Elisabethsew

You've had a very fast weight loss. Congratulations! Those last 10 pounds might require a lot more time to lose that the first 100 because your percentage of body fat is so much less. We're glad to have you share with us.

Making the decision is a BIG first step to a new you. Congratulations! Call your insurance company to find out what they require and read, read, read, the posts on this forum.

Welcome, Melissa. Call your surgeon's office and explain that you're hungry. They might opt to add one or more choices to your diet. For me, they allowed 1/4 cup of ricotta low fat cheese and that was a lifesaver. My other "filler" was tomato soup made with skim milk for added protein.

Welcome and congratulations on being banded. If you're feeling weak, contact your MD. Frequently, they will advance your diet.

People need to have confidence in their surgeon and his/her abilities. Check out how many surgeries were performed, how many complications were reported, what were the complications, how have these complications been prevented, etc. Most surgeons make the decision on what size band to use based on your internal anatomy and the amount of weight you need to lose. Are there MDs out there who are driven by monetary incentives? Sure. EVERY profession has good and bad but it's the bad who get the most attention even though the percentage is small. The bottom line is that you should do your homework, choose a surgeon wisely, and then trust that the surgeon is going to do his/her best for you. Dr. C has been very helpful to many people in his posts and takes the time to offer professional opinions to people who are NOT his patients and who are NOT paying him. Let's stay on topic and NOT let valuable discussion topics deteriorate into cyber-wars. The goal for everyone is weight loss for the purpose of leading a long and healthy life. Review the rules of posting, respect differing opinions, and make informed choices. Have a happy day!

Redstar has obviously done a lot of research. I also read that she/he is a med. student. I am also in the health care field (RN - critical care) but realize that MOST people are not. They come to this site to find out the information that Redstar already has for the purpose of becoming informed to make decisions. Patients need to be trusting of their MDs. Offering opinions and advice without making it personal results in a win-win situation.

After battling through all the requirements to have the surgery, the hardest part is staying away from foods that can easily pass through the band... junk food. Candy, cake, pie, icecream, chocolate, chips, etc., can all slide ride down so you have to fight those urges and make good choices. Good luck!

Angie is correct. Call your insurance company and ask for a WRITTEN list of requirements that they mandate in order to pay for weight loss surgery. Once you know if you're covered, you can move to the next step... choosing a surgeon. Look for a designated Center of Excellence. Good Luck!

Welcome. You can ask whatever concerns you... 1. Where do you place the port (location in the abdomen)? 2. How long is the pre-op diet? 3. What tests are required before the surgery? 4. Can I continue to take all my medications post-op? 5. When do you allow the first fill to be scheduled? 6. When will I meet with the anesthesiologist? 7. How long will I be in the hospital? 8. Who will do my fills? The surgeon usually does the first and then the PA or NP follows you in many cases. 9. How does the post-op diet progress? 10. What do you prescribe for post-op pain? 11. When can I go back to work? 12. When can I start to exercise? I think those are the one's that you might want to ask. As for the psychologist appt., it's no big deal. They ask questions and fill out a form and it takes about an hour. The required psych exam and dietician consult were NOT covered by insurance and cost me a combined $450 out of pocket so be prepared. Finally, read as many posts as you can and write down questions they might provoke. Good luck on your surgery.

I'm glad you're feeling better. Have you tried tomato soup? You can make it with skim milk to bump up the protein and it's both soothing and filling.

Here's another plus. For every one pound lost, there is a 3 pound decrease in pressure on weight bearing joints. Slow and steady wins the race. You're all doing great.

Gallbladder pain is AWFUL and I'm glad mine is now history. If gall stones are blocking the common bile duct, you'll need surgery so don't wait to get medical attention. Check with your surgeon about the NSAIDs. I have arthritis and take one ALeve in the AM and another in the PM and my surgeon has no problem with that as long as I flush them down with a full glass of water. I hope you feel better soon.

I'm guessing this is a problem with gas? Increasing your exercise, drinking lots of water, and adding fiber GRADUALLY to your diet can all help. I have found that 10 raw almonds a day keeps things moving as they should.

I don't have the low profile port but the only way you can tell I have a port is to palpate my stomach when I am lying down. Since you did the fast and have the date, you need to weigh (no pun intended) doing it all over again, getting a new date, etc., against the low profile port. You could also discuss with your surgeon where he/she places the port. Let us know what you decide.

Welcome! It sounds like you're a band success and losing at just the right rate. Congratulations!

Welcome and good luck with the surgery. I chose not to tell anyone besides the 2 people closest to me and don't regret that decision one bit. It's best to do what you feel will work best for your success.

You got the brand new J&J band and I've heard the website is excellent. I hope all goes well for you. Congratulations and welcome!

Congratulations on a successful ablation and on getting your surgery scheduled. I had ablation for an AN nodal re-entry rhythm and now only have occasional episodes. Make sure the surgeon knows you're on coumadin because you'll need to stop it before he operates. He might also opt to have you give yourself heparin prior to surgery.

It sounds like you might need an antibiotic. If the color of the mucus is not clear, you should see am MD for a culture. I hope you feel better soon.

You might need another fill. Also, make sure you don't drink at all with your meals. That will help to prevent over eating.

I'm not a transplant patient but I do care for them in the hospital (I'm an RN). Pills that are not enteric coated or time released can be crushed but most patients are able to swallow them one at a time. It helps to take the pills with a hot beverage as it assists in breaking them down and flushing them through the pouch. Good luck!

The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver. Mine consisted of no fats, protein shake (medifast) 3 times a day and clear liquids for a week. It's a tough diet but very necessary to a successful surgery. Try keeping yourself busy so you don't think of all you can't eat.

Anesthesia SLOWS everything and that includes the GI system. Walking a lot and drinking a lot helps to get things moving in the immediate post-op period. Once you can tolerate solids, 10 raw almonds a day provide natural fiber.

The average weight loss is 1-2 lbs a week and you're averaging better than that. Why would you be jealous? It's better to concentrate on your progress and following your prescribed plan than to compare yourself to others. You're a success!

Obesity is a complex disease and the band is merely an aid in the battle. Eating solid proteins and NOT drinking with eating keeps the pouch full and produces a feeling of being full that some of us never ever felt. Dealing with the emotional aspect of obesity is not healed with the band so you have to consciously question yourself before eating, "Am I hungry or simply feeding a habit?"