SoccerMomma73

Yup! They mean well, but damn. Today a patient of mine for the last 6 years looked at me and said 'damn, you're hot!!' Much better then 'but she has such a pretty face' HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

Agree with many iffy above. The fee is ridiculous ad they're takin advantage of you. Verify it's not a mistake but if they really expect that amount walk away. I can understand a couple hundred dollars to cover nut, counseling, etc but 4K is insane.

Brief version of banded life vs. RNY life: .same 2 week pre-op, same misery with that. Major surgery. Pain similar for both surgeries but did last a little longer with the RNY. Off pain meds except at bedtime by day 4 with both surgeries. Off all pain meds by 1 week for both procedures. I had my band on Wednesday, was tired but back at work on Monday. I had my RNY ON Monday, was off all week plus the following Monday/Tuesday, started part time on Wednesday, was back full time on Monday. 1 week post-op with the band I thought I was starving to death. Complete misery for 2-3 weeks until I could eat. With the RNY I just wasn't hungry for the first 6 weeks. I was tired for a while after both surgeries, with the RNY it was a bit more severe. Within 6 weeks with both I felt fine. Other than occasional nausea and constant constipation ice had no issues with my RNY. About 3 months after getting my band, my allergies flared up....and I got sick as a dog. I'd have to sip hot tea for 3-4 hours to clear my band so I could eat or drink normal foods. Allergies calmed down, life moved on. 6 months into banded life, 4th of July weekend, out swimming in Arkansas heat all weekend. I start feeling 'stuck' with food so I quit eating and went to liquids....then cool liquids wouldn't pass....then warm liquids wouldn't pass...got so weak I could barely stand, shaky, dizzy, confused....laid on the couch in my office while one of my docs gave me 3 liters of IV fluids, had all the Fluid taken out of my band. Believe the problem was caused from dehydration but not sure. A month later start getting fills (tiny fills) I can tolerate a little but again, allergies, cold, stress, PMS, etc and I'm down to warm liquids again for days at a time. November...the boy child gives me a GI virus....it's over, can't get anything down at all, back in for a complete unfill, again. It was never the same. I'd get a little back in my band and would be either throwing up or reflux ing out my nose at night. I could eat few fruits and vegetable and minimal meat. I tried to not just eat crap but there was a lot of crackers and cheese or Peanut Butter crackers during this time. I was not a bad band patient, I followed the rules fairly well. It was not for me. In full drama form, last summer, with band empty, I started reflux ing out my nose at night. It was HORRID. I was living off liquids, them living off Clear Liquids, then living off hot tea with honey. I finally went back and said I can't do this any more. Had an upper GI that day and I'd had a band slip. Looking back, I think it initially slipped that first 4th of July weekend and progressed and progressed. In the end I had urgent surgery to removed prolapsed band which turned out to be starting to erode as well. I was so ready to have that damn thing out! I estimate I was living off 500-600 calories for the last 3-4 months. I was exhausted. I had jaw and ear pain that never went away. I had chest pain at times. I woke up from removal surgery with complete resolution of the chest, jaw, and ear pain. I can now, 1 year post removal and 6 months post RNY, eat anything in moderation, even carbs. I can handle corn, celery, apple skins....chicken, steak, roast, whatever! My energy s good, my pain is none. I feel better than I've felt in years HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I'm amazed you can can tolerate it. Even the unflavored taste stands out BIG TIME to me! Glad it works for you!

It's just weird, covers everything from being a fat kid to an abusive marriage, not your everyday insecurities . I'm fine. It's just, well, weird.

Normally they'll postpone any elective surgery if you're sick....excess secretions = increased risk Of complications. Rest and fluids, vitamin C if you're allowed to have it pre-op and call your doc if things aren't getting better a day or two before surgery. If you're running a fever or it's causing chest congestion you're SOL, if it's just your head and it's improving you may get lucky! Good luck, feel better soon!

I'm with kristy, started salad at 6-7 weeks and it was the best day ever!!!!!!! Have not had any issues with salads, raw veggies, etc. (though eating raw carrots fills me up FAST, it's almost funny how quickly it happens). White carbs are a different story. White carbs pretty much suck. Whole wheat bread, brown rice, etc i was also allowed around 6-7 weeks. White bread/white rice no more due to nutritional value or lack there of.

I use the McCormick packets with ground turkey and 2 cans of beans.....tried a zillions recipes, always go back to this though.

Whole wheat spaghetti with ground turkey and Ragu...was heavenly. Got enough left overs to feed us all week.

For me, the 2-3 days before surgery were the worst. I've known forever that I want this but the 'what it's' really kicked in...what if i die and leave my son parent less? What if I fail? The what it's ate my brain!!! It was nerve wracking and exhausting. I also nested ridiculously. The urge to clean and prep everything was pretty darn funny. I was set! food, shakes, broth, Jello, juice, Water flavorings. Clean sheets, clean towels, extra dog and cat food, extra kitty litter so I don't have to carry the bag...I was a planning MACHINE!!!! Check check check, it was done! The morning of surgery I was just ready, I snuck a kiss to my sleeping son and had the overwhelming urge to cry but otherwise was just ready to do it. The what's ifs stayed at bay. I was the first surgery of the day o really, not a lot of waiting. Got there, checked in, had 800 people ask if I might be pregnant, still had to have a pregnancy test, blood, EKG, anesthesiology, hooked up to a zillion machines. It all rolled pretty smooth. I woke up tired, not really hurting (yay drugs!!) and relieved...because obviously I was alive! This is the first surgery I've EVER had that I didn't wake up throwing up so hallelujah! It was awesome. I dozed off and on that afternoon then early evening took my first stroll, weak and shaky, SLOW, and hanging on to my IV pole for support. Getting up out of bed was a bit challenging but actually standing felt good on my backside and standing almost up straight felt good on my stomach (standing straight up was a bit painful though). Next morning the surgery meds had worn off, the pain meds made me some drowsy, but I was already bored. I was walking the hall unassisted (what a difference a day makes) and standing in the halls staring out the windows just to make time pass. I'm not a TV watcher so my iPad and I spent way too much time on here and on Facebook . Facebook posting while on pain meds....not always a good thing just FYI!! I'm a family practice physician assistant for the hospital system I had my surgery done at (weirdly, on of my nurses is one of my patients) so I spent time guessing the ailment of all the poor folks on my floor and trying to eavesdrop...I was bored and I'm snoopy! I'd doze, walk, play on the iPad, doze, walk, etc.... I was held hostage an extra day so in at 5:30 Monday, left at 7:30 Thursday. I was ready to go home Wednesday but I have a picky surgeon who would not accept my reassurance that if he let me leave Wednesday I would promise to be farting by Thursday. I ended up with more suppositories and enemas than anyone deserves ever... I spent 3 nights at my parents where mom kept attempting to do everything for me (she's a mom, she can't help herself!) I was okay to take care of me but it was nice to have them packing my sons lunch and getting him to school, etc, doing his laundry. I really only took pain meds at bedtime except once or twice. I found a great sleeping position but was slightly on my belly and the pain meds made that tolerable. My son and I went home on Sunday. The first week he had a lot of hot dogs, froze pizzas, Mac n cheese (and grandmas leftovers). My restrictions were no lifting >10 pounds for 6 weeks so we had a routine we'd separate the laundry, he'd load it, I'd get the washer going, he'd move it to the dryer, I'd get the dryer going, he'd carry the basket to my room. Would have been a challenge without my 9 year old partner I crime. I was back at work part time 9 days post-op and full time 2 weeks post-op. I found the first 6 weeks to be exhausting....physically and emotionally. I was Maoist emotional crying mess right up to week 6 and that is so unlike me. I never had major issues with pain. I did have significant nausea (thank God for zofran). By the end of the first week I was bored out of my mind. I'd have gone nuts if I'd taken off longer! Be prepared for naps and frustrations that first week. Nothing works like it did pre-op, water tastes weird, it's hard to get comfortable....it's just constant daily small struggles . Really, ya just gotta do it, everything else falls not place. HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

From the Mayo clinic.... We're great for advice but please never consider us a replacement for your bariatric program..... HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I still get queasy if I'm constipated (6 months out). For the first 2 months post-op I got super queasy if I went too long without eating (never got hungry so apparently nausea was my hunger signal). I still have random nausea that just hits....not often any more but it does happen. If you can't drink you need to get help ASAP!!! Good luck HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I'm six months and still have it too! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

Eat it in various Soups, casserole, occasionally as a side dish. No issues at all. HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I just added bacon like, bacons always good. HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I'd be going low low carb high lean Protein and almost no fat, couple that with intense exercise and you can make it! Just don't bottom out HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

So why are you seeing an endocrinologist? If its diabetes do some research on RNY and diabetes...the results are astounding. Otherwise, again do research. Long term loss with RNY is more than with band. I'm biased because I'm a failed band. I had a band for almost 3 years and had nothing but misery. I had to keep my band empty most of the time, if I had a fill and I was stressed out, had PMS, my allergies were flared up, had a cold, whatever, I would go days on end where the only thing I could keep down was warm tea. In the end my band slipped and began to erode, I required emergent removal and had so much damage from my band that the surgeon was unable to perform revision at the time of removal (I got RNY 6 months later and it's been amazing). My band story is not typical and many do well...just know that there are long term consequences, it's not as easy as putting it in then taking it out if there's an issue. To MY patients, I recommend anyone needing >100 lbs weight loss look into RNY or sleeve. Best of luck as you begin your journey!!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

Dumping is evil, you don't want it!!!! Truly it's nothing but a pain in the butt. People that dump don't lose more weight, we just get to be miserable more often!!! but if you do get it, you learn to live. Typically it's no biggie. HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I'm just fragile funny, pre-op I kept reading about all these people that hoped they would dump and i thought they were insane. I don't want to dump!!! So who is the ONLY one in that group that dumps? The one that didn't want to. Figures . At least it helps keep me honest. We've been camping all weekend and I had a s'more last night.... Oy. HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

The box, the type up cook. No instant, bleh!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

FYI cream of wheat kicked my butt!!! I dumped terrible with it. Was fairly certain I was going to die that day. I can eat it now, but have either drink party of a Protein shake first or eat something with protein with it. Good luck!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 202.4

I found the band removal fairly easy. Physically, other than mild pain and a miserably achy port-site, I felt really good within a week and was back at work 5 days post-op. my energy level was awesome because I could actually eat real food for the first time in forever . Emotionally I was a mess though. I was supposed to be a revision to RNY BUT WOKE UP WITH ONLY A BAND REMOVAL. I HAD SO MUCH SCARRING AND INFLAMMATION FROM MY BAND THAT THE SURGEON WAS. ABLE TO DO THE REVISION AT THAT TIME...that was hard . No clue why that's all caps but too last to retype it sorry!!! And good luck!!!!

That'd be unfill, damn autocorrect.