sms1964

While going through my testing (labs, abdominal ultrasound, chest x-ray etc...) I found out that I have a severe vitamin D deficency. Strange. They gave me a prescription for some mega vitamin D dose that I will take once a week. Has any one heard of this? I've looked it up and nothing seems to fit for me. Any one heard of this??

Don't be nervous. I went to 5 week post op appt yesterday and got a fill that I was not expecting to get. I was feeling great eating most food but avoiding the breads, Pasta and rice - just following the rules, but felt like I could eat almost as much as before the surgery. I had lost about 12 lbs, so the weight loss was ok, not great but ok! A little numbing, and the needle did not hurt. I got a 2 cc fill. I am on liquids for 48 hours so have not really eaten yet to know how I feel. But a fill sounds worse that it is. I know you probably will be bervous until you actually get one, #2 will be a breeze! Good Luck!

Ok I am on mushies now and am getting VERY bored. I have had scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, smushed baked Beans and refried beans. I am afraid to chili, because of the meat. I am adversed to baby food (yuck) and am not sure about putting tuna in the blender (yuck?). I am trying to get in 60 grams of Protein today, per my dr. If I do a 30 gr Protein shake in the morning, 14 grams (1/2 c) of cottage cheese for lunch .... I need 20+ more grams of Fiber for dinner ...any mushy suggestions???? I hear fish goes down ok..... any other sugestions??? Thanks!!

Thank you all for your suggestions. I may have to try the tuna in the blender. I guess if you add some onion and a tad of celery it may not be bad! The chicken salad also sounded good. I also just remembered that ham salad was good too and you can put that into a blender! Thanks again!!! Sue

I understand the "what did I do" thoughts 100%. I am 8 days banded. About day 3 or 4 I was in a bad state. I was still very sore, eating only creamy thinned out Soups, and generally not feeling well. I too thought - OMG what have I done to myself. But, I treated my self to a small Rita's mango icee and I felt better. Not just because it was not thin Soup, but it was a "normal" thing to eat. I guess I felt sorry for myself about the soup. I needed varity. So I tried different soups, small curd cottage cheese, and then I started making shakes, with low fat yogurt, skim milk, ice, 1/2 banana or blue berries - and I felt good that I could have something good and different. My Dr wanted me on Clear liquids for 48 hours post surgery, then full liquids for a week. I'm now starting mushies, and the world has opened for me. I've followed the directions. I hope to keep following them. It is hard, but its doable, and the best thing for us to do. You will be fine. Just make your self a calendar and mark the days your diet can change, it may help to visualize that you will not be eating thin soup for ever!!! You can do it!!

I was banded Friday the 7th. Am feeling ok except for the port site, its still painful. The other little sites are fine. Today is the first day I've felt hunger. I was on clear liquids for 48 hours and an now on full liquids. I did have cream of wheat this morning, and small curd cottage cheese for lunch - not much maybe 1/4 cup - but was hungry about 2 hours later. I am due to go back to the dr in a few days. Today is also the first day I've been wake all day!! LOL. I've taken nice naps the other days. I have pain in my port site while sitting for more than an hour, so I'm walking a lot, which I guess is good. Looking forward to feeling better!! Hope you all are doing well.

So, it all went very well. I've been a little sore. But all and in all went very well. I've been drinking without issue, and even had jello! Hope every one has an expereince like mine! Best of luck to everyone! Sue

Seems like I'm a little behind. But... I'm being banded Friday Aug 7th. SMS1964 (Sue).

Guess its my turn. My name is Sue and I am from Baltimore. I am 5'5 and am currently 256. I have been very overweight since I had my daughter 12 years ago (over 200), have not seen less than that for 12 years, but hope to soon. I am getting banded on August 8th! So excited. I attended my first seminar with Dr. Von Rueden in February, at St. Agnes Hospital. Have been thru all testing including a sleep study (hated it), and just got insurance approval thru United Health Care. We will really need to support each other. I am here for you!! Since I am in the beginning of Aug I hope I can provide good feedback and postitive support to everyone else!! Best to all!! We can do it!!:thumbup:

Hmmmm. How about August Avengers, August Awsomes, August All-Stars, The 08 Eat-no-mores (ha ha ha - little play on Eight and Ate). Not much rhymes with August - me thinks its as bad a purple :-)

You are doing the right thing by gathering information. This site is a wealth of information. I too was on the fence. I did research for 2 years I think. I am a life time member of weight watchers, which means I once hit my goal weight and kept it off for 6 weeks. That was a long time ago, when loosing 25 lbs would get me to goal. I am now a tad over 100 lbs overweight. I did weight watchers about once or twice a year for about 10 years. I'd loose, then get frustrated and stop, and etc etc etc... I am now getting banded on Aug 8th. It was a hard decision, I do not make decisions lightly. The best advise I can give you is to gather all information - good and bad, and make a decision and stick to it. Its a chance to change your life - for the better. We are all here to support you!! best of luck and keep us posted.

I DO- I DO!!! I am very excited. I got the call from the Dr's office today, I picked August 8th - it was the first date available. Have a pre-op class to attend on July 22nd. Its been a long 6 month process, but I am finally there. Getting surgery in Baltimore, MD @ St. Agnes Hospital w/Dr Van Reuden. Any one have surgery with this doc?

Congrats!!!:thumbup:

That is an excellent question. I have my eval on Monday. I thought that they would ask questions around weight loss etc to see if you are doing it for the right reasons, and are prepared for the life style changes. I was not expecting a quiz on how much I know about what I can eat etc.. It seems like people are different with what they can tolerate. Some can eat red meat, some not. Some can still have breads and some can not. So Im hoping its less about that are more about being prepared mentally for the changes....

Jason, We all have work to do and thats why we are here. I wish you the best of luck. Stay positive, strong and focused. Sounds like you are determined, go for it! We will be right there with you all the way.

Hi Tex Sue - I have had blood work, abdominal ultra sound, upper GI series, chest x-ray. Still need to have a sleep study and a clear from my cardiologist. So 2 more hurdles. I have my psych exam on Monday. Have you had all of these tests, or were these for my insurance co, or maybe my surgeon just requires all of these. My doc office checked with my ins co, and found out what the requirements were, and what my responsibility for payment would be. Its been about 2 months since I attened the seminar. I am hoping to get all of the remainding testing completed with in the next week or so, and then all can be submitted to the ins co THEN I can get a date for surgery. What a process!!!

TexSue - Thats awesome. Good for you. Its all so exciting. I am going through my "testing" process - still have a few to do. I should have a date in a few weeks hopefully and I'll be right with you. Keep us all posted on the pre-op diet and how things are going!! And CONGRATS:thumbup:

I can imagine that you are frusterated. I've been over weight for years, some years more than others ! But when I started this journey, I found out that my ins required a bmi of >40, and "luckily" mine was 41 or 42. Just over the limit. I too would have been devistated if I was told that I was not "fat" anough. Its a struggle to loose 10 lbs and keep it off, I know. But I assume that the ins companies have the the limits because they figure that over your life time (or while you have that insurance) it is cheaper to do this surgery than to pay for the tests, and drugs to treat the results of obesity. If I were you, and you really want to self-pay, keep searing for a dr willing to do it. If its hard for you to loose weight and you keep gaining (and with the older you get the harder it is to loose) in 5 years or so you could be 100lbs overweight, so I say keep searching. Don't give up. You don't want a 40+ bmi in a few years. Keep us posted.

I think my sleep study is next on my agenda. The whole thing kinda scares me really. I do not sleep well, and take xanax to help me sleep. Can you take a med like that when you do your sleep study? I'm afraid I will not sleep much, in a place like that, being watched and monitored etc... I hope that I do not have apnea, but we will see. Best of luck to you getting everything done. Maybe we will be June-bandsters together!

I am going through my pre-op testing. Today I had the abdominal ultra-sound, chest x-ray and an upper Gi series. In the GI series the Dr told me he saw a hiatal hernia. I have seen a few things on this and I think that it needs to be repaired prior to - or at the same time the band would be placed on. But am wondering if this lengthens the hospital stay, or recovery time. And how does the insurance porcess handle this? Any one else have this? Any advise would be appreciated!!

Thank you guys from replying. I'm glad to hear its not that big of a deal. I was a little worries it would hold me up from being banded. Thanks again - and best of luck to you both!!

Hard to beleive that they are refusing you for 5 lbs. Amazing how the insurance companies work. I needed to have a 40 BMI to qulaify for my insurance co. I am currently a 41 BMI, and was told with a wink to not loose too much while I was going through the process because I could drop under the limit. So I gained 3 lbs at my 2nd drs appt :rolleyes2: first time I stepped on a scale and was not too upset that I gained 3 lbs in a month. I'd do some of things others have suggested, heavy meal with sodium the night before, lots of water, weights in your underware :tongue: - what ever it takes... Best of luck and keep us posted.

Wow, I am so sorry. I would be devistated if that happened. But lets look at the positives.....You've been doing a killer job on your pre-op diet - EXCELLENT JOB - this can only be in your favor. It may only be postponed for a few weeks, so hang in there...we are pulling for you!!! Heal well,,,,:rolleyes2:

Lindas0809 - I am going through St. Agnes Hospital. I have been going through the initial meetings, and Dr visits. I have my what I beleive to be last appt May 4th, if all of my testing is completed and back to them by then, they will submit all to the Ins co for approval. So I am hoping June as well. Best of luck at Hopkins, do they have a nice program? I have been happy with St. Agnes's.:crying:

I am new to this forum and have been seeking advise on this topic. I am going through the process of testing and have my third and possible final appt on May 4th with the Dr. A date will be set after that. I have told my family, who have been very supportive, and that is about it. I am not sure what to tell people at work when I'm off for a few days - or how ever long I'll be off. I will probably tell them afterward because I'm a blabber mouth, but don't think I will before the surgery. Maybe I'm embarassed, not sure.