baileymb

Well folks, What an experience! I am home now and a little sore. I had no problems with the surgery,or after. Very minimal gas pains too! Thanks to all who have responded to any of my notes, they have all been really helpful! I am going to lay down now, then out for a small walk! Baileym _________ June 14th

I will have someone make a quick trip to Wal-Mart! Michelle you crack me up! I have done 3 good, long walks today and I keep hearing a balloon letting out air type sound coming from my stomach, feels really weird! Darcy, PM me with any questions! I loved the hospital I went through and the surg. was fantastic! She was there the WHOLE time before surgery while I was being asked a zillion questions. She stayed there to make sure all was done right!~ Baileym PS Debra, Please take my word for it, no need to worry, just show up and they handle the rest!!!!! she is FABULOUS!!!!

hmm, the pain meds must of worn off, all I have now is stuff with codein in it. What is the name of the adult tylenol liquid??MY surg. mentioned that there was one out! Thanks! Baileym

OK, I am now 3 days away from this thing. It has totally consumed my mind and I am having trouble concentrating... I find myself drifting to the actual day and my palms get a little sweaty... I am going to see STYX this weekend and I am finding it hard to be excited about this (this is NOT normal) knowing what I am going through on Monday! I just got my surgery time 7:30 and I have to be there 1 1/2 hours before hand... I wish I could just forget about it until Sunday night, I know that will never happen.. Anywhooo... Going out of town, then to parents for sleep over (leaving my daughter there to go bright n early Monday) I am not sure if I will be able to check here or write. If not.... SEE YOU IN BANDLAND!!! Baileym __________ June 14th 7:30 AM Dr. Deol

As usuall we had a fantastic time! Nice seats so we were able to see the show! We met the Nelson's, they are definitely easy on the eyes! Very nice guys!! OKAY, Now for tomorrow... I have a weird CALM over me, I don't know why but I am going to try to run with it! Every once and awhile I get this flush over me, like what the heck am I doing??? The day after tomorrow at this time I will be home and healing! Will try to pop on and say "hi"! Fred8998 your short but sweet words are great for me to focus on! Thanks! Thanks to all who have replied, I showed them to my mother and she thinks it is great that I have a support board like this!! OH and Debra thanks for letting me take your old date! YOURS will be here real soon!!! Will talk to you all soon! Baileym _______ less then 24hrs

Hi, I am doing the pre-surgery diet (kinda like the adtkins) I was on something like this for 3 months awhile back until my 40 yr cousin died suddenly on vacation in Mexico. I flew into chaos, and gained all the weight (32 pounds +) back. I now remember why I liked it, I have now lost 10 lbs in 7 days! I think this is pretty cool! Some of my friends say I should just stay on this and not do the surgery...But I know this could never be permanant because I am craving bread and potato...I am also a little cranky.. Well 6 days left, or the way I think about it "this time next week I should be released and on my way home" Baileym ____________ June 14th

I am about 8 days away from my surgery and my emotions are running high! Anywhere from excited to scared, to very happy to aprehensive, doubtful to determined. I can only imagine how I am going to feel the night before. I am also worried about vomiting, I tend to wretch when I do, I know there are medications out there to help this, but what if it doesn't work?? I am hoping that all goes as well, like so many people on this board and that I am home the next day, but that little fraidy (sp) cat in the back of my brain is always jabbing at me, what if this happens and what if that happens.. Soon my day will come and I will soon be back home, and that is what gets me through each day! Sorry if I am sounding a bit, well weird, but if I do not try to voice this from time to time, my brain will explode! Thanks again everyone for all your stories and comments and helpful hints! Baileym _____________ June 14th:p

texasbelle,Sunnyone41 It feels good to read responses like this and know I am on the right track emotionally and physically... I have been through so much, according to Alex more then the average bandster. I didn't realize it until she said I was intimidating! Will do my best to keep in touch! Thanks again! Baileym _________ June 14th

I wish I could have been as lucky as you Alex. I guess I was one of the "Lucky"ones with a ton of testing.. I went into this procedure thinking it was a quick couple of tests, never realizing how much it actually was! It seemed everytime I got an appointment out of the way, I had to make a follow up to it! It was quite frustrating, but well worth it in the end... I agree, it is not standard for every person to have this... I have SEVERE asthma and they had to get that under control, I also found out I have prolonged QT interval of the heart. I thank my surgeon because I would have never found out about the heart problem. I am having issues with my sleep apnea guy, we do not seem to get along, it feels like a power trip to him, I think.. I am getting a sec opinon after the surgery. He alone was like 6 appointments. So yes it is up to the doctor and the individual. I really didn't mean to intimidate anyone! With my BMI range it was a MUST to do the sleep test, but again it was the surgeon's decision. Baileym ____________ June 14th

I think I said 30 appointments, this includes follow up, results and what not! Here is what I can remember off the top of my head! I have met with Dr. Deol (surgeon) 3 times. 1. Nutritionist- 2 times 2. Psychiatrist- 2 times 3. Cardiologist- 3 times 4. Pulmonary specialist- 2 times 5. sleep Apnea Specialist- 6 times including 2 overnight tests 6. Internist- Dr. 1 time 7. Beaumont Hos. 2 appointments 8. My PCP-at least 4 times for follow up blood work, letter, results and things. There is 25 here, I am sure I left some out! It was definitely a full 3 months!! Hope this helps! Baileym _____________ June 14th:)

Hi, I am having surgery in 8 days but I am sure I can answer a few of your questions... I have not read of anyone dying because of the surgery, I have heard of a few people dying from underlying illnesses, mostly heart problems that were not caught in time. Before the surgery they put you on an adtkins like diet- 2 - 3 weeks before. Now I have heard that some have had no pre- surgery diet. But this is to help shrink the stuff around the liver and make it easier to work around. Right after it will be Clear liquids for up to 2 week so your stomach can heal. You will slowly work you way up to solid food. About a month to 6 weeks later you will most likely be able to eat solid food. You will get full a lot faster, and you can overeat, but then you will just end up throwing up or PBing. You can do serious damage if you do not listen to you stomach when you are full. After about 6 weeks of no weight loss and more critera of no loss of weight you will go in for a "fill" in which the band will be filled with saline to make you have restriction. This might take a few fills to hit what they call the "sweet spot" this is when you can eat very small portions and still lose weight. The band is permant unless there is complications or you wish to remove it. It took me 3 months to complete all of my appointments, sum 30 appointments total..It was stressful, but at the end well worth it. There are so many people on this board and you will get a wide variety of stories and opinions, so here is mine. Also here are the differences (in my opinion) of what the procedures are and why I chose the one I did! I have done some extensive weighing of the options, I found out that once you do the gastric bypass, you can not do anything else. The gastric bypass is a "quick fix" which is you lose the weight quickly. But once your body recovers and 3 or 4 yrs down the road if you have not changed your eating habits you will gain a lot of the weight back. I have read some recent articles in people magazine of people gaining all the weight back plus more 3 to 4 yrs later and they can not have banding or any other surgery. I have heard so many sad stories of complications and deaths that it scared the crap out of me. With the band it is a continuous life time changing procedure. It is reversable, and yet while you are learning to eat right 3 to 4 yrs down the road if you find yourself gaining, you can go in for a fill to get yourself back on track. Yes the weight loss is gradual, but it helps your body adjust as you learn better eating habits. I have heard about complications, but most are relatively minor and can be quickly corrected. I have heard of no deaths that are directly from the surgery. And only 2 that were because of underlying illnesses that were not caught before the procedure. And this is why I chose the procedure... Good luck in what ever decision you make... Baileym Hope this helps! Baileym ____________ June 14th

Yes, Because of my muscle disorder I have met with the anestheologist and I know he is adjusting the kind of muslce relaxant in the meds. I know my surgeon has it listed (the non vomiting stuff) so I am praying for the best! We are going to see STYX, Frampton and the Nelson bos. that weekend so it will keep my mind off it for awhile. I know I have to be at the hospital bright n early on Monday so we are staying the night at my mothers so I can just wake up and leave my daughter sleeping. I am hoping to be home around 4 ish Tuesday afternoon! I can not think of anything else but that day, it is so weird!! Exciting, scared, anxious but weird! Baileym _________ June 14th

Has it not worked on anyone here? Any stories would be appreciated...Anything I should be prepared for? Baileym _________ June 14th:)

I spoke with my surgeon about this and she said if it is going to happen, it will most likely be between 5-10 years. This is still kinda freaky, anyone have any additional news? I did hear it could happen quicker, but has anyone here had theirs removed because of this, or heard of someone? I know it hasn't been around for a real long time, but any info would be great! Thanks! Baileym ___________ June 14th;)

I wish there were better statistics on this! I keep praying for a quick recovery now I am adding in no band erosion! All these things are going through my mind over and over, it can get quite scary! Thanks Donali, you insight and knowledge is always a welcome!!:cool: Baileym _____________ June 14th

I saw a movie all about it and it totally freaked me out! When I went in to speak with the surgeon she asked "did I scare you completely now"?? She was laughing when she said it too! So I felt better.. She then said that she had to show me everything and anything that could possibly go wrong.. The good thing is that the percentage of it going wrong is so low, with that I felt at ease! I then went on and drilled her for about 1 hour on her (personal experience) and felt MUCH better... She is definitely good at what she does! We then went to meet with the anesthesiacologist (sp) where we talked about my asthma, heart and muscle disorder. Felt mor comfortable after talking with them too! So here I am 11 days to go, I am on this special no/low carb thing to help with the surgery, something about shrinking my liver or stuff around it.. Will be interesting finding out more of what I will be able to eat after! I have been cleaning like mad trying to get things in order so I won't have much to do after!! I can't believe I have gotten to this point, it will be almost 3 months to the day of my first appointment! Been crazy, but worth it in the end! Baileym __________ June 14th

Hi everyone, I go see my surgeon today to talk about the "big day" . She mentioned a video, wonder what that's all about! I have a few questions to ask her also! Anyone else felt really, really nervous right about this time? Baileym _______________ June 14th EEEKKKKK!!!!!

Hi Everyone, Just started my pre-surg. diet! Getting quite nervous, scared, excited in all. I was just thinking, can you actually feel the band around you? Also can you decide where the port will be? Left or right side? So many questions, so little time... Any thoughts would be great! Thanks!~ Baileym ______________ June 14th Dr. Deol

I am hoping to have it on the right (I am doubting it though) My right side is not as sensitive as my left and the thought of being stuck with a huge needle makes that side of me quiver! LoL I go for the pre-op with the surgeon tomorrow and will ask these ???.. Thanks again! Seems like I learn more and more everytime I pop on to read, hard to believe that after 4 mos, I am to this point, felt like it would be forever, in away it was, but looking back now I am so happy I did this! Baileym _____________ June 14th

Hi Linda, I know what you are going through. I only told people who needed to know at first,I did tell my daughter and explained it to her, she can't wait!! Then I started telling a few more..( friends, brother). Their support was quite suprising and really encouraging. Some I thought would be judgemental were not! I have had NO negative comments as of yet and will be banded on the 14th. I work at a big company and did not want it to go around so I only told people who needed to know there, boss, manager, supervisor and my best friend who works there. So as long as you feeling your are getting the support you need, I see no need to be telling anyone! Hope this helps! Baileym _____________ June 14th Dr. Deol

I was approved for surgery end of April, things were going along kinda bumpy and now I am at the end only to recieve a call from my surgeon's office stating effective May 1st a new document has to prove at failed attempts at weight loss. I was just informed that my surgery is no longer covered by my insurance unless my doctor (PCP) writes a letter informing them of my failures at weight loss. I am now stressing again, angry, confused and annoyed. Has this happened to anyone else out there? Or am I just one of the lucky ones! Any support would be fantastic right about now! Thanks for listening as usual! Baileym ______________ Lord knows now! I am praying for 6/21/04 Surg. date!

You are too cool! Thank you very much, I really am glad we have corresponded during this and hope to meet in person real soon! Baileym _____________ June 14th Dr. Deol

Hi everyone, Thanks for all the + comments it has really helped me throught this pre-test procedures! I just got a call from my surgeon's office and it looks like my surgery is now June 14th! Debra if your still on the 14th, we can be buddies! (I hope) I am so excited, scared, nervous, scared, happy, relieved... did I say scared?? Thanks again for everyone on this board, you have truly been a great asset to my journey! Baileym ________________ JUNE 14th Dr. Deol Way tooo much/------->/Just right

Makes sense, Can't wait to have a few of those! LoL Thanks nightingale2u for making me not feel so awkward! Gonrats Gretat!! One month and a "NSV" Way to go! Baileym _______________ 6/21/04 ((((PLEASE!!!!)))

Hi all, Went again to see the sleep guy, just do not seem to be progressing here. Don't know why!! I went to my pcp, I have been seeing her for 14 years and have been with that office for 26 years, so she had a lot of past attempts and failures on my weight loss...I hand delivered my letter to the surgeon's office!! Spoke with Dr. Deol in person today, she has been so great... She said my letter should be perfect it was just what she was looking for...and wanted to use it as a reference for other patients to use for guidence... She said of course she would block out the name n stuff. I thought that was fantastic!! Now that I told everyone, I guess there is no need to block it out! LoL So right now all is well again! Thanks again for listening, as I am sure this will not be the last time! Baileym __________ 6/21/04 Looking likely