abbylamb

Whether or not you have to stay depends on your insurance and your physician's preference. For me, both required an overnight stay, and I am so glad they did. I was there about 36 hours, and honestly, I think I probably should have stayed a second night when I was offered the chance. I was in a lot of pain, and needed so much help. But I missed my little one (who is 4) and I wanted to go home. But at home, there isn't the help that there is at the hospital, and the pain meds don't work as fast! So if you are given the opportunity, stay overnight. Your kids might miss you, but you'll be so glad you did!

I have great insurance and was very lucky-from seminar to surgery was three months.

I am very lucky-I have BCBS for Federal Employees and they approved me on the first attempt, within 2 days. I know how good I have it though. I feel so bad for everyone that has to fight to get the surgery they need.

I'm probably not the best, but I'm cheating like a dog on my post op diet. My doc is VERY strict, and has me on a 2 week liquid, 2 week puree, 2 week soft diet. Well, it's day 14 now, and I've been eating soft foods for about 3 days now. By day 5 or 6 I just couldn't take it anymore! I'm a very picky eater, and purees just aren't cutting it for me, with the exception of applesauce. So, I did a whole lot of looking around here on this site, and it seemed that most people were moving on to real food faster than I was supposed to so I moved myself on. Do I recommend it? Not necessarily, but it saved me from drinking 6000 calories a day in milk and juice. I'm actually satisfied on about 1100 and I'm able to get the protein in so much easier. But just so you know, I totally understand where you are coming from. Maybe call your doc and see if he/she will advance you a little faster?

Mine is on the right side, about 3 1/2 inches below my right breast. According to my doc, unless I get skeletal, I'll never see it when I'm standing up.

Okay, everyone. This is it-I'm off to be banded in just a couple short hours! :ohmy: Good luck to my fellow December 21 bandsters, and I'll check in with everyone when I get home tomorrow evening!:thumbup:

good luck to you tomorrow!

Mariposa- So sorry to hear you got bumped! That totally sucks, especially since you've been prepping yourself for it this whole time. But hopefully your fiancee will land a job that will pay for the procedure and then you won't end up paying out of pocket, so while it totally stinks you have to wait, maybe at least there is a silver lining!

Trust me, there are days I don't think I'm going to make it. I did cave the other day and allowed myself a slice of 2% cheese just because I NEEDED some kind of real food. But it could have been a giant plate of cookies and it wasn't, so I'm not being too hard on myself. Besides, a lot of people on here are allowed lots of real food as long as it's low carb, so I figure of all the things to give in to, that wasn't so bad. But in only 18 shakes I will be having surgery, so I'm finally beginning to see that light at the end of this verrrrrrry long tunnel! I can't wait to get some sugar-free jello and applesauce!

I'm on day 13 of 16 on the Optifast nightmare. :biggrin: (the shakes taste okay, the bars suck, but it doesn't matter because all I want is some REAL FOOD!!!) All I can say is that I feel your pain! Especially since some people are allowed to eat all solid foods. I do admit that I have allowed myself a slice of 2% cheese every day simply because I need to chew on something that actually resembles food, and if I didn't, I know full well, I'd have caved and eaten half a refrigerator by now! I just keep telling myself, 18 more shakes till surgery, 18 more shakes till surgery..... Moral of the story is, stick with it the best you can. This is tough. On the bright side, it seems like a lot of people drop a ton of weight with the pre-op diet (except me-5 pounds in 13 days is not what I'd call crazy success or anything. I am hoping it picks up once I've got that band in!) so you always have that to look forward to! Good luck!

65- I'm feeling your pain. I'm on day 13 (3 more to go) and would seriously hurt someone for some real food. Soooooo tempted, but I don't want to do anything to screw this up. We've worked too hard for it. But at least you've dropped 8 pounds-I'm only down 5 in 13 days. But hang in there, we can do it!

My doc said clear liquids for the first 24 hours, then full liquids till the 2 week mark, then mushies for the next 2 weeks, and at a month out I can transition to real food. The only exclusion to that is red meat, which I am not allowed to have for 6 months. But I know he's on the conservative side.

Yeah, I'm with the others on this one. 300 calories is not only unrealistic, it's dangerous. When I first started my pre-op diet, I was only eating about 800 calories, and my nurse upped my calories to 1000, because she said anything less than that is liable to put your body into starvation mode. I was told it was the low carb, high protein part of the diet that shrinks your liver. I would call your doc back and tell him you cannot possibly live with this diet for 2 days, let alone 2 months, and if they won't work with you, I'd consider going somewhere else.

Thanks to both of you for the support. It does make me feel a little better. I am proud of myself for staying away, but boy, was it hard! But of course there are leftovers! I'm feeling a little more fortified today, so I don't think it will be quite as big of a chore to avoid them. Melinco, I don't know how you do it all day with people always bringing things in! Thankfully, I can just keep myself busy. In five more days, it will all be worth it though.

My hubby always says he likes a girl with a big ass and big boobs. Luckily for him, I fit those requirements. We met when I was 225. After a year of dating, marriage and a baby, I ballooned up to 298. Currently, I'm at 232. Size 16 or 24, he has loved me for me. I recently found out his concern isn't that when I get thinner that he won't be attracted to me. His concern is that when I get thinner I'll start looking elsewhere! Which makes sense-he was the King of Sabotage-whenever I was on a diet, he'd bring me candy, chocolate, suggest going out to dinner, etc. But I have realized this is his own insecurity, not that he has a problem with me or my size. He has been so supportive though with my decision to have the Lap-Band, and I am confident that with enough gentle reminders that I'm not going anywhere he will stay on board with me through this process. At least, as long as I don't lose my ass....lol!:thumbup:

So glad to hear about everyone who is doing so well post-op! Good luck to those of us who are still yet to go in. As far as the shakes go, not counting the two weeks of Optifast Hell I've been enduring, I've been using Bariatric Advantage Chocolate Meal Replacement shakes. They aren't bad. They're a little thick for me, so I like to let them sit in the fridge for a couple hours to de-foam, but they are drinkable. And with 27 grams of protein, it's great for a non-frequent meat eater like myself. Plus, if you add the sugar-free coffee flavoring syrups, they are downright good. :thumbup:

Illuminationlady--Congrats to you! You will do great! Just make sure you keep us all updated on your progress!:thumbup:

It completely depends on the insurance company. I was very lucky and had approval 2 days after my doctor's office submitted. But some people have to wait up to a month for a decision.

My doc said hot chocolate is just fine for my post op, and I definitely plan on having it.

I am on day 11 on my liquid Optifast diet. (and from what I've gathered, my doc definitely seem to fall on the strict side of pre-op diets-no real food at all.) And to top it all off, today is my work's holiday gathering. I'm sitting here while people are bringing in cookies, pizza, stuffed peppers, cheese, crackers, meat trays, brownies, etc., etc., etc., and I can't have any of it!!!! :thumbup: This is so flipping hard!!!! At least post-op I physically will not be able to eat solid food. Right now it's taking pure willpower, and at 11 days of powdered liquid meal replacements and cardboard protein meal bars, I'm close to cracking! Why, oh why can't I have a low carb, high protein diet? At least then I could have something! Instead, I am forcing myself to get up and go somewhere else, but I know this food is going to be here all day! ACK!

Hey Doer- Don't feel bad you've only lost 5 pounds on the two week liquid optifast diet. I too, have followed it religiously, and am only down 4 after following it for 8 days. I was almost on the verge of a total binge when I weighed in and realized that all this work and all I got was a lousy four pounds. :mad2: I have 8 more days to go, but it is very depressing! Especially since even the doctor's office said I could expect a 10-12 pound weight loss. I don't think age has anything to do with it though-I'm only 30! We just have to hang in there and keep telling ourselves that it's still 4-5 pounds we're never going to put back on. And as long as the scale is moving in the right direction, it's progress. Easier said than done, but that's what I keep telling myself. :thumbup:

Best of luck to anyone going in for their surgery today! :rolleyes2: Poppy, you will do great!

i too, am not telling many people. my husband knows, and my mom because she's driving me to the hospital, and my dad, because my mom can't keep her mouth shut, my boss because i'm going to need the time off work, and one fat understanding friend. i just don't need the disapproving looks, or the constant scrutiny of every morsel i may or may not put into my mouth, or the questions of "well you had surgery, why aren't you losing weight any faster" or "so when are you supposed to start losing weight" etc. etc. etc. if in the future someone asks me if i've had the band, i do not intend to lie about it, but i will not be giving with the information. i will tell them the truth--that i'm eating less and exercising more. and that's all they need to know.

Then it probably will be even quicker for you than that! Now you just have to hope the insurance is quick to approve. I was very lucky in that respect. Hopefully you will be too!

I had all my labs/upper gi at the hospital I'm having the surgery at, so my doc was able to look at the results the same day. The psych eval took about 10 days to get back. Good luck!