Gumper81

I'm just curious...I see alot of people on here who either had the banding done in Mexico or are going to have it done there......I guess I'm curious as to why is Mexico such a "hot spot" for this surgery ???

My Chiropractor actually visited me on day 3 of my recovery in my house and adjusted me as I had developed a killer headache and my neck was locked...came back the next day and did it again !!....no problems whatsoever...

I went to the Vitamin Shoppe and bought Isopure Dutch Chocolate and the Cookies and Creme.....the Dutch Chocolate I think is fantastic...and the Cookies and Creme is at least decent....the Dutch CHocolate has 25g Protein, 1.5g Carbs and .5g Fat per six ounce serving....

My doc originally told me 3 weeks liquids...3 weeks mushies....then progress to solids....today I went for my one week checkup and I have lost 22 lbs ( YIPPEE !!! )...but now he wants me going right from liquids to regular food.....no mushies....not sure I want to...I think I need that progression...not sure what to do ....( I Know...follow my surgeons directions.....but since they are all different that means none of them are right...or wrong.....).....my friend's doc is very strict on the mushie stage....maybe he's right....kinda confused....

I think I wrote it wrong....he still wants 3 weeks liquids.....but is cutting out the 3 week long mushie stage...I still think I want to progress slowly so that I also do some type of "progression' ...I'm thinking of doing 3 weeks liquids and then 1-2 weeks mushies before trying solids....even though this is less agressive than my docs schedule.....I dont think I can hurt anything by being conservative....do you ?

I go in tomorrow morning at 9:30 to be banded....all sorts of emotions running through my brain......a whole new lifestyle starts tomorrow...and I feel totally unprepared to deal with it....my doctor didn't require a liquid diet pre-op except today and while it hasn't been a joy it really hasn't been that big of a deal....what it did do though was point out just how different my lifestyle was going to be the next 6-8 weeks and then for thereafter...I know this is a good thing....and I know it's something I need to do....it still scares me....

Went for my first week checkup....down 22 lbs....no more pain....and no significant hunger pangs that haven't been restricted by some extra water...two more weeks of lquids..

Princess, This isn't a vanity issue. THis is a health issue. We all feel it and all had reservations. If you continue to stay heavy, you WILL eventually develop medical problems - sleep apnea and diabetes are probably the two worst and both of them not only are very serious medical issues but each of them is a potential killer. Explain it to them that way. A little dramatic but not inaccurate - you simply want to get healthy and have a normal life. Any family should be completely supportive of that kidn of an outlook. Good luck....I was banded a week ago in NJ because I wanted to be alive two years from now and I want to remain part of my wife and daughter's lives for years to come. Without this surgery, there wasn't a chance of that happening. Good luck !!!

Faith....you couldn't be more right....I was banded on the 18th....I'm on a 3 week liquid...3 week mushie...then introduce food....my doctor explained it EXACTLY like you did...people, please think here....if you can't follow directions and are cheating already....how do you ever expect this to work ?...being fat is a choice that I believe we all made...being skinny is another choice we all have to make....the lapband is a TOOL to HELP ( yes, I said HELP ) get us there...but if you dont make the mental commitment to follow the program...your chances of success diminish greatly......am I thrilled drinking protein shakes and water.....um.....NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!...but it is what it is and is only for a short time......this fatso is going to live...and this fatso is going to suceed....I wish you all luck and godspeed on YOUR journey....

my wife made a suggestion to me a while back ( which as any good husband does, I basically ignored......) that while I am sitting around watching TV, I can use it then, this way the airways are still getting some of the therapy even if it is not while you are asleep. If I have trouble like you are describing and which I experienced in the past, I will try to use it sitting on the couch watching TV - what could it hurt ?

You would do this yourself why exactly ????....sorry, I think you are crazy...this is life changing surgery...why would you mess with it ?

Mandi, IF I had been doing the CPAP machine my airways would not have been as blocked making my breathing that much easier. They did put a tube down my esophogus for me to breath but apparently the airways still were getting blocked. My throat is all bruised from the tube and post surgery my big concern every night is sleeping without the forced oxygen. You've put your trust in this doctor to make the biggest life changing event in your life happen.....if he says CPAP...RUN to the store or wherever to get it....I am requesting one on my follow up visit next week....better smart than sorry later on....good luck to you and hope you make the right decision...

you're not overreacting...insurance companies suck....my friend and I were scheduled to have surgery two days apart...she got insurance approval...I had BC/BS and got nothing but delays...I finally called my state board of insurance...and got nowhere there either.....finally got denied by BC/BS because "lap band is not proven to lower your BMI"...huh ??....went NUTS...screamed and cursed like a truck driver at one of the myriad of morons they call supervisors...used the "F" word a dozen times or more and other words I dont want to admit to....an hour later I was approved...go figure....I had surgry two days ago and while sore I know it was all worth it....you will too...dont give up....you'll get through it too..

I was diagnosed 5 years ago with apnea and tried for 2 months to sleep with it on.....kept pulling it out...I was falling asleep at the wheel of the car...then on one of my yo yo diets I lost 40lbs and my snoring decreased and I stopped falling asleep...haven't used it since....BUT...during my surgery on Tuesday doctors had hard time keeping my airways open and wound up keeping me overnight on oxygen....scared the crap out of me...when I go for my one week checkup next week, I am asking for a new CPAP machine...better safe than sorry...

I got banded on the 18th.....I have pain in th upper back/shoulder area as well as the neck area....makes it very heard to sleep...

Thanks to both of you for the encouragement....had the surgery yesterday...they made me stay overnight because they had a problem with my breathing....my wife stayed with me....she truly is an angel....I could not have made it through the night without her support....I'm still in some significant pain though including one absolutely killer headache that I cant make go away...I'm sure it will pass....then on to a new life...thanks agian for all the support..

complete sense.....I figured it had to be money related...but I also dd not realize the exprience level..thanks for the info...

LOL.....thanks....and congrats on getting yours done...it is encouraging that the overwhelming majority of people on here look at it as a very positive experience...

Thanks for the encouragement...and the backup that I am not the only one that felt that way...nice to know I'm not some type of freak or something....thanks again !!

two more days.......Finally...after fighting with Blue Cross for three months....I am finally approved and ready to go....at 465lbs...to me, this is my last chance so I'm determined not to blow it....but I'm still scared silly. What if it doesn't work ?....I know the band is just a tool to "help" you lose weight and you still have to practice behavior modification. But if I WAS disciplined , I wouldn't be where I am today...my wife and daughter are very supportive but they simply cant be expected to understand where I am or what this means. I sit here and wonder....can I do this ?...will I be disciplined ?....what is a realistic goal for a guy at my weight in 6 months....a year...two years ?....I'm tired of feeling like a freak....tired of being restricted in what I do.....

Tigr....dont give up...insurance companies stink by nature...I fought for 3 months which seemed like an eternity....hundreds of phone calls...NJ Dept of insurance complaint etc...they finally denied me...I got on the phone and screamed like a lunatic and cursed like a longshoresman...2 hours later I had my approval....tomorrow morning, I get banded..hang in there...it will happen for you..

My doctor never really prescribed a pre op diet of any kind. The Nutritionist suggested I try to lose on my own but there was never any mention of any issues with Kidneys. I met with them both about two months ago as I have been fighting with my insurance company for approval. With the combination of stress from the insurance co and me mentally thinking "I may never eat that again", I sure haven't been on any big preop diet. Am I at risk for complications with my kidneys ? I am finally having the surgery the day after tomorrow and now I'm a bit scared. Should I postpone it and do a liquid preop diet. There was never any mention of a preop liquid diet or even any particular emphasis on a preop diet to help kidney function. I'm already having anxiety issues with less than 36 hours to go....any suggestions ???...thanks...

I have BC/BS of NJ....paperwork was submitted on June 8th....as of Sept 1st I had heard NOTHING....over 50 phone calls by my Doctor...nada....so I went to the NJ Division of Insurance and they had my doctor send a certified letter to BC/BS - that gives Ins Co 10 days to respond....well...BC/BS responded by denying me....saying that "lapband is not proven to reduce your BMI"....huh ???...NJ Dept of Ins woman said to appeal it but with BC/BS it could take 4-6 MONTHS...so I did what any rational person would do.....I called BC/BS back...got a supervisor...and proceeded to scream and curse at the person on the phone as if I was a drunken longshoresman....I must have used the "F" word a dozen times and my wife said I was screaming at the top of my lungs....I ended my conversation by telling them "if I drop dead because you ***********, have your thumbs up your ***, I hope one of you SOB's will come tell my 12 year old daughter why you jerked me around so long"...and hung up. At that point, I decided to pay for it myself. AN hour later, my doctor got a call back saying they had taken it back to the medical director, and that BC/BS was now approving my surgery for this coming Tuesday....SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO GO POSTAL I GUESS.....I feel bad for the woman I screamed at but if that's what it took...so be it...