pwoods5015

it is if you do it right - but it is only a tool, not a miracle. unfortunately, all that is bad is the easiest to slip through the band - so you still have to watch what you eat - and temptation will always be there. On the plus side, even when you do slip (and I have done so) it is not as bad as it was before the band, there are still limits to how much you can eat.

I had the same experience last week, but could not even sip water without severe discomfort - went back the next day, had .5 cc removed and instant relief! It is still tight enough to restrict most foods, but I can drink liquids without a problem :>)

Kind of an ambitious time table - I had it done on a Thursday, it was Sunday before I felt like I was fully out of the anesthesia. Pain was not really an issue. I was back at work the following Thursday. I probably could have gone back a day or so earlier, but waited until after the first post-op Dr appt (wasn't supposed to be driving until then :>)

My nutritionist warned against SlimFast. Most other protein shakes were ok, such as HMR, Optifast, and those you can get at nutrition stores. Check carefully for the protein content.

I have had the band now for almost 3 months and have lost about 10 pounds :<( It is frustrating, but I think the body it making up for what I put it through getting ready for the surgery. Now that I am recovered from the surgery, I have stepped up the training and time in the gym, so it should speed up again.

Hopefully he did not actually mean for you to lose 24 lb in 30 days - that sounds unreasonable, as well as dangerous. The first time I saw my doctor and was accepted for surgery, he said to lose 5 pounds before it could be scheduled. He should have a pre-op plan for you to follow when you next see him - I have seen several versions here, ranging from a couple of days to 2 weeks (which I had to do) of a liquid diet. Just follow what your doctor says to do.

I'm impressed - my surgery was at 7am, I was home by 12. I arrived at the hospital with a tote bag containing a book and my debit card (for the presumed co-pay). that was all I needed as I never really woke from the anesthesia until the next day. My daughter picked up the pain medication at the pharmacy when she came to give me a ride home. One suggestion - make sure the clothes you bring to go home in are REALLY loose. The pants I were were loose when I arrived and tight when I left - the gas inflates the belly more than you think.

My doctor at UCSD ordered a 2-week liquid diet before surgery. I was lucky enough to be part of a study so had a liver MRI just before I started and one the day before surgery. I have to admit to 2 or 3 bites of "real food" but otherwise it was liquids the whole 2 weeks - popsicles, protein shakes, etc. My liver fat went from close to 5% to less than 2% during that time (or so I was told).

I tried Curves a few years ago - the idea is good, but there are issues to look at. The one I used had 2 very small changing rooms and no pool, spa, sauna, etc. The whole program is a circuit, which works well in theory, but when the 3 in front of you are having social hour and forget to move, or move at their leisure, it kind of throws off the rythmn. I would definitely try it free for the 2 weeks before getting into a contract/payment plan. I don't know about then, but in the past, they were all franchises, so the quantity of equipment and training could vary widely from one to another. If one doesn't suit, try another.

Check in at 6am, surgery at 7am, in recovery around 9:30am, barium at 10:30 am (they were ready early and I was ready to give it a try - I thought), checked out at 11:30 am. Quite honestly, I could have stayed longer as I suspect I was still under anesthesia, but it was nice to get home to my own bed - where I stayed off and on for the next 36 hours. One of the women I work with had it done also and her doctor requires a 12 hour or overnight stay before doing the barium.

I was told I could have strained low-fat cream soup. I did try it one day and apparently can't tolerate cream soup. I could however tolerate tomato soup and it was filling -and soothing. I used the "healthy" version as I try to watch the sodium, used the can of soup and about 1/3-3/4 can of water.

oh yes, be sure to add some hot water to the fish and potato mix - makes it smoother :>)

I am 1 week into mushies - for lunch I blend 1/4 cup instant mashed potato mix with 1/2 can (1 serving) of tuna, shrimp, or salmon, and a spoonful of salsa for flavor - it sounds bad but can be quite good. Also, I like the "eating right" brand of frozen "diet" dinner - one package is high in protein and low in most else - and very tasty. I blend the whole thing in my little blender and it is the tastiest mush ever :>)

my doctor said a week (until the post-op appointment) but out of necessity, I was banded on a Thursday and driving on Saturday - not far or for long, but driving.

I didn't/don't feel a lot of restriction, but I am still on full liquids (hooray, I can start blending this week). My doctor does not fill at the time of surgery. So far, the protein shakes seem to do ok for me - at least, after finishing one I feel more full than I used to and it seems to last longer (not saying I haven't had a couple episodes of extreme hunger, but I got the ok for a protein water :>)

Good for you - you know yourself better than anyone else. I had the surgery on a Thursday and was back at work the following Thursday - and was fine with that (I had to fight the inclination to go back a day or two earlier). But, I only have a 15-20 minute drive to work and work in an office. Everyone understood if I moved a bit slowly. Just be careful what you wear (I had to keep adjusting the waistband of my pants) and I brought in a bottle of liquid Tylenol just in case.

my clinic staff/doctor also say carbonation is out for life. One of the women in the office had the band put in about 3 years ago. Some of the staff told me she is drinking diet pepsi all day. Of course, she was recently at the ER and had to have her band removed and replaced......

Don't expect the gnawing to go completely away for a while. I had the band put in on the 8th - the first couple of days I think I was still under anesthesia as I never really woke up - concentrated on Water. By the third day I was able to take water and broth (and now just looking at the can can make me nauseous). When I finally got to full liquids on the 5th day, it was better - I could have a Protein shake twice a day, but a couple of days later, I had to add a third (and dropped the sugar free pudding). I have healthy tomato Soup in the middle of the day for variety. I am really looking forward to later this week when I can have pureed foods. I really have to watch my timing though, because if I wait too long between, it hurts :<( I was hoping the hunger would go away also.

Mine is to the left of the bellybutton and up a bit - the only site that is still tender to the touch - and the one high up in the middle is the liver retraction point (which was casually mentioned at my post-op visit the other day)

I was banded on the same day. At UCSD there is no fill at the time of surgery (although I have read of doctors that do a fill during surgery), 4 days of clear liquids and 10 days of full liquids before blended/pureed foods. I am counting the hours. Apparently I heal pretty quickly and am already hungry :<( I am going to try adding a 3rd protein shake and see if that helps.

I am using Tricare Prime in San Diego. I had no problem getting approved for the surgery and testing process. Their standards seem to be pretty cut and dried - meet the criteria and you are on the way. The issue was not getting the approval but finding a surgeon that would take the insurance. I am now with UCSD and very happy with them. I start the liquid diet on the 25th and have surgery on 01/08 :>)

I am assuming you are a dependant, in which case Tri-care should cover it. It costs more using tricare standard, but apparently it is easier to find a doctor who takes it than Prime. If you are active duty, check with your post hospital. I would be interested to know if active duty can get it.

Good luck with the process - I went for the initial consult in mid-September. I did not find it that bad as I was able to see everyone in one visit. I just brought a good book and anticipated a wait (after 20 years in the army, I am pretty good at waiting). Keeping in mind it is a teaching hospital, I got to participate in a short research project for one of the grad students. (I don't think she realized how bad I am at video games, but I gave it a try.) One doctor I contacted told me my insurance needed a psych consult, which I would have had to do on my own, so having all of it done in one visit was nice. I got the "lose 5 pounds and come back" order. Which is a bit frustrating as my paperwork was submitted to my insurance company that same week and was approved in 2 days. So, here I am, a month later, and still not a clue as to when surgery can be scheduled. I do go in Monday, so if the 5 lbs is gone, hopefully I can get at least an idea of a timeframe. One thing they kind of don't tell you directly is that you can't even discuss scheduling until you lose the 5 (or 7, 10, or whatever). Had I known that 2 weeks ago, I would have moved up the appointment. Although I can understand why, seeing as I just got the insurance statement and seeing what they paid, I suspect insurance patients are somewhat low on the scheduling/priority list. I have seen a few postings on the site from people who went for their consult well after me, yet already have surgery dates.

I have Tricare Prime and you do need a referral or it becomes Point of Service, which is high dollar out of pocket. Oh, and be advised that Tricare does not approve referrals to Dr Horgan, but does for his partner Dr Jacobsen - not sure why. As best I can tell, insurance patients are at the bottom of the list for dates of surgery - I have had an approval for surgery for almost 2 weeks and still have no idea when I MIGHT be scheduled for surgery. I am at least trying to find out if it will be before the end of the year as I have to plan for my spending account. And I still have no idea how much I will be out of pocket. So, be advised getting the referral is half the battle.

you can buy HMR shakes online at ihmonline.com - buy enough and shipping is free - and after buying a certain amount, you get a free box. Each convenient packet includes 16 grams of protein. I like the chocolate, a co-worker the vanilla (she makes a shake in the blender with frozen fruit).