PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Since deciding that I needed to have this surgery everywhere I go there are mirrors.. My daughter and I went school shopping and stopped at friendlys for dinner... I walk in and theres a big old gold distorted mirror,, I ordered a salad and left there still hungry.. we went to an applebees and whats on the door?? another silver plated mirror... we split a meal and I still felt guilty.. I am starting to think that I have been in denial about my appearance for a very long time, and am ashamed of myself, and embarrassed that other people have been seeing this. I almost feel like people are looking at me differently then before. I haven't gained weight, but have not lost a…

I'm retired military with Tricare insurance. In May I visited with the surgeon and he said they would send package to Tricare for approval. He said they would reply within 45 days. I waited, then contacted the doctor's office after 45 days. Nada. They said they would contact Tricare and send the package again. :biggrin: I waited. This last Monday 27 July, 2008, I called the provider again, and they said they were still waiting. Then, I contacted the Tricare number the provider gave me and after being shifted from hither to there, it was concluded they didn't have any request from the provider. I got the fax number from them and called giving it to the provider'…

I was SUPPOSED to have surgery today at 8am. But last week I came down with a sever upper respitory infection that I thought would be cleared up by today. I went into the hospital this morning, got my IV's in and was all ready to go when the anesthesiologist said "No." My throat was still too raw, my cough still too strong, my mucus and 'lung boogers' too green and coming up too often. I knew I was too sick but I had been looking forward to this for so long that I had convinced myself that I wasn't that sick. But I am. He convinced me that its an elective operation, and I should elect to do it when I am at 100%. So I have been rescheuled for 8/15. But while I was …

The night of surgery the nurse tried to get me to take my medicine crushed with some water!! I stuck my finger down in that and tasted it!!!:faint: THOUGHT I WOULD THROW UP RIGHT THERE!!! SOOOO I didnt take it. Last night I crushed it up and put it in some broth...:omg: JUST AS BAD!!! I did it though...swearing to never do it that way again!! I called my RN and she said anything bigger than an M&M could get stuck. I had already checked with the pharmicist about a liquid but there is none and they said it would be fine to crush...BUT with out anything substantial to put it in IT IS TOO GROSS!!!!!!! Does anyone out there have ANY suggestions?? I am soooooo sc…

Can anyone tell me what questons are asked at a psych evaluation? Is it possible to flunk the evaluation? Also, I had 3 hernia repairs within months of each other, a couple years ago. I have a ton of scar tissue, metal clips and mesh in my tummy. Will this cancel my chances of being approved? Kat

Hello everyone, My girfriend is getting banded in about a month and the preop information packet they sent says "absolutely no smoking for 2 weeks prior to the surgery". She says she'll do it but keeps badgering me for a reason (i'm handling most everything related to the surgery - finance, setting up, research). The only thing I can think of is maybe it interferes or affects the effectiveness of the anesthesia? Do any of you happen to know why this is required? Thanks, -Bobdole

Hi all, I was wondering if anybody else has used or is using this mix. If so, does anybody have any good recipes that can mask the horrible taste? I've found that blending up strawberries or just mixing a little cinnamon with it masks the flavor somewhat but I’m open to other ideas. Also is it just me or does this mix make you feel bloated and having you goinng to the bathroom. I'm going on my second week of my pre-op diet and today I felt soo weak. I'm wondering if this is from eliminating the carbs from my diet. (or it could be the 104 heat we have here in Dallas) Has any one else felt this way during their pre-op diet?

Hi, I was banded five days ago. Well, there is gas pains and bloating and some pain but I feel okay. I am on full liquids now. I didn't feel nauseated and the water went down well without pain from the beginning. I can feel it kind of slipping over two "obstacles" after swallowing, I guess it's the swelling and the band. What I was wondering about... When I flew home (four days after surgery) I had to spend four hours on the airport and I got hungry. So I bought milk (2 cups in one carton) and had that over the time of 2 hours. Is that to much? How much liquid is to much? Will it hurt when I stretch the pouch? And I feel bloated after EVERYTHING I "eat". That w…

So I am getting banded on August 11th so I had to start my pre-op diet on this past Monday So I am STARVING so bad! Monday: 2 Protein shakes, veggie delite from subway ftlong, 2 eggs toast (no butter) and 8 glasses of Water Tuesday: 2 Protein Shakes, 2 200 calorie sammies from quiznos, 8 glasses of water, fried buffalo chicken salad with bleu cheese and a pita Wednesday: 2 protein shakes, whopper jr no cheese onion rings, diet coke, 8 glasses of water, 2 pancakes, spray butter, lite maple syrup Thursday: 2 protein shakes, 94% FF popcorn, 8 glasses of water already, about 4 tbsp of hummus I need help seriously!!!! I dont have alot of time to cook meals due to wo…

Hi Friends! I just wanted to update everyone on my surgery. I had it yesterday morning (they also fixed a hernia I didn't know I had). Anyway, it wasn't bad at all! I got up as soon as I was able to and walked and waked and walked. That helped SOOO much! I'm a bit sore, but I know that will get better. I slept on my recliner because it was hard to get in & out of bed. But so far, so good!! I'll keep you posted! :wink2::thumbup:

hello all. i am on my 6 month wait and have to see my PCP monthly. my start weight at my 1st visit with my lap band dr. was 240.4 i am now 232 as of july 30th......... i am doing on my own ( dr. knows ) slim fast optima shakes 4x's a day and LOTS of Water. also if i feel "munchy" i eat a low cal-low sugar popcile(yum) i feel GREAT and by doing this i KNOW i can do the lap band :biggrin: i dont miss solid food at ALL :biggrin:

Has any one gone to or heard Dr Cavazos in San Antonio. Any feed back would be great thanks.

I got a letter today from lapband.com. I had sent for some info and they sent me a letter saying that i was not a good canidate for the surgery. I though anything over 40 bmi was high enough. They never even have seen me. I am still going to go to a seminar for the first step but, i was wondering if i am just wasting my time. Help anyone. Thanks:confused2:

I got my paperwork from my insurance company like 4 months ago. After reading through it I was so depressed I didn't do anything more until now. It said that I had to be supervised by a doctor for one year:eek: before I could recieve the surgery. Has anyone else ever heard of this. I am hoping maybe I am misunderstanding the fine print.

I have been trying to lose some more weight before sugery and the last time I was weighed in the doc's office I was at 311. Ok that's fine. Then that next week I got weighed at my cardiology appointment and weighed at 303. Ok that seems nearly impossible but I'm not arguing. Today I stepped on the scale at my house and it still reads that I'm 311. I even came to work and used the scale here and it reads that I'm at 305. Either my scale at home sucks big time or I haven't really lost anything and the other scales are just lying to me. What do you think? Should I just accept the averages from 2 different scales or go by the one at home?

Hi All! my surgery is Friday morning & I'm SOOO excited but getting nervous. Please wish me luck & keep me in your prayers. I'll write back as soon as I can after surgery. Thanks!! :thumbdown:

I am looking to find anyone who is Apostolic, UPCI, PAW or independant. I know if two that are tied to our church but have been unsuccessful in locating any others. Anyone out there?

I go for surgery in 13 days and I have been on a pre-op low fat diet for about a week. I have been really bad today by eating about half a bag of the large Walkers Sensations packs of crisps and an average serving of a pretty heavy lasagne. I have been sticking to the diet so well this week, I feel so awful how I could have slipped so badly today. Did anyone else slip during their pre-op diet? And how will this affect me seeing as I am scheduled for surgery in just under 2 weeks? :biggrin:

Hi, two days out and feeling like real doggy doo doo! I am so tight inside hurting, gas pains bad, Sore....OMG....why did I do this to myself!!!! I am so depressed right now. I cant sleep hardly at all. I cannot breathe good .... just a horible mess here! Cant drink much hardly at all....when I do its only about 3 oz. of something and then I hurt and am so tight. Is anyone else having thease problems since just banding? I know everyone says walk alot...and I AM!!! It is the only thing keeping me sane right now is walking... I keep asking myself why did I do this..........SIGH..... I cant get much gas out and diareaha is soo bad. I hope I do not get too dehydrat…

Had a Benjamin Bratt (The Cleaner on A and E) date tonight with my neighbour because we both love him, the show and she doesn't have cable. She doesn't know that I am getting banded next week. She brought Miss Vicki's chips and donuts!!!!!:thumbup: I didn't have not so much as a smell!!!!! :thumbdown: Damn, I was tempted though. I am on day 7 of the pre op diet and I could eat a moose up to his knees in gravy right now but didn't cheat. I have been sticking to the diet - still taking one cream in my coffee and have used a drop of Olive Oil in some of my stir fries but haven't really cheated. I walked thru the mall today to get stuff for surgery next week - it wa…

If we are able to have protein shakes what about smoothies?

Just wondering if there is anyone out there that used slimfast for their preop protein shake? I am 3 days away from my band:smile: and i have been using the slimfast optima shakes twice a day. My nutritionist had told me to use medifast or Whey protein shakes from gnc but the slimfast is so much more convient. I know they have a bit more sugar then the other two shakes. I don't know if i should switch for the last couple of days prior to surgery. The closer it gets the more nervous i am getting. Sombody please get back to me. Thank you

I have been reading the forum posts for about three days now, and have not seen many comments on a few items. I am looking for some comments that may help me with my descision. 1) Is anyone having success with the band restrictions only, meaning no real excercise regime. I have time to walk a couple of times a day, but no time to go to a gym. 2) How soon did you go back to work? Do you think you could have gone back to work sooner? To a desk job? 3) Has anyone regreted this surgery? How many reversals are you aware of? Thanks. I appreciate your candor and honesty. J.

FINALLY!!! I've been at this since December and I just got my date-August 14th. ( really strange bcause about 2 weeks ago I told my gilfriend that I had a dream that I got my surgery on that day) I'm so excited and I cannot wait! Howeve-I am a little nervous because hey-it's surgery. But what if something goes wrong or it doesn't work or I dont lose weight? I'm scared. I'm just holding my breath that I didnt give my hopes up. I know this may be a stupid question but hey I'm 19-does anyone know about going on a roller coaster post op? Obviously not for a while but I was thinking about slipping of the band!:biggrin2:

Hello all. I have found an amazing program that PBS put out called "Fat: What No One Is Telling You". For those of you who have weight issues and are trying to find the words and information to share with your friends and relatives on how and why you feel the way you do, how and why weight doesn't come off and how and why you have come to the decision to have this or some other procedure done, this is the program for you to watch, and share with them. I have spent the past two months defending my decision with my friends and family. It's exhausting trying to convince others that this decision that YOU are making for YOURSELF is okay. I encourage all of you to watc…

I finally got approved!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodnes, because I have been so stressed out about this! I am ready to make a life style change... And I feel like I am being given a second chance!

Well fellow butterflies tomorrow is the last day and my day to meet mr band. LOL. Little nervous today thinking what the Heck am I doing... Am I going to miss food? Am I going to fail again. How long was it before you felt like eating again, am I going to wake up starving?

I'm at a delima... My insurance will only pay 1/2 of the cost of my surgery up to $15,000. I have the fees for expenses before surgery and I've met all my deductibles this year due to other surgeries in January. But this would leave me owing about $8,000 that I don't know how I'd pay. They keep telling me I could get a loan with the bank. I guess they have financial loans there. But it's all so overwhelming when my budget is already stretched to the max. If I'm going to do it I have to let her know so I can get started next month... otherwise, it's another year with deductibles... Any input is appreciated...

:teeth_smile: Can you feel the band?? what i mean is: does it feel like something is sqeezing your stomach?? what about the port??:thumbup: :confused2:Also- i hear that after surgery, the worst part is the gas pain. What is the best remedy for this?? Thanks for the help!

I'm starting to get really nervous. And I've never had surgery before.

Finally, I feel like I am getting somewhere in this whole process. I get to meet with the surgeon on 6 Aug (Dr. Tribble @ Palmetto) and my surgery is scheduled for 18 Aug (pending approval by Tricare Prime ). They require that you do the 2 week Adkins diet pre-op and I am just wondering what suggestions anyone has as far as what to eat. I have a really good Whey protein shake that I'm having for breakfast/snack, but am wondering about lunch & dinner.....just trying to get ideas so that it doesn't get boring and bland. Thanks a bunch!

So I am just venting... I still have not received the final approval for my lap band surgery and I am scheduled for August 8th! I have been looking forward to this.. so hoepfully I will hear something soon. Aside from that I am slammed at work .. I have 25 new projects ( I am a project manager) and my admin's last day is Friday... One of my co-workers will be on vacation starting Friday and I have been assigned all of her stuff! OMG so stressed. Not to mention school and my ex.. (who broke up with me... and told me he needs a break.. and to contact him when I lose weight).. decided to call me and see if we can work things out. F* Him... lol ahhh okay thanks for letting me…

So, where everyone has the NORMAL concerns about preop diets and surviving the whole ordeal. My question is "can I wear makeup during surgery"? Yes . . . I'm THAT shallow!!!!

I drink alot of crystal light and I am doing a 900 calorie a day diet that my DR put me on to lose 30lbs pre surgery. I have been exercising for 1 hour and 20 minutes a day and really doing great on my diet but the weight is coming off really slowly. I read that cystal light will hinder weight loss and was wondering if anyone has heard this also. I quit drinking it yesterday and lost 2lbs this morning. I really like the added flavor to my Water but is it worth it??? Please let me know if anyone has heard this also or if it's ok to drink.

I am a 5'3", 279lb female considering lap band. For those who have already done it, what would you recommend doing prior to surgery? I have heard many good and bad stories and am truely confused about whether to go through with it or not. I've been on many diets and weight loss programs and still seem to gain the weight back and think that a little assistance such as the lap band would give me the boost I need to continue. Right now I'm at a point where I'm totally unmotivated. Feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

I get the idea of why you would want your liver smaller before the surgery, because it would make it easier for the surgeon, etc. But how do they decide that yours is too big/enlarged and you need to be on liquids days or weeks before your surgery? Is there a test or xray that they use to see how big it is? I plan to have my band in the next two months. I am self pay and have no health issues, except that I'm overweight.

:scared2:I'm a low BMI'er, so I'm worried about approval. My papers were fax'd on Monday, March 3rd. Another stage of waiting, over. I hate this!

I have a consult set up w/ her. I'm wondering if anyones had her as there surgen or heard of her? thanks!!

I am SOOO excited!!! I decided to switch surgeons because I just heard a lot more about this other surgeon and I felt he had more experience with the LapBand and when I called to make the appt. It is NEXT WEEK!! My appt. with the first dr. wasn't going to be until Aug. 26th because he was going on vacation. AWESOME!! Also, the new dr.'s nurse/receptionist was a lot more friendly! I am thrilled, I just pray everything works out and I get approved for the surgery!! Now I just need to change my seminar date see if I can move it up. :thumbup:

www.orlive.com has a live lapband surgery on august 6th this is a great sight has 3 lapband surgeries and a gastric bypass in their library these are complete operations and are better than the youtube one.

I have been doing pre-op for a week now and I am just not hungry. I have been replacing my meals with the shakes and have a small healthy meal in the evening. I am still nursing my shake from lunch and it is now 5:45!:wink2: I have lost about 10 pounds since I started but I am concerned if I should still force myself to eat ( or drink) when I am not hungry.

Does anyone have a recommendation? I don't want it to cost a huge amount... Thanks! ~~anne

So, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster. I was dead set that I was doing the lap band and was starting to mentally prepare myself, but my therapist has brought up a lot of doubts and questions. She feels like I need to make the psychological change first and maybe try Phentermine to help with this. Well, I can't try this until I get my blood pressure down. So, I'm kind of stuck. I keep trying to diet on my own to exhaust all of my options because I'm scared to make the life change. I'm scared to break my lifetime relationship with food. Will I be able to not drink water during meals? What happens if I do? Will I chew things up enough so I don't get sick? Right now I gulp …

I am 26, been trying to find a way to do the surgery for about 4 years and finally got my father to help me. I don't have insurance so he will be paying out of pocket so I don't need to worry about qualifying with them. Now all I have to do is get things started but have no idea where to start. Can someone give me a check off list or even a heads up on what to do or expect? Anything would be helpful at this point, thanks :thumbup:

todays the day, I am so excited! My nw life begins in 4 hrs. Time to go Git R Done!!! Thank you to all who uses this websight, it has helped me to be a stronger person, and to realize what it is I need to do for myself! Be back soon! Debbie:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::tt2::tt2::tt2::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::tongue_smilie::thumbs_up::lol::lol::wink2::wink2::wink2::tt1::tt1::tt1::tt1::rolleyes2::rolleyes2::rolleyes2::smile2::smile2::smile2::smile2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::wink_smile::wink_smile::wink_smile::wink_smile::l…

I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what their Dr supervised WLP was like? I just finished mine and all my pre-op testing. My surgeons office should be submitting it to insurance soon. I am now really starting to worry after reading some stuff that my PCP did not have a clue what he was doing for my supervised WLP. He told me to follow a 1800 to 2000 cal diet and walk more/ exercise he did not tell me to visit w/ him each month only to weigh in every 4 to 6 weeks. I did visit w/ him 2 times over the 6 mo period and spoke w/ him about diet but both times I had come in for other things also (pap visit one time& back pain the other). Also I did not do well on my…

My surgery date is supposed to me 8-8-08.. BUT I am still waiting for my insurance to approve... and this is driving me crazy. Just venting.

:eek: I requested info from Allergan's Lap-Band site. I requested it by mail. Instead of the kit, I got a letter from the VP of marketing telling me that I don't qualify for Lap-Band surgery and offered me a bunch of Web sites with nonsurgical alternatives. As many of you probably know, to request a kit you have to punch in your height, weight and age and it tells you your BMI. According to the site, you need a BMI of 40, or lower with co-morbidities. My BMI is around 49. Seems like that is right in the range. Anyone else get a letter like this? (I realize Allergan doesn't make the decision on whether my insurance company or doctor approves the surgery. It's frustratin…

I read how so many people are upset about "having" to do the 6 month classes before Insurances will even think about covering the surgery. I am from the Pittsburgh Area and just found out that i am accepted into the more intense program for pre and post lap band surgery. I will have a more intense version of what is normally done, instead of 6 classes, i will be getting 24 classes. I will be going weekly. I will be assigned a "coach" to specifically work with me, as well as a nutritionist, exercise psycologist etc..... they will also closely monitor me 24 months Post op. It is a new study... to see if this can help make the surgery even more successful. I look at i…

Hello, this is my first post. I'm 30 years old (female), I weigh about 225, have no health issues other than being overweight. I recently met someone who had the band done at the end of April and I've been fixated on doing this ever since. My insurance will only cover 50% and then only $5,000 towards anything after (can I appeal this for them to cover more?). My fiance's covers 80% and all necessarry appointments thereafter. I've been overweight since I was a child, I was always active, played sports but was always bigger. I've gained about 60 lbs (12 years) since high school but can't remember ever being less than 170 lbs (I'm only 5'2''). I want to do this for mys…