mona-camille

I was concerned about this also as I do heavy lifting at my work too. Rene said that the very most they will give you off of work is 3 weeks. And I even have a disability plan. I would think though, that some people need more. Ask the doctor when you get there.

Uh, that was a little rude. I think if you want a private conversation between the 2 of you, then it is you who should e-mail. This is a public forum and anyone can answer or ask anyone anything. What you said was not very nice and I found it very offensive.

OOOOPS, I meant it because I have been on the pre-op diet for 6 weeks now. First Atkins, now I am on the milkshake diet part because I had to lose 20 pounds befor surgery. It was for when I was going to reward myself for doing so well on my diet. Thats all. I know it's not really my last meal, sorry for the miscommunication! Thanks!

I am flying in on Easter Sunday an d I was wondering if anyone had any idea if things will be open in Mexico that day? I have been planning all along to have a real mexican meal as my last meal before surgery and now I am wondering if places will be open due to the holiday. Does anyone know?

I haven't heard anything at all and would be curious where he read it. Can you provide a link?

I have GERD which is a little different than simple heartburn. I don't get the burning sensation (I know, I am weird) what I get is a feeling of severe nausea, that is only relieved with eating. I have spent most of my life with nausea and I am hoping this surgery will help it. I can tell you, that this pre-op diet I am on is laready alleviating it somewhat. Not sure why but it is.

Try the Atkins atkins shakes. For me, they do keep me full. The Slim fast made me hungry.

You sound like me! I am so FREAKING excited too!!!! Time just isn't moving fast enough for me!

Depends what type of diet you are using. Atkins bars have a lot more carbs than the shakes. So, I stick to the shake. Depends what you are counting, calories, carbs etc. and depends what Dr. Miranda wants you to do. I wasn't allowed to substitute, but then again, I had 20 pounds to lose in a short time.

I haven't been banded yet, but I have to lose 20 pounds before I can be. I am scheduled for the 24th. Anyway, I started with the Atkins diet. Then went to combined Atkins with the twice daily shakes and the weight IS coming off. However, the VERY BEST thing I noticed being on Atkins - which is getting carbs out of your life, is the best thing I ever did. Eliminating carbs has made my sweet and chocolate cravings disappear completely. And I mean, I have no cravings at all for it. In fact, I crave meat! A first for me! Plus, I feel great. I have tons of energy, I am not tired and sluggish, I feel wonderful! Everyone should get off of carbs. I know your body needs some, but you will get what you need by following Atkins and eliminated all pasta, bread, rice, potatoes etc. Once about 2 weeks or so pass, you will no longer crave those carbs. Give it a try. It isn't so hard. Only the beginning is.

Hey Mindy, glad it's a go! I'm scheduled for the 24th also. Will be flying in with hubby mid day on Easter. Hope to see you!

I haven't had the lap band done yet, but a doctor here told me that the best candidates are indeed the people who volume eat. It does make you full faster. It doesn't help for those people who are small-but-often eaters.

And I LOVE Atkins Advantage shakes! 15 grams of protein and I think they are great, all flavors too. Slimfast chocolate is good too but their vanilla and strawberry are gross. Haven't tried any others.

Funny, I didn't even get banded yet (March 24th) and some people already think that when I get back from the surgery I will be thin. Uh, DUH! It's not body lipsosuction! HAHAHHAA Hey, anyone know why my picture doesn't show up? I added apicture of a cat to my profile and it shows up there in my account but not here when I post.

Thanks, very much!!!

Good luck!! I can't wait to hear all about it!

Oh my! YOu just gave me some GREAT advice that I hadn't thought about earlier!! I have 9 cats and there are 2 of them famous for jumping on my belly in the middle of the night! I'll have to make some other arrangements to deal with that. THanks, for the unintended advice, LOL!!

Just wondering, I expect to be there Easter Sunday and just wondering how to pack. I saw somewhere that it is only 60's or so in the day time but I thought it would be higher. I guess that means it is too cold to swim. Do I need a jacket. Can anyone say?

She also told me I could have minestrone soup. But, I just have the 2 shakes and a sugar free jello and then my dinner. Do one day at a time. The first day is the hardest. Each day gets easier and easier. In fact, just last night I was marveling over the fact that when I did have my dinner I was actually very full after a small amount. Ask Dr. Miranda if you have any questions. I think it all depends on what you have to lose. I needed to lose 20 pounds in a short time so I had to do drastic measures.

Didn't the waistband interfere with any of the incisions? I was worried about that too. I am so paranoid! Really only because my flight is so long. My legs have a very hard time on a plane that long to begin with and to have added surgery incisions is making me more nervous about the plane ride home that anything else. I am considering upgrading to 1st class for the 5 hour leg.

Where in Pa are you? I live in Bethlehem, right close to Jersey. The closest center for me is in New Jersey about an hour or two away so thats not so bad. I think if you are out west, there might be one there. I am planning on going back to Mexico for my first fill though.

Hahhaha, sounds like my first day too! But, I noticed that I can actually deal with the 2 shakes a day thingy. You can have sugar free jello so thats what I do once a day and it helps. I don't do the lean cuisine dinner as suggested because......... I have 20 pounds to lose and only had 5 weeks to do it so I started myself on Atkins. I only lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks so Dr. Miranda had me change over to the 2 shakes a day thing last week. When I looked at the lean cuisine box and sall all the carbs on it, I didn't want to do it since I was already ahead on Atkins. So, for my dinner, I still do the Atkins way. Meat and vegetables - that way I am still keeping my carbs down. And, I just had my formal weekly weigh in and I lost 5 pounds in one week doing it this way. So now, I am up to needing to still lose 10 more pounds in 2 weeks. But, if I keep up the 2 shakes and Atkins dinner, hopefully it will work! Good luck to you and it really does get better and easier to follow as time goes on!!

If you are red and it itches, it sounds like hives. And hives are an allergic reaction. However, I think allergic reactions usually occur right after exposure, not usually days later. It might be from something you ate or a drug you took very recently.

Good luck!! Maybe I will see you there is you are staying a while. I fly in Easter Sunday.

Here in PA, it is required to go back every month for the first 2 years. Not necessarily for a fill, but for a checkup. And I DO believe it's a money thing for Doctors not wanting to touch Mexico people. They are mad that we can find it cheaper. Here, I was quoted a price of $45-$50k for the surgery and my sister who had it done here had a bill (her insurance pays for it) for $43K. Now isn't that ridiculous? It's the same cost as for gastric bypass. And you can go almost anywhere else for around $20k but not here. I won't even bother asking for a fill here. I have a fill center about 2 hours away, but am planning on returning to Mexico for my first one. I checked tickets and I can get one for $265 so that is worth it to me. Plus, I am going to turn that trip into a vacation anyway.