September Bandsters

[WandaKay 0]

Hello All - My banding is to take place on Thursday 9-21 ... time is coming up fast! I am on day 5 of my "liquid diet" I have never had so much Soup in my life! It really has been pretty easy to stick to the liquids ... I wonder why only some of us have to have a 10 day pre-op diet of liquids and others do not. Does anyone know why this is? Also, does anyone know the average time length of surgery itself?

[ItsGottaGo! 0]

Runs are gone today! No bowel movement at all actually, but that's fine. I am allowed to have 4oz of Protein Shakes 3 times a day and Clear Liquids only in between until I see the dr. for my 2 week follow-up appointment (yet to be determined, the nurses haven't called back yet). Honestly, I drink a little and then I feel full. I know this will go away soon and it has to do with the bloating and gas. I am having a cup of hot tea right now and for some reason, it tastes terrible! Did anyone else experience their morning liquid tasting different?? I'm not enjoying this cup of tea at all and do not even feel like drinking coffee. Odd. Anyway, I have been lucky, I haven't had to take any pain meds since leaving the hospital yesterday, just some liquid tylenol. The gas isn't too bad, I'm burping every other second, so I guess it's all coming out of me. I was allowed to take a shower yesterday, which felt great. My incisions are covered with steri-strips, but I can see that they aren't too bad. I have 5. One is right above my belly-button and they are all small, except for the port incision, which is about 2-1/2 inches long. I was surprised it was so long and I am really not thrilled about it's location on my belly. I am only 5'1" tall and am short waisted. The port is located about 3 inches above my belly button and over to the left about 5 inches. It feels like it is in the middle of my stomach, I wish it were hiddent more, but I am not going to complain. It is not any more swollen than the other areas, as some people have experienced. None of my incision areas are swollen, so we will see. I hope everyone is feeling well today and good luck to all our bandies to are getting theirs done today!

[lamamama 0]

Good luck on your upcoming banding WandaKay! I only had the day before surgery for preop diet (clear liquids) and nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day of surgery. I ate like a maniac right up until then. I don't know why there is such a big difference between some doctors recommendations.

I believe the average surgery time is 1 and 1/2 hours. That's if all goes well and it is done lap. and not open. My surgery was 90 minutes and then 1 hour in recovery. But all hospitals aren't the same.

[wantlapband 0]

UPDATE

I talked to my surgeons office today after my denial letter came in the mail...only took them one day since they rec'd my paperwork. She was very upset also.

She looked at all my co-morbid letters from my doctors. She talked to the surgeon, and he got on the phone with Anthem (NH) and they OVERTURNED my denial!! I am APPROVED!!!! Just like that!!! OMG...I am soooo happy.

My surgery is still next wednesday, just don't know the time because they had to cancel my first time.

I AM SO EXCITED!!

I will keep you all posted!

[want2lose 1]

Wantlapband,

That is so fabulous. I can only imagine how upset you must have been, and now to have it approved is amazing. I'm so happy for you.

[gonnabethin 10]

For anyone planning surgery- get Tylenol fast melts- the bubble gum tastes like candy!!! VERY good- better than the liquid!!

wantlapband Im SO HAPPY FOR YOU!! That is wonderful! Never give up!!

:clap2:

[wantlapband 0]

Thank you...I was so surprised, within 2 hours they overturned my denial. I couldn't believe it. My doctors office is awesome!! I am going to Brigham and Womens in Boston, its where my cardiologist is and he only wanted me to see a certain surgeon for the procedure. I will have to stay in the hospital a couple of extra days though instead of the one night, because of my blood clotting complications and I have to go off my lovenox (blood thinner) the night before, so they won't to make sure my levels are back to the normal range for me.

I'll pick up some tylenol fast melts this weekend..thank you.

Also, can anyone tell me what types of different Protein Shakes they use/used. I have been using the HMR shakes from the hospital, but they are expensive and get boring after a while.

[gonnabethin 10]

They gave me one in the flank yest pre-op- that stung!!

I like nuscle milk 22gm per 8oz and New Whey in the test tube slightly frozen like a slushie!! both are at vit shoppe and one at bariatric eating.com

[ItsGottaGo! 0]

Congratulations Wantlapband! I am using SportPharma whey Protein. I bought two bigs bags at costco, one vanilla and one chocolate. The muscle milk is good too, but it has 11 gm. of fat in one premixed drink container. Good luck!

[HopeWorks 0]

WantLapBand - that's so wonderful! I went through a denial too - was rejected two days before surgery...then had to wait a year for my company to switch insurance companies and then had to go through 6 months of "monitoring" for new insurance company. Consider yourself lucky!

But, still make sure it's what you want for yourself - don't just concentrate on getting approved and then once you are, you aren't even thinking about the changes you'll have to accept. The long wait made me really think about what I was trying to do to myself. Good luck!

[HopeWorks 0]

My family had pizza for dinner tonight. Smelled so good - I just had to have a bite! So I did. Well, I took a bite, chewed it up and tried not to swallow - then spit it out. How desperate is that! Ahhh - crazy!

[gonnabethin 10]

YEA!!! You got the taste and didnt get the guilt!!! I CAN relate!!! Thought about lots of things to blend up!!

[ItsGottaGo! 0]

That would have been pure torture for me. pizza is the only food I could imagine eating right about now. Nothing else seems appetizing. I am having trouble choking down a 4oz Protein Shake. I'm supposed to have 3 a day, but I feel so full. I know this will end soon, but I feel like I ate too much on Thanksgiving. Boy, is it uncomfortable!

[jgandg 0]

So weird you are talking about pizza! I just came on to post about how I just ate a small piece, no cheese, just lettuce, onion and the crust (it was a veggie slice). :phanvan This was my 2nd day on liquids. So much for my willpower.

[valgal1968 0]

Wow Valerie, I just notice that you have lost 21 pounds!! Is this all since the 8th!!!! I was pleased with 5!!

No actually the 21 lbs was pre op weight. I have however lost 3 lbs. since the 8th and I feel wonderful.:biggrin1: