EndoCollector

I also take a hand full of meds, but not at one time (did before surgery), alot I have to break into. I've never been told to wait 15 minutes.... it would take me a half a day just for the daytime pills and an hour for my night time meds. :cry I guess I've been lucky because so far I've not had a PB. I can eat most anything, including white bread. The only problem I'm having is pain in my throat, neck area when I'm laying down. Does anyone else have this problem? I hope it's referred pain from the surgery. I did have a CT Scan yesterday just to make sure it's nothing else. I have a 14cc band and had my first fill on 9/13, 4.5cc...just a few weeks out and I feel so hungry and I feel no restriction at all. Going back for another fill on Tues. Lost 7 pounds, but that was from the week of liquids after the fill. Please if anyone has the problem witht he throat, neck pain, let me know. Thanks,

I don't want to appear dumb, stupid, or ignorant, but what is T.O.M.? Can someone tell me how to make my ticker move? Thanks,

From what I am getting from the doctor's office is that we are not restricted. That won't come until about 6 weeks after surgery. They say they want you on the liquids and mushy food because you are still swollen and it will take time for the swelling to go down and you to heal. I think as long as you get your Protein everything will be ok. My surgery was 8/10 and today I've had a couple of Protein drinks, some chicken noodle Soup (I whizzed it in the chopper) and had some yogart. I also bought some baby food Cereal... oatmeal w/banana & applesause. I put a little milk and cinnamon sugar in it and it was pretty good. I just think you can use common sense and figure out what you can dilute and make it work.... just don't over eat or you can get really gassy. I think the worst thing for me is trying to get down all my medications. I have a lot and it takes me forever to do it. I think it will get more difficult as we get fills. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK - THE MEANS TO AN END :clap2:

I started investigating the lab band procedure back the 1st of May. I contacted my insurance company to get all the requirements, etc. I knew that I qualified so I made the appt. with the Dr. They got all the required info for the insurance company and the insurance company sent a letter to the doctor and my stating that the procedure had been approved. She wanted me to do a stress test before they would agree to do the surgery. I had the nuclear stress test because of my bad knees and failed the stress test. The cardio doc wouldn't release me to have surgery until I had a heart cath to rule out any heart problems. I was sure glad that he insisted because I did have 90% blockage in the LAD which is one of the main arteries. I had a stent put in and then he cleared me for surgery. That was the middle of June. My surgery was scheduled for 8/10. On 8/8 at 2:15 in the afternoon my doc. office calls and said the insurance company was denying my surgery. Needless to say, we were all just blown away. Finally after many phone calls and conversations they went ahead and approved the surgery. For anyone that has any problems with insurance companies,,, just remember the squeeky wheel gets the grease. I did have the surgery and several things didn't go like I thought they should and will take it up with my doctor, but all in all, I think I will do fine.

Hi, I was banded on the 10th of August and like you Mert, I have no fullness. I know we are banded, but I'm not sure to what degree. I'm just taking it easy and drink a little and then drink some more later. I'm not having much pain now, just a little from the incisions. I was in the hospital, not a surgery center, and I tell you I don't know how anyone can have this surgery and then up and out of there in a few hours. I guess they had a few more problems with me, because I did have a problem with some bleeding, luckly no transfusion though. I am on Plavix and aspirin and that's why they had the bleeding problem. At first I was beginning to wonder if I made a mistake, but today I feel pretty good so we'll see how it goes down the road. So far according to my scale I haven't lost any weight, don't know how I couldn't, because I sure haven't had much, but I guess all the boost and slim fast have sugar in them. So far the worst thing is trying to take my medications. I take so many, hope to get off a lot of them, that it takes me forever to take them broken in half and then take 1 at a time. Don't mean to be a whinny butt, I know this will probably be the best thing that has happened to me in the long run and I have to remember that I'm not as young as most of you so I'm sure it will take me a while to bounce back. Ya'll take care and let's keep this going, we can compare and see if we are doing about the same.

Poodles, why are you going to take the Cymbalta? I started out on Effexor XL for anxiety and when I changed doctors he put me on the Cymbalta because I was complaining of neuropathy in my feet, I'm diabetic. He said that it mirrors Effexor and is also FDA approved for the neuropathy,,, 2 meds for the price of 1. As far as sexual side effects, I'm not a good judge of that, someone younger will have to advise you on that. But I do know it's good for anxiety and neuropathy. Good Luck,

I'm getting a little antsy about this, but from what everyone has said that is pretty normal. I'm very tired of the liquid diet, even though I'm not hungry, I'm not satisfied. I've lived on tortilla soup and chicken broth, boost and slim fast. Does everyone have the shoulder pain? I really don't understand why the shoulder pain. I will be staying overnight in the hospital and come home on Friday. Hoping to go back to work on Monday, but we'll see. Glad to see that most everyone is doing good and I know that in 2 months we will hopefully look back and say "why didn't we do this sooner". Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.... Surgery 8/10 @ 7:15 - Medical City Dallas. Smiles to everyone,

Has anyone out there had any body wraps done for toning? I hear it's effective if you do them about every 4-6 weeks. They are awfully expensive, but I guess if it really works, it would be worth it. Would love to hear from anyone that has had them. Thanks,

:clap2: Counting down the days..... Aug. 10... seemed so far away in June, but it will be here before you know it. I've started to prepare a little ahead of time. I've stopped all carbonated drinks, will go on my liquid diet on 8/1 and I've started an exercise program at our local Parks and Recreation. Let me pass along what we have here in Dallas. Alot of our neighborhood parks have recreations buildings with gyms and weight rooms and exercise equipment. The annual fee is $15 and $10/mo. for the use of the equipment and where I'm going there is a personal trainer. The use of the personal trainer is only $5, sure can't beat that. I've been riding the exercise bike and started on some upper body weights. It's about to kill me, but I've got to get used to it. Wishing all of you that's going to be banded in August all the luck in the world. :angel:

I gave up sodas July 1, but I'm not going to be banded until 8/10. I just decided that I should give them up now so I won't crave them when I had to give them up. I've also started an exercise program too. Believe it or not, I haven't even cheated not once and I really don't miss them. I guess it's mind over matter. I drink ALOT of ice tea with Sweet n Low. I buy the Lipton Cold Brew and fix it at work and just drink that. Here in the South we drink ice tea all year round so I'm sure I'll drink the tea all year long. I know there are drinks that are not carbonated, but sure as I drink something in a can or bottle, I'll want to go back to sodas. :gluck:

:help: Hi, Today is the first time I've been to this site and it seems like it will be very helpful. I am to have my surgery Aug. 10th. I've really done a lot of research, but would like to hear from "real" people that have had the surgery and people that are about to have the surgery. I feel like I need support before and after the surgery. I'm 60 yrs old and have been overweight all my adult life. I'm 225 lbs. and 5'1. (barely) My doctor suggested this surgery on the first visit with him. I'm very glad he did because during the pre physical they wanted me to do a stress test and I failed it and they did a heart cath and discovered that I was 90% blocked and had to have a stent, that was June 15th. I have since been cleared for surgery. Please leave replies, I would really like to hear the good and the bad, especially from anyone that has had this surgery and is around my age. Smiles,

:decision: I will be banded Aug 10 and hopefully will start loosing weight right away, and I am wondering how other banders dealt with the different clothes sizes? I work and I need some suggestions and I don't think I've seen this addressed here or at least I haven't found the posts yet. Do you just got to Wal-Mart or Target and buy a couple of black pants and a few tops until you go to the next size?

Thanks for the reply's. I am so glad I found this site,, ,it has really been helpful and I'm sure it will be more helpful after I'm banded.

Hi April, I am having surgery Aug. 10. I also had to have a cardio clearance, which I am very glad I did, because I failed the nuclear stress test (bad knees) and had to have a heart cath and they found I was 90% blocked and had to have a stent. I did get clearance and the pre-op diet is 1 week of liquids, this is to shrink your liver. After surgery I will have 2 weeks of liquids, then 2 weeks of soft foods and then on to "real" food. I wish you luck with the insurance thing. I have United Healthcare and fortunately they didn't ask for any records, pre-diets or anything like that.

Hi, :messenger3: I do collections for a medical facility here in Dallas. Texas True Choice is not part of BCBS. You never know about one insurance company to another. You could call their 1-800 # like you said,,,, just explain to them that you were banded under another insurance company and you will need to have follow-up after your new insurance takes affect. Tell them it will be done in the doctor's office vs hospital. Sometimes procedures done in the doc's office are covered under copays. Also, when switching insurance the new insurance will ask for proof of "Continuation of Coverage" (COB). Generally, the old insurance company supplies letters to the employee's stating you were covered from the effective date to the termed date, and your new insurance picks up the day after or the day of the termed date of old insurance..... other words... no lapse in coverage. Sorry to ramble on, but if have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. Don't know if I'll have the right answers, but I'll sure be glad to help if I can. Smiles, :gluck:

Hi, I'm new to the boards too. Scheduled to have my surgery Aug. 10th at Medical City Dallas, Dr. Jayaseelan will be doing my surgery. I'm excited, nervous and a little scared, but reading the posts has helped me. I'll keep everyone informed on how things turn out for me.

Hi, I am to be banded on Aug. 10, by Dr. Jayaseelan. At this point I have not met with him, I'm scheduled to have the post op visit on Aug. 3. I did meet with Dr. Cha, his in office Internal Medical Physician. I had to have a cardio clearance, and thank goodness, because when I did the stress test I failed and have to have a heart cath and found out I was 90% blocked and had to have a stent. They have now given me clearance and as I said I have the surgery scheduled for Aug. 10. I'm a little scared about having it, but I know in the long run it will be the best thing for me. Let's keep in touch so we can see how things are going. Smiles,