debgoodman

I went to the UCH seminar. Dr. Dietrick is doing mine. I went with him because I work at Moffitt and so many employees there have had it done and have used him. I heard only good things. My surgery is 9-17 at 1 pm. I'm a little worried because I made the mistake of reading the threads from those who have not achieved good results and only hope that I don't have the problems keeping down foods that they do. I'm really excited. I'm at 273 right now and want to get to 150. What has your experience been like? I've strated walking a lot and swimming. I'm on the liquids right now but am allowed to eat one solid high protein meal a day until the 17th. After that it's a week of only liquids and 1 week of mushies. I thought the liquid part would be harder because I've been eating whatever I wanted and this is such a change, but I guess getting that one solid meal a day is really helpful. It hasn't been that bad so far. Is there anything you've found that you can no longer eat after surgery as compared to before surgery? Any post surgical advice?

Wow what a difference in you. I am having the band on 9-17 and just read some post where it didn't work for them and they are having many problems with eating. How did you do it? I have 130 lbs to lose and I really want to be successful. How much did you lose and how long did it take you? Any advice for me presurgery? It's best to get it from someone who's been able to follow the plan and be successful. Thanks, Debbie

I only had one visit. I had to take some psych tests and then she came in looked it over told me where I fell in the bell curve of craziness and asked me some more questions. As long as you fall in the no significant eating disorder column you're good to go. If it appears that your an emotional eater that's out of control, an anorexic, or a bulemic, then you get to come back for further evals or get kicked out of the lap band club. No worries. My lady was really nice.

I'm in Florida and I got my date today. One day after you, September 19th!!!! Thank goodness for UHC!

I live in Brandon/Tampa. My doctor is Dr. Dietrick at UCH. I am waiting on my surgery date but I believe it will be end of August. I work at Moffitt. I have a 7 month old and my time is somewhat limited but I'm looking for someone to buddy with through this process. I want to lose about 120 pounds. Anyone available?

They are mostly checking lungs to see if you have pneumonia or any pleural effusions (fluid around your lungs) that could compress the lung and cause a complication during surgery.

Hi! I'm looking to find fellow Banders in Tampa. I'm scheduled for surgery at the end of August as I found out that I have H. Pylori and am taking 30 days of antibiotics prior to surgery. I'm 33 and have a 7 month old. I'm looking for some support people who are local and maybe around my age or that have kids (although I'll take anyone. I'm not too picky). I'm married, and although my husband supports my decision to have surgery, he doesn't understand being heavy. He's 6'5" and 190lbs so he thinks you should just have will power to control weight. However, he has a super fast metabolism so he's never used will power for anything! I'm new to the area. Just moved from Atlanta. I just want regular communication with someone who really understands where I'm at mentally with the process. My husband will always be by my side but he will never understand what it's like to be heavy. I don't really know anyone here. All my friends are either in Atlanta or in NC. If you're in the area and you've either been through surgery already or are going to go through it soon, I'd love to hear from you. And I know there are support groups but I'm looking for people who are more friends than just attend support groups.

I worked in echo and stress testing for years and there are several types of tests. The echo is just an ultrasound like a baby ultrasound but of your heart. About 35 minutes. Gel's a little cold and the tech has to get up under your girls on the left side but that's it. There are several types of stress tests. You have a stress echo which is where they put you on the treadmill at a high elevation, you walk really fast and then they give you a little injection of bubble solution and follow that with the heart echo (ultrasound). Then you have a regular stress test. That is treadmill with EKG stips on you and after you complete the treadmill, you lay on the bed to let your heart rate come back down and see what the EKG strips say. Then you have a nuclear stress test. The nuclear sounds like what you were explaining in the pictures. You will either do the treadmill or get an injection to get your heart rate up. From what patient's tell me, you want to do the treadmill. The injection, I'm told, can make you heat up and your heart can really race. There's essentially nothing wrong with you but people panic because the feeling is not expected. It works like this. No food or liquids 4 hours prior to testing. You go back with the tech and get a little injection of cardiolite. You go under the camera. You lay on a bed type thing with your arms over your head. The bed slides up under the scanner. Everything is open so typically the claustrophobia isn't an issue. You get an initial set of pictures. Then you get on the treadmill or get the injection. Then you get back under the camera for a second set of pics. They compare the pre and post heart rate elevation to see what your heart looks like under stress. The whole thing takes between 2 and three hours with alot of waiting in between machines. Hope they just do a regular treadmill stress test on you and then you don't have to worry about it. Let me know if you need more info. Also, no caffeine 24 hours prior to testing. It messes with the heart rate.

My husbands been in and out of work for 3 years. I have insurance but I had to pay $1200 out of pocket which may as well have been $1 million. I also have a 6 month old so there is NOOO extra cash. If you want to have a baby and weight is the issue, just do it. Don't wait. Two years may sound like a long time but it will fly by. It will be a lot longer if you wait and then the money will be gone and you'll be out of luck. I suggest you put yourself first. We don't do that and you're giving yourself a number of reasons to give up on it. This is for you in the long run. Your health and your family. I have had to learn to just put me first every once in awhile. It's not being selfish but you may regret it when you get a few more years down the road. How does your husband feel? He'll get another job.

I knew I was going to come up a little short and I had to be a 40 BMI. My ins only counts comorbs that are significant like BP or cholesterol, diabetes, ect. I ate like a pig for a month before weigh in and checked my weight daily to see where I was. I also wore the heaviest clothes and shoes I owned. Kinda hard in summer, but it worked. No way was I going to let 10 lbs mess up this opportunity.:smile2:

I used to live in Greensboro. I am scheduled for the Band at the end of August also. You are reading my mind. I have met so many people where I work who have had it and some have done great, but a few have gained more weight. I think they should have just had fills more often, but I asked my doc who's done about half of the people in Tampa FL who are banded and he just looks at me kinda crazy and says that that is why you get the band. So you won't feel hungry. It's supposed to make losing weight easier. After reading here I'm concerned that I'll be hungry. That I'll continue to focus on food and I really don't want to feel like I'm starving. I need to lose the weight.

So here is where I'm at so far. I started a new job 90 days ago and found out they cover the Band on their insurance. I've always had a porblem with keeping weight off so I decided to go for it. I just had my first child in January and I still look as though I could be preggers. Sad. I have gone through the dietician and exercise physiologist. I had my chest x-ray and go for my cardiology clearance Tuesday. They did blood work and found out I had H Pylori so I have to take 30 days of antibiotics before I can schedule my preop visit. I'm on the second week of 4 weeks now. I'm currently 270 pounds and should be more like 150 so this will be quite the road to travel. I have talked to so many people that have had this surgery and everyone tells me something a little different. I've met everyone from those who have lost a whole person to those who have gained weight. Some with no side effects and some who throw up everyday. I have been successful in the past with losing weight but I can never keep it off, so one of my big concerns is, "will I be hungry after the band is put on?" My doctor who has done tons of these looks at me kind of crazy and says No. That's why you get the band, so you won't feel hungry. But after reading people's stories, I'm kinda concerned. So many people say they are starving and I don't want to feel that way. Is there anything I cna do about feeling hungry after the band but before it's time for a fill? I want to be successful but if I'm constantly thinking about how hungry I feel I know it will be exceedingly difficult. I know it's just a tool, but do any of you think about food as much after the band as before? :frown: