Sugarbear

How can you not have any restriction? I mean the pouch is there isn't it? I realize the band isn't tight but it is still there. After surgery and before a fill aren't you on broths for a while then progress to creamy stuff then mushie foods? Pardon my ignorance, just trying to understand all this before my surgery. One other thing, what is absolutely forbidden forever after being banded? Cokes, beer, and soft bread is all I know of.

Hello Wannabethin. I got an email notification where you posted but I can't seem to find the post.? Anyway I am glad you are doing well and things went fine. I wish I was as far along as you. March will be here before I know it... Take care and keep us posted. As I said before, everyone appreciates all experiences shared, big or small. It helps us to-be-bandsters know what we might expect. Congrats on the surgery!!

Silry. Where are you having surgery and what doc? Most have to go on a pre-op diet. But I think I read somewhere (another thread, sorry I can't remember where) that someone didn't have to do a a diet or much of one. The reason for the diet is to shrink your liver. Saftey for you and for the surgeon.

Just check with PS about your next step. You don't have to wait and do one thing at a time. I am going to call next week and be sure about the pre-op diet. I left there the other day and forgot to ask one thing about it, other than getting my date to start it. I have heard a few things about having fat-free things along with the Slimfast-Optima. Not sure about that. I will just call Mon. and ask. Have you gone for a phych evaluation ? If you have to have one, PS will make the appt. for you.

My insurance also only pays 50%. I will have to pay50% of what is allowed by insurance. I have AR Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Hello all. I will be a Mar. bandster. I noticed a lot of differences in pre-op diets. I have two weeks of Slimfast Optima. After the first 3 or four days I can have a veggie salad, fat-free dressing once a day. Start 2-21. They say this helps shrink your liver, which makes the surgery safer.

Blondylocks, I forgot to mention that they have support meetings you may attend even before you get banded. So you may want to visit one of those before being banded where you can ask more questions on that subject. Someone told me the unbanded were invited also. PS or a bandster could tell you when they are. Hope this helps.

Hello Blondylocks and welcome to the Texarkana Bandsters and non-Bandsters. I haven't been banded yet either. My surgery date is 3-7. I have completed all the pre-op with the exception of the pre-op diet, Start that the 21st. When I talked with them at PS, they had had only one erosion. I am not sure about the slippages. It is my understanding you can avoid slippage if you follow the rules of the band. Of course if you got a virus and had profuse vomiting and it slipped, that couldn't be helped. I am not sure about this thread but there are plenty of bandsters that have had their band for a long time without trouble. Of course there are plenty that have had trouble too. I haven't come across any from the team in Texarkana that have had habitual trouble. Just have to have some faith I guess. Congrats on your upcomming marriage! I hope everything goes well for you, Keep us posted on your progress for surgery. Let us know when you get your date. They only do surgery on Wed. and Fri. (Lapband). Good Luck!!

Thanks Lisa. I needed that. And.............Wannabethin..........you will be in everyones thoughts and prayers. Good luck and I hope everthing goes well. Just do as they instruct you, everything should be fine. Let us know how you are as soon as you are up to it. It really helps us that are right behind you. I think everyone is different and anything you have to share about your experience is greatly appreciated.

Went and signed consent papers, paid, now it is real.............start pre-op diet 2/21.....ugh......I can do this, I can do this............ Hope everyone in T-Town bandland is doing alright. How is everyone???

I have never heard of multiple visits. I only have to do one and it was pre-op. My date is 3/7.

Is the pouch supposed to eventually stretch to a cup size. The nutritionist showed me a 1/2 cup and told me that was the size of the pouch after banding. This was at Precision surgery in Texarkana, TX. If the pouch is only a 1/2 cup then a cup of food is going to stretch it. Right? I would call back to your drs. ofc. and clarify.

I wonder how important it is, to be honest. Some have to, some don't. Even using the same doctor. The doctors office sent me, not my insurance. If it was that important why didn't my friend, who is about a month ahead of me in this pre-op thing, have to do it? Same doctor. Also, we both had to do the sleep study. That was a miserable night.

I never see anyone on the chat. But lately if I go there to see if anyone is there, it says someone is already logged in with my info? Whats with that?

Oh, forgot to mention, my surgery will be in about six weeks. I have completer all pre-op stuff.

My "surgeon to be," also required the evaluation. I was asked if I knew the risk envolved, that was really all that I thought pertained to the wls. The person was very nice but didn't go into anything that pertained to family weight history, overeating ect. I did it becaused it was required. I have a friend that didn't have insurance and she didn't have to do it. Had her surgery a couple months ago. Looks like you therapists opinion would be all you need. Did you ask?

Hello Lisa and vlynn. Thanks for the encouragement and the advice. I need them both. Now that I have a date it all seems a lot more serious. I am open to any and all sugestions. I want to do the right things so I will be successful and avoid the problems of dialation, slippage, and erosion. I think those are about the only things that can go wrong with this approach to weight loss. I am bigger than I ever have been in my life. That includes pregnancies. Isn't that awful? Well, I feel awful about it too. I even feel bad that I don't have the willpower to do this on my own. But I don't. But I just have to do something. Every year I just get bigger. This is the only way I can think of to regain control of my weight. If I ever get back to a "normal size," I have vowed to myself to NEVER get back to this. It is physically and emotionally draining. Thanks again for your support.

Hello Vlynnfogg. How's it going? Just touching base Just checking to see if everything is going okay your way.:scared:

Hello All. I have a surgery date. 3-7. Soooooooooo, I guess it won't be long and I will be entering bandland along with many others here. Finally got details worked out ect. I believe Dr. Keilin will be doing the surgery with her husband assisting. It is my understanding they usually work together. I go see them this week to finalize the details. Will start the liquid diet the 21rst of Feb. Keep me in your thoughts.

vlynnfogg, hi again. I am not sure about the weight criteria for WLS. I was thinking you have to be more than 45 lbs overweight. I believe your BMI has to be at a certain number too. But I guess they can tell you all about that at PS. I guess the insurance has guide lines too. Boy that is great how your insurance paid 100%. First time I have heard that. Good for you! Mine only pays 50% after my $500 deductible. Who do you have for insurance? Mine is BCBS (True Blue). I am sure you relax a little about your eating after a little more time passes. Just try to eat nutritiously. You are aiming for better health. I have read about a lot of slippages and pouch dialations, ect. It is scary, and I am not even banded. For the most part it seems if you follow your guidelines by the doctor and the nutritionist you should do just fine. Hope things work out for your husband. Take care and keep us posted.

Hello vlynnfogg and welcome! I am glad you found this thread too. I am not a bandster yet but hope to be in March. Trying to line up my finances ect. If no disasters come along I plan on having the surgery when PS confirms the date. It sounds like you are doing great! This is a good place for support. I assume you go to the PS support meetings too? I am not even banded yet and I have had all kinds of support and encourage from people at lap band talk. I especially enjoy this thread because it is close to what I am going to experience, starting with the doctors, the facility, and then of course post surgery life and concerns. Sounds like you have a great husband! Mine needs this too but we just can't both do it too close together for financial reasons. Not sure if he will commit to that drastic a life style change either. That will have to be his decision. I hope you husband gets through the paper work soon. Good luck to you both, Once again WELCOME!!!

If anyone located SW Arkansas or NE Texas oe that surrounding area want to talk to folks from there, go to the Texarkana Bandster thread, Quite a few there. A lot of them use or are planning to use Dr. Heiker/Dr. Keilin in Texarkana Texas.

Thanks wish412. I am glad that your husband is doing so well. Keep us posted on his progress. Tell him I am rootin for him. I know that liquid diet must be hard. I think it is great you both are going to be eating the same and taking care of yourselves in the same way. I think that would make it much easier. Good luck.

Welcome blondylocks!!! Have you been to a seminar or to see the drs. in Texarkana? Everyone at Precision Surgery (PS) seems to be very nice, staff and drs. alike. They are very helpful if you have any questions. I am hoping to be a bandster soon too. Welcome aboard. There are many people here on the Lap Band Talk that are very knowledgeable and have already "been there done that," that are ready and willing to help in anyway. This is a great support system. Good Luck!!

Thank you Lisa G. Yes, you made perfect sense. I did go to a seminar a long time ago. I will go back and look through my folder, haven't done that in awhile. Mine may be too old. I will compare thos prices with what I have. Than you again.