mondk

Update: My current BMI is 35 on the dot; Medicare is paying! Yay! Now to make it through all the pre-op testing, consults, and evals. I was also just diagnosed with sleep apnea and placed on a CPAP machine. I'm sooooo ready for my band and to change my lifestyle! Blessings, Michelle

I will have to look at labels closely then...I buy Juicy juice for my toddler and they claim to have 100% juice but not sure about the sugar content. I do buy the light cranberry juice and I drink a ton of sugar free Kool-Aid. I'm trying hard to wean myself off of soda, even though I drink only diet...I know carbonation is contraindicated with the band. I also like those flavored sugar free zero calorie waters at Wal-Mart. Thanks everyone...blessings, Michelle

My SIL had the bypass many many years ago, when it was first popular and before the band...she lost 150 lbs. but has put it all back on because she believed that she could eat whatever she wanted and so she ate and ate very unhealthy and gained it all back plus some. She currently weighs 496 lbs. and now wants the band, but is having trouble finding someone to do it since the bypass wasn't successful for her. Personally, I wouldn't do the bypass unless other options had been tried... Blessings, Michelle

Your body is stronger than you think. For me, starting any moderate impact exercise is the worst...the first 5 or so minutes I have myself believing I'm dying...then I sort of go over the hump, my body's endorphins kick in and I'm good to go! And the high I always feel afterwards is totally worth it. I'm looking forward to increasing my exercising too and at least, jogging around my mom's neighborhood (we live in the country so I can't jog around our house). Blessings, Michelle

Once banded, I plan to sign up for Zumba. It is a type of aerobic exercise that incoporates dance steps with aerobic activity to music and I've heard rave reviews about it. People who are doing it say they are so focused on the dance moves they are learning, that they don't really think of it so much as exercise. I've also heard as far as impact goes, that it is the equivalent of cardio kickboxing. I already do Water aerobics twice a week, but need something a bit more active/more impact. Blessings, Michelle

Would cranberry juice be considered a clear liquid? I love V8 juice for the regular liquid phase. I'm a big juice drinker so I'm glad I'll be able to have at least some juices at first. Once into the all liquid (not necessarily clear), pineapple juice and apricot nectar okay too? Thanks so much and blessings, Michelle

All the papers my primary doc had to fill out stated I'd had a long history of anorexia prior to becoming obese. The band doc really honed in on this...he said they'd had a couple patients who starved themselves after the band and that any sort of psych history needed to be explored fully before they would do the surgery. I guess I just wasn't prepared for that. My lowest weight during my child bearing years was 96 lbs. I was sick looking at that weight and know my ideal body weight is 125-130 and I would never try to go below that...but he said they needed to be assured of that so more psych evals. Ugh...I have Medicare and then also a secondary insurance through hubby's work...if they will pay for all this, I guess I'll just have to buck up and do it huh? Blessings, Michelle

I have yet to be banded. I was wondering if acidic fruit after being banded is okay? I love grapefruit and grapefruit juice and mandarin oranges and orange juice. I was wondering about the acid in those...would it hurt the band in some way? Blessings, Michelle

Just wanted to add something about anti-depressants, there are a few out there that actually curb appetite and most lose weight while taking them. Talk to your doc about it. Good luck! Blessings, Michelle

I haven't been banded yet but I read about this in one of my Lap Band books and also my surgeon mentioned this too. I think it may have something to do with taking your pills. My surgeon told me I won't be able to ever take whole pills again; I will either have to open the capsules, crush, or substitute liquid meds after getting banded. What I read in my only band book was that when taking things not chewed well, like pills, your stomach tells the body to make more lubricant to try to push the stuff down, hence the increased saliva. I really think your pills might be getting stuck, if you can crush them (consult your pharmacist prior to this) and put them in either applesauce or pudding and see if that helps. Good luck! Blessings, Michelle

I had my initial consult last week and not only do I have to see their psychiatrist, I have to have letters from my personal psychiatrist and also from my therapist. And they are requiring my attendance to a monthly support group leading up to my band and afterwards too. Has anyone had to have that many psych evals? Blessings, Michelle

Before my consult, my surgeon requested an EKG...I had it last week and my primary doc called today and told me I needed to see a cardiologist ASAP and that to be prepared that I may not get to have my Lap Band surgery. I'm prematurely terrified...what kind of EKG abnormality would stand in the way of this surgery? Blessings, Michelle

Medicare is my primary insurance and my BMI must be 35 to be approved for them to pay. But I've got some money saved up and plan to pay myself if Medicare won't approve me. I've tried every diet under the sun and am way too sedentary, but I'm so big it is really hard for me to exercise to the extent that I can significantly lose and keep the weight off. I'm hoping that the Lap Band will let me lose enough so I can start exercising regularly again and not get so out of breath like I do now. My consultation is July 6th; I was here once before but had to reschedule my previous consultation due to life and bipolar complications. I told the receptionist that I plan to keep this appt. and will not be there only in the event of my death...I've gone up a size this summer too. From 18W to 20W...so I've got to do something. Anyone in my shoes? Blessings, Michelle