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I have been lurking forever perhaps years.... Wanting to have the surgery but chicken.... Now.... I am 41 with 2 kids 8 and 11... I am just over 40 BMI Hypo Thyroid Meds... High Cholesterol but the good is high too. I have been seriously battling my weight for about 16 yrs and I am currently heavier than I was 9 months pregnant with my oldest. It has really taken its toll on my health , joints, and mental state. I have Aetna , Managed Choice, I have heard that my coverage is really good. Hoping and praying this will go off without a hitch. I don't want to jump through hoops, but i will if I have too. I have some degernerative disk disease in my lower back so my Chiro wrote me a letter stating that significant weight loss would improve my well being etc. Wish me luck if you have any insight on how all this will play out please let me in on it...... thanks in advance Lor

Hi everyone, it seems like this site has been very quiet for a few days... I don't feel so guilty about not getting to the computer to post.. Everyone must be out enjoying life and spring...........at least I hope that's what's happening!!!! I have been just trying to settle back into a sort of normal life... Was able to make it to church yesterday, but took my pillow for back support. My severe nerve pain is gone, but has been replaced with a plan old bachache that doesn't go away.. I know that will come with time. I did gain back 2 pounds....figured I would just from getting hydrated again.. I have a hard time drinking very much these days... But I'm working on it... I'm eating okay, not doing too much of the wrong things... What I haven't done is get back to my band routine.... Protein first... I haven't had the energy to cook, so have been going for what is handy and what someone else makes... I'm still at 293 and if I can hold there until my band gets reactivated I'll be very happy.... I hired a sitter for my granddaughter for the week.. Daughter is very nervous about it, but I just need another week without the strain of anything phsical with a 2 year old... I'm very close and can run to her if I'm needed.. It will be good for Mimi to have the interaction with other kids.. I think she'll be fine, but DD is a worrier like her mother!!!! I'm tring to work on my closet... Soooooo many clothes to move out and get rid of and try to find what I actually have for summer in the size I am now... It's a big job and will be doing it slowly.... At least it's finally warming up around here some and I can do capris and not worry about my too short pants!! DH left for work awhile ago and I should go do a little something now so I can rest again... Brother will be coming home from hospital today... He is divorced with 3 daughters... One grown with her own baby, who will be staying with him for a bit..... one, 17 who just had knee surgery on Friday, and one who is 11...... He has a semi-serious girlfriend, who will help with care, but lives in Bismarck and works.... And of course the ex, who causes all sorts of problems..... Anyway, they share custody and live about 2 blocks from each other... My mother, daughter and I went to his house yesterday and washed his bedding and straightened up a bit.... Will try to get some good, healthy food there for supper tonight if I can think of what to do... He is a smoker with bad eating habits who is going to have quiet a bunch of changes to make in his life... He and I are close, so will try to help as much as I can..... Hope everyone is refreshed from a good weekend... Have a good week...... Julie

Dr. R. talked with me today, about seeing a pulmonologist and finding a window to have surgery where my asthma is not so reactive. I totally understood, this is what any good surgeon would recommend. He told me that all of the other M.D.'s that think I can proceed in this condition, do not see what happens when things do not go well... I have also gained another 4 lbs from the asthma meds... time to adjust my stupid weight ticker :drool:

I just need to vent a little, as I have had a setback in the middle of my pre-op two weeks (diet and the surgery itself) I am a little bummed, Friday night an asthma flare went downhill, so I ended up at Urgent Care at 1 am, and from there, I was sent by ambulance to hospital to be admitted... because I had been started on 5 days of prednisone(steroid) on Thursday morning and had gotten worse instead of better after two days of treatment... Long story short, the two treatments at Urgent Care, and the oxygen in the ambulance must have started to work about the time they loaded me into the ER treatment room... and I ended up being able to leave there at 5 a.m... but then I was home, and trying to sleep, and got a call from the hospital to come back in as a radiologist did not like something on my chest x-ray so they wanted to evaluate me further... I went in, had a CT scan with contrast (Radiologist thought they saw "enlarged veins" around the cardiopulmonary connections apparently, so a lot went through my head while waiting for the scan and the report of NO ABNORMALITIES from the scan with contrast... my thoughts were, was it FenPhen that did this and so on and so forth... But now I am afraid the gain from the steroids (mostly Fluid retention) and the restricted pre-op diet (could this be too severe for someone who is so sick), and will the Surgeon push back my date... I was so afraid of this all winter, as they would not give me a date, would not give me a date, in spite of insurance approval very early on - since the later it gets in Spring, the more likelihood of asthma (this has been a problem for the past year)... I will not know anything, until I have the pre-op eval. with the anesthesiology team at the new pre-op work-up clinic they have. I see the surgeon after that. He will weigh me again, and there there will be all of this flurry of medical activity this weekend for me, to consider. But at least I know my heart, lungs, aorta, etc all looked normal on the CT scan. Anyway, my lungs are still pretty reactive, and I have a feeling my surgery is going to be pushed back at least a week or two... :laugh:

No offense, but your doctor is on crack. The last thing a hypo needs for stabilization is carbs. That is such an old school of thought and exactly what has made diabetics fat for so long. Protein, protein, protein! Carbs will certainly give you the immediate rise, but then you crash again. Your foods intake and your body mass and composition are still changing - you haven't "settled" yet. Keep up the protein - if you want to have something before you work out, half a Protein shake is a grand idea.

OMG! I am weeping hysterically, so very relieved and grateful to have found you all. I had my surgery on May 23 and am not even down 30 lbs. (my ticker includes weight loss from my high of 335 pre-surgery). I have a handful of legit reasons for being a slow loser(PCOS, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypo-thyroid) and I have a million pathetic excuses (compulsive eating, night eating, rarely exercise), but I am ready to take it to the next level. I have not come to this board in months and to this May board in much longer because I couldn't take the constant reminders of my "failure." But I am done wallowing in it, and plan to renew my efforts. I plan to come here daily and just wanted to thank you all for being here.

I am hypo, I was hyper after having my son. I had to have radio-active iodine to "kill" it. I feel like I am hitting my head against a wall trying to lose weight, I do not think it is the thyroid, I am on 112 Synthroid and my levels are fine. What do you all eat, how often (3 or 6 meals) and how many calories? Just wondering how the weight is coming off? I have not lost anything since my daughter was born 20 months ago, aside from the 35 pounds I gained with her. I am very frustrated, had a fill Monday and still don't really feel restricted. Anyway, just thought I would ask, to see if anyone had any ideas.

Thanks. I went to my GP to discuss my sugar problems. He's going to do another GTT. When I have my 5 hour test 19 years ago, they took me to the hospital in an ambulance. I'm really dreading the test next Fri. Ever since I started exercising, I'm having trouble again with my hypo. Doc said I need to eat more carbs. I'm not so sure about that.

I have been hypo for seven years now. As long as you have your levels under control with meds, there is no reason why being hypo would keep the band from working. I did have to lower my Synthroid dosage after losing about 65 pounds.

Thanks for the reply! I am happy to hear that the LB has the potential to help me. I have been hypo since I was 16 years old and I am now 30 years old. I definitely have always felt that I am doomed to be fat forever because of my thyroid ( well, now lack there of since I have it entirely removed last month ).

I am hypo and have lost nearly 75 pounds. I'm 16 months out. At my one year mark I had lost enought that my thyroid levels were a high, so my doctor reduced my dosage of synthroid. He checks it now every 4 months and said as I continue to lose I will continue to have it adjusted. So far I reduced my synthroid medication, I've cut my blood pressure meds in half and completely got off my bladder control medication. The band is wonderful and I feel great! Before surgery, I was convinced I would never lose with the band. I thought with hypothyroidism I was sentenced to a life of obesity. I was wrong. I've been pleasantly surprised.

I was diagnosed with hyper. I had to take an iodine radiation pill and go back to the endo next week to see if it is going hypo, I am also trying to get approved for the band (Insurance wanted my tyroid checked, after the six month weight loss, that is how I found out I was hyper). The endo and Dr. Snows office said I should not have an issue getting approved with a hypothyroid.

Ok so just here to rant about doctors and how ridiculous it is to have to wait so long to see them...It's taken me 7 weeks to just make an appointment with them and now...I don't see them for another 2 full months. Just to see an endocrinologist! My thyroid is out of whack(but is in the normal range, still too high) and I'm not going to lose a single pound for another 2 months...it's already been 6 months since I've seen the scale move... I give up. I'm adjusting my own meds. I know that's dangerous but if there were to be an increase in my meds a doc would do it by 25 mcg and that's all I'm adding. Seriously I'm not losing, my hair is brittle and falling out, my mood swings are bad, sleeping 12 hours and still exhausted, I hate being HYPO!!!! (My regular physcian is a physcian's assistant and quote "Doesn't know what other kind of medicine there is or what kind of dose to do"...the guy hadn't heard of "PCOS" before either...I hate doctors as well...

That approach works for me; it is pro-active instead of being merely reactive. I was proactive, too. I weighed in at 195 and I paid to have the band installed; this has been a largely positive experience. I was able to overcome the gluttony which kept me married to my plate. And to take the time away from this in order to do some research as to what would make for healthy little snacks for someone who despised cooking. lol

I had my lap band May 7, 2008, and I haven't had much change in my pain. I've only lost 24 lbs since my surgey, but if I exercise too much I will be unable to move for days. I find I hurt more all over my body after my fills - I've asked MD about this but they have no answers, and I'm very sensitive to fills, I've had more fills /unfills than I care to count - I was diagnosed with Reactive Epstein Bar Virus (Mono) 3 months after my surgery, because I complained to my main MD that I was so weak and had no energy. MD said it was probably activated by me having the Lap Band procedure - I hope you have had more luck with weight loss and pain, because I haven't.

Good Morning...i can't wait to get started, i have done so much research that my brain is starting to feel fat...last thing I need is for something else on my body to feel fat...my story is this. I am 48, BMI 39.5, weight 225. I have not always been overweight, not until after my second child in 1980, reached 200lbs in 1990, joined WW Jan 1990 lost 62 pounds by Nov 1990 and became a lifetime member. I kept 50lbs off for 10 years, then my thyroid went hypo and I have never been the same, I have been on every kind of diet since then...yes even went back to WW countless times, I will loose some then gain it all back and then some. I made the decision to have the lapband procedure done after alot of prayer and study. This is not any easy decision, because I am self pay. I have already spent a huge amount of money on diets, now I'm going to spend another huge amount of money...ON THE LAST DIET I WILL EVER BE ON!!! Please, share any suggestions, tips, advice, and especially encouragements.

As requested by one of my favorite fellow teachers, I am going to outline my journey through this process. Other than researching the surgery, my first step was visiting my primary care physician, Dr. Mark DalleAve. (This was around June 2008, I believe.) I was reluctant to ask him about the surgery because he tends to be very conservative. I feared he would want me to try more traditional methods--again. Surprisingly, that was not the case. He said he thought I would be a good candidate for the surgery and sent me for some preliminary bloodwork he knew would be required. The bloodwork revealed that everything was basically okay with the exception of my thyroid. I can never remember whether mine is hyper or hypo. I just know that the number on my bloodwork print out was higher than it should've been. I think the highest it should be is like 4.5 and mine was 9 something. Either way, he put me on synthroid for two months, and I had to be rechecked after that. The medicine worked well. My levels were down to 2 something when rechecked. As I said before, my other tests were "basically okay." However, as I researched the results and what they meant, I realized that I am VERY close to being a diagnosed diabetic. That was another real wake up call for me. I do NOT want to become diabetic and have to handle all the problems that come with that. This gave me even more determination to do this and make it work. After my thyroid was under controll with medicine, the doctor was ready to refer me to the surgeon. This is where the waiting game started again. (I was already disappointed by having to wait months on the thyroid tests.) It took nearly two weeks for me to even hear from the surgeon. (This surgeon had been recommended by the nurses at Dr. DalleAve's office because he said they knew more about who was good than he did.) When I did hear back from this surgeon, there was a huge packet of information for me to complete and they wanted a "Program Fee" of $150 before they would make my appointment. When I asked questions of the receptionist, she answered everything, but she didn't offer any information on her own. I was unimpressed. I was a little unsure if this was the surgeon I wanted to see, so I did a little more research on this website as well as others online. I called the office of Doctors Watson and Hodge in Johnson City, TN, and I'm very glad I did. The receptionist was happy to answer my questions and offered additional information on the expertise and experience of the surgeons. I had to wait nearly three months for an appointment, but they gladly made me an appointment. I met with Dr. Hodge for the first time on Dec. 17, 2008. (In the meantime I did have quite a lot of paperwork to complete but not nearly as much as requested by the other surgeon. All of this questions actually seemed relevant.) In the time while I had to wait for my appointment, I decided to do everything I could to prepare. I contacted my insurance company to find out exactly what requirements I would have to meet to qualify for the surgery. (I already knew it was a covered benefit.) I met every criteria, but I was disappointed to learn that I would have to undergo a 6 mo. doctor supervised diet before surgery. When starting this journey, I hoped to have the surgery in early 2009. At every turn I realized it would take longer and longer, and it seemed like it would take forever. I also found that I would have to attend four seminars on the lap band as required by my surgeon. I attended two of these in October, and I plan to attend the other two soon. At the October seminars, I learned that I would have a few more hoops to jump. December 17 came more quickly than I imagined. At that visit, I was given a list of my homework and directions for starting my 6 mo. diet. All my homework will be "due" by my 7th appointment, which will also be the end of my sixth month diet and my preop appointment. For my homework, I have to have statements from my primary care doctor once per year from 2004-2008 with my height and weight listed. This is to show my five year history of obesity. (No problem there; I was obese even as the captain of my high school cheerleading squad.) These records can be from any visit; it doesn't have to be a weight-related visit. I also have to have an EGD, which I have scheduled for my spring break. I do NOT have to have an ultrasound of my gall bladder because I had that removed in 2004. I also have to have a letter from Dr. DalleAve stating that he "recommends" me as a candidate for the surgery, a letter from myself to my surgeon stating why I want to have the surgery and what I expect, a visit to a nutritionist, and a visit to a psychologist. The surgeon's office was very helpful in recommending psychologists, and they actually offer complimentary visits to a nutritionist at the local mall's health services center. This is in addition to the seminars which I mentioned previously. I know this may sound like a lot of homework, but I have six months to do it, so I don't think it will be bad. The last thing I have done is my second visit to the surgeon. I didn't see him, but I saw his nurse practioner instead. She was very helpful and encouraging. I lost 5 pounds on the first month of my 6 mo. diet. I was apologetic that I hadn't lost more, but she was quick to let me know that any loss was a good loss. My next appointment is in a few weeks, and by that time I hope to have more of my "homework" completed. I will post again after that, if not before. Until then, wish me luck and let me know if you have any questions.

As requested by one of my favorite fellow teachers, I am going to outline my journey through this process. Other than researching the surgery, my first step was visiting my primary care physician, Dr. Mark DalleAve. (This was around June 2008, I believe.) I was reluctant to ask him about the surgery because he tends to be very conservative. I feared he would want me to try more traditional methods--again. Surprisingly, that was not the case. He said he thought I would be a good candidate for the surgery and sent me for some preliminary bloodwork he knew would be required. The bloodwork revealed that everything was basically okay with the exception of my thyroid. I can never remember whether mine is hyper or hypo. I just know that the number on my bloodwork print out was higher than it should've been. I think the highest it should be is like 4.5 and mine was 9 something. Either way, he put me on synthroid for two months, and I had to be rechecked after that. The medicine worked well. My levels were down to 2 something when rechecked. As I said before, my other tests were "basically okay." However, as I researched the results and what they meant, I realized that I am VERY close to being a diagnosed diabetic. That was another real wake up call for me. I do NOT want to become diabetic and have to handle all the problems that come with that. This gave me even more determination to do this and make it work. After my thyroid was under controll with medicine, the doctor was ready to refer me to the surgeon. This is where the waiting game started again. (I was already disappointed by having to wait months on the thyroid tests.) It took nearly two weeks for me to even hear from the surgeon. (This surgeon had been recommended by the nurses at Dr. DalleAve's office because he said they knew more about who was good than he did.) When I did hear back from this surgeon, there was a huge packet of information for me to complete and they wanted a "Program Fee" of $150 before they would make my appointment. When I asked questions of the receptionist, she answered everything, but she didn't offer any information on her own. I was unimpressed. I was a little unsure if this was the surgeon I wanted to see, so I did a little more research on this website as well as others online. I called the office of Doctors Watson and Hodge in Johnson City, TN, and I'm very glad I did. The receptionist was happy to answer my questions and offered additional information on the expertise and experience of the surgeons. I had to wait nearly three months for an appointment, but they gladly made me an appointment. I met with Dr. Hodge for the first time on Dec. 17, 2008. (In the meantime I did have quite a lot of paperwork to complete but not nearly as much as requested by the other surgeon. All of this questions actually seemed relevant.) In the time while I had to wait for my appointment, I decided to do everything I could to prepare. I contacted my insurance company to find out exactly what requirements I would have to meet to qualify for the surgery. (I already knew it was a covered benefit.) I met every criteria, but I was disappointed to learn that I would have to undergo a 6 mo. doctor supervised diet before surgery. When starting this journey, I hoped to have the surgery in early 2009. At every turn I realized it would take longer and longer, and it seemed like it would take forever. I also found that I would have to attend four seminars on the lap band as required by my surgeon. I attended two of these in October, and I plan to attend the other two soon. At the October seminars, I learned that I would have a few more hoops to jump. December 17 came more quickly than I imagined. At that visit, I was given a list of my homework and directions for starting my 6 mo. diet. All my homework will be "due" by my 7th appointment, which will also be the end of my sixth month diet and my preop appointment. For my homework, I have to have statements from my primary care doctor once per year from 2004-2008 with my height and weight listed. This is to show my five year history of obesity. (No problem there; I was obese even as the captain of my high school cheerleading squad.) These records can be from any visit; it doesn't have to be a weight-related visit. I also have to have an EGD, which I have scheduled for my spring break. I do NOT have to have an ultrasound of my gall bladder because I had that removed in 2004. I also have to have a letter from Dr. DalleAve stating that he "recommends" me as a candidate for the surgery, a letter from myself to my surgeon stating why I want to have the surgery and what I expect, a visit to a nutritionist, and a visit to a psychologist. The surgeon's office was very helpful in recommending psychologists, and they actually offer complimentary visits to a nutritionist at the local mall's health services center. This is in addition to the seminars which I mentioned previously. I know this may sound like a lot of homework, but I have six months to do it, so I don't think it will be bad. The last thing I have done is my second visit to the surgeon. I didn't see him, but I saw his nurse practioner instead. She was very helpful and encouraging. I lost 5 pounds on the first month of my 6 mo. diet. I was apologetic that I hadn't lost more, but she was quick to let me know that any loss was a good loss. My next appointment is in a few weeks, and by that time I hope to have more of my "homework" completed. I will post again after that, if not before. Until then, wish me luck and let me know if you have any questions.

You might want to see an endocrinologist ,a doctor that diagnoses hypo/slow thyroid on symptoms as well as on blood work... Mary Shoman has a great book on thyroid and a website ,thyroid.com, i think it is called. Her website has links to recommended doctors on it too. I was diagnosed with a slow thyroid a year ago and since taking the medication [armour thyroid] feel a million times better; did not lose alot of weight but i notice that my metabolism is working now. Before i was on a strict diet and working out hard with weight training and cardio 6 days a week with very limited results. I plateau-ed about 29 pounds down and stayed there for months and months. Now i notice that i can eat more and get more results with less. I would say to definitely go and see a Endocrine Specialist; that could very well be the problem. Laurie

Good Morning, Violets.. Up and showered and ready for Ethan to arrive for the day. Got my bills paid online and am good to go. We are going to go to Great Wolf Lodge tomorrow to meet up with DS Josh and his family. We get to see the grandkids!! We'll spend the day with them and then come back home as the Bobster is preaching at MY church Sunday. He's filling in for the "pastor" who is on vacation. (I use the term pastor loosely.. I really don't think much of the guy.) My fills are painless and quick. We drive 4 hours for a 5 minute appointment with the doctor. We spend more time with the nurses than the doctor, but I know if we had questions or concerns he'd spend more time with us. I hop up on the table, lift my legs up, he feels for the port sticks a little hypo in, pulls it out and we're done with a cotton pad on for a minute. Drink a glass of water and we're good for another month. The hypo in the picture on the home page was HUGE. It looked like it could hold a cup of liquid!! That's why I thought it might be photo shopped. I better go get dressed and get my hair dry and curled before the little guy arrives. Everyone have a great day!!

Hello, I can understand what you are going through, I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroid in 1993 while pregnant with my daughter, after given birth I deceided to have the surgery to remove my thyroid-Graves Disease (just got tired of going to the hospital, seem like everyday) But i did enjoy the weight loss ( went from 180-130 in two months) I know not healthty. No one told me that the thyroid that was left was going to disappear...Well long a behold I am now Hypothyroid with other auto-immune diseases and taking thryroid meds for life....thanks. 270lbs later i cant seem to lose no more than 15lbs then there goes the scale. I am 41 years old and want to cross my legs when i sit down!!!! this decision was not an easy one (to independent) for me to make, but I finally did. Although I am only in the middle of the requirements..i should be banded sometime in Feb (I hope). People will not understand why we want to do this..and that will have to be there problem. I found that hypo people's bodies doesnt allow them to burn the weight, so I will use this method as a tool and not as a excuse.. Good Luck

I am hypo too... and it didn't hold me back at all. HOWEVER.... a friend of mine is going through the hoops of pre op and her PCP is giving her crap because they think she's hypo, even though she's had a blood test and an ultrasound on her thyroid, both of which were negative. Not sure how they have come to that, since everything is negative. My doc had no problems at all with it... she's the one that recommended it!

I've had hairloss related to hypothyroidism in the past. It is a common symptom of a thyroid imbalance whether it be Hypo or Hyper. If you were put on a medication when this problem was found last summer (which you should have been)then losing weight since could have caused your dosage to need to be adjusted (mine had to be lowered due to weight loss). If you were not put on medication then the hair loss could be due to ignoring the imbalance. Either way, proper treatment will resolve it. I am surprised that this was not checked during your pre-op tests for surgery. It was for me. Most check this becaue if you have a thyroid imbalance, specifically if you are hypothyroid, and it is not being treated properly it could hinder your weight loss with the lap band. You should see a good Endocrinologist to treat your thyroid problems.

Is there a list of questions for your first surgeon consult anywhere on here (I'm anal, I know-have another list for the insurance lady)? I realize that some of these may get answered at the initial seminars (been to mine already), but I still have lots of details to ask. I'm hoping the Dr. will cover most of this when I get there. Here's what I have so far, PLEASE help me add to this (going in a few weeks, thanks!): PRE-OP - Pre-Op Diet- how long, what/when? Night before-what/when? - Bowel Prep- or not, what/when? - My Meds.- continue reg. meds, Vitamins, up until when? WHICH BAND (I have a choice) - Realize- Want to see this one filled/crease concern, and the bend back lock - Lap-Band APS or APL- How much fill is in it immediately, and is this all in the port/tube (zero band fill)? See it filled. - Low profile port- Which has? option for me now or later? SURGERY/IN HOSPITAL - When does surgery get scheduled/criteria? Tentative date or wait for insurance approval? - Allergies- Mine-soaps/sheets, adhesive tape (fine with the hypo-allergenic kind), all environmental (asthma) - Anesthesia-preventatives for nausea possible (I get easily nauseated, was given 2 things for nausea by anesthesiologist last surgery)? - Catheter- used? out when? - Oxygen/IV- confirm yes- also? - Clot Preventatives- leg sleeves? meds, other? - Band- Attachment-How-lower stomach folds up and sutured (2-5) on one side? How long until it is secure/fused How can slippage occur? Is it tested during surgery, blue dye or how? - Port (I can chose where) Determine best position, attached how? How long until it is secure/fused? How can flips occur? - CO2- What do you do to minimize gas pains? Remove excess? Is it heated/humidified? Meds after? - Incisions- Confirm 5/locations? Use staples, stitches, glue? Protected with what/coverings? - Complications- should I expect any with my history? - Timing- (Mainly for DH)What is approx. timing/process of surgery (arival, prep, surgery, recovery, etc.) - Pain Meds- after, what, how often, side effects/nausea? - My Meds- Can I take my reg. meds in hospital, when? - Nausea- Meds available immediately after if needed? - Coughing- (some wake up and cough, I have asthma and easily cough) are meds available for this immediately? Can I also take inhaler immediately? - Length of stay- 1 night? What is the criteria for release? - Tests- Barium swallow? X-ray? Urine test? Other? - Expectations- Up and walking when? Shower? etc. HOME/POST-OP - Incisions- What to expect, treat them, buy anything, timing? - Expectations/Instructions- sleeping (propped up?), lifting, work, pain-when to call, etc. - Pain Meds- What, how often? Can I pre-fill Rx? - Other Meds- Nausea/Vomiting (get Rx for Phenergan), Diarrhea/Constipation, Coughing, Gas pains? Get Rx or OK list for OTC, and when it's OK. Call at what point? - My Meds.- If not started in hospital, when is it OK to start regular meds., vitamins? - Card- LB card to carry in wallet available, info. on limitations, loc. of port, surgeon info? - Diet- Phases what/when? Vitamin supplements? What to buy? - Exercise- What, when? LONG TERM - Dr. Visits- What is normal schedule for post-op visits, for what, testing, or only see at fills? - Fills- What is normal schedule/Normal amounts? Criteria? Who does? How are they done- xray, fluroscope, barium swallow, local anesthetic? Unfills the same? - Complications- Fill/restriction issues, Port/Band Pain, When to call? - Support Group- Schedule

I'm feeling much better day 5 compared to day 4. And somehow miraculously I'm able to drink a whole lot more liquid than I could before, although this has corresponded with significantly increased hunger and reactivity to food around me. I'm missing the honeymoon of not being hungry, but glad I'm able to get more water down, as I was worried about getting dehydrated.