StrawberryGrl

Good Luck with your Surgery!

Moving, You need to do what's best for YOU! The band and the bypass both have negative and positives to it. I know many of us have done the band instead of the gastric bypass because those who have had the bypass have been known to gain back if not all, some of their weight (after a time 18mos-5yr period). People who have had the band keep the weight off longer and are healthier because they're body is still absorbing nutrients as it should. In the end though the decision is yours. I've had it done and I considered the gastric also and in the end I'm quite happy that I did the band. All I can say is keep doing your research and you'll figure it out! Good Luck!

I think the time between the surgery and the first fill is different for everyone. I honestly didn't have much of an appitite until right before I was filled. I've continously been told to eat small portion and then check myself to see how full I really am. In other words eat and then wait 15-20 mins to see if I'm still hungry or not. If I am then I can eat a lil bit more, if not then I'm set. Don't get me wrong though I still get hungry. It's not going to go away, no matter what people may think. Hunger happens.

Kim, I understand the feeling of abandonment but I promise it does get better! Sometimes it's worse with everyone hovering anyways lol When I had my surgery in July I did stay overnight in the hospital, so I was lucky enough to be woken up every couple of hours to be given pain meds, have blood drawn, etc. I would say the first night is the hardest, so I'm thankful that I was in the hospital for it. As long as you get up and walk, walk, walk you will be fine even by yourself afterwords. I also had my mom with me when I left the hospital. You honestly won't need her all that much but it's nice to have someone there to give you your pain meds or ice chips. Good Luck!!

I would call your insuance provider and ask them about covering the fills. Make sure that you take down the time and who you spoke to just incase! Good Luck!!

Yikes!! That is SCARY!! Good think you read your paperwork!

You can do it!! Just keep exercising and eatting right:) Good Luck!

Good Luck Shine! I hope everything works out for you!!

I LOVE elipticals! They definitly do kick your butt though! Keep doing what you're doing Bloo. I would advice starting out on a very low resistant level and then working your way up. Personally I love that you can jump on them, set your weight, age, and time limite and just go! Afterwords it tells you exactly what your heart rate was, how many calories you burned and how far you went. I use one at the gym and have been told that doing the eliptical is very comparable to running, just easier on your knees. I also find that it helps when I listen to music and set my pace to the song. Good Luck Bloo. I promise it will get easier with time!

I haven't been filled to the point where I can't keep anything down but from what my Dr has told me and I've read...You should be able to keep things down at least! Especially since you've only been trying soft foods. Personally I would call my Dr's office and see what they think. If anything they will have you come in and unfill you a bit, that's gotta be better then getting sick everytime you try to eat!! Good Luck!

Most everyone would tell you to WALK WALK WALK! And they are right! Walking really does help cut down on all the bloating you're feeling, so do it as much as possible. Even if you start at only 15 minutes a day, it's better then nothing at all! I also found it helpful to put an ice pack on my stomach at night. Hope this helps!

Good Luck to all of you!

The drug store in my town has a heart rate/blood pressure/weight machine that I go to and use about every 2 weeks. I know if I did it every day I would be obsessed and depressed if I gained instead of lost. Plus seeing that larger number of weight dropped is way more fun then just seeing a 1lb differance.

I'm 2 months out myself and I CONSTANTLY burp. I was never a big burper before and personally I hate when people do it around me but it seems inevitable. I think it's more the PBing you have to worry about when you're just getting started. I know my Dr. told me I wasn't allowed to get sick for 2 weeks after my surgery!

Good Luck Jes!

I also had surgery on a Wednesday, I wanted to go back to work that following Monday but my Dr. wouldn't release me until I had seen him for my follow up which was scheduled that Wednesday. I went back the very next day.

Hey! I'm new to this board but thought it might give me a suport system that's been thru the surgery and is going thru it at the same time. I've been to support meetings but they are always during times I'm working so they're hard to get to. Anyways, I am 3 days out and I have been on a liquid diet now for 2 weeks. I still have a very, very long way to go! I can definitly say I will never look at soup or broth the same again! My docter was one of those that encouraged the RnY but agreed to "try" the lap band. Even up to minutes before my surgery he was telling me he didn't know if he could do it but he would "try" Evidently he tried hard enough because it happened. That alone is discouragment enough for me but I'm lucky and have really good friends and family that have been encourgaing me along the way. Like I told my docter though, this is isn't supposed to be easy, I should have to work at it! The only issues I'm really having is the uncomfortable sleep positions and wanting to eat something more then broth and jello. According to my docters specifications I'm not going to be able to eat solid food for another 5 weeks! Anybody else have this issue come up? I understand the first couple of weeks are vital so that your band doesn't slip but woman cannot live on broth alone! LOL Feel free to e-mail with any suggestions or encouraging words! )

Jennifer, I'm here to spread a lil postiviness around...Not all insurance company's take forever! You can help speed up the process by contacting them before hand and seeing what they're specifications are. Make sure when you call that you note down the date, time, and who you talked to. Plus exactly what they tell you that you may need. I know a lot of dr's offices will also call to check for you. Personally I wanted to hear it all for myself. Don't forget to check how much of the surgery they cover along with post op appointments and fills. It doesn't have to take forever to be approved if you do everything that's asked of you. From the time my dr's office faxed in the paper work to my insurance company it only took 3 days for me to be approved! (I have the dates on my letters to prove it) Infact I knew about my approval before my dr's office even did! In the end though just remember that it will all be worth the time and effort. )

Congrats on deciding to have the surgery!! Just think positive and I'm sure everything will work out with your insurance. Good Lucky!

I wish my last memories of talking to my Doctor were as good as some of these!! The last thing my doctor said to me was back in pre-op and he told me that he was going to "try" to do the surgery but wasn't going to gaurentee anything. (I have no idea what that was supposed to mean! But it definitly didn't help calm my nerves!) It wasn't until I was actually in the OR and surrounded by interns and nurses that they calmed me down and were extremely nice. The last thing I remembered was my OR nurse and anthesiologist telling me I was gorgeous and that my hair was so beautiful and thick. While they were discusing it amongst themselves, the anthesiologist said she was going to give me some "air" and I kept thinking, I really should say "thank you" since they were complimenting me!! LOL I never got that far though LOL

I definitly was! I was pretty freaked out about it first because I really didn't want to wake up with it in my mouth. I talked to my anthesiologist and nurse though and they informed me that as long as I was breathing exactly as I was supposed to that it would be out before I even woke up. Plus they didn't even put it in until I was knocked out. I do remember being in the OR and parts of being put out (that I didn't like) but when I woke up I was breathing on my own just as predicted. I reccomened talking to your docter, see why they would or woulnd't choose to intubate. All doctors do things differently, wiether it be intubating or catherizing (my docter didn't do that) Don't be afraid to ask and speak your mind! They are all there to help you!!

Jennifer, I would consult your docter about the activites you can and can't do. I know personally when I went back for my post op check up, which was a week after I was banded, I was cleared. My docter pretty much told me I could do what I want and to just pay attention to my body and how I was feeling. If you can't get into your Dr right now, how your body reacts is a good thing to go by. Good Luck!

Has anyone on the boards used either Dr. Clarey or Dr. Bruce in Ohio. I haven't seen to many Ohians on the board so I thought I'd check it out for myself! If you have used either surgeon I would be interested in hearing your opinion on them. (especially Dr. Bruce)

Congrats on your news!! Good Luck!

Scotty, Congrats on being banded!! Hope all goes well for you )