piercedqt78

I too am a huge Harry Potter fan. I talked my husband into reading them, but he checked out the book on tape set instead of the books, he commutes to work at odd hours everyday. I am rereading the 5th Harry Potter book right now while I wait for the 6th to be released. I learned to read at around 3 1/2 and just before my 4th birthday I had to have surgery and when do you think I took to the hospital with me? A stack of books. Now I read everything, cereal boxes, junk mail and most any book I can get my hands on. I work in a Tattoo shop and the winter is usually slower and I get a ton of reading time, but in the summer it is a bit busier, I may have to load some of those books on tape into my i-pod shuffle and listen while at work. Anyone interested in true crime, the Amber Frey (of the Scott Peterson case) book was a really interesting read and it only took me a few hours to read it. I am on the waiting list for his sisters book, book brother. We spend lots of time at the library.~Mandy

I just went for my seminar and they said I have to be on a liquid diet for 10 days prior to surgery. The insurnace lady said that if you have gained any weight they cancell the surgery on the spot. But she said that 90% of the patients lose 8-10 lbs on the liquid diet. Are you going to have to do the same? That would be a great way to lose the weight and shrink your liver at the same time, maybe call and ask the surgical nurse her thoughts on this. Best of luck to you and congrats on the approval.~Mandy

I get O-KE-DOKE corn puffs for my 3 year old. It is made by jays and looks and smells just like popcorn. It taste like popcorn with out the haard middle, it has 11g of fat per 2 1/2 cup serving and 18 carbs, 2g protein. Our family really likes it. If it is not available in your area the bag says you can send Jays by mail or request a catalog at 1-888-529-7937. ~Mandy

I just had my yearly ob-gyn appointment, and was talking to my doctor about the band. My question is this, does it affect the pelvic/external exam? My pcp and the gyn have always sorta mashed around on my stomach and ab area. How long will I be sore after the port is in? Can they still mash around there after? Also I know that after a gbp they say no ng or scope of the stomach, is this also the case with banding? Will I need a medical id bracelet for this? I am full of questions and my seminar isn't until the 21st. So I thought I would ask here and the informed could explain it to me using little words :phanvan and easy to understand lingo as opposed to the big words the doctors office will use.~Mandy

I have BC BS and it is a really good policy, it covers weightloss surgery with only a few requirements. 1) BMI of >40 or 35 with co-morbids 2) failed weightloss attempts (DUH!!) 3) psysc eval 4) supervised weightloss (6 months accumlative in last 2 years) My question is this, my pcp has very few records of my weightloss attempts. She has put me on several lowfat, low cal, low cholestrol, low everything diets. But there are only records of 2 such diets in my chart. There are several cholestrol checks in the last 18 months but nothing else, she has one visit listed as reccomend diet/exercise and nothing else charted at all. They just called me and said that they were going to list a "late chart entry" that says that they gave me a low fat low cholestrol diet in dec of 2003. Do you think I am going to be denied over this? I have every other requirement met, physc eval is set-up. I need to lose 95lbs and I have a BMI of 38.7 with several other weight related problems. Thanks for the info~Mandy

I am left handed and carry lots of stuff on my left hip/side. Can I request it be put on the right or centered? Will the doctor think I am nuts?~Mandy

Thanks for the great info. I have searched for several things here. I asked about the turkey hotdogs because someone mentioned that they were eating them but shouldnt be. Is that because they are bad for you or bad for the band? I eat organic lowfat turkey hotdogs, they have 8 grams of protein per dog, and are low in sodium.. I guess the mustard counteracts the sodium though huh? I am already pretty fat and salt consious. My husvand has a major family of high blood pressure, and I am forever trying to limit fat in my diet. I have an almost 4 year old and I don't want to give her an unhealthy impression that dieting is a way of life. I want her to be healthy and have a good body image. That is my main reason for looking into the band, I have a wonderful daughter to live for and I want to live healthy and happy, and not watch her grow up but be hands on in the process. ~Mandy

I know that most band doctors say no hotdogs, right? But are they talkin' meat, bun and all? One of my favorite meals is a turkey hotdog cut into pieces and dipped into mustard or hot mustard. (I am not a huge fan of bread so that will not be a problem at all for me) Will this be ok after I have my band? I also love slaw, anyone have a problem with cabbage? I would love to have a list of no-no's, and common problem foods. If anyone has one can I have a copy of it? I am still new to this whole process, but it looks like my insurance may cover my surgery. ~Mandy

I know that the wish center does financing and also out of country follow-ups. I am considering having them do my banding. You can get more info at www.wishcenter.org Best of luck to you~Mandy

I forgot about gatorade and powerade, are these ok too?~Mandy

I am new here and have not been banded yet. I don't tolerate artificial sweetners at all, I get severe migraines from them (even splenda). I am a huge tea/lemonade drinker, I usually make a gallon of tea and add 1/2 cup of sugar to the entire gallon. When I pour a glass, I do half water and half tea, will this still be ok? I also drink loads of water, a 1/2 gallon britta pitcher a day, I know that staying hydrated is very important after surgery, so I am ready for that. Also I know that carbonation is a nono but what about caffine? ~Mandy

I am in the Chicagoland area and and starting to look for a weight loss practice. There are tons of advertisements for the WISH center. Anyone have any experience with them? I took the online seminar friday and they seem to have a good program going with lots of follow-up group meetings and they want everyone that is operated on to be totally educated about the process and the after surgery routine. They also seem to have good success with insurance companies. But I want to know about bedside manner and the competence of the doctors. They have stat for bariatric surgery but it says stats pending for lapband. Any info, or other surgeon suggestions would be great~Mandy

I am going to talk to my pcp next week about backing me up for the lapband proceedure. I am 5' 4" and 225 lbs.(BMI of 36.5) I have foot and knee problems and high cholestrol. I have struggled with my weight for almost 12 years. (i'm 27) I have a daughter born 6-20-01 and would like to be healthy and have the energy to run and play with her. I have tried just about everything to lose the weight but can't. A friend had gastric by-pass and suggested the lapband to me. I did some research and it seems like just what I am looking for. My question is should I go to the pcp or just seek out a surgen on my own? I have BCBS PPO and it is a really good policy, as my dh works for the railraod and his union has great benefits. If I go straight for the surgeon what do I bring to the first visit? How hard is it to get this approved? I have a letter from my podiatrist and the orthopedic doctor both stating that permanent weight loss would benefit my ability to be more moblie comfortably. Will I need more than that? I also have the test results for my cholestrol and can get the last 2 or 3 years of weight records. Does it sound like I am prepared enough? Or do I need more? Thanks for the help~Mandy