Search the Community

Usually 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your surgeon.

Wow! That's amazing. I'm starting liquids this week and I'm a little nervous about how I'm going to handle it.

You can always call and ask your insurance co. what they require. I know it varies widely depending on where you live and the kind of insurance you have. When I started seeing my Dr. about 2 years ago I wasn't thinking about weightloss surgery. She worked with me and set up a medically supervised diet with weightloss meds. I was able to lose about 20pds but then completely stalled. When I decided to have surgery, all of my appointments were already done. If you have any paper work from previous diets, get them together. Copies of cancelled checks will work as well! Please hang in there, I'm sure everything will work out for you! Jenn

I was banded on 5-21-07. I have been lucky enough thus far to not have experienced the "gas pains" everyone has refered to. Since yesterday morning, I have had a stabbing pain under my left rib cage. It's awful. It hurts to breathe. When I take a deep breath, the pain shoots all over and I also have a dull achy sensation in my back. Does anyone know what this could be? Is this gas pain? Would it show up almost 4 weeks post-op with no prior symptoms? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I sure hope this works out okay. I find it.... annoying.. that you have this kind of requirement. I had to do a 2 week liver shrinking diet - for my own safety. I had no weight loss requirement, although i did lose 8#. I found it very very difficult but I was very motivated to get that liver shrunk. It makes me kind of mad that some programs want you to prove that you are surgery worthy by losing certain amounts of weight. I don't think there is ANY evidence to show that it improves your long term success. Most of us are professional dieters, so what the heck does losing 10 pounds prove? Rant over. Good luck on your surgery - looking forward to welcoming you as a new sleever!

Ok - i had surgery july 5. All has been very well - no complications - down about 44 pounds including 2 week pre-op diet. The surgeon is great (center of excellence, nice guy, very experienced) EXCEPT he can never give me a "straight" answer on how much saline is in my band. He claimed there would be a "little" in at surgery - at first follow up appt. he said there was none in at surgery. At first fill appt he said he gave me 3ccs, what he called a "good/large fill" then at second fill appt he said there were 1.5 ccs in the first fill. He gave me 1 cc more at second fill. The not so straight answers are frustrating but i have not pushed it yet because at this point - to me - it does not matter - everything is going perfectly - and we are no where near the fill line and believe me if i wanted to push for more answers i am not shy about doing so. That's not why i'm writing - but if anyone else has experienced that "jumping around" from there surgeon i'd love to compare notes. As of this day, after 2 fills, i still feel i can eat everything and anything - which i know is not that unusual as it may take several more fills to feel real restriction. I don't eat anything and everything and have been sticking to a lien cuisine size or smaller - been losing weight and all is well. Mostly will power up until this point. I wouldn't even know i had the band except for what i'm about to say - and i have not seen anyone else on here comment about this so i thought it was unusual enough to ask all my fellow bandsters if they have ever felt this. I feel no restriction/saiety (sp?) satisfaction at all while i'm actually eating. Admittedly i do not always take 30 minutes to eat, but i have slowed way down and take smaller bites etc. However, after i wait the requisite amount of time to drink (my dr.'s office says 30 minutes - i've heard of others saying 1 hour - i try to wait 45 mins as a compromise) - i am IMMEDIATELY full as if i just ate a huge meal. In fact, i'm uncomfortably full - even if i just only drank 6-8 ounces, for example. SO, it's the combination of eating then the drinking that is causing my fullness/satisfaction. After this second fill, that feeling of satisfaction - many times but not always, can last about 4 hours. Anyone else find that the "restriction" only works AFTER waiting the correct amount to drink and then taking those first drinks? Just curious. If so, anyone experience that but then later, after more fills, experience that same fullness/satisfaction on the food only - before the drinking later??? just curious.

I've heard many say that it smetimes takes a week or so for the fil to be felt....don't ask why, that's just what they say!! I have a 10 cc band, have had 2 fills but haven't had one since july....all of a sudden I am getting seriously hungry so I know I need a fill.

I got my surgery date for April 3rd and I am so excited but the no caffeine in the 2 weeks before and post-op period has me worried! I depend on my 2 cups to get me going. Tried doing half and half this morning and feel like I have a hangover :-(

Had my psych appt yesterday everyone has signed off on me now just waiting for insurance approval should be by the end of the week. Trying to keep my mind off of it so i don't obsess!

OK - Im a single mom with two kids (ages 7 and 8) and an insanely active 1 year old puppy. I am thrilled to have been approved and am ready for this journey- but as I sit here and look around, Im overwhelmed thinking of what I need to do to prep for this. Ive taken care of: protein shakes, a good Water bottle, Vitamins and calcium chews, pack a hospital bag, babysitting and dog care set for a week - I also need a pedicure for sure. But then what?! anyone else nervous about what happens next?

Soooo depressed after the meeting yesterday. But not giving up! I've waited this long, I can wait longer! But still...I needed something a bit more positive after this last week. They recommended a high Protein, low carb diet until the surgery, but I won't be seeing their nutritionist for at least another month, maybe 2. Anyone have a recommendation? I guess the good news is, is that I lost another 1/2 pound even with all the stress of John being in the hospital. Maybe, if I can keep losing with him going through all of this, they'll see I'm serious and give me a break? Lunie

Normal...Read embrace the stall below https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/#comment-3952027

Hi all, I was banded on May 12, 2008. To date, I've only lost about 21 pounds. I'm pretty disgusted with myself. I have no energy to do anything. I don't go to bed early, I don't eat right, I'm not getting enough water or exercise. I have all the excuses in the world, and I'm tired of living the way I am. I have 4.1 cc's in my band and I can tell the restriction is there, because I still get sick sometimes. Yet, other times, I feel like I could eat a cow! It's frustrating. I work full time, I go to school full time, I have two children, a husband, a business, a cat, and a home to keep up (yeah, you guessed it, my home is a wreck too!). Oy! I have very little time. I work from 6:30 AM to 3 PM and I guess I just would like someone who could maybe walk with me even a few days a week...email me to help keep me motivated, stuff like that. I think I'm pretty good at motivating other people, I just suck at motivating myself! :thumbup:

I am in the pre-op stage. I was always the worlds worst for getting off of track on whatever diet I was on, and always telling myself tomorrow/next week/after I get past this/ I am going to start eating better. Truth be told those days built one on another another and got me to where I am today or actually 1 month ago... but I started my pre-op diet 10 days ago and wow what a change already! We all have our own reason why we do what we do or have done what we used to do. Get back to the basics, I know it's hard because I went all day today with cravings, but I told myself to keep my head in the game...and not to sabotage the progress I have made. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!! Eat healthy.... don't give into the temptations, you are stronger than they are because you made the decision of start your journey..... and that is one the hardest and strongest decisions the we make for ourselves!!!! And remember don't regret yesterday, but look for tomorrow!!!!! Hang in there, and best of luck!!!!!

At my follow up they just asked me how I was feeling, weighed me, checked my scars and vitals and sent me home. At my 4 week they did a full array of blood work to make sure I'm not having any issues there.

I'm bumping this up because I did start running this week and darn it, I want a training buddy! :biggrin2:

Seanmama, every surgeon's office is different. But I'd suggest calling your insurance carrier the week *after* the two weeks have passed just to see if they've received the request for precertification. When they say no, be sure to ask them how much time it takes for such a request to show up in their system. (Sometimes a request can be received and then not logged in for a week, or two weeks, or whatever.) Then call back after THAT amount of time has passed and see if it's there. If they still say no, definitely call your surgeon's office and see when (or if) they submitted it. If they are efficient you shouldn't have to call them back, since your insurance carrier will tell you when it was received. But if they're not, there's no point in badgering them until you know for sure that they didn't submit it when they said they would. This is exactly what happened with me, and even though it took a while I was confident I hadn't antagonized the doctor's office. (I felt it was important to stay on the doctor's office's good side since they were doing me a favor.)

Another quickie! My drs office said it will take 2 weeks to get his letter dictated and sent to the ins co. and then surg will be scheduled if all is well up to 6mo ahead! How much badgering on my part is usually needed:) Or should I just let them do their thing? Seanmama

I have very little pain 1 week post opp but this thigh numbness is getting me down.

I only had/have 30kg to lose (which is about 66 pounds) and my doctor was all for it. My previous attempts weren't working (and I'd tried EVERYTHING and been really good on them all too). While it's still 16 pounds more than you, it's still considered a "small" amount to lose for sleeving. While everyone's journey is going to be different, my weight loss has been comparatively slow which makes me *think* (obviously I'm not a doctor, so don't quote me) that maybe with a smaller amount to lose it goes slower??? I honestly don't know. My mum had about 50kg (110 pounds) to lose and she did it a lot quicker than I think I will - I've only lost 9 kilos in 4 weeks (which I'm still pretty happy with, but my mum had lost double that at the same time). At the end of the day, you need to listen to your body, your doctors and express your concerns to the professionals. Good luck - I'm sorry we can't give you a clear-cut answer, but here's our two cents' worth

Hmmm....interesting. I'm going to ask my surgeon about this. I hope you can get some sleep without it. And yes, you are right about our heart. I few weeks won't hurt anything I wouldn't think.

I flew 100+ flights a year for 25 years, hauling my 400#plus body all over the world doing my work. I hated the flying and most of all I hated taking more than my share of a limited seating area, and hated asking for seat belt extensions. I finally bought my own so I did not have to ask for them, and then they made using your own extension illegal...I was back to having to ask the flight attendant again, to the stares of all of those around me. When I retired and left the road four years ago, I was thrilled to not have to deal with the constant embarrassment. This week, I flew from Grand Junction CO to Pittsburgh PA and back, four flights total. NO SEAT BELT EXTENSION NEEDED! I had gastric bypass in April, 100# down, BMI slipped under 40 finally, and I comfortably fit in the seat. Even though at 6'4" the person next to me knew they were sitting next to a great big guy, the arm rests were down, I did not "bulge" under the arm rest, and I did not inconvenience anyone. I still hate flying but what a change.... just getting around the airport was so much easier.

Today was my first day in a week and a half without any narcotics. Hurrah for me. I can't tell you wants wrong because the Dr.s haven't figured it out. Personally, I think I have just experienced the wonder of a ruptured ovarian cyst. Not one of the 4 different Drs have called it that. They said "unspeicified pelvic pain with unusual bleeding." I've had a "significant" cyst for more than 3 months. Then suddenly, I don't have the cyst, but so much pain I'm puking all over. So much pain that IV pain meds in the ER just take the edge off the pain. But you know what, if it walks like a duck.. Anyway, they don't knwo what's wrong with me. They have scheduled surgery for the end of next month. My sister and sister-in-law are pushing me to have the big H, but I would need so much counceling for that. I figure that if I don't have my girl parts I wouldn't be a girl any more.

My nut says things like don't focus on Protein so much and you'll get it in. Or I'll ask what stage is next and she'll say...we'll see! Needless to say i'm in the process of getting another one. But in the meantime I would love your help. Question 1: How many carbs should we intake to continue weight loss at 4 weeks? Question 2: How much calories and Water intake is ideal for weight loss at 4 weeks? Question 3: Do we need certain amount of fat grams too? What are some of your daily diets consisting of (7am-bedtime timeline) so i can get an idea of proper foods and time management.. I know for someone who researched for 6months before having this surgery i sound clueless but the diet after was never made clear... Thanks for your help.

If it is near or even an inch or two below the large incision on your left side where they pulled out the stomach, then it is normal and it's part of the healing process. Basically I was told by the NP that blood kind of pools up in that area repeatedly during the healing process which causes the burning/pulling pain that kind of comes and goes. If yours is something different you should speak to your doc for sure though. It seems like it finally went away for good for me at around 3-4 weeks. But it gets worse before it gets better.