rockstar

My surgeon refuses to do surgeries on anyone who smokes. He says (no sure if it's true) that he does a nicotine test on bypassers the morning of surgery. He also said at the seminar (again, not sure if it's true) that 90% of the time, with Lap Band patients, erosion is caused by smoking. He also said that people who smoke with the Lap Band always have problems down the line. This is just what HE said. I'm just relaying these messages so don't get offended anyone! I smoked for 10 years and just recently quit on Feb. 2 of this year with Chantix, the prescription drug because I knew his policy on surgeries. And like others say - you're going through a life changing surgery to improve your health, quitting smoking should be a priority for ya anyhow. But I wish you luck! It was not easy for me but Chantix worked wonders and the cravings were practically non-existent.

Joker - all those names are great! I'm really diggin' the first three but all would work great. Anyone else have a vote or more ideas? October is quickly approaching!

Hi Hez and congrats on your decisions! I hope everything goes smoothly for you with your insurance company. I'm biting my nails to the quick waiting for a response from mine. Let us know how things turn out either way!

Congrats! I have no idea when mine is! :thumbup:

Congrats on your decision and your commitment to saving the money! I'm sure that will be the hardest part of your journey. :]

I'm pretty sure you can swallow meds if they are fairly small - my surgeon told me nothing bigger than an M&M. Just talk to your pharmacist and ask them which can or cannot be crushed... they should provide a liquid alternative if it can't be crushed. Good luck in your journey!! :blushing:

I have been in the process for over a year but all surgeon's are different (I switched insurances in the middle too). The only advice I can offer is either talk to your insurance company about your situation. Is it them who require a 3 month supervised diet? If so, perhaps you can present to them some proof that you've been on diets before and they haven't worked. I know a lot of people on this forum have said that they were able to show Weight Watchers records to skip the supervised diets. Perhaps you can come up with something to show them? If that doesn't work, start the diet ASAP and make sure you get all appointments and tests as soon as you can so you'll be set to start your liquid diet when those three months are up. I would think you could potentially get the surgery before the 1st of the year as long as everyone works with you. I wish you the best of luck!

Good luck to you!

I'm sure it's very normal to flip flop feelings about these surgeries. They're both sort of scary because they're life changing operations that could have life changing complications. I can honestly say I would never do anything but the Lap Band surgery. The gastric bypass just scares the bajeezus out of me but my husband had it last December and has lost 140ish pounds. But he isn't watching what he eats and not working out as much as he should and has stalled in the 370s for about 4 months now. So the bypass isn't a miracle surgery either. You have to be willing to work with both of them. The bypass will just yield results faster for a shorter amount of time. I know he's frustrated as all heck for the weight to be stalled like it is this soon. Just my two cents.

My pre-op diet will consist of only clear, sugar free liquids. But that includes any and all sugar free sodas. All surgeons are different in what they include in their pre-ops, but it says on my little sheet sugar free (diet) soda's are okay the whole way through. Just thought I'd letcha know. :]

I love it! My husband and I used to watch it while pigging out but have since changed that habit. :thumbup:

Welcome!! Let me know how that walking program goes for you. I love to walk and am looking for a good one to start with the hubs. :]

Welcome! This is a great place for support and information about ... well, everything. Keep us all informed about how you're doing and especially when you get a date!

I'm nervous and I'm at least a month away! :] Congrats on your upcoming date ... you're gonna be great.

Has anyone thought of a good little motto or cutesy catch phrase for us October 2010 bandsters? :smile:

Hi!! Welcome and good luck on your upcoming surgery! Be sure to keep us all informed on how your big day went.

October 11th is my pending date! Cmon insurance!

Congrats!! :biggrin:

There's always gonna be negative comments, there's always gonna be people who don't work with the band, there's always gonna be people who have problems, and there's always gonna be people who are miserable with WLS. To quote someone I read on this forum ... people don't post about the good stuff. They don't say, "Hey guys! It's day 214 and it's just wonderful!" or "Okay, so I'm on day 53 and it was just like 52. Chugging along." You may get some people who do this but not a whole lot. You're gonna get people who want advice or help or a venting wall to complain to. Don't look at the negatives. Just look at a few of the people's stories on this forum and their successes with the band. I know they have inspired me greatly and I appreciate everyone on here. You may have the best time with the Lap Band... and you may have erosion or slippage or a port flip. But you can work through all of these problems and be successful. *Gets off soapbox.*

Congrats!! I'm still waiting for my PCP to get that letter back to my surgeon's office. It's amazing how many times "they didn't get the fax" from my surgeon. Why are PCPs so hard to deal with? Bah! Anyway, that is amazing and I'm very jealous!! Best of luck to you. :biggrin:

Congrats on being banded! I'm very jealous and wish you the best of luck. Your weight loss so far is great! I know what you mean though... don't you wish you could just be 50lbs lighter all ready?? I know I do ... and I'm not banded. :biggrin: If people start asking why you're only drinking broth just tell them you're on "another one of those diets!" Seems like that would be a conversation ender. Anyway, congrats and good luck!!

A nice, positive post! Congrats on the massive weight loss!

Hey guys! I'm a fellow October bandster. I haven't gotten my date "officially" but the surgery has been scheduled for October 11th. I like Op-Tober! Or ... maybe something with Halloween? Or about delicious, delicious candy? Oh, I'm sorry. Was I drooling? D:

I'll throw in my two cents, even though I haven't been banded and pretty much right where you are. On the smoking issue - I just recently quit on Feb. 2 of this year. I had smoked 2 - 2.5 packs a day for the last 10 years. I started when I was 15-years-old and smoked like a chimney. I used Chantix to quit, the prescription med. I can honestly say it works. Really, really works. My insurance didn't cover it so I had to pay $350 for a 4 month supply but that's not really that bad considering packs are... what? $4-5 now? $350 is nothing. So really think about it. If you have any questions about it, feel free to PM me and I'll try and help ya out as best as I can. I just love the fact that I quit smoking... it's a huge deal! So I tend to soapbox about it. Now if I could just lose weight, life would be great. ;]

Congrats, Ginger. I was in the same boat you are in. I started the WLS process in early 09 and thought, "I'll give myself 9 months to do it myself." Worked my butt off, ate right, weighed my food... and I ended up weighing 15lbs less. In 9 months! I was doing something wrong... lol. Anyway, congrats on your decision. I'm currently awaiting to hear from my surgeon for my date! Anxiously waiting!!