Divamom

Hey Klbs--I drive from Dixon to Sacramento to South 99 to Methodist to see Dr. Koura it's not 75 miles. But go where you have to, to get the surgery you want. If you don't know Dixon is 8 or 9 miles west of Davis. But I'll tell you it's been worth every mile. Take Care and Good Luck. Leah

I don't know anything about Dr. Patching except for what I've read on the net. I was just banded June 16th in Sac by Dr. Aaryan Koura, through Methodist Hospital. I have been totally happy with him and his staff. If you can check him out. His web site is slimlifecenter.com. Wish I could give you more info about Dr. Patching, you might also want to try looking at a local group site I go to at Sacramento_Valley_Bandsters : Sacramento Valley Bandsters I have found alot of good local help there. Good Luck with your band journey. Leah

Zeama--I am 5 weeks out and also have to crush meds that I take. If you put them in a small amount of applesauce and then cover them with applesauce then just swallow, you never know you've even taken them. A happy note about me I am down 25 lbs and I am off all of my diabetic meds and Blood pressure meds. Good Luck and continued success on your band journey. Leah

Great News--continue to move forward and it will be here before you know it. I was just banded 6/16/08 and wow it has already been over a month. Congrats again and keep us updated.

Great news!!!!! So happy for I was jut banded 6/16/08. Good Lunck on your journey, keep us updated.

Hi---I was banded June 16th. Other than gas pains in the sternum area, if you had a hiatal hernia repair that could also be some of it, I did and it tends to make the pain alittle worse. Also, you can get your tickers at tickerfactory.com and all you do is go to weight loss, chose your ticker ruler and slider, enter your info then copy the bbCode. Then on Lap Band Talk go to edit profile, and on the left click on edit signature, at the bottom of the page undersignature picture copy your bbCode in the option one box, click on preview signature to make sure it's what you want then click on save and it should work for you. Good Luck on your band journey. Leah

Mine was 2 weeks also. I lost 18 lbs on my pre-op diet. It is really worth it. After surgery when you can't eat if you've been on your pre-op diet you are not so hungry afterwards. Plus you are ready for liquids because at first thats all you can have. Keep the faith and stick with it, it will be over before you know it. Leah

Don't forget--cottage cheese, walnuts are great so you get your omega 3's, yogurt, lowfat string cheese, all the meats, fish, tuna, crab, shrimp, flax is also good for your omega 3's. Make a 1 egg omelett with 2% cheese mmmmmmmmmmyummy. Try to change it up so you don't get sick of the same things. I'm 5 weeks out and have lost 25lbs and going to have my first fill on August 8th. Take Care, Leah

Thanks Huggie Bear I can always use the experience of one who has been there. Leah

I'm concerned because I talked to my docs nurse and she told me he does little fills anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 cc. All the info on LBT, people are getting alot more. My first fill is Aug. 8th and I was banded on June 16th. My doc is very adament about waiting 6 weeks or so. I'm just concerned about my appetite. I'm hungry already, how can such a small fill make a difference?:confused2: Leah

Hi I was banded on June 16th this year. And I was not banded at a center of excellence. In Sacramento, the doctors (that except Tricare) that perform the lap band are not attached to a center of excellence. So mine was done with a doc that accepts Tricare. I didn't have any difficulties. But as far as I know there is not a Center of Excellence close by where their doctors accept Tricare. Things are going good, I get my first fill on Aug. 8th. Good Lcuk with your journey and keep us updated. Leah:thumbup:

:bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Do not get your hopes up if you approval for office visits from Tricare. Everything will go fine until you need final approval for the actual surgery, then they will deny you. I was one week out from having surgery back in June and the Drs office called saying they have not gotten approval for the surgery--you do all the work call Tricare have the insurance person at the drs office work with you and then they deny at the last minute. I was Tricare South, now I am in CA and am Tricare West I don't know if I'm willing to fight right now, I was so disappointed, I don't know if I can do it again. I might just wait and see if it gets approval over the next year or so. I cannot afford to to self-pay. Lord knows my bmi is high enough and I have about 5 co-morbidities. So I'm not trying to get you down. But please don't get your hopes up too high with Tricare you will get crushed.:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I'm Leah and My husband is Air Force and we are stationed out in Northern CA. I am a SAHM and I used to be a nurse. I have one 11 yo daughter. And 2 dogs. Pepe, a rat terrier and Moose, a dachshund. I was raised in Louisiana but Texas is home. I was banded June 16th. Take Care. Leah

Surgery on June 16th---A loss of 21 lbs so far. I also said goodbye to the 300s.

Hi--I am a week out and so far today is good. If I could get past the shoulder pain and the strange feeling of something at the base of throat I think I would feel normal again. Since we are at about the same stage I would love to talk, to compare notes on how we are doing. I started full liquids yesterday and it's wonderful. Something that works good is if you have a Wendy's close to you. Pick up a small chili and put it through the blender, it's pretty feeling and almost feels like you're eating real food. Also, I made a Protein shake this morning that I got off this site that was really good. It's 1 cup skim milk, 1 sccop chocolate Protein powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 1/2 tablespoons of creamy Peanut Butter, 6 ice cubes. Blend in your blender. And WOW it was great. So if you would like to become computer buddies please send me a private message and we can add each other to our friends list. I hope you start feeling better and congrats on your surgery:thumbup: Leah

Hi all--I was banded June 16th in Sacramento, Ca at Methodist Hosp. by Dr. Aaryn Koura. He is a great doc--as I am doing well. Wt. before pre-op diet was 304, wt. after was 298. Going into surgery I was 298 and after I was 294 but it only took from Monday the 16th to the 20th for me to drop to 296. I was doing really well on clear liq. the first couple days, then I was so hungry so I started on full liq. on Wed the 19th and I am doing ok and I get full again and I will try to wait till at least the 26th to advance to puree/mushy. My pain has had nothing to do with my incisions it's all been the pain caused by the gas the fill yoou with. My left shoulder, neck and upper back have been killing me but so far today is alittle better. Just trying to get used to having an object under my skin and around my stomach. But I'm hanging in there. Can't sleep in a bed yet am still in the recliner. Any advice about the band is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Leah:thumbup:

Had my band on Monday the 16th. Doin' ok i guess. The pain in my shoulders and neck can be unbearable at times and I can't really explain the belly pain, it kinda feels like my belly drops when i stand up. it's strange. Not to mention i feel everything i swallow--is there anything that helps this feeling??? any suggestions would be great. Good luck to all you june bandsters out there. Leah

Had my band on Monday the 16th. Doin' ok i guess. The pain in my shoulders and neck can be unbearable at times and I can't really explain the belly pain, it kinda feels like my belly drops when i stand up. it's strange. Not to mention i feel everything i swallow--is there anything that helps this feeling??? any suggestions would be great. Good luck to all you june bandsters out there. Leah

Finally my day has arrived.:cursing: I go in for my band at 5am and have surgery at 7:30am. I am so excited I can't stand it. I have been waiting 2 years for this. Since Tricare just approved this year. I was 1 week out from surgery in 2006 in they denied me. So all my work is finally going to be rewarded. I've been doing really good on my pre-op diet, I've lost 16 lbs so far:smile: and surgery is June 16th. So far, so Good. Please say a prayer for me that everything goes well in surgery. Thanks for all of you out there posting---it has helped tremendously. I will post again when I've bounced back from surgery. Thanks again all you bandsters. I will join you in band land tomorrow. Thanks, Leah:lol:

Thanks for the reply and good luck to you too. I'll check out jazzyjunes. Leah

Hi all. I'm finally getting banded tomorrow after getting denied by Tricare in 2006. It's been a long road but I'm glad it's finally here. I've done a 2 week pre-op diet of no sugar pudding, jello, fruit, low-fat cream soups, broth, crystal light, water, f/f milk, protein shakes. And I have lost 16 lbs and am ready for more after tomorrow. If you can do the diet it has made a huge difference and I feel great and have had so much energy. Because we just had to move on June 1st. But I am all settled in now and am ready for surgery tomorrow. Please say a prayer for me. And after I get home (I'll be staying one night) I'll post and let ya'll know how everything went. Thanks, Leah:redface: