ElfiePoo

My insurance company did not require a medically supervised diet before they approved me. I just found out today that I will not be required to follow any special diet before surgery other than the usual 'nothing after midnight'. I think I'm still going to do a liquid fast for a week prior to surgery just because, in the past, a week long liquid fast made me feel less 'bloated'...which can't hurt going into any surgery. .

Get rid of the oreos. Clean out your cupboards and get rid of the 'junk'. Spouses and children don't 'need' the junk either so no excuse there. I don't know if it will help you, but when I'm stressed, I clean. Helps with both the mental and physical aspects of stress/anger. .

Thanks for the responses. I wondered what people did for follow-up when they had the surgery in another country. .

I've been reading through the boards now for a few days and I'm curious...and concerned. Some people have been saying they didn't receive their first fill until 3-5 months after surgery...and that they are expected to eat incredibly small amounts as if they were filled. Why so long? If I remember correctly, the doc in my seminar said they do not fill during surgery but will most likely do the first fill within 3 weeks of the surgery (after swelling has gone down) and then check on a weekly basis to add or remove fill based on what happened that previous week. Why are others having to wait so long for that first fill? .

:wink2: .

Ask them what's 'enough'? I wish lap banding was around when I was 200 pounds and 35 years younger. I would've done it in a heartbeat because all I had to do was look as far as my mom and her aunts to see where I was going to be in 30 years (despite repeated dieting)...and I am. .

I wasn't referring to you, but to Mystify's doctor. .

Congratulations, Mystify! .

Just a thought...are you going through a surgeon who has *lots* of experience with banding? I ask because it almost sounds like your surgeon is ambivalent towards the band and doesn't have a grasp of the realities regarding overweight people and their dieting history. I specifically looked for a bariatric surgeon. Not only do they have vastly more experience in banding (and less apt to 'oops'), but they also have a better understanding of how we (overweight people) 'work'. .

roflmao. .

LOL...and no I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at the bonehead who thinks losing 82 pounds is proof you can do the rest of it without the band. As someone told me earlier. The band is the tool that not only helps in losing the weight...but also in keeping it off.

Lori, I also used to drink a lot of Water during the day and always had a glass nearby. Then they diagnosed me with diabetes and once my blood sugars were corrected, I had to remind myself to drink my water...although I think I still drink more than the average person. Life after band should be 'interesting'. .

I'm already a cheap date (according to my husband). One drink and I'm under the table...so I rarely drink. .

I actually had 2 psych consults. After I did the first, which my insurance paid for, I found out this woman takes 3 weeks plus to get the report to the clinic. Since I'm really under a deadline here since I'm supposed to be travelling to Bulgaria in January, I made an appt with another psych and paid cash. In both cases, there was this long form to fill out, asking the usual...do you ever feel like killing someone, etc. Of course, I answered 'no' even though that morning my 17 year old son came dangerously close.:wink2: Then we 'chatted' for about an hour. Now, if they're as good as I am :redface:, they were able to discover quite a bit about me just by chatting. We talked about what I do for a living, about my kids and husband, about what I expected to get out of this surgery. Basically, all they're trying to ascertain is whether or not you are going to be able to handle the massive changes that come with losing your weight. Both put me at ease right in the beginning by telling me they were not there to keep me from having surgery. They were there to make sure it was a positive experience. No need to dread it. .

In my seminar, one of the women asked if we'd be required to go on any special diets pre-op and we were told no. Just the usual pre-surgery no eating after a specific time. If you go on a liquid diet fast for 1-2 weeks (and I have), the first thing you notice is the incredible sag you get within days. I might only have lost 2-3 pounds in that time, but my body looked and felt like I'd lost 10-15 lbs. Perhaps this liquid phase helps with the poofiness on the inside as well, making it easier for them to install the lap band. All I know is, if they tell me liquids pre-op, then liquids it will be...even if I have to sew my lips shut. :wink2: .

Thanks! I'll check it out. .

Where do you get Isopure and are certain flavors better than others. Also...does it contain soy? .

I don't know but it sounds almost as unattractive as watching someone chew their meat and then spit it in a napkin because it's too difficult to swallow. It's why I chose not to go the bypass route...but I see a number of people here who have the lap band and do the same. I'd never heard of 'sliming' or 'productive burping' until I came to this board and am having to rethink the whole lap band thing if this is what I have to look forward to the rest of my life. .

The low carb slimfast doesn't have the sugar, but only has 10gm of Protein. I wouldn't mind a better alternative, but it seems like everything contains soy.

ROFLMAO. I think I'd like your mom. Birthday cakes are dumped into the trash after the party right along with the paper cups and plates cuz if it's there, I'll eat it even with the best of intentions. .

As everyone else said...it's up to you and what you can deal with. Personally, I don't intend to hide it and I intend to 'promote' it. Remember, depression and diabetes used to be 'shameful' diseases that people hid. They didn't talk about it because the world saw it as a character defect. We've come a long way and, as a result of the openness about both of these diseases, people are getting treated. So I intend to be one of those who promotes the Lap Band and maybe some time in the future, people won't feel they have to hide it and/or won't choose not to get it done because they think it's a sign of failure. I'd tell family members that while they don't have to understand or agree with your decision, you hope they will be supportive. If they aren't, it's their problem and when they bring up negative discussions, just put a stop to them and tell them that if they don't have anything encouraging or positive to contribute, please keep it to themselves. .

After dealing with insurance companies for 30 years, I'll make a bet that it's #1. I looked into lap band surgery about a year after I lost 70 pounds on my own...documented in my doc's records on my weigh-ins but I still weighed 260 and had diabetes, gastric reflux, etc. The insurance company wouldn't tell me ahead of time whether or not they'd approve the surgery. They said to 'get it done' and when the paperwork came through they'd approve it or not. Right. Fortunately, they've now come to their senses and realized that it's cheaper to pay $20k for the surgery than 40+ years worth of obesity related medical issues. They can be taught. As for a commitment to the process...isn't that a bit like telling a diabetic to control their own blood sugars and if, after 6 successful months, they'll now pay for the tools (e.g. insulin) to help them? I think the problem is that the insurance companies (and even many overweight people) still look at this as a self-control/character issue rather than what it is...a disease. .

Hi Neesh, I go on week long liquid fasts every so often when my body just feels blah from too many carbs. My experience...the first day or two is the roughest. After that it gets easier. I drink the low carb Slim Fast shakes in the can and I actually like them. Many times they're my Breakfast of choice even when I'm not dieting. During the liquid fasts, I drink 6 of them a day because I'm limiting my intake to under 1200 calories. Carbs are about 12gm for the day which does wonders for my blood sugar levels. Headaches are usually nothing more than your body complaining about the change. They usually go away in a day or two and aspirin works well in the meantime. Watch your activity level. When I do the week long liquid fast, I notch my activity level down a bit. I try to remember to just move a bit slower...no sudden moves. Stick to it. You will be amazed at how good you actually feel after a few days. Little 'cheats' will delay your body's ability to adapt meaning the headaches, tiredness, etc. will continue for the entire time period. Hang in there! .

It's always frustrating when life doesn't go exactly the way we wanted or expected it to, but as so many have already said, just remind yourself why you chose to have this done. My doctor told me what 'usually' happens but also said that there is a small risk (with any surgery) that something will not go as planned and you may wake up and find they had to go a non-laparoscopic route. Rarely happens, but it does happen. I usually try to find the amusing side of life. Helps me deal with the stressful times. I don't mean to offend, but I can imagine looking down at my own stomach and fretting over a horrible looking incision...but then if I think about it long enough will fast forward to dozens of pounds lost and a sagging belly. The incision will be the least of my 'ugly' worries. :smile:

I see quite a few people are required by their doctors to go on a 3-6 month medically supervised diet program in order to qualify for the surgery. Here's my stupid question...if one could be successful on a medically supervised diet program, *why* bother with the lap band? I mean seriously...about 6 years ago I lost 70 lbs on Atkins and I've never put it back but I can't seem to stick to a diet now because I always feel 'not full' and want to keep eating until I do. If I could find the motivation to last 3-6 months on a diet, I wouldn't be bothering with the lap band. What am I missing? .