lapband4meNOW

Dahlia, I have heard of some weightloss centers offer financing options. Some, even with credit issues. Hopefully SSI will approve your claim quicker. I have read some people had to wait a year before approval. However, it would be good if you start your preop diet ways as soon as you can. You know, trying to make small changes every day. This is what my weightloss center told me to do. At my weightloss clinic, you can take the preop classes by phone for about $250. Perhaps you can get some of the steps required done. Just an idea. You should try Cashcall.com They give money to everyone who has a check coming in, regardless of credit (from what I understand). Ask them about the BK, how long after can you apply? That could be $10,000 right there. Just an idea.

I didn't take it that you were trying to make me feel guilty. I took it that you were just saying to those who got coverage, be thankful. That's my perspective. No worries!

I think that would be a great idea. I wouldn't know where to start, but I am sure you can find ways to create a charity. Go for it.

Hey Angela I just watched The Secret last night. It was great. My friend watched it. It is funny how everything is in your mindset. I am looking forward to facing each day with a new attitude. I have to start with my list of things to be grateful for. Sorry Dahlia you didn't get the support you needed. I don't always look at every new post. I haven't seen your posts yet. I will go see if I can help you. This board has helped me so much.

Freetobe I was banded on Feb 8th and I am eating pretty much anything for the last couple of days. Here are some of the foods I have had...albeit a lot smaller portions than what I used to. I never had clear liquids after surgery. The first day after surgery I was on shakes, tomatoe soup, creamy soups, pudding, jello, popsicles, etc...you can look at my previous posts. Now here are the foods I have tried with no problems - Lasagna Peice of bread, soft sweet roll Omelet w/ham (tiny), green pepper, onion, and cheese Onion Soup Baked potatoe (inside) Mashed potatoes Rice Krispies cereal Cheerios Taco with soft shell, ground meat Home made spaghetti Spaghettio's Piece of soft chicken from Thai resturaunt with peanut sauce Hot n Sour Soup Cheddar cheese, sliced very thin Wendy's Chili French Fries (chew well, soft, only had about 10) Raviolis Steamed carrots (mushed in mouth) Think that gives you an idea FreeToBe. What are you eating right now?

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't posted back, but I didn't get any email alerts saying I had more posts. Thanks so much to all of your feedback. I really appreciate it! I am doing much better. My doctor has told me I can eat regular foods. Seems soon, but he is confident. I have tried several foods, but even though I am not filled yet, I only eat a fraction of what I used to eat. Funny, I am now a mindful eater...before I was so mindless when eating. Never paid attention to what or how much..just ate whatever and that was that. I have now had a normal day of foods. Yesterday was the first day. I had a omelet for Breakfast, very small. Bowl of onion Soup for lunch with a baked potatoe (ate only half the bowl and half the potatoe and was stuffed), and for dinner had lasagna and a piece of bread. I probably had about a 1/2 cup of lasagna and a small soft roll of bread. I felt really good. I am scared to try salads. I hear some people have trouble and it makes me nervous. I love salads, so I would love to know if any of you have any problems eating them. THANKS AGAIN GUYS!!!!!! Oh, and Pam...I am happy you were honest. Thanks a bunch!

Hey jacksons mom I was banded 2/8. Just to let you know, I still think of food a lot. There is a head hunger that I am learning to deal with.

Hi Marissa I got banded 2/8. Lost 16 lbs after surgery with the first week. However, I have only lost a lb this last week. Pretty hard to watch when the week before I was losing daily. So, I am in the same boat. I thought about going back on the full liquids for a little while with a mushy meal here or there. My doc said it is okay for me to go to regular food because I tried stuff and had no problems. Yesterday I had an omelet for Breakfast with hash browns. lunch bowl of onion Soup and baked potatoe, and dinner lasagna and a piece of bread. I had no problems. The big difference, I only ate a fraction of what I used to eat and was very satisfied. I am wondering the same thing..if others have had the same problem with the weight slowing dramatically.

Hi All. I was banded on Feb 8th. Thought this would be a moment of excitement. I can say the surgery went pretty good. Aside from pain on my said and a little back pain (maybe from the gas, not sure) I am doing okay. Using my spirometer to practice breathing. Last night when I got home from the hospital I started crying. I wanted it out of me. I don't know what came over me. I starting feeling like..what the heck did I just do? Did I really try hard enough doing it on my own? I started feeling this overwhelming feeling of being freaked out something is wrapped around my stomach right now. My husband tried to console me. Said I did a good thing and to remember how long I had worked to get to this point. It didn't help. I just want to know if anyone else had these feelings. I feel so alone in these thoughts. Everyone on here seems so excited. I can feel the soreness on the side, will I ever feel like my own self again? I mean will I ever not be aware of feeling it there? I think what I feel is just soreness from the port. I don't think it is from the band because when I drink it doesn't feel different. After a while, will I feel my old self again? I keep rambling. It is 6:25am and I am up. I just can't believe I feel like calling my doctor and having him take it out. I don't know what is wrong with me right now. To top it off, I have gained like 5 lbs. Nurse said it is all the IV fluids. :cry

Pam, I was banded 2/8 This has been what I have been eating from day one out of hospital - The items I will list that I am eating are all lite or low sugar - jello, popsicles, pudding, fudgsicles, cream of wheat w/little butter, campbells tomatoe soup at hand, protein shakes, spaghetti sauce heated with a little ground beef (tiny meat), sucked on couple candy kisses, dannon yogurt smoothies, garlic mashed potatoes - premade country crock whipped with a little milk to make thinner and I added sour cream and melted cheese (it came out to a nice whipped consistency), onion soup, miso soup (from the powdered packets), rice crispies dry (great to snack on when you want a little crunch, eat like popcorn but make sure you are nibbling on a few at a time..it dissolves pretty much before it goes down). I can have any cream or milk based soup too. I just have only had a few kinds. If it is a little too thick, I use my hand blender to thin it out. These are just some ideas. Oh, I didn't have any clear liquid diet after surgery. So I have been doin this all week. I only had a 2 day clear liquid before surgery which was started with 10 ounces of magnesium citrate to clean out the bowels. Oh, I just found I can eat spaghettio's (those little o's in tomatoe sauce). I was making it for my daughter and I ate some and it was mushy in my mouth and had no problems from it. So I again at a little for dinner last night and had no problems. Those little 0's are so soft and it was a tasty alternative.

I am newly banded. Once I start on the food, I wanted to know how you tell you have had enough. I don't want to find myself in a position where I ate too much and then I am in pain. How do you make sure? Do you always measure out your food? Do you use a 1/2 a cup or what? THANKS!

No problem Tracy!

Hi Everyone. I thought I would give you an update since my surgery. I also thought I would describe my surgery experience in case it helps any of you about to go under. I am 8 days post op today. I have lost 16 lbs since surgery last Thursday as of this morning. I am feeling good. Still a little sore in the tummy area my left side. I had pulled something, but before it was really getting better. The items I will list that I am eating are all lite or low sugar - Jello, popsicles, pudding, fudgsicles, cream of wheat w/little butter, campbells tomatoe Soup at hand, Protein shakes, spaghetti sauce heated with a little ground beef (tiny meat), sucked on couple candy kisses, dannon yogurt smoothies, garlic mashed potatoes - premade country crock whipped with a little milk to make thinner and I added sour cream and melted cheese (it came out to a nice whipped consistency), onion soup, miso soup (from the powdered packets), rice crispies dry (great to snack on when you want a little crunch, eat like popcorn but make sure you are nibbling on a few at a time..it dissolves pretty much before it goes down). I can have any cream or milk based soup too. I just have only had a few kinds. If it is a little too thick, I use my hand blender to thin it out. These are just some ideas. Oh, I didn't have any clear liquid diet after surgery. So I have been doin this all week. I only had a 2 day clear liquid before surgery which was started with 10 ounces of magnesium citrate to clean out the bowels. Day of surgery - Check in at 5:30am for surgery at 7:30am. I admit, get called into prep room. Bunch of other beds in there with curtains inbetween. The nurses weigh me and ask me to change into gown, put all my personal stuff in a bad they provided. They gave me footies too. Walk back to bed, they verify who I am several times that morning and what procedure I am having. They first numb the area for IV and then insert IV. (folks, dont let them put IV at wrist area, tell them on top of hand...because I got it in the wrist area and made it difficult when I would push myself out of bed) Then they check blood pressure, and oxygenation (finger). They had blood drawn and sent to lab to make sure what I have in my tummy (so dont cheat and eat before, they can tell with the lab work they do they said). Then after the anethesiologist talks to me, asks me questions, they gave me the FEEL GOOD med to make me relax a little while I wait for surgery. Called Versat (may spell it wrong). You can ask for this if they dont offer..say you are feeling anxious and it really does calm ya down. Then I got wheeled into surgery. Oh, my husband was there this whole time and gave me a kiss goodbye. THe last thing I remember is being moved to this narrow table that was a little cold. They put both arms out and strapped them (lightly) down. I am also strapped around the hip area. They put the heart thing on me and then start with oxygen around my mouth and that is the last thing I remember. I woke up hard to breath. It was that damn mask, I dont do good with masks. So if you experience this, tell the nurses and they will put the nasal one on you which is much better. I was short of breath and gasping, moving around a lot because I keep telling them I cant breath, I cant breath. They took that mask off and put the nasal one on and I felt much better. My mouth was so dry. They had to put a air tube down my throat while in surgery. They also put a catheter in while in surgery (when I was out). I knew they were going to do that because they told me. This way after the surgery I dont have to get up right away if I have to go pee. I sit in recovery room for a while and I am not allowed so much as an ice chip on the day of surgery. They allow me to rinse my mouth out later when I got to my room. As I am in recovery they just monitor my blood pressure. The cuff stays on and so does the oxygen reader on my finger. IV is in and I have a button to push for pain if needed. The sucky part was dry mouth. Ask for vaseline, and a wash cloth. Wipe your mouth and put that on, makes it much better. I could not drink because I had to wait until the next day for them to x-ray and watch stuff go down. The reason I had to wait until the next day is my doctor says sometimes swelling can get worse over night and they need to make sure I am not closed up the next morning. First night, I get up for the first time about 6 hours after surgery. I take my IV pole and they hook my catheter puch to it and do a little walking. Tender but able to move around fine. I walked around every 4 hours for a little while. Looked like an old granny walking the halls, but it prevents blood clots. Oh, in surgery they put the warming massager on my calves to prevent clots and that stays on the entire time I am in bed until I check out. I went to x-ray next morning first thing. Oh, they also take your temperature a lot through this whole process too. Went to x-ray and stood in front of x-ray machine. I could see my insides on the screen and see the band. Crazy...and I watched the Fluid go down. They let me see it. I was cleared to start drinking. Got my little ounce of broth, jello, and juice. (ounce each). YIPPY! LOL First night home, started having depression. Wanted it out of me. Thinking what did I do. I smelled chicken my husband made for the kids and it was at that moment, even though I wasn't hungry, that I knew that I used food for comfort. It was a slap in the face. I always thought I ate badly or too big of portions. Me, an emotional eater?..NO way I would of said. But yes, it is true, I realized food was there to comfort me. You can read my previous posts if you want to read more, because I was crying. It took a couple days and I started to get out of that emotional funk. I feel good today and very happy. I hope this will help anyone else ready to go!

I get back pain and it goes up to my head and feels like a pressure headache. I think this is what you guys are talking about. I am just learning how much to have. I think I had to much just now. I feel like a vessel is gonna burst in my head. I just took some liquid vicodine cause my back hurts and head. AHHH!

I had my surgery last Thursday. Last night, I reached around and must of extended too far. I got a stabbing pain that took my breathe away. I called the doc and she thinks I simply pull on the port or pulled a stitch from the port area. The feeling is where my stomach is though, up under my left ribcage. I know the band didn't slip because I am not vomiting or anything (doc said that is what would happen if I did), but it is in the area of my stomach and I am wondering if I pulled a stitch not at the port area but my stomach area. Anyone else experience a stabbing pain all of the sudden? It only happens when I move certain ways now, it is not constant. I am bummed because I was starting to feel 100% again and now I feel that this has brought me back to the same pain level as day 1 after surgery. If this is a symptom you have experienced, I would love to know. I think I am going to go to the doctor and insist on an x-ray just to make sure everything is okay.

OF COURSE! I will pray for her.

It feels much better today. I think it was just a pull.

I have the liquid bandaid over incisions and the doctor said I could take a shower 48 hours after because that is that liquid bandaid requirement. I do have some tiny stitches of course.

let me rephrase..I said tell your doctor you dont have a problem taking it too much...hehe..take out the too much LOL

Kelly Ask for liquid vicodine. I got that, and you really dont need too much but yes, I would tell your doctor that you appreciate his opinion on pain medication but that you dont have a problem taking it too much and would like it for at least a little while after surgery. Also, ask for a liquid anti-nausea medicine, just in case. I wasnt nauseated, but always good to have it on hand. Get the perscriptions tomorrow when you go so that way you have it when you get home. Hope that helps! :mad:

I was on full liquids the day after surgery. I had Clear Liquids two days before surgery just to clear out the bowels. I dont understand why your doc would have you not on any Protein at all? You should ask. Doesn't sound right to me. I am 6 days out. I am eating all kinds of things. My doc said the same thing, if it is soft and mushy, try slow and if it is okay, go for it. I eat right now, with no problem - Protein shakes, pudding (sugar free), Jello (sugar free), dannon yogurt smoothies (lite), sucked on a chocolate kiss (dissolved in mouth), fudgsicles (no sugar, 4 grams of Fiber from health food store..YUMMY), creamy tomatoe soup at hand (that is really thin and yummy!), piece of cheddar cheese I ate in TINY little bites (went down just fine), applesauce, garlic mashed potatoes from country crock with sour cream and a little melted cheddar cheese whipped together (dont eat too much, just a 1/2 cup max it made me a little gassy), stuck my finger in Peanut Butter and sucked it off (dissolved before it went down)...it may sound like a lot, but I really can't eat much of it at all. I can only finish half of the creamy tomatoe soup at hand from campbells..but it is very satisfying. I too have chewed some stuff up and spit it out. I did that with a piece of chicken and a tortilla chip. LOL Anyway, like I said, I am 6 days out and my doc says all this is fine. You may want to try adding some ice and blend it to your drinks to make it a little thicker too. I think you would be fine with applesauce too. Just some ideas. :mad:

Anyone get a little short of breath after eating? I think I might of had too much and maybe that is why I am all of the sudden feeling the need to yawn repeatedly and try to keep a deep breath but doesnt feel like I get the full breath. I am using my spirometer still. When I lean over and extend my arms that seems to allow a deeper breath.

Hey Guys I called the doctor on call. Everything was okay. It passed after about an hour or two. Then I was fine. Doc says it was probably because my top pouch was too full. I had probably overeaten. I had thinned garlic mashed potatoes with a little melted cheddar cheese and some sour cream. Even though I whipped it all and thinned it, I think it was a little too much being just 5 days out of surgery. Doc had said if I thinned anything to a shake consistency that it would be okay to eat. Maybe the potatoes thickened up when they got down there? I dont know, I heard some food can expand in your stomach (dont know if that is true). Thanks guys!!!

They put the catheter in when I was under because afterward they didnt want me getting in and out of bed for a little while. So, if you have to go pee, you can't really get up right after surgery when the anethesia is wearing off and you are in recovery. I have had catheters before, awake, before my c-sections. Not a big deal. Just a little uncomfortable but it is over quick. Some doctors do it, some dont. I stayed in overnight too. Didn't get it out until the next day.

HI. I am 4 days post op. The things I like to eat are - campbells soup at hand creamy tomatoe soup, jello, fudsicles (sugar free), creamy potatoe soup (blended), dannon yogurt smoothies (light), miso soup (the dry packets, add to water), I sucked on a hershey kiss...it dissolved before it went down, there was a recipe with protein chocolate powder - vanilla soy milk - 2 tbsps peanut butter - ice - for a smoothie I wanna try. The other thing is you can do vegetable soup and just use a hand blender to get it thin. These are all approved from my doctor. Also, I can go to starbucks and get a non-fat iced mocha, decaf, no whip (haven't done it yet). My doctor also said I can do jamba juice smoothies but make sure no chunks of fruit. He said to make sure with all this, I sip and take it slow and listen to my body. Hope this gave you some ideas.