Melinco

My pre-op went well. Official weight lost so far is 7 pounds. He answered all of my questions, gave me all the Rx I need to fill before or after the surgery. He gave me a script for patches to put behind my ear: one immediately following the surgery to wear for 3 days, then replace with another and wear it for 3 days also. This is to prevent nausea. The script is good for a year, so in case I feel nauseated, I'm to wear it to prevent vomiting. He said it was very important not to vomit, and that he has other medications he can give me if I get the stomach flu, etc. I will have a pain pump inserted during the surgery and will last for about 3 days, which should help with the pain at the site of the incisions. Also gave me celebrex to help with inflamation and an antibiotic to take for 7 days. Also gave me Keflar (or Kexlar), a nasal spray pain medication. He said not to fill that one until after the surgery as I may not need it. I go in at 6 am and surgery starts at 7:30. I should be home shortly after 12 noon. I asked him about the gas-x strips and he never heard of using it to help with the gas, but he said it wouldn't hurt to try it. He also gave me a sample of Miralax to help with BMs, since the amount of fiber in my diet has decreased. He said to take it every day, even after banded, to help move things along. I paid him yesterday, so now only have to pay the surgery center and the anesthesiologist. I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting so when I get home tonight I'll go over my paperwork and post again.

Karyn, This may be too late, but perhaps you should ask your surgeon for a prescription for the patch you put behind your ear that controls nausea. My doc gave me a Rx for them and I'll put one on immediately after the surgery, wear it for three days, then put a new one on and wear it for three days as well. He said it was very important not to throw up with the band on (different from the regurgitation). I'd give him a call if you are still feeling nauseated. I hope you're feeling better.

I really don't think that having a few packets of splenda a day is going to cause the problems that were discussed above. If you're doctor is okay with it, then do it. If he isn't, then don't. Regarding the hot tea, I met with my doctor yesterday and he said any non-calorie liquid can be drunk all day long. So I say enjoy your decaf hot tea with splenda. Mine will have the caffeine. :thumbup:

Today I started my pre-op diet. I was doing quite well until after lunch when I got two e-mails from our bosses saying that goodies had been delivered. Brownies and Engstrom's toffee. Ugh. I have stayed away from it, but it isn't easy. I have my pre-op appointment today. All the final little details will be worked out, I'm sure.

Today starts the first day of my 10 day pre-op diet. My surgeon has prescribed a high Protein, low carb (less than 30 grams) of solid food. My surgery is on December 17. Breakfast and lunch should be pretty easy. My breakfasts consist of 1 hard boiled egg, 1 Frigo cheese head string cheese light, and 1 container of Kroger CarbMaster yogurt. Total carbs 8 grams, total protein 24 grams. Lunch today will be pork loin, baby greens salad with cucumber and Litehouse bleu cheese dressing, and a sugar free Jello. Total carbs 6 grams, total protein 57 grams. For dinner tonight, I want to try to incorporate some additional vegetables, while keeping total carb count under 30 grams for the day. Does anyone have some suggestions? Carrots, potatoes, green Beans are out. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Cawells, Not every doctor prescribes a liquid pre-op diet. My surgeon is having me do 10 days of high Protein low car solids diet starting tomorrow. My surgery is the 17th. If you want to do it on your own, you can.

Have you tried using a fresh white corn tortilla? Just place a couple of them in between two damp paper towels, warm in microwave. Yummy!

Sara, yes that's me! So you've read my blog, huh? You should become a follower. One day, I may get enough followers to become a "cult" leader. lol Probably not. I started my blog in '08 when we started our IVF process. Unfortunately, it didn't work and now I'm here trying to lose weight so we can do donor eggs or embryos. Since my age won't play a factor, we just have to worry about my weight. I can get lighter, but I can't get younger! Go figure.

Sara, I'm the 17th too! My surgery is at 7:30 am. Should be home shortly after 12:00 noon. I start my pre-op on Monday, I'm doing 10 days of high protein/low to no carb solid foods. Our stats are pretty similar, but you must be a bit taller than I am, we have about the same BMIs. I'm so looking forward to having a BMI of less than 40 as one of my first goals.

Come join us December Bandsters 2009 / December Delights on the pre-op and post-op boards, as well as on the Community/Social Groups/December Delights board. I'm being banded 12/17 and start my pre-op diet 12/7. This will be my last weekend on normal food for a long time!

Deb, is it possible your insurance would reimburse you if you went to an out of network doctor? I know that Dr. Kirshbaum in Denver is quite popular, and his cash price is around $9500. Not sure what you would do for fills though. Dr. Smith in Pueblo would be closer, but his cash price is about $14,500. What part of NM are you in?

Welcome to LBT! I'm being banded on 12/17. I don't have any advice for the liquid pre-op diet as my surgeon has me on a solid Protein pre-op diet. However, I wanted to invite you to come and join the rest of the December Delights, those of us getting banded in December. You can find us up at the top under Community, then Social Groups, then December Delights. Also, you can find posts on both the pre-op and post-op pages. Just look for either December 2009 Bandsters or December Delights.

Hi Illum Lady, thanks for the info on the pre-op class. I met with my dietician a few weeks ago. Monday will be my pre-op with my surgeon for last minute instructions. I also start my pre-op diet that day. Two weeks from today! By this time, I'll be home recovering. I'm really starting to think about what foods I want in the house after the surgery, like broth, Jello, apple sauce, etc. I am not a milk drinker, so I may have to go and buy some Protein powder to mix with milk and maybe some sugar free chocolate syrup and make a thin milk shake. I gag when I drink milk, thus I don't drink it.

Preop class? I have a preop appointment with my surgeon, but no class. Do you know what you'll be doing in it? Thank.

Harley, my doctor is going to give me a pain pump, so he said I should be good going home. Also, it's same day surgery, in fact, I'll go in at 6:00 am, surgery at 7:30, and should be home shortly after 12:00 noon. HTH!

Congrats on being banded! Take care of yourself and post more when you are up to it.

Welcome to LBT. I'm a self-pay as my insurance doesn't cover any type of WLS. I am financing 1/3 of the cost, taking out a loan from my 401(k) for 1/3, and taking a distribution from my IRA for 1/3. It's running me about $15,000. I look at it as an investment. I'll get a return on it by not eating out as much, avoiding having co-morbidities that I don't have right now. The down side (economically) is that I'll have to buy new clothes! I think I can handle that. Go the the main board, scroll down and you'll find a thread for self-payers. You may be able to get additional information there about how to finance. Good luck with your journey. I get banded in 17 days.

Congrats on your surgery! You're in what we like to call "Bandster Hell" right now. Where you can eat pretty much anything and it's not time for your first fill. As far as what you can or should eat, I'd recommend doing what YOUR surgeon has told you to do. You picked him because you trust him, so follow his orders. When do you get your first fill?

Right now, I'm on a high protein semi-low carb diet, which switches to very low to no carb diet on 12/7, 10 days prior to my surgery. I've been doing pretty good except for this holiday weekend. So I'm back on the wagon.

I'd recommend talking with your doctor about this.

Congrats on being banded next month. My date is Dec. 17. Like Electra said, stop on by Community - Social Groups - December 2009 Bandsters. There are about 100 of us so far who are supporting each other as our band date approaches.

No answers for you, but lots of good luck wishes for you! I'm behind you by 17 days. You'll do great!

I'm using Health One Visa, 401(k) loan, and distribution from my IRA to finance this. My minimum payment will be $225 a month, but plan on paying more than that, first to my Visa, then back to my 401(k). I figure I can pay it off in a couple of years. I'll just put off any new home improvement projects.

Regardless of what country you live in, I wish you many blessings on this day. Thank you for all your wise words and funny tales. I look forward to a skinnier Thanksgiving next year.

I was having fun with describing the date of placing my band. And yes I was talking about my band. Bruce came to me when reading someone else's thread about names for their band. I named it after a super hero, Batman.