PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

my surgeon has told me that lapbands can last anything between 2 and 15yrs. i am confused becoz I've seen ads for lapbands that last a lifetime and i dont want to have to replace it in a few yrs becoz basically I cant afford to. Can any one shed any light on this please? has my surgeon got it wrong? julia x

Hello all, i am getting banded Thursday, more nervous than anything. But being summer and all i was just wondering how long it will be until i can get back to laying out and swimming?? lol or when will i feel like it??

I've working diligently to get my appointments to have all of my testing done so that I could see the surgeon. I've had to do so many follow-ups to make sure everything is getting done and sent to the surgeon... I've even had to bug the surgeon's office staff to get paperwork to me. I finally was able to make my appointment about 3 weeks ago and received a call this afternoon at 2 p.m. letting me know that they had triple booked appointments and I could either keep my appointment to wegh in only and see the doctor later or reschedule the weigh in. Apparently the office staff weighs you and then if you've lost 5% of your weight they let you see the doctor right after. I ha…

I have been practicing eating smaller bites and chew chew chewing. I have been practicing sipping instead of gulping and practicing eating my Protein first. I have been practicing everything we are supposed to do post-op. Is there anyone else working on this as well? I have found I do feel fuller on less food doing it this way. Must be that brain signal.

I had made an appointment with my cardiologist to get in to talk to him about what was going on with the heart procedure that hes sending me for and what was going on with the lap band and needless to say I discovered a few things.....My blood pressure was 150/100 which is very high for me, and that my PCP's scale is either very wrong or shes not reading it correctly when I weigh in because there was a 38 pound difference between what she had weighed me at on Friday the 6th and what the Cardiologist weighed me at on Tuesday and it wasnt to my benefit...So then the question became were they still going to be able to do the procedure since the doctor has a weight limit. I s…

I have decided that lap band surgery is definatly for me, goodness knows how long i have been struggling with my weight. Anyway i went to my nurse as advised by my doc to talk to her about loosing weight. As soon as i mentioned lapband she just went off on one: "i have known so and so person who has had it done and it hasnt worked for them", "its not a quick fix to loose weight" (which i tried to explain to her that i know, ultimately i am the one who has to loose the weight, but controlling and managing what i eat) but did she wanna listen...ohh no!! "surgery doesn't work" i told her to come to this website and thousands upon thousands are living proof it DOES! even w…

My wife is scheduled for 7AM tomorrow morning. WE are both very nervous and anxious. We know this is a good thing for her but still a little scared. Any suggestions on what a husband can do when my wife comes home? She is expected to stay one night in the hospital (sounds different than most I have read here) I want to do everything I can to make this the best experience it can be for her. We have been married 30 years and she has fought weight problems for 28 of them. I cant wait for her to feel good again and want to be more active.

I am on my way to have lap band surgery ....just trying to do all the necessary stuff pre op. I had to get my a1c taken on saturday in order for my insurance to cover it. My question is if my a1c is high will they postpone my procedure until I get it down some?

Hey everyone, I had my consult today at Cedar Sinai. I have my first appointment with the social worker next monday and with the nutritionist the following monday. My insurance website says that it requires either 6 month program or a 3 month multidisciplinary program. I'm hoping for the 3 month program. Anyone have experience with Cedars Sinai or any of their doctors at CS for the surgery? Feedback would be appreciated.

I'm getting banded this Friday and I was wondering if I would be able to drive myself home on Saturday? (My doc makes you stay overnight) Thanks!

I'm a 1040EZ kind of girl and really do not know much about taxes so this may seem like a stupid question but is the lap band something you can write off on your taxes? My insurance won't cover so I'm paying out of pocket. Thanks!

That's my June lapband date! Who's with me? Man, it's only a week away!

I'm so excited to finally be approved after months of going to the gym and being weighed weekly. It's all paying off now.

I am barely at 40%. The measurement I have at 40% is from jan 2007 and the min requirement is 24 months and so I may have to wait until jan. In the meantime, I need to see a gp to get a referral for the surgeon and eventually a psyche evaluation. I may also need to do the 6 mo nutritionist thing. How certain would the surgeon be that I will be approved? Could the surgeon submit my forms (this month) and then the ins will say what else I have to do to get approved?

Just had pre op appt. Down 18 pounds since starting pre op diet. Tomorrow is the big day and I can't wait to start the rest of my life. Good luck to everyone having surgery this week.:tongue2:

and do u get really sick after wards im wanting to get it done due to health problems i have :confused2:

Has anyone had fatty liver disease before the lap band and how did the band affect it after?

I am looking for anyone who is scheduled for 6/27 that wants a buddy to go through the surgery with... I have to start my pre-op on 6/13 and would love to bounce ideas and suggestions off someone who is going through it with me.... :tongue2:

I got a call today from my Surgeon's office to set up the info appointment. The place Tricare referred me to is 120 miles away. Well I asked the lady how many appointments I would need before the surgery, she said just the info session and the 1 pre op appointment . I thought you needed to go on a 6 month diet or something. I am trying to get in somewhere closer but I would really love to get the surgery sooner rather then later, know what I mean? Is it really this easy to get approved through tricare?

I was wondering how you all chose your goal weight. I know that in order to not be "overweight" anymore I need to be 149...but I have only been that weight once in my adult life and that is when I starved myself to join the Air Force and it was only once...by the time I actually went to boot camp I was 157 and I would say tiny! anyways. how did you all choose you goal weight? Bobbi

:thumbup: Is anybody scheduled to go to Juarez, Mexico with Dr. Rod on July 1st? If so you can PM me so that maybe we can support one another when we get there!!

I've been on the 2 shakes a day and one diet dinner since last Tuesday and have only lost 3 lbs. Does anyone know how much weight we need to loose during the 2 week pre op diet? I've seen where some have lost 20 lbs in these two weeks and I've only lost 3 in one week urgh....

I go for my weigh in today. I've only lost about 3 pounds since my last weigh in and I need to get to 300 before the will re-evaluate me for my 2nd attempt at the surgery this year. (First one failed). I'm stressing because I've felt like I've done as much as I can handle. I feel whiny for not being able to do the full liquid diet thing for two weeks, but then maybe it would be easier if I hadn't been on the liquid diet for so long. I know I've lost a lot of weight and I sound like a broken record dealing with basically the same issue for the the last few months. I don't know what to do. I did the straight liquid diet for four days and lost three pounds. The four…

For those of you that are not telling everyone you are getting or already have the Lap-Band, what did you tell people the surgery was for? Most people will not even know I will be having surgery of anykind, but I will have to tell a few something- like the mom of the girl I babysit for, I will have to tell her to find someone else for a few days or so, she lives close by, so I can't just tell her I am going to be out of town. I have always felt the need to explain myself and I'm too passive to tell her it's none of her business. What did you tell your boss, I guess is my general question? Thanks- Chelle

I am curious. I am reading everyone’s bogs about pain, gas, nausea, etc...and I am beginning to wonder if this surgery is worse or comparable to having a c-section. I KNOW...we are talking about two completely different body parts, however, I had 2 c-sections 14 months apart and I tell ya after that second c-section, I never thought I would ever feel right again. I am kind of a nervous when it comes to pain, so I am just trying to relate this band lapsurgery to something..

I am suppose to have surgery on the 13th, and me and some friends went on vacation this weekend and i bombed my pre op diet.....what should i do?

I was banded 3/8/07 at 344 lbs and weigh 264 now. For the past month I've been losing 3.6 pounds a week. I am not hungry and have no problems with my band yet my doctor wants me to get a fill this week. I am thinking if it's not broke, don't fix it. I don't want to start PB'ing or other things I've read about. Why is he insisting on a fill and if I have to have one, how much should it be for a 10cc band? any responses appreciated.:help:

Hey everyone. I think that this is weird but let me know if this happened to anyone else. June 26 is my band date. June 18 is my preop where i see the dotor and anetheseologist ( i know i spelled that wrong). The thing is, I'm im not going to see my docotor, the one who is doing the surgery. I guess hes busy and theyre having me meet with someoene else. Did anyone else do this? Any input would be great. Thanks

Hi everyone, I am curious to know what everyone thought of their psychological evaluation. I am pre-banded and am not sure if I will have to have one; my insurance (Aetna) doesn't require it, but I just want to be prepared should the bariatric clinic ask me to go through it. What kind of questions do they ask? What advice would you give someone going into this type of evaulation? Thank you! Deb

:scared2:I am so suppose to be on clear liquids for the next 3 days surgery on June 11th will I die or surgery be cancelled because I ate some food I will start right now on clear liquids but I was so hungry do you think if I took a laxative it would help? Please I need some advise?

At 1:30 today, I will be having my surgery. Im very scared, and very excited to start this new life. But the scary part is the surgery. I want nothing to go wrong. I know its different from a c section, but with the c section, I almost died. And this scares me that Im undergoing another surgery. But, I hear a lot of positive results. All I know is when I come home tonight, I wont feel the same as I do now. I have gone from 333lbs, to 316 in 2 weeks, on the liquid diet. So, Im really optimistic about the outcome of the surgery. I can do this and I will make it work for me. Previously I was seeing a doc back in September of last year, doing the HCG pregnancy hormone shot…

Anyone having surgery in Richmond, VA?

I just got off the phone with my surgeon's office, and I am so psyched that they don't have any pre-op diet. Just the 1 day on liquids before the surgery that is req'd for any surgery I assume. They also said that the post-op diet is only 5 days on liquids, 2 days on mushies, and 1.5 weeks on soft foods before I get to solids. That doesn't sound too bad at all. I was a little concerned with their 75% Protein dietary guidelines. That sounds like it will be hard to do long-term. I think they like it because Proteins tend to stay in the pouch longer so you're full longer. But don't you get sick of the same foods all the time???

I was recently banded on May 30, 2008. I am now past the mushy food stage and was wondering how long it will be before I can actually eat a salad. I have not had a fill yet so I am starting to get hungry. Any suggestion on different foods (besides mashed pot.)would be appreciated.

if you wouldn't mind posting your bmi and preop diet my bmi is 39.5-40. my preop is only healthy foods but i am scared thats not enough. i decided to do liquids(clear and shakes) for 2 days before surgery. i trust my surgeon but i can't see how liquids would hurt. i am wondering if the reason for the "healthy" diet and not a liquid diet is because of my bmi only being 40

Hello All, I've finally taken the first few steps of meeting with the surgeon and nutritionist, etc., but am really frightened about scheduling the tests I need and REALLY SERIOUSLY considering this surgery because: 1) I have had gastro problems for many years. Mainly, lower GI problems, such as IBS, mucous colitis and have been on meds (Lomotil & Levsin) for years just to control this enough for me to work and get out of the house. At this point, I am probably addicted to these meds; without them, I'm a mess, with constant gastro pain and diarrhea. My fear is having the LB might make things worse?? My current eating habits are undoubtedly making things worse - p…

I really don't like sweeteners at all, but is there any kind of Jello or anything that doesn't have them.. I would rather drink it in the raw then have that stuff in it.. I drink coffee no surgar, ice tea unsweetened, am I going to have to buy a juicer?? Ahhhh The only time I can tolerate a sweetener is in a diet pepsi or Dr. Pepper which I probably have 4 times a year.. I know that broths don't have sugars, but what else is out there?? I'm trying to prepare myself mentally now for what is to come and this happens to be one of my concerns. I've even tried splenda, but unless you use it in something totally acidic like applesauce with cinnamon to hide it, it still taste…

I got a call Thursday from one of the nurses saying they had a cancelation for June 12 and if I wanted to fill it. (my surgery is scheduled for July 24) I regrettfully told them "no". I leave for a 2 week vacation in Florida the 13th. I told them if it comes up again after the 27th, I'm there, but "I've GOT to go to Florida." Plus as much as I am nervous about my 2 weeks of all liquids, I would have only gotten barely a week of that in and still haven't been scheduled for my pre-opt tests yet. My mind and body have been wrapped around the 24 of July, so that's what I going to do. But it would figure they would call when there's no way that I could move up. They might have…

I have one week down on the pre-op diet. I'm to have 1 protein shake for breakfast, 1 for lunch and then a diet frozen meal for dinner. While during the week I did fine, but being home where the food is, I'm grabbing snacks from time to time. I don't like the frozen diet dinners so I've been eating a salad with grilled chicken for dinner. I have only lost a couple of pounds. How much weight does the doctor need for you to loose before he can do surgery? I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago so I think that will free up some room in there too. This is very hard not eating when everyone else is. Did anyone else struggle with the pre-op liquid diet? If so how did you…

I had my surgery yesterday, and along with my new band, I got a gold star. Apparently the doctor could tell that I worked really hard on my pre-op liquid diet because my liver was really small when he started the surgery. Woo hoo!!!! I didn't cheat once! He said he had performed another surgery earlier in the week and the person didn't do any of the pre-op liquid diet, and it took him 45 minutes longer to do that surgery than mine. So, yes, it was an awful time on liquids, but it was soooooo worth it. My surgeon is funny . . .. "gold star" . . .LOL. I thought that was cute. Anyways, I have to say that this has been the EASIEST surgery I have ever had. I had bilateral …

Does Anyone Know If Its Okay To Have Avacados While On The Pre-op Liquid Diet. Well I Asked My Doc And They Said Non-starchy Veggie's And Some Deli Slices....but I Forgot To Ask How Much..duh! But I Figured Avacados Would Be Good What Do You Think?

Hello everyone! I had my upper GI today... It's been about 5 or 6 hours since I've had it and I'm starting to feel a bit blech in the stomach. Did anyone else feel this way? I've been drinking Water nonstop like they told me to because basically I want this crud out of my system. Is it normal to feel sick afterwards? They didn't mention this to me. Thanks, y'all! SM

I am on my pre-op clear liquid diet. Surgery is next Wednesday. I am having my protein shakes for lunch and dinner. Broth and sugar free jello and sugar free popsicles throught the day. My question is can I have Sprite Zero. It is clear, no calories, carbs, caffine or sugar. My doc is unavailable until Monday. Thanks for your help.

I've really been watching what I eat and have been pretty active and the weight is starting to SLOWLY come off, but it is coming off. My surgery date is in a month, and I just wonder, do I really have to do this? I've done this in the past, but it seemed like everytime I started to lose weight that I got pregnant again during the process and gained it all back and then some. I have 7 kids, so I think that has been the biggest toll on my body. Well I am going through a divorce now and have also had a tubal, so there are no more pregnancies in my future, so I am debating, should I go through with this? Do you know what the hardest part is for me? Giving up diet cok…

My husband wants to go to Mexico to have the lapband because of the cost. It is all out of pocket for us. Any good stories or horror stories? Any recommendations on where to go or not to go? He has it scheduled Nov 12. in Rosarito! Scarey for me but he is determined. HELP

I'm approved through insurance but am currently thinking of moving up my surgery date from July 29 to mid-June. I will be leaving the country for Italy on July 2 and staying for two weeks, which would give me two weeks after I get banded to prepare for the trip. For those post-lap banders, would that have been too soon to travel? If I wait until July 29 I'll have to start a new job soon after I get my band, which sounds much more stressful to me. Of course, I don't want to travel two weeks after surgery if it's not realistic.

I have had to pay for my nutritionist and physc vists because they are out of network. Did any of you have to pay for the Bloodwork, EKG, and Upper GI testing? If so, how much should I expect to cost?

I am so excited. I am scheduled for June 26th at 1PM :wub: I am having a hernia repair done at the same time (an incarcerated umbillical hernia) I have BC/BS of IL :confused: I have already gotten one denial from them. My doctors office has gotten together the requested info (5 years documentantion of weight, sleep study, psychologists report...just waiting on letters from my personal physicians (my old one in MI, and my new one here in CO) I do not however, have the required 6 month medically supervised diet history...sooo...I am expecting another denial. We are just going to pay the lap band portion of the surgery out of pocket (about $5500.00) instead of doing…

Hi everyone. I havent posted in awhile. But, I've had a very difficult journey to get to this place. I had to do PH tests (which involves having a tube up your nose for t24 hours and its hooked up to a moniter). Its extremely uncomfortable. Not fun at all. Both times they didnt work. Then I come to find out they arent really necassary. My office was bad about paperwork and letting me know information. But it's finally over with. I just gotta get through the 2 week protein shake diet. But, my new life is starting. I just cant wait!!!!:thumbup:

Yesterday I was reading a thread about protein and ya'll were explaining high quality protein vs bad cow hide protein. Could someone list what is a good quality protein and which ones are the poor quality? I ask because I am drinking a shake right now that is calcium caseinate and I think that was the cow hide protein:eek:.....in which case the only good thing I can say is at least it was a freebie.