RestlessMonkey

Seriously I don't think 3 cheezits will ruin your chances

Nancie I'm sorry you're unhappy but I can't believe you didn't know it takes a while to get things situated, and that WL is 1-2 pounds a week average! you're just kidding, right?

I guess it depends on how much your band holds. I assumed you had one that holds 10...I think that's average...and I've heard of 3, 4 and 5. BUT of course it's your call if you think he put too much in!

It happened to me. I did not follow my surgeon's preop diet perfectly but I did lose 15 pounds. My liver was too thick to be moved out of the way and he couldn't tell until I was knocked out, in the OR etc. Chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasound didn't show it! So since 8/11 I've done the diet HIS way, lost another 17, and am going back on Friday.

thanks for sharing! is the "no hunger" the reason you got a more conservative fill, if you don't mind me asking? and if so, good for you! :thumbup:

you're right! Well, my husband is Army retired. Odd isn't it? Tricare standard is "free" but we pay deductible etc. I'm glad of it but then my husand was promised free health care for him and his dependents as part of his "employment package" when he enlisted in 1972.

Heather that's great news for the OP (and for you!) :thumbup: She definitely should be on the phone to Aetna first thing tomorrow morning!

Ckelly...my advice to you....do what your surgeon says no matter how HARD. You will get past it and eventually be able to eat the foods you love but in smaller quantities. For now, follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter!

Probablly!

But Heather, what was your BMI and did/do you have any comorbidities?

I agree ask aetna. However, brace yourself; the NP is probably right. She's most likely seen it and doesn't want you to waste any funds (very nice of her!)

Did you call your social services office and ask them?

Good for you! I recovered from my 1st surgery really fast too. I never had bad pain and just used tylenol a time or two. I'm glad to hear it will probably be that way again once the band is actually placed! (FRIDAY YAY) Thanks for sharing!

You know, we're all grown ups. Sure it isn't fun to be hungry But surely we can suck it up for a little bit so our stomachs and stomas can heal! I mean, good grief! We've had SURGERY for goodness' sake. Do what your surgeon tells you to heal. As they say, put on your big girl panties and deal with it. It will be over pretty quickly! Better than risking slippage etc. No wonder they say people in other countries lose better with the band than we do. We don't do what our docs tell us, thinking we know better. Well, we don't know better or we wouldn't be "obese" or "morbidly obese" in the first place. JMO...I'm heavier than all of you I think so I know I have tremendous overeating issues and even didn't do what the surgeon said and couldn't get my 1st surgery. Maybe because that happened to me and I didn't squeak by, I've learned a lesson. I sure hope so.

Don't feel bad about yourself! That's not right either. You're great just like you are. Just a little high strung like a thoroughbred or something. Nothing wrong with that! :thumbup:

You might try WW. 30 pounds in 6 months is totally do-able on that plan and they have 2 different options so you can tailor it to your eating style. (not a WW employee just been on it or off of it but getting on it for years) You can do it; just tell yourself it is temporary and you are doing it for one specific goal (the surgery) and it can happen. Believe in yourself instead of saying "I can't" If not WW, does your surgeon recommend a plan or a specific diet? I've lost 32 just since July 25 following my surgeon's preop plan. So it can be done.

Mimilou2004 I'm really really lucky; the hospital where my surgeon heads their bariatric surgery department has an insurance coordinator who handles the claims for all of his patients, regardless of what their ins. So....whatever I'm getting, tricare is covering! In fact for my first hospital go-round (8/11) they didn't even ask for money! I think i'll end up paying close to 2k (that's the balance on our catastrophic cap for this year) but that's ok with us. I actually love tricare standard. The local PCM's on Tricare prime are all doctors we don't care to use, and actually our medical bills are usually less for the year than what tricare prime would cost us anyway (except this year) but I am glad we've got it. It's been relatively pain free, insurance wise! Hopefully you'll have a similar experience!

Hollie you don't know that lady or her story. What if she has fibromyalgia or RA? What if she lost 200 pounds? Don't be so quick to judge others and you'll quit thinking they are judging you! LOL And I thought RNY patients couldn't eat sugar because of dumping syndrome. You're just young and feisty but you'll chill out!

Welcome! No tips (I get banded this friday!) but sounds like you don't need any, anyway! :thumbup:

People with gastric bypass lose a lot but they can (and some do) also gain it all back if they don't watch what they eat. (think of Carnie Wilson. Even Al Roker started regaining. And my surgeon has quite a few RNY patients who years post op come in for the band) Their pouches stretch out and so you end up overweight again any way (and often with GI or other issues) Bottom line is, to lose you have to change the way you eat. I suggest some therapy to get your head around why you overeat and how you can stop it. Then come back to surgery and pick what option fits your lifestyle and mind set. But regardless of which you choose, you have to work at it for it to work. Period.

NOPE I rechecked notes. Our surgeon says no pregnancy with the band for 1 year, risk of death etc is too big. I'll go with what he says; however, it's not an issue for me personally.

We were told not to stick with the mushies because for the most part they are high calorie/low nutrient foods, and that it was important to move on to solids like chicken and fish....? Anyway thanks for your post! I had asked my doc about a low profile port and bless him very tactfully he said...right now, Rebecca, it will be hard for me to even find the port. But I promise when you lose enough that the old one sticks out, I will gladly put a smaller one in for you! :cursing: LOL

Carrie... I live in South Texas (San Antonio) and grew up in El Paso...a border town. Maybe we just hear the nitty gritty dirt that others don't. They are not governed like we are...don't have the rules and requirements. I don't mean to say the US is perfect surgically or any other way! And you may have a great experience (many do. but not all!) Locally I've seen news stories of people harmed and mutilated "over there"...trying to get cheaper weight loss surgery or plastic surgery. I just know I'm doing this because I want to live a long time. So of course I want to do it in such a way that I have the best chance of getting through it well and healthy. Because of where I live and what I know, to me, Mexico is one strike against me so I won't go there. Let me tell you something else...my surgeon practices mostly at 1 hospital here, and does occasional surgeries at a different hospital. Because I am a nursing student and have read the statistics, I know that no matter how skilled my surgeon, I'm safer to be operated on by him when he's with the team he's familiar with...not the occasional (also highly skilled) team that doesn't know him as well. So I go to his "home base" to get the surgery. I'm telling you that so you'll know I do research, and I do know what I'm talking about, and I can tell you that no matter how great Dr Ortiz is, you are better off to find a GOOD surgeon near you to have the surgery done. Regardless of how great any Mexican surgeon is. You're safer (more protected by our laws) to have it done here.

It is VERY dangerous, per my surgeon (haven't researched it) to get pregnant the first year postop. It is also Dangerous to take the pill when you are going to have surgery because of blood clots. We people do many dangerous things every day. The best bet is to talk to your surgeon and make an informed decision.

Sadmommy it will help if you first find out what type of insurance you have. THEN call that insurance office and they can help you. You need to be informed so you can advocate for yourself.