coltonwade

I have not read all the responses so forgive me if you have answered this ... Was this a support group that your doctor sent you to ? Im assuming yes . I would think either way if your doc did or did not send you to this particular support group that you could A ask your doc if he can send you to a more lap band friendly group , maybe thru another doctor that does more lap bands ? Or B find try to find one on your own. Maybe thru some networking on here. See if someone would mind if you attended theirs. I think its great if "banders and Bypassers" can have support group meetings together , but I dont think its right if either group is going to "bash" the other one or say one is right or wrong . Everyone has their own reasons why they had their particular surgery . For me personally , Bypass was never an option for me. From the the first time i heard of bypass it was just not something I ever pictured myself every doing and being successful at. When i first heard about lapband I thought " Hummm not having to totally re arrange your insides permantly appealed to me off the bat. The more i checked into it , the more I realized it WAS something I COULD do and succeed at . I think you have nothing to be ashamed of or made to feel bad about. You should own your choice . I own mine and I will debate it w/ anyone who comes along . Bypass patient or not. Just as people who have had bypass i am sure come under fire they should understand why you should not have to justifiy your choice to other WLS patients. that group does not sound like a Healthy group for you to be in . I have not once doubted by choice. ( Ask me after July 16th lol when i have the surgery ) but I dont think i will. Im the kind once i make up my mind that's it , i dont turn back and I own that choice. HTH Good luck . Love Mindy

I think if its the " Obvious " medical ID type your probably ok wearing it on your Right arm . if its more of the jewelry type I would wear it on the Left . Just my opinion . Mindy

I have a question... Im going to be banded on the 16th. I have heard some people have problems w/ their bands and sinus drainage or post nasal drip . I have some of it its usually in the morning . Does anyone have any tips, tricks ways to help this ? Do they just take something every night, day for this ? Thanks in advance Mindy

Im not real happy about the insurance thing . I have to have the Texas High Risk Health Pool . its for people who are "uninsurable" in Texas. I cant get private health insurance. So they know im stuck w/ them . The Neti Pot isnt that bad once you learn how to use it. It really does work . Mindy

I knew I wasnt crazy lol I have heard it from other people as well but i read it on the Laurens Hope Website Lauren's Hope - Medical ID Bracelets, Medical ID Watches, Mothers Bracelets, and 14k Gold Bracelets HTH Mindy

This is something I have gone back and forth w/ over time . At first I was not going to tell people and only going to tell people who I knew were going to be supportive. Then I told them and I was surprised that some of them were not as suportive as i thought they would be . As my surgery got closer , or looked like it would happen some people like my mom and dad have come around in their own ways. Now frankly i really dont care. I dont care if people dont like it . I explain to them the reason why im having the surgery , i try to explain or educate them on the surgery but that's all i can do . I cant control how they feel about it. But its up to everyone individually . I personally have never been one to care what anyone thinks about me . Good luck on everything and dont let anyone get you down. Love Mindy

lmao there ya go . I like the 50 lbs deal . It is a very nice one. My neighbor has one . Its JUST noticeable that you stop and say " Hey what is that " . I like it alot . MY bday is in september , maybe i'll get it then . Mindy

Everything I have heard and read from others says they " normally" do . I spoke to a friend of mine who is a nurse tonight and she said the one's that are not Obvious , meaning they have the very small charms or not as large of a medical sympols on them are the ones that get missed. I think your suppose to wear them on your Left arm as well ? That helps too. I think the one's like Laurens hope w/ the big red cross on them are obvious ENOUGH ., I didnt want to get one that looks like obvious jewlery . If that makes sense. Mindy

This is the one I want Physician/E.M.T. Alert on Giotto Bracelet from James Avery But w/ surgery costs coming up and ect.... Im going to wait a bit before i get this one. All of my silver jewlery is James Avery so I really want this one. But for now i'll stick w/ the Laurens Hope One . Mindy

I wondered about that . I got a plain black band w/ a silver thing in the middle. So its not " too Flashy" . The one I really want is from James Avery Craftsman here in Austin . But its kind of expensive. Its obvious its a medical ID but looks a tad bit more like jewelry . I knew I didnt want a totally beaded one because I didnt want it to NOT look like a medical ID . I think i'll keep this one until i loose weight then get the one from James Avery . I just dont want it to be missed which is why i didint get the totally beaded ones. Mindy

LMAO Its really not bad . It doesnt hurt. The first few times I did it I made a HUGE mess. But when I do it it DOES really cut down on the nasal drainage. I went to the doc yesterday and he put me on Flonase ( good for lapband, not having to swallow) and chewable singular . The problem is I have new insurance ( Private insurance) i have to get "Prior authorization" before they will pay for it . It could take up to 2 weeks to get the authorization back. i called my insurance and because i have " preexisting conditions" I may have to do that EVERYTIME i have RX' filled until next yr . UGHHH . So i have a pharmacy that i get my meds from for cheap , i can get the flonase for $9 more than if i insurance paid for it. So i'll wait for auhtorization on the singular . Hopefully it will work . Thanks for everyones help Mindy

Just got mine in from Laurens Hope today and I REALLY Like it . Its very nice. I really like the idea of the banks being interchangeable . Espically as I (we) loose weight if we need a smaller bracelet I can order one . It looks really nice Mindy

After 2 yrs of waiting and ups and downs IM HAVING SURGERY !!!!!!!!!!!!!! JULY 16th. The day after my son's 15th birthday . I CANT BELIEVE IT . I cant hardly wait. I have waited for so long. I had my pre op appt today . My doc should have my loan check tomorow . ITS GONNA HAPPEN. Im going to be a loser soon . Mindy:clap2::faint:

AWESOME . I just PMed you back. That's great. !!!! Mindy

Thanks Yankeefan, Have you or anyone else on here tried a Neti Pot ? I saw them on Oprah , I bought one but keep forgetting to use it daily . It does seem to work some. I think w/ a combo of meds it might work well. Its a "Nasal" flush basically . sounds really fun i know lol Google Neti Pot or see it on Oprahs site. I have an appt at 230 today w/ my primary care doc to see if he can give me something . Thanks for everyone's help Mindy

Thanks Im going to make an appt tomorow for my primary care doc and see if i cant get on some zyrtec or something for it. Claritin doesnt really do it for me either. Thanks for your help Mindy

Im curious about this as well. I know its not the best thing to do . But people do vomit. I have migraines and I sometimes vomit from migraines. My doc gave me plenty of phenegran . But sometimes you cant help it Mindy

I have a friend who was having major problems w/ this after she was banded (not banded yet myself will be in july) she was telling me all the problems she was having that her husband was not doing . The questions I asked her was , Have you told him what he's not doing ? Basically their issues were he was not meeting up to HER expectations that SHE had for him. But it wasnt anything he had been doing differently than before. My husband is not the kind who tells me often he loves me , he shows me alot in different ways . He's not one to kiss me often , or hug me . So Im not expecting more of that as I loose weight. . So i guess my suggestion , not being in your shoes QUITE yet, is to tell him how you feel first, what your expecting, if he's not the kind to normally tell you these things, let him know that you need more of that now. I dont think your ever "Doomed" as long as both of ya'll are still willing to work on it . See if he's willing to go to a support group or counseling w/ you. Marriage counseling saved my marriage several yrs ago . HTH Feel free to IM Me if you like . Love ya Mindy

OH one more thing, did you notice it get worse or stay the same after surgery ? Thanks Mindy

i talked to my doc about it a little bit, but we didnt go into alot of detail . He asked me how bad it was I told him it was mainly in the morning. He told me to take clairitain or something. I Live in texas so allergies are part of life around here. some times are worse than others. thanks for the help, im going to be sure to get something quick lol Mindy

Thank you Boo Boo Kitty for your quick response. I will go to my primary care MD next week and get an RX now. Im assuming if it bothers me after surgery , right after i can take liquid benedryrl. Thanks again Mindy

Thank you all so much . It feels like forever . It was funny I have learned so much from everyone on this board, I feel so prepared for the surgery . But when the surgeon asked me if i wanted to move the date up , i paniced and thought " I dont think im ready " LOL Im prepared but nervous as well. Thanks to this forum I feel VERY prepared and ready for this. Love ya Mindy

Thanks Faithmd . I appreciate is . Im so very excited . I cant wait Mindy

I had one of the ones similar to yours and it was better than the "normal" cpap masks as it didnt make me feel like I was sufficating but it was still not very comfortable. I highly recommend this one Respironics Comfort Curve Nasal Interface I see you have found CPAP.com. I also recommend these to go along w/ it SnuggleStrap CPAP Mask Strap Covers (1 Pair) and one last thing. you will think Im nuts But I promise you , these 3 things combined makes for THE BEST Sleep I have ever had . Its a Cpap Pillow http://splintek.com/pillowsatisfied.html It forms around your mask so it doesnt push it up against your face. Its pricey but I PROMISE You SO Worth it. Some one else told me about it. These 3 things combined I cant sleep w/ out. I hope that helps Mindy

I heard this weekend that people who have migraines and have WLS that 57% of their migraines resolve after surgery . Has anyone heard this statistic ? Or has anyone who has had migraines for most of their lives found that after surgery their migraines have either gotten less frequent or gone away all together ? I have had migraines since I was 11 on average 2 days a week. Im on Topamax now to prevent them , off my meds I get them 3-5 times a week. I just for the life of me could not figure out why migraines , for someone who has had them most of their lives , why they would get better after something like lap band surgery ..... Granted it would be a HUGE Bonus . Any Thoughts ? input ? thanks for your help . Mindy