Long2BFree

If you go back to the MF website and look for recipes you can find ways to doctor them up. I slow cook the Soups and stew on the stove for 10-15 minutes. For the tomato soup I add dried parsley, ground black pepper and garlic powder. For the beef stew try adding the same plus chopped celery. I actually like most of their shakes better than most.

Gross! I have some SBD dinners in my freezer right now. I guess I'll be returing them after I notify the food inspector where I bought them.

I would recommend if you decide to go with Bariatric Advantage to order the sample pack. We got to taste test most of the supplements during my nutrition class and I didn't like many of the Bariatric Advantage ones. I didn't care for their Ready to Shake Meal Replacements neither. If you look around you can find supplements and shakes that you like that meet your doctor and nutritionist guidelines.

You are doing great and have a good attitude. That is half the battle at this stage.

When most people get their band, their is no fill placed in it so food passes through like it always did. When people start going to to the doctor to get some saline placed in their band, they are getting a fill. The fill causes restriction because it's making the band tighten around the stomach and when they eat they get full quicker which mean they eat less because of the size of the pouch created by the band restriction. It takes longer for food to pass through the band so you don't get as hungry. Just on a side note, a few people say they get enough restriction just getting the band placed with no fill but that seems to be pretty rare. Some surgeons also place a fill in the band during surgery already causing some restriction too. I hope this answers the question you asked.

I had my EKG done this week and the nurse told me to wait while she had the doctor go read it. He said everything was normal. I do have to go to a cardiologist next week for an echocardiogram because I took Phen-Fen in the 90's.

I'm glad you were finally able to get some relief, but what a bummer to have to get some of your fill remove. I've read that Adolf's Meat Tenderizer with pineapple juice helps get foods unstuck.

Congrats on your upcoming band date! I've been overweight for most of my life except for my high school years and over 250+ pounds for the last 15. I have lost much of my life hiding and not being involved in many things do to my weight. I am looking forward to all of the things you've listed plus more. I can't wait to by my first VS bra.

Congratulations to you and hubby to be! I love wedding pictures.

I haven't been banded yet, but I think diet has a lot to do with the high cholesterol. My total cholesterol was over 525 about 8 months ago and my LDL was so high that it didn't register on the blood test and my HDL wasn't great neither. I was on three meds but had problems with them so the doctor took me off and put me on one other med. I had to take them before each meal and would always forget. Anyway, since the nutritionist put me on a pre-surgery diet of 5 shakes a day and 1 low calorie meal, my levels have stabelized. My doctor was amazed by my last test results that just came back four weeks ago as everything was normal. I am now a firm believe that diet does make a difference. BTW, heart disease runs in my family and so does high cholesterol.

I was told by my nut to take a multivitamin and Calcium Citrate. Sublingal B-12 is required by gastric bypass patients, but for some reason my friend who has GB doesn't take it.

Congrats on getting banded and for doing so well... it sounds like you have a really positive attitude. Thanks for posting!

I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this. Can you try to get in with another dentist to get the tooth take care of sooner?

Oh, I gotcha. That does seem very frustrating. Hopefully they can connect soon.

Get your surgeon's fax number and have the psych fax over his report.

Many do it and I did for a couple of days. My surgeon requires a 5% weight loss before surgery so that has really controlled my need to eat all of those foods I thought I wouldn't be able to eat later. If I really want something I have a bite or two and I'm done. I also figure that if I can't control my eating now then I might make the same excuses that I always have and keep telling myself that tomorrow will be different. Well, my tomorrows turned into pounds and years.

Hi, and welcome. I haven't been banded yet but hope to be in the next few weeks. From what I'm told by my nutritionist, when one reaches their proper restriction they should be full after eating 2 ounces of food. One doctor I was considering going to charged $1000 for their consultation fee which included informational materials as well as supplements.

I've told a few that I'm close with along with my supervisors because of the time I would be missing for appointments. Everyone has been very positive.

If those things worked for you in the past then you wouldn't be considering surgery. Hang in there and don't let the negative remarks get to you.

Yay for both of you!

Shannon, do the doctors know how long you've had the blood clot? What are they doing to treat you for it? Are you feeling any better? It seems like some doctors don't take the care of their patients very seriously. Get well! I'll keep you in my prayers.

Woohoo! Congrats on being close to getting your band. The waiting is the hard part and I feel guilting complaining about having to wait for three months to go through the process.

From what I've been told, Tricare will not cover a surgical center but most hospitals. They need to meet certain guidelines.

I'm glad you are okay now. That sounds very scary and IMO not very professional of your doctor. He should never assume that what works for one will work for all. I hope your fill next week goes better.

Well, it is good to know that you are okay except for the pain. Hopefully that will go away soon. A lot of people say that walking A LOT helps it to go away. I sure hope I don't experience this bad pain when I get banded.