rmalikone

I believe it's an insurance requirement for most..Some have to do the supervised diet even longer than 6 months, but that seems the average. Sometimes they can use prior weight loss attempts like W.W. hospital supervised diet programs, medical WL etc..because that is documented proof that you've tried and failed. Your probably meeting the surgeon so that he can answer any questions you might have prior to surgery. And it also takes time to have the tests that they usually require prior to having a LB. Some tests that are done include ( vary) are a stress test, endoscopy, Phys eval. Good Luck.

X2

Hi Fabulous....Im not banded yet either but i met with my surgeon and have just finished all my pre-op testing AND 6 month supervised diet with my PCP. It seems like many insurance companies require this...for different reasons as a requirement for possible approval. Basically, you need to visit your PCP to be weighed in by your DOCTOR and discuss/implement a weight loss program and exercise program. I pretty much maintained my weight during the 6 months (up and down a pound or two here and there). My surgeon's office gave me a form that the doctor had to fill out each of the 6 months that will be submitted to the insurance company with the tons of other reports from all of the testing that I had to go thru.

Hope that helps....good luck...it does seem like a lot to go through...i'm just trying to focus on the end goal of getting banded.

Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the insurance company unless you self-pay....i've jumped thru all of the hoops and within the next week or two will have all my stuff submitted and i hope and pray, like many others before me, that i will receive insurance approval without any problems...

...good luck!

X2

Sure! I like to think of myself as a foodie as well, and I have managed to be quite successful. I have also had a set back with some weight regain. My point is, if you follow the "rules" you can still be successful and plan, shop and cook to your heart's content. Promise. You just have to choose healthier choices and believe me, healthier, fresher food choices can be amazing. It was very hard for me in the beginning as I am originally from the Deep South and raised on country cooking and soud fool. Soooo good, unfortunately not always good for you! Take your time, don't be too hard on yourself and enjoy!

Thats great to know.

food in all it's different scenario's from TV competitions to me cooking. Takes a lot of my day up.

I grew up in the north of ethnic heritage mostly Italian, and Polish but share your connection to good cooking. I don't think there is a regional food disease;)

I've chitterlings and other numerous Southern delights as they say every part including the oink. I knew about boiled peanuts, decades ago.Just waiting to get to the next phase to cook up some collards in the garden, and maybe some kale chips. The Italian food is the one thats going to be hard!

i havent had a shake in 3 days i just cant stomach it im on broth and clear liquids and im dying i have 5 days left til i go in for my next stage of mushy foods. your not the only one.. ive vomited once already and have been dry heaving every time i try to drink a shake.. ive even got the clear kind and every other kind nothing will go down and stay down .. sucks doesnt even cover the feeling..

you talk to your Doc yet?

The only other thing I can think of is getting unflavored Protein powder and adding it to juice or broth. But...even the supposedly "unflavored" seems to have a bit of a taste.

What brand shakes have you tried?

Bought @ Wallyworld (whey and muscle milk,and eas myoplax). I'll look for the unflavored stuff at the drug store.

Two and half days till phase 2,(chicken,fish, veggies in the bullet). So I go to the supermarket and I'm in heaven shopping in the aisles and freezer cases, I only buy good stuff. What really concerns me is I'm totally addicted to food! Well I already new this but just the joy being in the supermarket and thinking how I'm going to cook chicken tenderloin and some peppers out of the garden or maybe some fresh green Beans w/ that chicken. I concerned that being so involved with growing, shopping, cooking and eating food is the center of my universe! I don't know if that will ever change! Should it change? I know the eating part has to, but can I be a Foodie and and still reach my goals.

Congrulations and Good Luck

I have 7 more meals of Protein Shakes to choke down before Doc puts me on the next phase. They make me sick, I bought numerous brands hoping one or two I could drink. Well the truth is they all are terrible (IMO), is there anyway around this? I don't mind anything so far but shakes make me gag! Any way to get Protein and Vitamins in my clear broth, juice etc.

Is there a way around the protein shakes!

Never had the shoulder pain, but as for pain at night I took the pain medication especially at night, then only at night.

Does that work??? I feel like I need to relieve some pressure. I was banded today and my belly is tight.

Yeah it works, I learned it form my wife.

Incompetency, seen my fair share of it on this journey

Sometimes you need to move the gas out the other side. Not trying to be gross but put your head low while on your knees and have your backside up high.

I chose the band because of lower complications and reversible. I feel what I needed was a constraint/restriction. I am 4 days post-op and things are going swimmingly, not that some problems aren't ahead, but feel with the band restricting my food amounts, I think that I have a good chance to succeed! One of the worries is that I could not lose the weight before and the band does not do it for you! But I still feel what it will do is help me! So it's more of a tag team match against my obesity. I did not want the inside of my body changed without the ability to restore it! We all want to change the outside!

Today is day 4 post-op and just drove about 100 miles.

I do go to fast, and to much at a time. I know that I'm going to have a problem with theses two steps. Even with the Clear Liquids I'm to fast, and have a small amount of discomfort! Now I know that it is the cause of the discomfort. Hope that I didn't stretch my stoma out or any type of damage?

I think one day in the hospital would be nice, but my BCBS would not cover it.

First day that I moved off of just Clear Liquids. With my Protein Shake this morning, made me a little nauseated and broke a sweat. Is the shake stressing my system?

Your Doctor should be telling you the amounts.

Take your BMI and multiply by .36. So if your BMI is 34.7 then you multiply it by .36 to get 85 grams of Protein a day.

Don't know if I'm doing something wrong ? 34.7 x .36 = 12.492

Yeah, thats the norm. They had me on 1800 and I did not do good by any means and I did kept up with all the appointments and was banded at a higher weight! I'm not saying that would be how it works with you. Most of my PCP appointments were at the same weight as I started, the last month I gained a couple pounds.

I would look into myfitnesspal.com

Banded Monday the 8th, day 2 started to fill with gas, started to move and walk and the gas started to pass, still have it today but the pain and bloating is less.

I also have been sleeping quite a bit, which makes trying to get the amount of liquids down harder. But each time I wake I feel small improvements

I'm 12 hrs post op and Doctor wants me to drink 48 oz clear liquid. I'm have a hard time drinking, it takes me a hour to drink one cup, I have a lot of gas that I am burping.

I noticed a lot of people talk about how they used to eat (calorie laden this and fatty that). I ate about 75% of the time, light/low-cal foods like FF Lays chips, diet cola,94% FF micro popcorn, light mayo, pam, lean meats,tuna in Water, ECT... and I'm still fat.

I know that I ate to much period! More calories in than burned! With my surgery tomorrow morning will eating the same type of foods work for me or hurt my progress because of familiarity? Will the band help keep me full enough?

Thank you everyone!

Went to youtube and a Doctor talked about the difference between the two, the only difference between the two is the profile (thickness) of the Realize port.

As for the poster that states realize is a low pressure band - true - but Doc said that Lap-band is now low pressure.