Cocoabean

Try not to get into the Last Meal Syndrome. Because it truly isn't your last meal! I do understand the feelings. But...I still eat most of my favorite foods! Yes, I have made some changes to my diet, but my biggest change is portion control. Part of my reason for choosing the band is that I would still be able to eat "normal" foods. Moderation works with the band. Remember that. The band assists us with moderation. I choose to not eat high calorie/high fat foods very often, but they can be a treat. We don't have to have an on/off mentality any longer, we have a tool to help us control our portions, and in so doing it helps us make better choices. I choose to eat a more healthful diet! Denise

Bandsters don't have the issue absorbing alcohol that bypass patients do. With the changes in their insides, my understanding is that they feel the effects much sooner and on much less quantity. I just feel it much sooner and on much less quantity now because I don't consume as much now due to the caloric content. Call me a lightweight, in more ways than one! :thumbup: But, I wasn't given a restriction on it by my surgeon..just beware of the calories (sigh).. Denise

Call your surgeon's office, tell them you are starving and ask if there is something else you can supplement with. I was doing so well that I was allowed to move forward on my post-op plan faster than expected. It is worth a call! Denise

I had a BMI under 40 and had to do a 2 week pre-op diet. I think it is more doctor specific that weight/BMI specific. I have read of others who did not have to do a pre-op diet, or only had to do one week or a couple of days. It varies. As to the port. The location also seems to vary with individual surgeons. Mine is located on my left side about 3 inches to the side of and one inch below my belly button. Getting a fill (which is saline, not air) does not really hurt, but it does involve needles, so your mileage may vary. There are lots of posts here about fill experiences. Some do report some pain. That has not been my experience. Your doctor could also be referring to this where the incisionis done through the bellybutton, but the port is placed on the abdominal muscles: Trans-umbilical Lap Band Placement Dr. Ganta's Approach Dr. Ganta is believed to have performed the first trans-umbilical LAP-BAND® procedure in the state of Texas without leaving any visible scars on the abdomen. This remarkable new technique, pioneered by Dr. Ganta, involves complete navigation and placement of the LAP-BAND via the incision at the belly button and leaving no visible scars on the abdomen. The port is tunneled via the belly button incision into the standard location and secured in the standard fashion.

I contacted my insurance company to find out what their requirements were. I then saw my primary care doctor who asked for a referral to my chosen surgeon. The medical group turned me down, as I had not done a 6 month supervised program. I appealed. This was the only time I provided my own documents. I supplied weight watchers records and journals from years past showing prior attempts at weight loss. I won the appeal. After that my surgeon and primary care doctor coordinated all tests and made the applications to my insurance. The only other thing I had to do was the psych eval. I went to a doctor recommended by my primary care doctor, but I had to make the appointment, get the letter, and take it to my surgeon's office. That was it. It took several months, but was relatively painless. Best wishes in the journey. Denise

I have found it is people who don't have weight problems, or people who envy us the opportunity to get healthy who feel this way. So be it. In that case, I "took the easy way out" and ended years of yo-yo dieting! Denise

Do you know if any of the documents you are adding are required? I'd not add anything unless it is required or requested. You might need it for an appeal.

It feels like I have a rock just beneath my breastbone. Lots of pressure and lots of pain. For me, the pain is in one location, about the size of a small fist. I cannot think of any sensation I experienced prior to my surgery to describe it. I find that I rock back and forth trying to alleviate the pain. I am willing to do just about anything to stop it. Denise

2 years post-op here, and I do it too. It doesn't matter if I am full or hungry. It isn't hunger sounds. That is entirely different. I try to think of it as my band saying hello. Since so many others have named their bands, I am trying to think of one for mine. I tried "Paco," but there are two Chihuahuas in my neighborhood with that name. My husband likes "Otto." Will have to think on it. Maybe "Laura" after my neice who never stops talking! :smile2: Denise

I usually get them late afternoon. I like to eat Breakfast and then do liquids after that. My surgeon does the fill and then I have liquids the rest of that day and the next morning. Then I am back to regular foods after that, and the experimentation of the new restriction level. Denise

After a bad episode, I can be sore for a couple of days. I stick with easy things until it is feeling better. Sometimes, I can't even identify what it is I did to cause the stickage. Most times though, it is pilot error. Denise

A lot depends on your surgeon's post-op instructions of course. But to be hungry 5 hours after a meal is normal. I was told that a meal should hold me roughly 4 hours or so. I find it to be sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. My surgeon also said he doesn't want me "snacking" which to him is brainlessly eating between meals. To me it was eating between meals, period. For him, a low fat, planned food is fine if I am hungry. High fat, high carb (i.e. junk food) snack foods are unacceptable. That was an enlightening conversation. Denise

Hi Debbie, Working in a doctor's office with a lot of walking may be tough after one week. I don't think I could have done it. But that is me. Many others could have. My doctor would have cleared me to return at that point. It was funny because he said one week, his nurse practitioner over heard him and then told me he is crazy and that I should plan for two--she'd write me a note if I needed two! It was actually somewhere in the middle, as I said upthread. Congrats on your surgery! For me, I stocked up on grape juice, broth, creamy Soups, ensure, and medifast shakes. Lost of people like sugar free popsicles a lot as well. I also got some protein powders from GNC. I cannot remember what kind they were, I think whey powder that could be added to soups. I think a lot of the return to work also has to do with what you are able to eat post-op. If you are not tolerating much Proteins and liquids, your energy level is going to be low. My opinion only, your mileage may vary. I purchased everything in advance. I had my hubby to help me, but could have made the shakes and soups myself. Along with making the mushies myself when I got to that point. I actually did not use all the protein stuff I purchased. I had read here that many people use shakes and thought they would be a normal part of my diet long-term. But my surgeon wants me to eat my calories, not drink them. So now I only do shakes if I am having trouble, or after a fill. I had my surgery on a Friday and by Sunday was starving. I was doing very well, and on Monday was allowed to move to mushies. I had a lot of mashed potatoes with squishy peas, and scrambled eggs during that time. oatmeal and cream of wheat were also big favorites. These can be easily prepared with hot Water or in the microwave. Someone else has suggested fat free refried Beans, that sounds yummy. I am upset I never thought of that! As I moved back to solid foods, I did not have any problems with slime/Productive Burps/sticking until about my 2nd or 3rd fill and I finally had restriction. That was well past my immediate post-op recovery period. Best wishes in your journey! My 2 year bandiversary is right around your band date! woohoo!!! Denise

I'd just caution you to have something in your mind about if things don't go according to plan. There are many who had surgery on Thurs/Fri and were back to work on Mon, but many others who could not have done it. Always good to have a back-up plan in mind, just in case there is no way on earth you could get to work. I forgot to add in to my recovery story that I caught a cold around the time of my surgery. So, that might have added to my having wanted that second week off. But you never know, that could happen to you, and it could be the flu, not just a cold. And you could get it later into the recovery. My symptoms started about 3-4 days after my surgery, making me suspect I came in contact with the germs in or around the hospital. Just food for thought. Denise

Yes, Joyle, that is sliming! And that pain is something stuck. Welcome to band land! I have found if I gulp some Water down, that will usually bring it up and out. Now mind you, I have never minded stuff coming up (i.e. vomitting--but this isn't true vomitting). It is the fastest route to pain relief. Otherwise, walk walk walk. That will often help the pain. Some use paypaya enzymes to help break down the stuck food, or sip pineapple juice. As a note, I have read of folks who cannot eat lettuce. I am fine with it. It is sort of a find what foods you can and cannot eat type of thing. Best wishes! Denise

Daqui, If there is nothing about WLS in the rules, then I say go for it. You said this is about support. You go get the support you need to be a better and stronger you. Try to gain healthy habits and not just have a boot camp type experience. As in, please let this be over soon! Being healthy and enjoying the journey is what it should be about! Denise

I had my surgery on Friday and by Sunday I was starving! My dog was looking pretty tasty. Lucky for him he could move faster than I could! When my surgeon called on Monday morning I was doing so well that I was moved up to mushies. Everyone reacts differently during the post-op phase. Most important is to get the fluids in and stay hydrated. If you feel ready to move on quicker in your post-op instructions, you can always call your doc and tell them you are hungry and ask to proceed. Congrats to all the newly banded!! Denise

No matter how much you chew, I think soft breads reform once in the pouch to a consistency of play-dough and become a very effective cork. I even urped one up in the shape of a cork once! eeewwww...sorry for the visual, but it's true! Denise

It depends on your type of work and a lot on you. Some go back to work in a few days. I have a desk job. For me, I had my surgery on a Friday. I took the following week off, and did half days the week after that. I was wishing I had taken the second week off as well. But had I really, really needed to, I probably could have managed to be there the second week. But it would have been no fun at all. Denise

My old driver's license was from 1992 when I was near goal at Weight Watchers! I LOVED that picture. I had cheekbones! I had to get a new one taken just this year. I cried all the way to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles!

Is the heart test an EKG? My primary care doc did that, maybe yours can too. If it is something more...Not sure what your insurance is, but I would think that if there are no "in network" cardiologists then they should pay for "out of network" ones to care for you. That is how it works with my band surgeon. I have an HMO, but he is not part of the HMO. Since the HMO does not have bariatric surgeons on staff, they contract with him to provide servies. It seems to me that if you needed cardiac care, your insurance would need to provide it somehow. Ask before you pay out of pocket. I hope this helps. Denise

I'd say small sips. I was told to just sip, sip, sip through out the day. About and ounce every 15 minutes. Or what you can tolerate comfortably. Mainly just don't open your mouth and pour it down. You don't want to deluge your new tummy and cause it distress during the heaing phase. Happy Healing!! Denise

I have had bagel aversion therapy thanks to my band! Try slamming one down...go through the stuck, stuCK, STUCK line thanks to ElfiePoo. You won't want a bagel again for a LOOONG time! Denise

At my work, I have to wear an ID card. Security keeps telling me I have to get a new one because they cannot tell that it is me in the old picture! Tracy, I found people didn't start noticing until about the 30 lb. mark for me. I started at a lower BMI. But I felt everyone should be saying something at 10 lbs down! Then I reached a certain point and whammo, everyone noticed at the same time. Even the UPS driver. It was very wierd! Sort of like it took one part of me to change before they noticed. But, I don't work around HS kids. But I am thinking at some point all of them are going to see it at the same time and be like, WHAT?? Denise

Gotta go with ElfiePoo on this one. Taking a few big drinks of Water will bring it back up. Sipping does nothing but hurt like heck. This is my preferred method of getting a stuck episode over with. Once it is out of there, the pain is gone and the sliming stops. It's a good thing. Denise