Hello all, I am getting ready to go to the seminar and in hopes of changing my life for ever. I have already got pre-certified from my insurance so hopefully the next 6 mo. will go by quickly. I am very nervous but excited. I am looking for new friends and experiences so talk to me and I also would like to know other peoples receipes and do's and don'ts regarding diet after the surgery. Beck:wink_smile:

Froggi, is your WV group just for kaplan bandsters?

I'm so sorry if this has been answered before (and likely it has). I got to page 2 of this thread and noticed a lot of mention of a 6-month pre-op monitoring. Is that typical, or does that depend on insurance or doctor? I guess I'll find out when I go to my seminar on Wednesday, but don't want to have too many surprises when I go there, I guess...

Froggi, is your WV group just for kaplan bandsters?

Not the WV group no...the Kaplan group yes...the WV bandster group is for all people in WV.

OK, I apologize up front if this sounds crazy but I have to ask since I haven't seen anyone mention it any where. I was told I could never drink through a straw again, nor could i gulp when I drink. My nutritionalist recommended a sippee cup until I get used to slow drinking. So for the last almost 2 months I've been walking around with my Ariel sippee, except in public. Has anyone else read, been told of this?

Saundra

Yes...Saundra I was told to not use straws ever again too. It causes more air to go down into your pouch and can cause discomfort and gas. I was told it just wasn't very pleasant. So what you're doing isn't stupid nor asking this question was...tis a good question.

Thanks froggi, I had looked for it and not seen anyone post on it. I do have to admit I feel silly with my sippee cup but I have major trouble burping now and for some I'm told it gets much harder after. I'm not big on drinking anything, in fact until I was told not to drink with meals I could of settled for only when taking my meds. .........I just looked at the clock and if everything went as scheduled WVNASCARFAN should be in recivery, sleeping right now, or maybe even waking some.........sorry totally sidetracked there. Someday thats going to be me :cool2:

It'll be me the first or 2nd week of November :cool2: I am getting uber excited. I sure hope Nascar's surgery went smoothly!

I will attend the meetings as well. I don't understand why they wouldn't want to come. Well you can count me in.

Saundra- I do not drink out of a straw. I too was told not to because of the extra air you swallow. I can, however, drink more than a sip at a time. In fact, I haven't yet noticed a difference in the amount I can drink in one 'gulp'. It is a good idea though to practice taking smaller drinks. It will work well with good restriction. Good questions. :cool2:

I have been drinking out of a straw since day one. I havent had any problems. They even gave me a straw in the hospital.

I was told no straw either for the same reason.

kdlee - I noticed the info re: your fills. What is fluoro?

kdlee - I noticed the info re: your fills. What is fluoro?

It's a fill done in radiology. It's done like a normal fill, but they are able to take a live xray and see your port on a screen while accessing it. Dr. Kaplan could not get the needle to go into my port on the 2nd fill so I had to have it done in radiology to make access easier. It was really neat and super easy!

That sounds neat. I would like to be able to see what it looks like.

How much do fills cost? And is insurance pretty good about paying for those?

That sounds neat. I would like to be able to see what it looks like.

How much do fills cost? And is insurance pretty good about paying for those?

I'm honestly not sure what Kaplan charges. Most insurances cover the fills. My insurance does not, however. :biggrin: I will pay out of pocket. I haven't been too concerned about it yet, though. I figure that I must have the fills, so I'll just pay for it, I guess. I haven't gotten a bill yet.