sistasassy

My pre-op diet: Protein drink/shake for breakfast Cup of Low sugar/No sugar added juice for morning snack Protein drink/shake for lunch Smart One/Healthy Choice/Etc meal for supper (I choose low carb meals to keep the carbs down) Protein shake or Low Fat Yogurt for evening snack. They said I can taylor this to my tastes as long as I stay within the following: 800-1000 calories per day 50-80 carbs 60+ grams of protein Mine is technically to be for 2 weeks pre-op but since we still have not set an exact date they have already let me start my diet. I have lost 7.5 lbs in 5 days.

I think it is ok to have a section for other WLS. Reason being, as Alex and numerous other have said, should my band need to be removed, I will most likely revise to another type of surgery. I love coming to this site because it is closely monitored and a safe place to ask questions and gain information. It is also a great place just to share experiences be they good or bad. If they were just dumped into the mix and it was a "free for all," I would not have liked that. I like the fact that they have they own section. I am also making friends here and I would not like to have to totally uproot myself in the event of needing to revise.

I have been on my pre-op diet for 5 days and have lost 7.5 lbs. I am not having surgery for 2-3 weeks. Still setting the date with the doc and proctor. I don't think 20 lbs is unrealistic, not after seeing how the weight is coming off for me so far.

I feel so much better after a good night's rest. Ended up with a monster headache (figuring it was from all the stress of the day), took a couple of Tylenol and went to bed. I am now sipping a nice Protein drink with no ice. So far, this one has not launched any attacks.

So I come home from church this morning and fix my Protein shake (am on pre-op diet), take it to my room, settle in to watch some shows on DVR, and take a drink of my shake. Instant brain freeze. Is ok. Have had brain freeze before, so I recover. Take another drink only smaller and slower. Instant brain freeze only THIS time it is coupled with my heart flipping totally out. I have PVCs in my heart anyway from time to time. This time my heart was "missing" and then it would go really fast and then really slow. I figured I glitched something somewhere and it would rectify itself in a matter of minutes. My PVCs usually do. Well, I waited.....and waited...and waited somemore. I finally tried ignoring the whole mess and 4 hours later finally broke down and had my hubby take me to the ER which was PACKED. Well, considering that it was a heart thing and the symptoms they felt I was showing, I was immediately bumped to the front of the line and given a room and all the normal "we think you are having a heart attack but not going to tell you that" tests began. My ER doc comes in after a bit (poor guy was crazy busy) and plopped down in the chair to tell me that my EKG was fine but that I was definately kicking out some major PVCs. We start talking again about what was happening just before they started. Finally he puts me on a heart monitor, brings me a lovely GI coctail (no umbrella in the glass - I was sad :biggrin:) and tells me AFTER I drink it that my mouth and throat will go numb and I will feel like it is all closing up on me but not to worry about it . Okay. I soon adjust to the numbing and realize I will live to see another day and begin to wait again. Doc comes back in, checks on me about 30 minutes later (I was feeling much better by this time), and informs me that he believes my Protein shake caused spasms in my esophagus which sent a signal to my brain (along with the brain freeze) via the vagus nerve and then my brain sent a signal to my heart telling it that it was Freak Out Day and that it could do what it wanted....and it apparently chose to dance. Anyway, all is well now. I am back home with a box of Prilosec OTC to take daily for the next two weeks to reduce any swelling there may be in my esophagus so I will be ready for my surgery. Sigh.......long day.

The doc said to not drink things that are that cold. I had used Protein powder, milk and ice in the blender. He said my body must not like things that cold and to opt for warmer things. So weird....today and my body.

LOL A book of the funny/weird things that happen along these journeys would be good. 'The Humerous Side of the Lap Band Journey"

I just started my pre-op diet yesterday and was down 5.5 pounds this morning. Now, I know that a lot of that was most likely Water as I was in the bathroom ALOT but I still can't help but be thrilled! Woohoo! Day 2 has been easy, too. The Protein shakes are not bad when adding different flavors to them. I also took a nap this afternoon and woke up famished. That is one of the hardest times for me. For some reason I need food in a big way after a hard nap. Anyway, I went in and fixed a Protein shake quickly before I had time to notice any other food in the kitchen and got it down. Took the hunger right away. 2 days down. GOBS to go! :lovechoc:

I used Diet V8 Splash berry Blend. I poured it into those little popcicle makers you get from tupperware. I think Wal-Mart sells a brand of their own. It takes 1/4 cup juice. Then freeze in the freezer. Calories: 2.5 Fat: 0 Carbs: < 1 Protein: 0 (but I am going to try to add a bit of vanilla Protein powder to it and see what happens.) Had a regular one without Protein Powder today and it was awesome!

I would think it will be an informational meeting and then he/she will figure out what tests you need for your insurance approval. If you are self pay then he will move on to the other tests. I would not expect to have any tests on the day of your meeting. How exciting! I remember my first meeting. I was so excited I was almost sick! I am just waiting to get my surgery date set now and my doc says I SHOULD be banded by the end of the month. Yipee! Good luck on your journey and be sure to read everything you can read here. There is a lot of good information at this site.

I live in Illinois and have medicaid AND have dealt with depression and panic attacks since February. It only took me a week and a half to get approved. I would find your surgeon first. Then call you medicaid department and they will let you know what they require.

Welcome back! Hang in there. It will be worth it in the end. Look at it this way, you may be getting any little bumps in the road out of the way now and have smooth sailing after that! I have heard about the drama at the other sight. I have stopped in there a time or two but found the site a little less than user friendly so I stay here now. Keep us posting on your healing!

Welcome! This is the place to really find out everything you could ever want to know (and maybe some you don't :smile2:) about the lap band. Start browsing the posts and read read read! I am getting banded later this month and am very excited. Don't be afraid to ask questions when you have them. Remember, the only dumb question is one that is unasked. Good luck! :tt2:

lol @ the ocean being to salty.....and the sky too blue.

I won't be banded until near the end of the month but my surgeon's nurse said I could start my pre-op diet early. I, too, have been worried about my liver. I am following the diet very closely and praying that mine looks good when I get in there too. My diet is all liquid (high Protein and low sugar juice) and I get to eat a Smart One, Healthy Choice, etc. meal for supper. I figure a month of doing that should have my liver in shape. Still worried too.

I bought the Body Fortress brand protein shakes at Wal-Mart and took the advice of another bandster on here and added one of the flavored Splenda packets that you can find in the coffee isle. I used: 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder 1 packet of mocha flavored Spenda 1 cup of skim milk 1 cup of crushed ice I ran it all through my Magic Bullet and it was so awesome! :crying: 105 calories 1.75 grams fat 8.5 carbs 30 grams protein

Woohoo! I am so excited! I got the green light to go ahead and get started on my pre-op diet today. I don't have an exact surgery date yet but they say it will be in the next few weeks. My surgeon's nurse said I can go ahead and begin my diet if I want to in order to get some extra weight off beforehand and get my liver in shape. My BMI is 40 and I needed to get everything approved before starting my diet. I am so tickled. Would be nice to get a nice number of pounds of before surgery. Less to worry about after. I am going shopping for everything I need after church tonight and hitting the dusty skinny trail bright and fresh in the morning. She said protein shakes for breakfast and lunch, low sugar fruit juice for morning and afternoon snack, SmartOne or such for supper, and a protein shake or glass of V8 juice for evening snack. Until I am I two weeks before surgery I can also have a regular meal here or there if I choose to. Pray for me! :thumbup: Sooooo excited to be moving forward again!

lapbandfree, what did you doctor have to say about the fact that you were throwing up? Did he offer any kind of followup care? I think that is important too. See I am not sure how much followup care I am going to get from my doc since he is still pretty new at this so that is why I have been burying my head in these boards and lots of books. I want no surprises. Some doctors need to be better helpers to their patients as well. I am sorry for you if you doc did not help out. I stay on the phone already with my doc's office and plan to continue after surgery. If I have a problem, I will push until I can get it resolved, even if that means that I have to be the one educated on what I am doing wrong at that moment. At any rate, I am glad you are feeling better now and wish you the best of luck in the future with you weight loss journey.

You should be fine. The doc will give you a list of the tests he wants you to have too but all of those are covered by medicaid. I had to have a sleep study, EKG, ultrasound of my gallbladder, Upper GI, blood work, and a few other things. They are easy to have and sometimes you can get more than one test done in a day. The sleep study was a pain. Had to spend the night at the sleep lab for that but the room there was nice and it was painless. In the end, it is really very little to do in order to be healthy again. I am sooooo looking forward to that. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to read read read on here. This is where I have learned alot. Digging through the old posts helps too because you can see that people have been doing this for a while now. Also, be sure to read the good, the bad, and the ugly about all this. That way you are really ready. I have forced myself to read some of the stuff that has gone wrong just so I know it can (but rarely does) happen.

I am using Dr. Albert Gilman in Illinois. There is no pre-op diet requirements for medicaid. Once you get done will all your pre-op testing (which the doc may have a list of his own tests), you should be good to go. It is almost easier with medicaid than any other insurance. I think it is because the surgery will reduce their costs down the road. Good news for us! I have a family of seven and we have no insurance so medicaid has been a lifesaver for us. I am supposed to be banded by the end of the month. We are just working on the date right now. I am very excited and starting my pre-op diet in the morning to get my liver in good shape. I can't wait!

I guess my question would have to be this: If you were having trouble, why not drink Protein shakes and pureed healthy foods instead of junk? From what I have read on here (I am still pre-banded), I would quess that you needed to get unfilled and start from scratch rather than just trashing the whole thing. Sounds to me like a situation where you and your doctor were probably not communicating well. Perhaps a doctor change would have corrected the problem. I do know that one person's opinion should be expressed as just that, an opinion. In MY opinion, you should never try to dissuade EVERYONE from having the band because you had a bad experience.

Medicaid requires a BMI of 40+ or a BMI of 35+ with two or more co-mobidities (high blood pressure, arthritis, lack of bladder control, diabetes, etc.). If you meet the above criteria then you have to have a psych evaluation (which Medicaid does not pay for and runs anywhere from $200-$700) and a nutritional evaluation (which Medicaid does pay for). You doc will then submit your paper work for approval. I live in Illinois and mine was approved in about a week and a half.

Hi Tawna, Marshall is not too far from Mattoon. Pass by there all the time on the way to Terre Haute to see my aunt. Good to know a neighbor!

That sounds awesome. May have to try that one out tomorrow. Yum!