JULESDARLN

are you getting enough Protein? My doc said to get at least 60g a day or this could happen.

I never had the bad gas pains. I had to stay overnight my first night and after about 4 or 5 hrs, they made me get up and walk every hour or so. Then when I got home I took gas x because I figured I was going to get gas, but it never happened. I talked to my nurse about it and she said it was because I moved around enough to not have it. I don't know. Have you taken the gas x? Are you moving around? Hope that helps some. Good luck with your journey

BTW, posting pics of my cuts for anyone new wanting to see them. When I first got on here, that's the first thing I wanted to see, pics, lol. So I am sharing mine now.

well, never mind, it just told me that it won't be up til the 10th because of maintenance. I will have to post later

Well, looks like I need to catch up, lol, since I did start this thread. I had my surgery on the 26th at 7am. My insurance required that I stay in the hospital 24hrs and I am glad I did. First day was horrible. My blood pressure was way high, my back hurt, I was sore and felt like I was going to throw up, due to the bp and migrane. They woke me up every hour to check my vitals, annoying, lol. Then starting in the afternoon made me get up every few hours to walk down the hall to ease gas pains and build stamina. I am glad I did because I have not once had any problems with gas pains, never happened! I went home the next day at noon, took a pain pill and slept. Something they did not tell me at the hospital was that I could sleep on my side. I usually sleep on my left side, but for some reason I thought I could not do that after surgery and so I slept on my back, which made it hurt really bad. I kept telling them it hurt and they never said turn on your side. So I guess that's my fault kinda for not just doing it. Anyways, after first day at home, I felt great. Was able to get up and walk around, make myself Soup or get Jello, let my dog out. and did not need any pain meds to do it. They only problem I had was everyone I have ever known in my life kept texting or calling me and I could not get any rest. Finally had to turn my phone off. I could have gone back to work on Sunday, I work a desk job, but since I had already asked for 11 days off, I took it . Went and did a post op check on tuesday, dr told me how proud he was of me. His nurse told me that even though I had lost 80lbs before surgery, since I was still a high weight, they thought I would have complications. BUT, once they got in, my liver was tiny and not fatty, my stomache was empty and he said it was the fastest surgery he has ever done in many years he had done them. PAT ON THE BACK TO ME!!!!! He even told me that I could go straight to mushy food and to take it easy. I have not had any problems keeping anything down, I did get a little tight once at the beginning and learned not to eat such a big bite. I go back to the dr's on the 15th to get my staples out and can't wait, they itch! hopefully I can have a fill. Glad everyone is doing good. To be honest, it does not even seem real that I had the band done. I was so fearful that I would be in pain but that has just not happened thank GOD! Oh, and the 5lbs I gained because of Fluid and swelling, lost it, and another 5lbs to go with it. WOOHOO!!!

I am so super excited! I just can't get it off my mind, been wanting this for so long. I was laying in bed today and it really hit me. In 10 days my life will change forever! So ready! Anybody have any advice on what I should do to get ready before and after? Thanks!

mine was submitted on Aug 21st to United Healthcare and approved on Sept 4th. I called them every 3 days to get an update, lol. I called yesterday and was told it was approved! woohoo! Good luck and I hope you get it soon.

good luck!!!! :)

I have not had my surgery yet, but my doc said I may have to stay over because I have to have a hernia repair. This is pretty common so that may be a reason why.

I am not sure what state you live in, I live in Arkansas and they have a state program here called Arkansas Rehabilitation Services that is helping me pay for mine. I think every state has a program like this, you just need to do some research. If I did not have insurance, they would have covered 100% of it. So if you end up having to pay out of pocket, try to look into this. Sorry you did not get approved.

I went to my nutritionist 2 weeks ago and at that time, still had 16lbs to lose before my surgery. She told me to use Body Fortress. I love the taste of them. I use 1 scoop of the choc. 8oz 2% milk, 1cup ice, and a banana. Blend it all up, very yummy. Also I like to use 1 scoop of the vanilla, 1 cup ice, 8oz milk and 1 cup of pineapple. Taste like a pina coloda. I also mike chia seeds in sometimes. 30g of Protein just in the powder and only 170 cal, 2g sugar. BTW, in two weeks, I lost 11lbs! I have two shakes a day, salad with either chicken or fish for dinner and snacks/fruit twice a day. I only have 5lbs to go before surgery can be scheduled. Good luck! Also, if you go on the website for them and sign up for newsletter, they will give you two coupons for $1.00 off. Then you can also sign up on Facebook and get two more. They also have lots of great recipies

I would get a 2nd opinion too. BTW, my evaluation was like150 questions, all the same just worded differently.

glad you are still going to be able to do it. I just wanted to let you know about a program I am using. I live in Arkansas and there is a org. called Arkansas Rehabilitation Services. I believe it is gov. ran. It is to help anyone who has a condition that is keeping them from working or keeping a job. There maybe other reasons also, but in my case, I have a job but because of my weight, it is hard for me to stand for 8hrs and do some of the job requirements. Since I have insurance, they will cover anything that my insurance does not. It pays for my copays, deductibles, and I also have to have compression wraps for my legs that cost over $150 per leg. They cover that and also my physical therapy. When I had to do the psych evaluation, they covered that. I know of two other people who did not have insurance and they covered the whole thing in full for them. It is not something you have to pay back either. My coordinator told me in the beginning that if I did not qualify for the surgery, they would pay for me to be on a program like weight watchers and pay for the cost of my food. I don't know what other states this is in, but it may be worth it to try and do some research. My own Dr who had done hundreds of surgeries had never even heard of it. Good luck with your journey!!! Hope this helps!

I have not had the band yet, and when I started my journey in Jan. I had never heard of it. It was not until about 2mths ago when my Doc moved to a different hospital and I decided to stay at the same office with a different Doc, did I hear about it. The Doc said that it could help with more weight loss in larger people and also helps to keep the band in place. He also said that they do not bill extra for this that it will be included with the lapband price. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to go back to my orig. doc and when I asked him about plication and why he had not offered it, he said that he just automat. does it with the lapband, does not even ask. That kinda put me off, but I really like this doc and respect his opin. and experience. So all of his patients have had it done even if they did not know it.

My insurance required a 6mth nutritionist, 6mths dr visits. Because of my high weight, my dr is requiring me to lose 60lbs before surgery so that I can shrink my liver and also for it to be safer to do the surgery. I have already lost 44lbs in 6mths. I cut out processed foods and fast food. Sodas and sugary coffees are gone. I try to eat only chicken and fish, lots of veggies and fruits. I love slim fast shakes and Fiber one bars. I always have a bar with me everywhere I go so I don't stop and get something if I am hungry. My nutritionist put me on a 60g of Protein, 1000 cal diet. I cut out Pasta, breads, rice. Now, that being said, I have slipped up and cheated some, but I get that out of my system and not beat myself up about it and start over. Good luck with your journey!

I have United Healthcare thru my work and I am covered at 90%. I never called them myself, I had my Doc do it all. They did have requirements that I had to do. Good luck!

Welcome! Well, I don't know anything about the blood disorder or which one would be best for you, that will be between you and your doctor. For me, I only had to go to one seminar, then I decided to go ahead with the lapband. I made an appt to see the doctor, they took all of my insurance info and told me that with my insurance, United Healthcare, that I would have to have a 5yr history of being obese, 6mths of dr visits, 6mths of nutrition classes, a pysc eval, and an EGD. I have one month left til I can submitt all this to the insurance company and hopefully get approved. Oh, also, my dr made me lose 60lbs before he would do the surgery, because I weigh so much and he wants my liver to shrink. Everyone is different and each insurance company wants different things.

Good luck!

I have not had the band yet. My insurance has required me to see a nutritionist for 6mths. I have one more visit to go. It has really helped me out a lot. I know we all have struggled with food or we would not be where we are. We all have done research and we all really know what we need to do. Now we have to really do it, and you have to do it for yourself, when you are ready. Even knowing all of this, it helped to have an expert show me actual serving sizes that I held in my had, or measured out. It helped to know what foods will help out the most and which ones I should choose over the other. She gave me books and pamplets on exercise, eating when bored, what to do instead of eating, etc... If your insurance covers it, I would recommend that you see one too. Good luck with your decision. For me, I always knew I wanted the lap band because with the others, once you are cut and the stomach is gone, it's gone, lol. With the band, it can be reversed if needed.

Glad you asked that, I did not even think of it. I have been too upset about the fact that you can't wear panties, to think of what I will wear home, lol.

Good luck with your journey! I have med. insurance and I never once had to deal with them. Once I found the Doctor that I wanted, I tool all my info to them and they did all the paperwork and stuff for me. They let me know what all I had to do. My insurance required 5yr history of overweight, 6mths dr visits, 6mths nutritionist and BMI over 34. My doctor required me to lose 60lbs before I have surgery. I have one more month to go and 20lbs to go.

Everyone is different. I have United Healthcare and they required 6mths of Dr. visits and 6mths with nutritionist. My nutritionist put me on my diet, went over a lot of information, Portion Control, exercise, what to do when craving stuff... very helpful. When I see my Dr. he just wants to know what I am doing to lose weight and that's about it, less than 15min. lol. btw, my insurance would not take weight watchers or anything like that, that is why I had to see a nutritionist. Good Luck!

Congrats! I am a Chinese food freak too! I am going to miss it, but I would rather be skinny, lol. I would think that the chinese Soup would have alot of salt and maybe even MSG in it. I have not gotten as far as you, I have another mth of visits before I can get approved, but so not ready for liquid diet. Good luck!

I am so excited about getting it done, that I tell everyone, lol. Just realize, you need to do this for you, not anyone else. Some are going to understand and others won't. I am grown and don't need anyones permission, lol. Although I have gotten alot of support, there are some who think I can do it on my own without it. My mom even said that all I have to do is stop eating. Thanks Mom, never thought about that!

I have wanted to do this for years and have done alot of research, but even when I met with my Dr. I realized I did not remember everything I wanted to ask, so I would write it down to ask at the next visit. Also, my band coordn.lets me email her all the time.

Good luck!

Ps. The more I talk about the lapband, the better I feel, and the more support I get, don't be afraid to share.

Good Luck!

My doctor has made me lose weight before surgery, my first visit was in January and he gave me 6mths to lose 60lbs. I have lost 40lbs so far and have one more month to go. He did not give me any drugs, but I do see a nutritionist and they put me on a 1200 cal diet, 60g of Protein daily. I also cut out all sodas, I drink Water only. Cut out fast food, sugar, Pasta. I mostly eat chicken, fish, veggies, greek yogurt, and fruit. I also eat 5tbls of hemp seeds a day. they help keep me feeling full and have lots of health benifits. Good luck!

Good luck Steph! I love how you put you are starting new I am going to think of it like that also. You are going to do great! I will keep you in my prayers!