kansascase

Normally I think you will see both the nutritionist and the surgeon. Usually the nutritionist is first - they have a lot of information to give you regarding your diet - now and after surgery. Protein, protein and protein. Your surgeon is basically only concerned about the surgery and getting the insurance company to approve the surgery. As long as your BMI is over 35, you shouldn't have a problem getting approved. They will do what your insurance company requires. Some insurances require a 6 month supervised diet with a physician prior to approving the surgery. If you are self pay, then there shouldn't be any problems.

I live in Shawnee - not too far from Lansing. I was banded on June 4th, 2008. I get my first fill on July 9th. Right now, I am fighting my appetite. I was doing real well until I got into about the third week. I am trying to keep it under control with all the Protein and Water. I have lost about 25 pounds. I am impatient. I have a step son in Iraq in the Army and a cousin as well. I am a wee bit older than you - 53. Kerry

It is my opinion that most doctors don't expect much weight loss until after the first fill. My appetite has increased as well and I am in the 4th week. I am going to have to fight to keep from gaining weight. I wouldn't worry about the doctor's office right now. I would just try not to gain any more - go back to your high protein diet to help control your hunger and remember most weight loss is really a mental process. Why are you eating too much? Boredom? Anxiety? Depression? Don't ever quit! Go see your doctor - you will feel so much better. If you are afraid to face him, call the office and talk to his nurse and share your concern. When you start getting your fills, you will lose your appetite again and your pouch will not allow you to eat too much. Go easy on yourself. There will always be up and down days and maybe weeks.

Don't let your BMI fall below 35. You will have probably two weeks of a high protein diet before the surgery and you will lose weight. As far as your fatty liver disease, I think that could be argued. If there is a problem with that, go back to the doctor that diagnosed the fatty liver disease, and ask them to write a letter to clear you and something that says you no longer suffer from that. I had medical problem and they didn't want to do the surgery and I argued my case with words from the doctor that diagnosed it. I would be more concerned about your BMI.It is unfortunate that by losing all the weight to fix the fatty liver disease, it might just take you out of the running.Most people have to go through the 2 week diet to shrink the fatty tissue around the liver before the surgery. Lots of luck.

I don't know about Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Maine, but I do have the federal employees Blue Cross - probably is the same. Blue Cross does cover lapband surgery. Now, they may require that you have 6 months of surpervised weight loss with a doctor. It kind of depends what is in your records. I was approved in 3 days. It was fast.A general rule of thumb is that most doctors and insurance companies will not consider it unless your BMI is at least 35 and then no more than 60. If it is 60, you will have go on a weight loss diet to get your weight below that.

Any liquid that you consume should pass through your pouch quickly. When you drank the milk - the "uncomfortableness" didn't last long, did it? I was told to meal only 2-4 ounces per meal, three times a day. Also, you need the protein. I wasn't afraid of getting too much in the pouch as I ate quite small meals and very slowly. I know the pouch thing is new to your body and your mind. I think you will feel more like yourself as time passes. I had to "make peace" with my band.

I think you are missing the protein. Any time I was on a liquid diet the most important thing was that I get my protein - 60-70 g per day. I use a product called New Whey. It is 42 g in a 3.1 vial. I also have a milk protein shake. I think too that to feel a little foggy and dopey when only eating liquids is somewhat normal - your electrolytes are probably messed up. It could also be the anesthesia. It takes awhile to get that stuff out of your system. Two weeks of liquids is a long time - especially after surgery - my opinion, as I don't know what other doctor's are doing.

Maine is a beautiful state - I was up their for the lobster and blueberries. I was banded on June 4th. Will have my first fill about the time you have the surgery. If there is anything I can help with, just drop me a line. I had an excellent bariatric group that provided so much support through the surgery and post op. I heard from nutritionists, psychologists, nurses, etc. There is not much to the surgery, the diet is the thing and the Protein. Kerry

Are you taking a good B complex? The B Vitamins increase metabolism and thus energy. Exercise also helps fight fatigue. I know it doesn't make sense, but it actually gets rid of the sluggishness. Otherwise, I don't know. I am tired too. It seems like such an effort to go through daily routines - but they have to be done. Let me know if you find a good solution.

I was banded on June 4th - kansascase.

Those were my instructions as well. I am losing rapidly. How about you?

Sorry, I don't know the policy of your doctor's office. Call them. I know you need to lose some weight to help shrink or loosen up the fat around your liver - that is important as well as the high protein diet.

I wish you luck but I don't think it matters if you lose or gain during supervised weigh ins. So, I wouldn't worry. After all if you could lose the weight normally, you wouldn't need the surgery. Of course, you would probably gain it all back and more like I have time and time again. I figured the lapband was as close to a muzzle as I could get - ha.

I think your most important item is the diet you will need to maintain - ask about the high protein/low carb. If he is like most physicians, you won't be counting calories, you will be counting Proteins. And then ask for a nutritionist you can speak or meet with for information. You also need your contacts - who do you contact for questions, problems - who will be available for you. You might want to ask if you will need a psychologist - my program required that I see you 4-6 visits. There is valuable information there to help you change your eating habits, etc. Lots of luck to you.

I had my surgery done at the Bariatric Center of Kansas City. Their fills runs about $300.00 for their patients. It is really a good organization - very supportive - if you are not too far from KC, I think I would give them a call. You can also google them - phone 913-677-2508. I am using Dr Hoehn.

Change doctors because you will need support. If you have a pulmonary specialist on board, he can recommend the surgery or probably any other specialist - maybe even an OB/GYN doc.

I think I would call the doctor - I think you should be able to keep liquids down. I did not have any trouble keeping any liquid down. It will be about 3-4 days for the pain. Getting in and out of bed really hurts. Right now your belly is probably swolllen too and that is pulling on your stitches/staples. I walked around with a pillow against my belly during that time - seemed to help. When you get to your post op appointment (about 7 days), you'll be just fine. Expect some drainage and itching from the incisions. Congratulations on taking the step to a new and healthier you.

I just got my band on June 4th so I haven't had a fill yet. What is the green zone? Thanks

Jennifer, I don't keep a food chart although I had to do it before the surgery. Maybe I should. I have a lot of weight to lose and that may be why it is burning off so fast. I don't expect this to keep up but when it stops I will have to focus on increasing my metabolism - exercising. I am not doing much of that right now as I have asthma and it starts to act up with a lot of exercise and I don't want to start a coughing spell. I will have less trouble with my asthma as my weight goes down - I have pounds setting on my chest right now and that doesn't allow for a full expansion of my lungs. I am just getting over the anesthesia - my asthma really acted up. Doc says about two weeks before I get my breathing back. Asthma is one of my co-morbidities. I have shortness of breath all the time so I really needed this surgery for my health. I really don't know why the weight is coming off so fast as all I have done is followed my nutritionists "rules." I am not going to complain. I have heard that if you don't eat enough "calories," your body will think you are in starvation and slow down your metabolism. We all have quite efficient bodies - the idea is really to trick the body. I think the high Protein diet does that quite well. I fully expect to hit plateaus but right now I am just going with the flow. I also take 2 Multivitamins, 2 Calcium tablets and one B complex each day at different times. I suspect the B complex may be keeping my metabolism up and running.

I was banded on June 4th. I don't count calories - I count grams of Protein, fat and carbs. The high protein diet helps curb my hunger. So, basically 90 percent of my meals are protein - some of it will be in the form of liquid Protein vials like New whey or a shake. I also eat quite a bit of diary products like cottage cheese. I am kind of surprised you can eat toast. Whenever I have a meal, I am not to drink during it. Doing this will keep your stomach fuller and for a longer period. I also must consume 48-64 ounces of Water a day. If I had to guess how many calories I consume, I would say about 800-1000. There is a type of chemial reaction that occurs with a high protein diet so that you can lose faster. Your body has to consume its own fat as protein cannot be stored by the body. At this time, I am losing about one pound a day. Of course that will change at some point. Hopefully you have a nutritionist that you are working with. If not, I think I would ask for one. Your patience will be rewarded.

You should have a nutritionist onboard. My appointments with the nutritionist were very important plus I was given a set of instructions on what and when to eat certain foods - it is like a food "Bible." To tell you the truth it is extremely effective - I have lost a lot of weight fast - any even more with the surgery. I have a high Protein liquid of 3.1 oz that has 42 gr of protein that I use almost daily to make sure I get the protein. Also, more protein, less hunger. I am to eat 80-90 percent protein and 10 percent complex carbohydrates. Protein should be 60-70 grams per day. Anyway, that is basically the instructions. The product I use is called New whey - I don't have to drink a lot of it to get my protein. Now it is not the greatest tasting stuff but it works and of course, I have to take a lot of Vitamins. There are just so many people that don't get important information before their surgery and then they can't have the surgery. The doc opens them up and then immediately closes - no band. They had no shrinking of fat around the liver. I think that I too would consider getting another surgeon. I had to go through an entire lapband progam including 4-6 visits with a psychologist - several with preop nurses and of course the nutritionist. There is a lot of information you need to know that apparently you aren't getting. Think on it.

They did a lot of blood work on me. I know that they did a CBC (red and white blood cell counts for anemia, etc. They also did a vitamin check - checked to see if I was low in any particular vitamin. I was - vitamin D - never figured that. There is a blood sugar test. I don't know what others they did but like I said it was extensive.

I would call the doctor's office - the amount of protein you get is very important now and after the surgery. I suspect that Slim Fast has quite a few carbs which is not allowed on a protein diet. I am sure the doctor's office has other products to recommend.

It sounds like something is not working for you. My nutrionists requires 3 meals a day, 2-4 ounces per meal. Each meal should contain 25 gr of Protein - that is hard to get unless you are using something like New whey liquid Protein - it has 42 gr of protein in a 3.1 oz vial. My diet is 90 percent protein and 10 percen complex carbohydrates. Now, I can tell you that the above works and works well. The first week is rough because you can be hungry, but soon even the protein diet suppresses appetite. At this stage - I was banded June 4th, I lose about a pound a day. I do have to take vitamin/calcium supplements. If you are following a different type of diet plan, I suspect that it may be slower. My experience with a plateau is that it will pass - may take a bit, but you may be able to get past the plateau if you "trick" your body, by increasing exercise. Sometimes, I have broke it by literally eating a full day's calories - no diet for one day. Fifteen pounds is still fifteen pounds - any loss is a success.

It is probably going to take awhile for approval. It took me about 7 months and the insurance approved me in 3 days. I had dieticians, psychologist, preop nurses, medical testing - extensive, preop with surgeon and finally the surgery date. When you meet with the surgeon, he will probably want you to lose some weight to make the surgery safer - they want to see less fat/loose fat around the liver as it has to be moved so they can put on the belt. From the time I met the surgeon until the surgery was about 2 weeks. So, basically, you will need to be on a diet just before surgery. Your doctor or others will tell you when and how to start. You can start now - practice with the nutritionist diet - it took me awhile to get use to the high Protein diet and to eat without liquid. Lots of luck - hope you get approved!