May 2007 Banders

[Manatee 4]

Through the mirror again

I'm on the backside of the surgery and am no longer a band patient. In fact, it's sitting in a jar on my desk right now. It's a pretty small chunk of technology to have given me such success and pain -- or a pretty big chunk of plastic to have inside of me...

In any case, now I have a microstomach thanks to the VSG. A few more days of Jello, tea and hydrocodone, and I can then move to Soups and other full liquids.

I have to give the doc full props. His bedside manner is a bit abrupt, but the guy rocks with a knife, and there's almost no bruising at all.

[mini 0]

Manatee!

What a journey you've been on! I am so happy for you. How much weight do you have to loose at this point.

Mini

Oh, I am having a strange symptom since I have had my band completly unfilled and wondered if you have ever experienced anything like this.

I have a taste of salt in my mouth. No matter what I eat It tastes like I have been licking a salt lick.

I hope it is not actually a blood taste and that I have a bigger problem with my band than I know. Any Ideas?

Mini

[Shalee04 7]

Through the mirror again

I'm on the backside of the surgery and am no longer a band patient. In fact, it's sitting in a jar on my desk right now. It's a pretty small chunk of technology to have given me such success and pain -- or a pretty big chunk of plastic to have inside of me...

In any case, now I have a microstomach thanks to the VSG. A few more days of Jello, tea and hydrocodone, and I can then move to Soups and other full liquids.< /p>

I have to give the doc full props. His bedside manner is a bit abrupt, but the guy rocks with a knife, and there's almost no bruising at all.

Glad all is going well Manatee!! We will keep sending good healing thoughts your way.

[Manatee 4]

3 days post op

So here we are three days post-op. The incisions continue to look good, no bruising or other nasty elements happening there. I am back on full liquids, which means Soups and fruit juices and such.

So far there's not been a lot of negative side effects. I'm very tired and don't have a lot of stamina, but then again I do have 6 holes in my abdomen. Hydrocodone helps, and hopefully I'll be weaned off of that by Monday. The plan is to return to work on Tuesday.

I'm currently at 230, aiming back at the 170-180 range

[mini 0]

Manatee. So glad all is going well. Can't wait to hear about your journey...don't forget about this thread please. Who knows, some of us may one day have to revise our surgs too. I can't wait to get my flouroscopy next month so I can have a fill. I am eating way too much food!!! Before I know it, I'll eat my way back up!

EEEEEEEKKKKKK!

Mini

[mini 0]

JSRICO!! We havn't heard from you in a long time. How are you doing...and everybody else?

Mini

[Manatee 4]

A week after the surgery

Well, the short version is that I'm doing just fine. Down about 10 lbs, but I expect the rate to slow now that I'm starting to eat non-liquid type foods. (Lunch today is mashed potatoes and butternut squash soup).

The numbness is completely gone from the fingers, and only a trace remains in one cheek. This isn't really a VSG thing, I just react strangely to the knock-out drugs.

The energy is back, mostly, and wounds are healing. All in all, things are good. No pain unless a dog crashlands on my stomach. I have a followup with the surgeon the second week in November. Unless something odd happens I don't expect to post until then.

[Manatee 4]

Just over 2 weeks out

I'm down 20 lbs to 210, and working on soft solid foods. Some works, some doesn't, and I have a real aversion to eating at the moment. Fortunately only one really bad spell thus far.

I have a followup in 2 weeks with the surgeon and staff at the weight loss center.

The incisions are healing fine, no pain, and energy levels are back up. My belly looks like I lost a fight to a shredder, but so be it.

[Devera 1]

I realize I have probably missed a few of your updates, but, I am curious, did your insurance cover the procedure? I am hopeful that they will come around to accepting the sleeve procedure. I am sure there are going to be others of us who will need this IF our bands ever need replacing etc. Glad to hear you are losing and doing OK. Keep us updated, please! Thanks!:w00t:

[Manatee 4]

Not transitioning well

So this is a bit of a whine, most of you can skip it...

I've been trying to move from liquids to my "soft foods" category. So far all I've managed to do is regurgitate everything except tilapia fillets.

I've gone in and talked to the WLS coordinator, and the only advice they had was "eat smaller and slower". Heck, it's not like I'm cutting of sides of beef to stuff in my mouth.

I guess I don't understand. I thought that the esophagus->stomach connection was "normal" for lack of better terms, and so any restriction would be in the pouch itself. I don't think that's where this is happening. It feels just like with the band, with food stopping at the bottom of the throat.

So we step back for a few days and try again later this week with the solids. Fun fun -- nothing like creating a food aversion to stimulate weight loss.

Speaking of: this morning, 208.

[Manatee 4]

did your insurance cover the procedure? I am hopeful that they will come around to accepting the sleeve procedure.

Insurance covered removing the band as a "gastric obstruction". I paid out of pocket for the sleeve as part of the same operation, so I didn't pay full cost on it.

It's my understanding that many insurance companies are now paying for the sleeve -- UHC is -- but as I was no longer morbidly obese I was not covered

[Devera 1]

Sorry to hear you are having problems eating. Are you keeping up your nutrition with shakes? You don't want to get sick on top of all of this! It does sound like the early days of the "band" or after a big fill, fish always seems to be what I fall back to as well. Good luck!

I get the "no longer obese" so insurance won't cover. I have found that too. The good news is I am no longer obese, but, the bad news now I can't get coverage for fills or to see the doctor! I have appealed saying that a band patient is like any patient with an implanted device like a pacemaker or an insulin pump and they require on-going care. I have succeeded in getting "A" visit covered but, it appears I will have to appeal for every visit one at a time, with no guarantees, nerve racking to say the least!

[Manatee 4]

Month followup

I had my 'two week' followup yesterday -- which actually put it pretty close to a month.

Basically everything is fine. I got fussed at for not getting in enough Protein and Water, as I expected. I'm now cleared to eat pretty much anything I want, as long as I'm careful with introducing new foods.

I'm down 25 lbs, almost back under 200. With luck I'll be back to fighting weight by February.

So far, I like this a LOT better than the band.

[Devera 1]

So glad to hear everything is going well. AND, even with the problems you had in the beginning you like it better than the band. That is good news. Please keep in touch.:bored:

[Manatee 4]

Unexpected side effect

Well, it's the holiday season, and that means one thing: Eggnog is available!

I -love- eggnog and always have. I was very excited to see it in the stores, and picked up some.

Now, I know it's bad for me, but a little can't hurt, right?

As it turns out, even a little was enough to make me very sick to the stomach. That stuff hit like a rock and made me miserable for hours.

I'm still trying to figure it out, because the sugars weren't the issue. Perhaps the stuff was just too rich, or maybe there's some form of lactose intolerance coming into play now.

I suppose it's all for the best, really.