debduck

Hey I hope maybe I can help. I had my band September 11, 2008. Here is what I have found: sippy cups - to prevent gulping water (used these for about 2 weeks post op only - best day was when the doctor's office changed their position and allowed us to use straws! I now use a lot of straws!) toddler silverware - portion control - (a must have - I still use mine especially after a fill or whenever my band feels tight!) toddler dishes - helpful with travelling with mushy foods. (I bought really pretty small plates a little bigger than a saucer that I use almost every day to eat off of, keeps portion sizes down and makes me feel better) gas-x strips - apparently during surgery we're pumped with air and the gas can be painful. (I still experience gas quite a bit - flatulence, asked the surgeon recently what he recommended and he said that was the million dollar question! I did find Digestive Advantage that I take as needed for a few days and it helps tremendously, remember this is for after your post op period.) chewable vitamins - swallowing pills is discouraged (Flintstone chewable Multi-vitamin with Iron is what the doc recommended and I take one every day still) liquid pain reliever - (Tylenol liquid was my best friend, now I also use childrens chewable aspirin, again don't do this until past your post op period, but I chew 8 as an adult dose) magic bullet - or other smaller blender for liquids only stage (I bought one, thought I would use it a lot, I haven't used it past the 2nd month post op and even then I didn't use it a lot.) food processor - for pureeing, apparently blenders liquify too much (Again, I didn't use this much at all) protein drinks - to ensure enough protein, protein helps heal (Used Carnation Instant Breakfast sugar-free pre-op and post-op, went to GNC and bought protein powder before Surgery and Unjury Protein online wish I hadn't went to the expense did not use either of them. Still use the Carnation if my band is feeling tight.) protein bullets- shots of protein costco? (Never used this, my friends who had the gastric-bypass procedure do but not my band friends.) baby food - jury's still out, i'd rather puree my own (Yuck!) calcium chews (Still do this daily) shot glass - for measuring, this is 1 ounce (Used about 2 months post-op) heating pad - comfort for chest/gas pains (OMG a lifesaver!) wedge pillow - some have trouble laying flat (Recommend but I just used a bunch of pillows and a recliner!) stomach binder - no idea what or why (They put one on me in the hospital, check with your hospital to see if they use it. When I checked out I asked if I could have another one as the one I had was stained and they gave me another one no problem. This was an absolute must!!!) ice trays - to freeze puree, portion control (Did not use this either) miralax - for constipation, to make it easier to GO (I did need this off and on and I still do at times, now I use glycerin suppositories) campbells cheese soup - cause i looooove cheese (Still do a lot of soup if my band feels tight)

I too like hearing the stories the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am Thursday also getting nervous but reading these helps.

Mine consists of 3 - sugar-free carnation instant Breakfast in 1% milk, plus 2 lean-cuisines each 300 calories or less and at least 17 grams of Protein. Was really hard the first 3 days now I have to force myself to eat the whole meal. I have 16 oz carnation breakfast for breakfast and one I heat up the milk then add the carnation breakfast drink powder and have a hot cocoa before bed, taste pretty good. How about yours?

My surgery is Sept 11 and I have been on the pre-op for 10 days Mine consists of 3 - sugar-free carnation instant breakfast in 1% milk, plus 2 lean-cuisines each 300 calories or less and at least 17 grams of protein. Was really hard the first 3 days now I have to force myself to eat the whole meal. I have 16 oz carnation breakfast for breakfast and one I heat up the milk then add the carnation breakfast drink powder and have a hot cocoa before bed, taste pretty good. Good new I have lost 15 lbs! :lovechoc:

Have lost 15 lbs so far on the pre-op diet but man I have been short tempered and curt with people, I hear it come out and usually apologize afterward (unless I really meant it... :lovechoc:). I researched and found that people who are nervous or scared will sometimes do that. I really hope that is all that it is. Funny thing though, I haven't been rude to my husband you would think that the one closest to me would get it the worst. Thank God that is not the case. Has anyone else experienced this and did it go away after surgery?

10 days into my pre-op diet and have lost 15 lbs. WOO HOO!! My Surgery is Sept 11 at 10:45 am We are about the same BMI Good Luck to you and keep me posted.

Date has been moved to Sept 11th. Was the 9th 11:45 am:blink:

Sept 9th for me!!:thumbup:

I also work in a hospital. DO NOT and I mean DO NOT give them any type of payment or set up a payment plan without first talking to an attorney. Once you give them the first dollar and I mean that literally you have just accepted that bill as legitimate and you now owe it. Keep fighting, you do not owe this bill if you were indeed preapproved. If the fight becomes lengthy send letters to the three big credit gods and outline the issue. And I will say it one more time - GET AN LAWYER, if you think you can't afford one look at the amount you may pay if you don't

just really a lot of mixed emotions. The Bariatric Center in Springboro is where I started and their insurance person told me she didn't think I would be approved, but I decided to at least try and see what would happen. Then that center closed and I had to move to the Miami Valley Center. So starting out thinking I wouldn't be approved or would at least have a hard fight, to all of a sudden being told OK your date is September 9th, I have a lot of thoughts running though my head... And I am just trying to wrap my mind around the whole thing. Don't get me wrong I really do want this, more than anything, and did a lot and I mean a lot of research into lap bands but now that I have the OK... I can't explain it... I am so happy and excited but at the same time I am eating everything in site and what if I have it and gain all of the weight back... Are these feelings and fears normal?

Hi I'm Debbie from Springboro and will be banded Sept 9. Any advise?