purplegoddess

HI guys! Wanted to post this here...I have a tentative date for my band to sleeve surgery--September 5. My insurance requires a 90 day supervised program that I just finished the first 1/3 of. That will be done in EArly August, which will give me a month to get the insurance OK. If it all goes as hoped, I will have sx on September 5. I have a 2.5 week break from grad school then, so I am hoping that everything works as scheduled. Looking forward to talking with my fellow monthlies as time gets closer...anyone else doing band to sleeve at that time?

Also a L&D nurse and my doc recomended 4 weeks off. I'm going to take the time. We have a extended sick leave bank and I should have enough hours accumulated to take the time off. Looking forward to hearing your success story!

HI there, I got my lapband 1/07. I was over 250 lbs, and really liked it for the first year. Then the trouble started--throwing up all the time, hungry all the time--it was horrible. My weight did drop to 185, but that was when I couldn't keep ANYTHING down. I had the band loosened and my weight shot right back up. And I'm still dealing with hunger and vomiting and stuck food issues. So, now it's been almost 3 years, and I'm done with the band. Done. I found out that the doc who did my lap band now does gastric sleeves, and even better, it is an approved procedure now with my insurance. So, I'm going to start talking about a revision. My one concern is qualification--my BMI is now around 37 with no significant co-morbidities. Does anyone know, considering it's a revision, do insurances still use the BMI of 40 as a hard limit for qualifying for surgery. Also, do most people get this done in one surgery or two? How long were you out of work after the revision? Thanks for everyone's help.

I've had migraines for the last few years and was banded in January. The last month, my headaches have been more frequent and severe. I don't *think* they are related to diet or the band, but I'm not sure. I take the same headache meds since being banded as I did before. I drink a lot of Water or crystal lite (usually close to what I'm supposed to) and almost always meet my Protein goal. Anyone with migraines have more trouble with them after being banded?

I love sushi, but now it's sashimi only. I can't have even a little rice in the rolls. The sushi rice is particularly sticky and makes for a painful stuck food issue.

Me too! I'm a L and D nurse, graduated nursing school in 2002. I also have a BS in health education. I love what I do--I'm starting a new position in a few weeks with CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) in their brand new Special Delivery Unit. I had my band in Jan 08 and am down about 26lbs. I wish it was faster, but I'm happy. My biggest issue is my 12 hour night shifts. For one, they are horrible on my body and a prime contributer to my migraines. However, they are also rough for eating. I pack healthy food, but some days I'm just so tired I find myself making dumb choices.

I have migraines and have had trouble both before the band and after. I haven't found a perfect med regime for me (topomax doesn't work, unfortunately). Splenda is ok for me, but NutraSweet is a trigger, so I've had to be careful. Sorry, I wish I could say that the band was an instant cure for my migraines, but they have been the same or even worse. Hopefully when my weight stabilizes (I'm only 3 months out from my surgery) my migraines will stabilize too.

I did fine last night...unfortunatly I had snacked on haroset all day (fruit and nut mixture) so I had room for a little matzo ball soup and that's it(it had chicken so I got plenty of protein). My family tells me I made a lovely turkey and yummy side dishes, and an amazing dessert, but I was too full to enjoy. I really wanted a bite of the dessert too (baked stuffed pears) but that's ok.

Hi all, I'm in the middle of cooking for Passover tonight, and I have no idea how much of what I'm making I'll be able to taste, let alone eat. I'm making turkey and veggies in the middle of it all, so I know I'll be fine with that. What about matzo? I'm assuming that it is a no-go like bread is, but how are small pieces? Matzo balls in my fantastic Soup? Does anyone know if I can have a few bites? I'm skipping the feels-like-lead no-flour Desserts in lieu of baked pears, I know that should be ok. Now, back to my kitchen!:thumbup:

I just got my second fill yesterday...I'm up to 4.5cc in a 10cc band. I felt some restriction after the first fill, but it went away. I'm hopeful about this time, but who knows?

Have you looked into the Health at Every Size people? Health at Every Size - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is a good place to start looking at links. The philosophy is to be the healthiest you can be, not to loose weight, so I'm not sure if it is what you are looking for.

I have been off caffiene since my pre-op diet (banded 1/22) and just started re-introducing it to my diet. I have migraines, and I'm back on caffiene at the ADVICE of my neurologist. He thinks that might be why my headaches have been worse since being banded. I make a pitcher of iced tea every day (half caffiene, half herbal) and drink it throughout the day.

Eccedrine Migraine has Aspirin, which has some risk of bleeding, so many docs will advise it only in moderation. Eccedrine tension headache, however, has only acetaminophen and caffiene, and is a safer choice.

I've gotten a few, mainly from the other nurses at work: "You're not that fat--you don't need the surgery." Hello, you're wearing a small in scrubs and I'm in a 2XL. Thanks for the compliment (not!)? "Why don't you just get RNY and get it over with?" Ummm...many reasons. I chose my surgery for what was best for me. And, "get it over with?" Yeah, my weight loss is slower then those with RNY, but I feel it is the healthier choice. Then, there are all the women who want to lose 20-30 pounds who keep asking me about the band because they "are thinking about it". Ummm...with a BMI around 30? You must be self pay then...this isn't for losing 20 pounds, this is for life!

mbanja, I hear you about the topomax. I had been on it, and just stopped due to spacy-ness and memory loss. Plus, it did nothing for my migraines--maybe at a higher dose it would have, but at that point the side effects would have even been worse. I'm going to do a week with no artificial sweeteners and see if it makes a difference. Mint iced tea (herbal--no caffiene) is a good option and all natural.

1 fill at the 6 week mark, 3.5 in a 10 cc band. I had really good restriction for the first 2 weeks after the fill, and now I'm starting to have less restriction. I'm due to go back in a few weeks for fill #2. Can't wait!

Yep, he's my surgeon. Did my first fill today too. But I think that might be a crazy long drive from State College.

I had about two hours of intense shoulder pain...as I was driving home. It was horrible. Thankfully it passed. It was a horrible sensation.

I don't know where in central PA you are...if you are up to the drive to Philly, I recomend Dr. Boe at Barix in Langhorne. However, that might be too far for you.

You should be able to take narcotic pain relievers, it's NSAIDS that some doctors want you to avoid. Double check with your surgeon--they might switch you to a liquid form. As to exercise...you will lose with the band and proper diet without exercise...just slower. However, is there any way you can get *some* exercise or physical therapy--especially in the Water. People with back problems tend to do better in the water than any other type of exercise. And you may very well be able to get insurance to cover some PT sessions.

You've had 3 fills!? I'm liking your doctor right now! My conservative doc has my first fill scheduled for this week (6 weeks out). Good luck on your goal! Sounds like you are doing great.

I made a quiche last night for breakfasts for the next few days. no crust...just eqqs, bisquick, cheese and mushrooms. It's amazing. I just need a small piece. Snack: Cappucino Protein shake My favorite lunch is when I splurge and grab sushi at the grocery store. I eat half the rice. dinner I've been eating what my family eats, just less. I haven't had my first fill yet, so that might change after I start to have restriction.

Merry Meet! I wanted to introduce myself here! I've been Wiccan for my whole adult life. I was raised Jewish, and never lost that heritage, so I consider myself a Jew-Witch. Which also makes me a kitchen witch by default LOL. I had my lap band last month and I'm in bandster hell. I haven't lost a pound since my inintial weight loss (during the liquids phase). But I go next week for my first fill, and I'm looking forward to that. Even if I just maintain till then, I'm still down 15 lbs since 1/1 so that's something. I'm so glad you started this thread! We could probably chat in the Religeon--other board easily too.

I admit it--I used be be a diet coke addict. I work night shift, and caffiene was the only thing that got me through. Diet coke was the beverage of choice, but I would drink other caffinated beverages too. I have been soda free and caffiene free for over a month now. I have totally kicked those habits. I had a sip of my DH's diet coke recently and thought it tasted nasty. I need to focus on these kinds of victories--my surgeon is conservative and won't do a fill till the 6 week mark, so I haven't had my first fill yet. What other victories have people had?

Eccedrine Tension Headache is 500MG Tylenol plus Caffiene. It works really well if you are trying to avoid NSAIDS. I start with that for Migraines...then I progress to Fiorcet, which is tylenol, caffiene and a muscle relaxer. I'm also on Topamax to prevent migraines. On top of THAT, I have back pain--my motivator for my lap band surgery. I take NSAIDS as needed under my general doctor's care and with my surgeon's OK pre-surgery I was on a prescription NSAID, but recently, I've just needed a Aleve or two.