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Thank you all!!! I am feeling sooooo much better about this now! Will be seeing my surgeon at the end of this month and hopefully we can start this ball rolling! I am so glad he told me about this site! Ada

Hello, I was banded Aug 2011 and having problems :*( My surgeon is Dr P Domkowski in Sebastian Florida and I LOVE him! I am one of the few people that didn't have success with the band-I knew going in that there was a small percentage of people that were not going to have a positive outcome. I spoke to Dr D and he suggested I try converting to the sleeve this summer and to join this site for answers to some of my questions--- I really don't know where to begin. I've tried traversing the site but being new to this site I'm having some difficulties. Anyone out there that have done this? Any problems? Any advise? Thank you Ada

Thanks for responding! I'm 99% sure I will go for the sleeve. I intend to use the same surgeon as I just adore him and I feel that the "rejection" of my band was not any fault of his but just my body! I will probably have to start the insurance crap all over again but I'm willing to do it. Your story has inspired me :-) I'm glad for your success converting and I'm looking forward to joining the club! Ada

Had surgery Aug 26th. Has anyone ever had their band spring a leak ? I've had 2 fills so far and for the first 3-4 days I get that "full feeling" but after that I'm ravenous and could eat my arm. I understand that it's quite rare but I know that there is always the possibility of a defective band. I called my surgeon and if I still have the symptoms by Monday then he's going to schedule an upper GI. I'm nervous as hell at the thought of needing surgery again but if I do I know I couldn't be in better hands with Dr Domkowski---he's a gem! Just was wondering if anyone had a similar experience and could put my mind at ease - or confirm my worst fears :-( Thanks in advance Ada

Thank you all for your input :-) I am much more at ease than I was a few days ago...I will let you all know the outcome! Ada

I hope that's so! I was just concerned because right after the fill I felt full and a few days later I was starving--I guess we'll see soon enough Congrats on your banding! Ada

Well here's my little story... Just had surgery yesterday 8/26 and It went way better than I expected :-) Arrived at hospital at 8:30 am for my 11:30 surgery and went through all the preps. Everything went along as scheduled...Dr D came in to check as well as the anesthesiologist who allayed my fears of waking up during the surgery and feeling EVERYTHING--I made the mistake of putting in a movie about a surgery gone bad (Just a movie LOL) IV put in (got it the 1st time!), Heparin shot-lucky me there was no sting, they put a funny looking plastic cover over me & hooked it to a hose that blew nice warm air all over my body-a nice feeling after being in a freezing cold room!, said goodbye to my hubby and he asked me if I was sure I wanted to do this-I really felt bad that I was a little grouchy with him as I was a nervous wreck all morning and was myself a bit doubtful about the whole thing so I really shouldn't have snapped :-( Wheeled out of that room and taken to OR-Don't remember a thing after that until I woke up in recovery groggy but not in much discomfort, spent about 2 hrs there & taken to the ICU for the night-hubby & daughter there waiting. Daughter stayed the night & we had a regular little pajama party! Jello, Broth, Water, Tea. Got up and walked the halls to get rid of "gas" but nothing helped. Pain was minimal and the came in every 4 hours with some Delauded and Lortab liquid--Very comfortable night I must say--forgot to mention that as Dr D was inserting my band he noticed I had an ulcer & so he repaired that as well! Got up this morning and was released around noon with all my instruction---the staff there at Sebastian River Medical was GREAT and couldn't do enough to make my stay comfy! Well here I am at home now, discomfort is minimal, drinking my post op liquids and WALKING to disperse the gas--NOT WORKING!!! I hear it can sometimes take a week-I hope not, so here I am about 36 hours post op and walking around the house to get some relief--- All in all if I were to be asked I would have to say YES,YES,YES I would do it again Ada G quote name='pennyt' timestamp='1211673254' post='840070'] This thread will be a sticky so that people can post their surgery day stories so that those who come after can have an idea of what to expect.

Well here I am with 4 days until my surgery so long as insurance doesn't throw a wrench I do have to admit that my week of liquids is going better than I expected ! My entire life I've HATED Cottage Cheese and now I find myself looking forward to having 4 oz of it with Jello LOL!!! It's really been great reading all of your posts & realizing that you all have had all the fears that I now have---THANKS! will pop in again Ada

Oh My... I'm thinking we all are going through he same anxiety & fear! As long as we don't run into any insurance snags my surgery will be Fri Aug 26 . I just started my pre-op liquid diet Friday & it wasn't bad UNTIL TODAY!!! I find myself craving food that I wouldn't even look at a week ago- I just keep telling myself that the 26th will be here soon! I too haven't told anyone except my kids- I guess I don't want to hear the questions "Are you sure you want to do this? It's quite drastic don't you think? Have you tried dieting? etc... YES, YES, YES I know! SHEESH---Do people really think I would go through all of this if something else worked? I am so ready for this---I am so looking forward to not hiding when someone breaks out the camera for family pics. My husband is finally on board with this decision. He's always telling me how beautiful I am ( what a good LIAR) and I think I convinced him that I was doing this for ME and no-one else. While I'm home for my 2 weeks recuperation I will get my weight loss ticker going and I will post some "before" pics! Thanks for listening Ada

I'm sceduled for Aug 26--barring any unexpected issues with insurance! Start my liquid diet next Fri--Any and all advive is WELCOME!!! Ada

I too am a nervous wreck but I also know that I've tried EVERYTHING and still my weight climbs and when I see my Dr I find that I'm taking a little more insulin each time! I finally said enough is enough and last year made the call. At first I thought I was a failure taking this route but I now know that failure would be to do nothing! So here I am going to see my surgeon next Tues and hoping I'll have a date to start my new healthy life! Ada Surgeon Dr P Domkowski in Sebastian Florida

Going in for my surgery in April and I just can't wait to sing the "Pants on the ground" song! Great job to you adagray from ada g

hey docsly...congrats! I'll keep following your "healthy" progress. I've just started researching and so far I like what I find. I think I'm going to give myself til the new year though so when I do go I'll be really ready. Till then I'll lurk around here and pick up as many tips as I can so when it's my time I won't be such a scaredy cat. Ada

Yay !!!! I found some friends my own age! I'm just begining the "search" . I'm 62 and I too am a grandma (of 15!) and a great grandma (of 2) and I sure want to see them all grown up. That'a why I need to do this. It sure is scary though. Looking forward to cheering you all on! Ada Florida

Hi, I'm a 62 yr old female 5'3" & weigh 218 lbs and climbing! I had a double by-pass 3 yrs ago & I'm a diabetic. I think I'm finally able to consider the lap band. I'm scared to death :scared2:but I'm more scared of not doing it! I understand that my insurance may cover the cost. I hope so cause that's the only way I can afford it. I will be going to a seminar this Friday for information. This is the 3rd time I've made an appt for the seminar but this time I'm not chickening out! Any questions I should ask? Thanks Ada

Hi Cris, Thanks so much for responding so quickly. This site is such a help that I'm thinking this time I won't chicken out! I've truly reached the end of my rope. You name the diet and I've tried it. I had a dble bypass 3 yrs ago and started a heart diet( I'm now 15 lbs heavier-go figure!). The last thing I tried was Alli and that didn't work. I decided on the band about a month ago when I had to walk up the stairs at work and could barely make it. My knees were burning and my lungs were exploding. I just sat there and cried my eyes out. I went to my nephrologist (I also am an insulin dependant diabetic) and told him how desperate I've become and he was very sympathetic and told me that the band was a good choice for someone like me. 62 yrs old/ 218 lbs/ 5"3"/ dibetic/ heart bypass he said my BMI was 38.5 but with the other medical problems I was a good candidate so here goes! I live in Florida and I'm going to a seminar on June 6th with Dr Fusco. Wish me luck Ada

Oh my Chris! Did I read correctly? You had the proceedure just a week ago???? Please share how it went cause I'm the biggest chicken ever! How is the recovery? Oh pray tell...I want to know everything. LOL Ada