RestlessMonkey

Tricare should provide you with their standards. I am not sure but believe that, if you aren't at least 100 over, they won't cover you. What is your BMI? That also has to be high.

Start with your insurance. Make sure it's covered. Once it's covered, get a list of covered surgeons. From that list, pick one (or two or three) and go to the seminars they all hold (don't PAY for a seminar; they are free)....from there, you'll have an idea if you want to proceed or not.

I guess it depends. Do you have to cook? Does it bother you to cook and not taste/eat (if you DO have to cook?) If not, I say go for it. Thanksgiving is about food, maybe, but more it's about being with people we love and giving thanks. You can enjoy the company without eating turkey and pumpkin pie. And it's just one holiday....next year you'll be able to partake; you'll just be a lot healthier and eat a lot less. Having been through the banding etc I can say go for it. It's not that hard to stick to liquids (or whatever your surgeon recommends) that first week. By week 2 you will feel better and more hungry and might be tasked to stay on plan, but the first few days post op, it's easy to comply. However if you have to do a lot of the cooking etc depending on how quickly you bounce back postop you may not feel physically up to it.

It's much easier to do ANYTHING for 4 weeks than it is to do it for life.

Ask the lap band surgeon's office for a recommendation to a PCP.

Not sure if there was a question in your post, but welcome, at any rate! :thumbup:

Are you sure it's blood and not, say, chocolate? You were right to call your surgeon; there can be many reasons (from really scary to fairly benign) for there to be "occult" blood in your stool but they all need to be addressed...so it's not something you can or should ignore. If your surgeon doesn't call you back tomorrow, make an appt with your PCM or PCP. Better to catch whatever it is early! :thumbup:

That would depend, though, on if your surgeon considers cottage cheese and yogurt "full liquids". Mine did not. Those were Mushies in his dietary guidelines.

Just do what your surgeon says, per his timetable. For me it wasn't overwhelming at all...there wasn't much room for error unless I just flat ignored his direction. Water, clear broth, and sugar free Jello....hard to confuse that! or my preop 2-3 of a specific Protein shake each day, 64 oz of water, and 3 oz lean fish chicken or turkey and 1 cup green veggie each evening. No way could I confuse that. I think you are reading everyones conflicting info and maybe getting confused. Each surgeon tweaks things to suit himself (or herself). So do what YOUR SURGEON says, not what I had to do, or some other poster, etc, and you'll be fine!

Why is your husband against it?

I was banded on Friday 8/29 and back at school (I'm a student) on 9/2 (Tues) ... but it would've been nice if I could've taken longer. I wasn't really sore etc but I only got clear liquids (no protein shakes even) the 1st week, and it was hard to focus. I didn't FEEL bad, but, shall we say, I wasn't firing on all pistons! LOL

You'll get your band really soon now! ) I hope you breeze thru the surgery/recovery (I am sure you will!) and enjoy your trip!

Alcohol can impair healing, it relaxes inhibitions and if you overdo you could become nauseated...and vomiting before the band heals is a no no. Plus many of us are on a restricted diet for the first 4 weeks (liquids, full liquids, mushies) and drinking on an empty stomach really isn't good for you, especially post op. It's only 4 weeks...(some docs require much longer!) so I'd say just tough it out. And remember alcohol is empty calories...while you are trying to lose, they aren't really a good choice (but you know that!) :biggrin:

Perhaps this link from the National Institute of Health will answer your questions. If you are going to keep smoking, it's best if you don't get the band. Smoking and Your Digestive System

Can you return it? I've posted on WW boards for a while and the WW scales are pretty junky...they work for a while and then quit. Otherwise, sorry I can't help...no clue about them!

Call and ask! If the secondary ins is a PPO or HMO pick a doc (or docs) from their list and call. As Susan said, probably they'll have you pay and then file for reimbursement, but maybe not!

You know, rereading through these, the "take away" message is to just be honest and not fret. The evals are not punitive, although many of us larger people are perhaps used to medicine "blaming us" and being less than helpful. The psych eval is to perhaps identify any trouble spots or "red flags" so they can be dealth with preop. Just like we have to go through a chest xray etc etc...it is for information and to optimize our success. So remember...they are on "your" side in this. IF you do have a potential issue (like depression)...it's best they make sure you have it under control. The band is a huge change; no one wants to get it and then sink into a bad sad place! Tell the truth and trust that they WANT you to qualify and pass...and they want you to be positioned properly (mentally and physically) for the band to really help you. It's all just part of helping YOU get to that goal.

imsoready...you are in bandster hell. Hang in there; it will pass. Please walk as much as you can even though you may be tired (take liquid tylenol or stronger pain med if you are in pain) so you don't develop blood clots or so on. I was on clear liquids, no protein, for the first week and it wasn't easy, especially because I "came to" in recovery hungry! (not "emotionally"hungry, either...I was STARVED!) I wasn't depressed but I was pretty darned grumpy! LOL It passes though. Like Weas123 posted, focus on the positives that are in store for you. You'll make it! :cool2:

I'm not sure but I thought chron's is a contraindication for the lap band. I suggest you call your favorite bariatric center and ask....

Do you mean a Dermoid cyst? If so they're usually benign but you totally want to get it removed before it bursts or something. I agree with HeatherO (as usual!) It's just another month if they can go ahead and remove the cyst asap! You'll get the band and it's good they found the cyst and can excise it!

I suggest you ask your Bariatric center. If they don't know, they should be able to tell you who CAN tell you. I'm no "pro" but in all my time of reading the boards etc you're the first I've heard where Therapy (beyond the eval) is "REQUIRED". I wonder, is that your insurance? Your surgeon? or is the therapist trying to get business? Obviously we ALL have eating disorder issues of one type or another...being obese is a disorder. Unless you have a disorder like bulimia or anorexia that you don't want to reveal here (and that is totally YOUR business!) or some such, I'm at a loss as to why they require more from you.

Kaytiebugs I'm glad that whyever you have them, they won't stop you from getting the band! And hopefully they'll go away or someone can help you. Worst case, can you just take off of work/obligations and "be good to yourself" for that 1-2 week all liquid phase? Good luck! :cool2:

Yes it's common. Apparently you haven't had time to read these boards much. After each fill most surgeons restrict your diet for a few days.

Post op there will be a period of time (each surgeon is different) where you will HAVE to go without food in order for your band to heal into place. If you think its "head hunger" (ie psychological) then you need to find a way to deal with it. Because IF you eat against your surgeon's rules post op you risk tearing the band loose, slippage, and/or erosion down the line. So if you physically can't go without food then tell your surgeon; the band is probably not for you.

Thats some fast fills but I still think my answer is spot on. How large is your band? (how much can it hold) how much were your fills? As my surgeon said (and I've learned from reading this board!) many many times it takes 4 OR MORE fills to get restriction! So be patient. Your doc is doing what's necessary; it's a process! You're fine! :thumbup: