Pattypoo1

It depends on the size. I have several customers (I'm a pharmacist) who have been banded (mine is 11/1) and many of them started taking their SMALL tablets about 3-4 weeks out. You will have to crush them after your fills too, for a few days. Talk to your pharmacist as there are many tricks that we have that can help. There are a lot of ways to mask different types of foul meds, so you need to talk to your pharmacist since I don't know which meds you are talking about. As for me, I have had my Dr's switch me to liquids already. I still have some tabs left, and will use them until band date. Then I will use them when I can and save the liquids for use after fills. Also there are a lot of meds that are made as sol tabs or dissolve in the mouth tabs, or even chewables. There might also be a therapeutic substitute that can be made by your Dr. (Like if you take Nexium they could switch you to Prevacid SolTabs). But to answer your question, depending on the size of the Tabs you may be able to take them now. I am scared of capsules as they tend to stick easier, so I wouldn't risk that.

In fact, when I went to my consult with surgeon, they had me fill out a form stating who to call after surgery, who I will allow them to talk to, whether or not they can leave a message on my phone, etc. They said if I want them to call someone after surgery to tell them about how I am doing, the name must be on the list. They won't disclose any info to anyone unless I have them on the paper! I really liked that.

Wow, looks like we are getting a bigger group now (pardon the pun) for November. Since mine is the 1ST..I'll be the guinea pig! I just thank GOD I will be on Optifast during this Halloween season. I love those little candy bars, and now I won't be able to have them! I don't have to ponde...should I or shouldn't I like I do every year...this year the answer is NO..move on. I work in a grocery store and I look at the display all day. I am going to look at all the bags and imagine them hanging from my butt, like saddle bags!

Isn't it a violation of HIPAA to talk about this in front of another person? Ask who their privacy officer is ( actually it is on their HIPAA form that they are required to give you) and file a complaint that your privacy rights are being violated. The law requires them to respect your privacy.

I am self pay and had to have psych exam also.

Who is winning the civil war, North or South?

I have been reading all of your posts. I find this info very interesting and very individualized. In my opinion, I will use the band to eat only enough to sustain life. I want control over the food, I no longer want the food to control me. I will find something else in life to enjoy, I don't want to get satisfaction out of food anymore I am tired of it. No more, what should I eat...it will be this is what you will eat, eat it and be done with it and move on. I will no longer have to dwell on it, should I or shouldn't I, the answer is no. No longer will I waste so much energy on these decisions. It is all in black and white. Eat it, log it, and go focus on something else. It was just like when I was taking Alli, and people would bring Cookies and goodies to work, the idea of eating that stuff repulsed me due to the consequences, so I stayed on the other side of the room. A year ago I would have been the first one to the dish and the last one to leave the dish. I found staying away to be no problem. So I know I can stay away from that stuff forever. It is no longer important! Thanks for listening. It's all in your mindset.....

You need to back off the lortab now...

I am a pharmacist and I fill these rx's. I have never seen anyone given a tablet after lap band. In fact, I would have called the surgeon to get it changed. I have had a lot of customers ask my advice ahead of time to get their current medications changed to all liquids, so I have called a lot of primary care dr's to get these changes made ahead of time. I also tell my customers at that time, here is what is available in liquid for pain, make sure you get one of these. That surgeon should be shot. What an idiot. There is no excuse for that. They don't realize that most of the patients can't read the rx's to question it when they are given the paper. There is a liquid Vicodin (Lortab elixir-same thing) When I have my surgery, I have already asked for Tylenol with Codeine elixir. You can get oxycodone in liquid as well, but this is in the class II controlled substance and rx has to be written it cannot be called or faxed in. The Lortab can be called in, have them call it in immediately so that you can have proper pain relief. Best of luck to you

Hi again, Had my surgeon visit on 9/10 and I don't need any testing at all. Here is my schedule: Oct 11: Pre Optifast weigh in Oct 18: Start Optifast Oct 29: Pre-op at hospital (bloodwork) at pre registration Nov 1 : Surgery!

omg it's official! I had my surgical consult 9/10 and we are going for it...NOVEMBER 1... He said I am a great candidate. Now, he gets to decide which band to implant when he gets in there. He said he likes the VG, but also like the new AP. I am reading stories I don't like about the VG. The AP seems great..What are your thoughts? His instructions are liquids for 4 weeks post op (Optifast 2 weeks pre-op). Then a fill. Shouldn't I be able to try real food earlier, and before the first fill? :whoo::whoo::whoo:

I am November 1st.......

Hi. I am a Pharmacist and I say that Flintstone Vitamins are fine. They are also for adults, so it's fine. I have been taking a liquid vitamin/mineral/anti oxidant supplement for over a year called VEMMA. I will continue to take it after surgery. See www.vemma.com/teamkearney I also have been using the infant fork/spoon set to eat for a week now. That's a good idea.

Hi. I am a Pharmacist and I say that the Flinstone vitamins are fins, as stated on the label they are for adults as weel. I have many adults who take this. I personally take a liquid vitamin/mineral/anti oxidant supplement called VEMMA. I have been taking this for over a year and will continue to do so after surgery. See this site www.vemma.com/teamkearney It

TerriBarri, I am with you. I am soon to be banded and I have read a lot about the PBing. If I really stick to the program I assume this won't happen. What is causing this for you guys and how do we PREVENT it

Boy this brings back memories. Having been Fatty Patty all my life I can relate this situation back to High School and the skinny guy taking orders for band shirts. Then again we had a guy who the moms had to take 2 band uniforms and put them together to make one for him. As for now, and the lab coats we must wear, I can actually wear the womens but I don't like the cut. We have 1 lady who orders all that stuff for us, and luckliy she just orders them with no problems. My coworkers always get me a 2X Tee's without even asking, they know. I even have told them, next time you order for me it will be XL! I even have an XL lab coat on a hanger for Dec! I guess I am lucky, because my coworkers don't care, and there are a couple of people fatter then me, so as I show them respect, they show me respect. I don't care what size it is, I know I am smarter than everyone else. Even in high school I got them back by being smarter. When I went back for one of the reunions, I laughed inside because I was so much more successful then they were. The ones who made fun of me were all non-educated. So it's all relative to me..I don't care what the tag says. If your shirt is a different color than the skinny girls..just remind them that you are one in a million!

I am going to miss sub sandwiches. I had my last one already

I love Boca Burgers and I am wondering if anyone has been able to eat 1/2 or 1. I am hoping I will be able to tolerate them

I had to complete a written questionaire only about 20 questions. Then I had to complete a computer questionaire of 165 questions. The I had to talk with the guy. He told me 4 things and asked me to remember them, then asked later what they were. He pointed to his watch and his pen and asked me what they were. He asked me to repeat a sentence. He asked what the capital of Italy was, and who is the president od USA and who was president before him. At this point I thought he was the crazy one. Took about an hour. I asked what they are looking for, the lady in the front said that the surgeon just wants to make sure that you are willing to comply with the lifetstyle changes and you are able to understand what it entails. They want to make sure you can follow directions. By thinking about the questions they were asking, obviously they want to make sure that you are not suicidal or depressed. The computer questions were all T/F. One of the questions was, " I have been on the cover of several magazines" I can't figure out what that was for...Oh he asked me if I saw things or heard things that other people didn't, so I guess this to to see if you are paranoid/schizo. Anyway, it was great fun as I laughed my ass off at about 4 of the questions.

Hi all, I had my psych eval 8/29 and passed with flying colors EXCEPT, he told me that he thinks I will have problems 3 to 6 months out because I have a history of yo-yo dieting. I told him that I assumed the band would prevent this since I will be unable to eat a lot, as long as I have regular fills. Also, why would I pay $15,000 for something and then screw it up like that? That is not my nature. How can he tell this after 165 questions? I was a little angry now I am concerned. What if he is right? I should have never paid any attention to this guy. Have any of you had a yo-yo history? and how has the band helped you.

:hungry:Hi Socaldixiegal, I am self pay also. I am hoping for a 11/1 date. Are you having yours done in Mexico? I have a surgeon in Tampa, and total cost is $15000, so I am going to be very careful not to screw it up. I have already had the psych eval. My surgeon appt is 9/10. Psych guy pissed me off by telling me that 3-6 months out he is scared that I will screw it up since I have a history of Yo-Yo dieting. I guess that has just given me more incentive to prove him wrong. I have already begun buying differnt types of protein powder. I have already begun replacing breakfast with protein drink. I am making small changes already. I saw a protein drink on bariatriceating.com that might work for your travelling. It is a ready to drink "bullet" with 42g of protein. I bet if you take things like that with you, you can avoid eating out, unless you are on business dinners. I would like to keep in touch with you, and also others who are planning late Oct early Nov surgery. I have been reading this site for a few weeks, this is my first post.