Band Aid mom

I have my surgery (band) next month and the only thing the office has said about Vitamins is get a chewable Multivitamin. Maybe this is just their starting point for pre-surgery? Do you have any other recommendations? I see people taking B-12, Vitamin D, etc. and just wondering why, or if I need to get those before surgery to take after surgery? Also, what is the reason for the additional vitamins as related to WLS? Thanks for the help!

I felt the same way- never quite knowing if I was in the green zone or not but once I hit it for sure, I knew! I don't think you are quite there yet, but you sound like you're getting close. Once I hit it, I absolutely had to follow the eating rules or I would get stuck for sure. Now that I am there and am following the rules (small bites, eat slower, chew, chew, chew) it takes me 20 to 30 minutes to eat and I am full most meals on 1/2 cup. Also, I don't get hungry very often so I have to remind myself to eat. I have lost most of my cravings and am now eating for nutritional purposes instead of pleasure. On the rare occasion that I do have a craving I make sure I get my Protein in first and sometimes I still want it, but most times I don't. What a great feeling!! Good luck and just remember your rules!

I had my surgery on a Thursday and felt like I could have gone back to work by Monday. Just a little sore at that point.

Cinnamon, dinner, yeast, egg- actually all rolls abandoned!! Seriously though, I have abandoned the "I can't do that because I'm too big" role! I feel so free and there really isn't much that I won't at least try! If it doesn't work out right now, then maybe in another 20 pounds I'll try it again.

Just a thought, but I think the Healthcare Marketplace plans in NY cover WLS. You might check into one of those?

Isn't that an awesome feeling!! Congratulations My first NSV is being able to trim my toenails without having discomfort and feeling like a contortionist!! I can actually get to them easily now!

Depends on what your doc/nut recommends. My doc/nut said I could start mushies 7 days after surgery and stay on them for 2 weeks. Mushies, they said, is basically anything you can cut with a fork.

Does anyone know if the self pay rate with True Results includes the anesthesiologist?

Me too!!

My daughter was self pay and yes, she received a bill for almost $2500. When she asked if there would be any additional charges at the time she paid True Results, she was told no that would cover it. Guess she will need to call and speak with them about it.

I made Soups and ran them through the blender until there was no visible chunks- veggie beef, potato leek, broccoli cheese, and veggie chicken. At least it was a little more savory instead of the constant sweet taste and helped a lot!! I'm not sure what your doctor's recommendation was but my doctor said anything that would go through a straw was ok- just don't use a straw. Had hubby do the straw test and when they passed inspection, I indulged

My best friend and I were just having this conversation last night. She was talking/asking my opinion about her decision to have breast reconstruction after double mastectomy. She was saying that she wasn't sure she wanted to go through that on top of everything else she has been through so far. I can understand!! She also asked me if I was going to have PS after I lose all the weight and I told her I really didn't think so. It is much different now (in my 50's) than it was say if I was in my 20's. My husband loves and supports me fat, thin, saggy skin, etc. He came up to me last night and said he feels my skin on my lower belly feels much more "squishy". Didn't mean it in a bad way, just was making an observation. I gave him a "look" and he immediately gave me a hug and said he loves it- sweet man!! Maybe it would be different if I wasn't in a relationship?? Not sure.

I think my point of view on surgery for my children changed when my youngest started having health issues this past year due to obesity. She has had a rough road in her twenties. At 21 she was a pedestrian hit by a car going 25 mph. The doctor told us the only thing that saved her life was being overweight when it happened. She was laid up for about 6 months and the weight just packed on more due to depression and not moving much for that long. Both girls are much heavier than me and years of dieting/exercise has never had a lasting effect. I want them to get a handle on this now so they are not plagued with health issues that can cause them permanent damage down the road. Ultimately they are adults and made their own decisions, but I felt at this time, I could support their decisions wholeheartedly.

I considered having it 10 years ago but decided to try it on my own- and lost 60 pounds. Slowly that has crept back and then some. I decided to give it another try and no luck at all, so here I am one week post op. So I guess now was my time. My youngest daughter wanted to have lapband 3 years ago (she was 22) but I discouraged her because she was not ready to make the commitment that was needed and I was very worried for her health and safety with that mindset. Now she is in a place that she is fully aware of what it will take and has the desire to make it work. Both her and her sister (26 yrs old) had surgery on the same day as me. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and doors of opportunity open when they are supposed to, so I guess my answer is, I would not have changed a thing. I think this was perfect timing for all of us so we could support and encourage each other through this. Well, maybe there is one thing I would change and that would be these darned genetics that gave us such crummy metabolism!

Hang in there Mare81- it does get better! Everyone heals and responds differently and I can only give you my experience, but I am more than happy to help any way I can. I am only one week in and am certainly no expert, but it is fresh on my mind. I really do feel like walking and keeping fairly active was the key to my success. I was up walking morning and evening from the moment we reached home Thursday afternoon. I used ice packs religiously for the first 24 hours, then switched to a heating pad for the next couple of days. Both of my daughter had lapband on the same day I did and they were about a day behind my schedule, but by Sunday, everyone was feeling sore but good.

Yes, mine was that way right after surgery as well. As a matter of fact, that was the first thing I complained of coming out of surgery. Gas X, the karate chops on back and walking helped tremendously and for me it was gone by the end of the second day. Be sure and breath deep occassionally as well- that seemed to help too, even though it was uncomfortable to do at the time. I had my surgery at 10 am on Thursday 2/12 and by end of day Friday I was just sore in tummy area. Good luck!

My 2 daughters and I are scheduled for lap band surgery 2/12/15 (my poor husband LOL :-). I am excited, anxious, happy, nervous- you name it, I've probably felt it. I am thrilled that my daughters will have the opportunity to get control of their weight earlier in life than I did, and will not have to go through the aches and pains and health issues that come with being overweight all your life. With all that being said, we still could use all the support we can get. If anyone is interested in joining us for our journey, we would love the company :-)!! Larger support systems just make it that much easier. Here's to a healthier, successful 2015 and beyond!

Wooohooo all done and went extremely well! Day 1 was the worst and not as bad as anticipated. All 3 of us had our last dose of pain meds less than 2r hrs after surgery. Even soreness is pretty much gone this am. We have been moving alot though so we dont get stiff. All in all not anywhere near as bad as i thought it would be!

That is awesome Cruehead!! It looks like you have been very successful too. Day after tomorrow we get to start our journey and I am soooo excited!

I guess I knew that at first the restriction would be minimal, but from what I have read on here it looks like hunger will be minimal the first week or so too. I was relieved though when the doctor said it is not so much what you eat, but the consistency. I like broth and could probably have made it a week but I was much happier when I heard that I can have actual Soups ground to nothingness LOL. I can eat Soup all day, every day, so I think I will be ok. And my daughter likes smoothies, so she was happy when she found out she can do a vanilla Protein shake with ice and some fresh fruit. I think the key will be to change it up so you don't feel like there is nothing to eat. Today my plan is to make 4 different soups (chicken veggie, cauliflower potato leek with bacon, broccoli cheese with a little ham and vegetable beef), let them cool, throw into blender and make sure it can go through a straw then put 3/4 cup in ziplock containers and throw in the freezer for quick access. I also bought some unflavored Protein powder than can be added before eating (have to be careful though because it turns to nastiness if you add when the soup is 140 degrees or over- found that out the hard way with testing). I'm scouring the internet today to have other ideas and will try to prepare other things so we are not stuck with the usual liquid diet fare. I am seriously hoping that will be the key to staying satisfied through this! I will let you know how it's going next weekend when the rubber meets the road LOL!

Could the BP have been nerves? Hopefully the weight loss will correct it if not. That is one of my goals- to get off BP meds. I live south.

Oh, were you the person that asked Lana if we could meet with the doctor individually? If so, now I can place who you are! After my bloodwork came back they called and said they wanted me on 4 weeks instead of 2- something about my cholesterol they didn't like. It's weird because I just had my routine bloodwork done January of last year and my PCP said it looked fine- not sure what changed in a year since my diet didn't really change, but that's ok. I will have the prettiest LITTLE liver he ever saw! LOL

Yes!! That was us! There were so many people in that room that unfortunately I cannot place you. Are you having yours in Austin or SA? It's funny- I'm nervous and anxious when I think of the girls getting it done (guess that's a mom thing) but not so much for myself. I'm excited and ready to be moving on with it. I have enjoyed losing the weight pre-op (I had 4 weeks of pre-op diet instead of 2 like everyone else) but sure will be happier when I'm not constantly feeling hungry doing it!! We will have to keep in touch through this journey! I'd love to have a little hometown support Do you live north or south?

I called my insurance company (BCBS of TX) yesterday to see how the predetermination was coming along, only to find out the Dr. office did not submit it!!!! I called Dr. office to see what was going on and they had a "glitch" in their new computer system and it didn't submit on 1/2/15 like it should have. So, they tell me that we may have to postpone a couple of weeks because their experience is that it usually takes 4 weeks for the insurance to respond. GRRRRRRR!!!!!! So, my question is this- do any of you have any thoughts/experience on what I can do to speed the insurance company up, or is that just nonsensical thinking? Oh, one more question. Does anyone have BCBS of TX and how long did it actually take to get the predetermination back? (I know it's individual, but just curious) Thanks!

Wooooohoooooo! We got our approvals today! Preop appointment set for this Thursday and then surgery next Thursday. I am soooo excited!