DanielleG85

Expect a long process. I am 2 wks post op but actually called to get the ball rolling a year before my surgery. It takes along time. That is my biggest complaint but it's that way with good reason. Time get in, education, appts, etc. There were some tough times where I thought oh what have I got myself into, including getting denied the first time from insurance, Not being able to get up by myself after surgery, and feeling overwhelmed with all my Vitamins, but you just try something different to get thru those times and now that I'm feeling better I am so glad I went thru this. Just remember no matter how bad It gets, you've struggled for so long, so what's one more struggle before you take your life back! So worth it! This forum is so great if you need anything just get on here it's so positive

During my pre op Diet they only allowed me no sugar added carnation Breakfast essentials. Very tasty and for$5 for 8 servings if u don't like it, you didn't break the bank. I am also a fan of the nectar brand Protein. It is a isolate instead of a blend so u will absorb all of the protein in it versus only some. It is a little pricier but if you buy it online you can usually find better deals, I just purchased the lemonade today for $35 for 2lbs. At www.mybariatricpantry.com thru also have a sample pack. For $20 They will send u samples of 10 out of the 15 flavors they carry. My favorites are the lemonade strawberry mousse and double stuffed Oreo. Coming from someone who had tried MANY brands, these are my favorite. I have been drinking At least one Protein shake a day for years Bcuz I knew I didn't take in enough thru my diet. Hope this helps!

Do not be nervous! This is just a tool! The diet and exercise is going to be even more challenging than if u chose that route because no one else is going to understand how hard you're going to have to work to eat correctly and take your meds etc. But it is totally going to be worth it! Dobt let anyone tell you you're taking the easy way out because it's not easy, it's just what some of us need. We've been fighting with this disease our whole lives Don't we deserve this?! I am 11 days post op and the first week was rough but today I am so grateful I did this! I have been heavy set My entire life even as a kid and I have always been a VERY active person. Sports gyms etc never really ate Truely horrible, on occasion yes we all do, but I think it was just in my genes. This is going to be worth it! And if you ever have a doubt, get on here and talk to other people! This is the best support forum I've found everyone is so supportive. We want to hear all about it!

I actually went into the entire process wanting the lap band, Just to change my mind partially thru all the appts n classes. Soak in all the info they give u

Just try to stay positive, I was devastated when they called me And said my insurance denied it. But they told me just to hold tight they were working on it and sure enough a couple weeks later they approved it. It is a LONG process. It's not a quick and fast process. That I wish someone would have told me. I scheduled my appts with the surgery center in March 2013, but couldn't get in until October, then I had multiple appts every month up until 3 weeks before my surgery They called said surgery was in 3 weeks and then there were a ton of pre op appts that I had to juggle around my 60+hr work week. It was crazy hectic and I worked up until the day before surgery. Be prepared And find out in advance how your short term disability works because now I'm 10 days post opp and have been going round and round with them

Call your insurance ask them what you have to do for them to Pay a portion. My insurance denied me the first time then approved it a couple weeks later with more information. You're surgery center should also be very educated on telling u exactly what u need to do. Listen to them! I had to go my primary Dr once a month for 6 months then be seen by the surgery centers dietician psychologist surgeon and go to classes everything. But they finally approved it

Some of my nausea could have been from the liquid pain meds but I ruled that out by stopping it all together. Those prob wasnt great because I feel like it took me Longer than it should have to get moving, but it was so gross I couldn't stomach it. I've just been without. But still need the zofran. I agree if they told us everything we probably would have gone with a Lucerne of diets And failures instead of getting this tool now to change our lives. I keep telling myself it will pay off as I know it will. The carnation Breakfast essentials and the nectar are low carb. The carnation is the No sugar added one it's a blue box. It has 60 calories And 12g of carbs. This is what they had me on during my pre op liquid diet. I mix it with skim milk. It can be purchased at your local grocery store or Wal-Mart although my local Wal-Mart is usually out I usually have to go to the regular grocery store for it The nectar brand has 15 flavors. Ive only tried 3. It is 100 calories per scoop and 0 carbs and 23g of Protein. It came highly v recommend by my dietician bcuz he said it is a protein isolate and not a protein blend which means u absorb all of the protein. The cheapest place I've found this is online. At my location Vitamin shoppe it was $45-$55, but it is cheaper at www.mybariatricpantry.com shipping was under a week and they also have a sample pack for like $20 where they will send you 10 different individual flavors to try. For another great flavor a patient who had the bypass came in to one of our classes and mixed the 2 together (which makes a couple servings) And it was great. A strawberry chocolate concoction but not too sweet

So glad everyone shared and I see everyone has recently had surgery. I was on a 2 week strict liquid diet prior to surgery and I had mine March 7. And I was miserable. The things they do not tell you ahead of time like the extreme abdominal pain, the heartburn, nausea. I take disolvable zofran twice a day to help with the nausea. I have days where I get all my fluids in, But then don't eat. Or eat and don't get my fluids in. Today is the first day I have taken half of the Vitamins and meds. I have found it easiest to crush them then blend them into my Protein shake. My drs have me on a strict puree diet for 4 full weeks, at which I can advance to soft foods such as fish, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs. This will continue for another 4-6 week's before I can try normal foods. I am really struggling with puree foods being too boring. Even tho it's only a couple of small bites per day, they don't have enough flavor. My favorite things are puree carrots and mashed potatoes. Also milk hasn't agreed with me, but that was before the anti nausea meds so I think I will try It again. Suggestions for protein powders. The carnation Breakfast essentials chocolate And vanilla are great. I also love the nectar strawberry mousse (mixed with milk) and the nectar roadside lemonade (mixed with water)