doglover

Hi everyone, I've been a lurker for quite a long time but this is my first posting. I had my sleeve surgery done last Wednesday (12/13). I'm feeling so, so, NOT normal yet and I'm scared I've made a mistake. Hmmm, where to begin about how I feel? I know this is strange, but I'm going to make a short list to keep it succinct: 1. I feel scared because I'm thinking about food so much. I know this surgery wasn't supposed to lobotomize the overeating part of my brain (lol) but I really thought food would be the farthest thing from my mind right now. I thought that food thoughts would only come into play once I began eating solid food (stage 3, according to my surgeon). Am I this addicted to food that I crave it even through all this discomfort? Does this mean I'll never get my body, and my mind, healthy when it comes to food? 2. I also feel scared because my body does at times, during the day, feel some hunger. It's true that it's not anything like what it used to be. I'm getting in my 64 ounces of Fluid and 3 Protein shakes (and getting in that fluid is no picnic, let me tell you), so why do I feel hunger? I'm trying so hard to learn the difference between head hunger and real hunger, but sometimes it just feels undeniably like real hunger. Is it premature for me to think I am not going to be a success story? 3. I'm still having quite a bit of pain, which I'm trying to manage with just Tylenol but sometimes I need to take the stronger stuff but then I feel so out of it and not able to be there for my little girls. My husband has been amazing, but I feel like I'm putting SO much on him and now he's sick. Also, there's the lovely ongoing diarrhea - with the anxiety right along with it that I shouldn't be still experiencing it. I need to check in with my doctor on that one. 4. I'm a bit of a control freak and it's hard to see the house messy but no energy to do anything about it, but I need to get over it. 5. My surgeon can be a bit of a jackass, and I hate what I wuss I've been around him. It's like I've lost myself. Usually I'm much stronger than this, but he's supposed to be one of the best and I just really, really wanted to have this surgery. 6. I want to go to support group but may not be able to start for another week due to not being able to drive yet. But even when I go, I feel like I have so many emotions but yet I know the meeting isn't about just me. Friends (and I don't know you yet but I hope you will soon be friends), this is rough. Please help me feel not so alone. I promise that if you help me with any reassurance and wisdom, I'll pay it forward and help the next lost person who needs help. Sorry about the total lack of succinctness! And thank you in advance for your help.

Thanks again, guys. I'm reading your posts with tears running down my face - I guess I really, really needed your kind words.

Thanks so much, guys. Just knowing you are out there is comforting! I was on Prevacid pre-surgery and I'm still on it - so I have the acid thing covered (or so I hope). My doc does 2 weeks Clear liquids, then 2 weeks full liquids, then soft foods, etc. I know this will be a hard part of the journey because, let's face it, clear liquids suck! Oh - and I misspoke. I did count the 3 shakes as part of the 64 ounces of liquids

Hello, I am a newbie here. I have been researching Lap Band surgery for quite awhile now and have decided it's the right choice for me. I'm a self-pay patient and live in Nashville, TN. I'm trying to decide between Baptist and Centennial Hospitals to have the procedure done. I have researched them both, met surgeons at both places and feel very good about the quality of both choices. I'm pretty risk-averse and as a self-pay patient, I feel pretty strongly that I would want to buy BLIS insurance to cover myself if things go wrong (erosion, slippage, port issues - plus problems stemming from the lapband that insurance may not pay for because they excluded the original procedure). Here in Nashville Baptist has a lower self-pay price ($12,000) but does not offer the option of buying additional insurance. Centennial is more expensive right off the bat ($14,500) but offers the option of BLIS insurance. The insurance is definitely expensive, which is of course a bummer. Centennial offers BLIS in 6,12 and 18 month increments. You have to buy separate coverage for each category (i.e. slippage, erosion). So, I could buy 12 months of erosion insurance, 18 months of slippage, etc. Can people please give me opinions about this? I know it all comes down to my own comfort zone, but I would really appreciate any input. Is it better to choose the lower cash price but no BLIS option? Or, the higher cash price but BLiS option (which also adds a lot of expense)? Thank you so much in advance for your input!!

Hello, I am a newbie here. I have been researching Lap Band surgery for quite awhile now and have decided it's the right choice for me. I'm a self-pay patient and live in Nashville, TN. I'm trying to decide between Baptist and Centennial Hospitals to have the procedure done. I have researched them both, met surgeons at both places and feel very good about the quality of both choices. I'm pretty risk-averse and as a self-pay patient, I feel pretty strongly that I would want to buy BLIS insurance to cover myself if things go wrong (erosion, slippage, port issues - plus problems stemming from the lapband that insurance may not pay for because they excluded the original procedure). Here in Nashville Baptist has a lower self-pay price ($12,000) but does not offer the option of buying additional insurance. Centennial is more expensive right off the bat ($14,500) but offers the option of BLIS insurance. The insurance is definitely expensive, which is of course a bummer. Centennial offers BLIS in 6,12 and 18 month increments. You have to buy separate coverage for each category (i.e. slippage, erosion). So, I could buy 12 months of erosion insurance, 18 months of slippage, etc. Can people please give me opinions about this? I know it all comes down to my own comfort zone, but I would really appreciate any input. Is it better to choose the lower cash price but no BLIS option? Or, the higher cash price but BLiS option (which also adds a lot of expense)? Thank you so much in advance for your input!!