pennreporter

every doctor/hospital/plan is different. Mine is also the 2 weeks but I can have tomato/cream soup once a day. I'm really surprised that so far (just into day three), that I haven't been any hungrier than I have been. Since my hospitals/surgeons haven't done all that many bands (approx 120), I'm gonna follow as well as i can their diet plan. They do tons of bypasses but just not many bands. I don't have any plans for the holidays. My daughter who has been banded now has a new little boy-toy :cursing:, so I don't see her much these days, which is as it should be. so the holiday will be okay. Good luck...we're on our way to the loser's bench!!! Trisha :cursing:

Dr. Fielding is in with my daughter's doctor, Dr. Kurian, who she loves. Although my daughter had to self-pay and went to houston with Dr. Spivak, but because Kurian knew Spivak's reputation, she agreed to do her follow up. Lisa loves loves loves the guy in that clinic that does the fills. Says it's five mins and can barely feel anything. Trisha

i'm on 2nd day of two-week post-op. So right there with you. So far not too much hunger, a headache when I woke up but think that's from sodium from chicken broth. Just hang in there. Trisha

The book by Mohammed Ali's daughter is great also, written by her and her doctors. I think it's called Fighting Weight.

considering that many doctors only require a 3-day pre-op diet, I think you're okay. My daughter went out to eat Mexican food the day before surgery. Her doctor didn't even really require much at all. So I agree, don't beat yourself up. I'm on 2nd day and just taking it a day at a time. Good luck. The 26th will be here before you know it. Next week you'll be running on adrenaline. Trisha

I've not been banded yet (June 1), but my daughter has and her doctor, Dr. Spivak in Houston, who is truly one of the leading doctors in this industry (on the original 14-member team of drs who introduced the procedure to the U.S.), well, he had my daughter on soft foods within 4-5 days (puddings, yogurt, running mashed potatos). He told her he wanted her to learn how to eat with her band as soon as possible. He's done 4k procedures. eggs might have been a little much. But every doctor is different. Mine is two week liquids, cream Soup, Protein shakes. But you'll know what you can eat and can't. It will let you know. Trisha

I'm right there with you. Day 2 of two-week pre-op. I've been okay with the liquid part. Woke up with a headache this morning. So probably didn't get enough Protein. Plus, if I take in too much sodium it causes headaches and I think the tomato Soup may have done it. Good luck!!! Trisha

My daughter is having her lower body lift (LBL) and breast reduction in a few weeks. It's good to read your posts, even though I know the LBL is much more than just a TT. I'm hoping her progress is as good as yours. Her dr. will be sending her home with a morphine pump and will be in the hospital three days with morphine. That's the only thing I worry about for her is the pain, but she's pretty strong too and has waited for this for so long. Thanks for your posts. Trisha

I'm with Geisinger Insurance which is an HMO sort of (kind of like Kaiser permanente in Calif., have their own clinics/hospitals). I had my PMP, who was extremely supportive, refer me to the bariatric group, from there they had to approve whether I even qualified under insur co.'s requirements for someone under 40 BMI. Once they agreed that I met all those requirements then it's just been going through the six-month plan. I would first go to see your PMP. If he's not supportive of your decision, change PMPs until you find one who is because he will refer you, depending on your insurance company. I wouldn't get discouraged yet. If your company has a web site, it will probably have on there the requirements for bariatric surgery. Now I will say that my surgeon won't approve lapband for just anyone. They are big believers in bypass for patients with really high BMIs. So he was fine with me having it. So hang in there and do your research with your ins. co. trisha

Well, good luck with the MMPI...with my luck, they'd decide I was a multiple personality disorder or some other crazy stuff ... lol. Four hours of answering questions will drive anyone crazy Trisha

my insurance company had a whole six-month program. I started at 235 (five-foot-four). I had to lose as close to 10 percent as i could. Got down to 219, which was close enough but doctor did tell me that I needed to keep it right at that...not to lose or gain until I went to see surgeon. If I dropped any I would fall out of 35-40 BMI range (under 40, my ins co requires sleep apnea or diabetes along with BP/cholesterol). But once I saw the surgeon there were no issues. I think once you have surgery date you're okay because with pre-op diet it's very common that you will lose weight, which they're happy with. So I couldn't worry. Plus, since I met with surgeon and got surgery date, I've gained about five pounds...so even with any weight loss during pre-op diet and what I may lose during that two weeks, I will still be in good shape (as long as they don't double-check my height...lol) Can't believe they all took my word I was five-four instead of five-five...:rolleyes2: Good luck Trisha

I'm not banded yet. My daughter is 38 and banded last year. Trust me, how much she eats has never been an issue with any dates. She has a new "boy-toy" friend but he knew her before surgery. But the difference in her social life before and after is monumental. When you're 5-9, size 8, long blond hair, the dates/men she meets, food is not an issue...lol. Plus she also does the first date where it's just meeting for a drink/coffee with just an appetizer. She never does dinner on first few dates because she still has "issues" with some foods. And I agree with other poster, if once you tell someone and they have issues with it, then maybe they're not the right person for you. She is going for plastic surgery next month and her scars will be substantial at first (lower body lift). So she has some concern over that but it's not an option. Has to be done. Boy-toy doesn't seem to mind. So good luck Trisha

I'm not banded yet but my daughter is. I don't think the not bending is the norm. She was able to go up and down stairs the day of surgery just slowly. But she had surgery on a Tuesday in Houston, flew back to NYC on Friday and worked (she's a very busy hair colorist) on Saturday, but felt she could have worked on Friday. I'm a court reporter and carry lots of equipment with me and asked doc about lifting 30 pounds in and out of a car and he didn't seem to think there would be any problem. So I don't think I'll be outside lifting bags of mulch or dirt or anything like that..lol Mine is June 1. My only concern is that I won't have anyone around. My daughter is taking me but she's leaving the same night as she has to catch a plane to go to Houston again the next mornign for plastic surgery (we didn't plan it to be this way but her dates and my date have overlapped). So my question is: Is there anyone that is also going to be recuperating by themselves? I have someone( dog walker) coming in to just check on dogs the first two days. Good luck Trisha

My office manager and company owner know. Office manager is a living plastic surgery advertisement :rolleyes2: and has relatives that have done bypass. So no judgements there and a videographer that his mother has had bypass. All my close personal friends know but even with some of them, I've not really gone into many more details because of few of them have given me the "I've got a relative/friend that lost theirs with just hard work and dieting." So I knew where that judgment was going. My daughter had hers 14 months ago and she's my biggest supporter and personally family is all that matters to me and they're all supportive as they have their list of medical issues and understand you have to do what you have to do. So I will probably follow the "don't ask-don't tell" policy of the military...lol Good luck all trisha

absolutely no problem deciding, zip,nada, no. Bypass has never been an option. Too many complications. Plus, I'm not on the higher end of the weight scale. 37 BMI but lots of medical issues. Plus my daughter has had and her best friend had bypass. World of difference, Plus being off work 6 weeks was not an option. Trisha

I know, I know my sangria doesn't count for a clear liquid but it was a nice thought for about a second. I'm not much of a drinker but do occasionally like a glass of wine sitting out on the deck now that's finally warming up here in the poconos. So I'll scratch that one of the diet for a while. :grouphug: Trisha

I haven't been banded yet, but daughter has. To this day (14 mos.) she still can't eat chicken breast. It's too dry. So I'm sure that's all it is, but try to get as much fluid as you can tolerate. Good luck Trisha

I suppose Sangria is not included as part of the liquid diet, huh? lol T.

I start my pre-op diet also on Monday. Is yours for two weeks or shorter? I've had so many "last meals" over the past two weeks that I don't think I'm going to have one on Sunday night. Can't believe I'm tired of eating...lol. The anesthesia doesn't worry me too much. Good luck starting Monday and enjoy the ribs and steak. You're right it will be a while, if ever, that you eat steak. My daughter has been banded 15 months and hasn't eat steak since...which isn't such a bad thing. Two weeks to the loser's bench!! trisha

I haven't been banded yet, but my daughter has. Hang in there. It will get better. I think the side sleeping will get better. She was 265 at her highest and a size 22-24, banded 2/08. She's at 170 now but a size 10 and going for her first plastic surgery to remove excess skin. I go the 1st of June. I think it's wonderful that you guys did it together and are support for each other. I think it must be tough on couples or really anyone that is still having to cook and prepare the same meals for others. I live alone and only have to feed the dogs. (thank goodness) The transformation for my daughter has been nothing short of mind-boggling, emotionally, physically and just her lifestyle. She's close to maintenance. So kudos to you and your wife!! Trisha in da Poconos

I doubt very seriously that it's the MMPI. That would be a bit extreme. Mine and my daughters was basically just a pyschologist talking with you and asking questions. It's mainly to see that you have a healthy realistic mindset about what's going to happen and that you understand what you're getting into and not bulimic, etc. and that you've done your research and understand that the band is not the be-all end-all and is only a tool. MMPI is really a whole different thing. Good luck Trisha

I haven't been banded yet but I've gone through what you're going through. Like previous poster, find out EXACTLY what the requirements are, because many many companies require a 40 BMI. I'm 5-4, highest weight was 235, but I didn't meet the 40 BMI that my ins. co. required. For 35-40 BMI you had to have several comorbidities (BP, cholesterol) but most importantly I had to be diabetic or have sleep apnea and require a CPAP machine. My primary doctor was extremely supportive and even suggested putting rolls of quarters in my pockets to be even heavier, sent me for the sleep study, which evidently didn't surprise any of my family members that my snoring rose to the level of sleep apnea (thanks guys). So you should be able to get exactly what your company requires. And be very specific about the BMI Good luck Trisha

So sorry about your experience. It clearly must be a technician/doctors ability. I haven't had mine yet, but my daughter doesn't even see her doctor but a PA and she's in and out in five minutes. But the guy did tell her that he didn't want to brag but he knows that he's good at it. Your experience really hits home with me only because where I'm having mine done, they do mostly bypass and have only done like 120 bands. So, gee, how experienced do you think they are. I'm going to see how it goes and then I may be looking up a fill center and it won't be Wal-Mart...lol Good luck on the next one Trisha

Good luck. My daughter had hers done last year (she's 37 now), but also struggled with her weight just like you. I know the band has been around for quite some time but she always felt like she should be able to do it on her own. Her highest weight was 275, size 22/24, 5-10 height. The change in her life has been mind boggling. She's now a size 8 (going for plastic surgery next month). In hindsight, as her mother, if this had been around when she was 21, I would have agreed and supported her in a heart beat. I'm having mine done June 1 with her incredible support. Good luck to you on your journey. It will not always be easy but will always be worth it!! Trisha