newmel

hi everyone , I am getting banded next week (yea and scared at the same time). Is there anything I need to do before surgery ? When I went to my last appt Dr Bonner just said don't gain any weight before surgery and see ya there. I guess I am apprehensive about the drastic change in eating habits. I wonder if i can make it thru the liquids stage. Are we allowed to have Sugar Free Popscicles? i think i just need a pep talk. Wish me luck .

thankyou restless monkey . Your reply helps with some of my fears about lap band.

This one really hits home for me . I am not banded yet 2 more weeks till the big day. i have always been a big candy and soda eater . I am so worried that getting the band will not help this . I have been off of soda for 1 wk now. I want one but i resist , it getting a little easier. I just wonder if 6 mths after the band i will still be able to resist tempting food. If any one has this problem please give me some hints to help me.

I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Was there a reason he was mad at you . Are you having trouble after surgery ? I want to be prepared for my surgery so any advice you can give would be great .

Thanks for the info Misty . I would like to go but I have another meeting that night . Will you post a short summary of meeting please , i would like to know what was discussed.

Hey , I was just checking to see how everyone is doing ? Realita are you on mushies yet? Are you still starving ? I am possibly reconsidering self pay and might wait for the insurance thing which would be december. I wish I could make a deal with insurance to pay for half of the cost. Anyone ever hear of insurance companies doing that ? Hope all is well. Everyone have a good week .

Does anyone use herbalife shake mix ?

Hi, So far I have had a good experience with Dr. Bonner and his staff . I went to the seminar in April . I had my first appt the first week in May. I will have my appt with nutritionist next week . Pre op surgery appt with Dr Bonnor end of june then band surgery in July . Also i had my EGD done last week , I have a very small hiatal hernia but his staff assures me that it will not be a problem . I am a self pay patient which seems to make everything move 10 times faster than insurance. I tried once to have insurance pay but they had to many restrictions and i dont think they would have paid for me anyway. Good luck hopefully I may meet so of his patients at the support group meeting on June 9 I may try to go eventhough Im not banded yet.

i kind of feel the same way. I have tried so many diets and i always gain the weight back. I have in laws who lost weight with herbal life shakes, they think I should be able to also . I do drink the shakes but I can't do them all the time . I realize you have to do liquids for a while which I can do. For some reason I feel ashamed that I have to resort to surgery, but I feel like my health is important. This is my last chance. I really feel like this site helps because everyone knows how i feel . I will probably tell people but after the surgery . good luck to all .

Hello, I am excited to find a thread dedicated to Dr. Bonner's patients. I would like to hear previously banded patients, so that I can be ready dor my surgery in July. MistyD65 i like your saying Its my time now. that is exactly how i feel . look forward to talking with my fellow bandsters. newmel

Hi, I will be banded by dr bonner in july . i would love to hear about your experience . let me know about the surgery and what you think about dr bonner

Hi, I'm scheduled for July also. I 'm a little concerned about recovery because I can't take off from work very long . Even if I feel ok Im thinkin I will be weak since we cant eat food for a while after surgery . Anybody have any experience with those issues?

Hi, I am in Katy TX. I think this group is a great idea. I am scheduled for surgery in July. Wish me luck !! I have a feeling its going to be harder than I think. :thumbup:

Has anyone used Dr Ricardo Bonner in Katy TX? I am trying to find a good doctor in the west houston area. I am also considering self pay so that I dont have to jump thru insurance hoops . Please let me know if you have any advice or info about doctors . :thumbdown:

I went to Dr. Bonner's Seminar a few weeks ago. I thought he was ok, he seems like a dr that likes facts and statistics. i have made an appt to see him for consultation next week . I hope it all works out, I really feel like this is my last shot at being healthier.

I am getting closer to surgery date and I am tring to do all of the pre op stuff. I was wondering if other doctors are requiring a pre op EGD(stomach scope). My doctor said it was to check for hiatal hernias or ulcers. Everything else going smoothly just scared that insurance will deny me.

Does anyone know if you should just loose some wight before surgery or if it is a specific amount in order for you to shrink the liver ? I will hopefully have surgery in oct. I have already started to diet some , mostly to try to get use to the diet change needed for surgery. mel

Hi, I am going to be banded in october and I have learned alot from this website . I live close to Katy I am glad to hear there is a support group closeby. Also , my mom is trying to get baratric surgery in houston , has anyone used Dr. Ferrari at Memorial City? Mel

I am trying to schedule my surgery, how many days before I should be able to go back to work? any advice. Could I have surgery on fri and go back to work on monday? Mel

I am trying to figure out when to have the band surgery. How many days post op before you can go back to work . Could i have surgery on a friday and go back to work on monday. Thanks for your input.

Thanks to everyone who responded. This website is wonderful, lots of my questions have been answered. Once I am banded i'm sure I will need lots of support. I live in a rural area so support groups are not really available. You are all an inspiration that life can change for the better.

I also went for my first dr visit. I am trying to figure out if I am strong enough to go through the changes banding takes. I feel like this is my only chace at a healthier skinner me . Can anyone who is 6mths to a yr out let me know what the eat? Can you have any kind of bread at all? Pizza?Steak?hamburger meat , noodles, rice ?