PATCHELTON

I am 63 and was banded on 3/25. I don't know which brands of Protein drinks you are using but I was given a list with EAS Advantage (powder that mixes in skim milk-got at Target), Atkins Advantage (ready to drink cans-also at Target). I did find one not on my list, but it is on the list of Protein Drinks at Brigham Womens Hospital. It is called Worldwide Proten shakes. On their website they are only promoted as sports supplements. They don't contain the long list of Vitamins as Atkins does (we take vitamins anyway), has more protein (comes in 21 and 35g vanilla and chocolate) and tastes better than Atkins. They are sold at Trader Joe's and cost $1.69 for the 21's and $2.19 for the 35's. There is also a web site called

I was told I could drive when I finished with the narcotic pain med. I didn't totally wait that long (it mostly made me want to sleep), but I was banded on Tuesday 3/25 and I waited until Sunday to try it because the park where I love to walk I have to drive to. My car is automatic, and I went with the idea that if anything hurt after a couple blocks I would turn around and go home. I made it to the park. Driving didn't bother me, and I was pretty much finished with the pain med. See how you feel.

I was banded 3/25/08 and the dietician had me start on the chewables before surgery and I went back to them immediately after. I found Centrum chewables (I am 63 and I even found the silver in chewable) for MVI, and for calcium citrate I use Twin Labs (calcium with magnesium and D) chewables that I found at a Healthy Options store here in Maryland. Bariatric Advantage has a web site and they sell all that and more in chewables and liquids. Right after surgery I had to cut some medicines in half for a while, but not now. I was taking Omega 3's and the fish oil was a huge gelcap, so I found a liquid (mint flavored) at Healthy Options, and it actually gives me more Omega 3's in one tablespoon than I was getting from the gelcap, so I may keep using it. The chewables vary in price. Centrum is about $12 for 60. Calcium is pricey. Twin Labs is $17.99 for 60 and you take 4 a day. The liquid fish oil was about $13.

Not everyone is given a liquid diet pre-op. I was told it is determined by the surgeon when he examines you. I think if he feels you have a fatty liver they put you on it to shrink the liver and make the surgery easier. I was put on a "full liquid" diet which included Protein drinks, juices (diluted 50% with water), tea, coffee, sugar/fat free Jello, sugar/fat free popsicles, broths, cream Soups, skim milk, sugar/fat free pudding. I drank two Protein shakes a day, and the quantity was not limited before surgery. Plus the dietician said up until four days before surgery I could have a small amount of lean protein (I had two unbreaded chicken tenders or two hard cooked eggs) which I used in the evening when I tended to overeat the most. I knew I would be hungry some of the time, but work is so busy that I didn't have time to dwell on it. Then I ended up an extra week on the diet because I caught a cold and they delayed the surgery a week. The closest I came to cheating was a couple shelled peanuts (not roasted or salted) that I ate while walking in the park for exercise (I carried peanuts for the squirrels). I managed to lose 35 pounds before surgery and the rest since. I was on liquids for two weeks after surgery, then mushies for two weeks, and now regular food. It is trial an error now because some foods get stuck and others don't. I would check with the surgeon's office and/or the dietician to see if you should do the liquids and what you can have. Hope this helped.

I used extra lean ham slices (very thin) and spread Dijon mustard (0 cals), then either low fat string cheese (Trader Joe) or fat free Kraft slices. One string cheese or two slices Kraft. I roll them and take two as part of my lunch. Will have to try the spinach dip. Sounds tasty.:thumbup:

I am not sure at what point my brain clicked, or if it has. I do have the advantage of not having a sweet tooth, so cakes and other sweets don't tempt me. But put me into the same room with a pizza, and I feel weak. I did taste it since surgery, cutting a piece in half so I had a small triangle, but the dough sat in my chest like a stone. It eventrually passed, but the bread part I am not ready for. So I went to the store, bought Hormel Turkey Pepperonis and a jar of pizza sauce. I have Kraft Fat Free shredded mozarella at home, so I plan to put some pepperonis on a plate, cover with pizza sauce and ff mozarella, and heat in the microwave. It is really the toppings I crave. I saw a similar recipe for those craving lasagna: ricotta cheese or cottage cheese, cover with 2 tablespoons spaghetti sauce, sprinkle Parmesan cheese (optional) and heat in the microwave. I was on a liquid diet with a small amount of lean Protein until four days before surgery, then just liquids, pluse two weeks liquids post surgery. That really jump started my weight loss. I was down 35 lbs by surgery and have lost 25 more since (banded 3/25). I purchased a couple books, The Lapband Connection and The Lapband Companion, and there are several meaninful quotes from them hanging over my desk at work. One is "Just because I can eat it, doesn't mean I should" and "Just because I don't eat it, doesn't mean I don't want to" and then "The band is not around your lips, it is around your stomach. It cannot keep food out of your mouth. Only you can do that." I work in a medical office and we have luncheons all the time, so the temptation is there. I always go look, but only take a little salad. I really try to keep my eye on the prize. I want to eliminate or reduce the medicine I am on for several co-morbidities, and this is the path for me. I have lost 60 lbs so far, working toward 100. I try to look at the food I shouldn't eat as a barrier to my success. I still lust after some foods a bit, so I am a work in progress, as are many on this site. Just keep your eye on the prize. Is that trip to Starbucks worth the emotional beating you will give yourself?

I was banded 3/25, and the dietician gave me a list of things I could eat, but basically anything you can pulverize to the consistency of apple sauce. I did instant mashed potatoes (it makes minimum 2 servings, so I put one away to heat in microwave another time, and heated fat free gravy to put on it) creamy egg salad (hard cooked eggs, salt and pepper, light mayo and Gray Poupon mustard to taste), creamy tuna salad (pepper, light mayo and yellow mustard to taste), cream soups (I did tomato and melted fat free Kraft slices in it to make creamier), apple sauce, and I pulverized some chunky salsa to make it smaller, then mixed in fat free refried beans. To help me with portion control, I used a small dessert bowl and nuked in microwave, then put some fat free shredded cheese on top while still hot and it will melt. Yum!

I do an easy chili on the stove. Brown turkey (I put it in frozen on low heat and spoon out the fatty stuff that cooks off of it--I use 93% turkey). I add pkg of Chili seasoning, 1 15 oz can tomato sauce, 1 can of kidney/pinto/black beans juice and all, 1 can chopped green chilis. I simmer for a while on low heat to mix the flavors, then before serving I sprinkle fat free (I like Kraft Free) shredded cheese on top to melt. Low fat, high protein, and very tasty!

I was banded 3/25. My BMI was about 37/38 and I had elevated liver enzymes on my cholesterol blood work. Surgeon said it could mean a fatty liver rather than reaction to cholesterol med. I was put on full liquids (included: broth, yogurt, fat/sugar free Jello, fat/sugar free popsicles, cream Soups, Protein drinks, fat/sugar free pudding, plus a small amount of lean protein--I used unbreaded chicken tenders and hardboiled eggs--to ease me into the liquid diet). Four days before surgery liquids only. I ended up doing it for 3 weeks because I caught a cold and my surgery was postponed a week, not enough time to go off and back on the liquids, so I just stayed on it for another week, plus 2 weeks post. I had increased my exercise, adding walking to Curves, and by surgery I had lost around 35 pounds and since about another 20. I found I do boring diets really well because I didn't have to think about what I had to eat. I was somewhat hungry during the day at work, but I had prepared myself to be, saving my lean protein for the evening when I was most likely to overeat. The dietician wasn't crazy about the liquid diet but she said it is to shrink the liver to make surgery easier, and to jump start the weight loss. But not everyone is put on it, even in my surgeon's office. I am glad I did it because it prepared me for the 2 weeks post-op.

I was banded 3/25/08 and the strips stayed on for over a week. They were half on and half off, so I took off the top ones at first, then a day or two later gently took off the ones over the incisions. I was going crazy with an itchy rash (reaction to the tape) and my skin felt so much better. Everything looked healed, so I soap it good in the shower, and a couple times put anti-itch cream or lotion on the rash but not over the incision. That and an occasional anti-allergy pill (Chlortrimeton) that is used for itchiness. It is getting much better. That is the only big problem I have had.

I agree with those who say that we all lose at different rates, and I don't know that speed is of the essence, as already stated, because we didn't gain the weight overnight, why worry about losing it overnight. In my case, I was banded 3/25/08. My doctor put me on a full liquid (includes Protein shakes, yogurt, sugar/fat free jello/pudding/popsicles, cream Soups, broths) diet with a small amount of lean protein to ease the transition, then four days before surgery liquids only. Post op 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks mushies, then slowly transition to regular food, depending on tolerance. I ended up spending 3 weeks pre op because I caught a cold and they postponed my surgery a week. I had mentally prepared myself that I would be hungry somewhat during the day, and I saved my lean protein for the evening when I tended to eat the most. I had unbreaded chicken tenders that I grilled on a small George Foreman grill and hard cooked eggs as my lean protein treat. I would have 2 tenders or 2 eggs. I had increased my exercise from just Curves to walking in a nearby park (for distance, not so much for speed--I carry peanuts and stop to feed the squirrels). By the time I started the liquids the weight was already starting to drop some, but it picked up steam with the diet. The dietician said it was to jump start the weight loss and prepare me for the post op diet. By the time I had surgery I had lost around 40 pounds and it is still coming off. I entered Onederland this morning (weight below 200). I weighed in at 199.2. I am delighted and it really helped my motivation to see the weight drop. I started at 252 last June (had to do a 6 month diet for insurance--lost all of 10 pounds on that) and my goal is 150, so I am well on my way. If you are comitted to the process, and doing what the dietician tells you, I think you can lose 100 pounds with the band. You will get out of it what you put into it.

I was also banded on 3/25 and other than feeling like I have been punched in the stomach, I am doing well. I have a little diarrhea which I will call the doc about on Monday (it is a nice change from before where I was constipated all the time) and am learning how fast I can drink Water (very small sips, slowly), needed Gas-X once but on the whole I can't complain. My sister who had RNY a couple years ago was impressed with how well I am doing. I had a full liquid diet for 2 weeks before (actually ended up being 3 weeks because I caught a cold and my surgery was postponed a week) and am on full liquids for 2 weeks post, then 2 weeks mushies, then real food. The liquid diet really jump started my weight loss and got me used to eating a smaller amount, so hopefully when I go back on regular food I will be able to handle it ok.:thumbup:

I was just banded 3/25 and I dont have trouble with protein shakes. I haven't been putting ice in them though, just skim milk. I do have to drink slower. And with water, I definitely have to drink very small sips and drink slower, or I get that feeling of air in my chest and the need to have a minor belch.

I was banded on Tues 3/25, and I have noticed that I have to take very small sips of water or I have the feeling of fullness and have to do baby belches to relieve. It is not pain, just the feeling I need to belch. Yesterday evening I felt a bit gassy so I took Gas-X and that took care of it. Even tried runny oatmeal (it is on my full liquid diet--anthing that can be swallowed without chewing) that was more milk than oatmeal and that went down okay. So other than feeling like I have been punched in the stomach or the aftermath of 900 situps, I am doing pretty well. My sister, who had RNY a couple years ago, was impressed with how well I am doing, and I am 63 years old. Not bad for an old gal!

My preference is Worldwide Protein Shakes. They come in 21 g or 35 g protein, vanilla and chocolate. They are much lower in fat than Atkins (1g for WW and 9g for Atkins), only have 1 sugar and to me they taste better. They are found at Trader Joe's.

The ones at Trader Joes mentioned above are called Worldwide Pure Protein Shakes. Come in 21g protein and 35g. Website promotes as sports drink, and can says not for weight loss, but Brigham Womens Hospital has it on their approved list of protein drinks. It is 160-170 cal, little to no fat, 2g fiber, 1 sugar. Doesn't have a lot of vitamins like Atkins, but my dietician has me taking a multi, B-12 sublingual, and calcium, so I don't worry about it. It has 70% of calcium and 2% iron, that is about it. I think it tastes better than Atkins, plus has more protein. If you don't have a Trader Joe's nearby go to Worldwide Sport Nutrition for store locator. Just remember they promote it as a workout drink only.

I have told my coworkers. I didn't initially but actually they are more supportive than my family. One sister I didn't tell at all (she is the "just stop eating" type). My other sister had RNY and has been helpful, but recently she said all I talk about is lapband, forgetting that she spent a great deal of time talking about her journey around the time of her surgery. But she is babysitting me for a day or so after surgery, and my neighbor, who is German--thin and very disciplined, surprised me by being supportive and is feeding my cats while I am in the hospital and at my sisters. I didn't tell her right away but am glad now that I did. However I was at a cat show last weekend talking to two friends and remarked that one looked like she had lost weight. The other went on about how she should look that way. She lost 55 pounds with Weight Watchers, which is terrific, but I didn't think it was such a great time to mention WLS (people tend to think easy way out) so I didn't tell them. I kind of take it one person at a time in whether I tell them.

My surgery is 3/18, and I am on a 2 week pre-op diet. Full liquids (which includes: Atkins Advantage drinks-available at Target/Walmart, EAS Advantage-powder that is mixed-same locations, Worldwide Protein Shakes-available at Trader Joe's, lots of online stuff you probably don't have time to send for like Unjury, Nectar; I can also have low-fat yogurt, broths, cream soups, tea, coffee, fruit juice diluted 50% with water, sugar-free jello, sugar free popsicles, and to ease me into all liquids, a small amount of lean protein-for that I eat 2 hardboiled eggs, or a couple chicken tenders from Costco which are unbreaded--the serving size on the bag is 4oz and that is about a tender and a half). I take the ready made drinks to work, having mentally prepared myself to be somewhat hungry all day, and in the evening when I would tend to overeat, I have the warm stuff, like broth and the eggs, or cream of chicken soup with a couple tenders and 2 popsicles. Doing that seems to satisfy me, at least in the evening. In the morning when I wake up I am hungry as a bear again. I am losing almost a pound a day. I may disappear before surgery!LOL! I lost 10 pounds on my 6 month diet and 20 more since I beefed up my exercise and started this diet. All 20 didn't come off just this week. I had increased my exercise a couple months ago. Diet finished in January. Insurance took a month to approve. Four days before surgery (3/14) all liquids, no lean protein.

I appreciate all the well wishes. I will keep you all posted on my progress. I have my pre-op with the surgeon, meet with the dietician for pre/post diet counselling, and the nurse for a pre-op class on 3/10. I took 3/17 off so I would have a long weekend to all the last minute stuff (clean litter pan, do laundry, etc) and plan to walk in the park all 3 days, weather permitting. I even walked in the rain once, but I prefer sunny days. To answer your question about insurance, mine is Carefirst BCBS of Maryland. I have the HMO version, Blue Choice. They required a 6 month weight loss attempt documented, and a psych eval, and consultation. The surgeon asked for a stress test, and my PCP wanted an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). I work for cardiologists, so I had them done at work. As an employee we don't incur any out of pocket expense, just what insurance accepts, so that was a help. I used the bariatric team for everything. It only cost $35 to set up the 6 month diet, but it will be $150 for the pre-op which covers me for 6 months after surgery for any diet issues. I expect to pay out of pocket for that because I think she is out of network. The psych evaluator was too, so she was $150. Surgeon was just a specialist copay with a referral. Once all my hoops had been jumped through and my paperwork together they submitted it to insurance for pre-authorization. THAT took 4 weeks! As for information, best to check with the surgeon's office, because they have been doing this for a while. I called BC/BS and the customer service rep nearly gave me a nervous breakdown! He told me I would probably be denied because I had used out of network providers for psych and diet. They accept Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and the like, but he said they may require me to repeat the 6 month diet because the dietician was out of network! Needless to say I was almost hysterical. He also said I had to have a surgery date BEFORE they submit for pre-auth. I called the surgeon's office and played telephone tag with the person I needed to speak to because she was always busy or with a patient. Good thing she only has two doctors to work for. I work for eight! She finally caught up with me to tell me I had been APPROVED! So everything customer service told me was bunk. She said they use an estimated date and then change it when they give the patient a date. I told her I thought you had been doing these a while and knew what was going on. They are a Center of Excellence, so I will never call BC/BS for info again. I do think my case reviewer must have been on vacation. I don't see why it took 4 weeks, but at least it is done and the out of network stuff was never an issue. Sorry to ramble but didn't want to leave anything out.

I am 63 and just got approved Monday (waited 4 weeks, if you don't count the 6 month diet). My BMI is around 37/38 and I have just about every co-morbidity except diabetes. I am on 2 meds for BP, 2 for cholesterol, 1 for GERD, 1 for Arthitis (knees) and CPAP for Sleep Apnea. I can barely afford the copays. I have no designs on becoming a hot mama (don't hold me to that) but I would LOVE to get off some of these medicines. I go to Curves 2-3x week, and have added walking since starting this journey. Found a lovely park near my home with a walking path and friendly squirrels. I take peanuts for them. Some will come up and take them from your fingers. Meet lots of walkers and dogs, too. I walk 2-3 times around the path (I think it is about a mile in length). I only lost 10 lbs on my 6 month diet, and a few more since walking. But my slacks have dropped a size (only thing holding up my fat pants is my belly). My surgery date is 3/18. Onward and upward! Or should I say downward?

The waiting game is worse than the 6 month diet that many of us had to go through. Personally I don't recommend calling customer service at your insurance company. Let me share with you what mine told me: I had been waiting 4 weeks for approval. I had called the insurance company on 2/8 but they had a high volume of calls and they would only take my name and number and reason for call. I gave them my name and number and that I was checking the status of the request for pre-authorization. I am still waiting for that callback. Never happened. I tried again this past Monday and got a rep to talk to. Well, he told me that I would likely be denied because I had used an out of network provider for my psych eval (I used the one on the bariatric team doing my lapband). He said I might even have to do the 6 month diet again because I used and out of network dietician (since I needed the diet, I used the dietician on the bariatric team). I nearly went ballistic over the diet (which I had finished in mid January). I said Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and the like aren't "in network" so what difference does it make that I used a dietician in or out of network. All he would say was stay in network. AND he said that my surgeon did it backwards, that I needed a surgery date BEFORE the request for pre-auth because if approved it is made out for that date. Needless to say I had a complete meltdown. This fool was telling me that the last 8 months of my life were just wasted. At 63 I didn't want to start over. I called the surgeon's office, tried holding, but ultimately had to leave a message for the person who gets pre-auths. After a bit of telephone tag, she caught up with me (I had already written a letter to the surgeon's office with 2 pages of complaints--hadn't mailed it yet). She was calling to tell me I was approved!!!! I am going to a Center of Excellence, so I kind of thought they had done this at least a few times before me. She told me they give an estimated date, then change it when they give me a real date. I also thought that if I wanted to go out of network and pay out of pocket that it shouldn't concern my insurance; one less claim to pay for them (I have Carefirst Blue Choice--Maryland). Obviously it didn't. Beside my weight (currently 236) and my BMI (~37/38) I have just about every co-morbidity except diabetes. I couldn't imagine them turning me down. But according to Blue Choice customer service, that was exactly what was going to happen. Sorry to ramble on. My point is: call the surgeon's office and speak to the person responsible for sending your paperwork for approval. She will know what is going on more than the insurance company. And I never mailed my letter.

I finally FINALLY got approval and a date. March 18 is the day. I start liquids Monday 3/3. Not looking forward to it, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I warned everyone at work I will be mean and ugly because I am hungry so if they are smart, they will leave me be. I have some Unjury samples I haven't tried yet, plus some Nectar samples. My sister (who had RNY about 2 years ago) gave me part of a jar of Permalean, and I bought Atkins Advantage and EAS Advantage at Target. Trader Joe's if you have one in your area, carries Worldwide sports protein shakes in cans. One has 23g and the other 35g protein. On their website it is only promoted as a sport supplement, but someone on LBT had a link to Brigham Womens Hospital bariatric program, and Worldwide is on their list of protein drinks to use. My frig is full of water, protein drinks and sugar free jello. In my freezer I have sugar free popsicles. So I think I am ready. I have to check with the dietician to see how much constitutes a meal, otherwise a protein shake and 10 popsicles might be on the menu. The jello and popsicles are on my liquid diet list. I can have fruit juice too, diluted 50% with water. I have already started giving my stomach pep talks. We WILL get through this!

To add to the list of possible esophageal studies, I work for cardiologists and I had to have an echocardiogram and stress test as preliminaries for banding. The echo I had is a transthoracic echocardiogram, but there is also a transesophageal echocardiogram. It is done in the hospital under sedation, and I don't know a lot about it but I believe a probe is sent down the esophagus as described in one of the other postings. So it is a little more involved but I suppose yields maybe more detailed information. An echo is basically an ultrasound or sonogram, just like what pregnant women have, but the gel and transducer (the gizmo that is moved around in the gel) are moved to the chest. It utilizes sound waves (like sonar) to visualize the chambers and valves in the heart (transthoracic). Not sure how the transesophageal differs aside from the probe, but since most of us have to get some kind of cardiac clearance, this may be what they are referring to. I am waiting for insurance approval. Hoping to be banded in March.

I have Carefirst Blue Choice (Maryland) and they required 6 month (or 2 3-month) documented weight loss attempts. I met with the bariatric dietician and we discussed food choices, she weighed me, and then from that point all I had to do was email her my weight every other week, being careful not to miss a weigh-in (they could make you start over). At the end she wrote a letter and sent me two copies of the letter and the documented weights. I had one for my records and one I had to take to my PCP to have her sign off, and then send it back to the bariatric office. The surgeon asked for a stress test, and my PCP sent me for that plus an echocardiogram (I work for cardiologists so I had them done at work and they write off whatever the insurance doesn't cover as an employee benefit). My paperwork was submitted 1/28 and now I am just waiting for approval. I was hoping it wouldn't take this long, but whatever, as long as they say ok and pay for it.

I have not been banded yet (waiting patiently for insurance approval) but since I had the 6 month diet to do I bought samples of stuff to try. I got some Bariatric Advantage and they were okay, but I agree with the person who said their texture is funny. In looking around (it didn't occur to me to check children's vitamins) I came across Centrum chewables, and they even come in Centrum Silver Chewables (I'm 63). I go to the LB support group (to learn) and someone there said she didn't care for the taste. I haven't tried them yet, but got them at Target for about $10-12 , I think for 60 (can't remember--that's what happens when you get old). I also got Viactiv in the the Caramel flavor to sub for my calcium pills which look like horse pills (Citrical +D). As my sister pointed out (she had RNY about 2 years ago) you won't be using these forever. You need enough to get you through to the point where you can take regular pills. Or do bandsters need to use these indefinitely? I am not sure about that.