nightingale2u

WOO HOO Kimberly!!!! I'm sooooooooooo excited for you!!!!! WOW... less than a month away!!!! Darcy

Hope everything went smoothly with your surgery! Come and post and let us know how you are doing once you are feeling up to it! Darcy

Welcome Hopeful! As you can see... you have joined a friendly and helpful bunch of bandsters and pre-bandsters! Good luck with your journey! :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny

WOO HOO DONALI!!!!!! WTG GIRL!!! Ummmm... I think we are waiting for the pic....LOL. Darcy

Woo Hoo Nancy! I have restriction without having had a fill yet... my first fill is scheduled for next Friday but am thinking they won't do it unless they find out why I am having discomfort. I am not sure if I would need one anyway. Wishing you well as you start back on your journey to be a big loser! Darcy

Hi Alex... Sorry for the pain but awesome for the reason why! You go girl! Darcy

Hi Guys... I'm not having the EGD until Wednesday. Until then... I am tired of not eating... so... I eat.. and drink... and then the cramping and rumbling and huge build up of gas... JOY. THey did not call me yestrday either... I called them and I did tell them that this week has been awful and stressful ant the something needs to change at their office. Unfortunately I was terribly polite about it... just didn't want to get all riled up again... make the discomfort worse. Anyhoo... I CALLED and gave all of the information to the GI doctor and then I CALLED Dr. CHua's office and told them that the GI doctor would be waiting for the order to arrive that morning. So... it is all set and now I will be putting together a letter to Dr. Chua regarding my experiences since the start of this journey and suggesting changes that might make a difference for others when they go through theirs. Vera... LOVE the new avatar you gorgeous girl you! Have a good weekend everyone! Darcy

BTW Neicy... loved your pic... you're a cutie! Thanks... Hopefully I'll still have this sassy lassy attitude in the mornin!

Okay... the support group meeting was very productive! I knew there was a gal there that has a direct line to Dr. Chua... I started crying like five minutes into my story and she had him on the phone in like 5 seconds. I told him... I have been waiting 4 days to find out what tests you wanted done.. he said... well... you need an EGD... I was like ...okay... then why have I been waiting by the phone for 4 days???? I told him they never called me back today even though I was in tears when I called this morning... and then...we lost the connection...LOL. ANYHOO... I was VERY verbal at the meeting and let me tell ya... the patients that are just starting the journey were VERY interested in what I had to say! SO... NOW... I am not afraid to speak my mind and I will call AGAIN and will speak my mind and tell them that it tool 5 seconds to get the information I have been waiting days for! I told them that there is a serious problem with communication... and that the staff is not representing Dr. Chua well. He honestly is a fantastic surgeon... but I know from experience that poor staffing can ruin a reputation FAST. That is why I am posting EVERYTHING that is happening. I also gave this website to everyone at the meeting... so hope to see them all here! Don't worry ladies... this girl is on a mission to find out what is wrong and hopefully it is nothing that a bland diet won't take care of! I love this band and I will nolonger sit by and wait for something to happen that may cause it's removal. I never thought I would be happy to hear that somebody is going to stick a scope down my throat... damn... party on Garth! Darcy

Awwwwww.... Lisa!!!! I love your hat! I love that everyone is sharing pictures... it's just like having another family!

Well... this is just dandy... So... I called AGAIN and was politely told... that they are working on it. I couldn't help it... I started crying. I told her I thought I had been very patient... that I am not able to eat or drink without pain... that I can't sleep and that this is obviously not normal. Again... she told me that the problem is being worked on. I am left to wonder... why it would take three days to find out what tests the surgeon would like to order???? So... it has been 2 hours since my last call. I called my PCP and he is out of town for the week... On a positive note... I called Dr. Kemmerling's office ( A bariatric surgeon in Green Bay) and asked if he would be willing to take over my care. Mary... the person that handles the bariatric part of his practice was wonderful. I am not even his patient and she took the time to discuss my concerns with the RN and and called me back IMMEDIATELY and said... this should be taken care of today. She said that she would talk to Dr. Kemmerling and ask him if he would take me on with a referral from Dr. CHua. She encouraged me to call my PCP... I did... no go. She also offered to call Dr. CHua's office. Without knowing if they will take me on, I am too afraid for her to call and rock the boat. I am not in severe pain unless I eat... but darn it... I get hungry! So... I've had a Protein shake today and warm tea. Here I sit... again... waiting for somebody to call me back. Going to take a hot shower... and hopefully they will call before I leave for the support group meeting... Darcy

Nope Lisa... He's in Milwaukee...lol. He is one of the most experienced bariatric surgeons in Wisconisin... unfortunately... that also makes him one of the busiest as well. I saw him for my consult and right before surgery and will probably never see him again until the big Christmas party bash. He really is the sweetest most soft spoken and gentle man... however... his busy practice and distance from my home make for difficult aftercare if a problem crops up. Hopefully they will call me with what the plan is tomorrow. I know that something isn't right. Don't worry... if something gets worse I will haul my butt back into the ER. Until then... I just will wait and worry and post pictures of my fur babies. I still have half a lawn that needs a mowing... LISA??? Ya comin over to take care of that for me???? Just think... a cross country rise on the ole Harley!

I have to agree with you on that Lisa... I am afraid to speak up most of the time... I did call them... this afternoon... JoAnne was not able to get a hold of Dr. Chua today... she said she will sit on him tomorrow and ask him what testing he would like to be done. I told her it was better her than me... I'm still pretty heavy and he's a fairly small man. He is just too busy for a needy girl such as myself I guess. All I know is that I am tired of having a belly ache... and that is for doggone sure! I mowed half of the lawn today and I was just plain nauseated by the time I quit! Maybe I have a hairball in there from all of the fur babies in this house!

HEHEHEHE... I'm tellin ya... the floor ir RARELY clean... I gave up on that... tis just not possible with all of the fur flying around this place! Y'all can come by and visit my petting zoo anytime... beware of Tas though... she acts like she wants to be pet and then belts out a big HISSSSSSSS when ya do! She's eating my plants as I type. I swear... when each of them heads over the rainbow bridge... they will not be replaced... honest... no... I really mean it... NO MORE FUR BABIES! We couldn't get a smaller house even if we wanted to... how would we all fit???? Yeah... I scare myself... daily... Rudy has a drinking problem...

Hey Penni... the next gathering might have to be at your house... will all dance on the bar.... YEE HAW!!!! Wait...Wait... ONE MORE FUR BABY!!!! THis Is Ollie... and she is my sweetie baby... she's my favorite... SHHHHHH don't tell the others!

Hmmmm... perhaps it should be a throat swab instead... think of all the fun we would have testing it and gagging each other! You know... as beautiful as I think you look now Lisa... I think you were beautiful then as well. Obviously I'm not alone cause that handsome feller standing next to you thought so too! Ummm... let's see... another fur baby... This is "Tas" and she really is a psycho kitty... I mean it... look in her eyes! I love her though.... her tummy hangs just like mine!

Yup... I know what you mean... tis a crazy ole world! I know that when I turned 36 I said... "Nope... not having another baby at this age." I think I am just too selfish now... don't want to go through all of the baby stages again. Anyone want to see another fur baby???? Did I hear YES????? Rudy (the one with the NO bark collar) and my non-fur baby Em

LOLOLOL... If you woul dhave only seen me with the shop vac yesterday slurping up the mounds and mounds of dog and cat hair! That was actually my floor at my old house... now there are too many fur babies! I just wait until the floor appears to be moving now... Here's another one... Jinx the handsome prince!

Well Miss Lisa... since Chris has good swimmers and they could find no physical reason why you were not able to get pregnant... the chance always exists that it could happen. Losing weight can increase your chances for getting pregnant... so keep that in mind. We have a family friend that was told she would never get pregnant due to her hubsband's sperm count or lack there of. THey adopted three children and then BAMMO... pregnant. When you least expect it! It sounds like you wouldn't object to the possibility... but the little critters do get a lil pricey over the years! I always wanted another child... but alas... I guess it is just my sweet Miss Em. I am finally past the strong maternal urges and think... nahhhh... but it took me a lot of years to get there. Fur babies are nice... but wish they would keep puppy breath just a LITTLE bit longer! My big Jack boy has the worst breath in the history of Dogs. Darcy Here's my Fur Baby Jack

Lisa... I know... I couldn't believe what the cost was... was more than my sister's open GBP and a 4 day hospital stay... thankfully... insurance is picking up all but 2,500.00. Penni... they did call me back at 5:15 yesterday but Dr. Rudic said he wasn't familiar with what was going on with me and so I had to wait until today when she could talk to Dr. CHua. She called me first thing this morning and told me I do need further testing with a GI doc... but she is not sure exactly what testing. So... I am waiting for her to get back to me on that. I do have to say that the gal (JoAnne) that I have been tlaking to has been very nice which is a pleasant change from some of my previous experiences. I still am having pain when I eat or drink... but it is less now that I am eating bland foods and drinking only warm liquids. It is very tender when I palpate the area above the belly button. I guess my fear is that if there is inflammation of the stomach lining for whatever reason... that I will end up with band erosion. I have done so well with the band so far and I am not ready to give it up for any reason. Anyhoo... I am going to email Dr. Kemmerling's office in Green Bay and ask them if they take patients that have had bariatric surgery elsewhere. I really don't want to switch gears at this point but want to know what my options are if there are problems in the future. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover the baratric surgeons that are located a mere 20 minutes from where I live. So... I hope that Dr. Chua is ordering an EGD... I really want them to take a little look and make sure all is well. Darcy

Hey Lisa... I think we shall say you have restriction... we shall not consider slippage and I will not let thoughts of erosion enter my mind with the type of pain I am having! Deal???? I know... it's crazy... they got my 40 grand and now I feel somewhat abandoned. I know that Dr. Chua is an excellent surgeon... but the care from office staff and aftercare is also important. After my sister had the RNY GBP... she actually got to see her surgeon for the pre-op and post-op check ... when she went in for checks after surgery the staff knew her by name and got so excited with her for her weight-losses... when she called with problems, her surgeon got on the phone with her immediately... They were friendly and encouraging through the entire process. My experience has been far less enjoyable. I think that Dr. CHua has an overlaoded practice and not enough staff to carry the load. His practice lacks the human touch, kindness, and compassion. THey have a wallhanging in their office that basically depicts those that need to lose weight as whiners and that they need to stop whining and take action... I found it very unprofessional and offensive. I will be talking to them about transferring my care. I have to find out if there is a doctor that is covered by my insurance and will take me. *sigh* I am thankful for the fact that Dr. CHua is pro-banding and for all or the positive information he gave in the seminar. I am also thankful for how sweet and kind he was while I was waiting to go into the surgery suite.... unfortunately... the needs of this patient didn't stop there. Kiley... thanks so much for the well wishes... are you going to the support group meeting in FDL tomorrow???? You don't have to be a patient of Dr. Chua to attend and it is a really nice small group. ((((hugs)))) Darcy

((((((((HUGS))))))))) Hey Jen girl... So sorry to hear about your friend... life just dishes out some tough stuff doesn't it? More ((((HUGS)))) Darcy

Hi Margret, Only my family and a few close friends know that I have been banded. I haven't lost enough weight for anyone to notice yet... but if they ask... I'll tell them I am just eating a low carb/ high Protein diet... tis the truth! Darcy

UUUmmmmm... why has Miss Lisa NOT used birth control for 13 years??????? Please tell me Harley Boy is shooting blanks???? We would give you one helluva a baby shower though! Darcy

Sorry Lisa... I wish I could say that being single is a blast... some of it was good... having the whole bed to myself... watching whatever I wanted on T.V.... letting the hair grow out on my legs until resembled a rain forest... and I'm sure there were a few other great things about it. THe WORST part about being single was dating... not a pretty scene. BUT... even though divorce was hell... and single motherhood was though... it was a journey that led me to a wonderful grown-up man that is wonderful to me and my daughter! Teresa...thanks so much... I betcha my stomach wouldn't hurt at all if you were here cooking for me! Marie... I called again this morning... and they called back tonight at a quarter past 5pm. She called to let me know that she hadn't forgot me...BUT... the doctor there was not familiar with my case and couldn't make any suggestions (He did my pre-op H&P and my post-op check). She was very nice and apologized... said she would talk to Dr. Chua tomorrow. I do have email addresses... I'll give that a try next time. Sooooo... I did a full liquid diet today and stuck to warm liguids such as herbal tea and Soup. My stomach continued to bother me all day ... and then... this evening... I felt hunger without pain... hmmmm... we shall see... Maybe I'll be able to call my surgeon tomorrow and say... Never Mind... I fixed it all by myself! Darcy