momlambert

I'm so sorry about this bump in the road--good luck to you. I'm impressed by your great attitude and know it will make a difference in the recovery and outcome. Good luck to you! We'll all be anxious to hear how things turn out for you.

Hi, Bobbi! I'm excited to get to regular food, too, but how come I have to wait until April 30 when I was just banded a week after you??? I wanna know!!! Hopefully I figured something wrong but I thought we had to do the healing diet for four weeks and I just started it on Monday. Tell me I did something wrong and I have less than two weeks left! PLLLLEEEEEEEESSSSE! I'm very tired of baby food and Easter dinner is going to be a joke. Glad it's at my house so I can grind up my ham and au gratin potatoes. Do you think anyone will notice??? I did tell my parents that I had a hiatal hernia repaired (which is true) and that I have a special diet for awhile. They have no idea how "special." My kids know so that isn't a problem. Well, I'm rambling. Good luck everyone! I'm so impressed that you haven't had a PB, Jessica. I want to be just like you! Glad your fill is working now--I'm more nervous about that than I am starting regular food. I'm sure I don't have any restriction. I ate (or drank) two cups of that cauliflower cheese soup in the recipe handout. Even though it's liquid, it seems it should go through more slowly if there was some restriction, don't you think? Happy Easter everyone! Have a great weekend. We have a great one planned--our 37-year-old pregnant daughter (1st pregnancy, married over 10 years) and her husband are coming tonight from CT to spend the weekend and see my father before his cancer would make the visit less enjoyable for them both. They are very close so it will be fun for him to see her pregnant but sad, too, as she may not see him alive again. The circle of life--beautiful but sometimes bittersweet. Easter is a great reminder of better things to come. Karen

Glad you found us, Bobbi! I'll see you at the seminar a week from Saturday for all of us newbies. Should be fun! Thanks for the intro, too. It's nice to know something about each other. Have a good week! Karen

Dr. Hansen did my surgery at SV surgical on March 19th! Your weight loss is wonderful--I've only lost 11 lbs. Sorry you had trouble your first week--it's great you are doing well now. I just signed up on SpakPeople.com because of your post--not sure how to do it yet but I'll spend some time and figure it out. There is a thread here at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/any-one-utah-t24480.html?p=434454#post434454 of people from Utah--I think most went to SV Surgical. They are really nice women and fun to chat with so check it out if you get a chance. Good luck to you--are you going to the seminar on April 14 at 10:00? I'm planning on it--maybe we can meet face to face. Ttyl!

My first meeting is a week from Saturday and then I have two more during May and June. After that, I hope to join you all--it would be great to meet you all. Your success is awesome and gives me great hope! Keep it up! Karen

My doc does financing but he says you can find better rates through banks and other lenders. I know some people have done second mortgages on their homes (gives you a tax benefit), which would be a decent rate most likely. We took ours out of our 401K. We didn't have a penalty because of our age but the dr. said that they could give us a letter which would do away with the penalty if we needed him to.

Yup, me, too. lol. I'm thinking less than three posts? less than three threads? less than three kids? less than three..... Oh my.

Ahhhhh! Thanks. I just couldn't figure it out either.

Congrats! You are doing great. I had my surgery a day before you and have only lost 10 lbs. Haven't started exercising yet (Monday is THE day!). Still have loose bowels as well and am in the mushie stage but my dr. doesn't include fish--that sounds SO good! The only thing I was able to add when I went from the full liquid stage to mushies was eggs and cottage cheese. Argh. I'm with you on the protein and water--it's hard to remember everything! We are learning, huh? Baby steps!

Just be sure you find a place near you that does fills and see how much they are; check, too, on their experience. One lady on a thread here said that she had a dr. do her fill (it was only his 2nd fill) and she has had major problems and has not lost weight. If you have to pay a lot for fills, it can end up costing you what you saved by traveling. I've also heard of a less expensive dr. in Colorado but you would have to do some searching on the site to try to find more info. So when your first post had "<3" in it twice, you didn't mean to put it there or know what it means? Just curious--I'm with Wheetsin and can't figure it out. Good luck! You have lots of research to do but you will find your answers and be confident of your solution because of your knowledge gained while researching. Don't be afraid to ask LOTS of questions--an informed decision is the best kind of decision IMHO.

I didn't have to get a psych or nutritionist eval, chest x-ray, etc. I did have pre-op labs and an EKG that were covered by my health insurance as part of a "check up" my PCP did for me. My total cost was $12,900 including all the fills, etc. for a year and then I can also pay $250 next year for all the fills I need. FYI. It pays to shop around. My dr. hasn't done as many surgeries as the Mexico dr.'s but he has done close to 500 and I was comfortable with that. Good luck!

I paid $13000 in Utah and that includes fills, nutritionist, social worker, support groups, etc. for a year. Plus, if anything goes wrong and I need re-surgery, the dr. doesn't charge his fees again during that first year. I'm self-pay, too. We used part of our retirement but the way I see it is: if I didn't have the surgery I couldn't use the money anyway because I'd be dead and gone! Good luck!

Welcome, Brit, and good luck with your journey. I was self-pay and my dr. was $13,000, which includes fills for a year as well as the support groups, nutritionist, social worker, etc. Also, if I hae a problem and need re-surgery, his fees are covered for the first year. But I'm in Utah so it won't really help you--just giving you a reference point. I looked into Mexico because many people are very happy with the dr.'s there but it seemed that by the time I paid for the ticket and found a place to do the fills and then got all the fills (I was quoted $250 each), it would be about the same. I also like having my dr. nearby for questions, problems, etc. So I'm very happy with my decision. Good luck! Karen

Hmmm. I use the powdered Isopure Protein powder--sometimes with Water when I have to be on clear liquids (least favorite way) and other times with milk--I like it that way. Sometimes I add a banana to my Bullet or fresh strawberries or sugar free, fat free ice cream--tastes like a vanilla or chocolate malt to me. Since you said you stocked up "on them," I'm thinking you have a different Isopure product. Well, to each his own! Find something that works and stick with it. Karen

You're hilarious, Synicalchick! Can't wait for my fill, now. But I'm sure it won't be as great as yours was. I have another month to anticipate... You should post this at the new site so everyone can see it, but maybe you already have. Good luck adjusting to the fill! Can't wait to hear how it goes for you. Karen

At my pre-op appt. my dr. actually drew my incisions on my belly to show me where everything would be and where the port would be. He was careful to avoid my bra line and underwear line and my other scars from gall bladder and hysterectomy surgeries. It was a very informative visit. Good luck!

Yes, protein is great but be sure you can drink it after your surgery. I was on clear liquids for a week after surgery and the only clear protein was Isopure, which I ordered on the Internet. It's delicious and I still have it every day--now with milk since I'm on full liquids.

I've never heard of the port being placed in the groin area--mine is a little to the left of my belly button and a bit higher. I still have swelling around the port (I'm two weeks post-op) and can feel the port itself if I press on it. It's still tender but I can't imagine it's going to cause problems during intimacy as far as touching it or feeling it.

Oh, I'm SO sorry, Mrs. D. What an ordeal for you--I'm glad your surgery is over. Good luck on your recovery. The stats are one thing but when you ARE the stat, it's very sad. How long did you have your band? I wish you well. Please take care of yourself and let us know how you are doing. Karen BTW, what is mrsa? K.

yes, I just got one and the recipe book says you can put the cups in the microwave to heat the fluids. I haven't put them in my dishwasher because I have a Miele and it heats up really hot (but cleans EVERYTHING!) and I'm afraid it will ruin the cups and/or blades. Anyone else tried it in a European dishwasher?

It IS hard! But I keep thinking about my dr.'s instructions and him saying that the greatest cause of failure with the band is drinking during and after meals. He says you can drink clear up until your first bite of food but then you can't drink agian for 2 hours after you finished eating. I'm a HUGE water drinker at meals--usually at restaurants they get tired of refilling my water glass so just sit a pitcher on the table! But that is over. It's a hard habit to break. I'm still on mushies and doing okay with it right now but once I start solids next month I think it's going to be harder. Another thing my dr. said is that babies never drink with their meals--it's an acquired habit so it's possible to unaquire it. Lots to learn with this band! Good luck!

I was banded almost 2 weeks ago and only feel good about my protein on the days that I add a protein supplement. I like Isopure because it doesn't have an after taste and has 25g of protein per scoop. It's also clear, which meets my dr.'s requirement of Clear liquids for a week after surgery. So, just a suggestion! FYI, I wasn't able to eat the things you listed until the second week post-op and can't have a cheese triangle for another month--lucky you! Congrats on your banding! Karen

Thanks, Tammy! What would we do without you? You are a great leader of our MARCH-ing BAND! Big hugs! Karen

That's sad! Darn it! Good luck on the financing--I was self-pay and it's definitely a BIG bite. We worried so much about complications adding to the cost during surgery or after but so far so good. I just don't know what to think about a diet that low in calories. supposedly a weight loss of 1-2 lbs. is considered healthy and that is what my dr. told me to expect with the band. I can't imagine surviving on 500 calories without ever feeling full. I think the basic band diet is about 1000 calories but I'm still on mushies so I haven't gotten to that point yet. I'm just judging from what others have reported eating after being banded and on regular food. Good luck to you! You must be very disappointed. I do hope things work out for you. Karen

Congrats on joining the BANDwagon and welcome to the March bandsters. Good luck to you! Hope you have a speedy recovery. Karen