GraciesMom

Hi JustAskInThx, (and everyone else), This has been a topic that has been discussed in other posts here at LBT with much the same responses. $200-$300-up to $500 seems to be the acceptable amounts for the "extras" aka "program fees" , but in the thousands, that is definitely off the charts. There is no excuse for those types of costs, and to me they simply reflect a group of greedy doctors who are taking advantage of the obese and their great desire to lose weight. After all, if those costs were really necessary they would be covered in the insurance costs. It appears to me that those "mandatory" costs are all subjective, and come with a various list of pre and post surgery avantages, but none that seems to be worth 1/3 of the actual surgery costs (approx.). Personally, I am very leery of any surgery program with those outrageous add-on costs, as I know there are wonderful surgeons that have developed their own success based programs that involve all the pre surgical and follow-up post care you will need at the rates I listed above. My surgeons were suggested by my insurance company and are the required "Centers of Excellence". I would suggest that would be ones first prerequisite when searching out a surgeon, check with your insurance and see who they list on their websites as surgeons that they recommend for any bariatric surgery.

Hi Jamelyn, yes I can really feel my port, in fact, I can it easily when I stand, sort of feel it when sitting, and cannot hardly feel it when I am laying down. I am sooo disappointed with the rather large scar from the port as well. I know, with all things taken into consideration I should not be complaining, BUT, darn, I don't need another lump or bump, after all, isn't that the purpose of this surgery??? To get rid of all the lumps and bumps???:wink2:

My Dr. does as well twopoint0, that is why (on page 5 of this thread), you will see my response to craving a banana. An apple is like a huge slice of apple pie in my mind at this point. However, I have to say, the weight is coming off, and it is only for a short time in comparision to what it took to get me here. Thus, I move forward, still craving a banana or apple! I will have to try a Ovaltine shake, because I have to say Swiss Miss just does not cut it. Thanks. ~Cheryl

I am able to snack on string cheese and beef Jerky, but I craved something like peanuts for the crunch. I found a great alternive (for my taste anyway). I buy a pound of Roasted and Salted Soynuts:( serving 1/3 cup, fat 7g, Carbs 9g, Protein 11g, and just because I know someone will ask, it's 50mg of sodium.) I then dump them into a large zip bag and shake in about 2 tablespoons of Mrs. Dash's, Fiesta Lime. I let that all sit overnight and then bag 1/3 cup servings into the snack size bags. They are then ready to grab when I want a snack. I have been a Hungrygirl subscriber for years, and have enjoyed her evolution from blogger to cookbook author. Her emails start my moring off every morning. Signup for her emails and great recipes and other important inf at HungryGirl.com

I came here to do a search on hiccups, as I knew there were zillions of posts on burping. I have to say there aren't many on just hiccuping, but that is what I do almost every meal, just as I start eating and then when I am almost done or done. I have to agree with Astramom about it being a signal of my quickly approaching full feeling, but why do I hicupp when I first start eating? And actually, they aren't quite a real hiccup, they are more of a backwards burp. I know it's a weird way to describe it, but that in fact is what it is ...more or less. I am almost two months out since my surgery, and have done this since my very first liquid meal just out of surgery. They are just a weird phenomenon that occurs I assume because of the surgery more often to be noticed/or as a signal as stated above.

Chris, what is at hand here is what ever anyone wants to talk about. If you read the posts here you will see conversations from nipple piercing to Sarah Palin (just some posts here on top tonight) Just people with questions, issues, problems, gripes or whatever. BTW, you sooo sound like a teacher!

:w00t::drool:

It was a spelling error that allowed 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day. The young man claimed to be an agent of al-Qaida, and attempted to blow the plane up. I'm just saying... IMHO, the worse is the "Texters", who continue their texting spelling here. U no wht I mean? (I'm not much of a "Texter" as you can see)

How are you all soooo lucky! My doc has me still on a rigid non-carb (my surgery was 11/24/09), strickly 4 oz.s (per meal) of protein diet. In fact in about 2 weeks, I can only add 1/2 cup veggies ( except corn, tators, and peas) No fruit, no cereal, no nothing! Just cheese, eggs, meats, and soy products. I eat soy nuts and beef jerky as treats. I totally blew three weeks of this diet trying some of the stuff I saw here, but lost only a wee bit of weight when I did that. Then I went to my required 6 week nutrional meeting last week and got back on track. I've lost 3 pounds this week, so I guess it does work, but DA-M, I want a banana!!!:thumbup:

I answered a post very much like this that was posted before my surgery with my conviction for pro-telling everyone. And I have to say I felt very alone with that response, in fact I think I said " I have told anyone who would listen". Yep, I too have told many, and have from the start. But my reasoning is for accountability purposes. It has served me well all my life, and have found that secrets are always found out anyway. I believe in this new tool that I now own so much that even those neighsayers of the surgery walk away sincerely wishing me the best. But now I have a real point to prove to them, and I am not going to let this new tool and it's usefulness not show it's purpose. It has only been a little over a month, but the weight is coming off, and it is noticable, and I am getting very positive feedback, which is awesome. Now, I just have to steady myself for all those "you are losing TOO MUCH weight" or "You are getting too skinny". I know those will be next as there seems to be two mind sets for those who are not in the WLS know, you are either to fail completely, or you lose way to much weight and get skinny. There is no healthy in-between.

Hi Susi, I was banded on the 24th, a day before you. Some Thanksgiving dinner we had, huh? I drank mine!:smile2: Anyway, I would suggest you call your doctor ASAP (Monday?) and tell them what is happening with this incision site. Did this just start? Wasn't the site where it is discharging pretty well healed over? I have seen my doctor twice already, and I am sure if there was anything wrong it would have been noticed if you have seen your doctor as well. I'm not sure about the tummy band, or even know about what type of hernia surgery that you had, because I had hiatal hernia repair done with my surgery which required no tummy band. I would think just keep the area clean, (including the band), careful with the warm compresses for to prolonged periods of time, and liberal use of neosporine is probably overkill as the discharge is from the inside coming out, but after cleaning the area a bit put on couldn't hurt. I think what you are experiencing can wait for the doctor until Monday if it is only a small amount of discharge, UNLESS, you start running a fever, cannot hold down Water or liquids, or you start having pain and red blood discharge. Let us know how you are doing. Cheryl

WHAT?????:mad2::smile2: I am sooo sorry about this for you, I can only imagine your frustration and great disappointment. Pardon me, but just what is a "liability co-payment? I have never heard of that. What I have heard of is a indiviuals surgeon charging various extra costs that have to be paid by the patient before surgery, but that extra money goes for various classes and shakes and Vitamins, and such. BTW, who is it that receives this co-pay, the insurance company or the surgeon? And why in sweet heavens name did they not tell you about this long before??? I don't understand, as I am sure you don't either?? This is just terrible, and again, I am sooo sorry.:tt1:

I am so sorry that your boss is giving you such unkind and unwarrented verbal abuse, but on the other hand you have every right to stand up for yourself and tell him that his comments are clearly not business related and therfore unnecessary. Further more, if he persists you will construe any further comments about your weight as discriminatory. He knows what the repercussion’s are for that so you should not need to say anything further. Don't let this man add to all your other frustrations, you are are worth so much better! ~Cheryl

You and I are about the same S.E !! I weighed in this AM @ 202 and I am down 11 lbs since surgery, 2 weeks ago today, and a total of 29.5 lbs since my 1st visit.:thumbup:

Hi again everyone. I am now able to eat solids, but they must be all proteins ( kinda like the pre-surgery diet), so all my meals are basically meat or eggs and I do use some grated parmesan or cheddar for some flavor. But that's not what I wanted to share with all of you. What I wanted to tell you about is a canned "Brookdale" white meat chicken breast (chucks) that I found at Aldi's. It is very tasty and sprinkled with some grated parmesan and popped in the microwave for about 30 seconds it tastes great. Best of all it is packed in some nice broth so it is pretty moist and easy to digest. It is 98% fat free, 50 calories per serving, with 1 gram of Carbs, and 10 grams protein, and it only costs $1.65 for a 9.75 oz can.

Listen, I am not a promoter of fibbing, but if, and I do mean if, you really think they would give you a hard time about taking time off without an explanation, then give them one! And seeing that you do not want to tell them about the real reason why anyway, then simply tell them you have to have a hernia repair ( which in all honesty, could be the truth, as a large percentage of us did have a hernia repair thrown in while havong our bands placed) , and that you have to have that time off because you need rest and couldn't lift anything anyway. Again, I don't say you must lie, but this is a real possibility anyway, and then it wouldn;t be a lie, and the people at your job will be none the wiser. It's your call and just a suggestion. Hugs, Cheryl

I had my surgery one week ago today:thumbup:, and just like ElfiePoo and Scooter, I pretty musch breezed through it. I did take 3 pain pills that were ordered , but I took those as nightime precautions. Baby I slept like never before!!! :smile: I was on a liquid diet for two days afterwards, and went to pureed. I have one more week of pureed, and then 2 weeks of soft. I get to have solids by Christmas:thumbup: which delights me beyond belief. I was thinking I would miss the entire holiday season this year, but nope. So I will have my 1st test in restrictive eating. Christmas! What I eat: AM- Protein shake Noon- 1 Scrambled egg with 1 teas. cheese ( cheddar or Parm) Supper- 3 TBS Pureed canned chicken with evoo salad dressing and poupon mustard (I'm only allowed to eat 3 tablespoons per meal) Snacks- sugar free Jello, sugar free pudding, broth, flavored hot tea ( I often forget to eat a snack, so I most often don't) I walk a half hour with one of my dogs, but then I probably put on a half a mile everyday walking at school. and I still am trying to get all the fluids in that I am suppose to, but I can't be to far off. I went to the doctor yesterday and they took my staples out, but my blood pressure was back up (my cardio doc had me go off all my meds when I had my surgery to see how I would do), so I had to start my beta blocker again, but only 1/2 the dose.:tongue: I get my 1st fill Dec 23rd and can't imagine them sticking a needle in this huge cut that is still far from healed. It is tender, but I've been able to sleep on it from day 3. Is everyones still hard feeling too around the port? Mine is just a wee swollen, but very hard feeling. I am down from 213 on my surgery day, to 206, and I am shooting for the onederland for my Christmas present to myself. This is interesting , the catching up with all my November Sisters. CONGRATS to ALL of you on all your VICTORIES !!!

I can understand your anxiety, it is very close to the end of the year, and I KNOW the importance of your piece of mind. These various thoughts are no different than anyone of us had when our surgeries were forthcoming. I for one can honestly say there probably wasn't a day that went by (the closer the day gotespecially) that I didn't think about backing out because of the fear of the surgery itself. However, in all honesty, this site and all the people who had gone through what I was about to helped to negate those thoughts and I breezed throgh surgery. My surgeons too only do surgery for LB on Tuesdays, and I knew for about a month what my date was, but I didn't know a time. The hospital notified me on the Monday ( late afternoon) when I was to be at the hospital. Talk about a nail biter. Call me a control freak, but I gotta say, that late of a call really added to all the nerousness.( just all part of this rolloercoaster ride I was talking about) But shortly after surgery, while laying in my hospital bed (under STRONG medication I might add) after recalling all the stress and fuss, it is all of a process, and I did really make mountains out of many the proverbial mole hills. It suddenly occured to me this was a process that I had took time for that was all about me. My gosh, after years of taking care of everyone else and their needs, and trying to make everyone else happy (now I see why I ate so much) I was actually doing this incrediable thing , and it was all for ME!!!! That concept just bowled me over, and sadly made me just then realize that I should milk this for all it was worth, because it soon would be over and the real world would soon become my reality again once home from the hospital. That is why I had said in the post above, enjoy every minute of the process. This will be all about YOU, and YOU only. This is a awesome new life that is coming your way, and will change how you look and feel about yourself...FOREVER. But this process now it all about you, and we are all here to help. Yes, you will stress, yes, you will wonder and second guess, yes, you will want to back out, yes, you will be scared, yes, you will stew over all the negative "what if's", yes. it will add to your holiday stress, but all but the last, we have all been there, done that! Just realize Sweetie, for the first time in a very long time, or perhaps ever, this is all about you and you deserve it!!! So it is ok to allow yourselve to enjoy all the fuss over you that all the Dr.s and their staff have made, it is ok to take some time off of work (if you can), it is ok to plan your pre and post diets if any, it is ok to make the time and start pulling out those skinny clothes, it is ok to buy a childrens sippy cup with disney's princesses on it in a bright pink to help with your drinking when you get home & use it if you want!!! Heck, it is ok to go and get yourself some new slippers and robe or jammys to recouperate in for your first days home. It is all about you, try and take a deep breath and enjoy this rollercoaster ride. because it was designed all for YOU!!! BIG,... BIG Hugs! ~Cheryl

WOW, what a rollercoaster ride you have been on! Ending up speeding back to home instead of coasting:smile2: I know this all adds up to a whirlwind of things going on because of the Holidays, which means your surgery will be tomorrow, or it will at least seem like that. My advice, sit back and enjoy the ride, every little bit of it. The process is amazing, and it will do things for you that will amaze you. Enjoy it all, because it is just shifting the old you to a new and improved beautiful you!!!! Congratulations, it has been one heck of a ride! BIG Hugs, ~Cheryl

So many times I have come to LBT to read the many threads that are posted only to find so many filled with terrible advice, non- medical based opinions, suger coated rah-rah replies, and just general comments that could be medically harmful. When someone posts that their doctor will not let them do something, then so be it! That dr. has a reason for his orders, and often it can be specified just for that individual. What right do we have, not knowing that person to tell them, "it's ok, because my doctor says I can". With that said, I would like to summit to you 5 New Years Resolutions for us all, with a commitment if you will, to do the following: 1) Agree that all dr.s and their requirements are different, and as such, will no longer impart your opinion over what the posters dr. has told them. 2) No longer give medical advice based soley on your experience, but in fact support what the posters dr.s instuctions are, and refer them back to their dr. to answer the questions. 3.) Will inspire and encourage without neglecting the reality of what this journey entails. Another words, do not suger coat when someone faulters, but help them caringly to get back up and walk the path of their new lifes journey. 4.) Share only what you know, do not speculate on this persons emotions. We all are anxious as we advance through this journeys stages, so be kind and honest or don't post at all! 5.) Above all, be truly supportive. If people want sympathy for their errors they can just cry on their family and friends shoulders and get all they want, but they come here to get the support and truth they really need. Each of us here needs to hear what others have accomplished and how they overcame their personal struggles. Lets be all we can be inside and out, and live our new lives with honesty, integrity, and a heart full of caring sharing for each other and those who have yet to join LBT.

I would like to add that everyone has different reponses to what is happening to their bodies. Don't forget that there is swelling, which means Water, which means weight. Once your swelling lessons your weight will lesson magically and beautifully. Don't forget to drink what you can as well, it will actually help in the flushing of the trauma water and help to keep your entire system flushed and healthy.

I have been reading this thread ( I believe I have read every single post on this thread) almost daily in anticipation of my surgery since I started this process in June. I have enjoyed the knowledge that I gained as to what the actual surgery day would involve, and the personal stories that were heartfully shared, especially the engagement post! Talk about a TOTAL lifestyle change???:sad: But all kidding aside I hope all is well with that young couple has their life together will certainly be a loving and healthier one! Congratulations to them! Back to the subject of which this thread is about... My surgery was scheduled for Tuesday Nov.24th,(4 days ago) I too got the call from the hospital the day before my surgery date (IMHO they really should let us know earlier than a day before, this just adds to the stress of the whole thing!) and was told to be at the hospital at 2:00 pm for a 3:30 surgery. No liquids or food after midnight and I have to wait until 2:00 stinking oclock??? I was bummed, but figured that extra time would be a great time to do all my school work that was to be completed that week, and I wouldn't have to try and do it under the influence of medication when I came home. I woke up (naturally) at around 6am and was ready to seize this well earned and anticipated day! I fed the dogs, finished the remaining laundry, enjoyed listening to the Today Show and Oprah while completing my school assignments and taking an on-line test. About 10:30 I went and took my shower, and the hospital called and said if I could, please come at 1:00pm instead. as the surgeons were running ahead of schedule. That meant get my butt in gear and double time it! But I must admit, I was elated at being able to go earlier. We arrived at 1 oclock sharp where we were told to go to the second floor and they would take care of me. Well for petes sake one volunteer grabbed me and rushed me immediatly off, and another grabed my husband and ushered him to a table with all kinds of snacks and refreshments, then showing him where he could wait until they where done with getting me ready. I was placed in a small cubicle where they asked zillions of questions and had me sign all the forms. Then, amazingly they made me pee in a cup to test for pregnancy!!! Wait a golden minute, I am 54 friggin years old, with a 24 year old tubal ligation, and a vasectomized husband ( second marriage). I told the nurse if that thing comes back positive then I am a direct relation to a very famous Mary!!! My nurse then drew the curtain around and had me change into my xxxxxxxxxxxxL gowns. These had to be made to fit an entire high school football team... all together, because no normal human being would ever need this much material. Anyway, up on the gurney I went and the fun began. The IV was placed beautifully and painlessly, I was given a pill for pain and two more , but I'll be darned if I can remember what they were for now, and a huge honkin glass of water.( now why do they not let you drink anything for hours, then give you this water 20 minutes before surgery???). They also gave me a short shot of something that smelled like a delish fruit drink, but tasted like a bitter cough syrup. NASTY, but is was to neutralize the acids in my stomach. Finally the shot in the tummy for clotting which did not hurt at all, but the medicine, once in was warming in that spot, but did not burn. My husband and surgeon arrived shorty after all that and the doc explained everything and asked if I had any questions. I said only one, when does this show start??? He said very soon. Then a very funny Anesthesiologist and his assitant came in and asked a few questions, had me stick my tongue out and say AHHHHH and then left after assuring me that I will do great. They had told me that my sleepy-sleep medicine would be placed in my IV and I would be out. So I was deprived of the mask and counting backwards from ten:thumbdown: Then it was show time shortly after that ( I think I was at the hospital for a mere 45 minutes) and zoom, off I went! I was wheeled into what I thought was a small operating room, where there had to be at least eight different people. They had me slide onto the table, and like a well rehearsed ballet, they all went into their routine. One on each side placing supports into the table for my arms, and strapping them, while two more were working a simular routine on each leg. I rememeber saying now I know how a Thanksgiving Turkey feels when getting trussed. I again was greeted by my surgeon and the comedian Anesthesiologist appeared. That is all I remember because while I was laughing at the jokes, someone spiked my line...Blacked out cold!!! The next thing I remember was in a hazy fog , burbing, and burbing, and burbing. The nurse asked if I had pain, and I felt alot of pain, but could not think about that because of these mysterious baby burbs that were constant. I finally burped out a burp form of SOS and the nurse got me more pain medication. I must have dozed off again, because I again woke to the same sweet nurse asking about my pain level. I told her between more baby burps that it was a seven, she again gave me more pain medication (morphine) and the wheeled me to the hallway where my husband met us and off to my private room. It was truely a great room, flat screen TV, a huge private bath and shower, big fluffy towels. The beds all had everything in and on them. They even weighed us and all the info was sent to the nursing station. If for whatever reason I grabbed the rails (usually to assist in helping myself pull myself up) the built in intercom in the bed rail would have a nurse asking me if I needed help. It was awesome. Anyway once in my room I now noticed I had these inflating and deflating wraps around my legs below my knees. They where cool except they were another contraption that had to be undone before I could get up and walk. So I only got to walk around 4 times while there overnight. But thankfully I never had any gas pain, and my now new pain pills did the trick to relieve my stomach pain, so I really didn't pester the nurses about it too much. But it was cool because that evening I walked past the first room from mine and recognized a ladie I had talked to at our last seminar where we vowed to knock on everyones door and get them up to walk. Well we did, and there was eight of us, each pushing our IV polls down the long hallway. What a site we all must have been, all eight fat people dressed in the HUGE hospital gowns pulling these IVs and shuffling down the hall...ALL with the flatback hair do happening!!!! It was a great experience and a wonderful start for my whole new life, and I am thankful for every second of this adventure!:Yawn:

Yeap, I can eat eggs, but they must be "tender and well mashed" according to the dieticians paper work. But I gotta say they are delish to me, even in a "mashed" state!:Yawn:

Sorry, I cannot possibiy support this list. We are a support group of ADULTS. My Dietician gave the same general instructions to a large group of people at the same time. How could these possibily be tailored to me or based on a medical assessment. My DOCTOR gave NO nutrition advice at all! I agree, but my point was that your instructuons were given to your group by a dietician that probably was approved by your surgeon, therefore all of that information was what your doctor wants for his/her patients. The world is full of resources of information. I feel it is imperative to understand what you are getting into with this surgery and learn all you can about it. What I have observed is that there is a wide range of opinions from the doctors and Nutritionist that advise the people on this board. That is exactly my point, there is alot of information out there, some of it very erroneous and not healthy. And the point of all the variations is that it is the doctors choice for their patients whatever they are, right or wrong, it is theirs. Therefore it is not our jobs on this board to tell a person that their doctoe is wrong because your doctor does something in a entirely different way. For example, the day I had my surgery, there was 4 people out of 16 that suddenly developed complications and required different medicine, treatments, and one had to stay over another night. We all had the same doctors, but each reqiure their own personalized care plan. That is why I am enraged often when I see people here freely diagnose (in their opinions or experience) and then tell them what to do, when in reality they should empathize with them and stress the importance of following what the posters doctor wants, and often encourage them to pick up the phone and call their Dr. I actually saw a post where someone was vomiting almost everything she had put in her mouth and was like that for weeks. She was finally getting concerned after all that time , but LOVED that she was wasting away (my words not hers). There was actually posters who said nothing to her about calling her surgeon, or getting herself to a ER promptly, but instead joked about her losing weight so fast. Therefore, I believe people should seek opinions here and learn what others are doing by asking questions and getting opinions. It is helpful to help make ADULT decisions. I do not believe that one Doctor is smarter then the collective knowledge of ALL the doctors represented by the people that post here. No, people are seeking advice, and we can share that, but when it comes to medical issues it is our responsibility to be responsible and again, encourage their contacting their doctor for the answer. Some people feel medical advice is rigid and non flexible and that doctors are all knowing. While I respect a doctors education and opinion, I know that I am more able to challenge it if I can become educated on my specific situation. I believe that is what people here are doing. Again, I agree with you , but to a point. Recent examples, the use of a straw, drinking coffee, having a glass of wine, drinking soda, when to have sex after surgery, etc...these things can all be a self decision all made based on personal preference or experience whether their doc says yea or nay. However, again, when someone is quite literally vomiting their life away, it behooves any reponsible adults to strongly encourage medical intervention. I was banded Monday. I have followed the Nutritionist plan for the most part, not eaten any solids, but not consuming the three full Protein shakes I am allowed every day. Does this mean I have voided my doctors advice? No, but that is your choice, not the one that experts gave you, and more importantly that is what you feel is right for you. Where it becomes wrong is when you express to someone who is naively so eager to lose the weight that they take it upon themself to follow what you did, ignoring the fact of the real need for that amount of protein and caloric intake that the healing body needs. I do agree we should be frank in giving opinions, as long as it can be done without personal attack and hurt. People come here for information, validation and encouragement. Rah-Rah is good, as is honesty. Absolutely, and you have a point. Some people simply have the inability to use tact or an intuitive sense of what is right or appropriate to say, so that is a sticky point. But why validate, encourage, and cheer on admitted behaviors that got them to this point to begin with. What we all need is a gentle nudge in the right direction, and sharing of anedotes of solutions that have worked for us to help get them back in the right direction. I have respected some of your other posts, and value your opinion, but I cannot support you asking others to take your view of life as the only correct way to respond on this support board. Thank you, and I appreciate your expressing your views, they are an important part of this board and respected as well. I am elated that you showed the caring enough to respond, and after all that is the basis of this whole thing. :Yawn: Thanks for all you inputs... And a sincere thanks TJ for yours as well! Your points are all well taken.:sad: BTW, my eldest daughters name is Tera, is yours??? ~Cheryl