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Katari
on 3/26/09 8:50 pm - OR

Hi, Yes OHSU does have a support group. they have three meetings a month. If you need an evening one the the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m.. If you are interested in a morning one they meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 10:00 to 11:30. The first meeting each month for the morning session is dedicated to a specific topic. i.e. weight regain or plastic surgery or ???? the second morning session is a general post-op and general discussions. The evening ones will also have the specific topics and general meeting but just in a more spread out fashion. They have their meetings at the Center for Health and Healing on the waterfront. You can look up OHSU's website and they will give you an address.

Linda_S
on 3/26/09 5:42 am - Eugene, OR

RNY on 07/24/07

Topic: RE: Liquid Diet suggestions? - Advice needed (halp!)

I didn't have the lap band and, actually, didn't have any sort of pre-op liquid diet, so I can't answer a lot of your questions. The one I can answer most likely is why you have to do it. I would imagine, and you can check this with your doctor, that you either have a raised liver enzyme count, or with palpation, your doctor has been able to tell you have an enlarged liver. This is not uncommon in people of size -- our livers enlarge with processing all the stuff we eat. If your doctor has put you on such a strict liquid diet, it means he knows you need to reduce the size of your liver so he can do your surgery. Procedures are sometimes cancelled when the liver is too large (look at today's main board page for an example). As I said, I didn't have to do it, and I think those of you who have to do it are saints. You just have to keep your eyes on the prize -- it is a substantial prize too! All the best.

Linda

Success supposes endeavor. - Jane Austen

Linda_S
on 3/24/09 7:36 am - Eugene, OR

RNY on 07/24/07

Topic: RE: Anyone had any luck with plastics through BCBS/PEBB?

Hey Michelle - I have the same insurance and they usually will not pay unless your doctor can assure them that what you're having done is medically necessary. I had to have spinal surgery in November and they couldn't get my discs out through the back, so they cut me open from the top of my pubic bone to the bottom of my ribcage on the front. The scar has keloided and is extremely painful, especially when I cough or sneeze, but oftentimes just when I'm walking. I talked to a rep at BCBS/PEBB and they told me that if the doc coded it as medically necessary to remove the scar, they would probably pay. If I ever feel like going near a scalpel again (probably not too soon), I may get a tummy tuck out of the deal.

Linda

Success supposes endeavor. - Jane Austen

Cashmere
on 3/23/09 6:41 am - OR

Lap Band on 04/07/09

Topic: Vitamins bc of liquid diet - nausea?

I take medications and a multi-vitamin in the evening; have done so for a couple of years.

However, now that I'm on the pre-op liquid diet (for my LapBand surgery, as discussed in a prior post) I am also required to take the following daily:

Calcium Nitrate - 3 x a day
Sellenium           - 1 x day
Flaxseed Oil       - 2 x day
Vitamin C            - 1 x day
Vitamin B12        - 2 x week

I'd been taking these in the morning (and at lunch etc for those that require more than one dose) and was doing o****il about Day 4 when I wa**** with extreme nausea, particularly in the mornings. By Day 6 (yesterday) it was so bad I didn't take them at all and called my pharmacist. He doesn't believe my original meds are the problem or causing an interaction but feels it's probably either the Calicum Nitrate or Sellenium.

I didn't take any of these extra supplements today yet (as I'm still a wee bit queasy) but wondered if anyone else had experienced this? I'm still taking my normal night multi-vitamin fyi. I can't imagine it's the protein powder either.

Any thoughts? I'll call my dr's office later this week if it happens again but curious if this is common or not.

Cashmere
on 3/23/09 6:34 am, edited 3/23/09 6:45 am - OR

Lap Band on 04/07/09

Topic: Liquid Diet suggestions? - Advice needed (halp!)

I am on a PRE-OP liquid diet for 3 weeks, then on a strict 4 week liquid diet after my LapBand surgery (dr said liquid, no mushies at this clinic) so would like some helpful tips from anyone who has been there.

Today is day 7 and I've been doing pretty good altho I had a tiny scrambled ****gg on Sat and Sun mornings with one piece of bacon - I was just craving protein (altho I know the fat content of the bacon) and realize I can't do that after surgery but felt much better after eating it, much more energized too. During the wee****ep doing the smoothies etc.

I have all my drinks, my protein powders and ordered Proti Diet soups for later this week. They were supposed to be here in 3 days but got delayed to 7 days so in the interim I have been having a small bowl of campbells pea and ham or tomato (dr's office said no campbells bc of the weight loss factor but I need to have some soup until the proti soups arrive and I water these down (two - three serves per can and only have one serve per day). I have allowed these bc I was already getting the gag feeling on teh drinks and smoothies and know (at least for me) if I don't vary things I won't be able to stomach it. I figure I might not lose quite as much by having the Campbell (fat free) soup but it's really minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Granted after surgery it's bye-bye to pea and ham for a few weeks bc of the little lumps. lol

It's interesting though, when I talk to others (including my sis who had her LapBand done a year ago) that folks don't have the same liquid diet restrictions as me, or as strict (particularly 4 weeks post surgery and strictly liquid, no mushies). I'll be good but am curious as to why?

How long did you do the pre-op liquid diet for and how long after Lap Band surgery? I'm really curious.

I also can have yogurt (and prior to surgery my dr's office bent the rule to allow me to have a few pieces of frozen fruit blended in my smoothies right now - thank god) but I have to say I'm really struggling. I want to gag at the thought of any more smoothies or protein drinks. lol

How did you keep your sanity, seriously? Is it harder pre-op than post-op to do this? All up, I will be doing 7 weeks liquid.

Debra S.
on 3/23/09 4:18 am - Oregon City, OR

RNY on 02/20/07

Topic: RE: Checking in with my Oregon Friends

Hey there,

Glad to hear that you are doing well. Are you still in the o.c.? Would love to do lunch sometime if so.........

deb

michelle71
on 3/23/09 4:16 am - Weiser, ID

RNY on 06/23/06

Topic: Anyone had any luck with plastics through BCBS/PEBB?

I was wondering if anyone that works for the state with BCBS/PEBB has had any luck getting plastics taken care of through the insurance? Any help help or ideas with this would be great.

Thanks,
Michelle

Cashmere
on 3/23/09 1:46 am - OR

Lap Band on 04/07/09

Topic: RE: Portland Support Group?

Thank you. :o)

Cashmere
on 3/23/09 1:46 am - OR

Lap Band on 04/07/09

Topic: RE: Portland Support Group?

Thanks, I'll contact them! :o)

bbaraja4
on 3/22/09 11:39 am

Topic: RE: BCBS/PEBB Question for Anyone Who May Know...

I just had my surgery RNY at OHSU and my insurance was BCBS/PEBB. They strictly told me that I had to use their approved people, even if it meant to travel to Portland or Bend. They are really limited and it took me almost a year to get through their hoops. If you're not getting a straight answer I would not delay in setting up appointments and get them done. OHSU was great about coordinating all of my appt's on the same day and one right after another. They're been doing this for a while and I met several people who were having to travel from locations hours away from Portland in order to participate in the Bariatric program.
Good luck!

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