greytz

I am not in your area but I went to several seminars until I was comfortable with it. The last one I attended was conducted by the surgeon herself and it was about an hour. She was quite thorough and the thing I really liked was the fact that she stayed afterward as long as someone was there and still had questions. She works tirelessly and is very hands on before and after the surgery. I felt that follow up was so very important. Pre-Op, I called her office on purpose to ask questions and see how the staff reacted to me and what they were like. They too have been great and even post-op, I can call anytime and they are there to help me and could not be better to me. No matter which WLS you chose, I hope you find someone you are happy with. And I too feel that just because a hospital is corporate and huge doesn't necessarily mean they care. I actually went to a very small hospital and they were fantastic.

Well, I think you should call them anyway just to be safe or get into to see your regular doctor but I would call the surgeon first. Right after I was banded, I got home and immediately started getting the chills, sweats, diarrhea, migranes, I was so scared. I waited a couple of days to see if it would go away. When it didn't, I called the surgeon and after a long conversation with them, we realized it was stomach flu. I was relieved but not out of the woods. This was on a Friday and we decided to give it the weekend to see if I got to feeling better and of course go to the ER if it got a lot worse. By Monday, I was good as new and concluded that it was in fact stomach flu. I had not even considered that at first because my mind was so much on the surgery itself that I figured it had to be about that. But call them, that's what they get paid to do.

I weigh every morning and no more than that. I find it does help me monitor so if I ate something the night before and the next morning I hit the scale and I have gained a pound or more, then I put that food on my no-no list until I am at the maintenance level. Then I will revisit but not until then. I liked the point that you make above. It seems like I have lost more inches than pounds. It has helped me a little bit to lose the inches. I told my husband yesterday, I need new undies. I can pull my old ones almost to my chin!

It is really hard for your pre-op because you think, "I am never going to get to eat this again if I want to do the right thing when I am banded." I thought that a lot and There were a couple of days that I cheated a little. I still lost weight but it was difficult. I had a lower BMI so it turned out ok but the whole point is to get that liver down so they can get in there without running the risk of damaging it. Be strong particularly for your first couple of weeks post-op. If you read some of the threads on here for newly post-op, you will see that it is very trying the first couple of weeks. Just hang in there and you will do fine. Keep getting support and try not to defeat your intentions. Good Luck!

What is great about it being reversible is that I personally have a medical condition that at some point may require me to have my band removed. I don't appreciate you insinuating that I do not want to reach my goal and stay there for life. I absolutely do. LOL. I did not go to all this expense, time, effort and pain just to have it reversed. That is ridiculous. I am very much looking forward to weight loss forever and want it bad. I want it bad enough to follow my surgeons orders and do all the right things and I have committed myself to this for life! I was merely stating my opinion and responding based on my experience and my situation. Some people out there who are considering one thing or the other may be interested in EVERY one's opinion and something that is said may help them decide. Just as you and all the people who have been on this website for awhile and are in some kind of medical employment, I believe that everyone who has or is going through the experience may have something to offer to someone who is making considerations. As you always say and as I said with my first post on this thread, they should ultimately decide with their surgeon what is right for them. Hopefully the things we say about our experiences will give them some strength and support along the way.

Definitely get a magic bullet if you can. They sell them just about everywhere including Walmart. It is the best thing that a banded person can have. You can blend up almost anything in it.

When I first saw the question on the thread I thought I was going to open it up and read that you are 14 yrs old or something. You are a 23 yr old adult. That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. I have changed primary's since then, but the first primary doctor I had didn't like the idea but I think it was because she did not understand it. Sometimes people are afraid of what they do not understand even in the medical profession. Get a new doc honey.

Hey, I know Plant City very well. I used to work in Lakeland. It is only about 20 minutes from me in Valrico. I was banded on 06-17-09 and I am on mushies now thank goodness. I will be able to go to solids on the 17th of this month. My first fill is scheduled for 08-04-09.:confused:

I totally agree with RM. There are good carbs and bad carbs but they take on a whole new meaning with the band. Even the good ones like pasta and rice as she said can swell up and cause unwanted swelling. Following doctor's orders is always best. When I went to my follow up appointment with my surgeon last week, I took a list of questions, mostly that I had from reading this website so much and she answered everyone. I was much more clear headed and took in the info much better since I had recovered from my surgery.

I only told my family and a couple of very close friends I knew I would need for support. Negative people to me are a hinderance to your journey and it is none of their business.

You can read a lot of threads on here about that subject. It is totally up to you and your surgeon. My surgeon doesn't do the bypass any longer and I really wanted to use her. I had been to many seminars and researched a lot of surgeons before I chose her. I also chose the band because it is reversible. I said this on another thread and I stated that bypass is not reversible but I was corrected by someone who was aware that there are people who have had bypass reversed but I would hate to think I had to do that. In my opinion (my opinion only), that is a very invasive procedure when compared to the band. I liked the fact that I can have the band removed if necessary. Obviously, that is not what I had it put in, but the knowledge is there if an emergency arises. Also, in my research, I discovered that if you have bypass and down the road you need testing done for any reason, it is very, very difficult to find anything in that part of your stomach that has been cut away. I am very happy with the band and wouldn't change it for anything.

I am so with ya. If you read some of these threads you will find that we all felt the same way exactly. I was thinking OMG, what did I do to myself. And this too shall pass like everyone else said. Start going online and you will find all kinds of really good protein drinks. Just hang in there until your mushy stage. It makes it soooo much better. I thought I could never look at a bowl of soup again but I am going to have lunch with my Hubby, his brother and our sister in law and I will be having soup so you get over it in time. You'll do great!

I live in Florida also but further North east. I live close to Tampa. But, alas, I am much older than you.

I use canned all white chicken just like tuna. Just be sure it is mushed up real good.

It's when the food comes back up right after you eat it and you almost throw up.

I have an ex just for that reason. For being controlling I mean. Just my opinion here which is what you are asking for, I believe that if he truly loves you, he will be all for anything that makes you healthy and gives you MORE years with him and your children. You want to see them grow, get married and have babies of their own. Not six feet under and the grandchildren have to come visit you at your headstone. Strong words I know but that is what I thought of when I divorced my first husband. My surgeon said something in her seminar that really stuck with me. She asked the question, "Have you ever seen a fat old person?" That got me to thinking. Whenever you hear a song or someone refer to an old lady. They don't say that fat old lady, they say that little old lady. Even in songs. Unless they are an exception, which I am sure there are some, most people to live into their golden years fat. I believe that if he has love in his heart for you, he will be willing to do whatever you need to support you and help you on your journey to health and well being physically and mentally. I have been married for 20 years and when I first married my husband (the one I am married to now), I was much, much thinner. Because of my medical conditions, etc. I had to take oral steroids and my thyroid went crazy and on came the weight. I was so embarssed for him and me. Even though I am in the beginning stages, just with the weight I have lost so far, he is so impressed and so happy for me. We are going out this afternoon to have lunch with his brother and sister in law and they have not seen me since the surgery. I am so excited and so is he. I put on an outfit and it actually fit and my side profile looks so much better. He is proud of me and proud to be seen with me. And as I continue to lose weight he will be even more proud to be seen with me. In my mind, that is how your husband should be acting. When I first went to my husband with this, of course I was apprenhensive. I have had a lot of medical problems in the last year and I wasn't sure how he would react or my family. He was concerned but was very supportive and wanted me to do it. I had to pay about $2,500. out of pocket which was a lot of money for us but he had no problem with it because it will be the tool to my weight loss and healthy journey. We rarely fight and never go around not speaking to each other. Life is way too short. I almost lost my life and we cherish each and every day we have together. It is just too precious to waste. I know there are some people on here who have also had family issues due to getting thin. It is very unfortunate and so incondsiderate. I truly hope you find a way to make this journey and a way to find support through it. I hope you can be strong and find a way to follow through with your intentions. I am truly blessed and I will pray for you that you have blessings also. Good Luck to you. Sorry this is so longwinded everybody. I just felt very strongly about it and could relate.

Good. I hope you find out what is going on. Keep in touch.

Even though I have only lost twenty pounds, I have lost inches so my rings are sort of rolling around on my fingers. Will wait until I (hopefully) reach my goal to get them sized. I had already had them redone for my 20th anniversary and love them so I will have them sized. Can't wait till that day comes. Good point BillOh. Maybe it will help someone remember to get a guard or sizing.

I chose the allergan band. Mostly for me because there is a standard size and a larger size. I was at BMI 34 and my surgeon once she got in there got to make the choice of which size. She chose the standard for me. I liked the idea that she had that choice. Also when I was in the seminar, I got to look at and handle both bands. I liked the look of the port better on my band. I spoke to some medical professionals that I know and they seemed to like it better also. It is really a personal choice and either one should do what you want it to do. Good Luck.

Drinking while eating allows you to eat to much and not get full. Then your stomach pouch expands and your band could possibly slip. Not a good scenario. No snacking. Your defeating the purpose. Only my opinion. LOL

Hi mom2trips06. Have you ever been tested for hypoglycemia? That is how I feel when my sugar plummets. You may want to check with your doctor again but my pre-op diet was the two liquid proteins one for breakfast and one for lunch and then a small portion of protein and a small portion of green veggie for dinner. The grilled chicken breast I would think would be fine. Check with your doc and see if he will allow that for you. Hope you get better on the pre-op.

I don't think it is ever too late but the fill center you found should be able to help you with that answer. They may have to do a test to check it.

I had my second Emmi informational video today and it said do not drink carbonated beverages because it will cause gas and that will make your stomach swell and can possibly cause band slippage.

I wouldn't do it. You are already thinking of ways to eat around your boundries. You need to be thinking of ways to stay within your boundries. It will be a long journey if you continue to think that way. LOL Not trying to be mean just honest.

It is very hard to do the pre-op diet but you need to look at it like a new adventure and and a new beginning for the rest of your life. One of the posts I made on here was that I placed picture of myself that I hated on my fridge and on my pantry and everytime I went for food, I had to look at it. It reminded me of how I never wanted to look again and it stopped me cold. It is a picture of me and my Mom and the cameraman was in a squat position and looking up at us so you can imagine how much heavier it made me look as if I needed that. It made a big difference in my pre-op success. I also cleared out my fridge and pantry of all the no-no foods. The stuff that wasn't opened went to the food bank and everything else went to work with my husband and he put it on the general table and it was eaten up in no time so I didn't have to have the temptation. I went ahead and bought sugar free popsicles and sugar free fudge pops so I had something to go to if I got desperate. Good Luck.