wsw27

Sugar Free Instant Jello pudding made with skim milk--I add a scoop of chocolate Unjury protein powder.

I am three weeks post-op and feel fine. No more gas pains, very little soreness and not hungry (amazing!). I had bad gas pains for about 10 days after surgery. I walked as much as I could. I tried the GasX strips, but it didn't help much. One day I woke up and the gas pains were gone. So just hang in there, it gets easier. I've lost 13 pounds so far and am very pleased. (Some people lose way more the first few weeks, but I am a slow loser and for me this is like the speed of light). I am starting on regular food, but I find that I am just not that hungry so I am trying to really pay attention to the signals of physical hunger. I try to get a least one Protein shake in a day. I go back for my first fill in August but if this continues, I'm not sure I will need it. We'll see.

I just had surgery at NYU (Dr. Kurian) on July 1, 2008. I love Dr. Kurian; she is terrific. Easy to talk to, she answered all of my questions and I did not feel rushed when I met her. I agree that the office can be zoo-like at times. The adminstrative staff is very knowledgeable about insurance, but difficult to reach at times and certainly over-worked. On the other hand, several staff members, in addition to Dr. Fielding have the band and are very willing to talk about their own experinces. If you go to the information sessions for the programs you are considering you should get a sense of the doctors and the program. Good luck to you.

Seems like the woman in the article may have had bad medical advice from her first doctor.

I had surgery on 7/1 and lost 13 pounds since surgery. I only lost 2 pounds on the pre-op diet, so 15 total. I am eating mushies now so I think the weight loss has slowed considerably.

I had surgery on Tuesday, 7/1 and was back at work on Monday, 7/7. I was still a bit sore, but not that bad. I take public transportation so I gave myself extra time and walked a bit slower than usual, but didn't have a problem. I think you will be fine.

Walking is best. I had surgery on 7/1. She may be having gas pains--and walking is best way to get the gas out. I dissolved my pain med in water--it didn't taste good, but was easier to swallow and I think it worked a bit faster. It will get better. If the pain seems very bad, call the doctor.

If you've been at the same place since March, perhaps you need a fill. Just a suggestion.

Hey Lauren, All went well. Thanks for asking. The day of surgery I had some bad gas pains, but once I started walking, the pains eased up a bit. Felt like I did way too many sit ups for the first three days. A little bit of bruising, but not that bad. I was very tired for a couple of days, but felt better by day 4. I went back to work on Monday the 7th. I don't feel hungry at all. I had my first post op check up and all's well. I've lost 14 pounds since my pre-op visit. I will go back in a few weeks for my first fill. Good luck to you. Keep us posted (pardon the pun) about your progress.

I met with Dr. Kurian at NYU last week. She is terrific. The staff was very nice. It was a long day, however, and lots of paperwork. Even though I brought in documentation of 6 month diet, I need additional details for both 6 month diet and five year weight history. Once I get that in, will await word from insurance (Cigna). Am nervous, but also excited. I just keep telling myself "one step at a time." Am focusing on getting to the gym now, so that I will feel as good as possible pre-op and will be ready to get back to the gym as soon as possible after surgery. For me, exercise is always the key to losing weight. Even at my highest weight, if I am working out I feel so much better. Weight at consult 225 (5/15/08) Pre-Op: ? Goal: 130

CIGNA seems to require documentation of 5 year weight history with a BMI of 40 or higher. Well, my 5 year history shows a BMI of about 38 over the 5 years. Weight seems to be within a 10 to 15 pound range. My BMI is 40 now, but was less last year as I was on a medically supervised diet for about a year. In part it was to qualify for the band, but I stayed with the diet as it worked for a while. I hit a wall last fall (and was sidelined with an injury so I couldn't exercise anymore). Well, the weight came back --of course. Anyone with a similar BMI history? What was your expereince with CIGNA.

Ten days of liquids post op, then mushies for ten days, then solid food. Every doctor is different. I was on a pre-op liquid diet for two weeks. Protein shakes, broth, Jello and sugar free drinks. Some doctors don't require a pro-op diet at all.

Good Luck to you. I had surgery on 7/1 and went back to work today. No problem. Hope all goes well for you.

I use Optifast chocolate and vanilla powder. You can add the Vanilla to cold coffee, add some ice and it tastes like a latte (sort of). I also use Unjury, which mixes with milk so consistency is a bit thicker. I also add Torani Vanilla Bean sugar free syrup sometimes.

I am 6 days post op and still have pain in my right shoulder. It comes and goes and sometimes is very sharp. I can't seem to identify a pattern. Otherwise, I feel fine. No post op pain in my belly, slightly sore, like I did a few too many sit ups. I'm glad to read that I'm not alone, but dismayed to read that many people are struggling with shoulder pain several weeks after surgery. I take Gas X but it doesn't seem to help at all. Any other ideas?

I had surgery on 7/1. I feel much better now. But I still have pain in my left shoulder. Nothing seems to help. I take Gas X strips, walk, etc but am not getting much relief from the shoulder pain. Belly soreness is much, much better. Planning to return to work on 7/7 so I hope that more I move around, the gas pain will get better.

I had my surgery on 7/1. I feel pretty good. A bit tired and sore but otherwise okay. Trying to walk and drink as much as I can. The most difficulty I had was post - surgery gas, but the more I walked, it seemed to ease up. Still have occasional gas pains, but not as bad. Plan to return to work on 7/7 and feel like I should be okay.

Amanda, As you can see from the many posts replying to your note, many people have similar experiences. My husband is sort of in between. He came to the surgeon consult when I asked and has told me that he supports my decision. But then yesterday he asked me "do you want me to bring you to the hospital on Tuesday?" (Surgery is 7/1) Well, duh! I said yes, of course and then later told him I was hurt that he even asked. He told me that he didn't want to make an "assumption," that if it was him having surgery he might not want me to bring him and sit with him. Of course I reminded him that when he had his hernia repair I was there with him the entire time! The point of the story is that men think about these things differently. The idea of the surgery and the life change it will mean for you may be making him nervous about how it will change your relationship with him. He may not even realize that he is concerned about that, but he is reacting to those feelings by keeping his distance about the logisitics of the surgery. You may have to spell it out for him and tell him exactly what you need. I know that is scary sometimes (what if he doesn't do it???) but if you don't ask specifcally, you'll just be hurt and angry and it will come out in other ways. For now, try to think about someone who you can count on. Is there a close friend nearby who know you are planning to have surgery? Set up your own support system so you have a safety net. Good luck to you. Hang in there .

My paperwork was submitted on June 24 and I got approval on June 27th. I was very frustrated with NYU's admin staff because she waited to submit until the 24th. I don't think there is anyway to predict how long it will take. The fact that it is pending is good. Good luck to you.

Did you have a get together today? Sorry I couldn't join you but I had plans. If you plan another, post the time and place and will try to join you next time. So, I going forward on July 1st. Nervous but excited too.

Well, I finally got the word today--Cigna approved the surgery. I am scheduled for July 1. I am still stunned. Looking forward to a week from today when I'll be post -op and healing.

Yes. Nervous. Not so much about the surgery, but about what it will be like afterwards. I think part of the nervousness has more to do with letting go of food as a coping mechanism. In many ways the liquid diet is a huge psychological jump start, but it is still strange to think about the "after" part. I know this is the right move for me, but that doesn't mean I am going into this worry-free. Just a couple of more days --and I'm working on Monday, so I will be very busy and distracted. I'm taking the rest of the week off and plan to go back to work on 7/7. Hopefully, I'll feel good enough to do so. See you then.

I was approved today! Yipee! So Staylucid, I'll see you on the 1st at NYU. Just a few more days now.

Barb12590, I feel your pain about the NYU office administration (See my post "frustrated with NYU". In fact, I spoke to Marianne this week as well. Got many "I'm so sorrys" but not much more. My surgery is set for July 1 and I just found out today--6/27--that I was approved. Apparently my paperwork was not submitted until 6/24. One week before my surgery date --even though I had submitted everything to the office by May 30th. I told Marianne that the office staff is dragging down the reputation of the program. Good luck to you.

My paperwork was submitted on June 24 and my surgery is scheduled for 7/1 so I hope they don't take 30 days. I have been very upset with the surgeon's office about the delay since I gave them all paperwork a month ago. Just trying to go with the flow. May not find out if I'm approved until Monday! Please everyone think good thoughts!