The Laughing Cat

I have sleep apnea and can tell you from experience, at about my heaviest, when I started wearing a mask I felt a lot better. I stopped all the stuff they tell you about (snoring, teeth grinding, etc.) and truly had the good night's sleep I never had experienced. Getting used to the mask took a while. I don't have a high anxiety level but don't like being enclosed or surrounded. I took baby steps wearing the mask while awake for increasing periods of time then trying it when going to sleep. It didn't get comfortable overnight and I can't say it ever is really pleasant. I have a mask and headset model made just for women that is lightweight and streamlined. Maybe you could get that too. There are also different delivery systems like nasal pillows which I never investigated. I can't say how this will effect your WLS journey but I needed it as a condition since my BMI is below 40. Best of luck to you

Excellent! We all deserve such pleasures with our new bodies congratulations to you

Make that best wishes for your important day

I'm on day three of my 5 day pre-op diet. It's Protein shakes and Clear liquids only. I really miss the morning coffee with cream and black decaf just doesn't do the trick. I know it's the caffeine I miss. My surgery is Thursday and I am jazzed! The excitement is enough to lessen the head hunger and the shakes do help. Best misses for your important day

I knew I had a hiatal hernia for a long time and took medication (omeprazole) for it. The med worked well but still I had occasional GERD and heartburn. The hernia repair made a huge difference. No more problems and no more medication. I got an extra incision due to the repair, I'm grateful that could be done the same time as my surgery. My recovery was without any problems because of it.

Hi Everybody, My Lap-Band comes out Thursday, 3/27, and a sleeve will be created at the same operation. I just got the date this morning and need to start my pre-surgery liquid diet tomorrow. Monday is my pre-op testing and paperwork. I'm excited and a little overwhelmed. This is a big step and I look forward to a more healthy life. I've done a lot of reading on this site and others and feel confident in my knowledge. Aware of the risks, I've read here how much the experience of VGS can vary. Wish me luck and I hope my jitters will settle down and I can enjoy the ride. thanks, The Laughing Cat

My Dr's office said 7-10 days for UHC and it's been 9 and no word. I'm converting from a band to a sleeve and am getting worried the news could be bad. My BMI is 35-36 and I have sleep apnea. I have UHC HMO through the federal govt. Do they have different criteria and approval process from what all you others have? I will be calling tomorrow!

Good luck and best wishes I had my paperwork submitted last week. Yes, I'm anxious to hear about my Lap-Band to sleeve approval. I guess worrying won't speed up the ins company...

I saw my NUT last week and was advised to lose no more weight until I'm approved for conversion from band to VSG. My BMI is right at 35 and I have sleep apnea. Since my band has been too tight I can only eat very few things and am losing weight on the "starvation" plan. Today I saw the Dr. to have Fluid removed and discuss the surgery. For my weigh-in I wore cowboy boots, heavy jeans, t-shirt with layered shirt on top and a leather coat with a roll of quarters in the pocket. Mind you I live in southern California and people are wearing shorts and t-shirts today. My numbers were in range this time. Yup, bariatrics and insurance are a crazy duo.

Tell us more!! What activities have you done to get such a fantastic physique? What was your greatest victory and what, if anything, would you do differently? details please!

Thanks for all the feedback. The nutritionist visit last week answered a lot of questions I had. Tomorrow is the psych eval and later the pre-op/post-op diet class. I want to be fully educated before taking this step. From a lot of reading in this site, I know I want the Lap-Band out. I have experienced the side effects, more or less, that the rest of you have. Thanks again, The Laughing Cat

Hello all, I've had my Lap-band since 6/12 and the honeymoon was over a long time ago. I can't get to the green zone anymore and am struggling. Due to a change in insurance, I have a different doctor and clinic. He suggests I allow him to remove the band and get VSG. Having essentially failed at the Lap-band (lost 56, gained back 22) I am unsure if I can succeed with a sleeve. I get no satiation from the band and restriction is minimal even with a high fill amount. Will the sleeve help me lose the hunger? I know the cravings are in my head, but I am still hungry after a reasonable meal. Is the surgeon looking for my best interest or another big insurance payday? Does anyone know of any data or studies of band to sleeve conversions? Having another surgery does not scare me, another failure does. I meet with the nutritionist tomorrow and the psychologist next week. I ask to hear from some of you who have changed band to sleeve of your experience. thanks The Laughing Cat

Hi Everybody, I've been silent for a long time. Over the Xmas holidays I had some setbacks, not the band, only me and life. I'm back on track and have reached the important intermediate goal of Onederland. My emphasis for now is Protein first. I'm hoping for some visual changes soon and dumping most of my larger clothes. At half-way through my weight loss journey I need to keep up the momentum. Do any of you have anything to say to help me stay successful? thanks, the laughing cat

Be careful about picking up drugs in Mexico. Sure you can get just about anything without a prescription, but you will be in trouble with US Customs without the script. Should you be caught, the last thing you want is a hassle by Customs when you are newly post-op. Just have your doctor in Mexico write you up a prescription for the liquid form of Lortab/Vicodin like Sojourner mentioned. It's OK too if you have a US doctor's prescription. I live near the Mexican border and would never take a painkiller across without a prescription. Best of luck to you.

My surgeon told me he could put it anywhere I wanted. Not having any preference I let him choose based on his experience. Mine is about three inches above and two inches left of my navel when I stand. It doesn't seem to be in the way of anything at this time. Best of luck to you.

You can do it and you will. It won't be easy but will be very gratifying to lose 4-5 pounds in that short pre-op time. Are you on a special diet? Don't forget to exercise in any way you are able. You have done too much work to not make this final push in the prerequisites of your surgery. Best of luck to you

Hi Everybody, I recently bought myself a fancy-schmancy pedometer. I'm having trouble finding the motivation to exercise. The more steps the better, I figure, and this might push me to park further from the store, take the long way, or just plain move. What is a good goal for steps? I'm trying to increase my number daily but sadly I only see about 4k for the day. (what a slug!) I'll worry about distance at a later date. thanks for your input, the Laughing Cat

Too bad you can't wait another day or two before flying. I assume you can't avoid this trip so soon after surgery. I would wear loose sweats that have a lot of room at the waistband. Carry a small pillow with you to hold over your incisions and don't forget your pain meds. Please be prepared if the meds cause you an upset stomach. Hydration is important, particularly on an airplane, so get a bottle of H2O to sip. The San Diego airport is not that big, but I would still get a wheelchair to get you to the gate. I wish you the best.

My hiatal hernia was repaired at the time of my lap band operation. I have seven incision sites instead of the usual 3-5. My pain and recovery were certainly within the limits of normal and actually not as bad as I expected. Best of luck to you

If I had to do it over... I would have prepared my environment better. The emails would be caught up, the laundry folded and put away, the house **** and span, bills paid ahead, more groceries stocked, etc. I would have been sure I had nothing that was pressing or required of me for a least a few days if not more. Otherwise I believe I was ready medically, mentally, supportive and education wise. Best of luck to you the Laughing Cat

In the information seminar my doctor advised up to a month, different insurance companies vary. In my consultation I was advised my insurance takes about 2 weeks (Healthnet of CA, ***). Mine was approved in 9 calendar days and that included Memorial Day weekend! I was surprised, HMOs don't usually move that fast for me. Best of luck to you.

The most important for me is my measuring cup. My brain and reality have two different ideas of portion size. I don't care what something weighs...it's what fits in the measuring cup that matters.

Welcome! I have learned when you get a craving, it will go away whether or not you indulge it. If you don't indulge, the cravings become further apart or not as intense. Please stick to your pre-op diet, it will aid your surgery. My doctor told me every pound I lost pre-op was one less to lose post-op. Too simple! the Laughing Cat

Welcome Angie! This forum has tons of people with loads of information to help make your transition to banded life easier. The search feature can assist in finding answers and should that not work completely, just ask. Great job on your weight loss so far. the Laughing Cat

My doctor did my first fill by feel. He used lidocaine, felt like a mosquito bite, and then the saline. This guy did a fine job of locating my port merely by feel since it's under a large amount of belly fat. The procedure was done in a snap! My concerns about pain and poking were unfounded.