JaxBandster

I only had one major attack and that was enough for me to get the surgery done right away. I think it was within a couple of weeks and during that time I watched what I ate to make sure I avoided a reoccurence. It was definitely something I didn't want to repeat. I had pain so bad it made me nauseous. I know that some people will have periodic episodes depending on if the stones are restricting the flow of bile (or something like that). I didn't have a blockage so didn't have to have emergency surgery but if they had said I should have surgery that night I would have done it! Do some research on the Internet about signs and symptoms and see what you find out, but it sure sounds like gall bladder to me.

LOL I was going to say the same thing. I gave it a try but it was just too hard to read. Good luck and I'm glad you are excited! You will do great.

There are many pros and cons between the two, but in a nutshell..... The bypass is faster but there are more risks and it is permanent. The band is slower but less risky and reversible. There is also less risk of malnutrition with the band. Just read as much as you can about both and do what you feel is best for you.

Have you contacted your doctor about this? If so, what did they say?

Nana What does your diet consist of?

Oh Ahi Tuna is going to be my new best friend. I'll be learning how to sear tuna steaks all sorts of ways!

That all depends on the doctor and if you are going through insurance. He will tell you everything you need to know when you meet with him. Everyone goes through some sort of process and rarely are any of them alike. Some people have psych evaluations some don't. Some people have to go on extended pre-op diets, others don't. Every surgeon is different so unfortunately there is no simple answer to your question. Just meet with your surgeon and he will show you the way! Good luck!

Dear Cheryl Congratulations on getting the process going! I know it seems a long time coming but the time will pass quickly and you will be on your way before you know it. Good luck!

Read everything you can get your hands on and follow your doctor's advice to the T. You will do great! Good luck!!!!!

All I can suggest is to read read read and read some more. That is all I did before I even began posting here and on other sites I'm on. I just wanted to read about all the ups and downs and really get a feel for what the banded life is like. I now know that it won't be easy, that I will have challenges for the rest of my life even with the band, but that the band will help me if I use it correctly. I think on line and live support groups are very important because there is always something to know and I know that as I continue my journey I will need to talk to people who understand what I'm going through. You have found a good place! Good luck!

Hi Bling You will be very happy to know that there are many live support groups in the DFW area and also a VERY good on line yahoo group. I don't even live in Texas and I am a member of their group because it is so good and so supportive. That group and this group have helped me so much in preparing for my surgery and my new life. The yahoo group is DFWBandsters. Good luck in your journey!

I had one appt with the nutritionist so she could explain to me the food program that I would be on both before surgery and after surgery once I get back on "real" food. I am on a high protein, low carb plan (30 gms a day). Was your doctor referring to something more extensive? If you are trying to get insurance to cover a portion of your procedure, you may have to be under a medically supervised diet for 3 to 6 months depending on your insurance. If you are self-pay, you don't have to jump through those hoops.

Just a word of advice, be very careful and dilligent about reading the labels on your drinks. I guess K20 is high in protein is very high in carbs as well. So is Muscle Milk. Make sure you take that into consideration when calculating your daily food intake. If your carbs are too high you will sabotage your weight loss.

Good luck Debbie and welcome to the bandster way of life!

I haven't been banded yet but from my understanding your full feeling is different than it was before. It is important to recognize that feeling so you don't overeat and PB. I also understand that after your surgery you will initially have some restriction from swelling, but that when the swelling goes down so does the restriction and you enter what is known as Bandster Hell. That period of time between surgery and before you get your first fill that will begin to help you feel full. I guess this is a very difficult time for many bandsters and you just have to suffer through it. I have heard that eating a lot of Protein will help ease the hunger pains. Make sure you keep your carb level low as you will end up putting on weight. It sometimes takes several or more fills to get to your sweet spot. During this time you need to depend as much as you can on willpower and sheer determination to succeed. Once you get to your sweet spot then the band will help you to stay on track.

If you go to support groups, in Geographical Regions, and narrow down the location to US/Florida, you will find a support group for Jacksonville Bandsters there. There are a few of us at the moment. We are all hoping to get together maybe in February just to have our own small support group and of course have our on line support here. I am also going to Dr. Cywes. Wednesday is my pre-op appt. Have already done the nutritionist and weight counselor appt. Just waiting on my EKG report which hopefully I will have by Wednesday. My surgery date is on February 7th at the Surgery Center in Jax Beach. I am self pay so am opting for the Surgery Center over the hospital in order to save a few thousand bucks! Hope to see you all over on the Jacksonville group!

I had a major gall bladder attack (rushed to the ER cause I thought I was having a heart attack). Pain was severe in the middle of my chest then radiated around the left side. Definitely sounds like it could be gall bladder. Did they do an ultrasound on you?

Hi! I don't have my band yet but I would suggest taking down the carbs. My doctor has me on a low carb diet pre-op and I will continue the same diet once I am able to resume solid foods after surgery. I have lost nine lbs in one and a half weeks and it was mostly all fat and very little Water weight. I know that you and I are at opposite spectrums of the journey but like one person said, sometimes it helps to change up your eating patterns as your body gets set in its ways. I keep my carbs around 30 gms a day so it isn't as strict as the induction phase of Atkins but I still really have to watch what I'm eating. Absolutely no bread, rice, Pasta, potatoes or anything sugary. Try it for two weeks and see if it helps. Good luck in reaching your goal!!!!

My doctor also has me on Bariatric Advantage chewable multi Vitamins and the chewable calcium tablets. They want me on 1000 mg of calcium a day and they say that the Multivitamins have the highest calcium content around. They recommend the calcium in case I don't get up to 1000 mg between the multivitamins and my daily food intake.

My nutritionist told me to get the chewable Multivitamins from Bariatric Advantage as they have 600 mg of Calcium which they say is more than just about any Multivitamin. They also told me to get the chewable calcium tabs in the even I didn't consume anything during the day that contained calcium. They want me to get in 1000 mg of calcium a day. Hope this helps

Also, continue to watch your carbs. Eat your Protein first, then veggies then carbs (if you have room). Even if you have the band, if all you eat are carbs it will impede your weight loss. After I get my band and move back to real food, I will still be on a very low carb diet of 30 gms of carbs a day. I won't be able to move that number up until after I've lost all my weight and even then I will need to keep it at around 80. I am one and a half weeks into my pre-op low carb diet and have lost a little over nine lbs and that is eating almost all the meat and veggies I want (i.e. no restriction from band). Try it and see.

LOL, I did that in my early 20's (25 years ago), had a good time, made a lot of money. Might even have done it again if I were young and had the body for it but those days are over.

LOL, that's funny. I was in a public restroom today and went into a regular stall and thought to myself that I needed to added "not having to use the handicap stall" to my list!

I was at my insurance agent's office today on another matter and mentioned to her that I was having Lap-band surgery in a few weeks. I am currently unemployed and have no insurance to cover my surgery so I am making other financial arrangements to cover it out of pocket. She proceeded to inform me about a type of major medical policy for people who do not have insurance that will reimburse a portion of your surgery/physician/anesthesia expense (plus other expenses if need be). The premiums vary, but the plan I am looking at is $61 a month. Once you have the surgery you can cancel the policy, so you are essentially just having coverage for a month. The amount reimbursed varies depending on the insurance but I am looking at getting back as much as $2,000 to cover some of my expenses. It's not a ton but is more than 10% of the cost of my surgery which is nothing to sneeze at. Just thought this was really interesting and something that people may want to look into if they are having to dig into personal savings or using credit to cover their surgery. (P.S. They will also write policies on plastic surgery as well).

I recently found out from my insurance provider that you can get a supplemental private medical insurance which will help offset costs of surgery even if the surgery is voluntary (This included plastic surgery). My insurance is Allstate and the policy is offered through American Heritage Life which Allstate owns. To provide an example of the benefits, for my premium of $84 (which is the most expensive) I will get back $720 for my ambulatory surgery (hospitalization less than 24 hours). I will then get back $130 per office visit. 30% of my anesthesia expenses will be reimbursed. For the surgery itself, I will get back anywhere from $72-$1,800 depending on the surgery. That's a pretty good return for my $84. The policy can be terminated after one month so depending on how long it takes you to get your surgery, you could only have to pay for one month. My surgery is in less that three weeks so I should be able to do that. My agent said that she can write policies in most states and that if she can't she would be happy to refer to an agent in that state. She is very nice and I am sure that she would be happy to discuss the particulars with anyone who wants to give her a call. She is not high pressure or anything. My agent's name and number is Karalee Sievert 904-819-0595 Hope this helps someone offset co-pays, deductible or self-pay expenses.