nys1emt00

I have been lurking the last couple of months while I ran around to all my appoints - had one Dr who went on vacation for 3 weeks and he was the last appoint I had to wait on for followup. (endocrinologist). Finally got that done. Now the only thing left is to lose 7 more pounds and stop smoking for 4 weeks to get a date. On my first week of no smoking; feels great since I wanted to do that anyway, but also tough because I still want to.....arghh.:biggrin: I'll get there !! They are talking about snow near me tomorrow in the higher elevations depending on whether the rain affects the temps. Winter coming too soon!

Ah Orea, I didn't think about that - but curious that no one seemed to worry about blood clots with all my other surgeries...I'll be in the office again next week so I'll have to see if there are any alternatives. Thanks!:tongue:

I am getting close to a date for my surgery - I have to have an endoscopy next week and then just the return visit to the endocrinologist to go over all my bloodwork. During my nutritionist visit a couple weeks ago, she was asking about my meds. She told me that I would have to go off my hormones before lap band surgery for a few weeks. I was so taken back I didn't think to ask why. Does anyone know why? I have had lots of surgery over the years and have never been told I had to go off hormones first. I have terrible hot flashes that have never subsided over the years...I cannot sleep without them - I end up drenched every hour. I can't imagine being off them for a few weeks....arghhh. Anyone have any enlightening info? This may be a dealbreaker for me...

So a few things - thanks to Phyllser and Long2BThin - I did talk with my co-worker and you were right Phyll - she is more than happy to answer any questions I have and has offered herself as a buddy. We have talked several times and I am getting lots of info from her. So I have my appointment with the Dr tomorrow and thankfully my husband was listening better at the seminar than I was. He said he heard them say I would be there for several hours tomorrow; that they do everything in the same day...bloodwork, physical, nutritionist, behavioralist... wow - how did I miss that ??? Unfortunately, I may get pushed back because of another problem - since I only have one functioning kidney....my body decided to put lots of blood in my urine a couple weeks ago, now just microscopic, but I have to have a cysto on Thurs under anesthesia to make sure my kidney is still ok and nothing else is going on. So please keep me in your thoughts that maybe it's nothing but a stone or something kicking around that isn't causing any other symptoms. I just needed to get this off my chest because I am worrying so much about this being the end of the road for getting the surgery. I am trying to keep positive thoughts but it isn't easy. :thumbup:

Thanks Phyllser, I never looked at it like that - I will talk to her this week and ask some of my questions. I am looking at lap band only since I want the least invasive at this point in my life.

I am a newbie to this site. I have been lurking for a few weeks now. I went to my seminar in June and have my appointment with Dr on the 23rd. I am 56,almost 57, 4'11 and 230 lbs. I was always small (gymnast in high school, swimmer, always active) until after I had my son (he's 38). I slowly put on weight for a few years and did Optifast in the 80's and took most of the weight off again. Then my body decided to start falling apart and I have had so many surgeries that I look like a road map. LOL ....But I have always been able to bounce back eventually. The problem is all the limited movement I had after each surgery, helped me to pile on the weight. (and I certainly like my own cooking - let's not forget that!) Plus I had plantar fasciitis in both feet so had trouble walking because of that as well. (and surgery on one foot, along with breaking one ankle 5 times - weak ankle from the gymnastics).Bursitis in my shoulder so had to stop swimming. Playing golf with my husband is out right now also because of my shoulder and the walking we do. I always make it to work, but it gets harder all the time because again I have to do a lot of walking and I'm determined to do something about it. I volunteered as an EMT for almost 30 years but also had to give that up because it is just too hard to do all the walking sometimes required at calls and also the lifting of others. I miss that part of my life so much. I thought about doing this for a long time, but never thought it was a possibilty because of the surgeries. But after the seminar I spoke with one of the Drs and he assured me that because of the location of my surgeries, he would still be able to do it. How I wish I had gone to the seminar long before now.... So a few questions - what happens during the first visit to the Dr? What kind of things do you get asked in other appointments? I have a co-worker who had this done last year and she couldn't be happier. But I'm hesitant to ask many questions until I get to know her better. All I know is I am so hoping I can get this done so I can spend lots of time doing things with my grandkids, when I get to visit them and maybe get back to the rescue squad. My husband is totally supportive, went to the seminar with me, and has just been great about promising to go to each appointment with me. I'm just hoping the Dr was right, and I will be able to have this done. Thanks for any information !! :biggrin: