DebC

Hi Megan. I was certain I wanted the surgery. I had been researching and thinking about it for a year. I didn't think I could afford it...then I decided I couldn't afford NOT to. I have multiple health problems relating to my weight. But...I will say about 4 days post-op I started thinking "what on earth have I done to myself". I was really depressed for a couple of days, then I told my friend about it who had just had the same surgery (we work togther...how cool is that!) and she started laughing and said she thought the same thing. So I guess it is normal to wonder that after you do it, but now I am so glad I did do it...except when it comes time to make the payment....arrrrg!

Alida, I also have sleep apnea, have had for the past 4 years, also got diabetes and high blood pressure. I know how hard it is to try and sleep with that contraption on your face, but...remember it's there to save your life! Try and use it. Keep in mind having the surgery does not magically make the apnea go away. You will need to loose a minimum of 25% of your body weight before that becomes a possiblity. There is no guarantee, but most peoples' apnea goes away. I sure hope so. If you google lap band surgery, the web is full of information. The band has like a ring around it that they can fill with saline. They don't do this until 4-6 weeks after surgery though. It takes time to heal, then they begin slowly filling the band until you feel restriction when you eat a small amount, you feel satisfied. There are alot of do's and don'ts though. Some docs have you on a liquid diet pre-op for 2 weeks to shrink the liver so it's not in the way when they do the surgery, then you are on a liquid diet post-op. The time varies among docs. Complications should be to a min. if you follow your docs instructions. If you try and eat solid food too soon after surgery your band could slip and they would have to go back in and fix it. If you eat foods on the "don't eat" list, it could get stuck in the opening to the stomach. It won't kill you, just make you very uncomfortable. Their are very few complications with the band, which is why I chose it. And of course there is just the normal surgery risks, which would go for any surgery or anytime you are put under. Hope this helped a little. This site also has a host of information, it has helped me alot

Not really an issue. You can't drive the day of the surgery of course, but as soon as you feel well enough, you can drive. I drove 2 days after with no problem, the only problem was getting in and out of the car, it can be painful if you move wrong

Yup, just put all in the crockpot raw. I start out on high til it comes to a bubble then turn to low for about 5 or 6 hrs. For sandwiches for family, I use buns and swiss cheese. You can also brown onions and green peppers if you want. My hubbies just loves these sandwiches. And me...I love the broth! Enjoy!

yes you could actually use any cut of lean beef, the crockpot tenderizes it. Yes the italian dressing mix in the evelope. Don't worry bout the questions...that's ok. Try it out, it really helped

Minidee...yes the liquid diet is hard. Although I didn't feel much like eating the first 4 days or so. But here is a couple things I did which helped. I love egg drop soup. So I had my hubby go get a couple orders of it, I strained the egg out and ate the broth...yummie! Then another day I made mock italian beef for hubby in the crockpot. I put a round steak, 2 cans beef broth and 1 pkg. italian dressing mix, cook about 6 hrs. in crockpot, then when I took the meat out for him, I strained the broth and drank that for a couple of days, these are much better than the broth you buy in a can. Just having the flavor helped me through. I ate alot of SF jello too

I have to take alot of medications because I am diabetic have high BP and cholesterol. I was told to check with the pharmacy to make sure my pills can be crushed, which I did. If they can't be crushed or cut then they will have to change your meds. I was told that as long as it is no larger than a baby aspirin I could take it, but because I have to take so many I crush them....yuky! Man it's bitter, but we do what we have to do. I am hoping eventually to get off all the meds. For those who are anxious about the surgury, go to the library and get the book by Kaliha Ali "Fighting Weight". It is a fantastic book and describes her experience with being banded as well as how she had to fight weight all her life. I highly recommend it! Yes there are alot of hoops to jump through, but well worth the trouble. I'm not sorry at all I did it. And I figure there will be plenty of holidays

I found the low carb high protein shakes by Atkins are not too bad. I was on a pre-op diet of 3-5 shakes a day and only crystal lite, tea or coffee in between. Then they said if it got hard then I could substitute a boneless, skinless chicken breast for 1 shake. Which I did. It helped me get through the 2 weeks. I would grill my chicken breast for my evening meal and eat it really, really slow to make it last. Man I even wanted to lick the plate! LOL. The first few days was the hardest.

I was banded on Thursday and returned to work for 1/2 day on Sat. then had Sun & Mon off then returned on Tues. I would rather have had more time off, but I was out of vacation time, so I had to go back. I work at a desk and it is pretty layed back. It still is uncomfortable, but I get up and walk alot and that seems to help. If you got the time ...take it. I would have if I could have

I had to do a pre-op diet for 2 weeks prior to my surgery. The first week was kinda hard. My stomach growled alot, but the second week was a little easier. I had my surgery Nov. 1st. I have very little interest in food. I have to pretty much force myself to "drink" something. I'm still on the liquid stage of post op. I think it is different for everyone. I don't feel like that "pass out" type of hunger. I'm still swollen from the surgery so even just a small amount of liquid makes me feel bloated. I sometimes get that "bored" type of hunger where I would just like to munch on something, but SF popsicles help. Or I might have a SF jello or pudding. The hardest part was the pre-op liquid diet of protein shakes and lots & lots of crystal light! But it is something I really wanted so I did what I needed to do. If you really want something you will pretty much do whatever to get it

I am still on the "liquid" stage, but I don't mind fixing hubby's dinner. I want to make sure he is eating healthy so I fix it for him, otherwise he would just eat junk. I actually enjoy doing it. At least I can have "something" to do with food lol

I was on the pre-op diet for 2 weeks before surgery. It is extremely difficult, but it can be done if you want this bad enough. My dr. said if it got too hard I could substitute a boneless, skinless chicken breast for one of my shakes, which I did in the evening. It kinda gave me something to look forward to at dinner. I ate really slow and that is what got me through. Now I can't have the chicken breast, but it's ok, cause I'm not all that hungry. Banded Nov. 1, 2007

Hi all, I finally got approval for my surgery. I was supposed to have it Mon. the 29th of Oct., but not all my cardiology tests came back in time and I failed the nuclear part. I was so bummed. I went to my cardiologist yesterday and she said the EKG was fine, just concerned my ticker isn't pumping as good as it should, but said low risk surgery should be fine. I still have to get an echo, but after surgery! I am so glad. I have been on the post-op shake diet for over 2 weeks now. I go for surgery Nov. 1st. Dr. Nirmul out of Scottsdale AZ will be doing the "honors":). I'm sure all will go well.

I am getting banded on Thurs. Nov. 1. I wish I could take more time, but I am out of vacation, so I plan on taking Thurs. & Fri, I have to work 1/2 day on Sat. Then I get Sun. & Mon. off, so if I can just get thru Sat. I should be ok. At least Sat. is pretty light, I just sit at a computer, so I won't have to be moving around much.

I smoked for 41 years with the exception of a 2 year period I had quit, but started up again. I had been wanting to quit for some time because I developed such a bad cough. When I decided to have surgery I had to quit to pay for it! Good incentive! Anyway I have quit now for 11 days and honestly it has not been as hard as I thought it would. I will admit I use the gum, but I think more about not being able to have food than the smokes! (Pre-op diet). I guess I figured I was going to be miserable on the pre-op diet might as well go all out. I am so glad I quit now, during the pre-op tests I had to get a nuclear stress test and the blood flow to my heart is ok, but they think my heart is not pumping to full capacity, so I guess it's a good thing I quit. Plus I was nervous cause they kept saying if you smoke you can have complications, not sure what, but didn't want to take any chances. Getting banded Thurs. Nov. 1

Thanks all for your support. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I go the the cardiologist tomorrow. They have the other records. I'm shcheduled for surgury Thurs. hopefully I won't have to re-schedule again. I'll post tomorrow when I get home from the Dr. One this is nice, being on the post-op diet I have lost 18 lbs. already

Was all set for my surgery on Mon. the 29th, pending ok by a cardiologist. Had to get a nuculear stress test. So I went to get the results today and get my ok for surgery and the nuculear part of the test came back abnormal:cry and the stress part was not in yet. So we had to cancel surgery and reschedule pending cardiologst ok. I go Mon. to get the stress results. This happened to me 3 years ago, I had a nuculear done it came back abnormal so they did a cath....and my heart was normal, so they called the cardiologst that did my cath to get the records and they will compare them, if it looks like the same thing they will more than likely ok it, otherwise I will have to have another cath done....arrrrggg! I have been on the pre-op diet for 2 weeks now who knows how long I will have to be on the "pre-op" diet:cry

Thanks, I have been on insulin also. I take 7 meds, can't wait til I don't have to anymore. I haven't been taking any insulin, I kept getting low blood sugar, but I keep a close eye on my numbers. Good luck with your insurance. Wish mine would cover it....it's crazy, it's to their benefit!

Hi all, I just registered. My surgury is scheduled for Oct. 29th, of course pending a nuclear stress test...yuk! Had one before...not fun. I have been on the "shake" diet for 1 1/2 weeks now...(yuki) lost 15 lbs and my liver should have shrunk by now! I have diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure all from my weight! I'm a little nervous, not so much about the surgery, but more the lifestyle change that is taking place....and I know it's for the "REST" of my life. I need to loose 140 lbs., of course less the 15 I have already lost. I have been looking into the lapband for over a year now...didn't think I would get financed, but I did, so here I go . Sure will be glad to get off the "shakes", although I must admit I am getting used to them now. Gave me really loose stools the first week, better this week. Which is a good thing considering I have to walk a tread mill tomorrow...lol...I was a little concerned about that.