sman342

Smooth Move tea works well. If your constipation turns to diarrhea - don't panic. I thought I had C-diff (google it) from the surgery but it was just the Milk of Magnesia kicking in with a vengeance.

Getting Mirena tomorrow morning at 9:30AM!

The facility I go to doesn't do outpatient.

I had to select between the 2 on my pre-op paperwork. Dr said they were about the same but that Realize had a really good website (that they discontinued in June 2012) and its parent was Johnson & Johnson, an American company. For what its worth....

I have CIGNA too. Fine print says obesity surgery is not covered. Phone rep says not covered. Submitted it just for fun and they are saying I need 3 nutritional and a Dr. recommend. Had surgery before this was settled and don't know where we'll go with this. Whatever you do - just get it in writing because depending on where you reside - CIGNA has different provisions.

I apolgize if you already answered this but I couldn't find it in the thread....did you have the surgery in Mexico. Those prices look very reasonable.

Card? What card? please share.

wow. that looks great. I hear it hurts a lot and you must wear a girdle and no shower for a bit. What was your experience?

Karen - Congrats on the weight loss. Good luck with the surgery. $20K is alot of money but I had a friend give me this analogy to justify PS - you spend more on a car that you have for what, 8 years? But my nose/tummy/whatever, I will have for life. Thanks for sharing the pictures. BTW - my denied surgery is costing me $18K. Fun, fun!!!

I, too, noticed diarrhea with Protein shakes - but I believe its because of the milk. I'm not lactose INtolerant but milk does have a gastric effect on me. I love

I didn't tell anyone - only my spouse. Even my kids think I visited a friend overnight on surgery day. More than being "ashamed" that I had WLS, it's about how I feel being overweight to begin with. Some people are quite forthcoming with their weight, "Ugh, I gotta lose this gut." or "I love Biggest Loser" or "I just started a diet." I'm so self-conscious about my weight, I am never comfortable lamenting about it, as if it is a secret that I am fat. So when it came to surgery - I didn't tell anyone. Just not comfortable with people knowing. Now - that I am on WLS diet, I simply say I'm avoiding carbs, or refuse the food. No, thank you, I'm good. You don't owe an explanation to anyone.

Death isn't the only complication from band surgery, just the most serious one. Personally, I balanced that risk factor with my other co-morbidities - HBP. high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and the quality of life factors - knee problems, etc.

I've been pinned into rides too and wondered, "Geez, it can't be me. Plenty of folks bigger than me walking around this park...." not realizing that none of us fit. Size does matter.

No matter how this one plays out, your mom isn't going to change. So your decision is how you will react to this person in your life. Drawing the boundaries with your mom ("mom, you can't speak like that to Tucker.") would be a start. I know my folks still regard me as 14 years old but when it comes to my kids, that's when I assert myself as the adult that I am.

A great article on ths site, to put this in perspective is "what's so bad about Cheating?" http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/healthy-living/whats-so-bad-about-cheating-on-the-post-op-r78 My favorite excerpt is " "While it’s true that surgeons’ eating instructions vary widely, you signed on with your surgeon, not your best friend’s. Presumably you chose your surgeon because you and/or your insurance company believe that he or she is well-qualified in laparascopic bariatric surgery. During your psych evaluation, you affirmed that you understand what the surgery involves and that you can and will follow instructions. You nodded when the shrink asked if you’re ready to make all the lifestyle changes needed for success. You nodded when the dietitian asked if you understood your pre- and post-op eating instructions. You scribbled your own name on a sheaf of release papers to indicate that you were informed about the risks involved and despite those risks, gave your surgeon permission to perform surgery on you. In addition to all of that, you spent weeks or months jumping through hoops to prove your need for bariatric surgery. Perhaps you suffered through a six-month pre-op diet. You had lots of medical tests and evaluations, most of them not much fun, because you were so eager to get your weight loss show on the road. You had surgery, suffered some degree of discomfort from your incisions and gas, and finally heaved a sigh of relief because all the struggles are over now. But then you discovered that there are still more struggles to survive because of that stupid post-op liquid diet."

I love Unjury powders. I have used the strawberry and chocolate with alot of satisfaction. I found them on amazon.com for $20 and in my hospital's pharmacy for $23. Just for convenience - I have tried Myoplex Lite French vanilla ready to drink and Total Lean Swiss Chocolate by GNC. I've liked them all.

This time next month, you'll be posting that you've lost 15-20 pounds in your 1st month. Best wishes!

I received a form letter from my surgeon's office related to a blood draw on June 22. (Banding was June 14). Normal B12 level is 300-900. Mine is 1030. it simply said "continue taking multi-vitamin". When I Googled this, holy moley - I could have leukemia, cirrhosis! I recall upon hospital discharge, my surgeon said by phone, "yeah, surgery went well. Your liver was enlarged, this is a good surgery for you". My meds include: Lisinopril (high blood pressure) Simvastatin (Cholesterol) Citalopram (depression/anxiety) I just discontinued metformin (PCOS) Anyone have any input or similar scenario?

Learned alot this month. Lost 18 pounds. Taking a family road trip - we r going biking! Sans the car snacks, over creamed coffees and unhealthy rest stops While I am nervous about my ability to lose my weight, I have a happy optimism. It's good to live without dread related to my weight

Memphis - you poor thing - you must be so stressed. I went through same thing on Father's Day bc I have ONLY told my spouse. Everyone thinks I went to a spa for the day. Don't sunburn yourself for an excuse. Just say you are dieting. The LapBand is just a tool that doesn't need to be mentioned. Don't get too detailed like lying about the gluten - it invites more questions.

I'd love to hear a success story.... I have sleep apnea. I've snored all my life at different weights but its been its worst as I gained weight. Has any other sleep apnea patient been able to get off CPAP since losing weight? I'd love to rid myself of this CPAP.

I was surprised by my surgeon singling out frappes as a big cause for lap band "failures". Since these weren't my personal vice, she explained that frappes/smoothies/frozen drinks are a big culprit. I even saw frappes mentioned by name as a problematic food that causes weight gain in LB patients. Dr said patients might reach for these drinks instead of taking time to chew a food. I know these drinks are a problem with gastric bypass patients too - its how they regain or end up with wicked diarrhea. I drank coffee daily as a substitute for Breakfast. I haven't had any since I had to refrain prior to surgery (big 2 day withdrawal headache - treated with Tylenol), No plans to return. My doc limits coffee to one caffeinated per day. I'm allowed as much decaf as I like but since I'm making changes, I've included this one!

I'm sure you are feeling better now. But I'll just share that I TOO was surprised how much it hurt post-op....only bc I thought this was a "nothing" operation. I was challenged by standing up from laying down and bending to pick up. Didn't take long - I'm back in the garden, back reaching deep for laundry, etc.

You had surgery June 27 right? I was banded a few days earlier. I was neurotic earlier bc of not losing over the course of a few days after the initial big loss. Another poster reminded me that It's important to be careful because this is the time for your stomach to heal from surgery. That's the point of the liquid - soft diet. So just a gentle reminder, like the one I got, take time to heal. Follow Dr.s orders.

One of the things I tried to put my arms around was - in the days leading up to surgery - when I wasn't on a diet (wasn't required to follow a pre-op diet) - and could have been enjoying all those last suppers - I didn't have that urge to indulge. Not the same urge to do drive thru or eat the absolutely forbidden favorites. I didn't do the good byes. So, it must NOT be about the food (at least not for me). I haven't figured out what IT is about though...