Cindy C

I'm not worried about going back to work. While I do work long hours...7:30am - 6:00pm M-F it's not an overly physical job. Thanks everyone for your input and support. I'm sure I'll be fine. I'll share my experience when it's over.

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. It's funny that I'm having all the symptoms but they are more on the left side then the right. My friend who had hers out years ago said that her pain was also on the left side and my doctor said it was not all that uncommon. So I'm having it removed March 2nd. I'm planning on having it done over a 3 day weekend and returning to work on Monday. I just started a new job in December. Luckily I have an awesome boss. He said if I need a couple extra days don't worry about it, take whatever I need.

I have been having some nausea and abdominal pain. When I had labs done about 3 months ago my liver enzymes were elevated which is what made my surgeon suspect my gallbladder.

Yes there are hundreds of failed bandsters but the successful ones far outweigh them. I'm sorry you have had a bad experience and hope you find a way to become successful in your journey.

82 pounds in 9 months is great! I lost 92 the first 9 months including 15 I lost pre-op. Sounds like you're right on track.

171.6

Unfortunately, I don't have a problem with Cheez-Its or chocolate either!

The only way to change your picture on your passport is to apply for a renewal and then you lose the time remaining on the first one. Since passports are valid for 10 years, I'm sure customs officials are used to people not looking like their pictures. Carrying proof of your surgery and other id probably isn't a bad idea, tho.

Before my surgery I would go through 3 or 4 12-packs a week. I gave it up cold turkey the day of my surgery and haven't had one in almost 4 years. I don't miss it one bit!

Name, real or screen~ Cindy C Goal weight for February 29th~ 169 Weight on February 1st~ 173.6 Age~ 51 Date banded~ 6/10/08 Total weight loss since banding~ 150 Do you have any Valentines day plans (How do you plan to handle Valentines dinner)~ It's just another Tuesday!

After getting a substantial unfill in December and having very little restriction through the holidays, I gained about 8 pounds. (I made it up to 178). I managed to lose a couple pounds of it by the beginning of this challenge and have weighed 173.6 every single day for the past 2 or 3 weeks. I started a new job and the insurance kicks in Feb 1st. I plan on making an appointment for a fill asap but first, I think an upper GI is in order since I haven't had one in over a year.

Too funny!

It's totally normal to lose big the first few weeks after surgery. Don't get too excited, tho. Once you go back on solid food the weight loss will slow down dramatically. I lost 15 in my 2 weeks of pre-op and then another 24 the first month. After that I averaged about 6 or 8 pounds a month for the first year.

Holy Moly, 17 pounds from goal already? You go, Girl!!

Bariatric Surgery Center Opens at St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron 01/12/2012 ST. JOSEPH MERCY PORT HURON LAUNCHES BARIATRIC SURGERY SERVICE Local Surgeons Expand Service by Joining Michigan Bariatric Institute Port Huron, MI…St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is pleased to announce that Zubin Bhesania, MD, and Anthony W. Boutt, MD, have joined with the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) in providing bariatric surgical services. These two leading edge, Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence surgeons are joining SJMHS's Michigan Bariatric Institute and expanding the provision of highly advanced bariatric services across southeastern Michigan. A surgeon at Huron Surgical Clinic, PC, Zubin Bhesania, MD, received his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1993, and completed his surgical residency at St. John Hospital in Detroit. Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Bhesania was the first surgeon in the state of Michigan to actively perform lap band surgery and has been involved in several lap band research studies. In addition, he serves as Surgical Proctor for Allergan (maker of lap band), providing lap band surgical training to other surgeons across the nation. Highly skilled and qualified, he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Anthony W. Boutt, MD, has been on staff at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital since 2002 and has provided general and bariatric surgical services through Huron Surgical Clinic, PC. He obtained his medical degree from Wayne State University in 1997, and completed his general surgical residency at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in 2002. He has been trained and certified in providing bariatric surgery for more than nine years. He is highly honored and has received numerous awards for his work in laparoscopic surgical services. Dr. Boutt is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The development of the Michigan Bariatric Institute (MBI) includes the opening of a medical center dedicated to bariatric services at St. Joseph Mercy. The comprehensive center will be located on the hospital’s main level, near the Emergency Department. In addition to specialized medical equipment, center patients will be able to take advantage of amenities dedicated to their care. The center will provide a team of bariatric services trained registered nurses, registered dietitians and other specialists, who are all required to take part in uniquely designed sensitivity training. Leading the center’s opening is Tammy Kwarciak, RN, who has been named Director of Bariatric Services at St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron (SJMPH). Dedicated to providing the most advanced programs and services for center patients, Tammy comes to SJMPH with 10 years' experience providing bariatric clinical coordination and leadership as well as maintaining Centers of Excellence standards for Bariatric Services at an award-winning center. The St. Clair County Health Department reports that nearly two-thirds of St. Clair County adult residents are above the "normal" healthy body weight. Referring to it as a "national epidemic", the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 66 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity has been widely recognized as a risk factor for many health conditions including hypertension, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, coronary disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and certain cancers. “We are very fortunate that this important service will be provided by two highly experienced and professional surgeons, who have completed more than 3,000 bariatric cases over their extensive careers,” comments Peter Karadjoff, FACHE, President and CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron. "Alignment through the Michigan Bariatric Institute will provide Dr. Boutt and Dr. Bhesania access to health system resources not available before, offering the ability to more readily expand their scope while improving service to the entire southeastern Michigan community. Combined with the MBI, the programs have provided for more than 5,000 procedures over the past several years. That equates to a wealth of experience not available anywhere else in the area.” Providing services since 2005, the MBI offers a multi-disciplinary team approach to weight loss surgery. MBI surgery centers are also located at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, MI, and St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, in Pontiac, MI. St. Mary Mercy Livonia is designated as a Center of Excellence. MBI is committed to assisting patients through every aspect of the weight loss process. From educational seminars to pre-surgical classes to support groups, the MBI staff partner with each patient to ensure a smooth transition through each phase of weight loss as well as enjoying expected outcomes. "I'm excited about the prospect of teaming up with the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and the Michigan Bariatric Institute that already has a well-established bariatric program in place across southeast Michigan," comments Anthony W. Boutt, MD. "St. Joseph Mercy Hospital has shown us that they are interested in developing a service that provides a level of care that will be second to none in the Thumb region. We will continue to provide excellent service to our current bariatric patients and our commitment to high quality care that focuses on minimally invasive bariatric procedures with low complication rates." This expansive new program will provide patients access to adjustable gastric banding and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in an environment dedicated to their specific needs. Additional services will include an important medical weight loss program and exercise component as well as panniculectomy, which is the removal of excess skin after substantial weight loss. With qualified staff, dedication to patient care and clinical outcomes, and physician expertise, MBI at St. Joseph Mercy is expected to obtain its national accreditation as a Centers for Excellence program later this year. "Joining the St. Joseph Mercy family will provide us with new and outstanding opportunities to grow our program and more fully meet the needs of patients throughout the region," explains Zubin Bhesania, MD. "Through our affiliation with MBI, we will expand our professional network to include other highly advanced southeastern Michigan surgeons. And, we will introduce enhanced programs that really provide the level of quality and patient care needed to address the health concerns of this important and growing segment of the population. Finally, we're excited about integrating our laparoscopic expertise into St. Joseph Mercy’s already advanced program, including laparoscopic gastric, bowel, and other minimally invasive surgeries. We truly look forward to what the future has to offer through this affiliation." "Losing weight is a challenge for most people," concludes Karadjoff. "Providing a service dedicated to meeting the needs of this unique patient population is just one more example of our commitment to reinvesting health care dollars and our continued work to elevate the health status of our community. We're proud to do this with such an outstanding team." To learn more about bariatric services at St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron, to make an appointment, or to register for one of our upcoming educational sessions, call 810-985-1650. To find out more about St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron and the Michigan Bariatric Institute, visit us online at: mymercy.us. Look for newly scheduled bariatric surgery educational events by following St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron on facebook and twitter.

I agree that you get what you pay for. You also have to be realistic with what you can afford. I'm assuming that you live in Kansas City. Do you want to have to travel 200 miles for your after care? Personally, I wouldn't want to be that far from my doctor. But that's a choice you have to make for yourself. Did you look at what the varying prices include? My guess is that the cheapest one is the surgery only while the others may include a year or so of fills. As for which surgery is more successful, I think any one of them will only be as successful as you make them. I have had great success with my lap-band going from 324 pounds to my current 170. I had my surgery 3 1/2 years ago and lost 115 by my first bandiversary.

Every doctor is different so you should really ask him. My doctor doesn't do fill under x-ray unless there's a reason and says go ahead and eat before because you aren't going to be eating after. His rule is liquids for the rest of the day and then back to normal tomorrow.

I don't like my old lady thighs either but they beat the heck out of the tree trunks they replaced. From the sounds of it we are all 50ish (I'll be 52 in March). Face it, Ladies, no matter how much weight we lose, we aren't going to look like we did 30 years ago. But we're much healthier now and certainly better looking than if we hadn't lost the weight.

I thought giving up diet pepsi would kill me, now I don't even miss it. It's ok to drink alcohol you just have to watch the calories and be careful because it will affect you much quicker. As for the 8 pounds needed to get insurance to pay, just strap on some ankle weights and leave on your shoes!

I used to love spicy food but find after banding I just can't tolerate it any more. I learned this trick years ago for putting out the fire. Take a small sip of milk and hold it in your mouth and swish it around before swallowing.

I agree. Slow down.

What a great feeling. I finally weigh less than my son (21) for the first time in his life!

My PCP told me once that it was unrealistic at 50 to ever expect to weigh what I did in high school. I now weigh about 10 pounds less than the day I graduated in 1978 and I'm still losing. The only one who can put limits on you is you. Good luck. You can do it!

From the Port Huron Times Herald: St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron hospital is branching out into bariatric surgery by teaming with the Michigan Bariatric Institute. Two local surgeons who had worked at Port Huron Hospital are the first onboard. Dr. Zubin Bhesania and Dr. Anthony Boutt will be moving the bulk of their bariatric practice from Port Huron Hospital to St. Joseph Mercy this month, although both will do surgeries at Port Huron Hospital when necessary. "It's a huge thing for the community," Bhesania said. "At St. Joseph Mercy, we will be able to network with fellow Michigan Bariatric Institute surgeons. It is a good synergistic move for us. We are bringing a lot of bariatric experience with us." The Michigan Bariatic Institute is part of the St. Joseph Mercy Health System, the parent of St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron. Bhesania founded Port Huron Hospital's Lap-Band Center of Michigan and has been serving as its director since it opened in 2002. Boutt also has been on staff since the center opened. Patients will be able to have both surgical and medical bariatric treatment at the new center, which Bhesania said is a big improvement. Port Huron Hospital's bariatric center only offered surgical treatment, which excluded some patients from care. "Not everyone qualifies for surgical bariatric weight loss," he said. "If your (body mass index) is 29 and you have high blood pressure, you wouldn't qualify, even though you would definitely benefit from being able to lose weight." Medical weight loss combines dietary changes, medications and exercise to achieve weight loss, Bhesania said. The bariatric center at St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron will be on the main floor, near the emergency department. It will open Jan. 23, and the first patient education seminar will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26. Registered nurse Tammy Kwarciak has been named director of bariatric services for the new center. Officials with St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron said they are excited about the chance to start a bariatric program with Bhesania and Boutt. "We are very fortunate that this important service will be provided by two highly experienced and professional surgeons who have completed more than 3,000 bariatric cases over their extensive careers," Peter Karadjoff, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron, said in a news release. "Alignment through the Michigan Bariatric Institute will provide Dr. Boutt and Dr. Bhesania access to health system resources not available before, offering the ability to more readily expand their scope while improving service to the entire southeastern Michigan community." The surgeons aren't the only ones moving to St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron. Bhesania said most of the staff at Port Huron Hospital's Lap-Band Center will be following the surgeons to the new center at St. Joseph Mercy Port Huron, and he expects patients will do the same. "We are intimately involved with the care of our patients," Bhesania said. "I expect that they will follow us." "We'll be the same people with a different roof over our heads." The news comes one month after Port Huron Hospital announced an expansion of its Lap-Band Center of Michigan. In December, the hospital said surgeons would do gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgeries in addition to Lap-Band. The hospital also said it would add surgeons to the center. Officials with Port Huron Hospital said the center has earned accolades as a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery during its 10-year center. "Port Huron Hospital's Lap-Band Center of Michigan is considered one of the most experienced programs in the state," Dave McEwen, vice president of operations, said in a statement. "In the next few months, the center will expand to include additional surgical procedures and welcome two additional bariatric surgeons to the program."