srknepler

DH & I just met a nice couple last night (at Sweet Tomatoes, eating dinner) that had been banded a week apart. They were in their 40's (I'm guessing here) and didn't have any little ones with them. They say that it was great to have a little time between the surgeries so that they could take care of each other. I'll be having surgery before my DH (a couple of weeks I think). We have a 4yo son and we have no family here. My parents are the closest and they are an hour away (and both work). I hope that I can have an end of the week surgery date and that DS can spend the weekend at the grandparents house.... If we didn't have a small child, and had a better support team here, we'd likely have surgery at the same time. I like the idea of being at the same place at the same time (like the pre-op & post-op diets).

Gail, those were the exact words that I wanted to hear!! wicked~ I hope that we both get some relief with the band!!

In recent months my "mild to moderate" IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) has escalated to severe IBS. I am now on Levbid every 4 hours in addition to dietary changes (no dairy, reduced insoluble Fiber, no red meat) and it's still not completely controlled. I wonder how getting banded will affect the IBS? I'm sure that someone here has experience with this and I'd love to here your story. Thanks!

Another Texas girl here. I started this back in February and had to put it on the back burner because of financing, but the money will be here in a couple of weeks!! I'm so excited! I saw Dr Benavides for a consult before and I was happy with him and his office. My DH wants me to see at least one other surgeon before I commit though...

Like Wheetsin, I also find powder becomes an icky mess after a while. Also like Wheetsin, I make sure that it's really dry. I use the "cool" button on my hairdryer and blow it dry. Instead of hydrocortisone, I use the triple paste homemade diaper cream that the ped recommended for my son :bolt: It is equal parts: aquaphor hydrocortisone 1% lotrimin (or generic...clotrimazole) Mix it all up and store it in a little tupperware. It is a miracle cream!

Was your sleep study one night or two? When my DH was going through his first sleep study, they told him that they would do a second night if the CPAP didn't seem to work for him. Just to be sure. I'd ask for another study. It couldn't hurt...

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to send you some hugs.....it sounds like you need one. I'm just starting to look for financing, so I'll let you know if I find anything that is great.

I also find that taking a fish oil capsule helps my energy greatly. HTH

caffeine is an appetite stimulant also...having a little can lead to cravings for more.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me! I feel confident that I've chosen the right doc! ...can't wait until my consult....two weeks away....

Thanks Jennifer! bling~ I sounds like most of the less expensive places don't include as much after care as LBS. My packet from them says that it includes 2 years worth of fills, etc.

austin~ He did mention that the pre & post care would be handled by his support staff....nurse practitioners mostly. Do you feel like your care was compromised because of his absense?

thanks!!!!

jrg1979~ What kind of aftercare does that $9500 cover?

I went to the seminar offered by lap band solutions and Dr Richard Benavides last week... I was wondering if anyone here has been banded by him? I see lots of Dr Carter patients and am starting to wonder whether or not I need to check him out too... Dr Benavides also works with AIGB, and the surgery center of Richardson.

indeed it is! Our son is the driving force behind our desire to get banded. We know how easy it will be for him to follow in our footsteps, and we don't want that!!

I just started this battle with DH's employer also. I just wrote the HR person an e-mail and asked for her help & opinion. There offer several different insurance plans (it's a rather large company) for each state, and I asked her if all of the plans had an exclusion?? Is the company aware of the exclusion? can it be changed? (the lady at the lapband clinic said that their insurance had an exlusion!! LOL no one had noticed it...) or will they make individual exceptions?? I haven't heard back yet, but I figured that the worst that could happen was them saying NO and I'd be back to self-pay....which is no worse than I was before.

Also check out freecycle!! a good friend of mine just shed all of her baby weight (70lbs) and has gotten a ton of really cute stuff that way!!

WOW...so many husband/wife weight loss teams!! Congrats to everyone on your amazing progress and thank you for sharing all of your experiences with me. We do have a small child, a son who is almost 4, so we couldn't do it on the same day...but within a few weeks would be fine it sounds like. :biggrin2: I can't wait!!

My DH & I are both working towards getting banded. I would love to hear from people who have done this as a team, with their partner. Pros......Cons.....everything!!

At the seminar that I attended on Satrurday, the surgeon said that he always stitches the lower stomach up. He also said that 4-6oz of food is what we could expect to eat after surgery. HTH

Congrats!! I hope that the rest of your journey is just as smooth!

I know that you weren't trying to be funny, but I about pissed my pants laughing when I read this!! :cursing: It sounds exactly like what I would have thought/said....LOL

Well, I just sent an e-mail to the HR person at DH's corporate office. Fingers crossed that she is willing/able to help us!!

When I had to take it as colonoscopy prep, I had to take the entire bottle at once......mixed with a beverage......completely drank in 1/2 an hour.