winifred76

There are several schools of thought. My doctor uses the Allergan. His former partner went with the Realize Band (he gets a kickback). My doctor has indicated that hin his studies (he's done 5,000 + procedures that the realize band has a very high failure rate and he doesn't think it's ethical for them to pay the surgeons to use their band for their endorsement especially considering that issue. Google the realize band and you will find positive and negative feedback, but make sure you do some research and are informed.

I'm so frustrated. I asked my doctor, and the surgery center several times to schedule my banding as early as possible in the morning because of stress and I just got my call for Monday. They have scheduled me to arrive at 1:15PM- which means probably not even having the surgery until at least 3pm or 4. Of course since I am reasonably healthy and only prediabetic, I am scheduled last on the list which means they will be rushing me out the door so that they can leave for the day. I feel very pushed to the back of the line right now. Wah! Just venting

How are you doing? give us an update.........

Good for you![ I'm glad you didn't chicken out either. I'm praying my experience won't be as flip as your was! Hope you are still doing well. Surgery date Aug 22 Got to NYU at 6:30am signed in and waited about 15 minutes for the clerks to "chat" finial went up to the desk and asked if there was anything else I needed to do….they took me right away They have this new system where they scan your palm it is supposed to be easier than giving your info again and again well when I scanned my hand I was not in the system…had to sign in again Next they asked for a copay of $150….no one ever mentioned this and even told me again and again not to bring any money or valuables so I answer NO you told me to not bring any money if you had told me about the copay I would have brought you a check…more typing so can you pay something to the bill NO I told them again I have NO money with I was told NOT to bring any money with me She grumbles and gives me the forms and my wrist band. I go through the double doors to the nurses station and am told why are you late? Your surgery is set for 8AM. I respond NO I am not late I have been sitting in the waiting room since 6:25AM waiting for your staff to finish having coffee. Never mind she says and takes me into a little room and tells me to undress I undress and put my clothes in my little canvas NYU bag ( to remember nyu I suppose ) no plastic bags for them…..the nurse comes in and takes my blood press, temp and asks when did I eat, take my meds last ect… the surgeon (Dr. Ren) comes in and I notice for the first time how tiny and skinny she is (must be a size 0 on her fat days) her arm looks like a dolls compared to mine She asks how the last 2 week went (the diet) I answer it was hard she never asks if I cheated and I never volunteer the info..i tell her I am worried and a little scared she is kind of flip in her response and I can tell she just want to finish with me and start her day. She asked why are you nervous? The pain we will give you drugs for that. Are you afraid of waking up? That almost never happens (great something else to be worried about) or what I tell her it's none of those things I am worried about what comes next, she answer is well the unknown is scary but you have taken a good first step your ok right? Well no but I just shake my head yes (defeated again) and she runs off and says she will see me in the afternoon…this was a lie she never saw me again (still hasn't only saw the PA for the follow up) The anestelogist PA comes in then the inter then the doc himself every one asks the same questions and we have the same conversation….he tells me it will be IV drugs then gas and the tube to breath for me …this scares me a lot (after my colon resection I remember waking up when they were removing the tube and being freaked out that I could not breath) I tell all of them this and they say sorry you will have to be awake to move your head and respond to us….then they weigh me 228 yea Next they nurse comes and says we are ready (I think about leaving) we walk down the hall and about 10 people are outside the operating room…..i go inside and lay on the table it is now 8AM by the wall clock and I start to think why do they need such a big clock? No pronounce time of death I think (have watched too much house for my own good) (I think it was bigger than the normal one for us larger people) the iv gets started and I am still thinking of stopping ( I wonder what they will do if I scream NO I changed my mind) they have me move my neck up and around so they can get a good angel for the tube (freak out again) they start the gas at the same time they tell me they are starting the good drugs ……I am still afraid then everything goes black I wake up in recovery and the nurse asks if I am in pain I say no as it's not that bad…I so back to sleep for a while…I always want to sleep more in the recovery room. It seems to me that others get to sleep a lot longer than I do all….. after a while ( I look at the clock and its now after 11Am) my friend comes in with my stuff….the nurse tells her I won't be able to leave till after 3pm so she should drop off my prescription and sends her back to work …they ask again if I am in pain and I say a little That ask what kind of pain meds do I want? I don't know I say what every you have They tell me tell don't have the liquid pain meds but I can give me a shot of something with a F I say that is fine I am not allergic to any meds except aspirin the nurse then says well you had it during the operation then I say ok….well right after the shot I feel like I am flying..this is good stuff I get a room after 1pm…the nurse tells me I can drink at 1:15PM but can has ice chips I walk around the floor till I am tired and return to the room and pee and walk some more It hurts a little around my stomach but what really hurts is the gas the pain in my left shoulder is real bad I walk around some more and come back to my room to read and make a few calls My roommate is real sick and every time I pass to go to the bathroom her friend/daughter gives me a dirty look….tuff luck I am considerate but what the hell if you want privacy PAY for a PRIVATE ROOM I need to walk and pee and won't compromise myself or my health for anyone At around 3PM the nurse comes in and gives me the discharge papers . I ask when will my Dr. be in Well she won't I am told but the pa will see me before I leave…I walk some more drink a cup of chicken broth (wonderful on my sore throat )and drink some water Honestly I am terrified of drinking anything and fully expect to choke. But happily I can drink just fine I go in the bathroom and lift my gown to see the damage..it was not so bad four little heart shaped bandages four across of stomach and one between my breasts…the one on the right side and the one between my breasts hurt the most (I still do three weeks post surgery) Around 4pm the nurse comes and says when do you think you will be leaving? I say my friend is coming from work so around 5:30, I ask when the surgical pa will come around since the surgeon isn't….she will check but is not sure he is even still on the floor…she never returned so when my friend came around 6pm I left No one stopped me or even noticed I decided to take the express bus home..boy was that a mistake …I figured the subway (with the stairs and a transfer would be too difficult on my stomach) and didn't want to waste the money on a cab and get stuck in rush hour traffic…the bus was a bad idea first on all I sat in the first row and I didn't care if a 100 year old with two broken legs got on I was not moving….moving hurt too much and I think we hit every pot hole in the city….i was holding my purse against my stomach but it didn't help much just wanted to go home and sleep It was a long day but not as bad as I thought it was Overall the pain was not that bad for me about a 3 or 4 doable without meds but meds do help The fear was much worse than the pain I am glad I didn't chicken out

I can't tell you how inspired by everyone I am. Good results for those who have passed and we are on day 15 of September! Good luck to all who are being banded today! This has been great for all us nervous nellies who aren't sure what to expect. I'm getting a little nervous. Last friday I went to the dentist because of a problem with a tooth. They found out I had a gum infection. He prescribed Clindamycin 3 times a day for 10 days (finish up the sunday before my surgery on the 19th). I've been taking them faithfully to make sure that I'm all clear by surgery day. When the surgery center called yesterday, I told them about the infection as part of the preop. She didn't seem concerned when I told her I would be done with 10 days of antibiotics on Sunday and the surgery was Monday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but having nightmares that they will say nope you have to wait.

I know what you mean! I've been having those second thoughts too. I think it's just jitters. Maybe knowing there is no going back? I've managed to stay on the low carb diet for right at 2 weeks and surprising lost 7.5lbs so far, but had a really bad day saturday with wanting to stress eat though I didn't. I wondered how I would have acted not knowing that I was having surgery in a week and needed to absolutely follow the plan? Would I have given in to tempation or would I have hung tight? I think all in all, it's still the right choice, because it will be another tool that I need to help me get through when my willpower will not be so strong.

So my preop was Wednesday and the dr went over the Preop diet I was so worried about. From the 7th to the 16th low carb everything. He said have proteing all you want, the normal really low carb vegetables and only 30 carbs from incidentals (mayo, ketchup, etc.) Then on Sept 17 and 18 only clear liquids on the list, sugar free freezer pops, sugar free jello, boullon cubes etc. Plenty of water, propel but no gatorade. I was completely shocked. He said that what he has found is that what he wants to limit is what causes the liver to get bigger - which is converting carbohydrates into sugar so by going low carb people don't have to deprive themselves except for the two days before and they have a very successful surgery. He also wants me walking 10 to 15 minutes a day before. All in all, much easier than I thought. Also hurrah! He worked out a deal with the surgery center and the plication part that was an extra $800 is now only $500. (He thinks by the beginning of the year that might be covered by insurance too but I'm not waiting.) I've been on the low carb since I got approval on August 28. I'm only down 5 lbs so far, but not really craving carbs at all. Keep counting down! Good luck to everyone who is banded today!

Stay calm and BREATHE! You don't want high blood pressure stopping you from having the surgery! Go to your happy place in your mind and relax. The fight can be after once you have healed up a little.

Preop appt today. 12 days out from Surgery. Maybe I'll finally understand what this preop diet is all about! They say I only have to do it for 3 days before which I guess is great, but we'll see. Luck to all being banded today! Don't forget to share how it is going! SEPT 19 = NEW FOCUS!

I'll be checking on you!

Luck and a speedy recovery!

I did that and you know what - each time I tried something happened that spoiled it! I finally gave up and go down to business on the day!

Other than the gas, any other problems? Are you happy so far with the choice?

I know how that is. My pcd has said my liver functions were elevated - due to a fatty liver - but I expect that to change with healthier eating habits. So this could just be a result of that. As for the hernia, my doc says that 90% of the patients he bands have a hernia that needs to be repaired and they don't even know it. So I guess it's quite common. GOOD LUCK to everyone being banded today! Let us know how you are doing!

Why did you have to give up diet pepsi on the liquid diet?

I just started today high protein no carb (low) for 10 days until my preop and then I think he's going to have me go liquid diet from the 7th to the 19th (surgery date), but I'm not sure. We will see! You can do it!

Hi Everyone! Sounds like we are going to have a great group! I'm going to put together a list of everyone by Thursday so we can start the count down. Also, does anyone have a great list of prerequisites for your day (a shopping list to have on hand when you get home from surgery, little hints for getting thru the first few days, etc?) I'm getting excited and apprehensive at the same time, but I know this is going to work!

Just to check out your vitals, make sure there have been no changes in your health that can affect the surgery-if you had a cold or were sick that would push your date back....

Mine is on September 19 too. Luck to us all! Preop date September 7.

So I was all excited. The insurance company has approved the surgery. Then I talk to the scheduler and they forgot to tell me. The surgery center surgeries are only on Mondays. On Thursdays, they do their surgeries at the hospital. Shands Jacksonville. I've not heard good things about them as a hospital. But I don't have a lot of vacation days. I was planning to go in on Thursday and have the weekend to recuperate and be back at work on Monday or Tuesday - total 5 days recovery. If I go in on Monday, I have 5 days recovery but have to charge 5 days sick time. Does anyone have an opinion one way or the other! Help!

No my choice.

Of course there is. Remember, it's only been 3 weeks and you've lost 22 lbs. You're body has to reset for a few days to recover from such rapid weight loss. Just stay on target and you will see it start falling off again. I wouldn't recommend more than one fill a month! You're already getting there - hang in a few days longer.......

My doctor told me it is still an "investigational" study = not covered by insurance. The premise is that by folding over the stomach, you get the benefit of a gastric sleeve without the stapling or removing of the stomach. Since you have to wait until healing for your first fill, this is supposed to help with giving you a smaller stomach right away and speeds your short term weight loss. Also this helps with the being hungry until the first fill. I've opted to do it with my doctor and am waiting on a surgery date in September.

So could anyone provide a detailed description of the liquid diet? What to eat, how much and how often? Thanks

Could you be more specific? Just wondering if things haven't worked out the way you thought they would?