julialois

Hi all, Well, I had the banding done Wednesday at Harper. The staff was great, but there were some mess-ups. Because there were so many surgeries, I waited in Recovery from 4 to 10 PM. Then signing out, the doc released me @ 2:30, but noone knew it until I checked. Took another hour to get me out of there. Finally, I signed up to get my prescription filled and waiting for me. Guess what?? I had the prescription, not filled. AND THEY ASKED ME AT LEAST 3 TIMES PLUS I SIGNED A FORM!!!!! :faint: :faint: Would I go back there? In a heartbeat. These were just bureaucratic foul-ups. Too bad they all happened in a bunch to me. That's the luck of the draw. Gotta go walk again. Julia

Kimmi, Congrats on your surgery. Mine was done on Wednesday and other than sore muscles from lifting myself out of the hospital bed, I appear to be doing well. Had it done at Harper Hospital in Detroit. Good medical teams there. I've taken my pain med this AM and am walking. Was looking forward to walking outside, but it's raining. :rain::rain:Maybe tomorrow. Had a REALLY sore throat from the breathing tube, but the doc said that was because I have a smaller-than-usual airway. Glad something's smaller than the average bear, anyway. Hang in there. When I began this journey back in February, I was +300. When I went in on Wednesday, thanks to the 2-week liquid diet, I had lost 20 lbs. I don't expect this to keep up but it really gives one a running start. Thanks all for your support. :whoo: Julia

I'm an eastsider, but not going to St. John, since Medicare won't cover with that hospital. Going to Harper 10/24. Dr Hawasli does the band at both hospitals, in fact, he's chief of the Laporoscopic (sp) Surgery at St John. Best of luck to you.

Could be. I've had 4. And my first 3 were within 2 yrs (NOT 2 yrs apart, 3 kids in 2 yrs). Glad that time's over.

Since I wear glasses ALL the time, I have little patience w/my other half who is CONSTANTLY losing his reading glasses. He tried bifocals, but since he couldn't get used to them. Anyhoo...I guess losing reading glasses is just something I have to get used to. Let me tell you...continence problems are not only a pain in the tush, it's expensive! Keep smiling.

Hi all, Bitter, enjoy your life. I freaked when I turned 30, when I turned 40, I decided that I was getting old and to (Mentally, at least) give everyone the finger who didn't agree with me. At 50 I treated it as just another b'day. At 60, I was visiting our son in FL and it was, again, just another b'day. January I'll be 70 and am looking forward to it as slightly less weighty (my banding's 10-24). My head thinks I'm still young but when I stand up, my knees tell me otherwise. Have had all the hair issues. My other half (almost 50 yrs) is still sticking with me, so I guess I've got a lot to be thankful for. My kids have told me that when I can no longer "chew the blubber", they'll put me on an ice floe in Lake Superior. I've given them permission. So I don't have to freak about losing it mentally. My son, 48, is married to a woman 63. They're happy and she keeps up with him. So there ARE younger men out there happy with olderwomen. In our area there are "assisted living" facilities, which are NOT nursing homes. Some of them are really nice. Just another alternative. Regarding tweezers: at least they're small. Incontinence pads take up a lot of room and are obvious. I've babbled on enough. Keep your chin(s) up and the tweezers in your pocket.

I, too am a mother of an alcoholic. He's been sober now for 3 years, and finally appears to be on the road,, but we all know it just takes one. He was lucky enough to have a good judge when he had his 2nd DUI and she sent him to rehab for a month. Costly for him, but even he was grateful. Although I didn't go to AlAnon, it is supportive. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!!!!! Hugs to you.

I'm sorry for you all. I was going to go to her, too, but when I called to inquire, I was told she didn't take Medicare. (I'm not a spring chicken any longer) My primary doc recommended Dr Hawasli, who incidentally is MY doc's surgeon. Dr. H has done many bands @ St John in Detroit, but I had to wait til he got certified @ Harper (DMC) because St John is not yet a "center of Excellence" and Medicare wouldn't pay. So I've waited since Feb and am scheduled for October 24. Best of Luck to all.

Hi, I'm having banding done at Harper on Oct. 24. My surgeon is Dr. Hawasli, who is the chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at St John Hospital. In order for my Medicare to cover, the surgery must be done at a "center of excellence". St John is not, so I had to wait for the doc to be certified by Harper, then wait for available space. I've waited since Feb. I'm familiar w/Harper, but not for banding. I know that the staff was caring when they took care of my mom. I suspect the treatment by the staff will be the same. I'll report back after the 24th.

Oh Yes, I forgot to say that my zip code is 48093.

Hi all, Yippee!!!!! :whoo::whoo::whoo: I called my dr's office when I was in the UP last week. Finally!!!!!!!!! I'm scheduled for October 24th at Harper Hospital. I kept waiting since this surgeon was highly recommended by my md. I've been at this since my seminar on February 1st!!!! I was really getting impatient since I'll be 70 in January, even though most of the time I don't feel it. (at least in my mind, I don't---my body is something else) Keep your fingers crossed that they dont mess up and have to reschedule me. Don't know if I can stand much more waiting. A question--I'm not good on the computer, but how do I get the ticker to copy to my mails? A kindergarten step would be nice. Thanks, :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Hi all, I'm just checking in for the first time in quite a while. I've been waiting for my doc to get certified at Harper Hospital since they are a "center of excellence" which is necessary if you have Medicare. I've been waiting, really since I first went to a seminar in February. Just got the word that certification is in and now I just have to be scheduled. I'm 2nd in line for the surgery at Harper. Keep your fingers crossed that it'll be soon. Julia :whoo: :clap2: :whoo:

I live in Warren, which is @ 90 or so miles away. I saw my doc's assistant today & she claims the signature should be available "by next week". Keep your fingers crossed. There are several good hospitals in the area which do this work. So I do have options.

Hi there all, Just back from the wonderful UP (I'm a Yooper wannabe, but that's another story), I guess I missed a lot. I'm really upset with my doc. I was SUPPOSED to have my surgery June 8, but he is still waiting for accredidation (sp) with both Harper Hospital at the DMC and St. John Hospital in Detroit. So, when I left for the UP, I was told NOT to do the two week liquids, because no guarantee of surgery date. I'm thinking about seeing another doc. The doc has to take medicare, though. Dr. Deol does not, so she's out. Thinking about Bi-County Hospital's docs, although I'm still not sold on a DO rather than an MD. Any thoughts? All suggestions gladly accepted and scrutinized . Thanks, Julia

Wow!!! My doc will have me on liquids to shrink my liver for 2 whole weeks, then liquids again for 2 wks after the surgery. But I'm STILL waiting for final confirmation of my date. It's tentatively June 8th and I'm getting anxious for confirmation. I'll be WAY north of you this coming weekend. Going to our cabin in the UP near Munising for the Holiday wknd. Glad to hear that DH has been approved!!! julia

I went to Pershing High School.Grew up in Detroit, ;Binder was the street. Married Lived in Hamtramck, for 15 yrs.. We have been in the shores for 16 yrs. Shirley Pershing & Hamtramck were rivals waaaay back in the 50s when I went to HHS, although they really didn't play each other in f'ball or b'ball. Just the proximity, I guess. Has anyone out there had their banding done by Dr. Hawasli??? I know that he's good in the minimally invasive surgery itself. He usually operates out of St John Hospital in Detroit, but is doing the banding @ DMS because StJohn isn't yet approved for Medicare (which affects me). My personal physican has recommended him because Dr H. had sone 2 surgeries on him. I guess that's a good recommendation. He will have me on liquids 2 weeks before & 4 weeks after the surgery. Hope I can make it. I HATE Jell-o in any way, shape, or form and cannnot tolerate aspartame. I use Splenda as a sweetener now. Good luck to all. :hungry:

Thanx, Judy. Shirley, my doc is in SCS. RWM retired from the Tech Center in September, 1992. But they employ @40K folks there, so it's like a small city. We were married 49 yrs ago in Hamtramck, our home town.

I'm from Michigan, too. Warren. I also considered Dr. Deol, but since I'm a "silver oldie" and on Medicare, I decided not to go with her, since she doesn't take Medicare. That meant I'd have to pay her then send info to Medicare. Blah!!! I asked my regular doctor who, from the local list, he thought would be good and he recommended Dr. Hawasli, who works out of St. John Hospital in Detroit. It turns out that Dr. H. has done 2 surgeries (not lap-band) on my MD. What higher recommendation did I need? I've got all my ducks in a row and see the dietitian next Tuesday (May 1) and then I'll get my surgery date. Keep your fingers crossed. Good luck to all.

So glad everything turned out right. My daughter, when she was about 4 or 5 (she's 46 now) pulled out drawers in thelinen closet to make steps to my 3rd shelf where we kept all meds. She ate almost a whole container of children's aspirin. Rushed her to ER but she was okay. put a lock on the closet, but the stinker found the key and did it again!!!!! This was about 6 months later. I guess there were no bad results, except for our nerves.

<p>Since I was a member of Weight Watchers (8-time drop-out), I got into the habit of drinking Water. (At least one thing stuck w/me) Now I drink at least 4 20-oz glasses a day. Without it, I'm dry. Hasn't helped me lose weight. But I do still love my Coke. Expecially Coke Blak. But I limit myself to 1 a week. I'll be hearing about my surgery date sometime in May. FINALLY!!!!!

Thank you, Devana. I went to the sites (whatever they're called) (I'm not computer literate, either) and they gave me some hope. I'm just back from my Doc and he's enthusiastic about it. So I'm going to a seminar next week to really learn about it, and hopefully get started on the regime ASAP. Many thanks to those who welcomed me, too. Julia :nervous

:help: I'm a 69-yr old grandmother, and about 12 yrs ago I was advised that I was too old for the bariatric surgery. I'm just learning about lapband now and will be seeing my doc on Feb 9th for a referral (I hope). Both my husband of almost 49 yrs and I are rather nervous about the whole thing, but I certainly cannot go on this way. I was NOT heavy as a kid, in fact, I used to kid my mom that she gave me (what at that time was deemed) an appetizer and it had time capsules in it. Any other old-but-young folks out there? Thanks