FrancineDH

No co-pay! But I will only be there for about 5 months, this year. I would like to meet up with you. You do live in Yuma? I'm a new lapbander, going for my first fill in three days.

Looking for a doc in the Yuma area willing to take other docs patients and insurance. I refuse to pay for a fill when my insurance company will do it for me. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

My doc says I can never take ibprofen again. Nor can I take my one a day chewable baby aspirin for my heart. He said I have to choose. Choosing between being thin or having a heart attack?? That just doesn't sound right. And I have arthritis. It's osteo and it's in most of my joints. I've had a few surgeries to help it, but that does not alleviate all the pain. Some nights I go to bed and my feet and knees hurt so bad I can't sleep. So I have been taking liquigels for quite a while, for my pain. Has anyone else had to take an anti-inflammatory since surgery? I'm having doubts about having my surgery because of this. I can't stop my aspirin without risking a heart attack and I can't live the rest of my life in pain. If you've had these concerns or know of a remedy, please, tell me. Thanks, Francine

Thank you all for your responses! I am seeing a cardiologist. I have a small blockage in one of my arteries and this will not go away without some sort of surgery. Hence the baby aspirin once a day. I've been to all the nutrition classes, and pre-op and post-op classes. Yesterday, only a week before surgery, we had another one and this one was much more informative, but I was angry, because this information should have been one of the first things they give you. My Dr. is one of the top in the field, but he is stuck on by-pass surgery and not so on lap-band. He's very good at what he does and I believe he is being overly cautious. Which can be good, at times. Since I've been trying to figure all this out, I've found out that I can take liquid ibprofen, which may be another option for my pain. One person, here, mentioned that my knee pain would lessen after I lose weight. I realize that, but it will not make my arthritis go away and I have it in other areas of my body. I've had surgery on both thumbs already. Since I already have a partial replacement in one knee, I will eventually need a full replacement in that knee. And the more I find out about what to expect after surgery, I'm getting more and more frightened of what I'm about to do. I woke up this very morning with terrible knee pain and a back ache. I know I need to lose this weight, but the surgery is scaring me. I will stay on liquids, until I can decide whether this is the answer for me or not. Thank you all, again for answering my query.

I have talked to my doc. He said no aspirin and no ibprofen. But, I take baby aspirin, 81mg and it's chewable. I will continue, after surgery to take it. With Water or a shake. I can't see how the aspirin can erode the band. The band is on the outside of your stomach. As for the ibropfen, I'll see how I do without it. If I take advil liqui-gels, that is almost the same as liquid ibprofen. I always take it with something like soy milk so it doesn't irritate my stomach. Nsaid is on the list of things I can't take. My doc is really into bypass surgery. I don't think he changed many of his dos and don'ts for the lap band procedure. I'm reading my paper work and finding things that do no pertain to the lap band. And this paper work was supposed to be just for lap band patients. It's almost like he's erring on the side of caution. But it puts my health at risk in another way and I'm not willing to risk a heart attack. I have way too much to live for. That's the reason I'm having the surgery in the first place. Lowering my risk of heart attack, diabetes, stroke and many other illnesses that befall obese people. Thanks to all who have responded. You've helped me make my decisions.

And I'm so happy I found this site. I have so many questions. I am two weeks pre-op and having second thoughts. Clear liquids start today for the next two weeks and I'm wondering why, when the Protein shakes aren't clear. My surgery date is May 1. I'm off to find answers to my questions and probably ask a bunch more. Happy this forum is here! Francine

Thank you both for the welcome. I'm looking around and finding lots of good topics. I'll be okay with liquid diet, I'm sure. If I can do a 7 day cleanse with nothing but lemon Water, I should be able to do this without a problem. Now I need some pill and Vitamin questions answered. Off to find more information. Thanks again, Francine

When I went for my nutrition class, the nutritionist told us the "new" band was out and that's what the doc was using. Could it be the Realize band? I will call and ask today. Glad I found this article. Francine