MelJ113074

hey guys how is everyone doing!!!

Its mushies for most of us... I just wanted to see how everyone was onthis stage.

I gained .5lbs so far on this stage and I am very discouraged :thumbup:

I need HELP! I have read in other threads that this is normal.. but I feel like such a failure

I'm right there with you. The first week I lost ~11 lbs. As of this morning I've only lost 0.4 lbs this week. One minute I get a little bummed, then I remember I want the weight to come off slowly. Also our bands aren't even "turned on" yet. We'll see a big loss that first week and it will slow down again.

I called my Dr. today and have been given the OK to add thicker substances (yogurt, creme Soups etc).

I can also start on pureed foods Saturday:drool:. tuna, chicken and Egg salad here I come.

Thanks guys!

You never know...he may give you a fill that day. I know a person who recently went to her 6 week follow-up appt and left with an unexpected fill.

Or as the date gets close and you find yourself really fighting the hunger pains call him and say you really think you'll need a fill on the 11th.

Good Luck

Melissa

Hey guys I've been looking at what everyone else has been eating and I noticed something. I have different requirements from my Dr. For these first 6 weeks after banding I must make sure I'm getting in 60-80 g of Protein and at least 64 oz of fluids.

Does anyone else have this requirement?

Thanks

Melissa

PLEASE!!!!! Stop talking about Chickie and Pete's crabby fries!!! Another S. Jersey person here. And at only 6 days post op I would give anything for some crabby fries.

Take care,

Melissa

I'm so happy I've found you guys!!! I was also banded on May 5th and STARVING!!! I will admit that today it hit an all time LOW. While straining my Soup I took a bit of meat, noodles and a carrot and chewed it up good and then spit it out.:scared2: Yes I know it's disgusting, but I just couldn't take the bland broth and Protein Shakes. Since I'm confessing I also made chili for my family for dinner and today it came out "waterier" than normal. YES I DID!!! I took the exta liquid when it was done (only 2oz) and drink it. In my mind it was a liquid and allowed!

I actually feel better about confessing this to you guys! Now my 5 yo is demanding we go for a walk so I'll check back in later.

Take care,

Melissa:blushing:

You have an end to the broth diet in site???? I was also banded on May 5th and I'm feeling OK. I must admit that I started to get hungry and fight the need to chew today. I'm sick of Protein Shakes and Protein chicken broth (unjury)!

Stay busy! Stay Busy! Stay Busy!!!!! Will do!

Take care,

Mel

Hello

I had my surgery on May 5th also. I had my first BM today, but I was taking a stool softener (colase). Because I was on pain killers that can constipate you. I stopped taking the pain meds and the stool softener yesterday and I went today.

Good Luck,

Mel

I do not know how some of you went straight home after your surgery. I was banded on May 5th and didn't get sent home until May 7th. I couldn't believe how much pain I was in that first day. It was the worst gas pain ever all in my abdomin. I didn't have any pain with the incision spots at all. Then on May 6th they took me off the morphine and put me on oxycodone. Which made me itch like crazy and I think it made me nausous. Since I was nausous they made me stay another night in the hospital. Finally on May 7th I was sent home.

Now that I'm home I feel much better. Today I didn't even touch my pain meds and I've been up for 2 hours and went for a walk around my block. I'm actaully starting to get a little tired though so I'm going to go upstairs and rest now.

Yesterday was the first day I measured my intake and I was able to get in 73g of Protein and 68oz of liquid. So far so good.

Take care everyone,

Mel

Hello from the hospital. I was banded 24 hrs ago. When I woke up the only pain I had was gas in my abdominal area. Now today the gas is better, but my insions Hirt if I don't use the morphine. Well that's all for now. I should be leaving for my sip test soon.

Wow I just drifted off while typing this.

Take care,

Melissa

I'll try to post tomorrow night to let you all know how I feel those 1st 24 hours.

Melissa

I can finally officially post on here!!! I will be banded tomorrow morning at 10:30am. I waited to post because I didn't get my approval until 11:30am TODAY.... 24hr before I was having the surgery:rolleyes:.

Oh well! At least I got it.

Good luck everyone!

Melissa

FINALLY!!!!! Today at 11:30am I got the call saying I was approved. Nothing like taking it down to the wire!!!

Take care all. I'll be banded in the AM!!! YEAH

Melissa

UGH!!!! I'm ~36 hrs away from surgery and I STILL don't have an answer from the insurance company...

This isn't looking good.

I haven't been banded yet (May 5th hopefully), but I was told I'd be out 2-6 weeks. Now I just started a new job 1 month ago, so 6 weeks is out of the question. They said I had to give it at least 2 weeks because of the gas. So I told my company I'd be out for 2 weeks. I originally planned to go back a lot sooner, but I'm not going to work with crazy gas.

I hope this helps.

Melissa

Okay...so here's the deal. My surgery date is June 3rd. I haven't had my preop education session yet. It's scheduled for May 13th. I asked the nurse how long the preop diet lasted and she said it's Proteins shakes and clear liquids for 2 days prior to the surgery.

Wow!! That doesn't seem like anything compared to what I've heard other people on the board talking about. Some people have mentioned that although the preop diet for 2 weeks is horrible it actually helps them wrap their brain around the changes tey need to make immediately following the surgery. And..that it helps jump start their weight loss.

I'd like to hear from those of you that have gone through it already....

What are your thoughts? Self induced preop diet? Or, not?

Thanks for your input!

Ang

I don't have a pre-op diet. The only thing my Dr. said I had to do is liquids the day before the operation. I'm going to cut out carbs a couple days before.

Take care,

Melissa

THe way my doctors office did it was really weird. As long as I went to visit the doctor and record my weight 3 times in different months it counted. so say I went at the end of january, i could go at the start of feb and it still counted. I didnt have to wait a whole month inbetween my visits. I have a very hetic work and school life so thats why i didnt take full advantage of that. But im pretty sure the insurance company needs to see you finished that diet before they will even approve you.

HOLY CROW!!!! That can be considered a 3 month diet!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup: They've weighed me in March and April, but my PCP weighed me in Feb and they have those results. Is it possible that's why my insurance company never asked me for it. Maybe I met those requirements and didn't even know it. This suspense is KILLING me!

I'm just so confused!!!!:thumbup: So yesterday I talk to the insurance company and they tell me the ONLY thing the need to make a decision is my weight for the last 2 years. At first I freaked becasue then my BMI was about 37 and rising, but I have a co-morbidity (sleep apnea), so it only has to be > 35. OK So I should be in the clear right??? Wrong. When I got home I had a letter from Aetna telling me they needed other crap I didn't have (3 month diet, a 6 month something else). Now if they know I don't have those things wouldn't they just deny me then and there instead of waiting for the 2 year history. I mean that would be the humaine thing to do. I don't know why they're waiting until Monday (48 hrs before the surgery) to tell me I'm denied for something they already know I don't have and didn't ask me for when I talked to them on the phone!

Oh well I'm done for now. Hopefully I'll be back on Monday GLOWING!!!!

Take care,

Melissa

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone out there has a significant other that isn't happy about the surgery? My husband has not been very supportive since the beginning. In his eyes (God Bless His Soul) I'm fine just the way I am and don't need the surgery. He doesn't talk about it at all and I'm susposed to be having it done in less than 1 week (hopefully my insurance pulls through!).

I just don't know what to do. He's not mean about it, he just acts like the surgery doesn't exist. Yesterday was the first time he asked me how long I was going to be out of work for and was surprised when I told him 2 weeks and I was getting paid for it. He still see's this as an elective surgery.

Well I was just wondering if anyone else out there is going through a similar situation.

Take care,

Melissa

OK here the latest and greatest"ish".

I had the appt with the cardiologist and I'm a OK. Actually they told me I was pretty boring and sent me on my way.

Then later in the day I spoke with my insurance and the let me know the only thing they're waiting on to make a decision is a 2 year weight history. What am I susposed to give them for that? I didn't go to the drs that often, so I don't have very many weights by him in the last year. I'll talk to the surgeons office tomorrow. My surgery is less than 1 week away and I'm still waiting for approval. Hopefully by Friday I'll know.

Take care,

Melissa

I'm in South Jersey close to Philly, so I'm having the procedure done at U Penn. My surgeon is Dr. Korus. I'm really all prepared, so I hope there's no delay. I already told my employer I needed those 2 weeks off.

Oh well I'll just hope for the best,

Thanks guys

Melissa

Melissa- I can empathize with what you are going through...

My surgery was also delayed due to cardiac issues. I had an abnormal stress test so I had to get a nuclear stress test (which thankfully was fine)... the delay was about two weeks. In hindsight (my surgery is tomorrow) I kind of appreciate the two weeks extra I had to prepare.

As far as having a surgery date- when the surgeon submits the paperwork he/she sometimes puts a date on there but it really is a "dummy" date- just to get things along. I think that's weird they set a real date before approval. Are you doing a preop diet? Which surgeon are you using? (Im in Jersey too)

Hey Guys,

It's Melissa. I'm freaking out about how my surgery is scheduled for 1 week, 2 days away and I have yet to even hear if my insurance is approved. My insurance company said they just received the info on last Friday. Plus my Pre-admin testing (EKG) yielded some heart abnormalities and now I have to meet with a cardiologist on Wednesday.... 1 week before I'm susposed to have surgery.

I think I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I'm going to be denied. I only started this process less than 2 months ago. I'm not sure, but I think my insurance said something about a 3 month physician supervised diet. If I find out I have to wait another 3 months I'm going to lose it!

Just wish me luck with my insurance and my cardiologist appt. May 5th will be here in no time.

Oh yeah! I have Aetna in NJ. If anyone has any experiance with that let me know.

Take care,

Mel

Add me to the newbie list.

My name is Melissa and I'm a 35y/o working Mom and wife. Last year I started looking into the lab band procedure and earlier this year I took the first official steps.

I'm fortunate enough to have been given a surgery date of 05May10. Hopefully all goes well with the insurance (I don't think they're going to submit until 20Apr10).

I look forward to losing weight with all of you.

Take care,

Melissa

Hello I'm Melissa. A 35 y/o working Mom and wife. My weight started a steady climb 12 years ago and I'm finally putting an end to it.

I'm so excited and surprised at the same time. I was expecting this whole process to take months (3-6 months) from start to finish, but it's only taken me 2 months. On 08Mar10 I met with my surgeon (who is FANTASTIC)and today 05Apr10 he gave me a surgery date of 05May10!!!!!!!

That's less than 2 months start to "new start".

OK here's the update:

08Mar10 - 1st visit w/my surgeon

09Mar10 - 1st sleep study

16Mar10 - Bloodwork

17Mar10 - Ultrasound

18Mar10 - Psych consult

18Mar10 - 2nd sleep study

25Mar10 - Upper GI

05Apr10 - 2nd Appt w/ Surgeon (surgery date set)!!!!

20Apr10 - PAT (Pre Admin Testing)

20Apr10 - 3rd visit w/my surgeon

04May10 - Start a liquid diet (yes only 1 day of liquids)

05May10 - BANDED!!!!!

6weeks later - 1st fill IF NEEDED

I really can't contain myself. I asked him a bunch of questions and he took the time to answer everyone of them. He also told me how the day of the surgery he'll be the last person I see before they put me out and the first person I see once I wake up. Also either he or the NP will be the person doing my fills. Those are the only 2 people that will be touching me so I don't have to worry about being poked by a bunch of different people.

YEAH!!!

Although I will need to take at least 2 weeks (up to 6 weeks if necessary) off from work. I spoke to someone who had it done and they said that is best because those first 2 weeks I'll be gassy. OK, that's all I needed to hear.

Take care everyone,

Melissa