PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I've been waiting since July for this surgery. I finally have a consultation appointment at the end of this month, but can you believe I gained at least 10 pounds in the last three weeks?? I'll be so embarrassed to go into the consultation and have the doctor see how much I gained since seeing the nutritionist...

Hello everyone. I posted here before when I started this journey and I have made significant progress since then. I finally completed the six month monitored diet by my PCP required by BC/BS of Michigan (PPO/Community Blue). I have already had my psych eval and now the Barix Clinic Insurance team is closing out my file to send it down to my surgeon Dr.Nunn. My question to the community is what are the next steps and how long do you think it will take me to get a surgery date? Also on a side note has anyone had Dr. Andre Nunn from the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti, MI as his or her surgeon? If so how did you like him? Thank you in advance for any info. All your stories ar…

So I just wanted to let you guys know that today I realized that I may not be doing the lap band surgery. I want it more then anything in this world. I want to be back to my old self when I was able to hike up a mountain and not have a problem with it. Instead money has defeated me. I recently started working at a new OB/GYN clinic. I used to work at a hospital where the health insurance was very good. After 2 months of working here I realized that my deductible is $1750. I have to not only meet that prior to my surgery but I also have to pay for my co-insurance which is $2000. So all together I have to come up with $3750 for my surgery. Sure, I can save and save and s…

I got approved today and they moved my surgery date up a day to the oct 21 I'm so happy I'm crying! Any suggestions for my last days band free? Ps God if u surf the Internet thank you for this chance!

Hi - I am new here. I am being banded on October 29th - two weeks from today. So my pre-op diet started today. I just wanted to ask a question - I am supposed to have two protein liquid supplements and then 4/6 ounces of a lean meat and non-starchy veggies a day. That is it. The protein supplement must not be more than 5 grams of fat, and I am not to have more than 50 carbs on a given day. So I am drinking these liquid supplements (I just had the watermelon flavor) - but I am reading about people using slim fast, etc. I am not hungry yet but I am only in hour three and the protein thing made me kind of ill. Do I need to find something with more substance or will the liqui…

I'm so glad my last 6 mo dr appt is tomorrow. I talked to my surgeon's asst. and she said I should have an approval within a week! I can't believe how fast the 6 mos went by. Good Luck Everyone!!!

Hi All! Tricare denied me the first time and I appealed. I just went on to Triwest and saw that I wasn't approved again. Bummer! Really saddens me and it's horrible that I have to gain more weight just to get approved. I want to wish everyone the BEST OF LUCK through their WLS! I'll just have to figure out what I can do next. Unhappy in AZ

I work for a retail store that sells computers named for fruit :smile2:, and I am on my feet ALL day. About how long should I take off for recovery?

Hey sorry, I posted a question on the intro site; new to this, lol. Okay I had lapband last November and am loving it. I have lost about 41 lbs now should have lost more but had a little problem finding a fill location that was in network with my insurance, along with looking for a house so I got behind four months no big deal. So look for your fill place before surgery so you do not have this problem. Be blessed, Dana

I'm with Blue Cross/Blue Shield through General Motors. Anyone know if they cover this surgery? I'm really considering having this done; just beginning the research of information. Thank you! :biggrin:

Only 5 pounds in almost 2weeks since I was banded does'nt sound very good any suggestions? Here's my menu for the day-breakfast 1/2of cream of wheat and 8oz of my protein drink and for lunch cream of something soups and water throughout and then for supper the rest of my broth 1/4 cup jello if the and sfree of couse!Than the rest of my protein drink I usually get in 60-64 oz of protein in a day. Than to save me at night even though I'm not hungry I have a sfree fudgepop or fruitbar sfree. Any thing else I can do you can tell I'm losing maybe it's just inches once again I see the doctor on Thursday. Thanks just an a HURRY to start losing!!!!!!!!!!!!:smile2:

Hey guys, I decided to self pay lap band. I am now worried because what if the band slips or something goes wrong? Would I have to self pay for all of that? Please help. :cursing::wink2:

My surgery was scheduled for tomorrow, 10/15. I made arrangements with work, travel, recuperation, etc. bought the stuff I am supposed to eat in the days/weeks following the surgery + checked into the hotel where I will be staying for at least one week after surgery to recuperate, etc. (not to mention Optifast for 2 weeks). So this morning I get a call from my doctor's office. They wanted to change the location of my surgery from Trinity Medical Center - a hospital - to a "surgery center" a few minutes away from the hospital. Why, I asked. Because my doctor (Frank Veninga in Carrollton, TX) is having a conflict with the hospital over a patient care issue and therefo…

I am on my path to lap band surgery, i have already been to the seminar and my consult an testing are setup for thrusday 10/16/08(very excited), after that appointment they will submitting to UHC for my approval. I aslso have already had my 5 years of weight history from my docotr sent to the surgeons office, since my UHC stated all i needed is to have a BMI of 40+ or BMI of 35+ with co-morbidites, i have a BMI of 39 and type 2 diabetes so i qualify there and they also stated my surgeons office would need to send the 5 year history of my weight. So just wanted to find out if anyone has or had UHC EPO in Texas and if they requested additional info other than the 5 year his…

Just wanted to find out the pro's and con's of each band if any. My doctor is giving me a choice of which one I want. Thanks, Julie

I know everyone out there has a story but my surgery is Thursday and I feel like I need to vent and have some clarity. Like most, I have been over weight my entire life. Unfortunately no one else in my family was. I was raised by a single month who weight an astonishing 111 pounds when she delivered me. That's right...111 pounds. I exceeded that weight in Fourth grade. food was always an area of focus in our home. Never seemed like enough food and so when there was food I would pig out...feeling like it would all be gone tomorrow. My mother, not knowing how to communicate with me always critique my weight and as a form of motivation (as she tells me now)…

I feel like there is so much information and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. My surgery date is Dec 4 which is a little over 7 weeks away. I have been reading the different threads for information but think the more I read the more overwhelmed I become. This is what I have been told. Blood tests/echocardiogram this week (not sure if I spelled that right) liquid diet starts 11/20 Surgery dec 4 I have read on here about many people having a psych consult. Do all drs do that? I feel like I am missing out on something. I started this journey in Feb (I posted March in another thread) and had to switch drs due to not getting any help from the dr to fight the insurance a…

I had my deductible $$ saved in the bank for months now. Well.... things happen.... we've dipped into it little by little and our bills are behind so bye-bye $2,000. I have to start from scratch. F#$%ing great. My DH just doesn't understand the absolute disappointment I'm experiencing. If all else fails I'll be able to have surgery in Dec/Jan. My doctor just submitted everything to insurance (and ins states it only takes them a few days to approve)... so I was expecting/hoping to have surgery within the next 3-4 weeks... 4 max. It's easy for him to think Dec/Jan is only a couple/few months away..... but for someone who has been anxiously anticipating surgery for mont…

I went to see my surgeon one last time today and my surgery will be Monday, Oct. 20th!!! I can't believe it!! After all these months it is finally here. I check in to the hosp at 5 am. I'm so excited but also I'm alittle nervous now that I know when it will be. I hope that is normal because I will have it even if I'm crying the whole way to the O.R.! lol :smile2:

I don't know what to do. I feel like such a victim. I'm trying to quit soda.... cocacola to be exact. I'm a SERIOUS addict. Coke gives me this good feeling in the pit of my stomach that no other beverage can do (except the occasional gulp of pickle juice... but I can't drink that all the time lol). I don't know what it is about coke, but it's so friggin satisfying. I have moments (in the evening at home) where I just absolutely CRAVE coke... like I HAVE to have it. As soon as I drink it I feel RELIEVED. How oh how can I kick this habit? What's the best way to do it? I seriously need help here. Another addiction I'm battling is food.... how can I kick my addiction…

:faint:I am really considering the lap band.......I, like so many others, am so frustrated with myself for not being able to live life at a reasonable/healthy size. I am trying to figure out if this will be a help to me or will I have problems as an older person and just really screw my body up. Has anyone had the lapband for longer than 5 years or so.... I would really like to hear from someone.:help:

I'm excited and scared. It's taken me awhile to get to this point, so I think I have everything I'll need for the next week or so. Any last words of advice?

Hi I am new to this and will be taking my 2 physian led class (6 month requirement) this month and I have questions regarding taking meds wit the Lap Band. It's okay if I have to stop prior to the surgery and right after before resuming the meds, but I have Sarcoid and will need to continue methotrexate and probably prednisone and some others. I have read that the first few weeks you'll be on liquids only. My concern is because the stomach will be much smaller and you can only take in so much, even with liquids, does taking medicines affect what you can take in? In other words, has anyone become sick trying to take their medicine while only being able to eat such a sma…

So..i went for my pre-op on friday (surgury on the 17). I have been on the liquid diet now for a week (some cheating, but checked with dr about it), anyway, i ended up fainting in the dr. office after they drew my blood. I know that the liquid diet isn't much, but i think it just isn't enough literally for me. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi, my name is Jamie and I am scheduled to be banded on November 4 (one month away, I can't believe it!). I am a part-time Massage Therapist and need to tell my supervisor how long I plan to be out for. The dr. told me that I will have to just use my judgement, which I understand, but that doesn't really help me give a date to my boss. I know that in most jobs you are able to return in about a week but I use my body, and more specifically my core, quite a bit more than some one sitting at a desk. Are there any other MT's out there or anyone that is also in a physical type of profession that could give me an estimate of how many weeks I'm going to need to be out?

Today I had my psych consult. It went better then I thought. I was there over an hour and a half and learned alot about the process and the long term commitment. I am ready more now then ever. My issue is that my husband is scared for me to have the surgery and keeps getting the process confused with gastric, despite all the literature I printed out for him. Because of his fears, I was going to have my mom and sister come for the decision visit the end of this month. When I told him the pysch doctor suggested he go to put his fears at rest, he responded as if he was on board with the surgery again. I am determined to lose this weight for a better health, with or without h…

Hi I am new here....I am 28 and I weight 240 at 5'8 which gives me a 36 BMI. According to all the documents I have read I am not a candidate for lap band because my BMI is not that hight. Furthermore I have Kaiser who does not offer any information for weight loss surgery. I do not have physical health issues at this point but I most certainly have emotional. I have been extremely depressed since I became pregnant 5 years ago and gained the 100 lbs which I have not lost. Kaiser sent me to a shrink who then sent me to an eating disorder support group full of bulimics which was not helpful one bit...made me feel even worse.....doctors have perscribed lots of anti depressa…

My Mother was the one that encourage... Let me rephrase that to be more clear... PESTERED me to look into getting the Lap Band, once we found out TRICARE covered them. I am living with my parents while my Husband is deployed, so I would have extra home support for myself and my 1 yo Daughter. SHE was the one that said she could help me, and watch the baby, and help me recuperate. So, I went ahead and looked into it. And, never in my wildest dreams would I have believed or been prepared for how quickly I was approved and a surgery date set. Less than a month! Total Shock... I kept telling the coordinator at my Doctor's office, "I can't believe it!" I spend well over…

Hello everyone, I mentioned in the intro forum I finally have my approval from my insurance United Healthcare. My surgery date is Dec 4. It would have been sooner but unable to get off from work and have to wait until school is almost over for the term. But that being said...my dr said I have to lose 10 lbs before surgery so I have to go on a liquid diet on Nov 20. Is that so my body gets used to the liquids and not eating? I know I should have asked that question to the nurse but was so stunned. This is all new to me. Nina

My husband is very supportive of what I am choosing to do and has never questioned my decision. For the first time last night he asked about the complications. I've read up and know that the biggest complication is from the surgery/anesthesia itself. He knows it's always a risk to have surgery. I'm just wondering what you all may have done to calm the fears of family. I just had a breast reduction last year and have never had any surgery problems in the past. Thanks for any suggestions! Crystal

Ever since I found out I was getting surgery food just doesnt taste the same. Its all bland! Soda is not sweet, candy is not sweet, fast food taste like grease and fat. I like it because its making me think "if this stuff tastes so bad, i wont miss it!" I wonder if its just a big mental game or what. Anyone else have this happen?

Hello All, I'm in the process of getting banded. We're looking at mid-November. I just had my 3-hour long mandatory informational session yesterday and my surgeon said I should start mentally preparing myself with respect to food choices and working out. I'm trying to wrap my head around all of this and the more I think of it the more stressed out I get. The thought of failure is overwhelming me to no end and I'm just looking for some advice or words of wisdom here. :smile2: I keep thinking of the positive aspects of lapband surgery, but we all know it won't be a rosey ride to success. What sort of difficulties will I have and how will I overcome them? Your responses …

Hello all I just wanted to ask a question. I wear spanks from lane Bryant and I were them all the time. If and when I get banded can I still were them? Because these babies are a life saver they really hold you in and make things look smooth. I wish I knew about them when I had my son because the girdle thing I could not do all day, but spanks I could do! So my question again is can you were them after being band? Will it hurt the band? Will it move out of place? Thanks to who ever answer this thread because I know your advice will be honest……

Hi all... I am a little over a month pre-op for lapband and here is my worry and question for you veterans. I know I'm supposed to change my eating habits BEFORE surgery to get my mind and body ready for the drastic changes post surgery. The problem is I'm having a rough time changing things up the way I ought to. Obviously, I'm addicted to certain foods (breads, bakery goods, sweets, etc.), which has gotten me to the point where I am today: Obese. I desperately want to change my life and eating habits, but it hasn't come easily for me. I'm still eating a bagel & coffee for Breakfast and though I am better throughout the day - eating yogurts, cottage cheese and …

I wrote to a bariatric surgeon online, and he told me that as long as I felt there was a chance of losing the weight without surgery, I should try to. He encouraged me to go to the seminar and get all the info as well. He also said that insurance will most likely require me to do a 6-month diet before the surgery, so my plan of signing up for the surgery etc but trying to diet beforehand on my own fits right in. So I am going to try to emulate the lap band diet, including the 2-week liquid diet plan that most people do pre-surgery. I'm going to start tomorrow. Not really looking forward to dieting, but I am very much looking forward to knowing that the lifestyle change is…

Hi all, For two reasons, my surgeon's team said I should not be using any form of ibuprophen - not now and not after surgery. My upper GI showed a slight thickening in my stomach lining. I have since been treated for this problem, but they told me then to stop taking Ibuprophen completely. I was only taking one 600 mg. tablet at night time to help me sleep. I have a considerable amount of arthritis and two herinated discs in my lower back :confused: - so this helped take the edge off of my discomfort. I was also told that banders can't take any ibuprophen post surgery as well. I took heed to what I was told and haven't used Motrin in about 2 months or so. But... …

Ok, I am on the 2 week preop liquid diet. I am sweating to death. Is this normal? Help. Drinking tons of water! I have the ac on and it's only 65 degrees outside.

Well, after having 7 major orthopedic surgeries in 2002 and 2003, I have placed over 90 lbs extra weight from lack of full exercise regiements. This caused Hypetension and treatments, but in 2006, I was forced to medically retire. Without any insurance, I didnt have a PCP until about a month ago. While, my potential lapband surgery was going good, had a new PCP, had my seminar, had my consult, had insurance. However, at my consult, I was only at a 39.75 BMI. and not the min. of 40. So UHC now wants comorbidity docs, and my first born. What blows is that I had a gap in doctors. Has anyone ever had this experience? I knew I should have eaten a Triple Whopper be…

I am getting the lap band on Monday. I am really excited and scared at the same time. I guess that I am aware of all of the great things that can come from this. But I am starting to get scared of all that I am reading and hearing about food "getting stuck" and how painful that is. I would like someone to be frank with me on the negative things that I may experience after the surgery, and how they weigh out to the positive things. Thanks :biggrin:

Hello all, I have read some posts on here regarding the lovenox shot in the belly right before surgery a long time ago when I started this journey and I can remember someone saying they felt like jumping off the table it hurt so bad. Can you share your experience with it? Any tips as far as to tense up or relax when getting it? I asked if they could give me something for nerves before the shot and they said nope...grrr....why in the heck not? LOL....crybaby here.

Oct 20, 2008 @ 7:30pm Tufts (Boston, ma) is holding a seminar about lapband. My dr recommended I attend to get some more info. I was wondering if anyone in the area wants to buddy up and go together.

Hi everyone! I have been lurking for awhile and learning all sorts of things from you all. I have finally received my date for my surgery. Oct. 24th:thumbup:. I go next Friday the 17th for my 2nd all day appt. What should I expect with that? I am so ready to have this done. I did go through a ( are you sure?) phase when I learned that I had insurance approval. Butterfly's, Butterfly's and more Butterfly's, but I am told that is normal. It has been great reading everyone's post. Has anyone read "The Lapband Companion"? I ordered this from amazon.com. I thought it was great. It goes from the first thought of a lapband to what happens after surgery and anythi…

I thought I was so prepared. Now I'm a little ovwrwhelmed. I'm on my preop liquid clears which include Water, bouillon , juice. But can I have Capri sun? Vitamin water ? Sugar fee crystal lite? I'm waiting to hear baCk from my surgeon for my specific directions but while I wait can you guys help me with this "anything you can see thru rule?" What exactly is it they don't want in my Body? It must not be sugar since I'm allowed juice. Is it dyes, Protein, carbs ???anyone who knows a lot about this stuff ?

I just had my evaluation with the surgeon yesterday. My primary doctor recommended me for lap band, but the surgeon said i need the gastric bypass. He said the reason he thinks that one is better was because i'm double the average weight for my height. He said that there is little weight loss with the lap band and he didn't think i could loss enough. I'm really scared about the bypass. I don't want to have that procedure done. Is the surgeon only trying to push the bypass procedure on me because it cost more which mean more money for him? :wink2:

Today is the first visit for bariatric evaluation. What should I expect?

Will I be able to pickup my One year old daughter after surgery? 22lbs.

So I've been to the dietician, the seminar, and I met with the surgeon today. He answered a lot of questions that I had. I still feel confident in getting this done even with the risks associated with it. Now all's I have left is to go to 2 support group meetings and a psych consult. I will have an ultrasound, ekg and a chest x-ray next week. I'm really hoping that the psych will make an appt with me quick. I can't help but wonder how much longer until surgery....it's driving me nuts not knowing. The surgeon said today that some people can go into surgery very quickly where others can take a long time. AGGG....so aggravating. I hate suspense! Overall though, th…

My husband is very supportive of what I am choosing to do and has never questioned my decision. For the first time last night he asked about the complications. I've read up and know that the biggest complication is from the surgery/anesthesia itself. He knows it's always a risk to have surgery. I'm just wondering what you all may have done to calm the fears of family. I just had a breast reduction last year and have never had any surgery problems in the past.

Hi, I'm with Kaiser insurance (and somehow have been since I was born!) and I'm just starting my Lap Band process. Now, my BMI is 38.0, but because I'm 4'10" this much weight on such a short stature is considered severely obese. My question is; Will Kaiser automatically deny me because my BMI isn't at 40 or higher, or will they take my short stature and medical problems into account? Any information and helpful opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Hey...i was wondering if anyone has any clear broth recipes. I know that miso is a clear broth (just the broth, not the rest) could i have that for my pre-op? Anyone have any good pre-op recipes????:eek: