Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[AudsMom 2]

CANDY!!! How are you feeling beautiful???

Edited May 5, 2009 by AudsMom

[AudsMom 2]

Candra,

Yes you will be required to give up coke. Even Diet. It can give you ulcers or something. I luckily didn't drink it before, but christine and Tina both had to ditch it hte last day:)

My Bmi was 40 i went to my appt at goal though so i dont know what they would have required, i was already down 20 lol.. The first month andhalf is VERY easy to loose quickstyle!

Your sleep Apnea is pretty scary. The reason we are tired is we are only eating about 500 cals right now... and we CAN'T drink caffeine to wake up, so you might find it a lil worse, since there is no fix.

The psychologist you saw was it for the bariatric program or for your Dr??? They are there to make sure you basically yea are sane, but also no food problems... You see her before you see your surgeon, she is a very nice lady. But im not sure if you saw her already, if you did you wont agian:) All depends.

You do not want to fly thru this... candy did it in 2 months a lot of us did it in 3. You don't want any sooner, there is SOOOOOO much to learn. Plus the more you loose preop the closer you are to goal.

Ticker, click one of ours should take you to the website to get your own. Then you put it in your siggy. The siggy is by the customize profile.. or something like that. You should be able to click your name where you sign in and find it there. Kinda complicated, let me know if you dont and ill get more defined directions:D

[swishbc 0]

The reason we can't drink soda (ANY kind, not just coke...this includes anything that's carbonated--champagne, beer, soda, etc) is because the carbon dioxide in the soda will expand in our small pouch and can stretch it over time. Also, caffeine is a stimulant and can cause more hunger, and the caffeine is what can cause ulcers--not the carbonation.

Tickerfactory.com is where I made my ticker. You put in all the info you want displayed and then when it's done you'll see the code for it. Just copy it and then come back here. Click on Edit CP (it's at the top left of this page), then Edit Signature. You can type whatever you want for you signature (name, starting weight, current weight, goal weight) and then paste the ticker code under the personal info you typed in. Then if you want you can preview it at the bottom (orange button) and then save it.

[momcof3 1]

Good Morning Ladies -

I received two appointment reminders in the mail yesterday from Kaiser Richmond - I have two appointments on June 25 - 2:30 with Robin and 3:30 with Dr. Im. That will be five months since my last appointment on Jan 16. I am going to call them today to see if I need to get blood work before then and if I can switch to appointments earlier in the day - don't want to drive home from there during the afternoon commute. Hopefully I can lose a few pounds before then. I am home sick today with a headache and seriously sore throat - was at work yesterday feeling the same and decided I needed to rest. Great picture of us if I say so myself - we all look so happy.

[roseyyyd1 0]

Hello all Sisters of Surgery! (SOS)

Glad to see you all like the picture, it is a pretty good one, just to think how much WE have lost 321+ lbs...and sisterships/friendships we have gained! I still can't wait to meet Reggie, and Candra, also InsideOut (great name)! Our group is growing, but WE are the biggest losers yet winners! Pam, so sorry you are not feeling well today, pls take good care of yourself, with so much going around out there! Which is a good warning to the pre-oppers, stay well, and take care of yourself well BEFORE surgery, so no x-cels do to illness! Riley woman, we must set a date as a group to meet the real woman before we can't even see YOU! LOL!

Candra, glad to see you are moving along so well, take your time in learning the food meals, try not to indulge as much, due to not wanting to make liver unhealthy before surgery, the pre-op is to help get it ready...also, not to scare anyone, but some patients HAVE gone in for surgery and found no band was implanted due to liver was to large.

You will be able to eat most things after surgery, AFTER losing the weight, but that is WHY I chose this surgery, to truly have a tool to help me learn the proper ways of taking care of my body, with exercise, eating well, and yet enjoy life in moderation! I too have sleep apnea, and have already gone down in pressure amount in machine! Also, I just can't BELIEVE the energy AND stamina I have already, just from the weight lost and look forward to more NSVs! Sure I will take a nap now and then, but learning to listen to the soft signs of our body helps me to bring the balance!

ANY questions you have we are glad to help, this wonderful group of RICHmond ladies are incredible!

By the way...yes u lose some hair, but it will grow back, and there are Vitamins, shampoos and others things to help!

Candi woman! Thank JT for not leaving us in the lurch, what a wonderful support he is...and now we wanna hear from U, wonderful pretty momma! :thumbdown:

[reggie71 0]

Pam, I hope you feel better. You guys are so funny we are back to this LB vs.RNY. There are many people who have had great success with RNY likewise LB, the problem is common sense eating and sometimes emotional and mental issues that some people neglect to adress. Have we asked ourselves why the heck we eat so doggon much???? Even after we all get banded and RNY we have to adress these issues and this is wher I see the next level of our conversation maybe. There's more to food issues than food. I hope this is a dailogue that we can begin once we are all comfortable with where we arein our weightloss lives.

Candra we're thinking of you!!!!

Cheers!

[momcof3 1]

I agree. Whichever WLS one has, there are more issues involved besides food. I for one was/am an emotional eater. That is one of the issues I still struggle with even after lapband surgery. I am now 8 months post op and the newness has worn off and the weight loss has slowed down. I have to talk to myself mentally all the time to stick to my band rules. I don't eat too much, but sometimes I eat the wrong things. You can't really eat too much at one sitting once you have some restriction as it will come back up, but you can eat around your band. I don't think any type of weight loss surgery is a final fix. We will always have to pay attention to what we are doing food wise in order not to gain the weight back, but I think I have adjusted my view on food and changed my eating habits enough to make it all easier. I currently have 6 cc in my 10 cc band and am interested to see how I feel after my appointment on June 25 if I get another fill. Keep up the good work everyone. Let's not argue which surgery is better - it is all a personal choice and we can support each other regardless.

[swishbc 0]

You're right about the surgery being a very personal choice. I know people that have been successful AND unsuccessful with RNY and Lapband. My sister-in-law works with someone that had Lapband a couple years ago, lost over 100 lbs and now he has gained it all back and then some. Candy's hubby works with someone that had Lapband and also gained a lot back.

I have a friend that has lost 140 lbs with RNY and is doing awesome (except that she's kinda bad with taking her vitamins) and also have another friend that lost 150 lbs and has gained back about 100.

Any surgery can work or NOT work, it just all depends on the patient and their willingness to do the work that's required. There are many things that can prevent up from being successful in our journey and I remember at orientation that Robin was telling us about the "naughty" cheat things we can do that can prevent us from getting to goal. Every time she would mention one of these things she would say "PLEASE...don't be THAT person". I wrote that down in several places in my binder and keep reminding myself that I'm doing this for myself and I'm not going to sabotage myself...for once in my life!

So, whatever surgery we choose, it's how we choose to live our new life that will determine our success. Let's all promise to ourselves and to eachother:

I won't be THAT person.

[swrktp 1]

I chose the lap band for safety reasons. I felt it was safer and I did not want my insides cut up and moved around. To be honest I never even considered bariatrics until I heard Kaiser approved the lap band. I just don't think FOR ME it is right to change the "original design" of the stomach............

I know Kaiser made me question that a few times but in the end I always knew I was gonna go with the band........that is also what my family (that knows) supports. They all told me no RNY and they are medical people. Too many stories of RNY gone wrong. My sister is a nurse and she told me she has lots of RNY's with leaking, and serious nutritional problems come through her hospital.

I am not having more kids unless I adopt. So that has nothing to do with my choice. I am done having kids!!

I just couldn't go RNY and feel good about it!! Lap band I feel is a good choice for me.

My only concern is that if I get laid off or move and lose kaiser it could be hard to get fills. BUt I will worry about that when if it happens!!

Head hunger or the psychological addiction has to be address for any bariatric procedure to work!! I am an addiction specialist........go figure given my coke addiction.............and I can tell you I worry and focus alot more on the head addiction/psycological addiction with my drug using clients than on the physical addiction. Addiction is addiction no matter what you use and has GOT to be address for one to overcome an addiction. I wish Kaiser would focus a bit more on head hunger/psychological addictions because they will do you in........................maybe they do in the support groups I never seem to get to. If you can figure out what triggers that head hunger than your half way to resolving the issue................getting surgery is like putting a band aid on a wound but if you don't get in there and really clean the wound out the band aid won't help the infection will seep through..................that is my only compliant with Kaiser. I think we all should be REQUIRED to be in a support group and possibly counseling as well for at least a year maybe more..........lucky for me I have this group, but I have considered doing some counseling just to ensure I make this work out!! Ok just my thoughts I am rambling a bit here.........

Edited May 5, 2009 by swrktp

[swishbc 0]

Tina, the good news about Kaiser is that they will ALWAYS offer Lapband after care, even if you're not with them anymore insurance wise.

You WOULD have to pay out of pocket, but at least you would have the option and once you're at your sweet spot the office visits will only be about once a year, if that.

Cool, huh? I found that out from Liz at my CM appt.

[swrktp 1]

candy good thoughts coming your way!! I so know where your at as I was there three weeks ago today............just take the pain meds and sleep. Walk even if you don't feel like it, cause it helps......................Three weeks out all the issues of the first week are just a distant memory.

Like Christine mentioned in a previous post. This surgery is a little more intense than I expected and it was somewhat painful (not unbearable)....for some us anyway........the first week or so. I would still do it again though..........

I know it is hard to believe on day 2 but it gets so much better and pretty quickly too!! Except for this pesky port and being tired all the time I am doing 1000% better than the first week!!

Your in my thoughts today Candy!!

Edited May 6, 2009 by swrktp

[swrktp 1]

Ah Christine good news about Kaiser. My only concern is that Dr. Baggs told me the opposite.................

But as Liz said before, 'don't ask the doctors they don't know, ask me!!" LOL

[swishbc 0]

Oh that's interesting Tina! I wonder who was right? lol

[AudsMom 2]

Christine, did she tell you how much it is out of pocket???

Tina, the good news about Kaiser is that they will ALWAYS offer Lapband after care, even if you're not with them anymore insurance wise.

You WOULD have to pay out of pocket, but at least you would have the option and once you're at your sweet spot the office visits will only be about once a year, if that.

Cool, huh? I found that out from Liz at my CM appt.

[swrktp 1]

Well I hope Liz is right..........I do wonder how much it is out of pocket. From reading other posts I would estimate about 200 or so a fill........

Is candy ok? Anyone know??