Ginger2120

Thank you all for the cheers! It wasn't easy to turn down cookies, but I did it. Actually it wasn't too hard once I was full, I had my first PB experience the other day and I never want to do that again!

I work in a corporate office for a major book retailer. Every year at Christmas time we have what is called an International Cookie Festivle! It's different Cookies from all over the world. I think this year we had over 8,500 cookies. After being banded it's hard to go to the cookie festivle and have any cookies because I had already ate lunch and filled up on all my protien! I guess I'm just a little sad that I couldn't partake in the cookie fun. Oh well, I guess if I had a choice between the cookie festivle and losing 30 pounds in 2 months I'd take the weight loss! Thanks for listening

Hi Al, Congrats on getting the ball rolling on your surgrery. I was also nervous about going under, but it all turned out for the best. I guess what helped me the most was I explained to the surgical staff my concerns so they talked to me a lot when I was first coming out of anestesia and they were telling me that everything was fine and that the band was placed with no problems. I just found it really helpfull and comforting to know that kind of stuff. Good luck to you Janel:)

When I was in my mushy food stage I loved scrambled eggs. My surgeon suggested that I used egg beaters because she wasn't a fan of real eggs. They kept me full the longest.

Hi there! I was banded by Dr. Deol on September 22, 2003! She's a wonderful surgeon and the staff at William Beaumont in Troy is exceptional. I know it's nerve racking to wait, but trust me, you'll be fine. Congratulations on being banded

Mine too was a one time fee that covers the whole first year and the 3 pre-op visits. It's wonderful! She helps me make sure I'm getting in all of my Protein, and she's great for ideas of different ways to get it if I'm tired of eating the same old thing. I'm glad my surgeon requires it. And just on a side note: I'm so excited! Today I found out that my employer (I work at the corporate office of a major book retailer) has a new program with Curves! Now I won't have the pay the $150 start up cost to start going, I only have to pay the $29.99 a month! It's very exciting for me because I am full of energy since I got my band and I think Curves is a good place for me to work out some of that energy without danger of me overdoing it.

I was just wondering how many people were required to see a nutritionist for there surgery. My surgeon requires one year of nutritionist visits after surgery. Anyone else have something like this?

I had surgery in Michigan, but I had a surgeon in Troy. Her name is Zoe Deol, and she's wonderful! I had surgery at Troy Beaumont Hospital and the staff there was exceptional. I see that your from near Kalamazoo so I don't know if Troy is any farther for you to go than Port Huron. Dr. Deol's website is www.michiganbariatrics.com. She doesn't do seminars, she meets with her patients one on one, so you could get an appointment with her whenever it's convenient for you. She's a wonderful surgeon and her program is wonderful. Good luck to you! Janel

I was in the hospital overnight. I was in the OR for about 3 hours because my surgeon had to work through quite a bit of scar tissue. My surgeon also said it's very very difficult to do this surgery as an open procedure because of where the band is placed. It's hard to get there if they open you up. I had surgery on a Monday afternoon, and I was back to work on Friday morning. I was a little tired, but there was no pain at all. As far as surgeries go this one was a breeze!

I didn't have this problem with my band, but I did have it with another surgery I had. The incision was rubbing against my bra strap and created a liquid filled bubble. I went back to my surgeon and he essentially popped the bubble and covered it with a bandage and it healed itself. Unfortunatley it did create a bigger scar because it was re-opened and it was opened a bit wider than the rest. I suppose my bikini wearing days were gone anyway, but having all these scars doesn't improve my chances any!

I'm so glad to hear that you hit your first milestone. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow, and I hope that for the first time in a long time I'll be under 300 lbs! I'm not even six weeks out of surgery yet, but I feel great and I'm still losing weight so I'm happy! I'm one of the lucky ones that has weight loss pre fill.

Please let Bright know to walk as much as possible after surgery. She'll feel like a million bucks the day after! Were all thinking of you Bright!

I need to know if anyone else has had this problem and how they dealt with it. At work today I brought in Cookies for everyone. After lunch I went to get one, and one of my co-workers said to me "careful, you shouldn't have too many sweets". I work in a pretty small office so everyone knows that I've had the surgery. I have been so happy and feeling good since my surgery, and today when this woman said this to me I went back to my desk (without a cookie) and cried. Why does this bother me so much? What should I tell her other than go to hell you know nothing about my situation? Please Help.....

I also know of a hospital that's near Mt. Pleasant that's going to start doing the lap-band. My Mom is going to a seminar with the surgeon to see if she can get banded. She saw how easy it was for me so she wants one too! The hospital is Gratiot County Hospital in Alma, MI.

Thank you all for your replies. I feel better about it today, but for some reason yesterday it was enough to make me want to crawl under my desk. This co-worker is a miserable old woman with nothing better to do than watch what I eat. I know I'm tougher than what I was yesterday so she can watch away because I know what I can and can't do. :cool: Thanks again for all your support! Janel

My surgeron requires that everyone have an upper GI as part of pre-op testing. It wasn't fun, but it could have been worse, she could have wanted an lower GI!

Hello Fellow September Bandsters! I was banded on 9/22 and I feel like a million bucks! I didn't have to take any pain meds once I left the hospital, and I was back to work 4 days after surgery! I was still a little tired, but now I feel good. I'm down 13 pounds as of Wednesday! WOOHOO! My clothes fit so much better now! I'm so happy I go the band, and the surgery and recovery were so easy for me. I wish it was this easy for everyone!

Janet, I'm so happy to hear that your going to see Dr. Deol! I think you'll like her, she's great! I'm doing wonderful! It's been 12 days since my surgery and I don't even feel like I had it! Until I eat....I haven't had any pain at all and I can eat comfortably I just eat a heck of a lot less. I have lost 13 pounds so far! My clothes aren't falling off me yet, but they definetly fit better than they did 2 weeks ago. I'm in the soft food stage right now, and slowy moving into the normal food stage. I haven't had any problems with food at all. I watch most of my food for low carbs and high Protein and no sugar. I have been drinking only Water because most juices have so much sugar in them. If you have any specific questions just shoot me an email at Ginger2120@yahoo.com. I check it every day at work, but I don't have a computer at home so I rarley get to check it on weekends. I'm so excited that I finally found someone that I could share my great story with about Dr. Deol! I hope you like her as much as I do! Janel

Bandstergirl, When did you have surgery? I was just at Dr. Deol's office today for my post-op visit. I've lost 12 pounds!

Hi Janet, I couldn't be happier with Dr. Deol. She is excellent! She works with Troy Beamont Hospital, and the staff there is great too. I see her again on Wednesday for my post op appointment. She works with Dr. Sampson Kpadenau and he is a doctor that does weight loss programs with people through Rochester Lifestyle Change, he also has a nutritionist in his office that you have to see if you go through Dr. Deol. These three people are all in the same building so they are great with appointments and I see all three of them in the same day. The psychiatrist she works with is in Southfield, but she's well worth the short drive to see her. If I ever needed a psyc. I would go to her. If you call Dr. Deol's office (586-737-2810) you can talk to Rebecca and she'll answer all your questions. The only two people in the office are Dr. Deol and Rebecca, but I've never had to wait mroe than an hour for a return phone call if there busy. I have had a wonderful surgical experience with Dr. Deol and her staff and I would recommend anyone to go to her! Too bad they don't pay me to refer patients!

Hi Janet, I lived in Jackson when I first started researching the band too. There were some doctors in Toledo just starting to do the band. I decided to have it done in Troy because the surgeon was more experienced, but it was a heck of a drive over there!

Hi! I was also banded on 9/22 in Michigan. I have had zero problems with my recovery. The evening of surgery I was up and walking around driving the night nurses crazy! I came home on Tuesday and have been pretty much walking and sleeping and I'm back to work today!

I've been waiting months to post this! I'm having surgery on September 22nd !!!! I dont' know what time yet, the hospital will call me on Friday afternoon and tell me what time to be there. I'm so excited!

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm soooo nervouse right now! I've been through surgery before, and I know this will be a breeze, I'm just generally a nervous person. I am having my surgery done at Troy Beaumont Hospital in Troy MI, and my surgeon is Zoe Deol. She had a very good practice in Chicago for a while, and she's just recently moved back to Troy and set up a practice here. She's awesome! I saw her yesterday for my pre-op appointment and she gave me a number to call her day or night in case i have any questions between now and Monday! I don't have a computer at home, so I won't be able to post how I'm doing, but I will post as soon as I get back to work. (hopefully that will be Thursday) AAAAAHHHHH, I can't wait to get this overwith!

Hi! I'm not banded yet, but I will be on September 22nd! I had my pre op appointment this morning and everything is set! I can't wait!