Alfie

It sounds like you may have been his first patient! I hope you find a good doctor for your fills.

i had my surgery just 2 days ago on January 23. I am feeling pretty good and really only have pain when I go from sitting to standing or vice versa. I think that you will have to stay away from house building for awhile after your surgery (hehe) as with any operation. All the best to you. I'm so happy that I finally had my surgery!! Regards, Alfie

Hi Sorrows Child, i was just banded on the 23 of January just 2 days ago. My doctor has me eating the same as you except that I am also having 3 protein shakes a day. I am having a hard time getting them in as well as he wants me (for now) to be having 60 oz of water. Well, it's 5:34 pm and i am about only 30 oz of water in. I did have some decaffinated tea which I believe counts toward that. It's not easy but I'll keep trudging along and trying to follow my doctors orders.

I think that as with most anything else in big companies, it depends on who your case worker is. It's like if you call the phone company 3x you'll get three different answers. Unfortunate but true.

yes curves counts. thats what I did and was approved by Aetna HMO

I have Aetna HMO and I live in New York. I had to do a 6 mos supervised diet and they strictly required that my doctor have notes each of those months that said that he told me to 1)diet 2) exercise and 3) get surgery. I also needed my own progress notes; 2 entries a month that said the date, weight and my own feelings about what I was going through. It sounds very complicated but it wasn't that bad. The problem that I had is that I didn't realize that the doc had to have those notes so he had to add an addendum after the fact with those notes on it. After the surgeons office finally sent it in, I got approved the following business day.

Hi Nikki, I had gall bladder surgery 6 weeks ago and one of the four incisions became infected. I also had a hole there and sounds like it was similar to yours. My doctor said not to worry; that it would heal. I couldn't picture how it would heal without leaving a more severe scar (a hole or indent). The doctor was right, the hole closed up and now looks almost like the other scars except that it is a bit darker in color. I am amazed!

Hi Aussie, You are making the right decision and the fact that you're so young means that you are taking control of your weight at the right time. Your mentioned that you have a baby; by the time the baby is toddling around, you be more equipped to run after him. :baby: That is my one regret; that I have waited so long to do this.

I am so sad that this happened to you. I hope you recover quickly from this and that you find something that will work for you. Regards, Alfie

Congrats on your successful surgery. It sounds like you are going to be doing fantastic. It's was good for me to read your story as I am being banded on Monday. I hope mine goes as smoothly as yours. Regards, Alfie

I bought the magic bullet from ebay. I don't remember what I paid for it but it was in about the low 50's including the S&H. It is the most used small appliance that I ever bought. Even my sons (adult) use it. I love it!

Hi, Well I don't understand the entire procedure but my doctors office has submitted my paper work today yet said they 'penciled me in' for January 17 so that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Hi there, My doctor uses Optifast and since I am very lactose intolerant, I can't use it. For awhile, I used Lactaid with it but after awhile, the Lactaid stopped working. Now I am using Unjury which is lactose free. You can find it on Welcome to the UNJURY Homepage. Hope that helps. Regards, Alfie

Hi Chiquita, I wish you all the best on your journey.

Hi Laurend, Im still not banded but I am happy to hear that someone that was a bread addict is able to get control in some way. Right now, not being banded, it's hard to imagine that I could be able to resist the bread. Thanks, Regards, Alfie

Congratulations and by the way you look fabulous!!

Hi Raysbabe, I am so sorry you are going through that. I can definately relate to you as I suffered with gall bladder problems for over 30 years. I know, stupid right. I just had it removed last week and I am so sorry that I didn't have it done sooner. All this time I was thinking I am lactose intolerant and now milk products are not bothering me. I think it all had to do with my gall bladder. I hope you are feeling better really soon and that you find a good doctor to help you. I could be wrong but I think most doctors that do lapband also remove gall bladders. Regards, Alfie

Hi Bobp, I haven't had the lapband yet but I just got my gall bladder out and my surgeon used the same stuff as yours. It just covers my incisions and looks scablike but I was told it is some type of glue.

Hi Chrisann I don't know how that works about switching doctors. Is your dr Dr Ren or Fieldings. I know they are with NYU and they are at the top of their game. I am also in NY and going to South Nassau Communities Hospital with Dr Vohra/Dr Nishimura..they are also running a tight schedule. My friend got banded in New York Hospital, Queens and they seemed to be really quick but again I don't know how that works. Have you already been approved from insuance? I wish you all the best..maybe your doctors office can squeeze you in in view of the fact that your parents are coming here from out of state and also you job situation. Regards, Alfie

that really stinks especially because it's Friday. Let's hope they can do something for you when you speak to them on Monday.

Jan 1- HAPPY NEW YEARS! Starting the year off right! Jan 2 Jan 3-WOWOX7, Woodsy Jan 4- KUgirl Jan 5 Jan 6 Jan 7- CallmeJim, comepickmeup Jan 8 Jan 9 – Redtulips3, FLMan Jan 10- luvsrocks, Hilary Jan 11 Jan 12 Jan 13 Jan 14- CoreynVA, acalpn Jan 15 Jan 16 Jan 17- SJK, Alfie New York Jan 18- RuthE? Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21- Chrisann Jan 22 Jan 23- min Jan 24 Jan 25 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 28 Jan 29 Jan 30 Jan 31 __________________

Is caffinated tea considered water? Or just decaffinated? hehe

Hi Cali, Maybe you should call your insurance and ask them if they cover the lap band. My insurance, Aetna, didn't cover lap band for a long time but it does now.

I had my gall bladder out this past Wednesday and it went so very easily that it has made me very calm for my upcoming lap band. I heard from others that gall bladder is a tad bit easier than lap band (except one person that found it the other way around). At 4 days post op, I truly feel as if I haven't had surgery except in the evenings I get tired a little easier. I had gas but without the gas pain and my tummy was just a bit sore. I'll find out my surgery date when I see the doctor on December 6. I am hoping it will be the following week. I've heard that my insurance approves pretty quickly so I hope that is so in my case. Regards, Alfie

Hi 100, I was just wondering why the doctor doesn't want you to lose more than 4 pounds prior to surgery? Regards, Alfie:hungry: