HappyMom

I also didn't have to stay over night. Actually, I was wheeled into surgery at 10 am and was walking out of the hospital at 12:30 pm. I too had a hiatal hernia fixed. My surgeon doesn't ever plan to keep anyone overnight unless complications are expected or experienced. For me, the surgery really wasn't too big of a deal. The only pain that I felt was from the trapped gas. The actual incisions didn't hurt at all. Good luck to you!

It took me about 7 days to be approved by Anthem BCBS PPO of CA. I think that it was more of a Dr. delay than an insurance company delay. Good luck to you!

I am down 50-lbs and have only gone down 1 size! I think that some people just carry weight differently and I am not sure if you can really assign a weight-size ratio that will fit all. The taller/shorter you are will really determine how fast you lose sizes. I am about 5'10" and have gone from a tight 18 to a perfect 16. Maybe the next 50-lbs will get me to a smaller size!

I take a slice of deli turkey breast (10g Protein - 50 calories) and wrap it around a string cheese stick (7g protein - 70 calories). This is my planned go-to snack. I notice that protein keeps me fuller longer. I agree with the other posters about the crackers. Carbs are never a good choice for a snack. They just won't stick with you and you will be hungry again sooner. Good luck!

You might also want to watch out for billing for fills also. My insurance company paid for the surgery, minus my deductible....they were great. I had my first fill at 4 weeks and my second at 8 weeks. Just after my second fill I finally received the bill for the first fill. The hospital charged $1710 and the doctor $295 for the first fill. My insurance company got the total reduced to $1300 and they paid $600 leaving me with $700........for each of the first two fills! I called the hospital asking them how in the heck can a 3 minute procedure be billed at $2005! They said that is the standard billing charge for a fill under flouro. They also stated that most people's insurance only requires them to pay a $20-$50 doctor copay for each fill visit. I informed them that my insurance obviously didn't work that way! My insurance stated that the fills were not a covered benefit and I would have to assume a greater responsibility for the billing....not just the usual 10% of the charge. The hospital stated that I can self-pay for the fills for a total of $350 each, or go through my insurance. I asked why do you charge one person $350 for a self-pay and then turn around and charge another persons insurance company $2005 for the same procedure? I asked them to back out the insurance charge for the first two fills and allow me just to pay the self-pay charge of $350 each......the hospital wouldn't go for it. Probably because they were scoring $600 from the insurance company and $700 from me for each of the fills. Either way....my third fill I self-paid for. Chalk it up to a lesson learned about hospital and doctors billing practices. No wonder health insurance costs so much!

Hello Lindsey - Welcome! I agree with the previous posters.....read as much as you possibly can about the band itself, the surgery, and life after the band. It is definitely not a decision that should be made without being totally informed. Being banded will change your life. You will view and react to food in a totally different way. It has been, and continues to be, a hard transition. Your physical cravings for food will start to fade away as you reach the green zone, but your mental issues with food will remain. Those mental cravings don't go away just because you are banded. Someone told me that you really have to be at the end of your rope (physically and mentally) to get banded. You are ready for the band if you have tried countless diets and failed, or succeeded only to gain it all back several times. You are ready if you have honestly, really tried but realize that you just can't make the weight stay off without some help. You are ready if you are showing signs of obesity related diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc). It is a big decision to make. Read, read and read some more. Go to a local support group meeting and speak with others that have had the surgery. This is a great way to get the real life scoop on living with the band. I have never once regretted getting the band....except immediately after surgery....those left shoulder pains were a killer! Living with my band has inspired my husband to start eating better and exercising with me. We are going to set a better example for our little boys (2 & 5) now that we are living a better lifestyle. Good luck to you and on making your decision! Take care and let us know how your pre-op appointment goes!

I think that you made the right decision to stick to your pre-op diet. Believe me, after banding you will be able to eat just about everything that you used to eat. I am almost to the green zone and haven't run across a food that I can't tolerate.....I just eat smaller amounts! Good luck to you on Friday!

I too have 3 fills and I feel as if I can still eat quite a bit. I am tight in the morning and have problems even swallowing Water....but my dinner I can eat just about anything. I am hoping that my 4th fill will just eek me into the green zone. Good luck to you! Here is a great tutorial to display a weight ticker: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Thanks for the tip on the Biotin. I will get some today and see if that helps a bit. More than anything is is reassuring that to know that it won't all fall out. I am just amazed at how fast the change in my hair occurred. It seemed that most of the loss happened over just a 2 week period. I have noticed the loss is slowing down some. During those initial weeks I would run my hands through my wet hair and they would come out with 20-30 strands each time.....now I am down to about 5 strands. I am not sure if it is the Nioxin or if it is just slowing down on its own. Thanks again for the info on the Biotin. I will try ANYTHING at this point to save my remaining locks!

I have never tried biotin....but am having some success with Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. vlp1968...I am happy to hear that we won't go bald. Mine is getting pretty thin!

Diet Kirkland (Costco brand) Green Tea with Citrus. The Lipton version is also very good!

I am noticing a startling loss of hair over these last two weeks. I can't believe how FAST it is falling out! I have probably lost around 35-40%! I get 80+ grams of Protein a day, take all my Vitamins and supplements, and have never had any issue with hair loss due to weight loss in the past. What the heck! Will this stop before it all falls out? I just purchased some Nioxin shampoo and conditioner and will be giving them a try. Hopefully they will stop any further loss!

Only my husband knows that I had the surgery. I haven't told anyone else. I knew that I wasn't going to tell my friends, but was unsure if I was going to tell anyone in my family. I am really close to my family but I knew that they would be concerned and forever quizzing me about the surgery. Ultimately I realized that if I told even one person then everyone else would know within a week...possibly quicker! I have a great family but I really didn't really feel like answering any questions yet. I am thinking about telling my family when I have hit my goal. I am about half way there right now and people have noticed a difference. When they ask I just tell them that I am watching what I eat and exercising a lot more....which is all true. I think that to tell or not to tell is a very personal decision that you need to make. PLEASE realize that if you even tell one person, expect that person to tell someone else in 'confidence' and for it to get around. If you are worried about everyone knowing then right now you probably shouldn't tell anyone. Good luck to you!

Hello there, I have a question for you all - I had my third fill on Tuesday. Since then I have been getting 'stuck' when I drink liquids. I will take a sip and get a real tight feeling at the top of my chest. My mouth will just Water like crazy and I can't really swallow the saliva because it just adds to the pressure feeling. Sometimes it will take several minutes for that pressure to pass. I do notice that I am 'tighter' in the morning than in the evening, but I still have this problem in the evening too. It will take me over an hour to get down a bottle of water. It is basically a cycle of taking a sip, waiting for the pressure to ease and my mouth to stop watering, then take another sip. Now for the weird part.....I do not have a problem with food getting 'stuck'. I can easily chew and swallow my meals without any issue. Since the fill I have not once gotten stuck while eating, or had any of the pressure or pain of larger items passing. I haven't tried steak or harder to chew items since the fill. My doctor has us transition to food again after a fill so my diet has really consisted of eggs, Beans, soft chicken, Protein bars and other easy to chew foods. Why would I be getting stuck on liquids and not on foods? You would think that the liquids would just flow right through...especially when you haven't even eaten that day and your stomach is empty. Any ideas? Either way I am glad for restriction. I was really hoping that I would achieve some this last time.....apparently I have!

Hello....my story is like the rest posted here. My husband and I tried for three years to get pregnant with no success (PCOS & excess weight). We both decided to lose some weight and get healthy....the stress of not getting pregnant and work issues helped me to gain 70 lbs over the previous 5 years. I got pregnant the instant I hit a BMI of 27. I know that this is still overweight, but I started at a BMI of 35. Finally at age 33 I had a healthy baby boy. We decided to have another child, but I hadn't really lost the weight from the first pregnancy. We tried and tried thinking that since I had gotten pregnant once it would be easier the second time. Nope. I started WW and lost weight and at a BMI of 27 (again!) I suddenly got pregnant and had another little boy at age 36. I now have to band to help me lose the weight again.....and this time keep it off for good. I don't plan on having anymore kids so I really hope that this is the last time that I have to do this! So far I love my band! What I am trying to say is that with PCOS I think that weight REALLY matters. Give the band a go and see what happens! I wish you success with your weight loss and with getting pregnant!

I have two boys 22-mo & 4-years. My husband had to go back to work the day after my surgery. I didn't really have too much of a problem picking up the 1 year old. I had him walk to his changing table or to the high chair. I could then lift him vertically without actually having to lug him around. When I snuggled him I just made sure that he didn't lean on my belly. Just be really careful and listen to your body. You should be fine, but if it hurts...don't do it!

My surgeon said absolutely no carbonated beverages, EVER AGAIN! It was really hard at first but is getting easier as time goes on. That doesn't mean that I don't really miss carbonation. I miss the fizzy tingle on my tongue and the cold sensation when you swallow. Ohhhh crap....now I wan't a soda! I almost caught myself the other day just wanting to swirl my tongue in my sons soda cup. I figured that if I could just feel the carbonation fizz I would feel better. I stopped myself before I did it.....Isn't that pathetic? Yup.....still want a soda!

You are stronger than I am. I chose not to tell anyone about my surgery other than my husband.....and my 2 & 5 year old boys.....they know that mommy has an ouchy on her tummy. I just wasn't sure what peoples reaction to my surgery would be. I didn't want them commenting or questioning me about my decision to have lap band surgery. I used to think that I didn't care what others thought of me, but I think now I am the opposite. I might care too much and couldn't handle the thought of my friends and family talking about my weight. Does that make sense? Either way, if you are sure in your decision for surgery then it really doesn't matter what your friends or FIL has to say about it. Stay strong and just remember that you are doing this to better YOUR life. Hmmmm....maybe I should take my own advice! Good luck with your surgery!

I am able to eat pickles and salsa just fine. The citrus fruit is another story for me. I have a hard time chewing the skin membrane that coats the individual slices of the fruit. It just won't break up for me no matter how much I chew. I have tended to stay away from eating the fruits....that doesn't mean that you have to give them up. I still use them as flavorings in dishes and drinks. I think that everyone has different experiences with foods. You may find that you will be just fine with citrus fruits but can't stomach spicy foods anymore. I have found everyone's tolerances to be very different from each other. Good luck with your surgery!

That is fantastic that you can be satisfied on so little after just one fill! I just had my third fill yesterday and I can already tell that I am FINALLY getting some sort of restriction. After my second fill I was still able to eat as much as I wanted if I chewed really well. I had never felt that 'full' feeling that everyone has spoken of. I had to rely on sheer willpower not to eat the volumes of food that I was eating prior to surgery. I think that you are doing really great. If you are satisfied after only eating one sandwich you are doing fantastic for just one fill. As you get more fills you will find that you will be eating less and less.....but maybe you will be one of the lucky ones that feels that one fill was enough! You are doing great!

Isn't the trapped gas the worst? I had two c-sections prior to the band surgery and I was totally ready for any stomach pain.....but wow the gas pains really hurt! Please take comfort in that the gas pain will go away and your shoulder/neck area will start to feel better in just a couple more days. Just try walking as much as you possibly can. I would walk around the block every hour or so. It really helped with the gas pains. Hang in there, it will be over soon!

I weigh every morning. I know that I must stop doing this. It really isn't good for me because if I am up a bit I wonder what I have done wrong. I actually decided last night that I am going to try to curb my obsession and weigh in just once a week. Not sure if I can make it a whole week, but I am going to give it a try!

Good luck to you! Please update us and let us know how it went for you. Again, Congrats!

I limited my calories to 600-800 a day for the first 6 weeks after surgery. I was basically following my pre-op diet....three Protein shakes a day. I couldn't figure out why I was so tired and WASN'T LOSING WEIGHT!!! You would think that exercising and eating a small amount would make you lose the weight.....well not me! I upped my caloric intake to 1400-1600 a day and have starting to lose well now. I spoke with my Endocrinologist and she said that my body was in starvation mode and holding onto whatever it could just to survive. I feel so much better with more calories and am actually back on track losing weight. Every body is different. Some people do quite well with very low caloric intakes. I can't lose weight if I drop below 1200. Play around with what you eat. For two weeks try eating 1200 calories and see how you feel and if your body is responding better to the extra food. It just might take some experimenting with your calories and types of food you eat. Good luck to you!

Three days is fantastic! I was only allowed 3 Bariatric Advantage shakes a day for 2 weeks. Good luck with your surgery!