jms462001

Oh, I forgot, but I was able to swallow my meds the day after surgery. My Dr said as long as they fit through the top of a water bottle they are ok. I never had a problem with them. You can cut pills if they are easier. Of course, capsules cannot be cut! Ask your Dr. as some say you need to take liquid, but if that is not a possibility, I would use common sense!! There is no way I could crush my pills and take them in water!!!

The most important thing is that she get plenty of fluids. You don't say, but I assume the fever is gone? If not, of course you would want to keep the Dr. informed. I had very little appetite for the first couple weeks and when I did eat, a very small amt satisfied me. I never had diahrrea but I have read about so many people who do have it for quite some time after surgery so I would say it is normal. My Dr gave me a prescription patch for behind my ear to use daily for the first couple of weeks to prevent nausea. You might want to ask the Dr. for something if that continues. The worst thing would be vomiting so avoid that for sure! Sounds like everything is normal as long as her fever is gone!!

I got the stuff on ebay including the toxin capsules. The toxin capsule got stuck and was stuck from 10 am until the following morning. It was horrible. I tried everything to get it up or down. I have never had trouble with any pills or capsules and up to that day had never had food stuck either. I put one of the capsules in hot liquid and saw the problem. It floats and takes forever to dissolve. I will never try to take another!! Perhaps others here will not have a problem with them, but I just wanted to share my experience because I would not want anyone to go through what I did with that capsule!! I only used the colon cleansing stuff once. I didn't really like drinking it. I'm not sure what it would be best to mix it with. I think I would prefer the cleansing pills I had that were taken morning and night for a week.

$350 for botox, each area, sounds like a lot for Mexico. I only pay $300 here in AZ for each area at the perfect skin laser center. You will love the restalyne results. If they do the sculptra, I think that is even better.

Were you in horrific pain after the PS? I had a breast lift about 8 years ago and I swear I would never do it again. It was 10 times wose than the lapband surgery post surgery. I know I will need it. I just don't know if I will have the courage!

Oatmeal and eggs for the second week. I only made it four days and was too hungry and my center allowed me to add creamy soups. Appetite=good healing. Hot chocolate protein drinks are soothing the first couple days. I am sick of the protein drinks too, but we need them! I could not get more than 2 ounces of anything down at a time the first 2 days. Good luck to you!! It has been much easier for me than I imagined it would be!

So, did you cut it in half or swallow it whole? No problems? After you were healed, did you just start taking all of your meds in their pill form without any problems? My Dr had said at the consult that if they will go through the top of a water bottle, they are ok to swallow, I have just been paranoid from all the posts I have read here. And, of course, I was told to get everything converted to liquid or chewable before surgery. Thanks for the info!! 6 days to go!!!

The lite has only 2 grams of sugar and 2.5 grams of fat per serving. I don't find it too sweet and best of all, it doesn't smell bad!!!

I hope everyone can get the medication issues worked out and I hope someone might be able to help me with my question. I was told to get all of my meds changed to liquid or chewable before surgery. I take 300mg wellbutrin XL generic. My primary Dr says it comes in neither. What should I do? Thanks in advance!. He had no advice.

I've been trying quite a variety of brands on this pre-op diet, and the muscle milk light is the only one I have found that tastes decent. I have the chocolate caramel.

That sucks. Just think positive (healthy) The nurse I had Fri for the scope test was sick with a resp infection and I woke the following day all congested and scared as well. I almost called the hospital to get his phone number to chew him out!! My date is 11/24. Thankfully I am well now. Today I got epidural injections for my back and have a horrible headache partly due to the pre-op diet I imagine. I am drinking caffine now as instructed by my Dr. I like that instruction better than these yucky shakes. I am on sample number 3 and still to find a palatable one! I tried to cancel todays epidural but it was not recommended!! Now my appetite has shot up from the cortisone steroid too!! Yikes! I get the 2nd in 5 weeks and another in 7 weeks which will be about the time of what I read people call Bandster hell so I am not looking forward to that. You should maybe see the Dr now for an exam and see whether he wants to give you any meds since you have been exposed to all that. In the meantime stay inside, rest, take lots of vitamins, and extra C, echinecha, and whatever else is recommended to ward off those type of infections. Also drink lots of water and think positive!!!!! Good luck to you!!

I started pre-op diet today for my November 24th surgery, and I hope I can do half as good as you in 5 months!!! Congrats!!

The center I am using said 6 fills in the first year. What happens after the first year? And what happens several years later??

I asked my Dr. that question and he said if the med fits through the top of a water bottle it is small enough to swallow.

Thanks Julie. I wish I didn't have to have quite so many tests as it turns out, none are covered by ins. Even my primary thinks they are excessive. Pain is pain. If you have it, you know how I feel. I often wonder why God would want to allow anyone to go through so much pain. I really do not understand. But hopefully, this is a step in the right direction to ease it up a bit. To be honest, I have not wanted to live this way too long. I'm optimistic now. I am going to give it all I've got and do the best I can. I will follow all the instructions. I am already a very healthy eater so portions and lack of exercise has been my problem along with the medications I take. This gives me an advantage over the people who have to overcome sugar addictions, etc. I can do this!!!!!!!!!

My papers say that I will only be allowed to eat three meals a day and no snacks and that is all I will need and that is essential for good success. Are all Dr's or centers just different in their eating directions? Right now I'm really just worried about these two upcoming weeks of protein shakes only!!!

I will be so happy if I weigh 50 pounds less 6 months after surgery. I cannot get much exercise, have a slow metabolism anyway so I do not expect some of the miraculous results I have read about here from some of the younger, more active members. I was asked at the center what I wanted to do in a year when all the weight is gone. I said I just want to move without pain, walk, and get a life back and be able to do some things!! I do not want to "cheat" either!!!!!!! I am assuming they will start me on the pre-surgery diet soon since I am scheduled for the 24th. I have not talked to the nutritionist yet. I think they do not require a liquid only diet so it might not be as restrictive, or did you all not have a liquid diet pre-op? I went to my primary for some pre-op tests today and weighed 9 pounds less than my Sept visit so I guess just thinking about the band is working for me a bit!! LOL

I feel your pain. This is why I am getting the band. I need knee replacement and I am too young and the Dr. said he would not do it anyway because my weight would make it too high risk. I also had those injections in September and they did not provide much relief for me. I also have spinal stenosis and need spinal surgery and would not be able to go through the rehab with these swollen painful knees so I am really in a fix. I feel for you because I know how discouraging it is to be unable to move without pain or do the things you want to do or get any exercise. I wish you the best with the injections. They really help about 70% of people.

Well, unfortunately my insurance has an exclusion. They will cover all the pre-testing that needs to be done, lab work and some of the costs other than the actual procedure. I have to figure out how I am going to finance it if I don't go with the center's finance co., but I spent almost 4 hours there today and I am scheduled for November 24th!!!!!!!! I wanted to do it as soon as possible to get it over with and not change my mind. That is how I am about things and it works best for me. This is something I need to do. I now need to get lots of tests done before then. I am scheduled for a psych exam on Tues night and have to go to a hospital next Fri to have the scope test that checks for hernias, ulcers, etc. That does not sound fun! I see my primary tomorrow for blood work, ekg, urine, etc, and they will call me with app with cardiologist. Geez, did you guys have to get all this done?? Oh, and I have to get my gall bladder ultra sound, go have my annual mammogram, and I just hope my pap has been less than a yr!! Thank God I had a colonoscopy 2 yrs ago or I'd be going for that too! I am excited and a little scared. I hope you guys will not mind me hanging around here for support and help with my questions. I need to keep reading more posts!

Thanks to all for the informative info. My consult is today. I will let you all know how it goes. The rate is certainly cheaper in TJ. Again, walking would be a problem for me there as well.

How much does it cost at the OCC? And what sort of financing is available? I doubt that my insurance will cover it and I think the cost here is close to 20K.

I'm going to a clinic here in Phx that specializes in it. My BMI is I think 37. It was my Orthopedic Dr who actually suggested it as I need knee replacement surgery due to the severe arthritis and he does not want to do it because I am only 54 and because my weight would make me too high risk and it probably would not end up with a good result anyway. The knees did not cause me pain and swelling until my spinal pain management Dr put me on lyrica (a nerve pain med) which causes weight gain and I gained 40 pounds very quickly. Weight has been a problem all my life. This was a year ago and since then my pain is unreal and I cannot lose the weight even though I quit the drug. Well, now it is pointless for me to get the spinal surgery because I would not be able to go through the rehab necessary for a successful recovery since walking is a must. I need a spinal fusion and some other work done. So, I hope they will approve me for it as losing a lot of weight is really my only hope of getting out of this pain and getting my life back. I do physical therapy in bed daily that I learned when going to PT and I can ride an exercise bike some. I just cannot stand or walk for more than a few minutes and not at all without pain. I hope it is possible. Thanks

Thanks for the info. I have also been scared by the "getting stuck" info. I see the importance of eating plenty of protein. What kinds of meats are best to eat and how should they be prepared so that does not happen? Also, what causes "slime" (yikes!) and what exactly does that mean? I am not one to vomit, it would be very rare. I really would not like to go around in pain like I read about. How can it be avoided? I have severe spinal disease needing surgery and severe arthritis in the knees so my activity is very limited. Standing and walking is extremely painful. I am wondering if inactivity will be a real hinderance to the lapband in the beginning.

I am going for a consultation for the band tomorrow. I have been reading all I can find about the band on the internet and recently came across this forum which has loads of info. I have read today a reference to "eating around the band". Can you tell me what that means?? Also, if I have the surgery, how long after should I wait to take a long trip out of the country where it would be difficult to eat a particular specified diet or liquid diet? Thanks in advance and if I go for this, you will see me a lot as you guys I can see are a ton of resources i cannot find elsewhere!! And, congrats to all of you in your successes I see here!! You are a great motivation!!