soonergirl

Nykee - Did you accidently post this on the wrong chat site????.......... LOL :laugh :laugh :nervous

If you can stay off of the scales for the full week after surgery - you deserve an award or something I wieghed the morning of surgery at home - to have my base weight on my scales, and then they weighed me in my gown. My Dr. asked that I just please not wiegh myself 6 times a day - I only weigh once in the morning now

I don't think that many if any of us chose the location of our ports - the Dr's have preferences. Mine is about 5 inches to my left of my belly button and 2 inches up.

lins - great job - over 15 pounds. I can already tell that things are getting so much easier to eat. I swear by those EAS coffee Protein drinks. They really seem to curb my appetite until later in the afternoon. I have a vacation in a few weeks, so I really hope that I don't go over board not having a fill yet! thanks to everyone for the support and BTW - can you believe we found this wonderful thing???? I think I am still in awe that this is all real!!! :laugh :laugh :laugh

OK - on the insurance subject - Insurance will only pay for this if YOUR COMPANY choses to cover this - NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. The insurance company does have a program in place to qualify applicant for this and find out if it fits their policies. Individual insurance will NEVER cover this surgery - the reason why is that insurance is never a contract that requires that individual to keep paying - right, you don't pay your policy you no longer have insurance, so it is basically pay as you go. SO - it would not make any sense for an insurance to cover this - you pay your $500 premium for 6 months, get it paid for and then cancel your policy. (also why you can't get an individual policy to cover maternity) Most insurance companies that have only small groups also do not cover this! Small companies generally change insurance carriers like I change my socks. (I won't go into all of the reasons why) So esentially, a small company could also do the same thing - incur a great deal of cost in one year with that carrier and then move the next year (state law maxes the premium, so an insurance company could NEVER recover in premium what they would have to pay out for all of the surgeries. Insurance generally only pays for WLS if a "self-funded" company who pays most or all of their own claims TELLS them to. Becasause the company is paying for the surgery NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY!!!!! The insurance company for these groups only ADMINISTERS the claims. Companies choose to pay for this because in the long run - you will probably cost them less money to have the surgery than you would to them with all of the health problems that being overwieght would cost. Sorry for my soapbox - this just comes up all of the time and there is a BIG misconception about how insurance really works. There are some exceptions to this, but for the most part, this is how it works. I am an insurance consultant to large companies and help employers write their policies regarding WLS. There is a lot of debate in the consulting community right now about continuing to cover WLS. Mostly because of the cost of complications with gastric bypass - long term malnutrition and things of that sort. I hope that the band does not get thrown into that, but it probably will. I had to sit in a very heated debate about this with a group of employers without anyone in the room knowing that I have gotten a band. It is very well known that hospitals and bariatric centers are capitalising on this trend and it is becoming a HIGE money maker. If insurance stops paying for this so wide spread, it will drop the price dramatically for those of us that are self pay here in the states. (just a fact - not trying to say that it should happen)

I didn't have a problem at all. My highest incision is about 2 inches below where my bra comes down in the front. I did have to be careful putting it on for the first week or so. I will say that my sports bras have been a little trouplesome because of how wide the band is on the bottom - it did come down to my first incision.

Are you kidding me????? We have only been banded for two weeks today - 5.4 more pounds and you will already have lost 10% of your starting weight!!!!!!!!! Good job everyone!!! I posted this on another thread - but I have to share that I only paid $2.50 for a child's buffet portion today at dinner. Showed my card and no problems!!

I am only on soft food, but I showed my card and they only charged me $2.50 for the child's cost buffet. I will pull rank anytime I have traveled and it did not set off the airport alarms - they do say that the wand might catch it. My Dr. told me that it is titanium?? in the port, so it shouldn't set off most metal detectors -

Bondgirl - thanks so much for the words of encouragement!!!! I actually had a really good day today - I woke up and had lost 1.5 pounds and a skirt fit that hadn't since...... well, honestly it never fit - I loved it and they only had it one size smaller and I have never been able to lose the weight to get into it. today it zipped! so I actually fixed my hair and went to work, cried half of the way and by the end of the day - I couln't wait to take of the shoes and hose!! My husband has been on a business trip, so he had not seen any of my weight loss to date and he came home today. He was very suprised how much he could notice 8.5 pounds - YAHH! So, I am losing just at a little slower pace which my Dr. told me to expect. I moved to soft foods today, and they actually weren't as exciting as I thought they would be! Thanks again!!! Oh - and I have totally licked things!!!

I moved to soft foods today - I had two Protein Shakes and then for dinner I had about a tablespoon of each - egg salad and tuna salad. It wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. Ithink that I am just scared that I will slow my weight loss! I haven't been as big of a loser as most of you. I have started losing again though!!! I cried on the way to work today because I fit into a skirt that I bought last year thinking I would be able to lose the weight I loved it so much and they didn't have my size - of course it has hung there with the tags reminding me of my failure. - today for kicks I tried it on and IT ZIPPED - I fixed my hair and everything (this was a big step for me lately!) I felt like I looked really cute for the first time in a long time. (granted by the end of the day all I wanted was the damn shoes and damn hose OFF of my body!!!!!) But it was really great to feel like I had made the right decision - this might really work for me!!!! How is everyone doing?? - besides those darn BMs??

I think it works great - my husband loves it too! I know that it doesn't work for everyone, but we really have liked it!

Bondgirl - you are kincking butt! We were banded the same day and I am only down 7 pounds post-op 3 pre-op. Wow - so many of you are doing so well. I am getting the visit in the next few days - so I know that a few people said they didn't lose when Aunt Flo came to visit. I am hoping that is it! Today I was sooo freaked out - I was in meetings all day and the only lunch break I got they only had mexican food. They did have that pureed chicken that they use in enchiladas and soft tacos - so I chanced it with like 2 tablespoons of that chicken with a little queso on it. I chewed for like 10 minutes a bit and everything turned out fine. I am experiencing some tightness in my chest in the morning and I seem to "feel a little more restriction" then - does anyone else get taht tight feeling in their chest? is that what is always feels like?

my stool hasn't been right since banding! different every time it seems. I didn't have a BM for like two 1/2 days then yesterday it seems like that is all I did. Not sure what to tell you on that one though!!! I am really hunrgy today as well. I am eating pureed food now, I am not having any problems with them, but I am not really full quickly!

I am almost two weeks - most of my bloating has gone away - and I agree, so is most of the restiriction - I am starting to get pretty hungry! I have been on full liquids for about a week and am on pureed food right now. I looked sooo pregnant!!! Now I just look fat again. Down 9 pounds though!!!

Under Quick Links on the blue bar - go to edit signature - place your signature in that box - if you want a ticker - go to one of the websites like tickerfactory.com, build the ticker and then copy and paste the code into the signature box, click on preview signature, make sure it looks right and then save it.

Gatorade - no yellow according to Dr. strained clear Soups - more flavorful than broth warm de-caff tea - I liked peppermint also - liquid tylenol liquid gasx or gaviscon heating pad for back cold pack for belly I also went ahead and made up my area on the couch in front of the tv Good luck!!!!

I also lost a bunch of weight then stopped cold. I figure it's the body taking a breather. I also got ol' Aunt Flo this week and I think she headed off the loss. Right after she left I lost another pound. It's just the body getting used to all the changes I think. I didn't even think about this - I should be starting anyday!! I am just REALLY READY to start working out - how weird is that? I have a lot of energy, probably because my mind knows that I CAN:T work out yet. I don't know about the scar strips - I have just been using mederma like 4-5x/day. My port was KILLING me on occasion the last few days and I was giong to ask if anyone else is having that problem. I mean it is hurting worse than right after the surgery. It is a little better today, so maybe it is getting better.

This is great information - I am going to Canada in two weeks, exactly one month after my banding and the elevation changes will be dramatic! I did fly one week after my banding and went up to a 7k elevation. I had a hard time getting down the Protein shake when I got there, but by that afternoon I felt fine and had some Soup. I never though of the elevation and flight effecting the band that way. I fly a lot so this is a great consideration as to when I get my fill. I do know that my dr. said that they have banded a ton of Airlines employees, including people that fly a lot, so hopefully they know the ropes on this issue!

myomy - your Dr is very conservative huh???? I can have full liquids right now and some mushies like sugar-free pudding, applesauce and watered down mashed potatos. I move to full mushies week three and then some solids week four. I have been sticking to the coffee EAS shakes morning and lunch, as the caffeine is helping keep the hunger under control a little, but then I have een getting hungry at night. I am not feeling any restiriction or swelling anymore at all except in the morning. All drinks in between are very low or no calorie - tea, Water, gatorade... my gas is moving out with vengeance!!! I am also burping and farting a ton!!!! Sometimes I forget when I am going out in public that not everyone around me understands that I might just really need to belch!! My poor DH has been recruited many times now to assist me with a big pat on the back - lovely - but man it feels good to get it out!!! How are everyone's incisions? I am shocked at how good mine look!!! They are so small and healing so quickly! I vow to lay off the scales as soon as I see one more pound drop??? Is that fair

I love those snapples - I also found those little crystal light packets that you take with you and put in a regular size bottle of Water - they also have one that is a Vitamin C supplement - it has other Vitamins too and is flavored like berries. I figure I can use all of the vitamins that I can get. I had a protien drink for lunch and Breakfast - 310 calories, 42g protien. Then for dinner I had one cup of potato and leek Soup (blended). I am not really losing the last few days. Ihave walked every day for at least 30-40 minutes. I know it probably isn't a big deal, but maybe the soup I am buying has too much cream in it?? I can't figure it out. I keep telling myself to chill - I haven't had a BM in a few days either. Just disappointed. How are you gals and guys doing and what are you eating? I can't believe that I am actually really ready to start working out!!

I agree as well Melissa, I don't think my friends would "turn on me", but I am just a private person - and I only chose to tell people that I think will really support me in this. Anyone else - I am not sure what I would be getting out of telling them - so why. Plus - I really don't think that some people are intentionally trying to be rude or mean, but honestly have not been educated enough to know how to act about it. I don't think this makes them bad people or bad friends. I mean if they are a size 4 - what would they know about this and of course it sounds extreme and scary. I don't want to take the time and energy to explain myself to them. And - as for the other friends I haven't told that might benefit from this and I am sure will be curious - I will deal with that on a case by case basis. I do not want to be such a "snob" about this that I rob one of my friends the opportunity to learn about this first hand from someone that could help them and support them with the same expereince. My mom is the type of person that tells everyone she knows everything about her and everyone else she knows - this has made me an extremely private person about my personal affairs. All of my friends know and respect this, so the ones that I have shared this with see it as a big honor of our friendship that I have chosen to include them on this journey. I am sure that I will continue to learn a lot from each of you sharing your experiences with this matter and I may change my opinion of this as I get further down my journey - so I really thank you all for sharing, as each point of view really gives me a different persective and more to think about!!!!

Everything is going to go great - and before you know it you will look back and go - I can't believe I am already 2 weeks post-op and you will look at the scale and be down!!! For all of that time in between - you will be on the board here getting all of the support that you need to get through it! I know what you mean - the night before, all I wanted to do is sit on my back patio - drink a glass of wine and have a smoke - it will all go by quicker than yoou think!!!!! Good luck and let us know how you do!!

Oh - I forgot to mention - they also have a support group with this group of Doctors - the next meeting is July 16th and again on the 30th at 11:00am, so I am not sure if you have moved or not, but the dates, times and place are all listed on that website. I haven't been to one yet, but am planning to go to this one on the 15th. Good luck withthe Move if you haven't moved yet and maybe we will see you at the meetings!!

I know that your post is kind of old, but I noticed you only got one suggestion - The Sherman Denison area is really nice - I really hope that you enjoy it!!! It is only about an hour south to Dallas - there are a number of Doctors that have their patients fill at the Surgery Center of Richardson. Dr. Powell, Benavides, Allen, Bryce and many more. I have heard good things about all of them. The website for the entire group is www.lapbandsolutions.com They seem to have been doing a number of bandings and I know that Dr. Benavides does the aftercare for a number of patients banded in Mexico. That might be a challenge with some of the other Dr.'s - I am not sure. I had my band placed at Surgery Center of Richardson and the people are very nice and it is a nice facility. Good luck and welcome to Texas!!

Lie to your friends, your family and even yourself, but don't lie to your Dr. about smoking! There is a big issue with smoking and surgery. It is much more risky for Dr.s to operate on people that smoke. I don't know what the time frame is, but I wouldn't chance it. The anestesiologist (sp?) will really need to know. Everyone else can weigh in, but I just really think you need to be honest with him/her. By the way - I was an occasional smoker prior to surgery - I just had my first one today - 9 days post op - icccckkkkkk. Did not sit well with me. Maybe it was because I almost always had a cocktail with my smoke and the juice just didn't match up, but I am pretty happy that I didn't like it!!!! Good luck!