Elizabethdb

That wouldbe awesome! I started uot at 345 and so far am only down to 320, but thats a start. I dont have good restriction yet so it is going really slow, but the time will come .. Keep up the good work

It's so neat to actually see and talk to "Kaplans Bandsters" on here. There for a while I was the only one. I was one of his, Ill take that back, I was his first patient to be seen for the band. The 6 months go by fast, they keep you busy at times.Recovery from just the band takes about 2 weeks, I dont know the recovery time with the hernia in it. It shouldnt be too much longer. Ask you doctor, he should tell ya how long it will take. My mom is also having it done around Oct or Nov. My poor dad, he will be all on his own after that. lol. Good luck to you all. Come to chat sometime, usually in the evening aroun 8 or 9 there are several people in there to talk to.

Congrats on the weight loss!! I had trouble loosing in the preop. I had a lecture at the halfway point because I hadnt lost any, hadnt gained, but had no weight loss. So I lost about 10 pounds after that.

I was a Bread Addict. I still sneak some bread in from time to time. I just have to be VERY careful. I have had bread get stuck, not a good feeling at all. I think the bread was the hardest thing for me to give up. The soft diet is like food you would feed a toddler,something easy to chew up.

Are you from around Parkersburg? Letting Kaplan do it?? Its neat finally seeing people on here who are going to the same doctor. Just up until recently I was the only one from this area on this site.

I eat more then a 4th cup right now. I still dont have good restriction. I am fighting an infection right now so I am holding off on getting any needles stuck in me right now, other then the IVs. I dont want to risk it spreading to my band. I can eat about 2 chicken strips right now still. I will eat 1 cup of cheerios in the morning. So Im at about a cup of food right now and hungry a lot still. It takes time to get the right restriction.

Yeah, it was a very rough start, they first thought it was band complications but I just felt like I had the flu and was running a fever. They even talked about putting a feeding tube in while I was sick just trying to get nutrition in. When you go in to see Lindsey, which is everyother week, she will ask you about your exercise how much, what was it, stuff like that. The post op diet isnt all that bad. You will do clear liquids for a week, then full for 1-2 weeks then pureed(not baby food) for a week or so then softs, and then regular. I kind of stopped at softs, too scared to eat much more then that. GNC has a protein poweder that I used for my protein shakes. I couldnt handle the slim fast, made me sick, so what I did was Carnation instant breakfast with lactose free milk and a scoop of protein. That wasnt too bad, I just got sick and tired of drinking it and stubburn me quit drinking my protein and yes I lost a lot of hair due to that.. The main thing with the preop diet is to make sure you are commented and cutting your portion sizes down and getting rid of carbs, carbonated drinks and caffiene. It goes fast. :thumbup: Before you know it, you will be a bandster like a lot of us and think "That wasnt bad at all."

The only problems that I had was I got dehydrated and ended up spending extra time in the hospital and a week later I came down with the flu. I was probably exposed to it at the hospital and "lucky me" came down with it. What kind of plan do you have with Blue Cross? My plan is anything done at CCMH is 100% and everything else I pay 20%. I guess it really isnt too bad, the thing is I am unemployeed right now and a full time student so trying to come up with the 20% for all the preop testing I had to have for example a sleep study, cardiac testing due to me having high heart rate, stuff like that. I just had my surgery July 14th so far I am only down 15-18 pounds I guess that isnt too bad. One thing a lot of people are having trouble with is the exercise. They are finding out that if you dont exercise during the 6 months, you will be turned down. I know of at least 3 people so far that has been turned down due to lack of exercise. Well good luck with everything. Keep in touch :smile: Elizabeth

I had Blue Cross Blue Shield.. You will have a 6 month preop diet in which you will spend a lot of time with Lindsey. Lindsey is the dietition, Jeanie Morris is the nurse. You will see them the most and I onl saw Dr. Kaplan twice before my surgery. They handle everything, I didnt have to do anything with my insurance, other then pay the bills, but that is ok. So you are going to have Dr.Kaplan?? He did a pretty good job. When do you go to the seminar? Elizabeth

Finally someone close. Welcome to lapband. I am also from West Virginia. Where abouts are you?? Im from Parkersburg. Good luck with everything, I come here all the time it is a greatplace to ask questions and compair stories. Elizabeth

Are they sure it is not your galbladder?? When I had a galbladder attack I felt like my ribs were going to break and the pain radiated into my chest and arm. Just a thought. Elizabeth

I lost my job in May. I continued my insurance through COBRA and had my surgery done in July. I didnt have any trouble with it. The only trouble is trying to make the payments, COBRA is expensive, but worth it.

I am the same way with you... The closest I have gotten since the band is just refluxing up into my mouth. Ive dry heaved a couple times but that is it.

Insurance paid for mine almost 100% I just have to pay 20% of the doctors fee