Brian-LA

Hi Jacqui ! I just read your Profile. I see you might be looking for cheap overseas operations. I see that a lot of people here seem to be going to Mexico for their cheap Lap / REALIZE band operations. It is kind of a vacation / surgery vacation for a few thousand U.S. dollars. You get a vacation holiday and surgery at the same time. Try making a post about good / cheap Mexico Operations in both Pre-and Post Op sections and I am sure someone will give you a good surgeon. -Brian :smile:

Hi Cakey ! No I am not from the UK but if you have joint problems and other obesity related health issues ( Diabetes, sleep Apnea, GERD ( Acid Reflux ), high blood pressure, etc. ) you are a thousand times better getting Gastric Banded then staying your current weight or worse. I am now close to 3 weeks Post Op and I had little pain, I was in and out of my surgery center here in Southern California in 4 hours and back home in 4.5 hours. I didn't even stay overnight in the hospital. I was back to normal feeling in 3 days. My pain scale of 1 to 10 never got worse then a 5 at its worst immediately Post Op to a 3-4 that night to a 2 three days later. Most people go back to work within a few days. Mind you I am not saying there aren't complications but if you read the posts here, they are few and minor and GO AWAY WITHIN A FEW DAYS. That isn't bad for a Life SAVING and Life CHANGING operation ! The decision is yours. You should do a lot of research, spend time here posting and asking questions and research the options and consequences of those options. Obesity kills and most likely adversely affects your life too. Hope that helped. -Brian :smile:

GOOD LUCK MARIA ! But don't worry you won't need it. You have a skilled surgeon and you are on the road to better health and a better life. Congratulations ! And we will all be reading your Post Op posts soon. Don't worry you will be fine. -Brian :smile:

Hi Debbie ! I wore a loose polo shirt & sweat pants for my surgery ( I am a guy ) ... but I advise loose clothing for your Post Op Go Home clothes. It is basically recommended ... you don't want to feel it around your tummy as it will be sensitive. -Brian :smile:

Good Luck and Godspeed Lisa ! Don't worry soon you will be one of us ! I hope all is well and see / read you soon. :smile: -Brian :yesnod:

Hi Cicigirl ! I was told to put crushed pills into Apple Sauce by my Doctor. I didn't need to... I am actually able to swallow all my current meds ok. But try apple sauce & buy a pill crusher. -Brian

Hi Lisa ! I am doing well. THANKS for asking. I am now doing soups. Still doing shakes although not as much ... soups are nicer. I am now 2 weeks Post Op and feel fantastic. I 've lost around 20 lbs Post Op. And I have felt restriction and today I actually restricted so much that I actually threw up. NOT a good feeling. BUT I know my REALIZE Band is working. I still haven't gone back to work and might actually take another week off because my job does entail some decent physical activity. -Brian :biggrin:

Try Crystal Lite Ice Tea it is both caffeine or decaf. I still drink the caffeinated tea. You need to get off the carbonation ... you won't be able to once you are banded. -Brian :thumbup:

You also forgot the PREMIER brand chocolate Protein shakes. 30g Protein, 1 g sugar, something like 160-180 calories. It runs around $24 for 18. I am 1 week Post Op and I like it along w/ the EAS Myoplex Chocolate shake too ( also sold there ). -Brian :thumbup:

Hi Maxi2010 ! I found Gas X strips had marginal effectiveness for me. A lot of people sore by them though. Personally I thought walking did a better job of helping ease / get out the gas myself. In other words I would NOT kill myself to get them ... it aint that big of a deal. You also have a great surgeon so I hopefully you only have minor issues. GOOD LUCK TOMORROW I ll be thinking of you and wishing you a fast and full recovery !!! -Brian :thumbup:

Hi MAxi2010 ! Are you ready for your big day tomorrow ??? :smile: Don't worry you will be fine. Got all your stuff / supplies ready ? -Brian :w00t: I just restocked some stuff last night. Wow !!! I bought a few days worth of my " food " and I will be saving money because I only paid around $40 ( $9 was for a magazine I read too ). I usually spent $120 a week on groceries alone and that isn't counting my go out & eat / restaurants / fast food money. At this rate I will pay off my surgery is no time. :thumbup:

Hi Sarah ! Get Gas X STRIPS ( dissolvable strips ) , Probably DON'T get Ensure as a Protein drink ( aren't they for senior citizens ? ) but try Premier Protein shakes at Costco or EAS Myoplex shakes or similar shakes ( DON'T get Atkins Diet they sucked bad !!! ) , wear something like a sweatshirt plus stretchy sweat pants for your operation & go home clothes ( nothing tight - your tummy will be sensitive ), get Chicken Broth & Beef Consume for your liquid phase , tomato soup / onion soup & the like for liquid phase, a chewable vitamin ( I use Centrum chewables ), Tums for Calcium, Biotin vitamin supplement because Bartiatric surgery does and will effect your HAIR , and DEFINITELY Sugar Free Popsickles because they simply rule and are probably the best liquid phase stuff you can eat. My doctor also recommended GATORADE C2 ( the low cal version ) because you don't want to get dehydrated. I used the Gatorade C2 Low Cal for a few days but then found Powerade Zero Grape which is zero cals plus has electrolytes plus its only 78 cents for 32 oz. !!! I highly recommend the Premier Protein Chocolate Shake from Costco, It has 30 g Protein, 1 g sugar and was pretty low on the calorie side. Plus it was 18 for $24 or around that. -Brian :smile:

Hi Had Enough ! Don't worry yourself about it. I see you are in L.A. too... my advice make sure you have a great surgeon. Mine is Beverly Hills based and has done over 1000 plus Bands plus does 10-15 a week. I am one week post op and feel 100% ( actually more like 95% my belly button is still a little bit sensitive from the port / hiatal hernia surgery. ). Don't worry you will be fine and in a few month, you will be great. :eek6: -Brian

Hi Cathy ! Sorry to hear about your house but better the house than you ! I hope all else is well. Out of curiosity what phase / diet are you on now ? I am still on liquid. Tonight I finally also started incorporating different soups also ( instead of just Broth ) .. I added tomato and tomato & Basil and now also onion. I was getting alittle sick of chocolate protein shakes and wanted a non-sugary taste. The tomato soup was good but not something I would have every night... a little too tomatoey for me to have every night but a change of pace nonetheless. Any other suggestions ? -Brian :wub:

No you won't feel the actual Band. You will probably feel the Port. In one way you will feel the Band is in Restriction... the sensation telling you to stop / slow down when you over-eat. In that way the Band is great. -Brian :wub:

Hi LovelyMissJ ! I am sorry to hear what hurdles are being put ahead of you but don't worry you will get through them and in short time. The fact is the Band is for Life and once you get it you got it. If you really want it it will be here soon enough. As for what others have said, you are better off dumping off ALL carbonated soda drinks right now and switch over to the sugar free / zero calorie iced teas and zero cal drinks now because carbonation will hurt your Band. It is like straws... you won't get to use them either. -Brian :wub:

Hi Maxi2010 ! Don't worry about your surgery, you will be fine and a few days after your surgery ... you will be on the road to being GREAT !!! There isn't much to worry about. The pain and issues of Gastric Band surgery is nothing compared to pain and issues of obesity. A few days of pain versus a LIFETIME of pain and issues. No contest. It won't be easy but nothing of value is ever easy. You want a BETTER LIFE and that is priceless and worth fighting for. You will be fine and then you will be BETTER and then you will be GREAT. -Brian :crying:

Hi Butterfly2010 ! Yeah we are both in the same boat - THANK GOD ! I do no regret my decision at all. Once you are Banded ... you are Banded and there is no turning back ! You can't fight it and it is for your own good. I am already seeing some payoff in that I am down about 15 lbs from about 3 weeks ago when I had a general physical and my semi-tight pants are now loose ! As for my books, I got them on Amazon.com. The Sewell book I have on my Kindle and I have a hard copy of the Legardere book. I hope you are having a wonderful day ! -Brian

I'd go with the best Surgeon because you want the best outcome. That isn't saying there can't or won't be complications or pain... but it sure lessens the chances. Bariatric Surgery is still surgery and it isn't a joke. Its a big deal but that said, my surgery was pretty complication free on since I had a great surgeon the pain was on the low side / went away quick. The decision to get the Band is a big one , one which you should go in knowing all the risks and rewards of. You shouldn't rush it. Go in informed and decide what is right for you. -Brian

Hi Maxi2010 ! Good Luck with Surgery on Friday *** BUT *** by looking at your surgeon and his credentials ... I think you are in great hands. I have a GREAT Surgeon too and like I have posted elsewhere here it was pretty painless / less painful because of it. As for fretting about the Post Op food... DON'T. You are making a extremely MAJOR life changing decision here. You want a better / healthier life and by going with a Band, you will be committed to it either way. Once you are banded ... you are banded Babe! It doesn't come out easily and once its it its in and you have to go through some hoops to get it out. It is almost like the Mafia but in a good way... it will make you lose weight unless you seriously fight it. I am Day 6 Post Op and I have to say that I have had to come to grips that my attitude and relationship with Food has to and HAS changed. I can't eat what I want and an extremely large amount of whatever I want when I want anymore. I can't pig out anymore / I can't numb myself with food anymore. AND thats a good thing. The Band is working and keeping me in check against my own food addictions and cravings. It is giving me the extra will power to fight a lifelong losing battle with food. Although I have had some major weak moments in the last few days and days I have had some low commitment ... the Band KEEPS working and keeping me in Check. The Band is great in that even with low commitment and resolve, it works and then when my Sanity returns a few hours later, I am so much more happy because of the Band and that it kept me honest and strong. The REALIZE Band is working for me and it is doing what I thought it would do for me. I am so sick of being overweight and what it has cost my life so far, it is time for a change. Now that I have it I only wish I did it YEARS ago !!! -Brian :smile:

I watch out about the Ice Cream and Sherbert -I'd stay away. My Surgeon is a Beverly Hills Surgeon who stopped counting his Bands after 1000 / does 10-15 a week AND he said don't do ice cream or the like... because it defeats the purpose of the Band. You have to think of the Band as an hourglass for your stomach, the top portion is the small part above the Band. You put in sand ( good food ) to keep the flow slow and full. Put in water or liquid, it flows through and defeats the purpose of it. Putting in Ice Cream severely defeats the purpose of it. He also mentioned don't do chocolates either because they melt / disolve quick and provide seriously high calories and act like liquid too. A great substitute is what everyone here says sugar free pop-sickles ... they are low cal at 15-25 calories a pop and are kinda like a sherbert without the cals / guilt. -Brian :thumbup:

It all depends IF you are self paying / paying for it yourself or you are going through Insurance and your Insurance will pay for it / you have gone through all their steps for approval AND they approve it. I was self pay ( $ 16,000 ) and started my seminar on August 11, 2010 and I was REALIZE Banded on Sept 8, 2010 ... all less then a month. Since I am self pay I got it lightning quick... no hassles. UNFORTUNATELY for me, although I have outstanding Medical Health Insurance which pays for almost about everything and Doctors love my insurance... it still doesn't cover Bariatric Surgery. On the other hand people who have Insurance that covers it... the process can be quick like mine to taking half a year or more and then be denied coverage / etc to taking a lot longer. ANd people who are denied often seek re-approvals and get approved. -Brian :thumbup:

Hi Butterfly2010 ! Right now I am about half way through WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY AND THE ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND by Dr. Robert Sewell and I also have LAP BAND FOR LIFE by Dr. Ariel Ortiz Lagardere - up next after. Dr. Sewell's book is pretty good. I have perused thru parts of Dr. Lagardere's especially the Post Op part since that is where I am. The websites for the various bands help too ... I ended up with a REALIZE Band so I am allowed special access to their REALIZE MY SUCCESS website. It is pretty good too. -Brian :thumbup:

I had 15-20 minute telephone conversation with some Psych person. Basically she asked me what I thought would happen with the surgery, what are the risks, history of mental issues or depression, etc. General stuff. Personally I think Jeffrey Dahlmer could have passed my Psych eval. As Cocoabean said, I think each Doctor / Insurance / plan does it different. BUT I seriously think, unless you are Jeff Dahlmer or the Unabomber you will probably pass easily. Nothing to worry about. -Brian

Hi Cortney ! I had my surgery last Wednesday the 7th and I am pretty much back at 98-99% normal. I am 5 days Post Op and the only thing different in me is that I am a lot lighter and have a little sensitivity at my Port which is located just above my belly button. >> Pain and Discomfort during Surgery << Basically zero. You will be knocked out and won't feel a thing. You will be wheeled into the O.R. and then wake up groggy without knowing or feeling a thing. Immediately Post Op I felt severely groggy and sleepy and had to sleep about 4 hours to wear off the anesthesia but then I was hopped up on pain meds so I felt about 90-95% normal. The day after I let the pain meds wear off and I haven't taken any since - I felt about 80% good. I had soreness at the Port and the Tummy ( they inflate your tummy w/ gas so they can operate ). By day 3 I was back at 90% and Day 4 -98-99% back to normal. My experience might be different then yours. -Brian :thumbup: