marfar7

No clue about the insurance part. Mine was covered by Medicare and they don't have such strict requirements (BMI of >40, or >35 with at least 1 comorbitity). My BMI was exactly 40 (I'm 5'5" and started at 248) and I had hypertension. They didn't require a past history with trying to lose, nor a supervised diet before surgery. Guess I was lucky! My dr also didn't have me on a preop diet (just told me to eat a lite dinner the nite before and nothing after midnight). Had my "lite" meal at Outback! BBQ Ribs! I guess I considered that "lite"! My surgery was done laparascopic also (I have 5 tiny incisions). Medicare required that I stay overnight in the hospital, which I was glad of because I enjoyed the IV Morphine they were giving me! Preop, the on ly tests I had were blood work, the meeting with the psychologist, nutritionist, and an EKG (no swallow tests). The morning after my surgery, I had a barium swallow before they let me go home. By 11 am the next monring, I was in my hotel room (I'm 3 hrs away from my dr and my brother in law who stayed with me felt safer staying an extra day) and drinking my Protein drinks and Jello. I took liquid Vicodin every 4-6 hrs + my normal pain meds for an old back injury. I was ok that first couple of days. Altho it was uncomfortable driving home the 3 hrs the next day. I think the worst thing was my hunger. I misread my post op instructions and thought they said only Clear Liquids + Protein shakes for 4 weeks. I re-read them like a yr later and found out I could have had full liquids (Soups, yogurt, pudding, applesauce) for the first 4 weeks. A week into my clear liquid diet, I was literally starving, so I added tomato Soup (1 can split into 4 meals) and thought I was cheating eating a creamy soup! I lasted 3 out of the 4 weeks before I started mashed potatoes. And I lost maybe 2 lbs during this month! The gas wasn't too bad. I started walking on my treadmill a couple days after surgery, very slowly. The pain, while uncomfortable, wasn't anything that the Vicodin didn't help with. I got a 2nd prescription for it the 2nd week. While I don't work (I'm retired Army), I probably would've taken at least week off if I had a desk job, 2 weeks off if I was on my feet all day. I didn't get any restriction till my 3rd fill (5 mths into it), so I broke all the rules and ate just like I did preband. Didn't lose any weight. Then, after the 3rd fill, the magic started happening! I was full on a toddlers portion. I worked out 3x a week with a trainer (I saw her 1 hr every week. She weighed me measured me, went over my nutrition and then we'd do a workout). I lost weight every single week (sometimes 4 lbs, sometimes only 1, but I lost something every week). After that 1st year, I had lost 80 lbs.The 2nd year, I lost another 25. This 3rd year, I had a minor slip and during the tweaking of my band, managed to put on about 16 lbs back. Today was my first day back with a trainer at the gym. I'm refocused and I'm gunna get off this last 25 lbs (I was 9 lbs away from goal about 9 mths ago, now I have 25). Oh well. TIP: Don't do what I did and control your weight with vomiting. I ate so fast that I got stuck at least once a day. I think I actually became a bulimic for a couple of years. That's what caused my band to slip. And I'm still dealing with the after effects of that. Not happy about it, but I haven't vomited it a few months at all. I got so proficient at it that I could pull my car over and vomit out the car door in an instant. DON'T DO WHAT I DID. Chew your food well, eat slowly, and stop when your band tells you to. And the biggest piece of advice: Be patient. You probably won't have any restriction until your 2nd to 4th fill. A few people do, but most people needs a few fills. My doctor only does them every 6 weeks, so it took a while for me to get there. But when I did, it was definitely worth the wait. Good luck! Marci

WTG!! Keep it up! Marci

I took the Centrum chewable too. I haven't had a Vitamin in about 2 yrs tho. Still have it in the cupboard tho. My doc prescribed an Iron supplement cuz I was anemic and I forget to take em.... Marci

Sounds just like me! For 2 1/2 yrs, vomiting my meals was a normal occurance. I don't know how many times I've been asked "are you ok?" by a woman in the ladies room at restaurants. There was never foods that I felt were the culprits, sometimes it was yogurt or ice cream. What was the culprit tho was my eating so fast. I don't know why I would forget at the beginning of every meal to slow down. Since my band slipped from frequent vomiting, however, I've learned to eat slower. And it actually works! Wow! What a concept! In the last 6 mths, I've vomited twice. Wish I'd never had to learn that lesson, however. I've gained a few lbs while working with my slipped band. Just some advice for you: Watch the vomiting. My band hung in there for a long time before giving me problems. I thought it was invincible. It wasn't. Once you have a slip, your band is never the same as it was. At least mine isn't... Marci

I would recommend that you get the stuck episodes in control. I was vomiting 4-8 times a week also for the first 2 1/2 yrs - until my band slipped from vomiting too much. I was eating way too fast. I learned to eat fast in Army basic training. If you didn't eat in 5 mins, you didn't eat. Since the slip/unfill/fills/tweaking. my band has never been the same. I no longer use vomiting to get by, day to day. It used to be a normal part of my eating experience. I've even had to pull over my car and vomit on the side of the road. I thought my band was undestructable. Clearly it's not. I've now gained about 16 lbs since my slip. Wish I would've learned how to eat slower earlier... Marci

I've heard of people that do this. Before going on my first cruise about 18 mths ago, my nurse told me that alot of people get Fluid taken out before a cruise. Seems silly to me. Not only does it take forever to get back to the "green zone" after having an unfill, it goes against everything I'm trying to learn. To each his own tho. Good luck getting that past your doc! Marci

It's totally normal to have a sore throat after surgery. They put a tube down your throat to help you breath during surgery. Mine hurt for about 3 days. Ice chips and popsicles seem to help! Good luck! Marci

Cute post!

I went on a cruise last year and actually LOSt 4 lbs! Thought for sure all the food I wanted to eat, I'd gain, but I actually lost! The sea-sickness didn't help tho. Congrats! Marci

Well, I wish I had read my post op instructions better. I could have sworn it said that I was to only have clear liquids and Protein shakes for the first 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of that, I was starving, so I started adding tomato Soup to the mix. The whole time I thought I was cheating. After 2 yrs, I re-read my instructions for the heck of it. It said "Full liquids" to include: yogurt, cream Soups, applesauce and pudding. I was literally starving to death! And that whole time I felt guilty for "cheating"! My dr's instructions were the first 4 weeks were to be full liquids (as I said above), then 1 week of soft foods (like scrambled eggs, egg salad, tuna salad, mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc), then normal foods. Never had to do mushies. Thanks God, couldn't imagine putting all of my food in a blender and actually enjoying it! Let me tell you, those first bites of mashed potatoes were the best thing I've ever eaten! After 4 weeks of nothing but liquids! Good luck! Marci

I guess I wanted to start dating again, 2 yrs after losing my husband of 19 yrs. I wanted to go out with "normal" guys - not "chubby chasers". Well, 3 yrs later, I've now been happily married for almost a yr! It worked! Marci

This HAS to be a typo! Just how old is your daughter in law?? lol Marci

The only way I can deal with a stuck episode is to bring it back up with my toothbrush. My mouth starts to Water, I break out in a sweat, and I start to panic. It's either toothbrush down the throat or to the ER I go. So far, I have yet to go to the ER! It's a pain in back of your breastbone, literally like somethings stuck in your esophagus - cuz it is. Until I learned how to eat slower, I got stuck frequently. Not recommended, as I slipped my band because of it. Chew well, eat slowly, and stop when your body tells you to stop. Don't ever push anything... Marci

You actually like Isopure? My nurse told me they tasted like Jolly Ranchers, so pre op, I bought a case of them from GNC online. They were like $60 for a case. I gagged down 1 of them post op. They DON'T taste like Jolly Ranchers! They're awful. Good luck with those! Marci

I feel your pain. About 15 yrs ago, when I was in Army basic training, I was diagnosed with plantar fascitis. I had a steroid injections and pt. Never improved. When I was stationed in Germany, they did an MRI and found that I had a lipoma (mass) instead. It was never plantar fascitis. Had it removed and 8 weeks off work. It came back (about 50% of them do), but since injuring my back, it took a back-burner to my pain level! Have you done steroid injections yet? Marci

Absolutely. I went from a size 22 to a size 8 and I still see fat everytime I look in the mirror. My husband tells me I'm not fat, but I see the bulges on my back (I have lots of back fat). Guess I'll always be the "fat girl" in my mind. I still have about 15 lbs to goal, so I'm hoping that'll take care of it. If I still feel fat at 135 lbs, then I have a big problem. Marci

When I finally got restriction after my 3rd fille, my throat/stomach gurlged too! I asked about it on here and found it was perfectly normal. It did go away after about a yr tho. I had to explain my noises to quite a few people! It's now been 3 yrs and I haven't heard a noise in a couple of years! Good luck! Marci

Medicare paid for my surgery (I had to pay 10%) and the first year of fills. Now it's 3 yrs later and I pay out of pocket $160 each time I see my dr. And travel 6 hrs round trip. Marci

Got my first fill 6 weeks post op. My dr always waits 6 weeks between them also. No clue why. Actually, my last fill was only 2 weeks later. The nurse got me in cuz I was going out of state and I really needed one! Marci

Thanks for the website! I'm off to the store today to buy ingredients for the Skinny pumpkin Spice cream Cheese! I'm always on the lookout for pumpkin flavored stuff! This looks/sounds yummy! Marci

My dr recommends no eating 2 hrs before a fill. The last time I had a fill, I fasted the whole day tho. My husband had a good point. If my stomach is totally empty, they can adjust the band better than if there was food in there. Don't know if thats true or not, but I did it anyway. Call your drs office and find out what they recommend. Good luck! Marci

Do you have to give up coffee? A lot of dr's don't recommend caffeine post band, but mine says everything in moderation. What you will have to lessen tho is the fancy coffee drinks (like frapps and such) at the coffee shops. They have a whole meals worth of calories in them. 3 yrs post band and I still have my 1-2 cups of coffee everyday. About twice a week I splurge at Dutch Bros (a drive thru coffee place in the Northwest) and get a skinny iced caramelizer. It's about 120 calories. Since I don't count calories, it fits right in! Yummy! I'm craving one now! Marci

I didn't have a pre op diet nor did I have to lose any pre op. I didn't have to do a supervised diet for insurance (Medicare). My dr just told me not to gain anything about a month before my band surgery. Not sure there's a "normal" amt. I guess you just have to follow your drs instructions. Good luck with your surgery! Marci

Sounds just like me, I however have had a minor slip. I had my band 3 yrs ago. After obtaining my "sweet spot" after the 5th month and 3rd fill, I finally started losing. Started at 248 and got down to 144 last Dec. 135 is my goal. I continued to do vomit almost everyday (I know, a no-no) and finally my band slipped about 6 mths ago. After unfills/fills/band tweaking, I've got a little restriciton but not as much as I had. I've gained 16 lbs since last Dec. I now weigh 160 and I'm determined not to go 1 lb above that. I've prided myself on never counting or measuring anything. I go by what my body is telling me. Well, lately at nite, especially, it's been telling me to graze like a cow. I guess I need to start listening to my head and not my body! I really want to get to goal someday. Those last 20 lbs are definitely the hardest. Why Oh Why didn't I listen to everyone who told me to slow my eating and stop vomiting? Thought I had it under control. My band tolerated 2 1/2 yrs of almost daily vomiting, it wasn't gunna stand for it one more day. I'm starting to say no to so many of my best friends (carbs) and yes to Protein. I still don't count or measure, but I definitely am trying to stop when my stomach says "hey I've had enough" - which I haven't been doing. Haven't vomited but twice in the last 4 mths, which is progress. My husband and I go to the gym 3x a week and I've stepped it up to 4. I've got to get to 135 in this lifetime! Can't afford a whole new bigger wardrobe! Good luck to you! I know exactly how you feel. I know I can do it - hey, I've done it before. Why is it so hard the 2nd time around? Marci

Thanks, but I'm almost 6 hrs from Portland. I'm about as South as you can get and still be in OR (Medford)! About 20 mins from the Ca border. They must've recently opened them, as when I was looking for Centers of Excellence 3 yrs ago, I only found 2 - one in Coos Bay and one in Eugene. Didn't know there were anymore. Nice to know a fellow ORegonian! Just moved here 3 yrs ago from VA and I LUV it here! I luv that when you go to the store and buy something for $1, that's what it costs (no sales tax!). And I luv how they pump your gas for you. When we go to Ca to visit family quite often, I forget, wait in my car for an eternity and then realize no ones coming to pump my gas! Thanks for the info! Marci