Sooz

I wouldn't mind my pouch not filling up right away in a restaurant situation, assuming I am making a healthy choice.

I have a drawer full of paperwork, and the one with the eating do's and don'ts is not jumping out at me. I think the instructions were no Water 30 mins prior to a meal, or 45 minutes after. Why no water before a meal? Doesn't it just gurgle right past the band? Also Soup. When I read about people ordering soup in restaurants, especially, it makes me wonder what the difference is. It seemed to me a good solution to be able to just order soup to eat slowly while the family chows down. No good?

I keep coming back to this thread and had no intentions of replying since I haven't even been banded yet. I have, however, lost significant poundage at certain times in my life, and have wrestled with the emotional baggage that comes with being an acceptable size (for short periods) as well as a fatty. I don't think I've ever reconciled all that. I was the exact same person inside with maybe a tiny bit more of self-confidence, yet people treated me differently. It was fun while it lasted, but regaining the weight was that much more depressing. I wish I got some sort of counseling then. Yoyo'd up and down ever since. I've searched for years for an easier way... hoping for the silver bullet of weight loss. I am glad that the lap band isn't being touted as "all that". And I'm sorry the psych eval is just (seemingly) a tool as well, to save surgeons from liability suits. At 55 I don't have to worry about impressing men or anyone else. Yeah, there is still that "inner child" and all the childhood hurts, but that's life I suppose. I am doing this for my health now and to be here for my kids and their kids. I feel that growing up a "misfit" and sometimes object of ridicule has made me a more insightful and compassionate person. justrite, you are in my thoughts, and it is awesome to hear you are getting help with the emotional turmoil you are feeling. I wish you nothing but the best.

omg, the 2 of you have me in stitches! I didn't try the full face mask, and now kind of wish I did. I'm sure my hubby could use a good laugh at this point too. :wub: I was told I could trade off (at no cost for 30 days) until I figured out which I preferred. Not sure if the tech remembered I already have a machine when she said that.

Hey Mike, I must say, you sound very mature for your age. If insurance is your only option of paying for the surgery, that's where I would start. It depends on your Mom's employers, and if they have included WLS in her coverage. If WLS is covered there may also be certain conditions regarding preferred surgical centers and doctors. I called the lone bariatric center in my area, and was given the info for an upcoming seminar which I attended a couple of weeks later. The staff was experienced at dealing with insurance companies, though I didn't go into details with them myself, as I already knew my insurance was a no. Nutritionists are helpful and could assist you with exploring your options. Whether lap band is an option or not, it's good you are seeking help. Many of us have struggled since our teens with obesity and wish we had taken action at a younger age. Good luck in your quest!

What I will miss after: fajita's, spaghetti, chewy bread and butter, Peanut Butter cups.. lots of stuff! What I miss now: Walking up a couple of flights and still being able to breathe, feeling graceful, shopping in the "regular" department, running a few steps, carrying my grandchild all the way in from the car, hiking, traveling comfortably, getting in and out of the bathtub easily.. lots of stuff! :rolleyes2:

Lisa, I actually did pretty well sleeping with it. I did wake up 3 or 4 times thinking "what the heck???" I am just not used to sleeping with my mouth closed, I guess. It was sort of like learning to snorkel in my sleep. Was given ambien again, thank God, so fell asleep within minutes.

Why don't they just have the extenders in the overhead compartments?

I was given 2 appts together and told the 2nd one (tomorrow night) would be canceled if I didn't need it. I didn't receive any "don't come in" calls, so it looks like I am on. I think they will hook me up again, this time with CPAP. I have a brand new CPAP machine that was prescribed to my husband a year or so ago.. he had a bad experience at the clinic with it and never took it out of the bag again. I hope they are ok with calibrating it to my specs, since it seems foolish to buy another one. I am hoping to not need it too long, once I start losing weight.

Oops, I didn't see any other sleep study threads when I started mine. I was given Ambien ct. I watched an apnea video and did a little channel checking but felt a bit of a sleepy drift and decided to turn off the tv. I didn't feel heavily drugged, and was up 2 times to use the bathroom.

My appointment was 8:30pm and after noting my "night owl" sleep diary the tech suggested a mild sedative. I was out like a light before 9:30pm. I was a little surprised because it doesn't seem like they would get natural sleep results, but grateful because I probably wouldn't have been able to sleep without help.

I went for my sleep study last night. I had been forewarned by friends about all the wires and electrodes, but the only thing that really bugged me was whatever was attached to my throat, the tech explained it as a mic-type device so she could hear snoring better. I can't even sleep with my own hair touching my neck, never mind something like that! I was given ambien cr to put me over the edge, thank goodness. Anyway, I assume the gasping and "heart attack" feeling I get as I am just dozing off is apnea and I will be ordered to use a CPAP machine. My surgeon made it very clear at my first visit that if apnea is present, the CPAP is required. I would love to hear people's experiences with the sleep study as well as CPAP input. TIA! =)

My endoscopy showed a hiatal hernia that I will have fixed at banding time. I guess that explains why I had heartburn even after 2 days of Clear liquids. I can't imagine life without reflux! :bolt:

I don't know why the "no dairy" rule, but i will be sure to ask at my next, hopefully pre-op appt. I think he is opposed to liquid calories of any sort though. I also don't understand how foods and drinks on the inside of your esophagus/pouch can cause erosion to a band on the outside. Is that assuming major reflux and esophagus erosion? Doesn't the coffee gurgle right on through from pouch to stomach?

My surgeon brought up Mexican banding at the seminar and stressed that he does not perform fills on "foreign" bands. I believe liability was the reason given, and he also mentioned that Mexican clinics use an outdated brand band.. or something to that effect.

I think hiatal hernias are easily fixed as they are right there close to where the band is installed. Abdominal hernias might be in a whole 'nuther ballpark.

I hope it works out for you ltm, and you score a cancellation appointment. I would hate to start a new school year with sick days! It seems they might have taken your position into consideration and penciled you in pending approval. I also wanted my surgery asap, and it's not happening. I was led to believe being self-pay cut out the hassle and hurried things along. wrong! lol I began my journey at a seminar in April, called the doc office the next day. I was disappointed to have to wait until May 27th for an appt with the surgeon. For the past 2 months I have been squeezing in the pre-req tests, taking personal time off work. So far I have met with a GP (recommended by my surgeon) who did my EKG and helped schedule blood work, endoscopy, colonoscopy (due to low iron) chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, mammogram (just because), RFT/pulmonary testing, sleep study and psychiatric exam, the latter 2 still pending. I don't have a tentative date for surgery yet. I'm afraid by the time my psych exam rolls around I will truly be a mental case. :biggrin: Hang in there!

I have wrestled with this since day 1. I have financial security issues, and it seems like a huge amount of money to spend on myself. I feel the same as you dman. It was ok being fairly robust and overweight, but these past 5 years (I am 55 now) have taken a toll on me health-wise. My quality of life has diminished hugely due to my inability to lose weight AND keep it off. I keep trying to put on a happy face and fake it, but when you can't climb up a set of bleachers, say, or carry a 20 lb child hardly any distance, it starts to hit home. I have resigned myself to spending my nest-egg on this surgery. My only fear now is if complications arise, such as band slippage, erosion, and any of the other unfortunate lapband stories we hear now and then.

snip - This person could use a voicebox band with a 10cc fill. Incredibly rude!

I'm not sure this is relevant, but one of my reasons for wanting the surgery so badly is the amount of food I eat. My body never gets a break from being a food processing machine. Even while doing traditional dieting, like WW, I am obsessed with eating and feel hungry all the time. I make my WW meals as big and as filling as possible, and basically plan my day around what I can eat and when and how much. I even think ahead (usually) and eat something before going to parties, etc., so I won't make a public pig of myself. It boggles my mind seeing people - usually thin, or "normal" - ignore mounds of yummy appetizers in front of them. Meanwhile for me, it's all I am thinking about. MMM onion rings! Wow, are those nachos going to waste there? etc. You might be able to lose and keep it off, but I have tried and failed for years. I need help. Best of luck whatever you decide.

I called to make my appt from a list my surgeon gave me with the preferable one circled. Good thing since the other 4 are elsewhere in the state. I was told the evaluation called for 2 appts and the cost would be $292.

mlsf, Do you have some insurance coverage, just not for bariatric surgery? I will need to talk to the staff at my surgeons about this, since testing confirmed a hiatal hernia. My insurance does cover that, so in my case I thought it was good that it is billed as a separate surgery. Otherwise the 3500 extra that the surgeon changes to sew up the hernia would be out-of-pocket for me. (if included in the lap-band surgery)

Jess, My prerequisite list looks a lot like yours. I thought it was due to my age (55) but you are a youngin' so I imagine some doctors just require more. I have to do a consult and sleep study too. My first visit with my surgeon was May 27th, which was about 3-4 weeks after the seminar. Though it seems like I have been poked and prodded at every angle possible already, I still have 3 biggies to get through. It seems like I will never get a date, and I am self-pay. =/

I don't function well without at least one cup of coffee (well 2, I guess, since a 12+ oz mug would be considered that?) so it's more the caffeine fix than anything else. Even with wicked acid reflux I manage to get my coffee down now, especially since starting on prilosec. I remember at the seminar my doctor said coffee is ok in moderation but no dairy, and I know I can't handle it black, so phew, I guess I will start trying alternatives now, such as different teas. I used to drink a lot of soda, but got hooked on crystal lite lemon tea, and ice water. Yay! That's one small hurdle I won't need to bounce over when the time comes.

I love the support found here, and especially appreciate Betsy's words. I am so happy my family has been supportive. To me it shows that they are concerned for my health and well being. It seems extreme to some people, but they just don't realize how difficult it is to maintain weigh loss, and how discouraging and depressing AND unhealthy years of yoyo dieting can be.