trayrenee

As my surgery nears (next Wednesday!) I realize I need to upgrade my blender from the $10 Wallgreens special!:thumbdown: Has anyone used the Magic Bullet -- it looks like it would be good for a variety of post-lap band surgery uses. But it's like $60 so I wanted to throw the question out to the board before I bought it.

Don't feel bad. I too gained 7lbs between my pre-surg consult and my pre-op testing (1 month). In fact the nurse said "oh, this can't be right, let me reset the scale" to which I replied "oh, no it's right and it's all donuts". I completely binged out from the second I left my consult and scheduled a surgery date to the day I started my liquid diet (I am getting banded next Wed). Good news though in the first week of my LD I lost 8.3 lbs --- But still ... 7lbs in a month. Not good. But then again, I guess that's why I need the band!

My dietician said we can drink SlimFast if we are desperate but did not really recommend it -- way too high in sugar and carbs. When I can't make a shake - I've been taking the Advantage Edge (or however it is spelled) to work.

I had my pulmonary function test on Thursday last. It took about 20 minutes. Basically I had to breath into a tube and the measure a bunch of things. They coach you through the whole thing. It's stuff like: normal breathing, ok deep breath, super deep, super deep, let it all out. And variations on that. It tests your lung functions. When I met w/the anestheiologist, he looked at the numbers and charts and that was it. In regards to a sleep apnea test -- I have no idea. I don't have sleep apnea so they didn't test me. On your signature - it says you've had 3 cardiac tests -- what kind were those? Except for my ekg - I didn't have anything. I wonder why? It's so odd how some docs order some tests and others don't.

I'm not actually worried about the scarring -- I mean, if I lost enough weight where I could be worried about vanity scars in my bikini:tongue_smilie:I would be more than happy. I'm just an info junkie. I was just curious as to why.

Hello post-op people. I'm due to have surgery in a week and at my final pre-op class they told me that my surgeon uses staples instead of glue and not the kind that dissolve! Yikes! I thought w/such small incisions that surely I'd get the glue and steri strips -- anyone out there in the health professions know why a surgeon would use staples instead of glue? Just curious. I'm sure he has a good reason, I know my surgeon kind of leads towards the very conservative method of everything. He's really obsessed w/everything healing 100% before we attempt working on weight loss. Just one more thing for me to get nervous about pre-surgery! :-)

I am due to be banded in late November at St. Alexius' New Start program in St. Louis and I wonder if anyone has gone through this program.

It's always so nice to hear positive outcomes. I am due to be banded on Nov. 19th and am about the same starting weight as you. To think in 3 1/2 months I could be down that much is very inspiring. So how in general has your surgery gone? Pretty free and clear of complications?

If you don't want to go all the way out to Oregon, there is a doctor is St Louis that specializes in higher BMI patients. His name is Dr. Van Wagner and he works through a great program in St. Louis called St. Alexius New Start. Here is his web site: Heart of America Bariatrics, LLC While he is not the person doing my surgery -- I have heard great things about him. Hope you find someone.

I think you'd be surprised at how supportive your skinny friends might be. I am very open about my upcoming surgery -- and even my skinniest of friends are so excited and want to know every little detail. They have all been around for my weight loss up and downs. So if they are truly close to you -- I'm sure they'll surprise you! Good luck.

I had my surgery consult on Sept. 30. And I have my all day pre-op testing on Nov. 5th -- on that day I will also see the anesthesiologist. Yeah, it's odd, when I had sinus surgery 2 years ago -- I met the guy like an hour before my surgery. So who knows. Too bad you have to drive so far. My surgeon is like 1 mile from my house - so it doesn't matter how many times I have to go back.

It truly does seem that doctors are all over the place on this pre-op diet thing. For me I am on full liquids 2 weeks prior -- not just clear --- I can have protein shakes but nothing more than that, crystal light, broth etc. Now I have a friend who lives across country (I'm in St. Louis, she's in NYC) and before she was banded she was on a modified liquid diet -- b/c she was permitted to have veggies. So who knows. I know they want to shrink your liver -- I wish I understood better why people were all over the place with the diets.

It sounds like you could use a good therapist that deals with either addiction and/or eating issues. I can't imagine going through this process with out working on the mind and heart as much as I am working on my body.

Call them up and ask. Seriously -- that's the best way of knowing whether your plan covers it or not. I thought it was going to be really difficult getting them to tell me that info (I have BC/BS of Minnesotta) but it took them 5 minutes to tell me over the phone and then they sent me a photocopy of the policy. Now keep in mind that it's not only BC/BS but whether your employer paid for the rider. I know it's stressful - but it's the only way you are going to know. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hello All! I'm due to be banded on Nov. 19th in St. Louis. While I don't have any plans right now or in the next year ... my husband and I are already talking about the next place we'd like to live in 2 or 3 years time. (I just can't stay in one place b/c of my job I've lived all over the country). :thumbup: Now I have heard about doctors being hesitant to be the post surgery doc of people who have been banded in Mexico. Or if they didn't do the surgery. Has anyone out there gotten the band and then moved? Did you have problems finding a doctor to take care of you?

Even though you aren't diabetic -- perhaps with your reduced diet your blood sugar was low -- that can make you faint. Also are you drinking your water? Dehydration can make you faint also.

Hey! I live in Missouri too... I'm in St. Louis? Where are you hoping to get your surgery? I was just approved by my insurance about 2 weeks ago. Because of lack of vacation time I had to put my surgery off until November -- but I have a date Nov. 19. I'm going through the New Start program.

I am getting banded in STL on Nov. 19th by Dr. Norbert Richardson. I am going through St. Alexius' New Start program -- St. Alexius NewStart So far it's been a great experience and they have a ton of aftercare post-surgery programs -- support groups, classes, nutrition help.

I have BC/BS of MN. My doc faxed my stuff Sept 3rd and I was approved Sept 22. It was weird after the first week I called to make sure they had gotten my paperwork. The insurance said no, so I called the doc just to FYI them. They doc called and said the insurance said yes they did and they were in the process of making a decision. That was on Sept 16th. All and all not so bad. I'd say if you don't hear in a week and half or so, follow my path and give them a call. Good luck!

Maribelle -- while asking your doctor is a good start in regards to therapy -- don't let it be your only path. A lot of doctors dismiss therapy or they themselves don't know where to start. If you are truly interested -- look around for someone that deals with eating issues or addiction issues. Sometimes local mental health clinics can point you in the right direction. Or call up your insurance and ask them for people whose specialities are these areas. Good Luck.

I did medifast a few years ago (not before surgery, but just to lose weight) -- so I am right there with you with how hard it is. First: It will get easier. Trust me. You just need to break that sugar/carb addiction. Second: My doctor told me this -- think of it like you are on medicine. Three months worth of medicine. Having that in my mind that it was a finite amount of time and it was like a medical procedure helped. Third: Think of it as food rehab. It's hard. Crazy hard. But there was something so nice, so quiet about not having to think and make deals with myself and give myself permission to eat or sham myself after I ate. It was shakes shakes shakes and a lean/green. It was very nice after a while. Goo luck!

Wowzers! Now this is the type of good news I like to here. I just go approved last week and my surgery date is Nov. 19th. I've been excited but nervous b/c I read so many posts of people being frustrated for not being able to lose and complications... I know that when things are going well people tend not to write on boards ... that is true of everything not just lap band. So it does my heart and soul good to hear some boring old good news!

Good Luck! I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.

One thing that I seem to see missing from so many of these posts on this site and others is the part a really good therapist can play in all of this. For most of us -- we eat too much because of a variety of reasons but some of them do have to do with feelings, and bad behaviors and addict behavior. Have you thought of going to see someone that deals w/people who have addictions or food issues -- they can help you explore why you eat too much and then also help you work on some behavior modification to correct the bad habits we all have come to have. I personally feel that at least 50% of success of this is mental. And if one works on the mind and emotions as much as one works on the what is healthy what is not ... than success is possible. I'll admit my bias. I'm super pro therapy. I feel like it has enabled me to really get prepared for surgery and to talk freely about what is going through my mind with a trained professional. I see someone who works with addicts and I know for me -- a lot of my behavior is that of someone who is powerless over food. While it is great to have the help of the board and support groups -- it is also great to have someone who is going to be your guide and really challenge you on your behaviors and feelings. Don't give up yet. Keep fighting. Keeping trying different methods. Good luck.

Yeah! I'm going to be banded on Nov. 19th. I'm not so much scared of the surgery. But I'm more scared of either failing again or being one of the people who just has problem after problem after problem.