Elisabethsew

Is an endoscopy part of the floow-up for lapband surgery?

Hi Butch, I don't think you were unreasonable in requesting your money back and your logic makes perfect sense. I see Dr. Geiss for my first post-op appointment on 4/14 and really don't understand how they determine when I will get my first fill. I'm only 8 days into this banding and learning as I go and read the experiences of others. I'm glad that you got another appointment. If it's any consolation, you're coming to NY at a beautiful tme of the year.

Happy Anniversary and Congratulations. You're an inspiration to everyone. Best of luck to you.

Hi Beejay, I had my surgery on 3/30/06 and went into the OR at 4:30 PM, was in the recovery room at 6:10 PM, got to my room at 8 PM and was up walking at 4 AM. I had a visual esophagram the morning after surgery to determine that the band and was OK and was home by 11 AM. Like you, I chose not to tell too many people about the surgery... just 2 close friends.

I just checked my plan and on post-op week 3, I can have soft foods. It lists tuna salad and soft fishes such as filet, tillapia and flounder and states to avoid salmon, shrimp, swordfish, etc. I hope that helps. I could live on fish and can't wait to get to the soft foods stage.

I ran into the same problem with my insurance company so I had my MD write a letter to them stating that he advised me to join Weight Watchers, etc. and considers them "supervised" as you weigh-in weekly. I then had my arthritis MD write a letter stating that he advised the surgery as well as my cardiologist. I got the name of my case manager and faxed the letters to her along with copies of medical records from past hospitalizations. You can request them from the hospital but they do charge a small fee. Finally, they gave me approval. It's not easy and it does take a lot of phone calls and leg work but, if you persist, you can get approval. To make it easier, I actually wrote the letters for the MDs and got them to sign it. I will keep my fingers crossed you win. I am one week post-op today.

Drink tons of water, take a hot shower and walk and bend as much as you're able to.

Hi Butch, I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences trying to get a fill. One week ago today I was banded by Dr. Geiss and have heard nothing but good things about him and his staff. Have you considered making a 2 day visit to NY for a fill? That way, if you feel the fill was not enough you could go back the following day for an additional one. I know it's a long drive to NY but it might be worth it to get the care you need in a professional manner.

Welcome back and thank you for sharing your experience. I am glad that your personal problems are history and you're back to losing. I wish you continued success.

It's interesting to hear how the procedure is done in different places. I had mine done a week ago today but did not have staples. They used self-dissolving sutures and a clear shiny covering over that. I had no steri-strips or dressings and could shower the day after surgery.

I am also 6 days post-op as of today and can have yogurt and pudding on my 2 week post-op full fluid diet. Everyone heals at a different rate and I am still VERY sore. My stomach is black and blue, I can't sleep on my side, I'm bored with the diet but everyday seems to be a little better than the previous one and my focus now in on healing and preventing infection. Give yourself some time and focus on positive outcomes.

I am new here and am sorry to hear that you feel discriminated against for choosing to have a bypass gastric surgery. I was banded on 3/30/06 and work full time as a registered nurse. Because of the prejudice towards fat people that I have lived with my entire life, I chose not to tell my family or co-workers about my surgery. Only 2 people know and that's the way it will remain. Because of my decision not to reveal my surgery to friends and family, I sought out this site for support. My choice to go with lapband surgery was based on my own research and my medical history. That said, I could tell you all horror stories of people who had bypass gastric surgery as well as those who had lapband surgery. I work in intensive care and that's where these poor people end up. Rather than discuss horror stories, I prefer to dwell on successes. Everyone posting here is healthy and has chosen a surgical intervention to assist in reaching optimal health. Let's be thankful that we're alive and well and just support one another in the common goal of getting rid of the excess weight. Many roads lead to the same destination and what's most important is not the road but finding our way safety to the destination. Just my thoughts as I approach my one week post-op date.

Congratulations on a GREAT first week. I was banded a day after you but won't have my first weigh-in until 4/14 at the post-op visit. I wish you continued success and thank you for sharing your experience.

Hi Tracylou, Pre-op diets are similar but you should check with your MD or his/her dietician to determine what they want you to follow. My full Fluid diet consisted of clear soups, sugar-free ice-pops, sugar-free/fat-free pudding and yogurt, and sugar-free fruit juices. The day before surgery and the day after was clear fluids. For two weeks after surgery, I have to do full fluids again and progress to a soft diet for weeks 3-5. For the ticker, go to tickerfactory.com and follow the directions. I posted a thread on this today.

Welcome Christy and Fat Crusader. I'm 6 days post-op and anxiously await my first weigh-on on 4/14 to see how well I am progressing. I'm also looking forward to post-op week #3 when I advance from a full fluid diet to a soft one. The good news is I really don't have an appetite. I wish you all the best in your weight loss endeavors.

As I was reading posts on various topics, I noticed www.tickerfactory.com above the weight loss tickers that people included after their signatures. I went to that site and followed the easy directions: Step 1 : Choose a ticker design. Step 2 : Choose a slider. Step 3 : Enter weight statistics. Step 4 : Cut and paste. The site offers several options for cutting and pasting but none worked for me so I simply cut and paste the actual completed ticker into an email and then opened this site, LapBandTalk.com. I went to "User CP" and opened "Edit signature." I signed my name, typed in the date I was banded, and then cut and pasted the design from the email into the signature box. I did a preview and, when all looked fine, accepted the edit. I hope that helps others who are computer "challenged" like me. :help:

Best of luck with the weigh-in. The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver to make surgery easier. You'll do great.

I was banded on 3/30/06 in New York by Dr. Alan Geiss. He's done over 1000 bandings with a great success record. Elisabeth

Splenda IS Aspartame! The brand name is Splenda and the generic is Aspartame... just like drugs. Elisabeth

I'm sure you'll do fine with the surgery and wish you good luck. Never allow any health care professional to "talk" you into a procedure. It's their job to give you all the information so that YOU can make an informed decision that works best for YOU. Elisabeth

Best of luck to you on your surgery. I am 6 days post-op and doing well. The purpose of the liquid diet is to shrink your liver so surgery goes easier so try and stick with it. Elisabeth

Hi Donna, It's interesting to see how differently the diets are prescribed. It felt like such a treat to be allowed to consume some lite ricotta cheese this morning. Because I hate yogurt, the dietician allowed me the ricotta cheese which is normally a week 3 post-op "soft" food. I had 2 oz and that gave me 8 g of Protein. The medifast shakes have 11-12 g. My next treat will be being able to sleep on my side. LOL. Elisabeth

Hi Everyone, On Thursday evening (3/30/06), I had gastric lap-banding. After an esophagram on Friday morning, I was given a clear liquid diet and sent home. Although I have a total of six (6) incisions, the only place I had pain was on the left side and the pain has now been replaced by a soreness. The most difficult challenge I have is not being able to sleep on my left side. I gave it a try last night and wanted to die. LOL. Can anyone tell me when they felt OK and experienced a good night's sleep? I was on a full fluid diet one week pre-op and am on that same diet post-op. The only difference is that I consume 4 medifast shakes a day as opposed to 2 a day pre-op. The diet is boring and I have trouble getting all the liquids in. Any pointers? I look forward to learning from you all and being supportive in your weight loss efforts. Thank you. Elisabeth :ban:

Hi mwillis, Congratulations on your great progress. If you figure out how to make the ticker thing, let me know because I have no idea. I'll know how much weight I lost when I see the surgeon for my post-op appt. on 4/14. As for sleeping, I'm still flat on my back as it's too sore still to lie on either side. Elisabeth

Hi Donna, SEW are my initials and yes, I do sew... counted cross stitch, candlewicking, and needlepoint but all that has been tabled while I finish my degree. I work full-time as an RN. It's post-op day 6 for me and my belly is bruised, incisions (6) are healing, but I'm still uncomfortable bending and sleep flat on my back. I took pain medication the first 3 nights to sleep but now only take tylenol at night and nothing during the day. I'm condemned to full fluids for another 8-9 days and have a hard time getting all the "food" in. When I wake up in the AM, my stomach is gurgling like crazy and I'm full after an 8 oz protein drink. I called the dietician yesterday and she said I could substitute one medifast shake for 2 oz of lite ricotta cheese. I did that this AM and feel better. What I am discovering is how strong an emotional addiction I have to food. For example, when I prepare dinner for my family, I am not hungry but just seeing and smelling "real" food ignites those cravings. I take a few sips of water to feel full and avoid the temptation to taste. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences and hope I can do as well as you have. I have no idea how much weight I lost because I don't have my first weigh-in until 4/14 at my pre-op visit. I lost 23 pounds before the actual surgery and gained 5 the morning after it. I am not sure what is considered your "starting" weight but I am assuming it's the weight you are prior to going into the OR. Elisabeth