am glad it is here. I was banded 3 weeks ago and have not lost a pound. As a matter of fact, I got on the scale this morning and I gained 4 pounds. I will go for my first fill in 2 more weeks and I sure hope that the scale starts going down. This is very discouraging tough. How has anyone else dealt with this? I feel like I can eat just about anything these days and I am really trying hard to rely on will power. HELP

When I first talked to my PCP about the lap band in April, his response was also to eat less and exercise. I had been seeing him for the last 6 years about my weight as it was. He was and is totally against this. I was banded on July 9th and I am in the process of finding a lap band friendly doctor. I too think that they work for us and should be supportive. If is that they don't have the complete picture, then they should do more research. I am so glad that I was banded... although weight is coming off slowly, I am OK with that because I know a year from now I will be a much happier, confident person. Good luck!

Congratulations! Hope you are feel well these days. I found the worst days were days 3 & 4, but feeling great now!

Lorien, I too have MESSA, and did not have to have a twelve month supervised diet, although, I did have to have the psych eval. Once I visited with my surgeon, it was exactly 2 weeks for approval. I was banded last Monday at Beaumont, Troy. Good Luck Karen

Oreokitty, seeing how it has been almost a month out for you now, how is it going? I was banded on Monday, and last night and today have been the worst days for me so far. I thought I was going to breeze through this with no problems... ha! I have a lot of pressure/ pain right where the band it. I am sure it is just the gas build up... but I sure hope this gets better soon. Karen

I was banded on Monday and I have a good experience so far.. not a whole lot of pain and no should pain to mention. I do feel at times like there is a brick in my chest where the band is, but I am guessing that is gas. There is no way I think that this was the easy way out though. Hope everyone else just banded is feeling good too

Marnie, where are you at in MI? Did your doctor tell you that if you have co- morbids along with your BMI of 38 that you might still get approved? I know when I first started this,that is what I was told, so I called BCBS myself to find out. They told me the same thing... if you have co morbids along with a pretty high BMI, insurance may still cover it. Let me know how things work out for you. I know the feelings you are going through. Try to do what ever you can to let your insurance cover it for you.

I had my surgery at Troy, Beaumont. It was a great experience too. I felt like I was treated like a princess... which is what I need right now. I don't know how I got away without a 12 month supervised diet... I did have to list all the diets I have ever been on and any exercises programs I have done. Besides that, I just had to have a letter from my PCP stating that I have tried dieting for many years and I would be a good candidate for this. But he never sent in papers listing month by month my attempt and weight losses or gains. My surgeon is wonderful and I would recommend her to anyone going through this journey.

I did get a card from my doctor yesterday when I left the hospital. It not only states that,but all the information you might want on a medical ID bracelet too. I am going to have mine laminated and keep in my wallet.

Good Morning everyone.... I was finally banded on Monday. Doing pretty good, in some pain but it is manageable. I haven't had too much gas pain in the shoulder but I know that still may come. I know that I am coming into this thread late, but I have BCBS of MI and I didn't have to have a 12 month record of dieting with my PCP. From the time I actually saw the surgeon until my surgery date it was approx. 7 weeks. Good luck to everyone out there getting ready to have it done. Karen

Hi Everyone. I just got home from my hospital stay, was banded yesterday. So far, so good too. I have not been in any real pain and I am moving around really good. I did finally take some pain meds late last night because I just could not sleep and I was hoping it would put me down for a while. I have not had any gas pains yet either, but I know that could come later on too. I had a great stay in the hospital too, I had a beautiful private room with a view of the golf course out back. Nothing I had planned on, thats for sure, but it was a nice bonus. Hope everyone who was banded yesterday is feeling good... each day it will get better. Everyone on this site is a great support... thanks, Karen

Tomorrow is the big day and I am excited but feeling weird today. It is hard to explain because I don't really think it is nerves, but more of a " blue" feeling. Did any of you that already had surgery feel this way? I think I have done all the right things to prepare myself for this, but I just don't seem to be able to shake it today. HELP! Karen

I can t use anything other than the Opti Fast plan for my pre op diet. I wish I could add a few other things to it, but the nutritionist said no. They are so hard to get down,and the protein bars are even worse yet! I think it takes me about 45 minutes to finally get a bar and a shake down. but the good news is that I only have 3 more days to go and then I will be finished with the ( WOO, HOO!!!!). Since starting the Opti Fast diet almost 2 weeks ago, I have lost 17 pounds, so I sure hope that live has shrunk.

I know, isn t it funny how each doctor is different on their pre op diet? I read how some of you get to eat real FOOD , and I worry about my opti fast diet and cheating eating a pcs. of cheese and a cucumber and my liver not shrinking ( lol)... I am so sick of these shakes, it is hard to get them down now. Is anyone else having trouble with these shakes?

wow Chimboree, I am really going to have to think on why I am over weight, that is so tough. I would have thought that I was an emotional eater, but that isn't really true. When my mom died 4 years ago, I lost a lot of weight only to gain it back. We were very close. Now, my husband was just laid off from his job of 30 years... downsizing so they let the highest paid workers go with no notice.... and in the 2 weeks, I have lost weight... so this is one I really have to think about. I saw your pictures and I think you are beautiful... along with your nails and toes :cool:

wow Vixie, I know exactly what you are going through. I am on day 10 of my Opti fast diet. Yesterday was the worst for energy, I had none! I get sick to my stomach all most every night. I just keep telling myself 5 more days of this and I can do it. good luck