shadst83

I've had two fills in my 10cc APS first fill - 1cc (added to the 4cc left in at surgery) which gave me 5cc total second fill - 1 cc = 6cc total I'm 2 weeks out from my last fill and my third isn't until the first week of March. I have so-so restriction. I can tell I have a band, but still have to exercise a considerable amount of willpower not to overeat.

Okay, I'm in :thumbup: NAME.........Start Weight...Goal...Current Weight...To Go shadst83 ..........233 .....199........233.......34<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

tacha!!! YOU'RE taking them out or the doctor? :biggrin: I was barely able to remove my own steri strips. I couldn't imagine. You're healing great. Your scars aren't bad at all.

Wow Snowbird. That is outstanding!

Hi Guinness ... BCBS fep standard here. I had my surgery in November and still haven't gotten my EOB from the procedure. However, all associated medical expenses have been paid (including for my first fill), so I'm optimistic that my surgery will be covered. It's coming up on 30 days from the date that they received the claim from my surgeon's office. I'll update you and let you know what happened. I'm in Houston also. :eek:

A father and daughter "banding" experience? That is so, so cool. I'm 4 days post-band and so far, so good. You came to a great place to read, ask questions, and get support. Do you have to do a pre-surgery diet? How long? We like details!!!

LOL! That's what I'm sitting here wondering. Whatever they are, at two days post-op, they sound delicious! :embarassed:

Hey everybody! I'm banded! I had to be at the hospital yesterday at 0715 for a 0915 surgery time. I was #2 on my surgeon's schedule. Apparently, his first surgery ran long, so I didn't go in until almost 1030. Staff at my hospital were so nice ... they could see that I was having extreme anxiety so they kept coming into my pre-op room to check on me. When my doc came in to talk to me it calmed me down so much. He has such kind and compassionate vibes, but at the same time he comes across extremely self-confident and knowledgeable. While he was talking to me, the nurse was digging around in my arm trying to find a vein for my IV. He stayed a little longer talking to me to detract me from the ordeal (which is actually normal for me, so I'm used to it). I thought that was nice of him, though. I had meant to ask him about what I'd get to combat blood clotting and verify that I was still getting the AP band. However, when he asked me if I had any questions, they all seemed to evaporate. With my goofy self, all I could think to ask him is if the window in the room would open. He said no and left the room laughing. Did I mention that he is one HOT, good-looking man? Anyways ... I woke up in recovery a couple of different times with the nurse asking me about my pain. It was pretty significant, so she'd give me something for it. She really stayed on top of it and was soooo nice. I gather from my son that I was only in surgery for a little over an hour (I also had a hiatal hernia repair), but was in recovery for a good while. Finally, I started to come around enough to hear a couple of the nurses teasing my nurse about how hot my son is and if she wanted them to run and hold him down for her. I wanted to go, "HEY! That's my baby you're talking about." Shortly thereafter, I was rolled over to radiology where I had a barium swallow to make sure the band was placed correctly and that it wasn't too tight. Before surgery, I wondered how the heck a person just out of surgery would be able to stand up for a barium swallow and xray. Wellllll, the table that you lie on has these footrest thingies at the bottom. After you're on the table, they rotate it forward to get you somewhat vertical.They hold the cup of barium to the side and you drink it down via a straw. And believe me, it doesn't taste any better under the influence of drugs. The radiology doc pronounced me good to go, and the nurse took me back to a day surgery room. I was dying for something to drink so she brought me some Water. I had to hang around for about 5 minutes to see if I'd get nauseous ... I didn't, so I got dressed and went home. At this point it was around 3:00pm. After dropping me off at home, my son went and got my Loratab elixer Rx filled. The documentation says that it's not as effective for existing pain, and that you should take it as directed in order to stay ahead of the pain (if that makes sense). I didn't wake up to take it last night, so when I woke up this morning I was in some pretty significant pain in the area around my port incision. All in all, though, I'm doing pretty good. I've been walking around the house to help with the gas pain (it travels from my shoulder to my chest) and when I get tired of that I put the heating pad on it. I've had broth, gatorade and water, so my Clear Liquids are going down just fine. I've tried to include the stuff that I wondered about before in my surgery story; so forgive me if I've rambled. Hey! I'm on drugs over here . If anyone has specific questions, feel free to ask. Oh yeah. Good luck to the 8th crew ... it's a piece of cake.

Girl I'm sitting here sucking down my last b4 the band shake. I've been running around this evening and I've finally taken time out to "eat". It's good that I've been busy, though because I'm exhausted and I think I'll sleep well tonight. I have to be there at 7am for surgery at 9. Hopefully I'll feel well enough tomorrow to report back tomorrow. Good luck back atcha!!!! :confused:

Where are my fellow sevens?????? 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 Imonmyway7368 MyLady 24 hours to go ... :faint:

Now she could've kept that remark, couldn't she? Oh well, a year from now the healthy, energetic edeva will have the last word.

awww, thanks. I made myself work on some difficult projects today at work, or I would've been bouncing off the walls. My co-workers would have wondered what the heck is up with me since none of them knows anything (insert diabolical, wicked laughter here) :biggrin1:

I haven't been banded yet, but grits are also listed as a food NOT to eat on the list that my surgeon gave me of foods permissible during the mushy and soft diet stages. I was bummed because I luuuuuv grits. Hope your stuck feeling goes away soon.

Yep, I sure did. My surgery is scheduled for Wednesday and I have a 7 day pre-op diet. Although I ate more than usual the week before I started on it, once I started my pre-op I didn't look back. I'm so pumped and ready to go .. I think that's my motivation. You'll do it too.

welcome back sconie! glad everything went fine.:clap2:

nessa, longhorn ... great to "see" you both back. I have a question. Did you have to do the barium swallow and go to radiology before you left to make sure the band is not to tight and in the right spot? My doc told me that I would have to do it. I can't imagine ...

Longhorn, yay!! :whoo: I came here just to see if you felt good enough to post something. Your experience so far is so encouraging! Take it easy and congrats!!!!!

Take care Sconie. Can't wait until you get back!

you beat me to it jelbel. I was coming in to tell ... PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn Forestcat Rhea that I'll be thinking about them tomorrow. :hug: Now I'm off to "eat" my broth ... liquid pre-op diet for me! :hungry:

Awwww ... thanks for the good luck wishes. I had my pre-op appointment today and was impressed once again with my surgeon, the way he shares info, and just the overall vibe that I get with him. I have had so much positive feedback regarding his skills .. I am really pumped to be his patient. He let me know that he has his supply of the new AP bands in and that he expects to band me with the small one. He drew more pictures and shared more of his philosophy regarding wt loss with me as well as went over the post op diet one more time. They wanted to know what was up w/the 3 pounds that I gained since my last visit. I let them know that I've been on my 2007 Farewell To Food Tour (:heh: I got that from here), but my pre-op diet starts tomorrow so that's all over. I'm so ready to get this show on the road!!! :whoo:

Guilty as charged :embarassed:. I've been looking at gastric banding as an alternative for sooo long and it's almost as if I can't believe that I'm actually doing it now. Today made it seem real for me, though. I went for my pre-assessment appointment at the hospital, my upper g.i. and tomorrow is my last visit with my surgeon. Wednesday, the 7th is D-Day!! Thanks to you guys for the shopping list. I have almost everything, still need to find the liquid Tylenol. For some reason, I haven't seen it at either CVS I've been in. I start my 7 day liquid diet on the 10/31. I'm nervous but so excited. Time is starting to fly by ... surgery day will be here b4 I know it :faint::clap2:

thanks ragdoll! I guess I'll just go for it and stop worrying so much. Do you remember what documentation your surgeon's office submitted with your claim? BTW, you're doing GREAT! If I'm as successful in dropping the lbs as you have been, I guess all the drama will have been worth it.

Do you guys have BCBS fep basic or standard? I was told that they do pre-approve with basic in some cases, but not with standard. What's the deal???

I went to one of their informational sessions a few weeks ago and Dr. Robert said the new season starts airing in January (he didn't give a specific date). They were soliciting applicants for the show before the session started. If this one guy who was there makes it onto the show, his storyline is gonna be a hoot because he has BIG personality.

Hey, that's better than what immediately came to my mind ... The Turksters Now that's terrible :help::biggrin1: