cali_bk

Wow! Interesting article. I used them and had pretty much the same experience as Saraboo. In the end, insurance was approved, but working through their phone system or being able to access them administratively wasn't easy. To me it felt like a lot of the issues were "growing pains" related. Hopefully they don't become too much like a mill. I had my surgery with Dr. George Tashjian and I really like him. I think he did a good job and made me feel comfortable throughout. I did meet him before the surgery. Not sure if he is officially with them or a referral doctor. The article raises some concerns about their ownership, which doesn't sit well with the fact that I will be continuing with them to get adjustments, but I'm going to stay positive and give them the benefit of the doubt. I get my first adjustment tomorrow, so I'll continue to evaluate how they operate.

I really like the PURE PROTEIN shakes in cans at GNC. It's got 35g of protein. They come in all types of flavors, cookies and cream is my favorite.

I was banded on Friday 1/22/10. I went in to the surgery center about 3:00p for a 4:30p procedure. Prior to the surgery, I urinated in a cup and spoke with the surgeon and anesthesiologist. My whole recollection of surgery day is a little foggy, but I do remember going into the surgery room and laying down. The table reminded me of when I had my c-section. I remember looking up at the lights and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room. I was nauseated and in slight pain, mostly what I think was a bloated gas pain. More out of it and delerious than anything. I think I left the facility at 7:30pm and my mother drove me home. Unfortunately I didn't get the pain prescription until after the surgery, so I remember having to find an open pharmacy on that Friday night. I wasn't going to go through the night without it. Well we found one and I remember walking around the grocery store like a zombie with my hospital wrist band still on. The liquid Vicodin was not pleasing at first, but after a day or two, it became pleasant tasting, maybe because of its mercy affects. I stopped with the pain medication about the end of day three. I am on day five now. I had really bad gas pains until yesterday. Walking does the best at moving it out. I woke up on day two and three with bad stiff neck pain, from what I read on here, it appears to be related to the gas. I had what felt like heart burn in the morning and was very nauseated for the first 3 days without any medication for that. Its still there, but not as bad now, not sure if it has to do with the reduced food intake. Yesterday was my post-op appointment and everything went smoothly. The best part of it was sitting in the lobby waiting for the appointment listening to other lapbanders, who were further along, talking about their experience. Right now I am missing the food more than I thought I would. Now, I know what others are saying in these forums and realize I really need to re-evaluate my relationship with food. Even passing a McDonalds triggers an emotion of some out of me! I am following the post-op diet strictly and will take this one day at a time.