Michele777

The weight gain could be from the sodium in the soup. I agree that you just need to eat healthy with the correct portions and the weight will come off. Hormones and sodium can really effect our weight sometimes.

I had my surgery Tuesday morning at 7:30 am. I was not really nervous, but anxious to get it over with. I guess I just wanted to know that it was done and everything went okay. Luckily it did! : ) The pain after the surgery was worse than I expected. I never have had anykind of abdominal surgery, really no surgery besides removal of widsom teeth, so did not know what to expect. It HURT! I am finally starting to feel a lot better today. Some of the gas is coming out and it is making a big difference. That gas makes your stomach so big and tight and I guess puts a lot of pressure on everything. Burps hurt, but I am glad to burp when I can...no pain, no gain (LOL). I am on clear liquids for the rest of today and then get to start full liquids starting tomorrow, can't wait!!!! I have not really felt too hungry. My stomach would start to feel empty, but I would have a frozen real fruit bar w/ no sugar added and it would do the trick. I hope that all the other October bandsters are doing well and the rest of the surgeries go smooth. I am glad mine is over with and that I am on the path to healing and health!!

If there is not a leak in your band, it sounds like the doctor needs to get more aggresive with the fills. Maybe he can even do it under x-ray and try to get you closer to restriction. GOOD LUCK!!

Congratulations!!!! Consider it an investment in yourself. I am getting banded on Tuesday and starting to get a little nervous, but also very excited. I am ready to get banded and start the rest of my journey. :sad_smile:

Did anyone have a pre-op surgeon and a pre-op anesthesiologist appt? I saw the surgeon, got my surgery date..now I have to go back and see the anethesiologist. It is a 2 hr drive one way and it seems like a long wat to go. Seems like I can do this before my surgery on the day of surgery. Does anyone know why we have to do this and did you have to do this?? :grouphug:

I start my 1 week pre-op diet tomorrow. :biggrin: I am scared to death that I am going to be starving to death!! I am going to do my best. I plan on doing Protein shakes, broth, sf ff pudding, sf Jello and lots of no cal fluids. I just don't know how this is going to sustain me. :tongue2: I will be glad when my surgery day is finally here. If anyone has any suggestions on how to feel satisfied on a liquid diet, I would love to hear about it. :crying:

Congratulations to everyone that has had their surgery!!:eek::scared2: I am scheduled for the 28th and starting the liquid pre-op diet on Tuesday, 10/22. I am dreading the diet more than I am anxious abut the surgery, but I guess that will change on the morning of the 28th. :w00t: :smile: I am excited to be on this band journey and really excited about where it is going to take me. My 39th birthday is on the 26th, so having surgery on the 28th and like a special b-day gift that I am giving myself. I look forward to where this next year is going to take me and really look forward to what I am going to be able to accomplish with the help of the band. :scared2:

My surgeon is Dr Edward Lin with Emory. I am not military. I am from this area and really like living here. I am really excited too. I can't wait to have the surgery done, not really sure how I am going to get thru the 1 week liquid pre-op diet. I think I am going to have to cheat some with lean proteins and veggies at dinner. I have 3 boys and a husband and I just don't think that I will be able to tolerate them and not become the excercist without some food of some kind. :thumbup: My surgery is scheduled for 10/28....11 more days!!!! :smile2:

I am in Columbus and getting banded by Dr. Lin with Emory on 10/28, can't wait.

I am in Columbus. I am scheduled for lap band surgery on 10/28 it Atlanta. I cannot wait to get it over with, but I can wait to start the all liquid pre-op diet :smile2:.

The Unjury protein powder and shakes can be purchased online, I think it is at www.Unjury.com. I did get a few single serving samples from my dietician at my nutricianal consult.

Congratulations!!! I am in Georgia and I am scheduled to have my band surgery on 10/28, can't wait. It is an awesome feeling to know that jumping thru all the insurance hoops has finally paid off. :biggrin: I hope everything goes smooth for you!!

I am getting banded on 10/28/08 by Dr. Edward Lin with Emory Bariatrics. Emory is also a medical school and are on the leading edge of alot of things. At my pre-op appt my doctor advised that I would get a fill 6 weeks post-op under flouroscopy (sp?), which is some kind of x-ray. At this fill he will get me to the sweet spot or as close to it as possible. The research has shown that patients are much more successfull the sooner they get to restriction after being banded. I guess they do not get as discouraged and it is less costly and time consuming than constantly going back for fills. I do not know if this is a brand new thing or what, but I was VERY EXCITED to hear about it. I am almost 2 hours away from my doctor, so that will save me a lot of time and money!! :tt2: I just wanted to let ya'll know, because this may be something that people may be interested in. The cost to have the fill under x-ray is a little more, but if it save you money and time in the long run, I think that it will be worth it!! I have gotten so much information from this forum and am really glad that it is hear to help guide me as I venture on my band journey.

All I can think is that the benefits must out weigh the risks. I did some reading after reading the responses to my post and it sounds like I will just have to be careful after getting my fill and may even have to go back thru the phase of liquids, to mushies, to soft foods and then to solids to make sure that I do not over do it after my fill. I am sure that the doctor will give recommendations once I have the procedure done. I will post an update once I have the fill done.

BootyBee, being band buddies sounds great. I have to do a 1 week pre-op diet that I am not looking forward to, but it is okay. My doctor wants me to be on a liquid diet, like slim fast, for 1 week prior to the surgery. I am really excited that I have less than 3 weeks left. You are welcome to email me at mteel@bellsouth.net.

I had me last pre-op doctor appointment today and got MY date. My band date is 10/28, which is two days after by b-day. It is my b-day present to myself!! :eek: I am really excited to finally be able to see the light at the end of this tunnel. There is still a long way to go, but this part of the band journey is almost over. I am really, really, really excited.

If she is not comfortable getting online, she may want to get some books. They had several at my public library and I purchased some at Amazon.com. They are great resources and most books include various personal accounts of different people's personal experiences, as well as a lot of information about the surgery. There is also a lot of information on youtube.com. She can watch peoples videos about their lap band journeys. They are very informative.

I have not been banded yet, but I have seen others that have said that drinking something warm helps to expand the band opening. This might give you some relief and allow you to get a little more fluid down. I would think that Advil or any form of ibuprophen would assist with any inflamation that your stomach may have due to the additional constriction from the band.

Congratulations on starting your journey! I am still on mine, hoping to have surgery in October. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. :thumbup:

I am going to be a October bandster, lord willing. I have insurance approval and just have to get my pre-surg testing and classed out of the way. Then the doctor will schedule my surgery. Dr. Edward Lin with Emory in Atlanta, Georgia. I am really excited and nervous. I am really glad that I found this thread.

This has been done before. A lady posted that she used the ankle weights and they worked like a charm. The doctor is not going to frisk you (lol). I would do the ankle weights, eat mexican or chinese the day before and right before your appoinment drink lots of water. Maybe put some rolled coins in your pocket or bra. GOOD LUCK!!

Blue Jeans are pretty heavy too. I would wear jeans, put some heavy stuff in your pockets that is not too bulky, eat right before and drink a lot of water. A couple of small ankle weights would be good back-up. Just consider this another hoop that you have to jump for insurance to get it covered. :omg_smile: You are doing what is necessary to get the coverage that you need to better your health.

I am a life long dieter, as I am sure you all are, so I have learned a lot, but not applied enough. Processed carbs will make you feel hungrier and make you just want to eat more often. Chances are that some of the sweets that you are eating are causing this. Also it will make your sugar levels go up and down, so of course you have to eat something else sweet to get your energy/sugar level back up. Since you did not eat a lot of sugar before, your body is probably just freaking out. I would cut the sugar out or to an extreme minimum. Maybe one little Weight Watcher snack cake or something low cal 1 time a day. I also like my little sweet rewards each day. : ) Also make sure that you are not drinking while you eat or too close to meal time, since it will flush the food out of your little pouch and cause you to get hungry again. I would also advise to visit your dietician and get some professional input. You may also want to check with your doctor's office and let them know how you can eat larger portions than what you should be able to, perhaps the band has slipped or is not placed correctly. With help and support from the people and professionals around you, I am sure that you will be able to work thru this kink in your band journey.

You will need to contact your insurance company to verify if weight loss surgery is a covered benefit on your health insurance policy. If it is, you probably meet the criteria, but I would ask the customer service rep to advise you on what they look at to detemine if this is a covered benefit and what they require you to provide to them to get authorization for the surgery. All insurance companies and policies are different, so you want to make sure what your company and policy require. Good Luck!! I am with Blue Cross Blue Shield of GA and I am waiting to get all of my info submitted to ins for approval. CAN'T WAIT!! : )

I have really enjoyed this website for the past 3+ wks as I have embarked on my BAND journey. :eek: I am still at the very beginning, but finishing up my last step before my information can be submitted to insurance for prior approval. So that brings me to my question. I have BCBS of GA insurance and a Nutritional Evaluation is required. I have seen the dietician and am having to log my food intake for 2 weeks and eat like I normally do, which is COMPLETELY WRONG!! So my question is does anyone know what the dietician is looking for or going to do? :confused2: I am concerned that I am doing something wrong that is going to cause me to have to have more appts with her and have to take longer before my surgeon can submit my case for prior approval. I am trying to make some improvements in my diet as I log may intake and have even wanted to lie, so that I will not look sooo bad (it is not horrible, but it is not good either). :biggrin: Can someone who has been here and done this give me some advice? Thank you for any help or advise that you can offer. :smile: