JamieNP

Oh my! I just made the most awesome protein shake. Pumpkin Spice Protein shake: (sorry, I didn't measure the ingredients) 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder about 2 TBS of Vanilla yogurt Some canned pumpkin Splash of milk Pack of Splenda Cinnamon Ice So creamy and yummy!!

Do you have a bowel prep Penny? I had to do that the day before surgery. Good thing I took off work that day! I was on the toilet all day!!

I have Tricare Prime and as far as I know they pay for fills. I love the Magic Bullet. The brand of my other blender (which is just like my Magic bullet) is Home Exclusives. As far as the fatty liver goes, my surgeon said that they used to have problems with a large liver, but now the retractors are better and usually it is not a problem.

I am a nurse and had surgery on Sept 30th. I ended up having complications and was in the hospital for a week. I never dreamed I would have any problems. I have taken 3 weeks off total and will be returning to work this Monday.

You can get the magic bullet at Walmart for $60 but the off brand that I found at CVS was $30. Here is a link The Magic Bullet Blender - Official Website

Got some protein shakes for you. Syntrax/nectar have great tasting ones but you have to order them online. I wrote to the company and they sent me 6 samples and they were all good. Walmart has a fantastic tasting protein drink if you can find it. I can only find it when I am at my mom's in Indiana (I live in TN). It is Cafe Carmel Shake by Atkins. Needless to say, I bought all of the cases they had. Also, GNC has a protein shake called "lean shake" and when made with milk it is good. I mix strawberries, blueberries, peaches or banana/peanut butter with it. If you have a CVS pharmacy where you are they have a blender that is exactly like the "magic bullet" but it is half price. I have a magic bullet, but I bought one of these too for work. I use it for every meal. My chicken last night was yummy pureed in the blender. Watch out for chili post op. When I could go to full liquids, I ate potato soup (yum) and then chili, but the gas was terrible. Get some GasX for the bowel gas. I also bought a pack of baby spoons and small little bowls. This helps with portion control. Oh, another thing. Try to find some bra extenders. These hook on to the hooks on your bra to give you some extra breathing room. One of the incisions on my belly is right on my zyphoid process (bottom of sternum) and my bras have been a little uncomfortable. The girls have been running free for the past 2 weeks, but I can't go to work like that!!

You can get sublingual B12 in large doses. I have 5000 mcg. They dissolve under the tongue.

Nov 8th? I know I was worried they would think I was a crazy person when I called 2 times daily!!:smile:

Yeah! I didn't realize that you were the other one approved today! WTG!

You need to change your little tricare status.

I did the same thing when I found out! I celebrated by eating fillet mignon and then pizza the next day...then I got on the preop diet. They (my surgeon's office) told me about my approval about a day or 2 before it showed up on the website.

I was banded the same day as you and had my 2 week check up this week. They told me that they would do a fill if I was hungry all of the time. Call the surgeon's office and talk to the nurse. Like you, I am on mushies, but I have discomfort when I get "full". Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and making the right food choices if you have to "cheat". Buy plenty of low calorie /sugar free soft snacks so you don't fill up on empty calories. And try to exercise when you get the urge to eat everything in the house. You can do this and you have come too far to screw anything up.

Yeah!!! See, and you wanted to give up (I did too when I first got denied). Now to get Karina's approval!! :smile::frown: I missed it..who was the other approval today?

Ok, I am going to give my hiccup trick. I used to be a bartender and one of my patrons gave me this trick years ago and it works EVERYTIME! Take a spoon and bite down on it as far back as you can(this goes horizontally and bite with your molars..not too tight). While holding this pose, take a glass of water and lean over a sink and take a couple of big drinks (if not you will spill it down the front of you. You may hiccup one time after that..but it should work. I swear by it!

Congrats! The time will fly by!

I didn't start feeling better until I went to mushies, finally this week. It was hard getting all of that protein in during the liquid stage, but I thought I was doing good. As far as the ticker, click on anyone's ticker and it will take you to a site. After you make your ticker, copy and paste the first url in the box and put it in your signature. The signature is done the same way with a different site.

Don't give up. I got denied because I was 6.5 lbs under the weight requirement. I gained the 6.5 lbs and got approved! Had surgery 2 weeks ago.

You should have no problem getting approved if you are 100 lbs overweight according to the metlife table. Tricare could care less what your BMI is..my surgeon's office had a long discussion with a Tricare prime representative about it.

Most of the transplant meds can be crushed or come in a liquid form. You can contact your pharmacy and ask them if your meds can be crushed or made liquid. I know that some of those pills are horse pills and they won't make it through the band. Good luck!!

I will be 2 weeks post pp tomorrow and I have lost 25 lbs but I had complications and was in the hospital do a week.

I am doing much better. I have finished all of the antibiotic and am feeling life a normal person. I have lost 25 lbs since the day of surgery.

Uhc is one of the worst to get anything done. Fight it!

Remember a liter of IV fluids weighs 2.2 lbs

There is no reason why you should have been denied unless there was paper work missing. Goodluck and keep us informed.

I can't believe you have not heard anything yet! I am feeling better everyday. I am forcing myself to eat so that I can heal. I am on my blackberry as I am at my parents house to recoup . Thank you all for your messages. FYI I have no regrets and it looks like I am loosing about a pound a day.