LindaD

My weight history was spotty and all over the board, covering the last 20 years of my life. My insurance is Aetna but they never asked questions or anything.

One of the reasons I wanted the band was for hope that I could occasionally have a bit of a splurge. Not a HUGE splurge, not all the time. But eating less and still enjoying food is something I'm very hopeful about.

It varies from surgeon to surgeon. Some have NO special pre-op requirements. Other will keep you at a low calorie range, or insist you eat low-carb. Many will put you on a liquid diet that focuses on Protein shakes. My doctor recommended all clear no-calorie liquids. I couldn't even have Protein Shakes. So for me, Water, SF Jello, SF popsicles, diet soda, Chrystal Lite, etc. That was it.

I had a really restrictive 2 week pre-op diet. I also had a business trip to Buenos Aires that same week so I talked to my nurse who said "Just do your best and start the liquid diet when you're back." So I really only did a 1 week pre-op diet. And I didn't follow it exactly. Mine was all Clear liquids - no calories, basically. No Protein shakes. I added in a serving of protein every evening for the first 4 days. About 4-5 ounces of meat. The last three days, I did follow it perfectly. Still, I lost 20 pounds in that week. WOW. But I had the headache and shakiness and even nausea. It was hard. The first part of the week because of the hunger though that seemed to fade. The 2nd part of the week was hard because I felt like crap.

My insurance required a 6 month physician supervised diet and exercise plan. I started in October with a 3 hour a week exercise plan. I really hadn't lost anything. In February, I started taking an Rx to suppress appetite - Phentermine. Then in March, I upped my exercise to 5-6 hours weekly. So really, about 26 pounds cam off before I started my pre-op diet. But that knocked off 20 more, on the day of surgery, I was down 46 pounds. The day after, my scale read down 2 more (today it was the same), so 48 altogether. I stopped taking the Phentermine prior to surgery, by almost a week. I wanted it out of my system (it raises blood pressure and heartrate). So really, the 48 pounds was over 4 months and with the help of Phentermine and the pre-op liquid diet.

Singingintherain, I was banded the day after you. I'm mostly sore getting up from a laying or sitting position - that's still tricky. I'll take a shower today and put on real clothes. LOL I definitely feel better today from yesterday. Still on clear fluids and will be for awhile more. But it's not bothering me too much. Not yet, anyway. LOL

There is a green dress in my closet. The last time I wore it was... hmmm.. 1992, I think. I've kept it all these years. It maybe the only thing of Size 14 that I have. I'm looking forward to wearing that green dress. I wore it in a family photo in 1992, it would be really cool to wear it in another one 18 years later (the first picture was with my daughters who are now in their 20s, and this 2nd one would be with my 3 youngest daughters. The more I think about it, the more I love the idea.

I'm only 2 days post-op and on clear liquids. Broths, popsicles, water. That's it mostly. My traumatized insides aren't screaming for more just yet so it's not been too hard. I imagine in the next couple days, that will change. After all, I hadn't eating much on the pre-op diet so my cells ought to be screaming for some nutrition...

Have him read the book: The Hungry Gene, the inside story of obesity. And then see if he still thinks it's just not enough will power. Once you're morbidly obese, your odds of doing this on your own and succeeding are about 2%, from what the experts have told me. If that's true, and I assume it to be, I wouldn't bet my money on success that way. I'm 44 and I already personally know THAT story. I'd educate him, and ask for his support. Tell him you're doing it anyway, but you'd much rather do it with his support. My husband was reluctantly supportive. LOL He worried about the risk of the procedure, he's worried about how this new way of eating will change "our" lives, he's worried that I'll be wearing a size 3 at the end (he likes curvy women). But he's walked the path with me every step. Now that I'm 2 days post-op, I'm so very glad to have him here to help me.

I would have asked to speak to her supervisor. What she did was VERY unprofessional at the least, and probably in violation of their policy. That's bullshit. NONE OF HER BUSINESS. I got mine put in at 238 on the doctor's scale so maybe some wouldn't think I "need" one. They may not know that I was 288 just months before that. They absolutely would not know any co-morbidities, like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, etc. I wouldn't have put up with a health care professional speaking to me like that. I hope your throat is better soon, though.

I started by googling "bariatric surgeon St. Louis" see what came up, and then investigated the ones who came up. Once I had a few names, I read reviews about them on obesity.com and here, what other patients said. You can come to a site like this and use the SEARCH function to search for that name. I also made sure the surgeons I was considering carried the "Center of Excellence" seal for bariatric surgery. I learned how long the surgeon had been doing these procedures, which procedures he had done, how MANY of them, where he went to school, etc. I did switch surgeons after going down the path for months with one, who was an excellent surgeon by all information. But his office was disorganized and I wasn't getting follow up from them as I needed. This ended up in them submitted for insurance approval before we had met the insurance requirements, which was very upsetting for me. That was the last straw - I switched and the new office was wonderful - great TLC all along the process. And now I'm banded - 2 days in.

Thanks for the replies - they're helpful.

Still noticing them... Shaving legs sooo much easier. I even gave myself a little bit of a pedicure today. When I look up and run my hands through my hair, there is no more big lump of flesh at the back of my head. It's not gone all the way, just a LOT smaller. LOL

Trust me, I would have killed for a protein shake. At least that is feeding your cells. My pre-op was basically ZEOR calories - no fuel. Protein shakes can help feed your cells, supply energy to your brain. I think it's a better approach, honestly.

I changed into a hospital gown, tied in back. I assume they pushed it up and out of the way to do my surgery. I did get to keep my socks on. :lol (With hospital booties over them.) No swimming for 2 weeks, no sex for 4 weeks - this is in my post-op package. I wish I would have discussed the pre-op diet with my surgeon at our last face to face appointment. It was really TOO restrictive and I didn't understand why. I think if I had talked to him, we may have come to an agreement that left me less frustrated.

Yes, that was me. My doctor ordered Clear liquids for 2 week - no calories (sugar free clear liquids) and no Protein shakes or anything. I wasn't able to follow it that first week because I was on a business trip in a country where receiving their hospitality was important. But I started on it last Friday, modifying it by adding a serving of protein in each evening at dinner. Until Monday - that was the last day I modified it. I followed it to the letter Tue-Wed-Thur. My weigh in at the surgery center was 20 pounds down in that 1 week period (I had weighed in there the Friday before when I went in to pre-register and meet with anesthesia). So 20 pounds down in one week. The surgery went fine - he was very pleased with everything. From the time they wheeled me into the operating room until I awoke from the anesthesia was 1 hour and 15 minutes - no problems or complications.

I was banded yesterday, and am still sore. But I did sleep in my bed - lots of pillows and not much moving around. I would stay on my right side for a few hours, then get up to go pee (IV fluids) and then get back into bed on my left with the pillows and stay in that position for a couple hours, etc. I've been doing the same thing in my cap-naps. (I'm soooo tired with bursts of energy in between. LOL) I have also been doing really easy walking on my treadmill... slow, but enough to get the blood circulating.

My pre-op diet was all Clear liquids. broth, popsicles (sugar free, of course), Water, Crystal Lite, diet soda, coffee or tea. That's it. So having other stuff too is actually a more lenient pre-op than some of us got. I had my band installed yesterday so I have another week of clear liquids. Then a week of full liquids. THEN I get yogurt and stuff like that. But I can have creamy Soups on full liquids.

I only had my band placed yesterday, so I know there is a lot of healing. But I keep getting soooo tired - must lie down and nap tired. Is that normal? At first I thought it was the Stadol pain med, but then I didn't take any this morning and it was still that way - 3 cat naps in a couple hours. I'm just overwhelmingly tired. Not sure if it's the meds or the healing from surgery or the fact that I haven't had real food in so long. I'm just tired and woozy and it's even hard to read/post because my eyes aren't working well. Normal?

You were just banded yesterday!!! Of course it will get better. (I was banded yesterday too.) I was told that the pain in the back or shoulders or whatever is from the gas. They use gas to bloat you up during the surgery and then some of it gets trapped. My people told me to lie on the side or part that hurts because to actually put that under you will force it to move. The goal is for it to be re-absorbed. Sore throat - I have it too. They intubated me during the surgery and even though the tube was removed before I woke up, the soreness it left behind is still there. I have been switching between warm/hot broths and cold sugar-free popsicles. Also, you can suck on sugar-free candies if that would help. Good luck!

I haven't had a band fill yet, but for needles in general, my strategy is just not to look. I look at the wall in the other direction, etc. When you can't see it, it's better. (For me anyway...)

Similar to others.. (and I was just banded yesterday), I'm on clear liquids for a week, then full liquids, then mushy/soft, and then starting with some foods. I'm going to be way more careful following post-op than I even was on pre-op. I don't want the band to slip, I don't want food to get caught and cause vomiting. It's only been 1 day so if I get caught up in desperation later, remind me of this, OK? LOL

Mine was placed yesterday morning so I'm still adjusting/healing. Going pretty good, though. I'm sore and woozy and fighting a headache off and on, but doing pretty well. I even walked - very slowly - on my treadmill. Clear liquids for now....just had some broth and am sipping Water. Maybe a SF popsicle for dessert. LOL

Thanks, I used liquid Tylenol this morning for a headache and it helped a lot. Yeah, I've been sleeping a lot - it's only 10:40AM and I've taken 3 little cat-naps already. LOL But I was up at 5:45 AM too. Oy. I had to drop my daughter off at the YMCA this morning and decided I won't be going back out to drive anytime soon. That was a bad idea... I was too woozy. I haven't used my Stadol (pain med) in 6 hours but I still think it was affecting me. So no driving. Which means I'll work from home next week... I actually did do some REALLY slow paced treadmill time yesterday and will do that again today. Have been doing the exercises my doc gave me to do. All is good!

Yep, mine was out-patient. Doing good today. I was fine yesterday too. I slept in my own bed, although had to get up to pee a lot (darn IV fluids! LOL). Using my Stadol inhaler for pain. I had chicken broth, Water, and popsicles yesterday and will stick with those today. I'm only on Clear liquids this first week, so no shakes. I'm not hungry, though. This is easier than following the clear liquids pre-op diet, given that I was so hungry then. I hope I can continue to not be hungry for the next few days while getting past clear liquids. I even did my 30 minutes on the treadmill yesterday! I walked at a very VERY slow pace, but I did it. I'm still very tired, off and on, so will continue napping and building up stamina.