Sugarbear

I was just banded the 7th of mar. I have to do liquids only for two weeks. Then mushy or pureed one week, then 4th week soft foods only. 5th week intro back to solid food but vry slowly.

Hi again hippmom. How did that happen?????????? I thought they tested the band several times before it was placed. Did you have to go back under general anesthesia? Was it at your expense> Sorry for so many questions. I am curious. When and where are the meetings? As the day wore on today seem like I had more discomfort. Just went for a walk, seemes that helped. It is only my third day from surgery. I am so happy for you to be on the losing road of pounds again. I can see where that would be upsetting.

Oh yea, what about the support meeting? Is anyone going? Are we supposed to and when?

Hippmom, What happen to your port? I am sorry but I guess I missed out on your port requiring repair. When was that? Glad you are doing better.

Thanks Hippmom. I tried that last night and it really helped. I had forgotton about it. Now to get over the two weeks pre-op liquid diet. One hurdle at a time, huh? I have come this far without cheating even once. I am not about to blow it now. I know this short time healing will serve me well in the long run. I have had so much encouragement from everyone on here ! How are things going for you now Hippmom?

Oh, by the way, I just got banded Wed. Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never seen so much stuff required ! But if you really want to be banded then you will have to meet their criteria before they will approve you. I already had a history of trying all sorts of diet and or exercise programs. Many of which I was successful, but only short term. Many obese people can do anything short term. It is the long term that comes back to boot us in the butt. My doctors sent a letter to my insurance stating that fact. More often than not I put the weight back on and then some. This is why I chose to get the band. I needed a tool to help me long term. Some can go to groups that educate you on weight loss, nutritution, exercise, ect. and it seems to help them long range and they do not have to take drastic measures such as I did along with many others. If you can do that it is wonderful. I couldn't. So good luck on your venture, what ever it is. Stay in touch and let us know how things go for you.

Not sure about anyone having pics. I haven't taken any of myself in years. Guess I don't like what I see. There is a thread somewhere that has pictures, not sure where, Maybe general lapband forum. I plan on stepping up my walking tomorrow. Thought I was doing quite a bit but apparently not enough. Still have lots of unconfortable air trapped around in my chest and shoulders. I will be so glad when it is GONE! I have been taking some Benefiber but maybe not enough. No results in that department. How long does that take to be effective? Otherwise I think I am doing well. I have been out and about every day. Hope all you other Mar. bandsters and bandsters to be are doing well. Good night.

Hello to all. Here I am 48 hours after surgery. Still drinking broth. I want my band to heal properly, so I am going to tough it out. healing correctly will surely have its advantages in the long run. I sure don't want to pop a stitch in there. I had a cup of sugar free hot chocolate last night. It was wonderful! Good change from the chicken broth. This surgery is not the easiest thing I have ever done but is by far the hardest. I am just so glad it is over and so thankful that I had so many of you supporting me through that pre-op diet, and now the post-op diet. They didn't mention anything about the support group meeting. Am I supposed to go? Where are they? When. Have to go now. I will be back on later.

Hi Melanie. I just got banded yesterday. I don't know about a weight maximum. I have read on other threads that some insurance companies might deny you if your BMI is really high. Someone was turned down by insurance for having a BMI of 58. My insurance pays 50%. Of course they write off a lot. I have a couple of friends that didn't have any insurance that had it done in Texarkana. The cost is considerably less with no insurance. They can show you a price sheet at Wadley. I think the hospitals part was 18,000. No insurance was 10,000, with anesthesia. They bill separtely but the amount is shown on their paper. I had all the testing done before the first of the year. My insurance paid for that. I had an hysterectomy last May, therefore I had met my out of pocket limit. My two friends that did not have insurance borrowed the money. They said it was no worse than paying on a car. Neither of them have regrets. Also if you insurance won't pay, you can appeal the denial. I have seen a lot of that on this website. If you will get your pcp to write them a letter of medical concern they many times reverse their decision. Mine wrote telling of my high blood pressure, borderline diabetic, another wrote one about my back and knees. They both recomended this procedure. I got all that together and sent it to them at one time. You don't have to have all those conditions. Most obese people have some health related problems. Even the ability to do certain things, like exercise, dress, ect. Yes, we are a family. It is so great having so many friends that "understand" what we are going through before and or after banding. There is a multitude of info on many threads. I like this one because we are al banded at the same place by the same two doctors. Our diets, surgery ect. is alike. Many different doctors require different things. Some no pre-op diet, some longer than what we did. There is a seminar n Texarkana at Wadley where you can actually meet and discuss any questions with these two surgeons. I believe you can get those seminar dates of the "PS we care site." Welcome aboard and ask any question you would like. Someone here can answer. Take care.

Hi Lisa. I am feeling pretty good. Thanks for asking. I am a lot more sore today. But that too shall pass. I have been walking as much as possible. I want this air in me to disapate. Can't get a good deep breath. I know it will leave sooner or later. I have had about three cups of chicken broth today. I have a little hunger but not bad. I think it is going to be a long two weeks. But I will make it. I want to heal correctly. My post-op sheet says I can have strained creamed soup, but I haven't yet. Just the broth. I guess I can have sf hot chocolate. The milk might be good for protein. I doubt the broth has much in it. I will be glad to get to mushies. I haven't laid down at all today. Want to keep moving to get rid of the air. Take care. Will post again tomorrow.

Day after surgery. I am soooooooo sore. Guess all that didn't show up yesterday. Nothing I can't deal with. Be glad when all the air disapates. It is verry unconfortable. I want to breath deep but can't yet. I am walking and not laying around. Just going about my usual without lifting. Wonder how long this lasts? I will just keep walking. Good luck to all you bandsters to be. Even though I am new at this, I will be glad to answer any questions you guys have.

Hello all! You all were right, I made it throught pre-op, that was a challenge to say the least, for me anyway. I never cheated, not once. I lost about 17 lbs. as of today. Then today....I became an official "March Texarkana Bandster." I am doing very well. Some discomfort in chest and shoulders. But I know that too shall pass, just like the pre-op. Dr. K said I might be a little more sore because of the hiatal hernia. If it wasn't bad they would have left it alone, but she came in and told me she repaired it. I have tried to move around a lot, went out side and walked today also. I had some broth tonight. It was soooooooo good. I am sure two weeks of it will get old, but for now it is great. My voice is very hoarse but doesn't hurt. (from the tube placed down my throat.) I hope tomorrow will be better with all the air floating around in me. Welcome to all the new bandsters to be. Got a question, just ask, someone will help you or direct you in the right place.

Thanks for the congrats, all the support, and prayers. I needed them all. My doctor said I will be more sore because of the hernia repair, but I think I am doing alright. Mostly disconfort from all the air. It is up high in my chest and shoulders. Been trying to move around a lot also did some walking. I only laid down for an hour or so today. I was afraid the gas would get worse if I laid around. They said only small sips of room temperature water today. I told her I was really looking forward to the chicken broth. She said if I was feeling good tonight, no nausea ect I could try the broth. I was okay and I did have the broth. It was so good. I ask about my medications I have to crush and take and she said to goahead and take them with applesauce, just thin it. I still have a bitter taste from those pills. Yuk. I hope I will be able to get off some of the meds after I lose more weight. I hate taking those pill like that. I normally put them all in my hand and just toss them back. But of course now we can't do that. That's okay, it is worth. Anyway, I am glad to finally become a March bandster. Thanks again for all the encouragement the past couple of weeks. I don't know if I could have made it otherwise. I will try to work on my ticker thing tomorrow.

geeze it must be the drugs! Try again. I meant Hello.

Mwant hello. Sorry.

Hell all. I am now an official Mar. bandster. Had surgery this a.m about 7:30, left hospital about 11:45. Surgery went well, also had to repair a hiatal hernia. (mispelled) Disconfor in chest and shoulders, port site. I have been walking as much as possible. I am so glad it is finally OVER!!! Will post more later.

Hi March bandsters. I will officially become a bandster tomorrow a.m. I have to be there at 6:00 a.m. Woohoo!!!!!!!!! I will post as soon as I can.

Hi vlynn and Lisa. Thanks for the support. I am really not too nervous now as I thought I might be. I am anxious to het healed and start my new way of life as a bandster and the road to a healthier me. I may have to have some hernia repair, I guess she will determine that when she gets in there. Well I guess I better finish a few things around the house that I didn't get done today. I will post as soon as I can on my surgery "experience." Keep me in your prayers.

I'm almost there.....13th day of pre-op. Whew! Wed. I get banded!! I have lost 13 pounds. Just want it to be over. Then have to do pre-op........ I can do this,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Day after tomorrow I join you in bandland.

This is mon. my 12th day on pre-op. I went to do my pre-registration at the hospital this a.m. I have to be there 6:00 a.m. Wed. Getting close guys. I am so ready to get this over. Get the post-op over and resume a "normal" life as a bandster. I can't believe I have stuck to my pre-op diet without ONE cheat! 3-4 Sfast daily. I can only do two. A couple of days I only got in one. one small salad earth grown stuff in it only, and ff dressing, I could substitute it for one Sfast after the third day of diet. SF drinks. That's it. I have lost 13 pounds in 13 days. So far. Hope more is off tomorrow. Think about me wed. See ya.

Here it is...two days til surgery. I nearly freaked out when I couldn't get on this site yesterday. Something wrong with the site it said. I thought, Oh great! three days before the site goes down with all my support buddies. What luck! I went over this a.m. and did the pre-op thing and I have to be there at 6:00 a.m. I am scheduled the first on on the surgery schedule. YAHOO!!! They had me down for the wrong surgeon, Dr. K is going to do it, they had dr. H. It makes a difference with the insurance, not the dr. but the one you have down is the one that has to do it or they won;t pay. (the one that got the approval). (BCBS) I have lost 13 pounds so far on the pre-op, by my scales. YEA!!!!!!!!!!! I have to go to tow now, I will probably be back on here later.

I am on day 10 of pre-op. Some how I only go one Sfast in today, this morning. Had a salad for lunch, and never got around to another one. Oh well, I'll call this a day of semi-fasting. I am so sick of Sfast now that I guess I don't miss it when I forget it. I had Crystal Light today too. 4 more days of SFast, thennnnnnnnnnnn......I will be a true March Bandster. Woohoo!!!!!!!! I am so ready to get this over. I have not cheated one day. I don't know how I have done it. I guess I want my liver to really shrink so surgery will be safer. Can't have a nicked liver! 4 more days...just gotta do it.........Good luck to all you guys doing the pre-op, I know how hard it is..Hang in there!!!!!!!!!

Hi vlynn, I will take that advice. I was just reading over the sheet post-op diet. "In the Box," if you will. Foods to choose from, said low-fat cream soups, if you were over nausea. I thought the cream soups might be a little heavy on the pouch too. I'll stick with broth. Thanks.

How do you do all the information on you signature? Ticker, ect ?