kuchiegrl1

You guys ROCK! I am so glad to get back on here again.....thank you all for your kind, thought-provoking words. Wow I almost forget who I am, why I am here, and who I can become. I will work on getting myself to become friends with that ellipitical. Maybe I should name her....lol I need to talk to my husband about the snack situation at home....but then again I should try harder to eat the fruit and not the Cookies. This is fair to him....he needs his Snacks at night (yes he eats without gaining :w00t:) We bought a new boat, and although I feel okay out there in my babe-in-suit, I would rather feel comfortable and fabulous! I also have missed most of the support meetings due to my 7 days on 7 days off shifts. I wish somebody lived here in Plant City so we could partner up to walk on my days off. But until then, I am slowly walking to the spare room......stay tuned. Debbie

Thanks for the encouraging words. I have been feeling like this for a couple of months now.....I need to dig deep to find the stronger person that I know I have inside,,,,so far the darn girl keeps eluding me....:thumbup: Anyhow, its just been a little unberable at work cus I keep having ppl ask me how much wt I have lost, and now all i say is....i am down 2 sizes....and smile...but very dissappointed inside....does this make sense? Thanks again. By the way, Newimage, when did you get your surgery and did you have any slumps? Debbie

Hey all, does anyone have any luck with getting approval for a tummy tuck, and breast lift/reduction from Aetna. If so, what hoops did you jump through to get the approval, and what was the time frame from start to surgery date? Thanks so much for your advice, and input.......:thumbup: Debbie:tt2:

Hey all, does anyone have any luck with getting approval for a tummy tuck, and breast lift/reduction from Aetna. If so, what hoops did you jump through to get the approval, and what was the time frame from start to surgery date? Thanks so much for your advice, and input.......:biggrin: Debbie:tt2:

Well yesterday was my first pb....omgosh.....that sucked. My dh asked me to bring him lunch to the jobsite (new construction, so running Water or bathroom etc), so i stopped at Wendys and i got a jr hamburger. I had but 4 bites and here comes the pain, along with the electrician..."hi there, how are you?" fine i say, and walk outside trying to overcome the pain (outside by the pool outside) lol. anyhow, he was leaving and came to say goodbye to me, he left and I walked inside to say something to my husband like, oh I dont know,,,HELP! too late, here comes the massive burp, and I said uh oh....shit, up it comes. :wink2: I now know what it feels like....gross. Especially when you have nothing to slime in but your hands....poor dh. (laughing now), but he gags, hands me a rag, and walks away.... So, now Wendys will only be baked potatoes.....lol Good luck to you guys, I still need to slow down, smaller bites,,,,hope and pray to God that I remember these things in the future.... take care,

:mad:Okay so here is the scoop. Did the 6 month supervised diet, nutritionist, pysh eval, 5 yr hx of obesity 48% bmi. Got the approval in Sept 07. Had my surgery Nov 26th, 07. Paid my 20% co-insurance (around 1000.00). Now........I have received a bill from the anesth. for 20% of his bill? And also now Aetna is putting all the other bills (surgeons) under clinical review? So now 6000.00 is pending. What in the hell is this mean to me????)*%#W!# I have an approval letter from aetna for the surgery. I tell you what, I called aetna today and of course all i could get from them was, I am sorry but this is under review, no I cant tell you if you will owe money.......holy crap can they really go back on their approval letter? I am so flippin mad with this insurance scam crap. Why cant this country go to socialized medicine like so many other well-adapated countries.....grrrrrr :frown: Has this happened to anyone else out there....feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Dr Kim is at Celebration Hospital in Orlando...seems to be very nice....I went to a seminar there when I first started researching. I ended up with Dr Krish in Pasco county. I was banded Nov 26th, 2007. I need to get more restriction I think. I have had one fill so far, 4cc. My doc was disappointed that I gained 6lbs from Dec 11th, to Jan 3rd. I too was very disappointed. He said that I need to try harder, and hopefully with this fill I will notice a difference. So far I have lost another 7lbs. But I need to focus more, and get some exercising in order to lose more before my next follow up. Anyhow, good luck to you all....Debbie

thanks for the tip....:scared: I also try to eat fiber one Cereal, and yogurt with added fiber... Debbie

yes i do..... I cannot wait till my fill. I am scheduled Jan 22/08. This has been tough with the hunger, a choc snack here, a cookie there. Damn the holiday baking betty crockers!!!!lol So far i have gained 4 lbs since 11/11/07 I will need to refocus on the bigger picture. good luck Debbie

I have got to tell you something....I felt the same way about a month before my surgery. I too was not scared of the actual surgery but of the issues afterwards. Please do not feel you are alone with this. Me as well as many others have felt this way. I also have Aetna, did the 6 mo supervised pcp visits, nutrionist/pysch evals, 5 yr proof of obesity. The first wk was not fun, the second got better, and fantastic by the 3rd wk. Unfortunetaly i do not have restriction right now, so my wt loss is slow. But that will change soon i am sure with my first fill. I wish you luck on your new journey/life. Make sure you get to support meetings to meet with acutal patients who have had the surgery from your surgeon. Thats what i did, and it made me feel very calm to meet people at diff stages of the lapband post op. Good luck, and let me know how you do, okay? If you have any questions, concerns let me know. Sincerely, Debbie

Preop down 10.5 lbs. surgery date nov 26th, down 15 lbs. total is 25lbs. I will confess though, this last wk has not been easy with the hunger situation. I am trying very hard to be good. I dont get a fill till mid Jan, I think I may call docs office to see if i can change the date. Good luck to you all, Sincerely,

my first fill is not untill jan 8th. I am not too worried, even though I have no restriction I am still nervous about eating. I still eat off a sandwich plate, drink Water inbetween meals....etc. Good luck to all of you....

thanks for the ideas guys. I think i will give it another chance slowly, and do you like you said by putting maybe a tblsp at a time. Debbie

Hey all. As I am losing, and finally feeling well after surgery, I find myself getting interested in cooking again. I used to really enjoy cooking but lost interest a few years ago. While I have been at home recouping....:eek: I have discovered the cooking chanel...lol how ironic huh? So I have been cooking up all kinds of things for my husband, while I sip away on my Soup (lmao). So anyways, I was wondering about certain foods that may be off-limits, or just a pain in the but to eat and not worth it, or just some feedback, ideas, suggestions,comments....etc. Please take the time to give a quick comment on what you think, okay? Here is the list I can think of so far: :hungry: nuts Peanut Butter waffles/pancakes pickles Pasta apples ( which I used to eat almost daily) root vegetables pork ribs, chops, tenderloin also, can you take beano to help with fiberous vegies? Thanks everyone.....have fun and take care, Debbie

hey laura, the bread that you can do is it toasted wheat bread, or french bread (like the crusty kinds)? What about the bread you use to dip in evoo/spices like at Carabas? Debbie

Have you tried doing a google search? I think you may find some docs with #s to call. Good luck You could maybe try my docs office, dont know for sure but here is there number.....813-785-5569 Debbie

I agree with you Peaches. I cant even do a Protein shake right now. I tried one this morning and for some reason it was not going down well, didnt appeal to my taste buds, and quite simply gross. Yet its funny, but i drank these like crazy before the band....hmmmmm weird huh? So for now, I am surviving on apple juice, Water, hot choc, soup. I look forward to my mashed potatoes stage.....lol I tried the unflavored unjury in apple juice and practically threw up with the first sip.....blach:puke: talk to you soon....Debbie

you are all very lucky in my opinion. I on the other hand had the opposite. i had what you would call "accidental bm's". I had such bad diarrhea that I became housebound because i was afraid to be far from the toilet. It really sucks, i am still this way at day 8! My doc said this is normal as all i am taking in is liquids. Note: I did not take pain meds, only anti-nausea suppos. Constant nausea is not fun,but soon this road is ending and i will be on a new road. The full-liquids road!!!! whoooohoo. Good luck to you all. Debbie

Hey all: I am a migraine sufferer. I get them to where I cannot see, vomit, excruiating pain. They can last from hours to days. My sister was asking how was I going to deal with that once I am banded. Is there anyone out there that suffers like I do? Have you had to deal with since banding? What is the best precautions, methods, etc you do to cope? I know that they can prescribe anit-nausea suppository :faint: But is there anything else, or suggestions from fellow-sufferers? Thanks for your help guys.....its appreciated. Debbie

remember to do deep breathing exercies for your lungs to be up to full capacity again....they deflate with the surgery. this is very important to do, or you can end up with pnuemonia. take care, Debbie

hey guys i was done on the 26th as well. for me it has been a rough 5 days. My surgeon called me yesterday to see how i was doing, well needless to say, i broke down and balled like a baby....(so embarrasing) I told him that i have had a low grade fever since monday, headaches, weak, "accidental diarrhea", (not cool, now i am housebound), and very very nauseated. He told me i am feeling most of this as i had a reaction to the anesthetic. Which i told them i would, they had to pump me up with meds when i was coming to. The doc took me off the antibiotics, told me to get atleast 1.4 ltrs of liquids in, and take phenegren suppositories 2xs day for 3-4 days to help stop the nausea. This should help me get my liquids in. I found it hard to even put Water to my mouth. He also said that the diarrhea is normal as i am only taking in liquids. I wish someone would have told me this before, as i had to throw away a new pair of jammies:faint: Sorry if tmi....but i dont recall reading this before my surgery. My poor husband is frustrated. He told me today that if i dont start feeling better soon he wants them to take this thing outta me.....poor guy, he hates to see me so weak and lethargic. I told him that things will change soon once i can get onto full liquids....lord that cant come soon enough huh guys? Anyhow, enough of the rambling.....stay intouch okay.....we can help each other thru this new adventure. Hugs, Debbie

4 days out of surgery now: i have had a terrible time with nausea. i dont feel like putting anything in my mouth.....(i really want some crackers or toast,but cant) i have now tried some Isopure Protein. tastes like crap today i have only had 2.5 oz, some apple/water, and some strained tortilla Soup. i think it might be too spicy though. i now have discovered the surprise of thinking i am passing gas, but oh no........i had an accident..... i called the nurse she told me to take immodium chewable or liquid. i finally broke my low-grade fever this morning. i dont mean to be negative, but i feel so helpless for my body right now. i just want to have some yogurt, or sf pudding, or something with some substance. sorry guys, i guess this to will pass, but i am about to cry from the cramping, headaches, nausea. sincerely, debbie

good luck and best wishes.....welcome to the bandwagon. let us know how you made out okay? Your in my prayers, dont worry at all, it will soon be over. Debbie:clap2:

hey guys. well my dh bought 2 isopure premixed drinks ($4 a bottle) lasts for aprox 3 days when opened. the grape kinda tastes like koolaid upon first drinking. afterwards there is a slimmy effect, but i dont care. i finally got some Protein in last night and was able to get rid of my headache. today i am going to focus on getting atleast 10 ozs of that today along with Water, apple juice and maybe some strained Soup broth. by the way, my RN told me only CLEAR liquids, that means no shakes Thanks again for your help. Debbie

3 days post op, had my shower today and pulled bandaids off slowly. the top incision bandaid pulled the steri strip off with it. Will this be a problem, should i get one from docs office? also, i am having a difficult time getting my liquids in. i have not had any Protein. i have had watery apple juice, Water and some broth (broth is making me gag) My docs office said i can only have Clear Liquids. Any suggestions would help, i am getting a headache, and feel lethargic. :help: Overall, am feeling better with each day (the pain). Thanks for your guidance, i really appreciate it very much. Debbie