PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi My name is Shira and I have a few questions. I am attending an info session at Magee in Pittsburgh on Nov 5. I am actually pretty confident this is a good decision for me. I am just BARELY at the 35 bmi mark and actually if I gain about 2# I'll be there solidly...oxymoronic huh? Anyway, I have tried all kinds of diets since I was in college (and I am now 45) - I just don't want to spend the rest of my life FAT. I want to be active and healthy. My mom died of a massive HA at 40 and I already have high cholestoral and asthma and an irregular heartbeat. I hope that makes me a good candidate! My questions are: 1. what is a rough timeline of this whole process f…

Hey everyone, I'm getting banded on Nov 20th and it seems the questions just keep popping up! I was just on Amazon.com and found tons of books about weight loss with the Band, there were so many to choose from, I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations??? Or is it better to keep reading this website, which has already been wonderful by the way, thanks to everyone for sharing your stories! I was also curious about the cookbooks, are they helpful at all or a waste of money? I'm concerned about finding protein shakes that I can live on during pre and post op without going nuts! I hate to buy a lot and then not even like them. Thanks for any suggestions!

I had a surgery date of this Friday, the 24. I went and did my pre-op testing and on the chest x-ray it showed that I had pneumonia! I was wondering why that cough wouldn't go away. So I get to take antibiotics and wait until I have a clear chest x-ray. The next set of surgeries is Nov. 21st and I get to be first! Yeah!!!!!

Has anyone else suffered any emotional problems while on the pre-op diet? I did it for 7 days before learning that my surgery was moved back 2 weeks. By day 3, I was a wreck. I cried at the drop of a hat. Really...I started bawling after hearing a song on the radio...it wasn't even a sad song. I had to leave work one day because I couldn't stop crying. I was also very irritable...to put it mildly. Normally, I'm a relatively laid back person...but I was clenching teeth and slamming doors at the littlest things. Last, but certainly not least, I got stupid. Really stupid. I would lose my train of thought mid-sentance and frequently walk into a room without any idea …

When I was in High School and College, my weight hovered between 165 and 190 - I was never able to get it any lower than about 160, and I was running 5 miles a day and not eating very much. My doctor says my in order to meet the BMI standards should be about 140 (I am 5'7'') - so my question is, do you think I can get down to 140 or do you think maybe my bones are too big or something and getting that low will be impossible? I am worried about trying to get back down to the 160s....

I got my surgery date!! Nov 20th is my surgery pre op the 17th of nov. So I am so close!! Yippeee:thumbup:

Hi...i just got word from the insurance that my surgery was approved. I was excited and shocked at the same time. I honestly didnt think they would approve me and so i was prepaired for the worst! When i got the news i didnt know whether to scream with excitement or cry.? :/ I am 5'3.5 and now 220 lbs. I have battled my weight all my life and i would love a tool to help me take it off and keep it off. I know im not extremely overweight but im sick of being a size 18 and would love to go pull a 12 off the shelf. I dont have any co-morbidities but i do have gerd, pre arthritis, and lower back pain constantly. My only concern with this is that im going to regret the …

Hey I was just wondering if anyone was banded at Dayone health with Dr. Galvani and what was your expierence?

so I ust spoke with my "patient advocate" yesterday and she told me that my insurance does cover the lapband surgery! My question is...would have my insurance company tell me if I have to do the 6 month "waiting period" before or after I submit my claim? Would my patient advocate have told me already?

My surgery is in 2 hrs. and I'm very excited this morn. Last night was a different story. I really began to feel anxious and wondering if I was doing the right thing. So I prayed about it and now feel such a peace about it that I acually feel like a little kid on Christmas morn.!!!lol:) I will post again when I get home Tues. so please keep me in your prayers and thoughts. Best wishes to all of you today.:biggrin:

So i have a few questions if anyone could help i would greatly appreciate it! 1st. i have UHC epo, my dr's office started my case with care coordination today and faxed all my info to them as well, how long does it take for UHC to be able to tell me if they got all the information that was faxed? 2nd. Once they have the info to the case manager, how long does it generally take to get an approval? I know by law they have 30 days but does it usually take that long? My dr's office stated they usually have a response in 7 to 14 days. 3rd. UHC only wanted my 5 year weight history and the dr's office sent that info along with my current weight, bmi and a list of my cobor…

I have been approved by my surgery clinic. Have appt. with my nutritionist next week, have already attended support group meeting (required) now just waiting for my appt. with the psychologist, why do we see them. What kind of questions do they ask. Do they try and talk you out of the lap band???? The receptionist told me it was a 2 hour appt. For what?????

Tomorrow i get my Realize band!!!! i am so excited but just a tad nervous because i never had any surgery but ill be ok =) Any last minute tips or must haves when i get home ? Thank You!! Good luck to everyone on here, you have all been soooo helpful on my journey to being banded, Thanks a million! :tongue2:

Hello all i'm on day 5 of my pre-op liquid diet:thumbup:, my surgery is next Friday Oct.24th:thumbup:. The Optifast is not bad at all and i like all the flavors, i have Jello, Water,crystal light, and sugar free icepops. not too found of chicken brooth:closedeyes:. i've can along way from day 1 that left me sick and although it's getting better as the days go along , i did cheat and had a small can of chicken noodle soup:drool:. i felt like that would do the least damage and would be better than a heavy meal. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE CHEATED A LITTLE BIT ?? AND IF SO WITH WHAT???? Dr.Ernest Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.petersburg, Fl.

Would Lap Band fail if they find out i am Bi-Polar.Seeing as i have to talk to a shrink eventually.Maybe they will think ,i have too many problems? and say no.

Hi, I just started reading about the lap band surgery the last few days and have a lot of questions, but first I should tell you that I'm a big chicken when it comes to doctors, never mind surgery. :biggrin: Although I just had surgery on my ankle that I broke on Sept 30th. I'm sure I fell due to my weight. Where can I find what the procedure is for the surgery? Also what happens when you lose all your weight does the doctor open up the band or are you regulated to eating just a small amout of food the rest of your life? Ellen

WOW! I'm getting very nervous. My band day is Wednesday, less than 48 hrs away! Yikes!!!! SCARY!!!!! I'm on full liquids today and clear liquids tomorrow. Starting to really get the nerves. Any moral support would be very helpful!

Ok here's my drama. I'm a 31 year old woman, married with 2 children. I weigh in at 257lbs. I have been overweight my whole life and obese the last 13 years. I am having lapband the 22nd. I just told my mother. She was very upset. She doesnt think "you're not that big". Hello!!!!! I am seriously considering telling NO ONE else. Not even my grandma. WOW!!!! I had hoped my family would be supportive. My husband, my sister and my in-laws are all very supportive. Any suggestions? EEK! Thanks in advance. Kelli

Hi, I was reading threw threads and it sounds like some of yall have your ports in different places. Ex: I heard one person say that her port really bugged her bcause it was by her waist line, then another say that hers was down lower by her bikini line. Also, it kind of sounds like the ports may differ in shape. One girl said hers was like a sqare box, while the picture my doctor gave me, the port seems to look like a circle. I have also heard a person say their port was sutured to their rib cage even. Are there different port sizes, shapes and placing options? :eek:

Hey all, I am scheduled for surgery on the 22nd of Dec with Colorado Bariatrics. I have talked to a few people who say that they were on pre op diets. The only thing they told me was that I was to be on clear liquids for 72 hours before my sugery. What is your input? Pre op diet or no pre op diet? Thanks for your help!!

Hi Everyone, I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov. 6th with Dr. Brad Ray in Bloomington, IN. I had my "diet class" yesterday, which my wife attended with me. On our way home we were talking about what to tell our kids about the surgery I'm going to have. I have a 6 year old girl and a 4 year old boy. My wife doesn't want the kids to get the idea that there's something wrong with being overweight, that all obese people should have surgery. I think that the kids will be OK with me having surgery, but will probably start to ask questions about my new eating habits/patterns...I.E., "Why isn't Daddy eating the left side of the menu anymore?" Has anyone out there dealt wi…

Ok, It's not over night, but I should be home by 4pm. What should I take with me?? ideas?

Hhello I've been extensively researching the Lap Band now for almost 2 years. I am a 37 BMI and 20 or so lbs. away from being a 40 BMI. I've gone through all the supervised diets and psych test, etc. you know the drill. Like many people unfortunate to have this insurance company when they are seeking lap band coverage I've been turned down by CIGNA 3 times and now ignored by Obestitylaw.com...they just can't do anything more with my insurance because they are saying that the Lap Band is an "experimental" treatment and they don't cover it! Being 245 pounds when most of my life I was 145 is destroying my self esteem and health. Here's my dilemma and I am looking fo…

I am on day 5 of the pre-op diet and I am really dizzy and weak. I have been following it exactly like the doctor/dietitian told me to and supplement with string cheese, etc if i am too hungry. I am about to pass out - why am I not feeling better? I am drinking well over the 64 ounces of water.

I am still in the final process of getting the surgery. I have done all my pre req. except my meeting with the surgen and then final approval from insurance. I am 5'8 and weight 271 (no clothes) about 275 (with). The nutritionist said I should really be starting to eat different so that I don't get depressed after surgery (which I agree with 100%). But, my concern is that I may lose too much weight. It has never really been a problem for me to lose 10 lbs or so, but, I don't have that much I can lose without making myself under 40 bmi. I don't meet with the surgeon until november 20th. What would you guys recommend that I do? I am at such a loss. I have been …

After a lot of back and forth with the insurance company (9 months) I'm finally scheduled for the band on 11/4. I start the liver shrink diet tomorrow. I'm excited & nervous but mostly worried about getting through the next 2 weeks. Wondering what I'll feel like right after surgery, and how long until I can go back to work, (I have a sit down all day office job).

This is my first time on any sort of forum so I'm a total newbie! I'm having my op on Saturday 25 October and i wanted to know what to expect as far as post op discomfort goes. I intend on going to work the next day - am I being optomistic?:biggrin:

Hi everyone.... I made the fist call to the Ellis Bariatric Center back in July. I was placed in the seminar on Sept 4th, it was informative, but I already had my mind made up. Then two more weeks pass and I receive the call saying my meeting with the surgeon is on Oct 27th.....ugh another long wait! So that is now almost here and I am wondering how much longer from that point? I know I have all of the pre-op appointments to get through, but I am so not a patient patient LOL!!! Anyone? Thanks, and good luck all...

Hello all. I am going to my seminar on Tuesday. Finally getting things rolling. Hoping for the best. Hoping for surgery November or December.

Please speak to your doctor concerning the adverse effects that narcotic (at home) pain meds can have on you. Was banded 10 days ago and when I went for my one week post op had not gone to the bathroom. I guess in all of the excitement of finally being on the road to better health I overlooked the fact that I had not had a bowel movement since the day before surgery. No one ever mentioned to me that the medicine used during surgery and the viacodin/hydrocodone that was sent home with me could cause constipation. Believe me, it can and it does. So before surgery discuss w/ your surgeon what type of OTC meds you can use and when is a good time to start using them. I'd ventu…

Hi I'm scheduled Oct.25th in TJ, Mexico at Bajanor Hospital . Anybody out there been with advice or experiences? I'm getting a little nervous.

Hi Friends, Okay... so my surgery date is November 18th (exactly one month away), and I'm becoming somewhat of a basket case. It's all I can think about and most of my energies are geared toward how to prepare for this. My boss might be feeling my slack in work by now! LOL. Anyway, I think I'm doing the "nesting" thing; like constantly going on different websites to search for post-op 2-4 week foods, products, etc. I'm getting confused and frustrated by the extreme amount of websites/products you can find on the Internet -- especially while trying to choose the best whey protein shake powder/liquid. Those of you who have been through this - can you give me some sugg…

I am so close to getting a date for my surgery, and I am fustrated beyond belief cause I don't know my date.... I know it will be in Nov, but I hate not knowing.... :tt1: I signed my paperwork yesterday and got the pre-op prep.... 2 days of liquids, (clear liquids). I am so excited, and nervous too. I can't wait to know..... I should have a date tuesday! :tongue_smilie:

I'm ready to give up I have had one hurdle after another and I'm ready to give up. First I had my surg rescheled because I couldn't take Medi Fast and had to just lean and grean and wasn't losing as much as she wanted. Now I have lost 18.5 pds and surgery is suppose to be Tues. Oct 21st. Went to the Dr today for last way in and then I get home and I have a letter in the mail stating I need clearance from OB/GYN in order to have surgery. I don't get it I meet with the Dr. last week and she never mentioned I needed anything else, just had to keep losing the weight. Now I'm sure it will be have to be cancelled as I haven't had a visit to OB/Gyn as i have had full hy…

Hi, My husband and I are scheduled to be banded on October 16th in Mexico. Just wondering if anyone else out there will have the same "birthday" as us. Good luck to everyone and thanks for all of the wonderful advice!:biggrin:

Any advice??? tips??? I am so nervous but so ready!

Well, had my surgery yesterday. Everything went well. Unfortunately, I don't have a recliner so the hardest part is getting up and down. Any suggestions to help? My poor Mom has been helping me, but I don't want her to hurt her back! Otherwise I feel pretty good. Have a headache from the pain meds, or so they think that that is the cause. I think I might have had too much to drink because I coughed up my pain meds with some icky stuff. Is that sliming? What is the best position to be in? Sitting up? Or lying down? Thanks so much!

Beginning my 2 week pre-op full liquids diet on Monday 10/20. Going to dinner with friends tomorrow night for my "last meal". OKay... I know that it is not my last meal, but the Rare Prime Rib is going to be awesome :smile2:! Truth is I am growing very tired of eating in the quantities I have been that have gotten me to this weight, size and health. I guess the mental changes that will help me be successful with the band are already kicking in. Guess my next venture into beef land will be the petite cut, with leftovers, or better shared with my wife :thumbup:!!!

It's official. My pre-op meeting is 10/29/08 with Dr. Kim. My pre-op lab work is 11/07/08. My surgery is November 11 @ 7:40 AM. YAHOO!!!!!!:smile2:

Hi all any one being band or has been band at fremont kaiser I want to know the process:scared2:

I'm going to AtlanticCare in Atlanitc City NJ and my doctor said i have to see the nutritionist and it would cost $500 out of pocket? i told him i wouldn't have that kind of money till next Feb (income tax) and he said thats fine because i will be on the 6 mo diet until about then anyway. i just read a post where the nutrionist was rude to someone on here. so what do you do with a nutritionist, how many times do you see them, is it only before surgery? and if you slip and eat something you shouldn't should you just keep it to yourself? i'm not trying to make excuses for slipping or lieing, i know i have had some freaking mean doctors in the past, and thats why i hav…

I've been tyring out various brands and flavors of Protein powder and have some questions... 1. What is the difference between whey and soy protein? Is one better for bandsters? 2. Which matters more when choosing a protein, grams of carbs or sugar? 3. How do you know which is "bad" (concentrate) and "good" (isolate) protein? What is the difference between the two?

having the lap band on fri oct 17 , a little scared about missing food for the rest of my life, and this optifast diet has been hell i,m so hungry:tongue:

I was wondering if anyone knew beforehand that they had sleep apnea. I'm wondering because I'm single and therefore sleep alone so I'm not really sure if I snore or stop breathing while I'm sleeping. I thought about setting up a camera but the longest my digital camera's thing will run is like 15 minutes so that doesn't really work. I have most the other symptoms like tired all the time and wake up sweating, waking up at night and so on. Just thought I would get everyone's thoughts on this to see if anyone knew they had sleep apnea beforehand?

I am now down 1 month/ 5 to go! This week I had my sleep study and it was horrible. The tech woke me to put on the cpap mask due to apnea episodes.Had a difficult time returning to sleep but made it through. Upper GI was bareable. Met with the dietician today and I was feeling bad for not eating well and thought I had gained since I binged some so I answered the survey honestly (that I hated the 1600 cal. diet and wasn't following it) only to find out that I lost 3.5lbs. I feel incredibly guilty. My friend that is going through this is trying hard and making changes and she isn't doing as well as I whom hasn't tried yet. I told the dietician I wasn't motivated and fel…

I am still waiting for my appointment to see my surgeon, Mr Sean Woodcock, North Tyneside General Hospital,:thumbup: but in the UK we have to have an evaluation, does anyone know what sort of questions to be prepared for ???? many thanks.

Hello Everyone! I had my last appointment with the diet doctor today. I have jumped every hoop that the insurance has required. I went to a psych dr, cardiologist, pulmonologist, and had a sleep study. I finished My 6 months of monitored diet. Now everything is going to CIGNA for approval. Now EVERYONE PLEASE cross your fingers and toes that I get a quick approval and soon become a NOTORIOUS NOVEMBER!!!!!!! Please wish me luck!:wink2::laugh:

Going to be banded on November 6th. Taken to chewing sugarless gum in between meals to keep my jaw moving and not eating. Is this common?

I have surgery tomorrow. I'm on clear liquids today. Can I have tea?

After 6 months of jumping hoops, I finally got approved and hve my surgery date set. My problem is that they want me to lose 14 pounds by then. Any ideas? I've been going to Curves and doing the Slim Fast thing, but the scales won't budge. HELP!!