gottobeme

I am able to get shakes and bars from my clinic. From the research I've done online it looks like they may be the same ones Medifast uses but packaged w/my clinics logo. They are cheaper at my clinic than online from Medifast but the variety is limited to vanilla, chocolate and my favorite strawberry. I have also found some reasonably priced shakes and mixes at Costco. I have tried the vanilla Premier, not bad but very sweet and a chocolate whey protein, I don't remember the brand. I have also tried chocolate Muscle Milk Lite, not bad but pricey.

Is it limited to PMS time? If it is I have no advice other than talk to your doctor if it does happen again. Since you're traveling I sure hope it doesn't. I have not been banded yet but the reason I wanted to respond to your post is because I have been on an anti-depressant for 15+ years. Some doctors would say I should no longer need it and others tell me by this time I know if I need to increase my dose. I have only done this a couple of times over the years but if I start feeling like you have described for a few weeks - month I know that I may need to increase my dose and talk to my doctor about it. I have tried to go of the meds 2-3 times over the years but can tell a big difference in my emotional state when I do. My advice...keep your doctor up to date. I know it may not be much of a help but at least know your not alone, even with extreme PMS!

Hello Everyone, My name is Teri. I am a 43 yr old mother of two. I have a 16yr old daughter and 13yr old son. I have been married 22 years and overweight all my life. My surgery date is April, 13th. Like all of you I have lost, only to gain more than I lost several times. Also, like most of you, I am afraid of failure with the band. When I tell people I am having the surgery I am usually quick to tell them it is only a tool and I can gain the weight back if I don't use it correctly. I try to be open with everybody because I feel it is easier in the long run and may help me to be more accountable in the future. I also hope by letting people know I may make a connection to someone else out there who is contemplating surgery and needs someone to talk to. I have been working with my doctors since August and have lost 63 lbs. I am happy with the weight loss so far but also frustrated with myself because the last month I have been +/- 3 lbs every time I weigh myself. I am not sticking well to my plan so I know it is my fault. I don't know if actually having the date scheduled has added to my lack of stick-to-it-ness (I just made up that word! lol) or not. I am looking forward to a liquid diet so I can start dropping again. Like Elizabethanne mentioned I am also good at sticking to a more rigid diet, but not long term. Unlike several of you I HATE to cook! I think this could be detrimental to me post-op. It is so much easier to pop a frozen anything (high in fat, additives, etc) into the oven. I am being a bad mother most days, when my kids ask what's for dinner I tell them I'm having....(usually some sort of vegetable or a salad). You can have whatever you want to make for yourself. I have a meat lover, a vegetarian, a husband and myself. Did I mention I HATE cooking? I'm not going to make 3-4 single dinners per night. We do keep things they can easily make for themselves, my husband cooks a lot of the time and I do help some, so I don't feel too bad. It's great to see that we have nurses in our group! I am not a nurse but keep thinking about going back to school for nursing or physical therapy (assistant). I did take a CNA class a few years ago but never took my state test to get certified. While I was taking the class I was offered my current job as a special ed aide (which I LOVE) and never went to take the test after passing the class with flying colors. Now that I have a daughter who will be starting college in a little over a year, I just don't see how i can go back to school financially. Sorry for my off topic rambling.

Does your doctor offer support group meetings or nutrician counseling? If so get a head start on things by attending and preparing yourself. If you don't already drink enough water daily use the time to work yourself up to that goal before surgery. I am still pre-op and have been working on these things for months hopefully it will make things a little easier after surgery. Logging your food is also great. I have trouble sticking to this but from everything I've heard food logs/diaries are one of the best tools for long-term weight loss. Hope this helps!

I love this thread and thanks Caribear for the link. I have crossing guard and recess duty at school and even though we have had an extremely mild winter I have found myself colder than I was last year. I have even worn two winter coats at one time some this year. I thought it was probably related to the loss of insulation...now I know I'm not alone!

Kristih, From what I have read on here it seems that doctors advice varies from none to quite extensive. If your doctor has not given you any information maybe he is just in it for the money and not to truly help people to get healthy. Do you have a nutritionist on your team? If not ask if there is one nearby who has worked with wls patients. It will be very important for us to get our Protein in first as well as staying well hydrated. I feel the program I am involved in is quite extensive and am confidant of the support they will offer post op and long term. I have been working with my team since August and have surgery scheduled for April 13th. My current problem is that I am not sticking to my plan and need to get back on track.

Well, our surgeries are in April so maybe we should just be Fools! I started my journey in July. I love the staff where I go and feel they do a very thorough job getting you to surgery. I have been on a modified very low calorie diet since August but have not been sticking to it very well lately. I'm not sure if it is because this is the point "diets" start to fail for me or what is happening. Even since I got my approval and date set I have had a mixture of good and bad days. I am falling into the "hole" of "well I'm having surgery soon so I'll eat what I want now" and need to get past it. From what I've read I don't really know that there is any one thing we can't eat after surgery. It seems it's a matter of making sure the size and consistency will go down and not get stuck or come back up. it seems some people have problems with some foods that others don't. The idea of getting things stuck is probably what worries me most right now.

I've always thought Monday the 13th was the real problem...

Friday April 13th for me!

I straight out asked my surgeon which one he would recommend, and he wouldn't say one over the other. I did get the feeling he would have recommended bypass but stopped short of it. My insurance will cover most of the banding but nothing for bypass so that was a deciding point for me. I also feel I need the follow up required with the band to help me stay on track long term.

I was just approved by insurance last week and have scheduled surgery for 4/13 (yes, I know it's a Friday). Yea! I've been wondering what others have done pre-op as part of their doctors and/or insurance requirements. I feel very fortunate that docs with DeanCare decided they needed to build a "program" when they decided to offer WLS. Since August I have had monthly "group" appointments that are a combination support group as well as 1 on 1 with the doctor, attended support group meetings, had a psyc eval, met with a nutritionist and attended informational meetings offered by the department. As part of my personal pre-op plan I have been on a modified very low calorie diet, a combination of protein shakes, bars and healthy foods. I have lost 63 lbs so far (+/- 3 lbs lately), my top weight was 270. The only drawback I see for myself is the lack of banders in my area. This site has been wonderful for me. I have not yet met anyone who has a band, only bypass patients. My insurance will only consider covering the band, and I feel more comfortable with a foreign object in my body rather than re-routing my insides so I guess it's a win-win for me.

Thanks 1shauna1. I will update you when I hear from insurance.

Hi! I am pre-op and looking for a mentor. I was recently submitted to insurance and am waiting for the result. The program I am going through is very thorough so I can be pretty sure I will be approved. I have lost 62 lbs in 6 months working with Dean Weight Management Program (I have Dean Health ins in South Central WI). My weight loss has slowed significantly recently. I love the staff that I work with and have attended a couple of WLS support groups there. The drawback of the support groups is the lack of LB patients. Most have had RNY, for several reasons I have chosen the Lap Band. The fact that my insurance will cover most of it and none of a bypass also "weighed heavily" on my decision. I hope to find someone willing to give me pre-op and post-op advice as well as what to expect long term, i.e. getting to the sweet spot, plateaus, the need for long term support. With the internet I don't think I need someone who lives in my area, just someone willing to give advice and help me stay positive!