bbjerseygirl

Hi. I have a BMI of 37 and need to lose 90 lbs as well. Doc said I was not a candidate for bypass. He explained that with the Lapband you lose weight more slowly but you have a better chance of keeping it off and the body responds better and reshapes better. People who should do bypass are people excessive and at a health risk and need to lose faster. Also with bypass you can regain the weight because the stomach stretches again. With LAPBAND, you have a built in maintenance plan. If you regain some, go get an adjustment. With gastric, there is no more adjustments. Also, if you don't like it, it can be removed. Gastric is permanent. Also LAPBAND has less complications and less recovery time. You'll make the decision that is right for you when the time comes. Good Luck

My doctor says absolutely no soda after surgery. We aren't suppose to be drinking before surgery either to help with after cravings. She stated that it could make you sick and could cause pain and discomfort from gas because the pouch is so small and there is no release except for up. The side effects later on can stretch the pouch and eventually reverse your fill. It seems that everyone tries their own thing eventually and tries what they want and it works for some and not others. I would strictly follow what doc says for your better benefit. Everyone can cheat but you are only hurting yourself in the long run. I am too addicted to diet soda so this is a difficult change but I am not going to do surgery and allow a sode to ruin it for me. I am also a big bread fan and supposedly you can't have that either because it expands and can reverse things or make you feel sick. Go with your best instincts, you'll know for yourself what you can handle or not. Good Luck!

I haven't been banded yet, but I know that if you don't eat at least the required calories your body goes into starvation mode and you can actually gain weight - yes by eating too little. This is for any diet plan. You need to shake up your metabolism and maybe (if you can)eat a little more than what is required and then go back down. My nutritionist said today that plateaus can happen soon after surgery and they recommend increasing calories and then decreasing. They also said that it is all liquids (8 oz over 8 hours) for one month and no solid of any kind. She stated to expect to lose 15 - 20 lbs first month. I think you are right in the ball park and are doing fine, especially if you haven't even had a fill yet. Stay positive, it will happen for you. You waited a long time to have surgery and you got it done so now it's a weight for loss. Good Luck!!!!

Sounds like low blood sugar which I suffer from. If I don't eat I get extremely weak, sweats, feel shakey. What is best to do in the case is eat some protein. Save some of your chicken portion for late in the day. Best thing to do is eat throughout day 5-6 meals. If you are only allowed one chicken breast cut it up to last at least 2 meals with your broth. it is going to take your body time to adjust but you can do it. Do it for yourself and not for those women. They'll never know what you have been through or going through so who cares about them. Stay strong and true to yourself and remember you are doing this for YOU and not them. Make adjustments where necessary and ask doctor what is best step to help you make it through day without "passing out". I don't know if you can have this but when my sugar would drop I always ate peanut butter. I hate it, but it works. I am not even approved for surgery yet, but I am hopeful. Good Luck.

I had nutritionist appt today for pre-op visit and she told us that for the first month we would only be allowed liquids for one month. She said 8 oz per day over an 8 hour period. The first week would strictly be water and after that, if possible, you can have things like watery jello, raw eggs, cream of wheat, broth and a few other things. She said most people wouldn't even be able to do the 8 oz at first. She said the vitamins that have to be taken is counted in the liquid total. It seems like some folks here at attempting to eat food in the first few weeks. Are all doctors' guidelines different? She even made sure to tell us liquids did not include protein shakes and stuff. There is so much contradicting things regarding rules and regs for this surgery. Of course, I will follow what my doctor says but it is good to know that it may not be as strict as 8 oz of water per day for a month. Little thrown back by that news today. It's all in the name of good health though. I will do whatever it takes. Good Luck All

I am seeing Dr. Manigat in Voorhees, New Jersey. Is info is on obsesityhelp.com and a friend of mine is seeing Dr. Patel and is schedule in September. I am borderline for approval so I don't know if I will be able to have surgery. There are testimonials and info regarding both doctors on obesityhelp.com Good Luck. I only met with my Dr. once for first intake. He doesn't really get involved with patients until approval but the office personnel is great. A friend of mine had gastric with him a few years back and swears by him. We'll see.

Hi Melissa. I'm in South Jersey and still in the pre-op process. Who is your doctor? Not too many in this area. I have a friend getting done in September, in NJ as well. She more South too. Atlantic County. Hope all is well. Good luck.

DLW - never too late. I am 43 and can't wait to start a new life. Now is the time to do it because as you get older things slow down, health issues, muscle and joint things, etc. etc. If you are not as heavy, these things could be overcomed and possibly not experienced at all. Go for and enjoy the next 50 years healthier. Just a note - those doctors are from Texas, not Ohio. Their sister/daughter had surgery in Ohio and had to go to Texas to get unfilled because her doctor was not available to her and the ER didn't know how to help her. I love that show too!!

Thanks for this thread. I was going to post about psych appointment. I have one on Monday and was wondering what to expect. I guess I have to expect the unexpected. I have led a pretty boring and uneventful life too. My psych should be pretty bored as well. After this appt my doc is going to try to have me pre-certed because I am border line of being approved. My doc has a lot of out of pocket expenses $1,600 which I haven't heard anyone else paying. I have seen the nutrionist 3 times so hopefully it is enough to get approved. It is only half way through the pre-program but he doesn't want me putting the money out if I can't get approved. I hope all this is not for nothing. This psych better not say I am nuts and hold things up (lol)

I believe this would be something to question your doctor about. A lot of the otc stuff makes your heart race because of a stimulant. Some affect the thyroid and if you have to stop it for surgery, it could cause a "withdraw" affect. Some people have negative reactions to them as well. I personally always had good results and it helps with appetite suppression and gives you the energy to workout. Unfortunately though you can get immune to it and have to switch, but for only one month prior to surgery would be good. One that I have found really effective is Lipo 6 but my heart does race. Hoodia didn't work for me because I never really feel hunger, just boredom so I munch. Hoodia comes highly recommended from people like Oprah. Alli doesn't seem too good if you have to eat a low fat and low calorie diet and fear of having an accident if you eat too much fat. My dr. said a slice of pizza would be considered too much fat. Not appealing. If I could do all that I wouldn't be fat! I think if the Dr says okay I would try it, it could help. I am not trying to be negative. Everyone's experience with these things are there own. I just think you should check with your doctor. Good luck with your choice!

I don't think without the comorbidities you have a good chance. I am at 36-37 with high cholesteral and dr told me it was going to be tough to get approved and enjoy eating for now. Every additional 5 lbs is a point - checked it out in case I needed a little help. I called insurance and they told me that I met the criteria 35+ with one or more comorbidities, but until you go through all the pre-op stuff, I can't get pre-certed. So I have to do it all first before finding out if I really will be approved. This is all out of pocket expenses. I am hopeful but I do not know. Before you go in to see a surgeon, call insurance and explain what you think you currently have and could you be a canidate. If you get weighed at the surgeons, that is the weight they go by so you won't be able to gain at that point because it looks like you can't follow the nutrionist's program. It is crazy to me that there is a procedure out there that can prevent medical ailments and excessive weight gain, but you have to be "unhealthy" first. I think the best candidates are the people who are border line and have tried getting those extra 50+ lbs off before getting unhealthy. If you have the comorbidities it can cause complications. I wish you luck and hope I am wrong - just going by what I was told

FYI. I hope I am wrong but I thought I let you know what I heard. I was told (in NJ) that Medicare is fast at approving and all is covered. However, Medicare may be discontinuing coverage for the bariatric surgery altogether. So if you have medicare, find this out in your state to see if true and get the process rolling as soon as possible. I don't know about Medicare but one of the people in my group consultation has it and the Nurse suggested she make a decision soon about getting the surgery because she heard of the discontinuation. She said they are fast at approving too. Good Luck.

Not that I have been banded yet, in the process. But I am a repetitive dieter (lose it-gain it) and since you didn't have a fill yet, you are still in the regular dieting stage with some limited eating. The first days you lose water weight and then it will slow down. Probably after 7 days you will see a loss. The doctor that I spoke to about banding said not to expect with the band a significant drop in weight in the beginning. It is meant to be a slower process than gastric bypass but once you get filled you should see a bigger drop. My advice is to relax and get healed first. It probably took you quite a few years to put the weight on, so another few days or weeks aren't that bad. You are on the right track to a healthy life, just enjoy it. Eat right and do some light exercise and you'll be a loser. I hope I am as lucky as you to get banded. I am border line and they aren't sure if the insurance company will even approve. I am in a program designed for the insurance company to consider me, I have a BMI 36 with high cholesteral. I lose 10 lbs and gain back 3, lose it again and gain it back. I am stuck with no help with banding and if I don't get it, I really don't know what I am going to do. So don't be too frustrated - it's coming for you. Good Luck!!!:clap2: