Unforgettable

Even one month post-op, I still have a hard time translating what my stomach is trying to tell me. It's definitely a learning curve. I'd suggest waiting like 15-30 minutes after the pain and if it's still there, then see if eating helps. Good luck!

StrangeDz...I'm the opposite of you. I've never been a big pop drinker, and if so it was always Sprite and I was at a restaurant. Before surgery I probably went 4 or 5 months without even thinking about one. Since surgery though, I've been craving one sooo bad!!! It must be because I know I'm not allowed to have it right now lol

I agree with libriteen, it was so much easier mentally and physically to have someone there with me. Like plain, the facility I had surgery at also had a policy where I had to have someone to drive me home and I think it even stated be around someone for the first 24 hours.

Everyone's body reacts to the different medication differently. Some people get really loopy off of it. It didn't have an effect on me. Your experience sounds like a crummy one, good thing you and your doctor figured out the problem! I wouldn't go so far as you recommending for people to NOT take their pain medication. Not everyone needs it, but for those that do and you suggest they don't take it, that could lead to some issues. Their pain could get so bad that they aren't breathing deep enough which could lead to pneumonia and other problems. It could discourage them from walking which could lead to blood clots and, again, pneumonia. And some people might be just so scared that they will be sitting in pain instead of trying a medication that may help them. I guess my point is that everybody is different, and they should follow their advice of their surgeon and if they feel like they need the medication, they shouldn't hesitate at all. You won't know how you wil react to a medication until you've taken it. Thanks for sharing your story! Glad it had a happy ending.

Everyone's body handles surgery different. You're probably tired because you're body is using all of it's energy to heal itself. Also, your caloric intake is soooo low right now, you're barely taking in enough to make it through the day. This is completely normal. As you start feeling better, drinking more, moving on to the next diet stage, etc then your energy will slowly come back. Just make sure you're getting your fluids in and walking around, exercising those lungs. Your body just needs time to heal.

BillOh, thought I was the only one! I was in my nutrition pre-op class with 3 other ladies, all with BMI's in the high 40s to low 50s, and boy was I not welcome. It's sad that some can't even support others going through the same thing as them! That's why this board has been so great for me.

Hello! As far as only your husband knowing, I think that's fairly simple. Tell only him! Other people may get suspicious, will try to nonchalantly as what you've been doing differently, etc but you only have to tell the people you want to tell. As far as work, I had to take medical leave and only had to list surgery as my reason, not specifically what type of surgery.

Your surgeon's insurance specialist is where I would be turning to. Don't they have a couple of the form that they could fax to insurance?

Mim, way to go!! I can't wait until I'm in your shoes! I'm at the point where I can put on and take off my pants without unbuttoning them, but not to where I need to by new sizes. Congrats!!!

dorky as the saying may be, I always tell my patients that knowledge really is power!

Hello LadyBug! My doctor's rule, as well as many others, is to wait 30 minutes before and after a meal before you drink. The reason behind this if you just ate and have your food sitting in your pouch keeping you full, adding liquids dilutes that and makes the food pass through the band quicker, thus not keeping you full for as long as it should. Yes there can be excess skin, and for others there really isn't that much. It depends on a lot of things such as amount of weight loss, age, overall health, genetics, etc. Some insurances will pay for a panniculectomy if there is a medical reason such as rashes from the excess skin, but typically I believe most people pay out of pocket for plastic surgery. A panniculectomy removes just the skin itself, doesn't do any of the tightening of loose muscles like an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) will. It is PERFECTLY acceptable to keep this surgery between only those that you wish to know. Preop, I only told my immediate family. I'm one month post-op and find myself being more open about it because I'm proud of my results, but still have kept it to just close family and friends. I'm naturally a shy person and wouldn't tell people my other medical history, so this is no different to me. This is your surgery on your body, so you only have to tell people you want to. Keep in mind in the future when you're losing lots of weight, people will start asking questions. As far as surgery complications, there are many. Any surgery itself always carries the risk of death, and while it is rare, it is definitely a real risk that people need to consider. Post-op, there's chances of your band slipping out of place, eroding into your stomach, etc. These are things I would ask the surgeon more about, as well as research statistics online. Do lots of research to make sure this is what you think is right for you. I always suggest for people to look at all types of weight loss surgery and read about the different types of eaters each targets, as well as looking at oneself to figure out what type of eater are you. Talk to the doctors, get second opinions, research the doctors themselves and pick a surgeon that you will feel comfortable with. Make a pros and cons list about having the surgery. Think about what a big lifestyle change this will be in regards to eating habits, not just the drinking. Good luck to you!!

The carnation instant breakfasts are good, but they aren't a great source of protein themselves. I prefer muscle milk light but it can be rather pricey. I would suggest buying the generic brand "whey protein" powderfrom your grocery store, in comparison it's relatively cheap and the big canister of it will last a while. It won't taste as great as others, but just mix it with skim milk. Powders are gonna be cheaper than the premixed ones. Also make sure you look for one that is high protein low carb. My fav trick is vanilla protein powder, skim milk, and one of the crystal light (or generic) orange flavor packets...it tastes like a dreamsicle.

currently dining on a boca burger (mmm my fav and so much protein) and some raw green beans. I was banded July 13 so was just cleared this week after my first fill to eat whatever I want

You hope them helping you is their driving force. Unfortunately as a nurse and seeing the behind-the-scenes way that things work, that's not always the case. That's why it's so important to get second and third opinions, and do your own research before even going to a doctor, then research after speaking with you. Not to mention research the doctor/practice themselves.

I'm patient about "bigger pictures" like knowing it will take 2 years to complete my masters degree, no big deal. But when they talked about bumping my surgery back a week, I just couldn't handle that lol The time will go by slow, but on surgery day it will have gone by fast, make sense? Just try to take the time to mentally prepare yourself for the changes ahead.

call your doctor and tell him

Good for you. 4 pounds a month is great, and it fits into the 1-2 pounds a week "guideline" that some docs go by. It's really easy to compare ourselves to others on the board, but we really shouldn't do that. Even if you and I started at the exact same height, weight, BMI, surgeon and sam amount of cc's in the same band, we'd probably lose completely differently because our bodies just work differently. When I get discouraged looking at others stats, I just remind myself that I've lost more weight than I would ever have lost without the band and have kept it off. Good luck!

It is sooooo important to at least sip on water throughout the day. Dehydration is not a path you want to go down, it can creep up on you and then cause a handful of problems. It's especially not good while your body is trying to heal! Try to really focus on how much water you're getting in. If you notice you aren't peeing as much, or your pee is really dark, concentrated and smells strong, please call your doctor!

I just can't believe that they would pay for it then take it back! Perhaps I'm naive, but that's just not fair! lol I would definitely appeal as others have said. Have you spoke with your doctor about this? I know my doctor's office has an insurance specialist and she would be the first one I'd be talking to. Hopefully this all gets resolved, but it is still such a headache. Good luck! Keep us updated

I'm not sure why people get so offended when therapy is suggested. The fact of the matter is that for a lot of us, this battle has been more in our head than it ever was in our stomach. RM was not being harsh, just matter of fact. I'd also recommend therapy, but I think therapy would benefit anyone with eating issues. I'm starting it and it's helping me with head hunger, triggers, etc. Good luck to you!

Welcome! The insurance process can be a long and painful one, that's for sure. For me, I had to do the 6-month supervised diet. Then 4 months into that 6 month diet, it wasn't required anymore, but I didn't know until month 5 lol Not to mention at the time my surgeon was out of network so I was paying like $60 for each diet visit. I had to do a sleep study, to find out I had mild sleep apnea. Then I had to do a follow up sleep study with a cpap machine to prove that the machine would improve my sleep apnea so therefor losing weight would save the insurance company money. After that, had to wait a couple weeks for approval and finally got it. Unfortunately they were ready to schedule me for surgery right in the middle of my vacation date, so I had to postpone it until after vacation. Long story short, you have to jump through a lot of hoops but in the end it is definitely worth it!

Another thing I would suggest is look at ALL of the weight loss surgery options, not just the lapband. I know it's the most popular one in the news right now, but each surgery targets a different type of eater. Research the different surgeries, and try to figure out what type of eater you are - addicted to sweets? unable to control portions? etc. That way you can be better prepared and informed when you speak with a surgeon. Knowledge really IS power!

Get a second opinion. Make sure you've researched all of your options though too, as different weight loss surgeries focus on different eating issues. You've "heard" about the complications associated with bypass, but take the time to actually research it and you may be surprised at what you find. Ultimately, don't go with a surgery that you don't feel comfortable with, but also do your homework so you have a good understanding of what you're looking at. Good luck to you!

Yet it doesn't surprise me, unfortunately. It's a scary thought though!!