Sugarbear

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.

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.

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?

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.

I have a tentative date of 3/7 for my surgery date. Waiting to hear from the doctors office for a confirmation. My insurance pays fifty per cent. Not sure what I'll actually have to pay after insurance write offs. We'll see. I have to go out of town between now and then and didn't want to be gone to far away right after surgery. So I am going to wait til I get back home.

Oh, I forgot to tell you guys the Texarkana Bandsters thread is located in the Texas forum. Sorry.

Ouachita, where will you be having your surgery? Do you have a ridgid pre-op diet?

Good luck Ouachita, hope all goes well for you!!!!!!!!!!! Be sure to let us know how you get along.

Hello. Just thought I would let you guys know, especially ones located close to Texarkana, there is a Texarkana Bandster's thread. The doctor team their is Dr. Heiker, and Dr. Keilin. Just in case you are interested.:confused:

Poodles. The amount of food you listed....are you talking about in one meal?? I thought you could only eat 1/2 cup of food (total) at one meal. Protein, veggie, ect. combined. I could be wrong but that is what I understood from the nutritionist that talked to me. I think that is about the size of the pouch. That doesn't count liquids either. The nutritionist in Texarkana said because it is such a small amount of food you should start with the protein, then veggies, ect. I guess that way you will come closer to getting the nutrition you need before you get too full. When you think about it, that is a small quantity of food.

What caused that? Was it something you did?

One week would certainly be better than two on liquids. My friend had to do two weeks on Slim Fast Optima, with a salad once a day, non fat dressing and veggies only in the salad. Also required to take a multivitaman. Post-op is pretty strict for three to four weeks too I think.

Hi. I am working on my insurance ect. so I might get banded also. Where are you getting your surgery done? I have a friend that got banded a month ago and is doing great. no problems whatsoever. I guess you are on the liquid only diet now? Do you get a salad once a day? Just wandering what your pre-op diet is like. Different doctors do it differently. Good luck on the surgery and Merry Christmas.

Hi Kim. You may have me mixed up with someone else. I am not banded yet. But I have been looking into it for a good while. But there are many that have been banded for a year and many more that have been banded for much longer. Many will tell you the ups amd the downs. It seems like that the most that have trouble ( not all) know why they had the trouble. I have a young friend that has been banded for a little over a month and she is doing fantastic. BUT she is following the drs. orders to a perfect T. After all the reading I have done, that seems to be the key.

No, I am not banded. I have been looking into it for some time now. My drs. have sent letters to my insurance, which doesn't want to pay more than a fraction of the cost. At this time my case is under review. I don't know how long that will take. If I were to get banded I would probably get in done in Texarkana.

Hello. I am from sw arkansas. There are seldom any replies for Arkansas. I can tell you that the surgeons in Texarkana, TX charge about 16,000. Or at least that was one of the amounts I read in the past year. Good Luck

I have been here before but it has been a long time. My insurance didn't want to pay much for the lap band surgery so I just had to forget it. Couldn't afford it. Anyway someone sugested I appeal to my insurance for a review of my situation, (health issues). I have, and two of my doctors have written letters also. I have Arkansas BCBS. Has anyone ever done this and had the insurance change their mind and approve the surgery and pay for it? It's my only chance of getting the surgery.

Texarkana, TX has a husband/wife team that do the lap band at Wadley Regional Medical Hospital. Also (further) is Little Rock, AR

why would they approve the by-pass instead of the lapband?? I have read of this several times. Maybe you can explain their reasons to me. I am sure they must be valid but I just don't know what they are. Thanks

Hi Delarla. You sound very determined and I have every confidence that you will succeed! Just hang that outfit where you can see it all the time. You will have to post a picture of you in it for all of us to help you celebrate when you wear it in March. Once upon a time when I dieted and loss quite a bit of weight, I found that walking really helped. Once I got used to it I hated to miss it. Wish I could get back on that track again. Just can't seem to work up the will power. That is why I was considering the band. I used to walk a minimum of 45 minutes. I mapped me out a path and walked away from my car for at least half the walk, that way I couldn't cheat and had to walk back to my car to go home. The walking really help increase the weightloss. Good Luck to you!!

Hi Delarla. I am not banded but have been researching it and have attended a seminar ect. Sorry the band didn't work out for you. Do you think you would get rebanded after you heal. I have noticed that there are several post about erosions to patients of Dr. Lopez. Maybe not more than anyone else but it seems like I have read several by his patients. Not as many by that other one, Dr. Kuri, (as far as the MX doctors go). I think you are right, if you paid for the band, you should get the band. The drs. that put them in should be able to tell if they are defective when removed. They are supposed to be trained in all aspects of the band. Surely they give them a good going over before they put them in? Good luck to you what ever you decide to do now that you don't have the band. I have read about so many problems, I am getting cold feet.