BigDaddyBish

My wife's and my doctor suggests getting meat tenderizer. Mix it with water and sip that. It worked for my wife when she got something stuck, but it takes a little while.

Just so I don't get accused of saying go against your doctor's order, please let me say this...FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S ORDERS AS BEST YOU CAN. Now with that said, every doctor is different. My 2 week pre-op diet consisted of a Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch, and a low-carb-high-protein frozen dinner for supper. That was all the way up to my surgery date. Post surgery...the first two days was all liquids...broth, sugar-free popsicles, Protein shakes, etc. Beginning the 3rd day (2 days after my surgery), I was eating soft foods, eggs, flaky fish, pimento cheese, tuna, oatmeal, etc. After the first week, I began a regular diet. I say this only to say...Don't worry about the occassional cheat. My doctor also said don't make it a habit or you won't lose...but if your going to "cheat", enjoy it and don't feel guilty. You just have to know what you need to do to get back on track. AGAIN...FOLLOW DOCTOR"S ORDERS AS BEST YOU CAN, but you'll be just fine.

My wife had the band done about 3 years ago and has lost about 100 lbs. I had the band last month and have lost 20 lbs so far. My dad had the bypass last year and has lost nearly 200 lbs, but is also doing wonderful. He is healthier than I ever remember him in all my years. I think it all depends on your current weight and health as to what you need to do. I think you may have misunderstood, because doctors say that you should lose about 50% of your excess weight within the first year. Your body and metabolism will begin to adjust and the weight loss will become slower. But it will come off! You have to understand, this is NOT a quick fix and a race to lose all your weight. This is a lifestyle change and you have to be committed to make the necessary changes in your life to be successful...along with following your doctor's guidelines. If you are in doubt, get a second opinion.

You also have to realize that you can't just take a normal syringe and do this....there is a special one that doctors use to access the port. A normal syringe will cause leaks in the port and then you're screwed.

Hey batestami! If I gave YOU or SOMEONE ELSE the wrong impression on my post, I apologize. I was making an observation, thus the "I find it interesting" comment at the beginning of my reply. I do find it interesting the different methods that doctors employ to help each of us reach our weightloss goals. I in NO WAY was trying to tell YOU to go against YOUR doctor's orders. "I'm not a doctor and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night either." I wish YOU the best of luck on this journey. By the way...I've already lost 20 lbs in my first 4 weeks of this process, which includes the 2-week pre-op diet. I go for my first fill next week. Good luck to YOU.

Banded on 10/29. I find it interesting how different bariatric surgeons are when it comes to pre and post operative diets. My surgeon, Dr. Morton in Nashville, is quite different that most in his thoughts on this. My two-week pre-op diet consisted of a protein shake for breakfast and a protein shake for lunch. For dinner, I had a low-carb high-protein frozen dinner. All to the date of my surgery. Post-op...I was on liquids the first two days and then started on "mushies" the third day. I am now on solid food less than two weeks out. I have not had any problems before or after surgery.

Look...everyone must realize that whatever method of surgery that you choose, it is still ONLY a tool to help you be successful in losing weight. It is not a "miracle drug" or "the Fountain of Youth". It is a tool. Therefore you must know how to use the tools for the purpose you have been given them. With any of the methods, YOU can cheat and YOU will gain the weight back. My wife has had the lapband and lost over 100lbs and my dad had the bypass and has lost over 200lbs in less than a year. WOW!!! However, they both get greedy every once and awhile and "cheat". They pay for it, but they "cheat" at times. Any WLS doctor in their right mind will tell you in advance that this is a tool that is used to HELP you. The only way that it can be successful is if YOU use it correctly. Eat the right things, excersice, etc. I don't see how having the bypass and then deciding afterwards to have the lapband helps. To me, it's overkill. Out, BigDaddy

Oh...and as far as your PCP...PLEAD YOUR CASE! My PCP is not a fan of this kind of surgery either, but after he and I had a detailed discussion of why I thought I needed this and what I have been doing to try and avoid having this surgery, I left the office with him telling me "just let me know what I need to do to help you out." Be a good lawyer and don't go in without a good case. Out, BigDaddy

I have UHC coverage and have been approved with a BMI 36 and multiple co-morbitities. I was approved and am now scheduled for my psych eval. Hopefully, I will be having my surgery next month. My advice to everyone is check with your Benefits Coordinator with your employer. Your employer is the one that decides if Bariatric Surgery is covered or not. Just because my UHC coverage covers the surgery, it doesn't mean that your UHC coverage will cover it or that you won't have different criteria that you have to meet. Same with any other insurance company. Don't take NO for an answer! These insurance companies have intake specialists that are taking calls from everyone in America, and they may not always give accurate info. That's why I suggest you get with your employer. My doctor's insurance coordinator contacted UHC on my initial consult and UHC told her that the surgery was not a covered procedure. My wife and I knew that was incorrect, since my wife had the same surgery and was covered by my insurance. We called UHC back immediately and confirmed that YES this was a covered procedure. Good luck and stay on top of the insurance company. Out, BigDaddy

Look at it this way...while we as overweight America are looking for ways to battle our issues and are desperate at times to find them, doctors have found a "gold mine" as to how to make their wallets fatter (pun fully intended). Since many insurance companies won't approve unless you have one or more co-morbitities, doctors have found a symptom that is easy to diagnose. Therefore...cha-ching! Don't get me wrong...sleep apnea is very real and many obese people suffer with it without even knowing. I have it along with multiple co-morbitities. Just got approved by my insurance and getting ready to have my psych eval. Please understand that I'm not being negative but rather realistic. Out, BigDaddy

I might as well make this my very first post and chime in on this one....I am in the process of insurance approval, but my wife had the lap band done almost 3 years ago. So here's my theory....Thin people don't understand. They just think that hard work, determination, and diet should take care of us that are overweight. Unfortunately, hard work, determination, and diet don't always work, and unless you've been in our shoes, you won't understand. I really think overweight people give you a bad reaction, because of a slight bit of jealously, whether it be because they have been turned down and/or cannot afford it. But at least they understand what you are going through. As far as those close to you are concern...all they hear is the word "surgery". And technically, WLS is still an elective surgery, even though insurance is paying for it more and more. They don't understand why someone would subject themself to a surgical procedure. Just my take. For me, I'm 38 years old with a BMI of 35.6 with multiple co-morbitities. I'm doing this for me AND my family. I need to be here for my wife and kids, and someday grandkids. I'm fortunate that I have great insurance that will cover WLS. My wife has done wonderful over the last 3 years and Lord willing, we will be together for a long, long time...happy AND healthy. We were somewhere the other night and someone asked me what my wife had done to lose so much weight. Not wanting to overstep my bounds, I told this person that she has done a lot of hard work. My wife came over and the person asked her what she did to lose the weight and my wife says..."I had the lap band." If people truly love you, respect you and care about you, they will accept your decision...although it may take a while to get past someone's ignorance of what you re going through and the decision you have made. Out, Big Daddy