Wheetsin

The best - IMO - at the pet store you can buy a product called Nature's Miracle. It's an active enzyme odor remover, meaning it doesn't just clean/mask the odor, but it actually dissolves it out of the carpet. It's what we used when housebreaking our puppy. It will actually work on any biological smell (and even stains). Just blot up what you can, saturate with this stuff, and let it dry. It gets out the dog pee smell 110%. I promise I'm not a salesman, just thrilled I found this when housebreaking the dog. :confused: http://www.epinions.com/content_21571997316 If you still just want to clean the area afterward, use a little oxi-clean in Water. Works wonders.

I can't say anything about fill b/c I haven't had one yet, but the referred shoulder pain is a definite possibility, and the diaphragm is a definite possible antagonist. So is a hiatal hernia (and about 30 other things). I know a lot of people here had hiatals pre-op -- did you by any chance?

I don't know what the workplace rules are in Portugal, but here that's enough to get someone terminated. He didn't handle the cakes situation well, either. Regardless of whether you eat them or not, he should never approach it as, "someone complained..." How clueless. As for being stretched for cash - and you being unsure - aren't you the one who could wait a year and have it free? If you don't feel sure about it, I would suggest waiting until you do. You will not want to go into something like this with uncertainty. Maybe you could take the waiting time and use it to finalize your decision. Then, if/when you are ready, not only will your emotional state & hopefully working conditions be better, but your surgery will also be free and you won't have to be strapped for $. Just a thought. I hate to see people head into something like this w/o feeling 100% confident, in their heart of hearts, about their decision.

Yes they are. As for erosion - not sure. I have my own personal theories, but they're just that and not based on any numbers, just reasoning. I don't know if by-band erosion statistics have been run, you might want to peruse the Inamed literature and see if you can find anything there.

CLOE, we have similar weightloss goals. If I lose 200# from my surgery date I will be at 180. Several months ago I posted on another board asking for people who have lost that much to speak up and I got a TON of responses, it was so great to read! You might want to see this thread. It's posted for 100+, but there are some who have lost around the amount I'm looking to lose.

The VanGuard band is one model of Lap-Band. My surgeon uses two bands, the VanGuard (holds 10cc) and the 10cm (holds 4cc). I don't think he'd use both if the stats were different, it depends on your organ size. And some docs use only one, regardless. The VG band has an innately larger opening, suited for larger organs. The ones I have seen also fill with "pillows" instead of a ring. I thought I was getting the VG band and enjoyed the thought of the pillows, come to find out I have the 10cm. Here are those two bands compared (I THINK they're the most frequently used):

My scale goes to 340. Actually it will go higher, but it's only guaranteed accurate up to 340. Right now I have it set so that when it's at zero, it actually reads 7# because that scale runs 7# higher than my surgeon's -- that way I can have some idea of what my weight is relative to his scale, even when I don't have an appt. Lately my scale hasn't been working well (hence the up-in-the-air weigh-in update for today). I step on it and it goes straight to one number and sticks there (which it never does), then I kind of hop a bit and it fluctuates as much as 11 lbs. *sigh* This happened when I was on Atkins and I thought I was stalled for 5 months when in reality I had lost 27# -- for some reason as soon as I stepped on the scale it would go to a number and stick there... in this case a higher number than actual. If my surgeon was closer I'd call the office and ask if they minded if I stopped in from time to time just to weigh. I can do that at my PCP's office, but her scale (classic slide-type) weighs me as much as 20# more than my surgeon's (digital). When I get on my digital scale it just flashes "ERROR ERROR ERROR" :rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes Oh to be able to have that scale give me a number again... (it only goes up to 300)

4.5 isn't too much at all from what I've been told by others. And don't worry about only having 5.5 ccs of room to play with -- you still have more room "to play with" than what other bands hold at capacity.

What if you satisfy your sweet craving with a fat/sugar free substitute? Here's my belief about cravings... A sweet tooth is a sweet tooth - unfortunately, it's also one you can't just have your dentist pull. I don't believe that "get it out of the house" is a good answer. If that's all it took, I'd have been thin the first time I cleaned out the fridge. Nor is it a good habit to indulge (as we all know). I think if you crave something you should have it. IME, if I crave something and have maybe 1 or 2 when I crave it, that's all it takes. If I crave it and deprive myself, my craving only gets stronger and stronger, until finally I can't take it and eat the whole thing. My parents both quit smoking cold turkey about 10 years ago. They kept cigarettes in the house, because that made it not so much "I can't have it", but "If I really need it, it's there - but I'm going to try and not need it." I truly believe one of the main reasons diets fail is because people feel deprived, they feel, "I can't have that" instead of "I don't want that" -- double-whammy for emotional eaters! Wow, long story! In short - my advice - have ice cream if you want it, just be smart about what you have. Buy a low carb version, or some popsicles, or make your own ice cream and use Splenda, sugar free flavorings, etc. You could even use your Protein powder in some of it... two birds with one stone! I don't think the key to success is in "removal" so much as "healthy substitutions". That's why I'm wokring to revert my former Reese's addiction to a "chocolate Protein shake w/ a spoon of low carb peanut butter" addiction. I'm sure you're not learning anything new here. Just know that you're not alone. You did what you had to do, and now you're ready to move forward. Identify your baby steps and tackle them one at a time. If 3 days w/o sweets will do it for you, then really buckle down and focus on that. You've done great so far, and I'm sure you have only more greatness ahead of you!

It will depend on how much you have to lose, how long you've been overweight, and your genetics more than age or any other factor.

Why are you gaining your weight back -- what can we do to help? I can't do much in the prayer category, but perhaps advice? Suggestions?

Only your insurance company will know if you qualify, since they determine the requirements, and whether or not coverage is available (primarily, your employer also determines this). I'd suggest starting off by calling your carrier and asking if they provide coverage, and if so - what the requirements are. Welcome the board, BTW. Sorry I can't provide a more definite answer, but Ionly know what *my* carrier requires.

My first will is scheduled for 5 weeks post-op. I was only on full liquids for the first 3 days post-op, thick liquids for 3 days after, then on to mushies and semi-solids. I can now eat chicken, turkey, fish, well-cooked veggies, fruits, cheese, etc. Keep in mind pre and post-op diets vary GREATLY by surgeon.

Hi Shelly, I responded to your other thread, too. I would suggest that you start with your insurance company. Each company can have vastly different requirements for approval, if they approve it at all. You should be able to call a rep and ask them if lap-band is covered (I think my ins. co referred to it as "restrictive gastric banding"). They can tell you exactly what you have to submit in order to be eligible, what your BMI must be, what history is required, etc.

Hi Shelly, I'm in KC, MO too. I am not familiar with Coventry. If you ant this, try for approval -- worst that happens is they say no, right?

I missed 4 days, one was my last day pre-op that I took off to make sure everything was in order, house was clean, etc. I missed three days of actual work, surgery day & 2 days posts-op. I told my co-workers. I had no reason to hide anything.

Hi Cindy, and welcome. I was banded on the 1st. Why does the port creep you out? I don't know it's there unless I stop and think about it. If I push hard and know what I'm feeling for I can feel it, but only if I try. DH still can't feel it. Not sure what kind of input you're seeking, but please feel free to ask any questions you have. That will help us make sure you're getting the information you're seeking.

I've not has PS but a friend of mine who had GB has, and after two denials they (her & plastic surgeon) were able to get approval. If it's something you *need*, they're much more likely to cover than if it's something you *want*. It takes a hard case to prove real need, but be persistent. She has given me hope b/c I'm pretty sure I'll need it some day.

I'd had the idea of WLS in the back of my mind for a while, but was never truly, seriously considering it until I heard of the LB. However, I have several friends for whom it was the right decision. No one here can say whether it's the way to go or not the way, because that's 100% subjective to what the recipient feels and believes. For example, I'm fine with LB even though the total weightloss takes longer. I did not have comorbidities, the condition of my skin is an issue for me, I am able to exercise, etc. In other words, while I'm in a "rush" because I'm eager for results, I am not in a "rush" for "real" reasons -- I'm not trying to get off any medications, I don't have potentially dangerous sleep disorders, I'm not suffering pain or limited mobility. Most people I know who had GB do suffer these things, and wanted the weight off quickly to help resolve their ailments ASAP. The people I know with GB also doubted their ability to take ownership for "dieting", in other words -- they wanted to avoind the possibility of eating around the band as much as possible. The decision is 100% you.

Does it hapen whenever? Only when you are eating? I had something similar while I was healing. It was not connected to meals or anything else that I could determine. It hurt, but only because my incisions were new. Not quite hiccups, but I remember DH asking, "Why are you hiccupping so much?" No idea what it was, but it stopped within a week and a half post-op.

I had to go to: Surgeon for pre-op consultation and picking a surgery date. It took about 20 mins. Dietician, going over the pre- and post-op eating plans in detail. It took about 1.5 hours. Pre-op education class, walkthrough of the surgery itself in detail, demo band, placement details, answering any questions. It took about an hour. Pre-op psych. appointments, to determine mylikelihood of working with the band, ensuring realistic expectations, determining causes for current obesity, considering what has to be done to ensure those causes are at minimal risk for strinking back. Each visit was scheduled for an hour, I had three pre-op appointments, and am scheduled for another at 6 weeks post-op. PATs: bloodwork, chest x-ray, EKG I had a lot more pre-ops than a lot of others, but my surgeon works with a comprehensive program. I've actually had many fewer post-ops than some of his other patients I've read the journals of on other sites.

Call your doc. They can prescribe liquid anti-nausea medications such as Phenergren that wouldn't hurt to have on hand, anyway.

After burger #1, log in promptly, go to the Before & After thread, and look at all the hotties' pictures. Motivation and recreation all in one!

Oh geez... between Jan - Dec '04 I lost 120# on a modified low-carb diet. I bought an entire wardrobe for every new size. Of course I also kept a few of my big n' baggy comfies, which are now my everydays. :rolleyes I was so happy to be in the lower sizes, I'd got to "look" just to see if I was down another one yet, and come home from LB with 5 bags of clothes. So the good news is, I have a few sizes' worth of clothes, and it should be a while before I need to buy anything, I have 32 to 22, 5x to 1x, and everything in between! We could host a heck of a clothing swap on this thread!

Post-op was a piece of cake.