FFP

I was banded by Dr. Schwack in December. He's great. I originally called to see Fielding but didn't want to wait so I went to Schwack's presentation and signed up the next day.

I was banded by Dr. Schwack, who is an excellent doctor and a simply adorable guy. Even my husband liked him! I highly recommend him to everyone.

I am a very private person. I told my boss because I needed to take some time off but I didn't even tell HR what procedure I was having. I told 2 friends, both of whom I wish would have the surgery. I told my husband and my 21 year old daughter, but only because she was nagging about my eating when I was on the 2 week pre-op diet. My sons all think I had a hernia operation. Actually, my surgeon repaired my hiatal hernia when he put in the lap band. It's been almost 9 weeks since I was banded and I've lost about 27 pounds. Funny, none of my friends has said a word so I guess I must have been really fat if nobody notices that much weight loss - LOL! When and if they do notice, I plan to say that I am dieting but do not plan to disclose the surgery.

I must be the only person in the world who hates Peanut Butter. My daughter tells the story of how she went on a play date when she was about 6 and came home raving about this amazing new food she'd been given there - PB. She couldn't believe I'd never heard of it! I really can't stand the smell. My daughter on the other hand has written a song about her love of PB. She doesn't eat it in front of me. My weakness is Hint of Lime chips with homemade salsa. I haven't had any since before banding. My doctor says I can eventually eat a few at a time.

I'm having my first fill tomorrow. I planned it so that I can go straight to work - will I be able to do that? I've lost 19 pounds altogether so far since my banding on 12/26/12 and hope the fill will help me keep it up. I feel some restriction but think that I am eating more - though nowhere near what I used to - so I am ready for a fill.

I'm almost 3 weeks post-surgery and haven't had a fill yet. My doctor said to stop drinking 5 minutes before eating and wait 20 minutes after to drink. I don't know if this will change when I fill. I do feel full and not hungry. Sometimes, my stomach will growl and I'll think that I should eat but often I just work through it (literally, I don't get up from my desk). I don't know that I'm chewing long enough. I did eat too much of my husband's amazing home made pizza last week and I threw up. I never want that feeling again. I felt fullish in my band but I wanted that second slice. Never again. Last night, I ate one small slice of it and 12 hours later, I am first getting hungry and will go have my Breakfast. I have lost about 18 poungs from the time I went on my pre-op diet till today and hope to continue losing.

Insurance covered the 50,000 unit once a week Vitamin D prescribed for me, my daughter and my teenaged son, as we were all deficient. Wearing sunscreen which we do (my son is very fair and I make him wear it or a hat most times) blocks vit D and can result in deficiency. Since banding, I have been taking Centrum chewables in orange flavor. I wish I'd found them earlier. I also use Kirkland (Costco) calcium chews which have Vit D but I don't really like the flavor so I may order lemon from Bariatric source. My D was low but not as bad as to need the prescription level. The good thing about them is that it's once a week for the 50,000 unit so I mark it on the calendar and check it off each week. I guess I'll have blood work six months out and reassess at that time.

This was always one of my problems with dieting. As soon as people noticed and commented about my weight loss, I would feel shamed and gain it all back and then some. Now that I am banded, I will not have the ability to gain the weight back as I did before. I got my band the day after Christmas and am down about 14 pounds from my high. I was borderline to get the surgery so I deliberately fattened myself up before my initial consultation to improve my chances. So far, nobody has noticed or commented. The only people who I had the band done are my husband and daughter, my boss and two heavy set girlfriends, neither of whom I have seen since the surgery. I plan to tell people that I have gone back to Weight Watchers if they are rude enough to ask because it's really none of anyone's business.

Gowalking - Ren actually wasn't my surgeon and I've never met her. I put her name because she is from the same practice. I used Brad Schwack, but he's not listed as a choice. He's got a very nice personality and is trust inspiring despite being only in his mid-30's. I would recommend him highly to anybody. He has both people and medical skills. I hope your procedure goes well. I went home about 6 1/2 hours after I arrived at the hospital even though they thought I might have to stay overnight. If I lived alone, I'd probably have stayed.

If you don't have insurance, it might be that going through the ER is a way they can guarantee to try to get reimbursement.

I was banded through NYU on 12/26. I live in suburbs but work in the city. My biggest fear is getting jostled on the LIRR when I go home in the evening. I have had no issues walking from Penn to my office or from NYU to my office, but LIRR - that's tough. Also, I really appreciated having my family around after the surgery. My husband and daughter know I had LBS but my sons think I had a "lady procedure." I really didn't get out of bed for 2 days. Good luck.

Me, too! I had one half of a packet of plain oatmeal, nuked in Water with fat-free half and half and splenda added. I used to eat TWO packets at one time! I might even save money on this diet. For lunch, I hardboiled two eggs and fork-mashed them with Walden Farm low fat, no calorie Honey Dijon dressing and a little bit of pepper. I was full after the equivalent of one egg. I am planning to have the rest of my eggs later and, if I am still hungry, a cup of plain Greek yogurt with Splenda and cinammon. Also, a muscle milk light Protein drink, which I dilute with the FF half and half and add a little vanilla into. What else are you planning beyond oatmeal?

I think that you should call the doctor's office. There should be someone available to answer your questions.

I had 2 sections as well and the recovery is different. My first section was done by laser and I was driving and taking my newborn with my 1, 4 and 5 year olds to the park and doing a bris within 5 days of delivery. My second section was a near death experience so I had to rest more even though I wasn't in pain. With lapband, I am 6 days post and still have shoulder pain. I am going back to work Thursday. My incisions are still sore and I have some gas pains but I also had a hiatal hernia repair.

I had heard that certain medical expenses might be excluded from the penalty but you should talk to an accountant or tax professional before doing this. Have you considered taking all or part of the money from your 401 (k) as a loan instead of an outright withdrawal? That way, you don't pay the tax on early withdrawal and you don't pay the penalty. The loan is repaid from your salary so you are paying yourelf the interest and these loans don't appear on your credit report. The only downside is that if you leave your job, y0u have to pay back the outstanding amount within 60 days or you are charged the penalty and interest. This may be a better choice financially. Good luck.

I have Aetna POS and did the 4 month through my center. The office canceled my September appointment and I went October 1 and was told I'd have to start over. The office took the blame because it was documented that I had asked about rescheduling in September but because of the Jewish holidays, there weren't appointments. I had my surgery on 12/26. I was afraid to do anything but maintain a status quo weight-wise so I didn't really try to start losing until I went on the pre-op diet. I was afraid if I lost too much that they'd say I didn't need the surgery.

I have IBS and often am constipated. So far, 4 days post-surgery, I have had a little diarrhea because I chewed sugarless gum. I did that on purpose because I know it has that effect on me. The doctor suggested liquid Colace but my husband bought the pills so I am stuck as they were $25 and I can't return them and I can't afford to replace them right now. My doctor fixed my hiatal hernia so he said that my GERD should go away and my IBS issues may resolve as well. Those were other motivating factors for having the surgery.

I didn't binge but I did eat everything I wanted to before my diet started. I ate my husband's amazing homemade salsa with my favorite chips, had fried chicken, drank diet soda and had a couple of margaritas. I was allowed 1 glass of wine by the doctor at a holiday party and had no alcohol beyond that. I did cheat a little - I had a couple of pigs in a blanket at another holiday party, etc. I was terrified that my little cheats would show up but the doc said my liver looked great as I've never been a heavy drinker and they could see that I followed the diet. I remember seeing an interview with Rex Ryan of the Jets and he said he used to eat 12 tacos at once before his surgery and now he eats 1 to 2 at a time. I used to eat 1 - 2 myself so my husband said I'll probably eat 2 bites. my doctor said that eventually I can probably eat small amounts of what I like and this is sustaining me.

I am taking Centrum 50+ orange chewable Multivitamins one a day and a sub-lingual B-12 each day. I had been taking a Vitamin D prescription once a week because I'm deficient in D but forgot to show it to the doctor so I'll bring it to my first post-op visit. I have not been doing Calcium yet but plan to order the Lemon chews from Bariatric Advantage. My Centrums were on sale at the local drugstore and were cheaper than Amazon, at least at the time that I bought them. My doctor and nutritionist both said no gummies ever.

I did the 4 month with below 40 BMI and a co-morbid condition. I was refused the first time and the second but my doctor really pushed. I was finally approved on Christmas Eve and had my band put in a couple of days ago. I decided to go for it because my daughter had a leg operation this year and I had a bladder lift so we met our out of pocket. This surgery was free. I told my doctor I couldn't have it if I had to pay the deductibles, etc. and his office fought very hard for me. I had to submit tons of blood work, chest x-ray and other stuff but it all got in and I'm down 2 pounds since surgery already. Good luck.

I also had my surgery on the 26th. The gas pains are not great but if you've ever had a C-section, they're tolerable. My husband bought me the wrong Gas X and Colace, wasted $40 so I've been improvising. I chew sugarless gum because the Sorbitol in it gives me gas and that helps relieve the gas pains. My doctor said to crush up the pain pills (Percocet) and drink them with juice. I am using cranberry juice and this works. HOWEVER, do not let your spouse crush up a Colace capsule or tablet because the web site says don't do it. I was on Percocet and actually drank one before I had the sense to check online. I also had a hiatal hernia repair thrown in with my lapband so I am not walking as much. The liquid diet is not bad. I have been using Muscle Milk Light since my pre-op diet. My nutritionist said that for the 2 week liquid diet I should put it in a glass because you can't use the straw, add some skim milk and drink. I am lactose intolerant so I am using fat free half and half and am adding some vanilla extract. The cafe au lait flavor is good, as is vanilla creme. Even the chocolate is tolerable and I am not a chocolate lover by any means. costco has a case for about $1/carton but the newest circular has a case for $6 less. Frankly, $1 or so for a lunch serving is a lot less than I was spending for lunch at work before the surgery. Good luck to everyone.