flowers

So many different answers and pre opt diets. Some say studies have proven that it would take at least 2 weeks to shrink your liver. 5 days sounds to me like they are trying to get you used to eating less? I was told to do low fat high Protein, nothing about liquids or not liquids. I think the purpose behind a liquid diet is if you are supposed to do nothing but liquid shakes they keep you from snacking on bad choices.

I know what you mean, I was afraid my BMI would then be under 35 and then I would no longer qualify for the surgery. I lost 7 lbs. I was not told to lose any certain amount, but then I was self pay.

I was surprised too!!! I was banded the day after you were and I have 5 incisions ..... and they are longer than what I was lead to expect. The good news, if there is any, is I didnt have gas like so many other did after their surgery, so maybe those bigger and more incisions let out the gas afterwards.

We were told it take up to 3 weeks for the scar tissue to form that holds the band more firmly in place. Until then you could have some slippage if you get too crazy. Im 4 days post op, and know I couldnt have anything vigorous right now anyway, tee hee.

I must be in the minority here. I did Nutrisystem and lost 80 lbs and didnt lose any hair, why would this be different?? Of course I gained all the 80 lbs back and found a few extras when my Dad's health became uncertain last winter. You wouldnt think I could put the weight back on so fast. Thats why I decided to do this. I just refuse to weight this much and admit I have little will power. I need the lapband's help. .... but I have no worries about losing my hair??!! Why would you with the lapband?? Are some not getting enough Protein or something??

One of the doctors I went to his seminar in my area has done thousands of lapband surgerys without any deaths. TWO is a pretty high percentage imo (highest Iv ever read 2 out of only 500 lapbands). Of course the doctor is going to say nothing to do with his surgery. Again my two cents. If you think these stats are not worrying, then ok, its not my decision. Also, 500 lapbands is not very many. Most surgeons have more experience, at least all the doctors I considered.

One of the first things I got here is to find out out how many lapbands has the doctor done. Not how many overall weight loss surgeries, but specifically lapband surgeries. Were you satisfied with your original research on this Dr. FOX. I admit there is one doctor mentioned here that I would now avoid, just because of a couple of negative feedbacks. Others claim he is wonderful, but I wouldnt want him to do my surgery. I went with a different choice.

I too choose a doctor that I knew little about and no one on this site had used. I felt ok to leave the day after surgery, yes they had included a night at a hotel, but when I was on pain meds and drip IV for 24 hours I felt better than I did after 10 hours of getting home. Im not sure what complications you have or if they are normal. It still hurts to tie my left shoe or get in and out of bed. I was banded July 9th. Im still feeling tired and moving very slowly. I did go grocery shopping on the way in from the airport the day after my surgery, so I guess I can do that, but that just added to my exhaustion. Im thinking its normal to feel tired. Are you getting enough Protein? I started Protein shakes last night.

Im tired too and a little out of breath even. I think what you are experiencing is probably normal. I know Im moving more slow and not eating as much as before and folks look at me eating my refried beans off the mexican platter we had today and say what can I do to help. lol

You'all are making me feel bad. I came home weighing 3 lbs more than when I left to be banded. Im just today below where I started. You mean Im supposed to be showing a big weight loss already?? Someone told me not to worry, the swelling was normal and not to be watching my weight already. We are all still having some swelling if we were just banded in July, once that comes down there will be more weight loss. Im not going to let the fact many have big losses already bother me.

An egg I thought we could eat 1/2 a cup and it was ok. An egg is an even smaller amount. I keep worrying if Iv harmed the location of my pouch. I was allowed to start mushys after 3 days on a clear liquid diet. I had a spoon of applesauce night 2. Hopefully, it isnt that easy to dislodge or they would find a better way to do this, but if you are really worried your doctor should be able to use the fluorscope to check the placement of the band. My doctor only charges an extra $100 cash to do this.

I went to Juarez with Dr. Naketa, that was easiest for me. I had broken my shoulder at Christmas so I cant turn over and was just kinda getting onto my side when I had the surgery. I sure dont think I could sleep on my side now though. I felt fine in the hospital, but they had me on IV drip and pain meds. I felt so fine I decided to go home the next day and know that was a mistake, the long day of travel really got my energy sapped. Im also exactly 4 days post op, and cant say I feel as good as you do. It hurts to tie my shoes, left shoe especially or to get in and out of bed. I have to say Im glad its over!!! ... another 4 days post op from Mexico and successful surgery (as far as I know so far).

I didnt have but a 24 hour pre op diet, it was hard enough. Some doctors do it all the time and some dont, it really depends on your doctor. It also might depend on your weight. Iv heard they do it to shrink up your liver so the doctor wouldnt nick it during surgery and its easier to pull away from the stomach. As a result of no pre-opt, I came out of surgery asking when is dinner!!!! Two bowls of jello, tea and apple juice, yum. Anyway, this July band baby is now banded. Its over. Yippee.

You probably wouldnt like my answer. I was self pay. I flew to Juarez and it took me 10 hours to get home, 2 thru the border, then 3 hours to wait on the next plane and then to get home on the plane. I too have free fills, but Id have to fly back to Juarez each time. If you think its expensive, having insurance covering you and your gripe is the price of gas, tell yourself its worth it. You got off cheap compared to many. I still havent decided on a fill doctor in my area, griped because I found out the doctor they recommended charges an extra $100 cash price because I was banded in Mexico. That extra $100, $250 for me, vs. $150 for others banded here, will buy a lot of gas.

I agree, sounds like this is what you mom wants not you. You say you are finally comfortable with who you are, which doesnt sound like you are in a place where you are ready to do the work with the band that it will still entail to lose the weight. You can eat around the band and then its useless. Ice cream as they say slides right down.

If you cant stop yourself from itching, maybe you can put something like gauze over the incisions so you dont accidently scratch it? As far as worrying you arent eating enough, thats the last thing I would be worrying about unless you are feeling faint. I used to eat worse, unbalanced, maybe have 2 ears of corn and call it dinner and my sugar levels would go nuts. How much worse can it be what you are now eating? Even a month of not eating enough, wouldnt affect your health unless you are really not getting enough Protein and your Iron levels are depleted or whatever.

I went to a seminar supposedly about all the options, but it seemed very slanted to me against getting the lapband. Folks were undecided when they went in and by the end no one but me was having the lapband. You have to do what you feel most comfortable with.

It would cost you the $250 Dr. Jay charges to drive to Mexico wouldnt it? I can get "free" fills for a year or something with my doctor in Mexico, but turns out I have to pay $100 for the fluor to measure the fill. It didnt mention the extra $100 charge to go back to Mexico in the original quote. lol. As I said to me the costs keep going up up up. I figure the gas would cost me close to $200 both ways to drive to Mexico, plus you would need a hotel for the night.

Yikes, I thought I posted this message.... hahahahhaha. Yes, I ran into this same issue, and even though this fill doctor wasnt my first choice, I had checked into this. Iv got some more good news for you, Dr. Jayaseelan charges lap banders $150 cash price if you got your band in the U.S. but he charges $250 if you have the band put in by a Mexican doctor .... and they told me I was lucky at that. That many other doctors wouldnt see you at all if you have the band put in in Mexico. He is in Medical City, and I believe would be a better choice for me than Dr. Maese, just irratated about the difference in price. I may call Davidson?? at Presbertarian Hospital and see if he also charges extra if you were banded in Mexico. Let me know if you find anyone good to do your fills at $200 per fill in our area.

I went to a seminar last Tuesday and I was the only one even there for lap banding because insurance wouldnt pay for it usually. Im the one in the thread second thoughts and was so upset after my seminar I actually backed away, until the next day. Im going to Mexico I decided now, no insurance, I had just signed up for that seminar a month earlier and decided I should go and see if I could learn something. I came home feeling very down and discouraged too. They weighed me as less than I weigh here at home but like you they took an inch off for the heels of my track shoes to get my height down so I had a higher BMI. I also posted that I was afraid to lose any weight or I couldnt get the surgery, My BMI was 38.9 by their measurements. I got 38.7, same same, but if I lost 10 lbs or so, I would be below 35 BMI. I totally get where you are coming from and everyone says, I cant tell you what to do, its up to you. No support or help. Even the people here thats what they said.

Can you move me from July 8th to July 9th. I kinda got cold feet last night and hadnt booked my airfare and wound up pushing it back a day. Finally decided, this might help. I still am scared, but not as down as I was last night.

Thanks smarquezrn and orea, I am back on board and going to have the surgery. Im not ready for more radical surgery. Im not 100% how much good the lapband will be for me. It may help some but not as much as it helps others, but anything will be better than nothing. I woke up upset again with my mom and the part of the conversation we had about that stupid sub we share 4 ways on Sunday mornings. She wants me to help my sister cut back too and says that is twice as much sub as we need. Heck Gerald on the commercial has a whole 6 inch by himself to lose weight, but that way too much for us? No mayo, mostly salad stuff, I always ask for extra lettuce on it. My mom thinks 2 inchs of sub is all a portion should be. No wonder I have had food issues all my life. The news today is saying something like 1/3 of Americans either have diabetes or are at risk, I know that's me. Im close and will be in that catgory if I dont lose enough weight. The seminar did discourge me in thinking this will be an answer, I admit it, but any loss will be better than no loss. The lady running the seminar did lose 140 lbs on the band before she had problems and gained 45 lbs back because of bad reflux and changed to the gastic sleeve. She actually has written a book on her weight loss journey. She said its been documented that there are 10 foods that people on the lapband have trouble with, but everyone has problems with different of the foods, not the same ones. I found that interesting. I had been wondering why one person says they are eating salads but not popcorn and the next isnt eating salads, but says they are eating popcorn. Anyway, by last night I had emailed them back that Im 85% and today Im 99%, still have some reservations, but this is the only choice for me right now I feel. If later on they come out with a new way to lose weight, then its still possible and reversible. So, Yes Im going to do this. thanks for your words snowbird that you still eat some junk food, its not 100% off your diet. I cant do without 100% for the rest of my life, I know it. thanks friends. I needed some friends now and everyone in my life says "well I cant tell you what to do", no one seems to be there to talk to other than my mom who drives me nuts.

I think Iv backed out of the July 8th lapband and giving it some thought. When I WAS working and had insurance, they were like your BMI is in the 30s, not high enough for insurance to pay for it. Its like they need you to gain enough weight to get approval. I do know I will lose some on my own and even being self pay will be back in that no man's land where a doctor wouldnt do the surgery. Im hoping for inspiration to hit me what to do and which surgery I need for myself. Im drinking some special K Protein Water which is supposed to help you feel less hungry and it actually does help more than I expected. thanks everyone and Im glad so many are successfull with the band. The lady giving the seminar didnt help me when she said the stats are with the band you will lose about 50% of what you need to lose to get to a BMI of 24.5, is that ok with you and something you can live with? It obviously helps, but not as much as other weight loss surgery does. Im not keen on more radical surgery either though.

My Dad cant make himself eat enough and we had to put him on a feeding pump to supplement what he can eat. My Dad was "teasing" my mom about putting her on it too, she cant eat enough and doesnt weigh 100 lbs, skin and bones. So talking to either of them about how hard it is to lose 100 lbs and keep it off, they will never get it. I really dont have anyone I can talk to, so maybe thats whould Im talking out loud here. I am starting to diet, but I know if I knock off a quick 20 lbs, then I cant have any weight loss surgery. They would do it. My mom says you dont see your cousin doing anything this radical, who is much bigger than I am. She joined a gym. I said yea, and her hubby had to have his hip and knee replaced because of his weight, how is that better?? Im really frustrated. I know I can lose but its the keeping off. I lose it and regain it and weight more than the last time. I want to find a solution that will work. I know I cant stay away from sweets forever and junk food. Im just being honest. I know what Im eating wrong, writing it down wouldnt help, I self aware of the wrong foods. I can stop for a while, but not forever. As they said today in the seminar, ice cream will slide right down that lap band. No resistance.

All I know is Im pretty much in tears tonight. Iv just been round and round with my mom who keeps going back to she just doesnt understand why folks dont just lose the weight on their own, why have any weight loss surgery. Sure, I could cut back for a while and not graze between meals, I have tons of will power, or I couldnt have stuck with the low gi diet and lost the 80 lbs..... its the forever I know I wouldnt keep on a diet and watch the snacking forever. Im just being honest, I know I wouldnt eat only lean meats and veggies forever and not eat all the junk food. I bought some fish to cook tonight and they filled it with rice??? huh?? I couldnt even force myself to eat enough to fill up on. Im going to try and lose weight on my own. But that takes us to the next problem. My BMI now is 38. and if I lose 15 lbs or 25 or whatever, then I wouldnt qualify for any kind of surgery. Thats why I wanted to wait to start my diet with the surgery. Once my BMI is below that 35 level, it will be pretty hard to qualify. I dont really have any of the co-mobidity problems other than the insulin and maybe high cholesterol on the charts. Im really feeling down and upset tonight.