PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi I haven't been banded yet just in the process, finding out information i need, before going thru with this. I wanted to know what does pbing and slimming feel like, is it like indestion or something, please help trying to decide.

Hi do any of you have this band? I think most doctors in the US are using Realize band and that the old band of choice was an Emnad (or something like this) band. Whats the differences? Im going to Mexico and I want to make sure that Im getting a good band and not a "discount" band.

Did anyone call the insurance company to check the status of their approval? My stuff was received on Monday & I SOOO want to call, but I don't want to be a pain in the ass. Did anyone call??

Did anyone really have a bad feeling of being denied but were approved anyway? What made you think you'd be denied?? Thanks!!

Hi Im new I would like to know what the criteria is for getting the lapband through tricare prime. My BMI 37 and I dont know what co morbidities are. I have high cholestral and I have weight related asthma I snore loudly and feel breathless all the time if I have to exert myself. please help. I have tricare prime in MS.:thumbup:

Ok guys, I am on day 5 of my clear liquid, pre-op diet. I am so hungry!! I have tried to stay busy, and not think about it. But I swear my stomach is eating it's self. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to help the hunger? Here is my diet. 5 slim fast low carb. sugar free popcicles sugar free Jello Water tea diet soda and only every so often chicken broth. That is all that is on my list of allowed food. And I have to do this for 2 weeks. :redface:

I have a question...why does the ins co require a 5 year weight history? My surgeon's office sent my paperwork in & I'm waiting for an approval. I did ALL things required, including give the 5 yr weight history. The only thing that makes me nervous is that my 1st year of the 5 year history, I weighed about 47 lbs LESS than I do now, and my BMI was only about 33. My weight has gone steadily up since then, with me having a BMI of about 39.2 now and being on high blood pressure meds. Do you think that 1 year will hurt me? Do you think I'll still be approved?? :confused2:

Just wondering any one buy stuff to make Protein shakes or anyone buy multi Vitamins? Just a thought before i do buy it if its needed or no one uses it. THANKS =D

This is my first post. I am getting banded on 7/18 and I start my pre-op liquid diet on 7/11. Any tips on getting through the hunger? Or just any tips in general>

Hey Everyone I'm new to the site and the idea of a lap band. I have been interested but never thought it was possible. Now I am realizing that I can do this and I can change my whole life. But i'm not sure how long it takes to complete the pre-process to surgery. I am reading mixed things on the internet. I have a doctors appointment in 2 weeks to discuss everything, but if anyone knows about how long it takes to go from 1st dr. appt. to surgery please give me some hints. In the past I have had my 5 year exam plan thing with the diet/weight loss programs and medications. They all worked for about 3 months. I would continue the treatment but would begin to gain the weight …

Hi there, i am looking into getting the Lap Band surgery. I am looking for any recommendations on a doctor in the shreveport or Northwestern part of Louisiana?

I had surgury 09-18 my port is still very sore ( I cant bend over and have trouble getting out of bed) I have really bad shoulder pains especially when I have my full liiquids. My doctor said this shoulder problems only happen with some lapband patients and that it should subside. She said it is gas trying to escape but it has been 8 days! Has anyone else had these issues? When should I expect some relief? My two c-sections where easier than this surgury. Jennifer the heating pad is my best friend

I am looking into the Lap band surgery, and was just wondering if anyone can give me a heads up on what the doctors are looking for when figuring out if one is right for this type of surgery? A little background. I am 6'3 and about 430 lbs. lol figure that is good enough for it, but wanted to know. Thanks.

I"m getting my lap band on 7/22/08, It's getting close and now i'm wondering if I picked the right surgery. lap band, sleeve, GBS, mini bypass, I'm self pay so I want to make the right choice from the get go. Maybe it's just nerves. just wanted to know if anyone is going through this or has gone through this?

I've noticed some differences among doctors and/or patients in what we are eating before and in the early post-surgery months. If you have interest and time, it may be interesting to know: 1. Did you have a nutritionist? Did you receive a written diet or program? 2. What was your pre-op diet? How long were you on it? 3. What days were you on Clear liquids? 4. How long were you on Full Liquids? Did you incorporate any whole foods in this stage, for example, by blending? 5. When were you on the Puree Diet? 6. When were you on the Soft food Diet? 7. In the soft food diet, were you told which foods to avoid or be careful of? (eg high Fiber breads and cereals, raw…

I had the lap band surgery in Dec. in Mexico. I have done great so far but now I need a fill and I can't find a Dr. to do it. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem or knew of a doctor in texas that would do the fill?:confused2:

I just received the call from my Doctor's office that I have been approved for the Lap Band surgery. Wow, now that it is finally here I am so excited! Surgery date is July 28th. Thank you all for all the information and support up to this point, and I am sure I will be in need of more support when I start the liquid diet Monday the 14th. I had my first consult with the surgeon on May 14th and 10 weeks later my new life to begin!! :biggrin:

I'm really excited and really scared. Please pray for me!

Hi everyone, My surgeon's office told me today that I should ask my PCP for a referral letter stating that I am OK to have the lap band surgery, plus an upper GI and gallbladder ultrasound. The gallbladder ultrasound is not much, I've had those before, it's the upper GI I am concerned about. Please if anyone has had one done, let me know what it consists of!!! Even the yucky parts, LOL!!!! thanks, Grama Lisa

I really expected this to be a fight I thought the insurance would look over my request and say well lets try the 6 month diet... Well not at all the authorization request was submitted July 3rd and the surgeon called me yesterday stating that it had been approved. I travel approx. 1 hr each way to and from work.. so it gives me plenty of time to think... I started doubting myself thinking I failed at every diet I ever went on. I am a glutton when I eat.. I take as my husband calls it HUGE bites... and drink like 4-5 glasses of Water or tea when I eat... how in the heck am I going to re-train my eating habits... I lay in bed at night thinking wow one day I might wea…

I am seeing the nutritionist soon and am making a list of questions to ask. Am also getting together a list of questions for the surgeon. Anyone have any suggestions of things I might be forgetting to ask (for either)?? Thanks for the help!

hey bandsters. i am being banded july 22nd (!!!!) and i am SUPER excited. but like most people, i am getting a little nervous as my date creeps closer...not about the surgery though, about post-op and the lifestyle changes and everything. i guess i just need some advice or guidence from someone who has actually been through it all. my mom and i were talking today about after my surgery and while she is sooooo supportive, my mom kept saying things like, "do you think you will actually be able to loose the weight? & "what are your expectations?" & "are you really going to commit to it?" not that she thinks i won't be able to lose the weight, she just doesnt …

Hi! I am new to this site. I just got insurance approval today & have the 4 hour class at St, Mary's on July 14. Can anyone give me a ballpark cost for the lapband at St. Mary's Richmond, VA. My insurance covers 80%. just don't want to have a heart attack when I get the bill!

Hello All :biggrin2: I am finally approved. I have been so inspired by everyone on this wonderful site. I just want to thank you all for sharing your stories Im usually a worry wart but I feel truly blessed and i will concerntrate on that Justice :biggrin:

I just want to inform anyone who is about to have lapband surgery that please beware of your surgeons office charging you a program fee. I was contacted today by my surgeons office and was told that when i arrive for my appointment I am to pay a one time fee of 300.00 which is a program fee. When i asked about when this program fee started i was told that I just started this week. I also asked what did this 300.00 cover and was told that mostly all of the paper work that they need to obtain after approval. It also covered refferals for the nutritionalist and other things. I truly feel that i have been very unfairly treated and that i should not be required to pay this …

Hello all, maybe this message is a little premature since I haven't even attended the seminar yet (July 8th) nor have I seen a doctor about the procedure just yet...but I did call my Insurance company to make sure that they covered the Lap Band surgery and they sure do...they require the 6 months Physician supervised diet and the BMI of 40 or more...I'm at a 41 BMI (height 5'2 weight 225)...I have United Health Care and once my surgery is approved then they cover 80% of all costs....now for my questions lol 1) Can anyone tell me about this 6 month diet thing they require? Were any of you able to get around this? If any of you did the 6 month diet, did you just cheat an…

Hi All!! I just wanted to tell my Lap-Band family that my paperwork is being submitted today for my 8/1 surgery. I just spoke to the nurse and she told me not to worry that all will be ok & my insurance company is pretty good as long as they have everything required (I have it all!)! PLEASE say a prayer for me that I get approved and that my nerves will subside until I do. I feel crazy!! Thanks for all your support...:tt1:

I have my pre-op class today and I was just wondering if anyone else has gone to one of these. How long do they take? What should I expect? Either way I'm really excited because it's one step closer to my surgery in 10 days! :tt1: Also, did anyone do slimfast for 10 days before their surgery? I think that's what I will try.

Hi Everyone! I just started my 2-week pre-op liquid diet on Monday, and today I am super nauseous. I don't know if it's nerves or if this is normal... Did anyone experience this? It's not lactose intolerance, I don't think. Help!!!!

Anyone cheat on their pre-op diet? Any problems with surgery because of it? I am on a 2 week diet, but I had a grilled chicken sandwhich on wheat bread when I didnt have access to my shakes! I also had a cup of coffee. I know, bad! This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do...

Waaaaaaaahoooooo! I have been just FREAKING out waiting on my sleep study results. Been waiting for two weeks (I know, I have no patience). Anyway, they are NORMAL! Yeah for me!!!!! :tt1: I also got my ultrasound results back and they say that my liver is normal size. Do you think that may mean no pre-op diet?

Alright, I had my band 5/14, and one fill 4 weeks afterwards. I have not lost any more weight than the weight from the first week (14 lbs) I am really starting to get frustrated. I'm walking, and eating less than I used to, but I have no restriction, so can still just eat when I want. Obviously, I wouldn't have needed this surgery if I could have controlled that, so I feel like I've wasted my time and money, and I'm getting very irritated, frustrated, just plain pissed off every time I step on the scale. I guess I could use some encouragement from some of you who have success stories with a similar start. I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Kris.

So I have my surgery scheduled for 7/23. The doctor wants me to go on a high protein, low fat, low carb diet for 1 week. I'm so anxious to get going that I want to start sooner and maybe do the diet for 2 weeks, but is this really a good idea? I want to make sure I balance my enthusiam with reality here...

Well my fist visit to the center sure wasn't what I thought it would be. It is actually Lapband Houston office. Dr. Felts does surgery there once a month. I was under the impression I would be examined, and see a doctor. I was given a book to read (actually a very informative book) and talked to a lady a little bit, she was mostly an insurance advocate, and once she found out I was self pay cash, our conversation got shorter. Then the nurse came in, poked on my tummy a little, and told me if I was not a Lapband Solutions patient she would start me on the pre op diet, but that would be up to them to do that when I called them to schedule my surgery, and once I scheduled my…

I went to GNC this evening and was asking about protein powders and shakes that would be best for WLS and the lady told me that most people that have had WLS come in and say their docs tell them to get Isopure. It was on sale...a case of 12 for $36, so I grabbed up a case of blue raspberry. Do alot of ya'll use this for your post op liquid diet, and what is your take on the raspberry taste if you've had it?

So, I was positive that the lap band was right for me and was definitely going to do it in the fall. Well, I have been reading a lot about it and I'm worried that I'm not committed enough and that I won't be able to do it. I have felt very out of control with eating lately, even more so than usual. What if I don't lose weight and I've gone through all of that? But at this point I also feel like I need SOMETHING to help me curb my eating and help all of my health problems!

I've mentally kept a list of things that I want to be able to do "some day when I'm not so big." Let's put down a list together, keeping things specific. I'll start! I want to be able to: Tie my shoes without suffocating when I bend over, or not having to pull my foot up by my pantleg if I don't want to bend over. Sit in an airplane seat without feeling like I am hogging up the other person's seat. Not have to worry about whether restaurant chairs have arms that I have to try to squeeze into. I also have to have a "bonus-sized" office chair Your turn!

Hi I am in the second week of my pre op diet. Medifast 5 and 1 plan. I have to stay on it for a total of four weeks. I get my band on July 22nd. Mushies sound pretty good about now. At least it is working I've lost 7 pounds on it so far and 3 before it on my own. Wow only 163 more to go.:tt2: I am going to look at it in small 10 pound goals along the way so it doesn't seem so over whelming .I joined the rec center today and swam laps for 30 minutes.

in the past month ive really tried to eat better and stick to not eating fast food and soda, ive gone 1 month now without fast food but have had two diet cokes in one month. i know that 2 sodas in one month isnt bad but im not suppose to drink soda period. if i cant stick to it now how will i stick to it after surgery? am i going to fail? i seem to stick to things for a while but then i tend to slip as time goes by. i just dont want to sabatoge things. am i set out for failure? andrea

Hello.. I have been reading ALOT..and the only thing I cant seem to understand is how do you know the size band you need.. I see some have a 4cc band and others talk about a 10 and 12cc band.. I dont get it?? I want to have some info about this to talk to my doctor about. OR is it just up to the doctor?? Any info on this would help ALOT it really is the only part I am not understanding of this whole lap band thing. Thanks.

I am SOOO upset. My surgery is scheduled for Aug 1st. I've done everything required & I'm so ready for this. I went to my PCP for my pre-op testing on Thursday. The bloodwork I did at the beginning to middle of June, (I had edema at the time, all gone now), was 14 and the max should be 10.5. No one ever called me from the drs office to tell me this (SO PISSED!). Anyway, she took new blood for my pre-op testing, but what if it's still high??? I'm hoping the June elevated white blood cells were from the edema in my legs. She put me on antibiotics for a sinus infection that I think I'm getting to be safe. What if the count is still up?? I need medical clearance by 7/17 …

I am being banded July 14th. I am very nervous and excited. I am very interested in how people are doing with returning back to everyday food...

Is it normal for my incision to be oozing? It's the port incision. Its kind of a yellow liquid, its not like pus, it's almost the color and consistency of melted butter. Its a very small amount. I have no other signs of infection....no fever, no chills, no redness around the area, the area is not warm to the touch and there is no odor. I will call my surgeon in the morning but I was just wondering if this is normal in the meantime. Thanks.

Hi, I am scheduled for my lap band surgery tomorrow morning. For the last week I have been really scared and nervous. But today, it's more like disbelief. I keep asking myself - "Am I really having surgery tomorrow?" It just feels unreal. I have waited so long and it's finally here. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated! (Especially for the pre-surgery jitters). Thanks.

Hi, I am new to this forum. I will be done with my 6 months worth of doctor visits for weight loss at the end of July (Insurance requires this before they will think about aproving the surgery) Any way , I like to enjoy a few beers here and there and I have heard that I should go cold turkey and not drink at all for 2 months before the surgery. Is this true? Do some surgeons require this while others do not? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!:thumbup:

Or did any of you have conscious sedation or a spinal block? I see my surgeon's PA 7/15 and I would like to use either for the surgery but I'm not sure that's acceptable.

I am not banded yet, I have all the paper work completed and meetings completed. My mindset is good, I do enjoy looking thru all the postings, sure does help. One of my biggest fears was logging on here and actually writing something. Phew, I did it, I only hope I did it right. I am in the prosess of loosing the initial 10lbs, I have lost 4-5 depends on the day. A bit nervous, My friend had the bypass surgery in march and she is doing great. I so want to be loosing too!

Does anyone know if you can be disqualified for lapband for having insomnia?:thumbup:

Hello! I am only 5 days from surgery and have some questions. Now that it is so close my nerves are KILLING ME. Here are some, anything will help! -How does one throw up after surgery with such restriction? -Is there ever a time when you mourn the loss of eating regularly? -Is the post-surgery liquid diet TOO hard to follow? -How do you know when to get fills? -Do you ever feel the lap band...as in when your just plain walking do you ever go,"oh, i can feel the band!" -How do you approach people who ask you why you aren't eating normally (those who dont know you didnt have the procedure)? -What is recommended, from bandsters, that are good liquid foods tha…

I'm back with more newbie questions....I have my Nutrionist/NP appointment in a few weeks. I've been pulling together all of my medical records but I'm a little confused. NYU askes fo rhte following: Records of a complete physical from your physician, including standard blood test (CBC, comprehensive metabolic, liver test, and TSH) Medical history and physical from your primary care physician, including any co-morbidities (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure) I just had my annual physical (but with a new PCP -- my old one wasn't covered on my insurance) this week. I have copies of the results of my blood tests, pulmonary tests and EKG. However, I'm not qui…