Search the Community

I am having this weird cough often. Or should I call it the urge to cough. I am deathly afraid of thinking my band has slipped or something worse. I have no change in my restriction. It is about perfect. Started having MINOR reflux type symptoms along with this cough. Nothing compared to the MAJOR reflux I had before I had a small unfill. Anyone else have this cough? Got any ideas? P.S I am just recovering from a wicked 3 week cold/flu thing. But this cough feels lke I need to clear spit from the back of my throat. P.S.S Here is a weird question......I dont have health insurance here in the states and was wondering if I could have a pap and general physical down in T.J? Also need to see a dermatologist. Just wondering. Thanks, Christine Banded November 19, 2004 lost 47 lbs. so far Dr. Lopez Corvala

Thanks for the advice Juli! I'm not a quitter and odds are I'm going to go through with the sugery. Hopefully three is a charm!! I guess I'll just call today "dress rehersal!"

Some Insurance won't approve you if you have HypoThyroid issues. They say its harder to lose the weight. I had the LapBand last April 2009 and paid for it myself. My thyroid is normal with medications and I do lose slowly but have lost 45 lbs in less than a year. I'm quite happy so fight your insurance if they deny you. Do start your medications, it makes a huge difference in how you feel and will help your weight loss. Things will be so much better.:scared2: Your fatty liver is common when you are over weight. I was put on Medi Fast 2 weeks prior to surgery for just that problem. As you lose your weight your liver will become healthy and happy again. Its one of the organs that actually heals itself.

I have had two hernia repairs- one emergency operation at 7 months post RNY. The second one was four weeks ago and part of an abdominal wall reconstruction. I had 2 c-sections (29 and 25 years ago), emergency gall bladder removal (28 years ago and a 10 inch scar), two laparoscopic abdominal procedures 15 and 10 years ago and RNY 23 months ago. All the surgery and pregnancies (3) caused weakness in my abdominal wall. My guess is that so many of us who have been obese for so long (30 years for me) have had experiences that make us more hernia prone. Also, any surgery in our abdomen and pregnancies can increase hernia risk. That said, ask your doctor to help you figure out your risk.

I'm going to the info seminar next week. How long does it usually take from the info surgery to the actual surgery? I don't expect problems from my insurance. Also, if someone has time to type in the steps between the seminar and surgery, I'd really appreciate it.

This is a question for a friend who saw my success and began his own journey through weight loss surgery. Has anyone else had problems being approved by the insurance company (Aetna)? He was required to have all the tests done and to attend 6 months of supervised diet with a nutritionist, he's done all but with a big problem, he gained weight during the six months. I had been telling him it might be best to begin getting his head into it, I was cutting back on fats and carbs three months before my surgery, so I was in full swing by the time I was recovering. He's morbidly obese and has co-morbidities, so an excellent candidate except getting control of his eating. His PCP has spoken to the insurance company, and they still rejected him, now he's persuing a formal complaint. Has anyone had any luck fighting them? I don't know what else to offer in advice, hope someone else can.

I first broached the subject with my doctor in October 2009. Attended the seminar, met with the nurse in charge of the hopital weight management program, had three monthly appointments with the dietician, then a psyche exam and a fairly lengthy wait for the insurance company to decide in my favor (I didn't need to los quite the required 100 pounds but had co-morbidities like arthritis, GERD, low sleep oxygen, and family history of diabetes). From start to finish, I waited about five months. It seemed endless at the time, but it gave me a chance to settle into a new way of thinking and test my resolve.

I was on complete liquid diet for 30 days prior to surgery - no food at all! Not sure why it was so long compared to others..... Anyways - after the first week - the headaches for me were gone and I was beginning to handle the radical diet easier. I did avoid a lot of events where eating was happening though - I hadn't told many about my surgery so I didn't really want/need lots of questions about my no eating. Hang in there - I keep that experience in the back of my mind when I think I can't stick to something

I feel your pain.... my surgery is this coming Monday 6/22 and I'm on the Liver Reduction Diet as well. My headache came from caffeine withdrawal, no more coffee and no more Diet Coke. On my diet, I had: - Week 1: 2 Protein shakes and a sensible meal - Week 2: 5 Protein Shakes a day.......no food I'm on Day 3 of Week 2. Believe me, it does get better. Not that any of this is easy.... My stomach growls nonstop, you can hear it across the room. I'm very weak, barely any energy to do anything. And the worst part, liquid in means liquid out, usually without warning that it's coming, LOL. I've been lucky that the Liquid Out part has come while I'm at home and not out in public!! Hang in there!!

I haven't weighed myself in a couple days so I don't know how close I am currently but I am just over six pounds away and I am averaging just over three pounds lost/week. So by mid July I will be there. There doesn't seem to be much of a restriction; had my second fill over two weeks ago and I am back to my goat status: I can eat anything but I choose what goes in.:smile: I spent some time reading a topic on the day of surgery; that brought back the angels and demons of that experience. Considering how drugged I was, I don't think I could offer a decent account without some creative license. Anyhow there is something very old about people going off on the details of surgery like everyone is waiting on baited breath to hear how small your turds got or what medication was rubbed on your dorsal fin:laugh::laugh: I will have to share my personal nightmare of that special day: I awoke in the recovery room getting entertained by the antics of Nurse Mildred Ratchet. She seemed to really get off yanking the catheter out of my flacid Oscar Myer. Even though I was heavily medicated I saw the face of Satan in that nano-second. A few days later I found out that thorny cactus was supposed to have be removed while I was still under. :eek:It was my version of drawing the short straw:biggrin: But that is the past and I will let that demon go. Be good to one another. Count your blessings and be gracious with everyone less fortunate. As always, WB

Thank you!! That made me feel a thousand times better. I basically assumed that it wouldn't ruin everything but I needed at least one person to verify. And I did talk to my team and she basically said I need protein no matter what. Which I completely understand, I'm strictly just talking about this first week. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hopefully it was just a fluke. During my two week liquid shake I got a case of the diarrhea after 3 days. You are very close. Keep a positive outlook and good luck and smile, you are almost there!

I was sleeved on Monday September 12th so of course I'm on a strict liquid diet this week. It is almost impossible to get my Protein in because the only thing I can have that contains protein are the Bariatric Advantage shakes mixed with Water or New whey Liquid Protein shots. Both make me physically sick when I try to drink them. I'm wondering how badly it'll effect me to not get all my protein until Tuesday? Because that's when I can start full liquids and can drink the normal Protein Shakes again! I'm nervous I'm going to mess everything up. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The preop testing. When making an appointment, and I call and to make an appointment will it be separate appointments or three tests in one appointment. When dealing with radiation no children are allowed.

I've been noticing a rather strange phenomenon during the past two weeks. I have only lost around 40 pounds, and I still have around 70 to go, so I'm still very much overweight. However, I cannot believe how people's reactions to me have changed........ people are friendlier, guys are flirtier (I'm very married), service people pay more attention to me.... I wonder if maybe it's because I'm just feeling more confident?? It's not that I'm this attractive bombshell, either!! Has anyone else noticed a huge, sudden difference in people's interactions with you???

Congratulations! I am a week out and doing well. May you be blessed with this tool.

I had lapband surgery approximately 5 years ago. I did very, very well. I started off at 289 pounds after years of hormone therapy and poor eating habits. 5 months before my surgery, I started eating as if I had already had lapband surgery. I lost 60 pounds. I lost so much weight my insurance company almost refused to pay for the surgery. I made a quick decision to have it within a few weeks. I was so concerned that I would yoyo and not be able to maintain. I believe the most I ever had in my band was about 4 cc, which is not a lot as compared to some of my friends and acquaintances. . And I've had no Fluid in my band for a very, very long time. My lowest weight was 118, which was my original weight in my early twenties. Although I felt OK, I feel my best and even look healthier when I'm maintaining 140 to 150 pounds. Without any fluid in my band, I'm pretty much able to maintain that. However, I started having problems swallowing. That then moved to dehydration. Long story short, at this point it is probable I have scar tissue wrapped around my lap band because all these symptoms point towards it. It has to be removed and will be on July the 7th. I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT THE LAPBAND WAS GOOD FOR ME EVEN IF NOT FOR OTHERS. MY PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE UNAVOIDABLE SCAR TISSUE. I am basically on high Protein and high calorie liquids although I am able to eat some slider foods. Funny enough, all the bad stuff goes down relatively easy as long as I'm drinking. meats are out of the question, especially chicken and pork. Even milkshakes have become my friend. In just a few weeks I've gained about 23 pounds. The edema is back in my ankles and calves. Blood pressures are up. Cholesterol is already up. All of these things were absolutely perfect after I lost the weight. I know I've been able to maintain, but I think I am panicking again. I am worried about putting on weight. It's not about appearance. Is it about my health. My family saw me lose the weight before my lap band surgery and saw me pretty much maintain without a lot of band influence for a few years. Therefore, no one is very on board with me considering the gastric sleeve. They feel it is drastic, but having attended the class and spoken to a sleeve patient, I am moving forward with the surgery and I'm excited. I am looking for any tidbits of advice that anyone may have for preoperative and immediate postoperative at this time. I feel I have a little knowledge advantage because I've been there before. But, especially if you have converted, I would love to know your thoughts...

So I went to the doctor for my post op appointment yesterday. I was so shocked to get on the scale and for me to have lost 14 pounds in 3 weeks. You hear about everyone's success stories and are so happy for them but when that someone is you...to me it seems surreal. My doctor said that I am doing great and that I can graduate to pureed foods! Woohoo! Actually I'm a little nervous about starting pureed because I know that liquids can't get stuck...and I'm sure that pureed foods go down pretty easy as well but I'm still nervous. The best part I think was when I texted my husband and told him how much I had lost and he replied with "That's great I'm so proud of you!" I have tears running down my face now just thinking about it. My husband has never told me he is proud of me for anything...not even for giving birth to our 3 children. He did not want me to get banded because he says I'm perfect the way I am. Maybe in his eyes but to me I was very unhappy. Now that I see the band is working I know that I will be smaller and much more healthy in the future. I am so looking forward to next summer when I can go to the beach/pool in confidence wearing an average size bathing suit.

Well this is my first blog and I am only partially through with the pre-surgery gook. I am now up to my psych evaluation - about a week and a half to go for that. And I am terrified they will say I am not mentally equipped to have the surgery. Not sure why, I am pretty sure I am sane, but still nervous. For those of you who have been through all this, what type of time frame am I looking at until the actually surgery date. I know you can't give exact times, but ballpark would be nice. This is moving alot slower than I thought it would and I am just impatient. Anxiously waiting - Sweatiepie

I'm been on the pre op diet for three days now. I've lost 10 lbs already. The preop diet my surgeon prescribes is fairly extreme, judging by other diets by folks on here. All I get to have are protein drinks and two protein bars. That is it...oh and all the sugar free jello and crystal light I want. to be honest the drastic change in my food intake has left me feeling fairly weak and crummy. I've been battling urges to go get some "real" food. this morning I did cheat some and had some scrambled eggs. I felt light headed for a few hours after eating them, but now am feeling much better. Only one more week and it is surgery time!

I'm been on the pre op diet for three days now. I've lost 10 lbs already. The preop diet my surgeon prescribes is fairly extreme, judging by other diets by folks on here. All I get to have are protein drinks and two protein bars. That is it...oh and all the sugar free jello and crystal light I want. to be honest the drastic change in my food intake has left me feeling fairly weak and crummy. I've been battling urges to go get some "real" food. this morning I did cheat some and had some scrambled eggs. I felt light headed for a few hours after eating them, but now am feeling much better. Only one more week and it is surgery time!

So like i said above, this week I'm going though PMS and i've noticed that the entire week I've been hungry or with the need to eat. Has anyone gone through this, I actually ate all day long today and it's driving me crazy bc I've read that it's not supposed to be like this at all. Please Help !!

thank you No Mush, i am suppose to be on liquids but doing chickn salad and tuna, still hungry though, don't know what to do, maybe next week it will be better )

I am 6 days out and the pain is mostly gone. Yesterday I ate some cream of mushroom soup and It tasted so good. I ate more than I should have. About 10 teaspoons and the pain was almost unbearable. I have been eating 5 or 6 teaspoons tops. I couldnt help myself. It felt good and warm going in! lol I was miserable for at least an hour. But I did not throw up! I am having a bit of a problem with my bowel movements and the gas. Only a tablespoon full comes out and soft and chocolate, from my protein shakes. Will they ever be kind of normal again? I am afraid to go out because of the gas and What if its not gas. I have not got the two sorted out yet. Has anyone else had this? My jeans have elastic waist and they go up to where my surgery was and it is uncomfortable. I have been roling them down. I went to my family dr for my first checkup. My sugar was 89 with no medication and my blood pressure was low 80/60. So, we may have to cut out my Lotrel blood pressure medication. I go back in 1 week to see how that is doing. I did not get a b12 shot, but took blood and will call with results to see if they r needed yet. I think I am doing good. I am so blessed with no diabetes medication! So HAPPY! Take care all!

I was worried a couple of weeks out about the same thing, and was told the same thing. Must be your swelling is going down very well! Don't worry... as soon as you start adding real food back in, you will KNOW right away that the restriction is there, believe me!! :thumbup1: