faithmd

I'm almost choked up here reading your WONDERFUL NSV! I hope that someday I am also able to do that. You are one of the people here that I find most inspiring and I am so happy for you that you've gotten to this point. CONGRATS!!!

Unfortunately only your insurance can answer that for you.

I've finished all I'll need to (hopefully). I have my psych eval, my letters of clearance for the cardiologist (one from the NP, one from the doctor) copies of all my EKG's for the past year, my stress tests for the past year, my labs, and Hurley already has me MD notes. Now its waiting.

You apparently haven't done much research yet... (j/k) Some MD's require two weeks of clear liquids post op before moving up to creamy liquids for two weeks, then to mushies for two weeks, then food. NOT every MD does this, but it is fairly commonplace. And yes, it does sound like it would SUCK! I'm hoping mine won't require that, but if he does, then I guess I'll have to do it. I want this to WORK and I want to avoid as many complications as possible. And Welcome!!!

I do not know of any. But if you are a low BMI my guess is that you will be self pay. Therefore I would suggest you look into going to Denver to Dr. Kirshenbaum (I think that's the spelling) there's a whole thread here dedicated to him and his website is www.lapbandrockies.com Another option is to go to Mexico, you'll find lots of threads about going to Mexico as well. Or there is a Dr. Mark Pleatman in the West Bloomfield area who offers banding for $12450. I do not know what his BMI criteria is. His address is www.laparoscopy.com I suspect at a very low BMI you might have to go to Mexico. I wish you luck and look forward to hearing more about how you are coming along.

I have cilantro growing year 'round but have never tried the sprouts! I will do that tomorrow if I have any in that stage. Mmmmmm I LOVE CILANTRO!!! thanks millions for the suggestion, BB

Here's a couple links to threads that have asked similar questions, hope they help!: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/protein-shake-recipes-t23178.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/isopure-t29431.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/protein-powders-t28161.html

Trader Joe's Yogurt Cheese Cilantro dip Trader Joe's Garlic Dill Pickles

Japchae Mango Sticky Rice

You got it right!! :) Again welcome, and happy reading and posting! This is a great place for info and support. It's nice to have you here.

Here it is, hopefully it will stay there, but it is in someone's Photobucket, so it could go away eventually:

Have you been working out more? Even if you haven't, with the increased Protein intake post band, you could easily be gaining muscle mass and losing fat. Muscle is three times heavier than fat, so if you had a piece of fat that is 5 lbs and a piece of muscle that is 5 lbs, the muscle will be about one-third the size of the fat. I'll see if I can find the picture I've seen of it.

D'Oh! I thought you were in Grand Rapids. Why did I think that? I'm a nit. You're closer than I thought. To the OP, you can try Dr. Mark Pleatman in Southfield, or Zoe Deol in Troy.

One way (quickest) is to go to the bottom of this page, see where it says "Forum Jump" ? Click the arrow next to the box, then scroll down until you see Canada, then click on it. Another idea is to go to the top of the page and click the LapBandTalk logo, it will take you back to the home page, you can then scroll down the page and look at all the different forums out there. Happy surfing!

Hello there! Here's a link to a whole thread dedicated to lower BMI Bandsters: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lower-bmi-bandsters-t26697.html?t=26697

Welcome AuntEm, congrats on being banded and having your first fill. If you do some looking around on here you'll find lots of info! Yes, that is a theme that is VERY prevalent amonst bandsters: when do I get restriction? There are a few Bandsters who never get a fill, but it seems most say it's been between 3 and 6 fills before they hit their "sweet spot." (I've been kind of keeping informal track of the responses I've seen so I know what to expect.) Some folks it takes more. Good luck!!!

I second what Jack said, and if it's the same office and ANYONE starts to make you feel bad, stop them mid-sentence. Tell them you know you'e messed up but making you embarrassed is the reason you never came back before. You pay them, not the other way around, they should be concerned about client satisfaction. Just say something like, "I don't appreciate you talking to me like that, it doesn't help."

I won't tell, either... Drink some wine and spill it, woman!!!

Wow, I never guessed they'd cover glue with tegaderm. That's a new one on me (I love learning new things!). Thanks to everyone for responding, I've got four days till my first consult, so keep 'em coming!

They finally called, eh? I really wish they'd post something on their site, or call everyone at once, instead of waiting until almost your appointment day and *then* springing it on us. But then again we've discussed their lack of organization around there, haven't we? Doesn't make it any easier, though. Grrrr. I'm very sorry it got bumped back, and I know this doesn't help much, but at least it is only four days. Four more days to gather those last minute supplies and buy some more good books to read post-op? Like you I try to look at it as glass half-full. (Like with them bumping me back twice for my appointment, I used the time to get even more ducks in a row.) Boo Boo Kitty had Dr. Wagner as an assist in her surgery, she said he's just WONDERFUL. I'm seeing him Tueday, so I'll let you know what I think (I've been dealing with surgeons for more years than I care to admit, I'm very, very particular.) Not too much longer now... I'll count down with ya! Hugs, Faith

I'm so sorry you are going through this rough patch. I hope you feel better very soon. Keep posting here, and we'll keep encouraging you to get through this. Hopefully it will be a speedy recovery. Nooooooo, don't do it!!!!! It could be the worst thing right now. (Lots of folks have problems with breads, though most also report toasted is easier). If you have an intestinal infection of some sort (lots of stuff *is* going around these days) you really do want to rest your gut.

I think I just replied to this one. But this thread is in the Complications Forum? I'm feeling a litle DejaVu. You are not alone, I have read literally TONS of threads here from folks who are or have been frustrated like yourself. I have not yet been there, but I have read that it is just awful. Use the search function and search for pre op diet or weight loss before surgery and you'll find many other stories like yours that may offer some good advice for you. Here's a list of a few links to some threads here about it: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/pre-op-diet-t26167.html?t=26167 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/1st-day-pre-t30175.html?t=30175 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/3wks-go-and-t28858.html?t=28858 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/newbie-preop-diet-t28953.html?t=28953 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/hard-time-pre-t28542.html?t=28542 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/heck-do-you-t26526.html?t=26526 I hope it helps.

You are not at all alone, there are TONS of threads here about this very subject. Use the search function and look for pre op diet. You will get through it, just think of the positive change this will make in your life. Here's a few links to other threads about this subject, hope they help: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/pre-op-diet-t26167.html?t=26167 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/1st-day-pre-t30175.html?t=30175 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/3wks-go-and-t28858.html?t=28858 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/newbie-preop-diet-t28953.html?t=28953 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/hard-time-pre-t28542.html?t=28542 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/heck-do-you-t26526.html?t=26526

I'm hoping I'll be okay with eggs, I love them and eat them at least five times a week. And I LOVE the fat free smoked turkey Ball Park Franks. 45 calories each. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

You can also watch it on orlive.com, no registration needed. You'll find it in the previous webcast section along with a bunch of interesting ones. Thanks for posting the site you found, I love watching surgery up close. Isn't the net a great thing sometimes?