jenniferinwv

I have my first fill next Monday, the 27th. Can someone tell me what to expect? If he comes at me with a 10 inch needle I'm liable to faint!

Elizabeth, Yeah, I was a dummy and ate mashed potatos and mac & cheese one day...OMG!! I had cankles! WAYYY too much salt/starch. I learned my lesson. So I've been watching myself since then. Low fat cottage cheese, yougurt, creamy soups. I need to drink just a little more water, but I'm doing pretty good. Oddly, I don't like water with drop-ins anymore, just plain water tastes better. Brian's doing ok. He goes back to Dr. Kaplan tomorrow then he's hoping to go back to work. It's been since March 18th. He's hoping that he gets his staples out and his drains out too. But I'm guessing he's not getting drains out, he's still having drainage *blech* But having stuff dangling off him is getting kinda hard. Willow (our two year old) doesn't understand why she can't play with daddy like she normally used to. And I'm afraid I'm going to roll over on something hanging off him in the middle of the night LOL so we have a pillow fort right now. OK, one more question...when do I get energy back?

Hey guys. Were you guys hungry before you got your first fill? I feel like I have no restriction, so I'm being very very careful with what I eat. Is this normal? Jenn

Before I get started...White, I recommend Anytime Fitness! I love it there! Hi guys. Sorry I didn't post sooner, it's been a busy few weeks for me. Brian had his surgery on March 19th and went home that night. The next night I had to take him back to the hospital. He was MAJORLY constipated from the pre-op diet, he was having trouble peeing because he was so constipated, and he had a little pneumonia because he couldn't take a deep breath. So he was in the hospital from March 20th till March 23rd. That whole week he just kinda laid around, didn't do much but pop pills. I had my surgery on March 26th....no problems! I told Dr. K I was going to be his model patient!! Well the next morning when Dr. K saw me in the hospital, Brian was there to take me home. He ended up admitting Brian two doors down from me before I got discharged!! So I had to find another ride home. LOL At 9:00 that night, Brian called me and said he was going into surgery to remove the band, and that's all I knew. I got the kids settled and got to the hospital about 9:30. Dr. K came out to see me somewhere between 12:30 and 1:00 (I think). Brian's stomach had developed a hole in it. Everything he drank and his stomach acids were going into his gut. Now I don't know why; I don't know if it was because of the band, or if it was because he was throwing up after surgery he ripped something, or if it just happened. I want to stress I DO NOT BLAME DR. KAPLAN ONE BIT! After surgery Dr. K was just heart sick, I could tell. He told me he's still committed to helping Brian lose weight, but that he's no longer a candidate for weight loss surgery. Dr. K had to remove the band, sew the hole shut then sew a flap down over the hole. That was last Thursday night. Brian has a central line, drains, feeding tube, morphine pump, and a pretty zipper looking scar about a foot long. He was in ICU for Saturday and Sunday, then ACU for Monday, then Tuesday he was moved to a step-down unit. He's excited because he gets to try fluids this morning. I have guilt that I have the band and he doesn't. He's still happy that I've lost an additional 7 pounds since surgery, but I wanted to go through this together. I haven't had much of a recovery time between trips to the hospital and taking care of the kids, but I'm back to work today and may get to relax a little here (how sad is that??). So there's my not-so-short story of where I've been the last few weeks. Jenn

OK, I'm now thinking that people should be sedated for these two weeks of pre-op diet. Or at least if they have kids, move out for a while. My 15 year old daughter came home with Dairy Queen, "here mom try this new flavor" :scared2: My 12 year old son said "mom I'm going to make us hot pockets for dinner" Even my two year old tries to make me share her popsicles and last night I had so much ravioli sauce on my face from her kissing me I wondered if it was seeping through my skin! Brian went to see Jeanne yesterday, he lost 16 pounds so he's good to go on Thursday. I have my endoscopy on Monday and Dr. Kaplan is putting in an IVC filter through my groin. Then I see Jeanne on Tuesday and my surgery is the next Thursday (March 26th). We're actually doing really well on the diet, both of us. Neither one has cheated. But I think the two things I'm craving most are bananas and a piece of toast with butter. Did anyone else have leg cramps during the pre-op diet? I may call Lindsay today to see what I can do about it. See you on the thin side!

Hi guys! Just checking in. Here's how it's going: Brian's endoscopy is today My endoscopy is Friday the 13th Brian's surgery is Thursday the 19th My surgery is Thursda the 26th Brian's been on the pre-op diet since the 5th and he's really having a hard time. We had a cheer competition this weekend in Columbus and we're really noticing how much food is thrown at us! Does anyone have any tips on how to make it through the pre-op? I start this Thursday. Or is it just something we have to suck up and hope we live through? lol

Thanks Elizabeth. Oh yeah, I'm fully prepared for the two week diet.

Brian and I have a dual appointment with Dr. Kaplan Monday morning (03-02-09). Brian will more than likely go first, and me a week later, so I guess I'm looking at 3 weeks. Can someone refresh my memory oh what I have to do after I see Kaplan? I have to give my boss an outline tomorrow. I know I need to have bloodwork, see Jeanne, see Lindsay, and have my endoscopy. Am I missing something?? Thanks guys!

Guess who got insurance approval????? :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :thumbup: :tongue: :wink: :wink: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

I would love it if they would pick one or more of us to write a blog on his website. We're all at different stages so it'd be good, useful information. I was really hoping to follow her story.

Brian has been the one calling insurance for us. The first time I was "sent back" to Dr. Kaplan was because they needed a two-year weight history. Now they're saying they need my blood work. I thought those would have been standard things they sent. I just don't know??

I'm getting kinda discouraged myself :thumbdown: Three weeks ago Jeanne submitted me to insurance. They sent it back asking for more information. Last week they submitted both me & my hubby and now insurance says they still don't have the information they need. And I can never seem to get anyone at his office to call me back. I'm getting kinda frustrated. I hate to be a nag and keep pushing and pushing, but I feel like my life is on hold right now.

Insurance sent it back asking for more information; they wanted my whole weight history and something else. Yesterday Brenda said that Jeanne had resubmitted me and submitted my husband, but Aetna has no record of it. I hate to keep calling Jeanne because I know she's busy though, but I'm more than ready and hate not knowing what's going on. I have my payment ready too. So basically, I dunno:confused: