Kerri

I am scheduled to have my first fil 9/19 (banded 8/06). I have done fine on the mushy foods and now I am aslo doing fine with all foods. I have not had any issues with any of the foods/beverages I have had since being banded and I am careful to eat slower and chew chew chew. I was wondering if things change after having a fill. For example, is the pace/portion/chewing "routine" that has been working before the fill also going to work after the fill? I know some people can't tolerate certain foods after being banded but I have been lucky enough to not have any issues with everything I have tried. Will foods that I am OK with now also be OK after the fill? I am going to ask the Dr. when I get my fill but I also wanted to get other people's feedback.

CONGRATULATIONS! Very exciting - and I totally know what you mean - I will be joing you in 14 lbs - I can't wait (or weight! LOL).

Hello - I was just banded 8/6 so a lot of this is still fresh in my mind - here are some thoughts: *Keep in mind all doctors and programs are totally different as you will notice from reasing this list - experiences, diets, and doctors really vary* At the pre-op appt. I met with the surgeon, talked about the diff. types of surgeries (gastric bypass, band, etc) to decide what was right for me, what I wanted, and why I wanted it. We discussed if I was a candidate and what my goals were. They took my weight and went over my medical history (I had to bring all my medical records) and what medications I take. My dr. requires pre-op testing depending on medical history (EEG, EKG, sleep study, Xrays, upper GI, etc). I was lucky to only need the upper GI which my Dr. requires of everyone. There are also some medications that can't be taken after surgery so we discussed that, too. I also met with a dietitian to discuss what my weight loss/gain and dieting history in the past was like. She wanted to know what kinds of diets (atkins, weight watchers, etc) I had tried, how much weight I had lost in the past, etc. What my physical activity was like, what I expected out of the band (they want to make sure you are committed and do not have unrealistic expecations). After that I had to see a psychiatrist - which my Dr. requires everyone to see. It was a 15 minute appt. to make sure my expectations were realistic and also to make sure I was able to consent to the surgery and make medical decisions for myself. To prepare for my consult I contacted my primary care physician and get all of my medical records to bring to the appt. I also did a lot of research about the band online and wrote out a list of questions to ask the Dr. It would be helpful to have an annual phsycial with your primary if you have not had one in a while. For me, my surgeon required I have a phsycial within 6 months of my operation. Also, for insurance, you will probably need a referral from your primary Dr. You can also check with your insurance company to see if there is anything special you need to do - some require 6 months of a Dr. supervised weight loss program before they will approve the surgery. Some also have hospital co-pays which can be as high $1000 - it's good to know if you have to pay anything out of pocket. Like I said, all doctors are ridiculously different and require different things. Some are more strict than others - that was just my experience. Good luck with everything, for me it has been a great experience so far.

I didn't have the shoulder pain but I did have a lot of gas pain. Walking around really helps. I would make a couple of slow laps around the house on nice days.. LOL. In the beginning it seemed no matter what I drank and no matter how slow, it made me have more gas and feel like I had to burp. Walking really did help move the gas out. Take short walk every 1/2 hour or so if you can. I was banded on 8/6 and had a lot of pain at the large incision site. The other ones were not nearly as painful. It is still a little sore (but only a little) and the Dr. said that is normal. Mine also isn't in the best place so I think that made it worse. It will definitely get better as it heals. Good luck with everything and hang in there. Keep drinking liquid slowly throughout the day so you don't get dehydrated!

So far, so good. I am still on the stage 3 diet (soft foods) and I feel so much better. I had a hard time with stage 2 (protein shakes only) and wasn't able to get enough calories or protein. I am down 39 lbs so far so I am bery excited. Overall, it's been a great decision so far!

Helo - I was just banded on 8/6 and I had exactly the same problem. For the post-op diet, I was able to tolerate different shakes but post-op they all made me sick. I went through every Protein drink/shake/smoothis I could find and could not find any that did not make me gag. I was on the Protein shake diet for 2 weeks and because I was not getting enough protein and calories - about 1/2 the dailt intake - I got very weak. I had no energy and just rested all day. I couldn't even shower on my own (the one time I tried I started to black out). Have you tried HMR 500 chicken Soup? HMR is a food program similar to Nutrisystem. The chicken soup is higher in protein and has only 100 calories. It comes in a single serve packet - just mix w/ hot Water. They call it soup but it is more just like a creamier chicken broth and doesn't taste bad at all. It is a little expensive - about $50 w/ S&H - and you can only order it online. (www.hmrprogram.com) I also checked with my Dr. about other options and she also suggested a home-made egg drop soup. Heat fat free chicken broth and just before boiling slowly stir in egg whites. there are still some things I do not like - I have always had Crystal Light but now it just doesn't taste right. It's really weird. I am having much better luck with the soft foods and have tolderated everything I have tried. I feel so much better and I am going back to work tomorrow. I hope everything goes well and I was some help. Feel free to contact me if you need any more details, too!

Welcome! I was banded 8/6/08 and was a 29 year-old professional as well. I just turned 30 so I'm a bit older, though - ha! Good luck!

Just wanted to jump in and introdue myself - I just found this site the other day. I was banded on 8/6 and I am still out of work and bored as hell. So let's see - I am (barely) 30, gay, from the Boston area, and have been with my gf for 5 years in Sept. I have a lot of hobbies but never enough time for any of them.

Yep - 15B is the dedicated floor for gastro surgeries. I was in the first room on the left, room 41. I am sure we saw each other because I was there until 7pm on 8/7 and was walking around throughout the day! =)

Hello - Just wanted to introduce myself to the August board. I just had the band surgery this past Wednesday, August 6, at B&W Hospital in Boston. On the pre-op diet I lost 23 pounds and I am down 35 pounds total so far... but still have a long way to go. I am doing OK but the incisions are still sore. There are six of them and the largest one is not in the best area. I am out of work for about another two weeks so I have plenty of time to heal.

Hello - Just wanted to throw out an introduction. I had Lap surgery this past Wednesday, 8/6, at B&W Hospital in Boston. So far including the pre-op diet I am down 35 pounds and counting. I still have a long way to go but my journey has only just begun. Are there any support groups or meetings on the South Shore?

I have BCBS/MA also and it seems it depends on your secific plan. For my plan the procedure was covered 100%. I had to pay several co-pays ($15 each) for the consult and psyciatry visits. The biggest expense was $500 that the hospital (B&W) charges to cover the cost of materials, lifetime nutrition appts, and support groups. My employer also offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and I planned on the expenses in advance. If your employer offers it, it is definitely worth it. When benefits are selected you choose the yearly amount which is then deposited to a Visa card. The money is available up front but you pay the amount weekly out of each pay check. Since the money is paid w/ pre-tax dollars, there are a lot of savings (sometimes as much as 40%). The hospital fee and co-pays can all be used with the FSA card.

Hello - I am from Abington, too and also had Dr. Vernon for the Band surgey (just this past Wed, Aug 6)!

Hello - I had the band surgery at B&W this past Wednesday, August 6, with Dr. Vernon. Everything went great and the Dr. and the nurses are extremely nice and helpful. They have a floor dedicated to gastric surgery and all of the staff is familiar with the procedures.