blmelton

Before you eat, make sure to check with your doctor. They all have a different protocol that they follow. I was on liquids for two weeks and then went to mushies for two weeks. This progression of diet helped everything to heal and prevent band slippage. Drink slowly to get past the feeling of hunger. Best of luck as you begin your new journey to a more healthy you! :smile2::thumbup:

I am from Morehead City. I had my surgery 7-07 in Greenville with Dr.Chapman. I have lost 77 pounds since surgery (112 since orientation class 1-07). Would do it all over again! :thumbup:

najah27, You go girl! Keep up the exercise, and if you can increase the number of times to at least 5 times a week, I guarantee you that you will see good results on the scale as well as helping with the excess skin from the weight loss. Best of luck to you. I hope all of your preop appointments go well. The light at the end of the tunnel is nearing. Keep me posted! Barb :laugh:

dragonfly34, Best of luck as you venture down the road to a new and healthier you! I love Dr. Chapman and his staff. Personally, I have never had a problem. Lap Band surgery was the best thing I ever did for myself. :wink2:

Once they receive all of the preop test results from the various places (psych, nutritionist, x-ray, etc.), the team will review all of the results. Then you will have a visit for your decision. After that, they send everything to the insurance for approval and you will probably have a final preop type visit with Dr. Chapman. I know the anticipation is great, but the outcome will far exceed your wait. Review of your test results are a crucial part of the process. I had the lap band 7-07. I attended the seminar 1-07 and at that meeting we were told it could take anywhere from six months to a year for the surgery from that point depending on what preop tests were needed. I saw Dr.Chapman for the first time the end of 2-07. Preop visits were between 3-07 and early 6-07. If you are worried about being lost in the shuffle, call the office and choose the option to leave a message for the nurse. When she calls you back, make sure to let her know you just want to make sure you have done everything you needed to do and want to make sure they have all of the preop test back. In the end, you will be thankful they took their time in making sure you were a good candidate for this surgery. Please let me know if I can help. There is a llight at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there.:thumbup: Najah, I went in to my first visit persistent about the lap band. At first they were trying to persuade me to have the gastric bypass, but after my visit with the nutritionist and psych, they backed off. I think they look at your habits and try to help you make your decision based on those results. If you are someone who likes liquid calories (ice cream, shakes, etc), the band will not be your friend. It is only a tool to help you along your journey. You will have to develop an exercise program and change your current habits to be successful. Best of luck to you along your journey! Let me know if I can help. Lastly, do either of you live close to Morehead City? I am always looking for an exercise buddy.:frown: Barb

Do you have health insurance? A lot will really depend on that. I have Federal BCBS, so my first visit was only my co-pay. There is a lot of preop work that comes along with weight loss surgery, so on your journey you may see another provider such as nutritionist, mental health, etc. If that practice is not "in the network" for your insurance, then your out of pocket will be more. The first step if you are interested and have insurance will be to make sure you don't have to be referred by your primary care doctor. If not, call (252) 744-3810 to refer yourself to their program and get the ball rollling. They have a very specific program and you don't just call and get seen by a doctor. I love Dr. Chapman and the nurses that work for him (especially Anna and Paul). The small amounts I have paid along my journey far outweigh what I could have paid for health expenses in the future. Best of luck to you as you make your decision. If you have other questions, please feel free to email me @ barbara.melton@med.navy.mil . :thumbup:

No experience with Dr. Pender, but Dr. William Chapman @ ECU did mine and I have had the best experience ever.

I got this recipe from sparkpeople.com and it is just yummy! I have even left out the sour cream before and it was still just as good. :crying: INGREDIENTS 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup salsa 1 package reduced sodium taco seasoning 1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom Soup (condensed) 1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream DIRECTIONS Add chicken to slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken. Pour salsa and soup over chicken. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Serve with rice. NOTES: You may use half the packet of taco seasoning (I have started doing this to reduce sodium content myself) Some slow cookers cook faster than others. Mine is a true slow cooker (have had it over 10 years.) The newer ones cook a bit faster and you may have to adjust your cooking time based on that! Nutritional Info <LI class=servings>Servings Per Recipe: 6 <LI class=servings>Amount Per Serving Calories: 157.2 Total Fat: 3.3 g Cholesterol: 63.4 mg Sodium: 654.2 mg Total Carbs: 6.7 g<LI class=indent>Dietary Fiber: 0.9 g Protein: 24.3 g Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CHELLESHOCKED.