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I had two, one September 21 and another November 19 to rule out barretts esophagus. They are a piece of cake. Procedure is literally maybe 10 minutes unless they find polyps or something that need removal. But after Iv and being wheeled down I remember talking to the Dr, nurse etc. He asked if I had any questions, I told him I was nervous bc i had never been knocked out b4. He assured me all would be fine they were giving me propofol (sp?) to knock me out. I must have given him a weird look cause he then said "don't worry Michael Jackson used this", I said well mj died using that so that's not very comforting . It was funny. But I said I was ready, everything faded and I woke up in recovery. Had to stay for an hour in recovery and then went home. Had a bit of a sore throat but nothing terrible. Was more like it was dry. As far as a standard practice, my understanding is if you have reflux or Gerd prior to surgery they do an egd to check the lining of the stomach. Bc some people get reflux/Gerd post op and if you have existing damage some doctors won't do the sleeve then.

Oh my... I feel better that I am not alone in my battles my hubby is sweet man, he cares about the family, but he has big problem with over-using the Facebook and Internet in general. He can read Wikipedia for hours, leaving our 1.5 year old twins watching TV and fight over toys. He is not working, I make money and he is stay home dad... Or maybe stay home lawn mower... I love him dearly, but I am so exhausted leaving to work at 5.30am before kids wake up, coming home at 4.30, cooking for the family, cleaning little bit.. And before I know it it is time for twins to go to bed. After they are in bed, I take shower and go to bed myself, because I wake up at 4.30, etc... And the story repeats every day... And he is homegrown computer programmer so he works on his software hobby all the time... I tried to tell him that it is not normal that sitting at the computer is last thing I see him doing at night and the first thing I see him doing in the morning... Kids are fed and diapers are changed, bit he never plays with them, talks or reads to them... I feel like the computer is his addiction... he says he is tired too and i know that watching kids is tough work, but heeey... i am also just a human being and not sure how long I'll be able to go like that ugh... Feels better to just rant about it

So there is light at the end of the tunnel ) I sort of also feel fed up at this point but then there are times when u simply can't help it

So I started soft foods at 2 weeks post op and I still have some problems. For eggs I learned the egg whites r the only things I can handle. The yolk has too much fat and it makes me feel horrible it hurts and I feel sick. So I only do a soft scramble egg white. Tofu I can not do. I can do 1/4 of a price of tilapia sometime I will mix it with black beans for extra protein. What silverware are you using? I use my babies spoons lol so they r tiny and I can have about 4-5 bites of that size. If I was using a bigger spoon it would probably be one bite. I learned also that chewing really good helped me ALOT. I thought it was BS at first but then I tried to chew really good defiantly like meats and eggs etc and it helped ALOT!! For comstipation my surgeon and his PA recommends taking stool softener everyday ever 4 hours until you become regular. And if you don’t have a BM within 3 days then take a stimulant laxative to get things moving. They really push push push us to take a stool softener. Because it is not healthy to be backed up and can cause “weight gain” on the scale and get u upset. Due to it being waste weight. Also a lot of high protein diets will make people constipated because we are not getting enough fiber because fruits and grains are off limits. My surgeon only recommends 45-50 grams of protein a day. He said our bodies will not absorb more than that. But follow what your surgeon suggests. There are also DR V videos on protein intake that support my surgeons theory also where too much protein can be a pain with gout etc. anyways off topic lol I agree not a bowel blockage as you wouldn’t be able to keep anything down. It would come up and bile would also come up. Hope this helps

Soooo, just as I was beginning to feel hopeful I found out they cover it....but you have to be with the plan for at least 3 consecutive years. WTF? What a load of BS. What does it matter? I am paying $350 a month regardless. I just can't believe it. I am so disappointed. :(

Hi again, maybe every doc is different but they told me no cab bc they need to be able to contact that person if needed, as well as, make then responsible for u. Again sweety, call bc no need wasting money on a trip if they turn u away. They asked me when I got there to meet my driver nd made him give his number to call when they were done. I'm just lookn out for u. Did anyone else go thru the same thing as i did with requiring a driver to be there?

I've been married ( now divorced) and had boyfriends. The last one did a job on me. He had a fantastic body which made me insecure from the get go. But since being with him ... I gained 40 lbs very quickly. Which in turn made me very insecure. I didn't want to be intimate with him after awhile bc I didn't like the way I looked I gained an additional 10 lbs and he broke it off with me... No reasons. I know the the reason and this was all under a year. You don't need the extra baggage of him. I don't know him but he doesn't sound like he's nice to you. You may think you love him but maybe you love the idea of him. You need to work on the number one person which is you!!! And everything else will fall into place. I promise you this....

lol I havent had a fill in like 2 months I feel like I should go back maybe next month lol I dont want to gain (even tho I already did gain these past 2 weeks) I think its time 4 a fill, but then again Im scared bc if I get any tighter, I may not eat out anymore...but maybe I should avoid eating out period, probably help me cut out calories and stuff lol ill eat out one I reach onederland!

I'm in Little Rock but heading to Mexico on Nov 13th for surgery with Dr Ortiz. Two years ago Indid the entire 6 month insurance requirements for lap band. I was seeing Dr Luttrel but backed out bc I wasn't comfortable with the band.

Arabesque the roasted fava/chick peas as a snack? I’m guessing the peanut paste is peanut butter? And what is Labneh? I’ll admit I’m not the most adventurous or knowledgeable about foods and I’m very unfamiliar with foods abroad bc even when I travel I’m reluctant to eat a lot of things

Hi, sleeves 2/11 lost 10 pounds in the first week. Seriously upset though bc the scale hasn't budged in a week. I do have a hard time getting in enough fluids and protein but I am walking 30 min every day on top of my normal housework. I have zero heartburn or difficulty getting my soft foods in. But for example yesterday was an egg w cheese a babybel cheese and a half a piece of cod but I was so full I couldn't look at anything else. Is my body that stubborn it won't kick the weight off? Aside from not being hungry I'm wondering why I did this! I just feel alone bc all my husband can say is "I don't know you're beautiful anyway" ... While I adore is answer I just wonder if I'm alone out there ... Sorry for the rant just very frustrated this morning

well, fwiw, even the skinniest dressage queen should use a mounting block to mount because it's better for the horse's back and the saddle. I started my late BS Paint myself when I weighed 290lbs and I weigh 250 now (having band complications that will require band removal and hopefully a revision to RNY). I ride 3-4 days a week on my 7yr old Thoroughbred and am learning Dressage now. I asked my dressage trainer whether my weight was hurting my mare and he said no basically because I know how to ride. I'm not a sack of potatoes that can't balance in the saddle. So, don't let your current weight stop you. It took me a while to get my surgery but my initial weight loss was significant (40lbs in 3 months). You'll be fine!!!

I have Highmark BC/BS through the railroad so I'm sure it's not exactly the same, but it took them about 25 days to approve me. They told me they have 30 days to approve or deny, and they were always very helpful when I called and spoke with them. It actually took me longer to get my surgery date then for the insurance to approve, that took a little over a month before I had my surgery. Good luck, I hope it all works out.

Hi Everyone! I Stumbled On To This Website In Hopes To Be As Educated About My Decision To Under Lap Band As Possible. I Have Just Begun My Journey. I Am So Apprehensive. I Have Had The Psychological Eval, ( Passed!..lol..) I Am Awaiting Approval From Bc/bs Ppo. When I Called They Said That My Policy Has The Rider And So I Am Praying That I Am Approved. Can Anyone Tell Me How Long This Whole Process Is Before You Can Have The Surgery? Thanks To All Who Have Written Post Op, That Helps Me Know What To Expect Too. Cathy

My name is Ashley and I'm a 25yr old mother with a wonderful son and a amazing husband. My husband loves me the way I am but sees that I need to get healthy and get some of this weight off. He sees that it is starting to affect me. As a child I was never overweight until I hit puberty then it all went down hill. I was very athletic and fluctuated between 160-180, until I got pregnant with my son when I was 20. I have never been able to get the weight off. I have been at my highest these past few years, 275lbs. My self - confidence has always been an issue for me, but i have been working on it and all i want right now is to lose this weight and be healthy, being skinny wouldnt be a bad thing either. :tongue_smilie: My weight hasnt caused any other health problems yet but i dont want to give it a chance to. The only thing that it has affected is my ability to get pregnant. My husnband and i have been trying to get pregnant for 4 years now with no avail. :thumbup: My insurance makes you go through a 6 month diet program and if you miss one visit, bc you have to go every month, you have to start all over. needless to say that i have had a rough time bc when i started the program eveything was great at home then my husband lost his job and with only 3 months left to go i had to start the 6 month diet program all over again. so i started my journey back in 3/2009 and i just finished the 6 month diet program and got approval. my dr. requires a liquid diet for 2 weeks before the surgery with the optifast shakes and i am on day 4 with the shakes. all you can have with the shakes is sugar free calorie free drinks, popsicles, and jello. have you ever taste sugar free jello? its disgusting!!! i can also have broth if i get lightheaded or anything. the first day was hell for me. all i wanted to do was eat. i was exhausted and felt like crap. i went home and my family was having bbq chicken and yellow rice. i stuck my finger in the bbq sauce then made a cup of broth and cried myself to sleep. my husband is very supportive of me in doing this. he knows its something that i want BAD. so he was there to comfort me and tell me i could do it and it will be ok. it has gotten easier with each day but yesterday i wanted a smoothie soo bad i was good and didnt get one. when i got home i went with my husband to the store and he ran to bk. i told him i didnt want to go bc this is soo hard but we went ahead and went and my husband asked me if i wanted anything. i just looked at him and started crying and then it dawned on him what he did. he kept apologizing which made me cry even more and then i was able to calm down but as soon as i went home i went to bed. i dont blame him for it and i know he didnt do it on purpose but it still hurt somewhere inside. todays day 4 and like i said its gotten easier with each day so im hoping todays a good day.

After my divorce, I was approached by one guy that was pretty big. We hit off for a while. He was good looking and had a great personality, but it was his confidence..the one that made him come up to me in the first place....that started it off. Yes, I am traditional. I do not like to initiate. (For all you horndogs, I am not talking sex right now. LOL!) I think its best for the man to start the conversation if he is looking for more than just idle chit chat. But that is me. MY preference. My weight made me less confident and feel less desirable (not to mention the emotional abuse my ex husband put me through). It wasn't until a healthy body kind of guy showed me how desirable I was to convince me that no matter what, I was beautiful too. I didn't seek him out, he came after me. Perhaps heavier men need that kind of attention too, and we ladies are failing in that aspect? food for thought. I like all types, as long as they take care of themselves and dont look like they just crawled out of bed. Blech. Anyway, don't forget that many men and women are still subconsciously brainwashed by social standards. In developed countries, we are told to like the healthy/skinny types. In lesser developed countries, the larger the woman the more desirable she is because she can birth babies and she's rich enough to be well fed. This mentality isn't as prevalent as it once was, but it still lingers. As an archaeologist and world traveler, I have seen this first hand. Just more food for thought. 0 calories!

Megan--do you have the LapBand or the MIDBand (or the SAGB)? I've known of several people banded in France--with the MIDBand--who were fed solids from day one. But those are bigger, softer bands. Or...if you were on solid food early on...do you suppose the French doctors use a technique that is more forgiving?

uxbus5, We were banded the same day!! I had the most violent hiccup attack about 4 days post op. It hurt sooooo bad. My hubby was kinda freaked out because at fist I was laughing bc it wouldnt stop but then I kept screaming in pain bc it wouldnt stop. FINALLY after about five minutes, I held my breath until I thought I was going to pass out...And it worked!! I only have minor hiccup-burps every so often, nothing like that attack though, I thought I was going to die hiccuping...LOL

aubrie...my thoughts exactly regarding the punishment. i'm staying here, because i have to, but all respect is gone, and if another opportunity comes along, i will not hesitate, but i do not feel "up" to searching right now. (for a new job) i think i am going to wait for the fill afterall, it turns out that this fills is a lot tighter than i thought it was. i called today and talked with the lady at the front desk (all employees have been banded), and she said that i should just be eating bread at every meal, but that i really do not need a fill. well, what do you know, add bread, and i've got perfect restriction. 1/2 piece of pizza is all i could eat, and that adds up to only 100 calories and 10 grams of Protein. AWESOME. but i'm having to retrain myself per se to follow the rules. funny thing, my husband and i have not had an argument at all (not even the stupid kind) since our wedding, and loss.... but last night, we argued about whether or not i should have a fill..lol... apparantly i was just on the defensive side, because he would say get it, and then don't get it. i just worry about the fact that it is now may and i was banded in october and i have only lost 21 lbs. most of which was lost during the pregnancy because of morning sickness. oh..yeah..as far as a lawyer, i really do not think i have a legal leg to stand on, because my FMLA papers state that i am not guaranteed my position, but i am guaranteed my pay. the thing is this is like some kind of "probation" where i will be re-evaluated in 60 days..well..then what, they still can't fire me. so i think it is a bunch of bs that it is not a punishment, it is definately a punishment, for i guess deciding to have a natural miscarriage. i don't think they believed that it really took 2 1/2 weeks with true labor pains and horrible horrible other things. if i could go back, i would have had a d&c, but it just so happens i have a doc who doesn't believe in them, and strongly recommended not to have one. well, she has never miscarried herself (the doc), if she had, she probably would recommend one, the physical pain and duration only prolongs the emotional side of things. but..i'm medicated now, and i just sit in the corner scanning my files, for a very decent hourly pay (dummies are paying me WAY more than a scanner would typically make). then when i get home i'm not all stressed from my day at work, so i enjoy it. so yeah, they did me wrong, but they really did me a favor. i have a stress free job now with the same pay (minus my bonuses', which really hacks me off, that is is $600 missed as of right now). i now know that i really truly did hate my job. lol....

Hey GhostDog, You have enough courage to (1) look at yourself, and (2) admit what it is you see. Most people can never own their own BS. You have and that's true courage. Thanks for showing us some real courage. Best to you.

It took me several fills before I really felt any restriction. A fill would make me feel 'tight' for a day or two and then it would disappear. Wasn't til I had about 6cc before I got my first stuck episode. I still could eat a fair amount between fills. I finally got to the green zone at 8.5cc in a 10cc band. I ate according the the band rules mostly in that I ate slowly, ate only a small serving and stopped after I finished my serving. I used to take out a small serving and then halve it and put one half in the fridge. I told myself if I was still really hungry after 30 mins I could go back for more. I only went back once in all the time I did that (coz it takes about 10 mins normally to stop feeling hungry, and longer if you have a band). That was a great tip that was told to me that worked for me, so consider this me passing it on. It has worked well for friends who aren't banded either. The good news is that for the majority of banders, the time WILL come where you get enough restriction in your band to only be able to eat a small amount and be satisfied for hours. If it works like it should, it should also stop you feeling hungry most of the time. When that will happen is different for every bander, though. Also I remember when I first got banded, my tummy made these AWFUL rumbling sounds all day. I figure it was because for 20 years it was used to being filled to the brim and it was grumbling at the huge reduction in food. But after 6 months or so, it settled and it nearly never growled. It got used to be being 'drip fed' food from the above all day, I guess!

I have never had surgery before this so I didn't really know what to expect. It is natural to have some anxiety, but I really surprised myself by being ok until I woke up with this dreaded pain all over my body. My understanding is that there is 1.5% chance of it happening so perhaps I shouldn't have played the lottery before my surgery. I am sure you will be fine. Maybe I've hogged the 1% chance this time and your safe to go have a complication free surgery. The medication that caused the reaction is the paralytic they use for intubation called "succinocholine". You can look up "postoperative myalgia" online and there is some general info. Basically, all of my muscles contracted so much during surgery that they are pretty much useles for a few days until they have time to repair and heal themselves. Kind of like I worked out every muscle in my body nonstop and they are just fatigued to the point of not working at all. I'll keep everyone posted as to how long this lasts. Hopefully not much longer bc I can't stand being in pain or confined to this bed. :/ When is your surgery?

I was drinking decaf the day of surgery in postop. ..I have tried the choke coffee Protein before surgery a few days that shake was Awsome! Luvd it..but caffeine they told me was gone for life bc of causing ulcers in stomach. ..I don't want that to happen. .

Cuban chick that is EXACTLY whats going on!!!! U explained it word for word. I have gained 3 lbs but haven't posted it on here bc im so embarrassed. I can basically eat anything right now. And you called it bc for a few days right after surgery i was never ever hungry. Now im hungry all the time. I know i should be chewing my food more but i forget some bites and it still seems to go down fine. Thank you so much for posting that! U literally described what im going thru exactly thank u!!

Since you have to scroll down to reply, the top is what you see first. People are only skipping it by being willfully ignorant. You just admitted you know where it is but you don't bother to look, because you just don't care. And I only responded because I think it is totally BS, that women keep popping in the men forum and then get huffy when men don't respond well to it, this isn't the first time.