Meglvn100

So today is my Birthday & I'm going to the movies for the first time since being banded. I'm still on mushies right now. Anyone have any suggestions for snacks to sneak into the theater? I love movie popcorn & want to have something in it's place.

Thank you everyone!

I am almost 2 weeks post op & still on a liquid diet. I only have 2 more days left before I introduce mushies, but just within the past few days my weight has gone up! I don't understand how if I'm only having liquids I could be gaining. Did this happen to anyone else? It's freaking me out a bit that I am one if those statistics that the band is not going to work for. I'm following Dr orders, I'm walking every day, & I'm drinking my water. The only thing I can think the cause is that I'm not getting enough calories. I'm getting at the least 500 a day which was considered acceptable from my Dr at this stage. I need encouragement :-(

I was banded one week ago today. Yes it's normal. I had it too. It made me think at first it doesn't feel right but then again my whole body didn't feel right due to the anesthetic. I wasn't sure. But I read and read and read about gas pain and walking so that's what I did. I've been walking a mile every day to feel better. By day 4 & 5 I began to feel more like me. It does get better and better. Today I feel good, I'm even going back to work tomorrow instead of next Wed, my original plan. You guys will see it through! Walk walk walk :-)

I had surgery on the 19th last Fri & today I have been able to pick up my 19 month old, he's 27lbs. I just have to be careful & try to remember to lift w/ everything other than my tummy muscles. My husband has to go back to work tomorrow so I am forced to do it as well. My Dr said I would be fine the day after surgery to lift him, but I beg to differ on that one. I still am not able to bend over the tub though. I'm just going to have to make sure my husband dies that before bedtime. Other than that I feel pretty good. Just be sure to listen to your body, not everyone recovers the same.

I was just banded the 19th, my Dr only had me on clear liquids for the first day as well & now I can have full liquids. Maybe you should check w/ your Dr to see if they meant full liquids not clear. I think that the clear is the most torturous, I can hang w/ full. Also if you do have to stay on clear I've tried the Isopure protein drinks, they are considered a clear liquid, they're not too terrible & it would help w/ your hunger. Just remember it's not forever, you do get to eat regular food soon. You can do it!

I just had my surgery yesterday. The gas is slightly painful. I was wondering how many of you took chewable Gas X at this point? Since I'm only on liquids I was concerned if it's ok. Any advice from my now fellow bandits?

Getting banded in 7hrs!!! Can't believe it. I'm excited, scared, nervous, an emotional mess to say the least. Don't think I'll be able to sleep. Hope it goes well.

I feel the need to share of the protein drink I found by chance. It's GNC's Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. It is soooooo good. I have chocolate. One serving is 3 scoops, sometimes I just use 1/3 or 1/2. It has 280 cals, 7g carbs, 2g sugar, & 60g protein! Everyone should try it.

So I'm on day 3 of liquid diet, anyone have any suggestions of things to "eat"? I was thinking I may be able to have fruit smoothies but do you guys think that's a mushie or full liquid? If I get full liquid votes, I'm getting one ASAP! Lol

I just love everyone's response & questions on here! It makes me feel very supported & supportive. Just wanted to say thanks first. Now, NJGirl-I haven't ever made a full one I usually just do 1/3 or 1/2 a serving & thank you I will take your suggestion on the total lean. Foodlover-I have mixed it w/ both Water & I use Lactaid Fatfree Milk both taste good. The milk taste better but it adds more calories, of course. Flamingjun-If I use one scoop then yes only 4oz liquid, or if I use 1 & 1/2 scoop 6oz liquid. Good luck! MelissaNY-You could still try it & break it down like I have. A half serving is 140 cals & 30g Protein, not too bad. Sorry for the late reply everyone. I hope I have helped.

Hey everyone! I have my surgery date on the 19th, FINALLY. I'm starting to get the worries of being able to tend to my little boy after surgery. He's only a year & a half. My main concern is being able to pick him up. My husband only has 2 available days off to help me, & I don't really have anyone else to do so. With the surgery being on a Friday that gives me only 5 days of recovery before I need to be capable to lift my toddler. I was just wondering if there's anyone out there that has small children/child that had the same problem or had a solution. I'm not really sure what the criteria is for lifting after surgery. I have a call in to my Dr but have not had a response. I'm worried that even whatever the Dr has to say I really don't have any choice I have to take care of my baby. Any words of advice my fellow lapbanders?

Thank you all. I can definitely take him to daycare, but my worry is lifting him out of his crib, lifting him to get him dressed & changed, lifting him into his high chair to eat, & lifting him into his car seat to take him to daycare. My husband leaves the house at 4:30 in the morning to go to work so I won't have his help in the mornings. Do you guys think I will damage anything by doing all this?

My Dr's office just called to schedule my surgery. OMG! Finally this is happening. I'm having a hard time figuring out when to do it though. My best friend of 12 yrs is getting married. I'm in the wedding & want to make sure that I'm feeling good. My questions for everyone is if I have my surgery 4 weeks from the wedding, 1 How was everyone feeling by then, & 2 I know this might be ridiculous but when my friends & I have a party, we PARTY, so how long did everyone wait to have a cocktail? I know I can party without it but I wouldn't mind having one or being able to toast with some wine? Any advice would be great!

Can anyone tell me what their cost was for the surgery in the southern CA area? I do have INS, but it doesn't cover much. I just would like to get a ball park idea of how much it will be out of pocket. I know it all depends on surgery center & Dr. Just need an idea though.

So when I began this process one of my first questions was, how much out of pocket? My lapband financial coordinator contacted my INS co & they told her that I'm 80% covered w a $500 deductible. She also told me that w their team they waive the excess 20% so naturally I was like ok let's do this! Well today the financial coordinator called me & said that whomever they spoke w from my INS gave them the wrong benefit information! So for a whole month I've been moving forward w the process ie: sleep study, endoscopy, psych evaluation, nutrition consult, travel expenses etc... Also come to find out that my Dr is not even in network for my INS! My only options now are to pay out of pocket, change to a different Dr who is in network, & even then I don't have as much coverage as I thought, or cross my fingers to get financed for everything. I am at a loss. I know I don't have enough to pay out of pocket. I really loved my Dr & team, & I'm not sure I could get financed. I feel soooo utterly defeated & sad today I'm beside myself. It was such a huge life changing decision in the first place & now to have it all taken away by someones mistake. Please if anyone has any knowledge of how to work this out I would greatly appreciate ANY information or ideas.

Fran & Erika Thank you for your kind encouraging words. I really needed them. My family & friends are really supportive, but to hear it from those of you that have expeirenced the emotional rollercoaster of the decision is very helpful. Fran, My INS is BCBS also. My biggest hurdle that I face is that my INS only covers $7500 (I know I say only like that's nothing I do realize it is better than nothing) but I am then faced w how to pay for the rest of it. I plan to contact my INS co. My financial coordinator filed a formal complaint against them & she recommended that I do as well. My only thought on that is what good is it going to do me. I think that the reason why she wants me to is to help them get paid for all the tests I've done already. My plan is to call them to find a Dr in network for me, contact the Dr & figure my options of excess payment. My other concern is if all the tests I've had done are transferable, were yours?

I just had my sleep study last weekend, & also have Anthem. My Dr includes everything ie: sleep study, endoscopy, stress test, surgery. The way it was explained to me is that it's all inclusive. My only cost is my deductible. So from my understanding yes it's covered.

I just got home from my endoscopy. The Dr found a hiatal hernia & said it would be fixed when I get banded. Anyone else have to have one fixed? How was your recovery?

Thank you for your responses. I had a little voice inside of my head telling me something is causing my nightly heart burn. I'm glad the Dr wil fix it.

What is the website address that we need to enter?

I'm soooo glad you posted this. I have been doing the same thing & those thoughts were going through my head as well. I'm at the very beginning stages of the process & often doubt myself too. It makes me happy to hear I'm not the only one. Thanks for reading my mind dixiechick.

Thank you every one for your response. I know that she's probably that 1% that something was wrong, it just causes my brain to go into overanalyze mode, & I think what if I'm that 1% too. Anyway I'm still going on. I have my sleep apnea test this Fri, & endoscopy Sat morning. Thank you all. I need all encouraging words possible. And Mike to answer your question, she said that solid foods would never go through her band. Always got stuck & then forced to vomit, even w chewing obsessively.

Hey bandders, I have been doing tons of research on the LB for over a year now, trying to decide if I should move forward w the process. I have even been lurking around on LBT just taking it all in. Went to my seminar/consult this week & finally made up my mind to YES moving forward! The only people I now that have WLS have had the bypass, wich I know is not for me. Then this week I met my first Lap Bander. She told me that she never once got to eat solid food, only got to mooshy stage post op. She said she tried everything, & did everything she was suppose to, still no solid food. She then begged her surgeon to take it out after a year of trying w no success & he refused to do it! She had to find a different Dr to remove it for her, & that took another year of convincing. So she was in misery for 2 years of never being able to eat solid food, & now a month after it being removed she's terrified to eat. This has left me very unsure now. I think I'm getting cold feet. Is this a common situation? Anyone heard of this happening to other people? Is it rare? Help me get my head back in it.