paisleypea

Welcome - thank you so much for coming and being open and honest - all of you! I agree with all the other posters --- all of us have had a warped relationship with food to be where we needed the band (or other WLS). I highly encourage you to seek professional counseling. I am going thru a few books on emotional eating ---- but live, one-on-one, counseling/therapy would be so much better! I'm not as desperate as you describe, but only because I have stood up and taken a step for my health earlier than you did. You CAN do this, but do please be honest and open with your surgeon and seek professional help. Please keep us updated too

I am post-op day 10 and not hungry. I did have some hungry days in week 1 with the liquid diet though. or I thought it was hunger ----- growly in the tummy. but I'm not hungry now ---- and am loving it! enjoy it!

this is COOL! thanks! bummer about the pictures (for me ----- have to think thru the process ---- just being lazy)

Julie M ---- I JUST did that very thing this morning! well, actually I had a small (half) cup of coffee first and then I made the Protein shake with 1/2 milk, 1 cup coffee, Protein powder (chocolate) and ice ----- a mocha latte frozen! man, it's da bomb! Mandie - glad to hear you're doing okay and better. you too Darlene. sorry you have to wait for the shower phenry!

carchaser --- I didn't have 5 years documented from a dr. office history of BMI either. I also have BCBS (TX). That said, what I did was make up a chart with dates, weights, BMI, what diet I tried, what the result was. I had it going back to 1993 ----- way more than it needed to be, but I thought perhaps it would show a history of gradually increasing weights over time. Because I tended to lose 40 to 50 lbs per diet (and gaining it plus another 10 back.....) I was worried cuz my BMI wasn't high enough for the entire 5 year history. I did "fudge" it just a bit too ----- but I felt it was worth it. Then I gave that chart (I made it on my computer) to my dr. to add to my medical record. it then got sent on to the insurance company as part of my medical records. Your dr. might do the same for you. Good luck!

Jason - you are doing FANTASTIC! way to go --- you have grabbed that bull by the horns and are telling it what! I too am impressed by your commitment ---- the future is bright for you!

Congrats! it's REAL! isn't it an awesome feeling? Not sure you will do this, but I did ------ had some really wild thoughts during the approved but before the actual surgery time. I am still absolutely glad I made the decision!

Yay you! take your pills, sleep and walk! welcome to the rest of your life!

I think Pam is on top of it - but I'm unsure what she does exactly?? I called her initially from the website and she made my first consultation appointment. I've not ever seen her in the office though, just Susie and Kelly (sometimes). Do you know what she does? Going to a support meeting before the surgery was a huge energy and encouragement push for me! They are always the 2nd Thurs of the month

thanks for the great word picture Restless - the fire with wood is a perfect analogy. I am just 8 days post-op but have been wondering myself just how much I am supposed to eat calorie wise. I think it is different in this healing phase right now??? but I wanted the info for when I am a "normal bander". LOL I will use the fire/wood image to help me balance.

another point is that there are MANY different post-op diets - depending on the surgeon. My surgeon has done over 2,000 and therefore has zero pre-op diet - he can work with any liver. His post-op seems far more aggressive than many I have read about too. It was clear liquid for op day, full liquids Post-Op days 1 - 3, pureed food Post-Op days 4-7, Soft foods Post-Op days 8 - one month out from surgery date. I have stayed true to the diet - but I do have my husband cook the dinner and clean it up cuz it's stuff I can't eat and I'm not enjoying cooking/cleaning it up. He is a saint. I didn't puree stuff - it sucked! I stayed with puree food like cottage cheese, yogurt, custard etc. I did end up making tapioca pudding one night - but it was on the list. helpful hint --- Soups that are strained are the BOMB! My sweet husband went to Panera and bought me both chicken noodle and french onion soups - and asked for the broth only. They totally obliged and gave all liquid, no big chunks. it did have some in it still, so I just strained it. yeah - canned/boxed broth - yuck! and the Pacific boxes of Soup are awesome and liquid (full) --- roasted red pepper and tomatoe, butternut, etc. all good!

for me - I couldn't have gone to work by then. I slept and slept and slept - for 3 days post-op and then was just tired out easily after that. I think most recommend not going back to work until a week out from surgery - and some stay longer. I am exactly a week out and glad I don't have to go to work. I am taking it easy to heal. The body takes a toll undergoing major surgery.

CHEERS! thanks for the calories and carb counts too! My surgeon's dietician said we cannot drink for a whole year. I thought it had something to do with the band. Now of course I know it is just to keep weight loss going and not drinking too many calories. whew! i have yet to feel like a drink though! I was banded 7 days ago.

yep - ditto! I made up a chart of my weights, dates and diets and outcomes --- showing how I'd lose 50 and then gain 60. I think that helped my 5-year history thing cuz duh, when I lost 50 pounds my BMI wasn't over 35 anymore. list anything and everything you can. My PCP wrote a letter based on my insurance requirements, showing how I met each and every one of them. Then it was sent to my surgeon with my chart included with my medical file (I gave it to PCP) and my surgeon wrote a letter. I'm not exactly sure what he wrote (I would love to see it myself actually) but they faxed it to BCBS on a Friday and BCBS sent out a letter the next Wed of approval.

wow. I'm so sorry to hear of the endless waiting on your end. I had a similar experience - and I found that when I kept calling my stuff finally got done and faxed. ugh! frustrating isn't it? however, once I got my approval -- I too called my insurance and the date they sent me a letter. It took 10 days to actually receive the letter though! - anyway, when I called the surgeon's office with an approval, I was called back immediately. I had rarely been called back, let alone that fast. Had my surgery last Monday and when I called for my first post-op appt she got to me right away when she got in. so ----- maybe they have so many of us wanting to go thru the hoops and they can't handle it all? maybe those of us approved already are priority? not sure. Is your surgeon very experienced with lap band? I know you wrote that he did your gall bladder and is pioneer in laparoscopic surgeries and all, but how much with lap band? This is completely different in the after care aspect of the surgery ---- it isn't just surgery and done like most surgeries are. I'd want to know how many he has done before I trusted him with it. just some thoughts

Congrats! that's awesome! I did have a hard time getting thru sometimes, but found that Susie was not usually in the office except on thurs and fri. I know he does surgeries all day on Monday and some on Tuesday too. Just keep calling and emailing. (she can check from home I think)

great to hear from everyone! so - I am finding the post-op time to go up and down. I was doing GREAT on post-op day 5 and got over-ambitious. I cleaned our giant bathroom, even the deep soaking tub -- becuz I could not stand it being dirty any longer. Did some laundry. Then the next day I couldn't even do anything! I felt like CR@P yesterday. ugh! we hosted Father's Day here and my folks came and everyone was great. I got the veggies all chopped up and mixed for the grill and the same with the chicken and then I was spent. the whole rest of the day I lounged. thankfully everyone wanted me to rest - saying "it hasn't been a week yet" blah blah blah, but I felt like such a slug today - much better. interesting comment on the pepcid ---- they gave that to me while I was in the hospital. and you know - it really DID help. I tried to acclimate myself with a pre-diet since my surgeon did not require one ---- totally different than doing the liquids after. so not even the same. after surgery I don't even WANT to eat and the liquids are easy to manage on for the few days after.

Stacey - it sounds like all those extra tests are required by your surgeon. BCBS had on their qualifying list the 6-month diet, psych eval., BMI>40 or BMI>35 with 2 co-morbids. I didn't have to do those extra tests besides that -----thankfully! Also - BCBS in general tends to approve/not approve pretty quickly - so stay in touch with them. I called and they'd approved it within 3 days.

Hey all - I must echo the kudos to those of you "early June banders" and your wonderful words of what to expect. Everything went just as I expected - and even BETTER! I was chattering as I came into the recovery room (go figure!) and was immediately set up on the pain meds. I got to administer it myself with that machine where you hit a button. I was on dilauded, which is 10x more powerful than morphine (they told me that part). no pain. great! My surgeon came in after all his surgeries of the day (he did 5) and said it all went great. i asked when I could take a shower ---- cuz I'd read it could be a while ---- he said the next morning! wahoo! now THAT was good news for sure! I stayed overnight becuz I lived an hour away, and am glad I did. I wouldn't want my husband to have to do all that the nurses did for me in the hospital. sometime in the middle of the night I went ahead and switched to liquid Lortab for pain to see if I could manage pain that way. It worked out well, so they unhooked the IVs at 5 AM. I was able to leave the hospital as soon as I wanted, which I did at 9 AM --- wanted the pharmacy open and my prescriptions filled first. I mostly slept the next 2 days though. I guess the pain meds. I committed to 4 days of pain meds based on things I read on this board and I slept and slept, which I think was crucial for healing. Today - it is day 5 post-op and I feel pretty good. I thought I felt pretty good yesterday but hit a wall at 1 pm. Taking it really easy, which is nice. I did take some pain meds last night at 6 becuz all of a sudden it HURT. slept well. :-) I was on liquids for the first 3 days post-op and could go pureed foods yesterday. I haven't really pureed any "real food" cuz it sounds kinda gross. For now, I am HAPPY with my Pacific soup. They are awesome. thoughts --- plain ole broth is GROSS! yucko! My husband went to Panera and got containers of French Onion Soup and Chicken Noodle Soup and asked for "just the broth" and the gal looked at him funny, said, "no stuff?" There was some in it - of course. But I strained it to eat and YUM! best decision ever for clear liquids. Truly, chicken noodle soup has magic healing powers in it. Those felt good when I ate them - in a comforting way. I highly recommend it. Tomorrow is Father's Day - and I should be hosting a fantastic meal here. BUT - I haven't done much of anything since Monday's surgery. My husband will go to the store and do the grilling. sweet guy! my parents will come over too. I like having it here becuz if I get overspent, I can go to my room and sleep and they'll understand it all. I do find it amazing how every surgeon is different --- not just in pre-op diets, but in how they do the surgery, the stitches, the post-op diets etc. I didn't have any gauze or anything --- they covered it in the durabond stuff, hence why I could shower. I know I have had it "easier" than most - no pre-op diet and a "fast" progression in the food plan post-op based on what I've read. Clear liquids and then liquids days 1-3, pureed foods days 4-7, at week 1 go to mushies and at 1 month go to normal foods. should be interesting. My first post-op appointment is July 3rd. I guess if I am healed up nice he will do a fill. I can't wait! Although I am to go to a wedding on July 4th --- hope I'm feeling okay. I guess you just go liquids the next day? but I should feel fine? thanks for "listening" to my tale here. I couldn't even open the computer to READ the board until day 3 post-op. I did try on Day 2 but too hard to read with the pain meds in my system. LOL. I have been reading faithfully, but just haven't had it in me to type out my story until today. I feel brand new today!

Good luck everyone! you will do great!

ohhhhh, I sure hope it resolves quickly for you! what a bummer. you are right in getting it all checked out and IF it has to be postponed, you'll get it at the time right for you. Thinking good things for you! keep us posted

Hi Dena! you are doing AWESOME! I met you last Thurs at support group. I have surgery tomorrow morning (Monday) Yay! it is really finally here! you are an inspiration to me! ---- there is a surgeon's group for Dr. Chae listed under the Surgeons---Colorado---Lone Tree----Chae.

My surgeon does not require a pre-op diet at all, just nothing after midnight the day before surgery. I did the "Last Supper Syndrome" for a couple of weeks, then I went on the health-kick. I have slipped on that though ----- hubby wanted to go to some of our favs before it was 'too late', so I did that Fri and Sat. My surgery is tomorrow (Mon) so ----- I'm back to the 2 Protein shakes today and a sensible meal for dinner. just to 'clean myself up' a bit. :-)

Yay! I went to my first support group meeting on thursday and felt like you did ----- it was incredible. So many nice people, helpful and encouraging. The energy in the room was wonderful! I get banded on Monday. can't wait to join the club.