LaLaLoser

Started pre-op 4/4. Banded 4/18. Down 19.5 pounds. Congrats to everyone!!! Add it all up & I think we've collectively lost a person (or two....)

I was supposed to be on Clear Liquids for 1 week. Week 2 (this week) can add thin Soups and low carb Protein shakes. Week 3 can add "mushies" - mashed potatoes, thinned out tuna fish and other such fancy cuisine. Can start real food week 4. I just started eating Soup yesterday. Tomato soup never tasted as good.... Today is the first day I've really felt hungry. Was hoping that I'd make it a little longer. Congrats to all the new banders!

80's Chick - I was banded 2 days after you (4/18) and am still doing the liquid diet, although I could have started to eat soup on Friday. I'm not starving yet, so I thought I'd get a few more days of liquids in. I was hanging out with friends tonight, though, and they ordered pizza for the kids. I thought I was going to cry, it smelled and looked so good! Fortunately, knowing how much damage it could do to my healing stomach, I didn't lock myself in the closet and eat an entire pizza, but I wanted to! And I'm not even a huge pizza fan......... Are you still really bruised? I am around where the put the port in. It looks like someone has been using me as a punching bag.

Sorry you are having trouble. Hope you feel better soon!

No weird gas (other than in my shoulder) or belly sounds. I'm quite sure it will wait until I'm on a plane tomorrow sitting with 2 other folks and then I'll blow like a volcano.......

The gas thing is killing me. Seems to like to settle in my left shoulder - or up and down that arm. Have you heard how long that lasts? Other than that, I feel great. I'm not sore at all - just can't sleep on my tummy yet. Maybe tonight...............

I was also banded on the 18th. Not quite to the stomach yet. Still on my back. Side not quite happening either, although the day of surgery I was able to sleep on my side. How weird is that???

Greetings from Houston. Day 4 post-surgery here. Have to fly to Dallas and back tomorrow, so will be sending happy thoughts to the DFW folks. How often do you guys jump on the scale? I've been checking every day, but think I need to make myself only do it once a week. Not sure I can pull it off. I'm obsessed with it.

Sounds like your blood sugar dropped. Try some diluted apple juice. Has just enough sugar to pick you back up without adding too many calories.

My particular benefit plan design did not cover the procedure, so I was a self-pay. They didn't make me attend a seminar. I had my first appt on 3/31, had a stress test on 4/9 and was banded on 4/18. I'd looked into it 6 months ago, but backed out as I just wasn't loving the doc. Found a new one and got it all done before I chickened out. Doing really well. Went back to work today. Am still a little sore. Getting up and down from laying down is the hardest. Other than that, no problems. I was up and walkng around an hour after the procedure and left the surgery center about 45 minutes later. Slept off and on for most of the day, but more as a result of the anesthesia than the surgery. Day 2 was a little harder. Sorer, but that's to be expected. Felt much better yesterday and even better today. You'll survive the pre-op diet. Is painful while you're on it, but is over before you know it. Best of luck to you! And thanks to all of those that are further along in your journey. Appreciate your words of wisdom and support.

I just did the self-pay thing. I look at as in investment in my future. You can't take money with you and your kids need you more than they need material things. Care Credit will let you pay it over 10 years of you need to & there is no penalty for paying it off early. Best of luck to you!

That is awful soon to be on mushies. I was banded on Friday 4/18, too and am on liquids for 2 weeks. A little sugar will probably go a long way. Are you getting enough protein?

The issue is with your benefit plan design - not your insurance company. Your employer chooses what services to cover based on cost. Some states mandate covereage for fully-insured or HMO plans. Some don't. If not mandated, the employer usually has the option of purchasing a rider to cover the procedure. If your employer is self-insured, then your company chooses what they want to cover. I'd check with your HR dept. They may be able to confirm whether or not they decided to cover such procedures, just in case you got wrong info from the plan. Best of luck!

Welcome. Had my band Friday. I just signed up to this site yesterday. From what I can tell so far, there are some great folks here that are very supportive. Best of luck to you.