TinaM

There are a few threads on this in the Ladies Room

I stayed in the hospital after the surgery for one night. The documents were quite clear that I had to have someone drive me home and I would not be released to a cab driver or car service

Before you go to much farther into your research I would strongly suggest talking with your medical team. Mine knew exactly what my insurance required prior to surgery for approval and what would be covered. If yours isn't savvy with your carrier or they do not use this practice contact your carrier and have them go over the coverage with you. I have learned that if you have an HMO you generally must go thru a 6 month preop plan under your medical team's watchful eye before approval. If you have a PPO that is reduced to 3 months on average. I have Aetna HMO and have spent $400 for the nutrtion ands psych visits as those aren't covered in my plan. I paid $50 a pay day and they were fine with it. As for the surgery itself, $200 to the hospital and about $500 in doc fees all paid over time.

my surgery was dec 15th and I was told as soon as I felt like driving I could (no meds in my system tho)

I was under strict guidelines about not picking up anything over 10 lbs for 2 weeks, then 15 lbs for 2 more. I'd err on the side of caution and call your doctors office, I'm sure there is an on call physician or answering service. But for now stop moving around so much. I was even told no running the vaccuum (back and forth motion).

sweet pete- try room temp or warm liquids - i had that problem and the nurse told me it could be that what I was drinking was too cold and irritating

So this morning I went for my post op visit as I am 9 days out. Everything went great and I'm doing well. The doc said I could move forward to mushies then real food as I felt I could handle it. SWEEEETTTT! I went straight home and made 3ozs of best of the egg with 1 laughing cow wedge all scrambled up. I had actually been dreaming about this for the last week. You would have thought I was having filet mignon. I'm just so excited I'm at this stage. Another bonus for me is that my taste buds have completely changed. I tried a SF vanilla pudding and after two tiny bites decided it was 'too sweet' for me. Oh please let that stick!!

hi voodoo- I was banded dec 15th and today is my 9th day. I have to say my energy picked up when I got to the full liquids on day 6. I got Traders Joes black been Soup (its pureed already) and added a scoop of unflavored Protein powder. It took an hour to get 5ozs down but it did wonders for me! Another thing that helped while on Clear Liquids is having two soups brought to me from my fav restaurant, I strained them and it was the best thing I have ever tasted. Right away I felt some normalcy. I have also been working on not napping, on Monday I had 2 short naps during the day, Tuesday just 1 and none on Wednesday and none so far today. I'm taking it easy and not overdoing it by any means but I'm staying awake:smile:

Hi There- I was banded just 3 days before you so here is my take on things. 1. Yes I still hold my stomach sometimes - I asked the doc today and he said it is from the muscles being pulled/pushed or streched during surgery. It goes away though, I'm already only doing it when I get up and down. 2. I was on Clear liquids for 6 days post surgery. The only thing that kept me going was Jello and Soup from my favorite restaurnt run thru a strainer. I had chicken chunk and french onion - both broth based and both strained. Finally once I had a bout 4 oz of soup the hungry subsided. 3. Day 7 I moved to full liquids and truly found out how much my tastebuds had changed - a vanilla yogurt lite and fit was now too sweet to eat and anything citrus(orange juice) gave me the hiccups and made me feel quesey. 4. Gas leaves as soon as you get it out - so use the gas x strips I was taking one every 3 hours or so and walking every chance I got even if it was just thru the house. The gas was gone for me by day 7. Good luck

Hi All, My anesthesiologist told me last Tuesday (surgery day) that my period would be wacky for the next 30 - 60 days and to not be alarmed. She said its the 'happy/sleepy' drugs creating havoc on the hormones. Tina

Hi there- Some descrepancies may be due to BMI and other medical factors. So when it comes down to it you have to follow your surgeons protocol so pick a good surgeon. Looke at the lap band system and realize systems website, here, obesity help.com BUT above all else attend some support groups. My area mixes those that are pre and post op and it is great to hear from live people you can ask questions. I found it even better when the support group mainly consisted of person's who used my surgeon. Good luck in your journey.

I had surgery on Tuesday at 10.30 and had pee problems too. I had already opted to stay overnight so here is what happened. About 12noon still in recovery I had to pee they put a bedpan under me and of course I couldn't go I need privacy people! Got to the room and about 3 - I had the sensation again - need to pee sat on the toilet for an hour - no dice but man I needed to pee. Nurse called the doc to say I needed a cath - oh hell no I thought. I didn't quite understand it but I didn't want it. Got back on the toliet, turned off the lights to help relax, had my mom turn on the Water at the sink and it took about 10 minutes but finally a trickle! Over the next 3 or 4 hours it got better, much better.

Hi There- Here I am 4 days post op and feeling great. D. Anwar is just great. I stayed overnight at Stanford and everyone was so attentive and caring. I don't even feel like I've had major surgery. I'm walking the dog - granted not that far but I am doing it. I would be happy to recomend Dr. Anwar so if you have questions just let me know.

Deuce I totally got to that point- I could just stare at it!

Isopure is available at the Vitamin Shoppe or GNC the Beneprotein is what they brought to me in the hospital with my clear liquid buffet. I can't find it in the stores so I'm picking up the unflavored Protein powder from Whole Foods or Trader Joes. One on the ladies in class attended was post op and she said each day she scooped in a baggie how much of that protein powder she needed to take each day and she would mix in everything till it was gone for the day and she knew she met her protein needs.

depends on insurance really HMO usually 6 months PPO 3 months mine was 7 months all in and I have an HMO

hi jeni- I LOVE Dr. Anwar. Everything is going well I'm walking and doing my sips. I did stay overnight at the hospital and was very happy I did, no complications just glad to have them right there to answer my questions. Mommy and daddy are here - cooking and doing stuff around the house. I'll be back on later. take care- t

Usually an employer offer EAP (employee assistance programs) this includes visit to see a therapist and consulattaions to se an atty. I'm not married so I won't weigh in on your situation but just know there are low to no cost options to seek help of any kind. Most employers EAP plans offer 3 or 5 therapist visits free per yr and after that its on a sliding scale - as little as 10 bucks a visit. If both of your work check with each employers HR department

I'm in bandland ladies! Doing well very sore but good.

You aren't alone. Follow thru on your appts I would suggest seing a therapist weekly while you are on this journey. Only you know whether or not this is right for you but your need to have a great mindset and on teh right track. My surgeon made it clear the closet needed to be cleaned of demons or I should at least have the tools to deal with them prior to surgery. I have anxiety and have had it for years thanks to my heredietary not too much I can do. I see a therapist regularly and take daily medication. I have also been an emotional eater all my life. Down depressed lets eat thru it and be consoled Happy celebrating - lets eat and so on REmember you can always pull the plug before surgery. You have learned something about you, so consider that knowledge a tool to help you in this process. Thats why we have a psych visit. Don't consider it a failure. If you are concerned about cost se if your employer has an EAP provider- you usually get 3 or 6 free visits per year and it bypasses your insurance. Good luck- t

hi pam- find your profile on lbt go to edit go to edit signature open a new explorer session or firefox whatever you use go to your ticker of choice I use www.tickerfactory.com make your ticker ( remember that password) you will be give two boxes that have computer 'code' in them - pick the one that sounds like lbt - copy all the code go over to the signature on lbt - copy the code save and you are good to update n the futre just click on your ticker from any post enter in your tickerfactory password and update

hi there - most surgeons offices know what is required for each major insurance company. I've ben on this board for over a year and here is what I've found- if you have HMO you need to be referred by PCP, and you will need a 6 month supervised diet meetings with nutritionist regularly and a pysch visit if you have PPO the its reduced to 3 months Once you have made your journey then the sirgeons office submits all you info and hard work to the ins company and gets their approval. For referals I'd suggest checking the threads broken down by state then city also under community(top of page) select social groups and there is one for socal bandsters. Good luck

hi there I had a post nasal drip due to allergies, they had me take mucinex up till the day before surgery. I was told only a fever and productive cough would hold me up. Always check with your doctor/surgeon first

I suggest trying Isopure clear no carb ready to drink. It comes in several flavors I find orange and grape to be the best. It has 40g of Protein and keeps me full for a long time. It does have an after taste so I drink a swig of ispure then a swig of something else that tastes better like lemonade or tea. Good luck

You may want to try some of the other threads- In the main forum there is a self pay and that has several low bMIers there is a forum that breaks down by BMI under comkmunity social groups there is a group for low BMIers good luck