MissBS

Welcome KristyLee!! Just 10 days and you will have your band. This is a great site and you will love it!!! Keep reading and asking questions. All of the tips, advice, and support I received here on LBT helped me to be so much more comfortable the morning of my surgery. And I have made some really good friends here too. It is so nice to talk with, and read about, people who know exactly how you feel and what you are going through. Good luck with your pre-op diet and your surgery. Take care, keep in touch, and let me know if I can do anything to help you. Becky

RestlessMonkey.... Hi Buddy!!!! I clicked on that link you put in your post above. WOW... lots of good information and some good receipes too. You have been so much help to me in my lapband journey so far!!!! I'm glad we were both having ticker troubles and met. I look forward to many more years of friendship with you. Thanks!!! Becky

I'm no expert, but I would say stop taking them. Not sure they are doing what you think they are for your liver. You can check with your surgeon, but I can't imagine him/her saying it is ok to keep taking them. There are things you can do that will help you shrink your liver AND get you more ready for your surgery, but I just don't think diet pills are a good idea. (JUST losing weight does not automatically shrink your liver) I was VERY worried about having a fatty liver and them not being able to give me my band, but I followed my doctor's pre-op diet instructions and everything was fine when he got in there. Take good care of yourself and try not to worry too much (do as I say, not as I did :tongue_smilie: Good luck to you. Keep us posted on how things go. Becky

Hi JoJo. It sounds to me like you are pretty wise already. You have done your research and know your history. I hope you breeze right through the approval process - you will be banded before you know it. Finding a doctor that you feel comfortable with is very important, as is following the exact instructions that they give you. Once I had made the decision to get the band, I was never nervous... just VERY excited. Another tip is keep visiting this site and ask ANY question that comes into your mind. There are lots of nice people here who will help you in your journey. Keep me posted and let me know if there is anything I can do to help you. Becky

Hi Sooverit. I am sorry you are having so many problems with your insurance company. You don't even want me to start my speech on insurance companies, and WLS, or this post might be called a book. It does sound like you have some options - don't give up on your dream. If your primary doctor is going to be trained to give fills, going to Mexico might not be a bad choice. Have you researched what you would have to do if any complilctions came up?? And if you go to Colorado, with a buddy, will that end up being as much as if you have it done there?? And once again.... if you have post-op check ups or any complications, would you have to fly back to Colorado?? There is no where closer to you that would do it for less?? I know I'm not much help - wish I could be more. Maybe a list of all the pros and cons of each one of your options would help. I wish you luck. I was a self pay and went to all of my loved ones for help. I didn't have a rich relative, but all of my not so rich ones kinda pitched in and helped me to get the band. They love me and want me to be healthier and around for awhile. I know not everyone has people to help - I am blessed. I will keep my fingers crossed for you - please let me know how it turns out. If you need someone to talk to - I'm a great listener. Becky

Hi txmike. Welcome. First of all, congratulations on being banded!! Sounds like your insurance company made things much easier for you than most do. Too bad they all can't be like that. This site was very helpful for me too. I had many of my questions answered and concerns addressed and felt very ready by the time I had my surgery done. I have made some very good friends here too. It is so nice to talk to people who really do know what you mean and how you feel. Good luck to you!! Take care of yourself and keep in touch. Becky

NFaith. How much milk and water do you use?? And just a little container of yogurt? I think I'll try it. Thank you!!! Becky

Hi. Thanks to Restless Monkey, I now have a little (3 cup) food chopper that I ordered from JC Penny's online. It is very cute and bright red. It chops my food for me - The other day, I put my turkey and cooked broccoli in there and made a yummy mix... didn't look too yummy, but it was. It is a bit harder for me when dining out - I do cut my bites pretty small and then chew, chew, chew. Good luck to you. Becky

I did not get cheese until I hit the soft food/mushies stage. I first tried fat free cheese - what that is, is actually rubber. It does not melt... it just turns from little shredded pieces of rubber into a blob of rubber. Then I tried Smart Balance shredded cheese... again... no luck. It doesn't even melt and has a funny taste. I am now having a TINY bit of 2% shredded cheese. Not often, but every now and then. I'd rather have a tiny bit of good cheese than a bigger serving of rubber or unknown wannabe cheese. I love cheese and wont give it up - but have to limit it. My doctor believes in eating well - in moderation!! Good luck to you!! Becky

swiley. My story is different. I did not go through my insurance - I just knew that was not the path for me. I was self-pay. I had to get a lot of help from my loved ones. I went in for my initial consultation and testing (EKG and blood work) on August 13th, and my surgery was scheduled for September 12th. (It ended up being on Sept. 19th, due to Hurricane Ike.) Good luck to you. Make sure you take ALL documentation with you when you go to meet with your new doctor. I have become a documenting maniac - before I speak with anyone, I ask their name and I record EVERYTHING!!! Good luck to you. All of this hoop jumping will be over soon and you will be getting your band. Keep smiling - it's rough sometimes.... just keep your goal in mind. Becky

Wow!!!!!!!

Hi swiley. Where are you having your surgery done? I also went to True Results (in Houston) - loved the staff there and very happy with how my surgery went!! Good luck to you! Becky

Much more fun than the elliptical and probably burn off more of those liquid calories. You go girl!!!! Becky

Welcome Ziva!! You have come to the right place for advice, support and answers. I love this site. I've learned so much and have made some very good friends here. Good luck with your consultation, your surgery, and your new life with your new band. Keep us posted. Becky

Hi reddharly. Welcome!!! You are going to love this site. So many nice people and soooo much information. You got your band a few days before I got mine, and I hope you are feeling great and as happy as I am!! Good luck to you and I'll be watching for you. Take care!! Becky

Hi Bikini. I'm sorry to hear you are not feeling so great. Those first few days can be rough. And I really do believe that many of us have bad reactions to the pain meds. I had HORRIBLE headaches after my surgery and thought it couldn't be the meds, because surely those would HELP with head pain. WRONG. As soon as I quit taking the pain meds, my headaches went away. The pain I was having from the surgery was nothing compared to the headaches. I was also told that Nauzene chewables (Wal Mart) really help. I bought some, but never needed to try them. If you lived closer, I would run them right over!! Keep trying to get tiny sips of liquids down - you don't want to become dehydrated. I will send you LOTS of get well thoughts. Let me know how you are doing!! Hang in there - it does get better! Becky peaches - everyone is different. My doctor told me I would be fine to go back to work in a few days. I felt good enough to go back after a week. Guess it depends on how your surgery/recovery go and what kind of job you have. I always think about mothers of small children. Most are lucky if they get a day or two off... and we all know there is nothing easy about their jobs. Good luck to you!! Becky

If your doctor has a way of knowing how much it takes you to get to your sweet spot with just one fill, I think he could be a very famous and popular man. Boy would that save me/us a lot of time and money. I have always thought, and read, that it takes some time (too little.... too much) to get people to that exact amount that works for them. I can't wait to see how it goes for you. Be sure to let us know. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Good luck to you all!!! I thought the pre-op liquid diet (and post-op too) would be so hard, but it wasn't that bad. One thing you can do is make your own chicken broth - that way you can control the sodium in it. Propel water really helped me get my water in. For your pre-op diet, you do get other things besides broth don't you? The protein shakes I had for breakfast and lunch really kept me from being too hungry between meals. For my pre-op diet, I was allowed to have a small healthy meal for dinner - but after surgery, I did not chew for 2 weeks. Reading about what can happen if your liver is too fatty at surgery time kept me good during the pre-op diet, and knowing that if I ate solids too soon after my surgery that my band and I might not heal like we should, kept me good on the post-op diet. Of course I'm not saying it's easy.... but you can do it. Again... keep up the good work, good luck, and keep us posted on how you are doing. Becky

Hey BootyBee. I have always been a cryer - cry when I'm happy, cry when I'm sad, cry when I'm scared. This is a big decision in our lives and those kind of decisions are emotional. There are a lot of unknowns when we change something major in our lives. What we know, and what we've done, might not have been good for us, but it was comfortable. Just try to keep focusing on the reasons you chose to get the the band. A longer and healthier life.... that sounds pretty good doesn't it? The surgery and recovery will be over before you know it and pretty soon you will be crying because you feel and look so much better. Good luck to you and if you ever need someone to cry to, or with, I'm here for you!!! Becky

What are individual serving cups of peanut butter?? And where do you get them. Sounds like just what I need!! Becky

Hi yourmajesty. I'm used to royalty..... my daughter and granddaughter think they are princesses. Welcome to LBT. You will love this site. I have learned soooo much here and have met sooooo many nice people!! Many of your questions will be answered and your concerns addressed. It is so nice to be going through all of this with people who know EXACTLY what you are going through. Lots of support here. Again.... welcome and good luck on your lapband journey. Keep in touch!! Becky

Hi. Don't panic. I gained too after my surgery. It took me about 3 or 4 days to get back to where I was at on my surgery day - and I was only eating clear liquids. Don't weigh for a few days. It is not an accurate reading right now - give your poor body time to get over the shock of the surgery and by then you will be over the shock of the "gain". I was weighing all the time for a week or two but now I've decided that only weighing once a week is best for me. Good luck to you. Hope you are feeling and healing well!!!! Becky

I never heard of that before. Since some people only need one or two fills and some need many more before they get to their sweet spot, I wonder how they can tell right off the bat what a person's perfect amount would be. I hope it works for you. Yes... please keep us posted. Becky

$3.50 for singles. And you have one a day? That is over $100 a month. Even at $2.80 a day, it comes out to about $84 a month. On top of my groceries, I just can't afford that. I guess I will have to stick with my unflavored whey protein powder and spoiling myself with good meals. Thank you very much for the information and good luck!! Becky

How much do the bullets cost???