BetsyB

Whether or not you will be approved by insurance will be spelled out pretty concretely in the policy itself. Without reading the contract, there's no way of knowing whether you'll be covered. My policy (for what it's worth---which is nothing LOL) covers the procedure for BMI of 40 or over, or BMI of 35 with 2 comorbidities. When you purchased your own policy, were you able to choose coverage that works for you in this regard? Take a careful look at the policy when you get it--it will clearly spell out the requirements you must meet. Good luck!

Bariatric Eating has ready-to-drink proteins, too. Their BElieve brand is really good. But the Inspire line dissolves in just 4 oz. of water--no blending required. And it is MUCH better-tasting than the RTDs, IMO.

I wish it were so! But it's not true. After banding, most people do feel hunger. In fact, at first--when there's minimal restriction--you will be hungry a lot. That period is referred to as Bandster Hell. And its name describes it really well! Your stomach will get full more rapidly than before, but its rate of emptying will be nearly the same as preop. As you gain restriction, emptying slows down, and hunger tapers off. (In the very immediate postop period, when there's still swelling, you may not be terribly hungry, though.)

Great job! :Banane20:

It's really hard when you don't yet have restriction. We have this surgery so that we won't have to diet any longer--and until we do have restriction, it sure feels an awful lot like dieting. Which sets us up for bingeing, if we're predisposed to that. What are you eating for typical meals? Are you getting enough good-quality, dense Protein? That makes a big difference, hunger-wise. When you say you went back to your old habits, what does that mean? Did you have a real binge, or did you simply deviate a bit from your doctor's directives? The odds of you having caused any damage are very slim; I think you can safely relax about that. But do try to figure out what is motivating the overeating. Is it hunger? If so, try to tweak what you're eating at mealtime, work out an eating schedule that works better, etc. If it's the emotional stuff--and there can be LOTS of that, as we face giving up our old friend, food--you need to tackle that, as well. It's really difficult when our heads and bodies are saying, "EAT!" and we know we can't/shouldn't. The trick is finding ways to turn those voices off. If you have good alternative activities, that helps. I tend to head out for a walk when the only alternative seems to be eating. At night, I've been known to just go to bed, rather than hear the "eat!" argument in my head any longer. It gets TONS easier, though, the closer I get to restriction---and the same will happen for you.

Curious, yes---the aim is to stop the endless cycle. That said, as I work toward restriction, I am dieting. I am willing to do this because there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When I achieve restriction, there will be no need to continue to be so vigilant--the band will do the work. But right now, I am eating the way I will eat when I do have restriction. And I'm hungry--and I'm okay with that. My surgeon, who happens to be the most easygoing surgeon I've ever met (and I've met many), would blow a gasket if I went to my PCP for weight-loss drugs. Further, I believe I have a commitment to him that precludes including another physician in decision-making about (or prescribing for) weight loss issues. I think it's wrong to do that--and I think the PCP's willingness to become involved is very, very wrong. pills in the pouch may or may not present a risk. Phentermine, however, poses many I am not comfortable with.

Lortab is hydrocodone + acetaminophen--the same combo as Vicodin. It's available by Rx only--and does come as a liquid. (I didn't need liquids immediately postop, but some people do.) If he didn't give them to you at your last appointment, your doctor will give you needed prescriptions when you're about to be discharged from the hospital. ETA: I agree you'll do fine, Laurie. I was off "mom-duty" the day I came home from the hospital, but right back in that saddle the next day. Things like emptying the dishwasher, tossing in a load of laundry, etc---you'll be able to do all of those things, no problem. I was expecting to have discomfort along the lines of what I've experienced with other abdominal surgeries, and it really didn't even begin to approach that level. There is pain--but it's very, very manageable within the context of normal, everyday life.

The liver stores carbohydrate in the form of glycogen. It releases the glycogen as needed by the body. When your liver is well-"stocked" with glycogen, it's larger than when it's not. The aim of the preop diet, which focuses heavily on protein and is usually quite scanty in terms of carbohydrate, is to spur the liver to release the glycogen stores. The result is a smaller liver that is more easily maneuvered around during surgery :Banane20: My preop regimen consisted of 2 Protein shakes a day, plus one meal consisting of 4 ounces lean protein and 1/2 cup of nonstarchy veggies. In addition, I was allowed to have up to 2 servings/day each of broth, sugar-free popsicles, or sugar-free Jello. It's no fun, but it does make for an uneventful surgery and recovery--so well worth it! ETA: If you want really good protein supplements, Bariatric Eating's Inspire line is excellent.

Yes, the pouch can be stretched--but that's probably not what's going on with you. It sounds like you need a fill---even a tiny, tiny one may take you back to the level of restriction you were enjoying before.

My first appointment involved being weighed (with other body composition measurements), submitting a bazillion forms, and chatting with the doctor. There was a quick physical exam, too. Basically, we talked about the process leading up to banding--including the various consults I'd have to have (psychologist, pulmonologist/pulmonary function tests, cardiologist, etc. In terms of what tests to expect, I had pulmonary function tests, blood tests immediately preop, and an ECG. Pretty basic stuff.) We also discussed the various weight loss procedures and whether banding was a good fit for me, compared to the others. (Obviously, we agreed :Banane20:) It was not a quick in-and-out appointment--there was plenty of time to have questions addressed--but it wasn't a great big deal, either. Just a getting-acquainted and getting-the-show-on-the-road sort of thing. Good luck! I know it seems as though you have a long wait ahead of you, but all the hoops you jump through will help ensure a safe surgery and good recovery. And really, the time will pass quickly---before you know it, you'll be on the other side.

Hm. I don't think so. No one has ever said anything--but I'm not sure they would even if they thought my eating was disordered. Certainly no one said a word prior to banding---I don't expect them to start now. (My mother, if she were still alive, would comment. I am sure she would retain her role as the food Police Commissioner.)

I have found that many people (especially in work situations) are reluctant to comment on weight changes. Especially since I've been known to drop weight, then regain. So, the compliments I've received have been primarily from (a) people who know I'm banded, and (:Banane20: people who have not seen me for a long time. I'm glad you got accolades, though! Just as an aside, I was interested to see that the Biggest Loser contestants who have had issues with regaining are the ones for whom the attention of others was most important. One winner (season 1, maybe) regained almost all he lost--and complained that a huge factor was that he no longer was getting the positive attention received as he lost. In a way, it's probably a positive thing that you've been cheering yourself on. It's coming from you, which means you've got it in you to keep going & keep it off.

I'm new enough to the game that I do track what I eat on fitday--but really, for informational purposes. I want to see what it is that works for me. I don't know whether I will continue to log my intake forever--but for now, it's useful to me. I suspect that once I have appropriate restriction, it will sort of become a non-issue; I foresee the band doing just what it's supposed to do, and things just falling into place.

I couldn't agree more. I also think that it has enormous value ...I want to say emotionally, but that's not quite the right word. But for lack of a better term, the psychological benefits of cardio are huge, at least for me. The sustained exertion just reaps all kinds of rewards.

In the immediate postop period, you're swollen from surgery. You also are retaining some Fluid due to anesthesia, meds, and trauma. You do NOT have to restrict sodium, unless your doctor has told you to do so for blood pressure-related reasons. Your kidneys do an exquisite job of removing excess sodium. It's not the issue right now. Your body was cut open, your organs manipulated, and your entire system was exposed to drugs that were potent enough to cause you to lose consciousness for a period of time. THIS is what you are seeing on the scale: your body's response to this insult. I know it's hard to hear it, and especially hard to do--but RELAX. This is not a quick fix. You will not lose weight rapidly. Not now, especially. But not later, either. It's a slow and steady sort of thing, and it requires a great deal of patience and commitment. But if you do the right things, your body will lose the excess weight. It just will. You do not need to agonize about your metabolism slowing, or sodium, or any of the other minutae that flood our minds when things aren't moving as quickly as we'd like. You simply have to eat the right foods in the right amounts, drink adequate fluid, and exercise to your tolerance (which may not be terrific right now). The rest really will take care of itself.

If you liked Nashua, you might want to check out Bariatric Eating (bariatriceating.com). Their protein supplements are the best available, IMO.

It might've been something stuck. But it also could have been that you pushed past the "full" point.

I'm surprised that two physicians haven't identified a common-sense rationale for the nausea. You're putting meds into a tiny little space. They have to hang around in there for a while before moving into the larger stomach below. Ordinarily, they'd go into a much larger stomach with far greater surface area--and they'd move fairly rapidly to the intestine. Now, they're trapped in a tiny space for a period of time. Almost every med on the planet has nausea as a possible side effect. Put 'em in a smaller stomach, and that tinier stomach is going to become more irritated than a big, huge stomach with a great deal more surface area will become. I have the same problem, and have not found a terrific solution, but I've found that eating an hour or so after the meds nips the nausea in the bud. I still feel cruddy for that hour or so, but the lingering nausea is stopped. It would make sense that taking meds with food would have the same effect, but that hasn't worked for me. I have to eat after the meds.

I've been in love with mine since the moment it was put into my body--possibly before. Seriously, even before it started doing the trick (and I should add: I don't yet have ideal restriction), it represented such hope to me that I can't help but love it.

My last was a Tanita. It was very accurate, but didn't last as long as it should have. I have had a Teraillon for the last few years. I love it. It is as closely aligned with my doctor's scale as I could hope, and it seems to be holding up better than my previous scale. I also had a Teraillon kitchen scale that I loved--but it had an unfortunate drowning accident.

I can't find enough good things to say about my doctor--he's wonderful. Info in my signature.

It really can be overwhelming---there's a lot to take in. The good news is that you're starting now, so you'll be really well-prepared for the surgery. That will make a world of difference for you postop :thumbup: I don't have any great wisdom for you, but just wanted to let you know that the emotional rollercoaster is normal. You are facing a big change, and while it's positive, it requires you to change your outlook and relationship with food (and sometimes, with other people). It's natural to feel upheaval.

Just barging in to say hi, PhDGirl--and to wish you good luck! Where are you studying abroad?

I was on 2 days clear liquids, then 2 weeks of pureed Protein (3 T, 3x/day). After that, I moved to regular protein. After 2 months, 1 serving/day of nonstarchy veggies was added. That's where I am now--protein and veggie. Next month, I can add fruit (1 serving/day). That pretty much will be the sum total of my intake--3 3-4 oz. servings of protein (protein choices include legumes), 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies, and 1 fruit---each day until at least 75 percent of my excess weight is gone. Then, I believe, whole grains can be added back in with real caution. It's working quite well :thumbup: ETA: No, I don't think that moving to solids impaired loss. I think it's important, though, to consider the quality of the food you take in. My doctor does NOT have a full liquid or mushy stage because he does not want us having the customary strained creamed Soups, mashed potatoes, etc.

My insurance covered the surgery and, as postop, I don't even have to make a copayment for fills at this point. (I believe this lasts for 12 months.)