Dave_NW

Well, the final hurdle before surgery is tomorrow: I visit the surgeon's office to sign consent forms. I'm told I'll be given instructions about the pre-op low carb diet, post-op liquids diet, and last minute slap-down from the surgeon's nurse, ""Don't you DARE gain another pound before surgery!" Then, 20 days from now is surgery, December 6th. It's been a long time coming, but it's almost real now... Yay! Wish me luck, folks! Dave

Well congrats, Angie! I know you'll do great! Keep us posted on your progress. Dave

Mellissa, when you stop to think about it, NOT having surgery is what makes you a quitter. Getting surgery starts you on your new path in your life, and the future you'll earn for yourself. If you chose not to have surgery, things would plod along day to day, gaining one more pound at a time, till you were seriously ill, or worse. Having surgery may actually help you to get back into the race, not just sitting on the sidelines. Go for it. Dave

Admittedly, I haven't yet been banded (my surgery is December 6th) but I do have an opinion: Yes, it IS worth it. Here's why: In your own post, you said you'd lost 130 pounds. You didn't say, but I'll bet you gained it all back again, didn't you? Is it worth it to lose that weight once and for all? If it was easy to do, you'd have lost it already. If losing weight permanently was easy through diet and exercise, everyone would be fit and trim. But life doesn't work that way. We both know you've tried every diet in the book, and weight loss, for you, is only temporary. As soon as you go off the diet, the weight comes back. Everyone on this site is in the same place you are. We've tried it all, and we admit (at least I do), that I can't do it alone. I need some help to lose my excess weight, and keep it off. I'm of the opinion that LAP-BAND will give me that help I know I need. At least, I'm willing to use the band as a tool to help me out. It is not a magic bullet, and weight loss isn't quick or easy. It takes work. But I know how to diet - I just don't know how to keep it off. And that's where I want the band to give me a helping hand. If I do nothing, I'll only continue to be overweight, and sit on the sidelines as life passes me by. Having band surgery is something I can do, hopefully for the benefit of my future. I'd think it'd be the same for you, and for your kids. Good luck in your journey. Dave

Thanks. I've seen that, but it doesn't seem as efficient as a clickable link under the "Quick Links" tab like on other Forum sites. Does a post made in an existing thread automatically subscribe the user to that thread? And does starting a new thread also do that? Am I just missing something? Edit to add: Yes, I was missing something. I just checked that page, and at the bottom of the list there was a link to "Show all subscribed threads" or some such. Clicking that showed me everything I've posted into, including my own new threads I've started. So the links are there. Now, Admins, how about posting a link to do that under the Quick Links tab, so it's quicker to get there? Dave

I think the reason they haven't done anything surgical is becasue they are both HUGE food junkies. No pun intended. If they had surgery, they'd be restricted on what they can eat, and I just don't think either one of them cares that much about giving up what they love to eat. In any amount. Dave

I think a lot of the "Is that all you're eating?" questions are just an attempt to make conversation. In response, I think it'd just be easiest to just look them in the eye, shrug, and say something like, "Yep! I'm on a special diet." then smile, and say, "What do you think? Don't I look better than I did before?" Then change the subject, and ask them how they like their meal, or something. Social lunches can be awkward. Luckily, at my work, I've never felt the urge to eat lunch out with coworkers, so after I have my surgery it won't be an issue. I hope. Dave

The band is my second choice. I was going to get the sleeve, because I felt for my needs it was a better option. (My age, severely arthritic knees with degenerating joints, and other problems where formal exercise will be an extra challenge.) But I found out (kind of late into the process) that my insurance company rep had misinformed me. My insurance will NOT cover the sleeve after all, which changed my plans right in the middle of everything. The band was the only realistic option available to me. Bypass isn't something I'd want to do - malabsorption, dumping, and rerouting my intestines just isn't appealing to me. So I'm going to try the band (surgery date is December 6th) and if it doesn't work well for me, I may look into self-pay for the sleeve at a later time, unless my insurance changes their rules and will pay for the sleeve at that time. And to answer your question, the band is generally least expensive, sleeve is next, and bypass is the most expensive. At my surgeon's, it's a range of about $14,000 to $20,000 to $28,000, respectively. Dave

unjury.com sells an orange flavored chewable. Dave

My surgeon is Dr. Ross McMahon at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. How about you?

I'm up for December 6th. Have my final pre-op appointment next Tuesday, to sign surgery consent papers and such. Then it's a total waiting game till surgery day. I'm SO ready! Dave

Wonderng if anyone here has any success working out using a Wii. Do you have a favorite activity or game that gives you a good workout? Dave

This may not be very PC of me to say, but here's my honest opinion: I think it may be because to have Gastric Bypass means a total commitment to the process. Sleevers have 80% of their stomach removed, but not as much alteration of their insides as bypass patients. In both cases, there is no going back. Once the scalpel comes into play, it's a permanent thing. A band doesn't require cutting, removing, and/or rearranging your insides. It's removable, easy to install, and is an artificial way to force you to lose weight. If there is a problem, it can be taken out, and your system eventually recovers. So by that logic, bandsters aren't "as committed" to the process. (That's not to say bandsters don't work their butts off, just trying to show what a bypass patient may think.) I think a certain amount of bypass snobbery is only to be expected, especially when they get together in large groups. Those people really climbed on the weight loss bandwagon. More's the pity, many didn't have the willpower to learn to use a tool like the band to achieve their goal - they had to cut themselves up to do the job. And that's kind of sad, don't you think? Dave

Jodi, this thread is from last January. I suspect the poster has moved on. :frown: Dave

I've never heard of this diet before. I just read up on my blood type. Pretty creative. Not sure I believe all of it, since it seems like most any of the recommendations will work for weight loss, regardless of the blood type. Maybe the AMOUNT of weight lost would be more based on the blood type? Not sure how to think about it. I think I need more research... :frown: Dave

Dave, don't limit yourself to only two choices. There are a few other gastric choices too, most especially the "vertical sleeve gastrectomy." Think of it as something between the band and gastric bypass. With the sleeve, the surgeon removes the stretchy part of your stomach, leaving you with a stomach that is shaped something like a banana. You are forced to eat smaller meals, and you'll lose weight as a result. The advantages: There are no fills required, you can eat whatever you want (in smaller quantities), and your intestinal tract stays complete. If you have a large amount of weight to lose, it may be a good choice for you, especially if you're self-pay. Dave

After attending a mandatory seminar by my surgeon, and getting my PCM referral to him, I've had to do a few things: A marathon of appointments at the surgeon's offices - Information and intake, then EKG done by the staff, psyche eval, meet with a physician, meet with a nutritionist, and interview with the WLS surgeon. These were all done on the same day, between 8:00 and Noon. Two days later I went to a lab and gave what seemed like a gallon of blood. By the time they were done, it was 13 tubes. I later went for a blood gas test at a different lab. Two weeks after the lab work, I had an Endoscopy done by my WLS surgeon. (Insurance request and surgery approval happened within a few days after this procedure.) I have an evaluation appointment on the 16th of this month with a hernia surgeon who assists my WLS with his surgeries. When I have my band surgery, they'll also be repairing the two hernias I have. I'll also sign surgery papers and meet with my WLS surgeon one last time before surgery day. December 6th is surgery day. Note that I did not need a chest xray, supervised diet, sleep test, ultrasound, or anything else. All in all, it's been pretty easy. Dave

What? You're NOT a blond woman? Whoops! :wub: Sending you an email so we can compare notes offline. Dave

Look at the dates on those posts. Some are a couple of years old. Tricare changed some of their requirements over the last few years. But I believe a referral is still required, since your PCM has to recommend you to see a WLS surgeon. I also went to a weight loss seminar this Summer, but the surgeon told me I had to have a referral from my primary care doctor before Tricare Prime would authorize him. That referral was approved within a few days. I jumped through all the other hoops pretty quickly, and I'm having surgery in a few weeks. If in doubt, call Tricare and ask them what they require. They'll tell you what your plan needs. Dave

Hey! Congrats on your band! I'm also a Swedish patient, and will be banded 12/6. Good to hear they're as good as I thought they were. (Any chance you're the blond woman I saw there on my last visit? I'm sure you would recognize me - the fat bald guy. LOL!) Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress! Dave

One of the tricks I used when I was on a diet a number of years ago was to buy my favorite treat - in those days it was a Milky Way Dark candy bar - and use it as a reward that was always just out of reach. It sat on the shelf in plain sight. By itself. There was only one in the house. I knew I could eat it at any time I wanted to, but since I told myself there was only going to be one, I wanted to save it for a very special occasion. I really wanted to earn it, because I knew it was going to screw up my diet. It had to be worth it. I used all sorts of things to trick myself into not eating it. For example, I'd tell myself if I had an especially good workout, I could eat it. So I'd bust my tail working out. But then I forced myself to wait till after I'd showered and gotten cleaned up, and by then the urge was gone. So I'd save it for another day. And another. And another. I'd challenge myself to save that reward over and over. After a couple of months it was so stale, I didn't want it anymore, so I threw it in the trash. I know it isn't appropriate to a LAP-BAND® diet, but it IS a fantastic experiment in self control, setting honest goals, and valuing honest rewards. I chose not to take the easy way out. And on that particular diet I lost about 40 pounds. And I never did eat the stupid candy bar. Be strong. You deserve better than you're giving yourself. Dave

My surgeon submitted my surgery request to Tricare Prime on Friday, Oct 15, 2010. I received a phone call on the following Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010, just three workdays later. I was asked a few questions over the phone, and then I was approved. Pretty easy. Dave

Good luck, Lauren! Keep us posted on the process! Dave

I've heard of them, but aren't they just another small blender? I own a Bosch Kitchen Machine, which has a gazillion attachments, including a great blender. Do I need to get a Magic Bullet too? Why? Dave

Congrats! I'll bet it feels great! You deserve to feel good about your success. Keep it up! Dave