june09bandit

Good luck with your appointment today. Let me know how it goes!

At the pre-op appt (after Tricare has approved the surgery), he will refer you to various places and give you your surgery date. It's very fast from this point forwardd. For me, it was a nurse practitioner in Tucson for the pre-op consultation and EKG, an Xray place in Tucson and blood work at whatever lab you want to go to (I used the lab in Sierra Vista). The X-ray place is two driveways down from Dr. Schwartz's office, so I went to that immediately after the pre-op appt. You need to get the lab work done before the visit with the nurse practitioner, so I scheduled those at my convenience. The pre-op with the nurse prac was one week prior to surgery. Feel free to ask any questions you may have and I'll try to help. Schwartz will answer questions, but most of the info you'll get will be from his staff.

I had the same problem and came to the conclusion it was from lack of fiber. As soon as I added some vegetables in, it got better. Good luck!

Sounds like you are off to a terrific start. You have a great attitude. Keep up the good work!

I thought I responded to this, but I don't see it, so forgive me if I manage to respond twice. You will also need a letter of medical necessity from your primary doctor. If you take that letter, with your records, you will be ahead in the game. He will give the info about the other evaluations you will need. For me (based on insurance), I just had to do psych eval. Then they submit all the paperwork to insurance. Once it's approved, you'll go back to Schwartz's office for a presurgical appt. Then they will give you the info for blood work and xrays and all the info for the preop diet. Let me know if you have more questions and I'll try to help. Good luck in your journey!

Thank you!

So what does stuck feel like? Sorry to sound stupid, but I'm learning here.... Thanks for the replies!

Dr Scwartz is "different". He does not talk much. Between my pre-op, day of surgery, post op and first fill, I estimate I've spent about 10 minutes total talking to him. He gives you a lot to read, so you have the info, you just won't have long conversations. I did see him smile once though - as he was swinging around with syringe in hand to give me my first fill. But.. I should add, I have had no complications from my surgery to include very little post op gas pain. If he's a great surgeon, I don't care if he's a great conversationalist or not. The more info you take to him from your prior doctors, the easier it will be to get through tricare. He will also require that you get a psychological consult. Even if you have to pay out of pocket, I recommend going with the psych he recommends in Tucson. She knows exactly what questions to ask and how to write it up to improve your odds of getting approved. If you go to his website, it will tell you a little bit about his requirements. If you do a search on this website for tricare, you'll find what others had to provide to get approval. Good luck!

What surgeon in SV? I don't think there are any here that do bariatric procedures at all.

Thank you for the response. I'm still trying to learn how to work with this thing inside me. I haven't eaten much bread at all, but really wanted a hamburger for some reason. Maybe I won't have that craving again for a while since I will remember how it felt. It seems to pop up on one bite. I'll be fine right up till it hurts. It's not a slow progression with warning signs. Another day, another lesson learned.

If your doctor does not prohibit it, you CAN keep drinking it. It is on my doctor's allowed list. I just changed to splenda and 1% milk and sugar free coffee mate. Be sure to check with your doctor first though. This is one of those things that some allow and some do not. Good luck!

I can't figure out what some of the things I feel mean. Yesterday, I tried to eat a chicken breast. About half way through, I get a horrible tight feeling in the middle of my chest, just below the bra line. Is that what full feels like? Or am I stuck? I've never had a PB or thrown up. This tight feeling makes me either stand up or lay flat till it goes away. I'm sure if I eat another bite at this point, there would be consequences. I just don't know how to interpret the feeling. It seems to be only certain foods that cause it - buns (hamburger or hot dog), chicken and ham so far. Maybe I'm eating too fast? I just don't know what to do about it. I hope someone can interpret for me. Thank you! (yes, I have the feeling right now from a hamburger)

Mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs were my weapons of choice. Something will get in your mind and stay there, and that's what you'll have and love!

I'm about a month ahead of you, also banded by Dr. Schwartz. I'd be happy to help you if I can!

It's all up to you. I decided to use the weight that the anesthesiologist took on the way to the OR. That happened to be my high, but it really is where I started. I didn't lose much at all the first 2 weeks after surgery. I seem to be level for 2 weeks at a time, then see a loss on the third week. Don't give up.

I'm sorry, I haven't been stuck yet, but I'm sure someone here can help you get over your fear. I hope you can pull yourself together to get your fill! It's what you wanted when you had the band put in, you just need to remember why. Good luck!

LOL Trish - that's the same needle they used on me. That thing was larger than what gets used on the horses!!! I didn't get the numbing stuff first, but it did not hurt at all. So you didn't have to do a day of liquids? Lucky. I had my first day of no food restrictions on Monday. I tried to keep my appetite in check, but I really wanted a handful of Fritos!

Hi Vicki! The first fill is nothing to worry over. I just had mine last week, and I was amazed at how painless it was! I've never had a needle stick me that didn't hurt! I still don't understand why, but I'm grateful! Good luck and feel free to message me anytime.

Congrats on making it this far!

LOL.. yup, the 2 days of liquids were good for another 2 pounds! But oh the headache - would rather have the 2 pounds.

I got my first fill last week and had to go back to liquids for 2 days. I stopped by GNC and they had a couple of flavors of Isopure on sale. I bought them and they got me through the 2 days. They are more like drinking watered down gatorade than the powdered Protein. They are expensive, but well worth it when you can't take in food! Good luck!

I think we all go through that stage. I found that my intake was steadily going up. To fix it, I started keeping a very strict food diary. If it went in my mouth, I had to count the calories. It made me much more aware of the calories I was eating, one calorie at a time.

Willowcat, I've been wondering about that as well. I wonder if it has to do with gravity? It takes it a while to work it's way through the "hose" and into the band itself?? I'm glad you are feeling it finally!

Trying to paint my toenails 2 days post op. Bad idea.

I think I do feel something, but I'm not really sure yet. Last night, we went to Outback with friends. I ate a whole cup of Soup and about 1/3 of an order of mashed potatoes. In my life pre-band, I could have eaten that along with a full entree. I didn't feel any pain, but I did feel satisfied and no longer hungry. This morning, I made my normal 1 whole egg, 2 egg whites, 1 oz cheese, 1 oz ham. I put it on my plate, then immediately moved half of it to hub's plate. I ate 2/3 of my remaining half and I'm stuffed (thirsty, but not hungry). I have felt the ate too much feeling a couple of times before the fill. I didn't like that feeling and it sort of scared me (and pissed me off). It was the first evidence I've had that things are gonna change. I can't keep eating just because I want to. That powerless feeling is why I got the surgery, so that it will no longer be my hungry brain's choice. I have not had a PB, but I've had lots of air burps. I also haven't slimed, so I must be following the rules mostly ok. It would be wonderful if this is the right restriction for me. That needle was very intimidating and I'd prefer to never see it again. Still don't know why it didn't hurt! Willowcat, hopefully your fill will kick in today. Pennreporter - I think my doc is on the conservative side as well, or at least a middle of the road kind of doc. You may be surprised. But didn't you say your doc left fill in at surgery? That may make a difference. Mine was empty.