shell04937

I thought I was being banded after Oct 16th but the Dr had an OR opening next Friday Sept 22. I am so excited and nervouse at the same time. I have been waiting for about 3 yrs to have this done and now it is happening..... I am nervouse....I know according to my DR there is a 15% failure rate due to people being unable to change their eatting habits. I know I can change them it is just the liquid phase I am worried about. Is it harder then I could ever imagin? I wont be starving feeling will I? I know that I can do this... But after reading the area of this board where people have been debanded or are not loosing weight it makes me sceared that I too could fail. I could really use so positive thought on the band!!!!!! I really am excited and feel any weight loss is a sucess. Next week will be here before I know it.!!!!!

Oh I also wanted to mention that I know of a girl on the lupus board that is in her twenties with pericarditis and vasculitis and she has also had strokes. You really should check out the Web MD Lupus Message board. It truly is an eye opening board.... Good luck to you in the up coming weeks and months. You know I wonder if the banding triggered and immune response with you. Maybe it woke a sleeping beast..... Your in my thoughts and prayers...

I am now allowing myself to get excited. I got a call 2 days ago that my surgery is going to be next week Sept 22, 2006. I just decided on my personal goals. Sept 22, 2006 267 lbs band date Oct 22, 2006 247lbs Jan 1, 2007 217lbs Jun 1, 2007 180 lbs Sept 22, 2007 167lbs. Maybe it is too much to dream of loosing 100lbs since I havent seen that weight since JR High. But this is a new advanture so dreaming high is what I plan to do.... :cheer2: :cool: :Banane31: :Banane52: :Banane41: :Banane19: :Banane09: :not_ripe: :Banane29: :Banane39: :Banane49: :Banane27: :Banane16: :Banane05: :nanahump: :Banane47: :Banane25: :Banane02: :Banane24: :Banane03: :Banane33: :Banane43: :Banane21: :Banane10: All of this is what it might take to get me to goal!!!!!

I live in the US and live in Maine which is the state in the upper rt hand corner if you are looking at the map. We kind of stick out more then the other east cost states. Are you getting unbelivably excited? I am . Tomorrow I go for my Anisthesia pre op appointment and then next week on Thursday I go for my finall History and Physical before surgery on Friday. I just found out on Tuesday that next week is the day so it took me a until just Wednesday evening to realize the extent of it. Next year at this time we will both be supper skinny (OK I CAN DREAM). 32 yrs old 5" 7 1/2' tall 267 lbs as of 9/6/06. Personal goal Oct 22, 2006 247 lbs Jan 1, 2007 217 lbs June 1, 2007 180 lbs Sept 22, 2007 167 lbs :target: :dance: :gluck: :cheer2: :Banane31: :Banane52: :Banane41: :Banane09: :not_ripe: :Banane29: :Banane39: :Banane27: :Banane16: :Banane05: :nanahump: :Banane25: :Banane13: :Banane33: :Banane43: :Banane21: :Banane10:

This is a long shot but it might work.... I was unable to have a period on my own for over 3 yrs and then my DR put me on Actos (it is for diabetes) and all of the sudden I was have a period. NOt all the time but every 65days or so and for me that was alot. Anyways one of the things the diabetes nurse warned me of is that Actos has been know to get a women going thru menopause or in menopause to have periods and start ovulation again. She said they had heard of women getting preg on it when they thought they were thru their child having days. On Web MD they have a PCOS board and on it they discuss TTC meds. One girl asked what we new about Actos because her Dr said they wanted to try it because the other meds were not working to get her ovulating again. Anyways it might be worth going to the WEB MD message board and Posting. My husband and I tried for over 2 yrs and on the 3 yr mark we finally had our first child. Our second one came 4 yrs later but that was only because I was in nursing school and not TTC. 1 yrs after my second child was born my hormone levels went crazy and my OB=GYN told me it was a good thing I had my youngest when I did because I would not have been able to conceive on my own. Like I said I now only have periods if I take hormones to have one or if I was on ACTOS.... Good luck and dont give up....

I am so glad to read this.... I have PCOS and have been over weight since about 9. I have never been able to loose more then 20lbs unless I was preg then I could not gain weight and would end up 20lbs light then pre preg weight, It was crazy... Anyways I was worried what effect the PCOS would have on my weight loss and I am glad to see someone lossing weight with PCOS .

Actually the cyst is a myth.... What I mean is just like every women have all or just a few of the symptoms, a women may or may not have cyst. The diagnosis is based on a women's history, blood work looking at LH and FSH hormones which trigger ovulation. Also physical findings like excess facial or body hair, acne, irregular periods along with cyst or blood work can be used to diagnosed. I was diagnosed on history, My LH was almost non existant and my FSH was thru the roof. Or maybe it was the other way around, whatever it was it was opposit of what it was supposed to be. Plus I was insulin resistant at the time of diagnosis and now am diabetic. I had extra hair on my belly which I always shave because it make me feel embaressed. My periods where also a part of my diagnosis. I was having period anywhere from 35-45 days when I started periods at 14 then they gradually got further apart to the point where I will only have one if I take hormones. The hormones increase PMS, ACNE, Pain and bleeding 100%. I dont have cyst but I have all the other symptoms of PCOS. Also most women with PCOS are heavy and it may be they are heavy because of the PCOS and it hormonal effects on their matabolism or they may be heavy because of what they eat and it triggers they PCOS symptoms. Either way it makes trying to loose weight impossible unless you can eat like a bird....

Good to know your symptoms got better after your banding. I have PCOS and am being banded next week. I just had a Endometrial Abliation last week and that is supposed to help my period situation. But I am hoping this helps too. Every year after I turned 19 my PCOS showed it's head a little more. When I was 20 my periods got further appart. When I was 21 I had a hard time getting pregnant. When I was 23 finally had first child. By this time my periods were every 45=75 days. 27 got preg with second child. 28 periods every 75-135 days. Now I have diabetes which is common with PCOS women. I only had this procedure done because I was told I had to take hormones to have a period because building up of the endometrium is what increases risk of cancer. So this way I have no linning anymore and dont have to make myself have a period. Sorry if that was too much personal info.....

Oh you guys my eye's cant handle this at 12am!!!!! I had a female procedure done 1 week ago today, the week prior up until the day of that procedure I was having my friend visit. Ok so that is 2 weeks. My female Dr said nothing for 4 weeks that makes my poor husband have to wait 5 weeks. We were thinking my surgery would be in the end of October meaning he might get a little something something prior to my banding. Well suprise Your getting our band next week!!!!!! My poor darling husband has been walking around here all sad because he was thinking it would be atleast 4 weeks after the banding. Which means he would be luck to get something for our 13th wedding anniversary on November 20th. I will what to tell him that as soon as my Gyno tells me AOK that he will beable to get a little something something. "Or maybe I should keep it to myself and torture him" Oh I am just evil enought to do that....hehehehehehe Funny I was just thinking about this topic on the way home from work tonight...

I am so sorry to hear that you are going thru this right now. I have only been coming to the board a short while and will be banded on Sept 22. I have walked the land of uncertanty with my health and at 28 was unable to function more then a few hours a day. I suffered head to toe body pain and sever headaches and fatigue along with daily fevers, yes a fever everyday for 2 yrs. Well thru this process I learned a few things: 1) Never be afraid to question a Dr. opinion. 2) Listen to what your instinct is telling you. 3) Never except and "I dont know" Search until you hear the words "We found out what is wrong with your. 4) Always give yourself permission to react the way you need to. Dont let others decide your response to your situation. After 3yrs, 3 Rheumatologist, 1 Infectiouse disease Dr, 1 pain DR and getting a new family Doctor. After 3yrs of being looked at like I was crazy and told I was just fat and depressed, I got the answer I had been looking for. Mrs. Lambert we know what is wrong with you "Your Fatiuge is due to Chronic fatigue syndrom, Fibromyalgia and "Oh ya you have a sister sickness to Lupus and it is called Sjogren's syndrome". This is an autoimmune disorder. If I remember right Lupus patients can have Pericardidits, Vasculitis, Kidney and liver problems. It basicly can effect your whole body. A great resourse to learn about Auto Immune disorders is Web MD. THey dont have individual message board for each Auto Immune disorder so people with just about every kind of AI disorder go there. When the DR thought it was in my head, the people on that board keep me from loosing my mind. I am now on an Anti malarial med used for Auto Immune disorders called Plaquinel. Aften they use high doses of prednisone for AI disorders. One thing that just came to mind was my step grandmother has temporal arthritis and she was miss diagnosed over a year ago with Vasculitis and now she is loosing her sight. Make sure if you have any doute that they have the right diagnosis that you ask to see another Dr even if it is just another Dr at the same facility. I ended going to Brigham and Womens hospital in Boston Mass. It took me 3 yrs but I now have the answers to my puzzle and am well enough to work again which I could not do for 2 yrs. Sorry if this got kind of long or became about me. I didn't mean it that way. Just dont give up and keep your chin pointed high..... For

1) With the lap banding it is reversable. 2) LB Incissions are 5 small vs 1 very long one with GB. 3) LB Day surgery vs. 3 day hospital stay. 4) LB no loss of absorption of needed nutrients vs malnutrition with GB. 5) LB amount of restriction is adjustable vs permanite. 6) My surgeon feels GB is not healthy for a person and would not do any kind of weight loss surgery untill LB came along because he felt the risk were too great with GB. 7) with GB I took care of too many patients being hospitalized because of malnutrition and sever vit deficiensies and way too many other Gastro intestinal complications. I am being banded on Sept 22 and after coming to this board lost my excitment because of looking at the people with complications. But after thinking about it realized yes they had complications but with their band coming out their problems were fix or getting better. There is not fixing a GB. Every sugery has it's risk and their share of complications with it. It is just a matter of how much your willing to give it a try and what your gutt instinct tells you is right for you....:nervous

I am having mine Sept 22 and am so very excited now that I have not looked at so encouraging post. You must be having a hard time getting any sleep. Things in the short term I am looking forward to? Decreased heart burn, decreased weight, hoping for improved Diabetes numbers.....and starting the new me!!!!!! Good luck and keep us posted...

I Just found out today Sept 12th that I will be banded on Sept 22. Wow that is only 10 days away. I was supposed to be next month but they had an OR opening. I was not told I had to do a lipuid diet pre op. This thursday I am doing my pre op with anisthisea ?sp and then next Thursday I do my pre op History and physical at the Dr's office. Then Friday is the big day. I was wicked nervous when I first go the call but now that I have had time to adjust I am actually looking forward to it. What is the purpose of doing pre op liquid diet? Just wondering. Maybe I will start on Saturday or Sunday. Good luck to all you other September bandsters....

This is just what I needed to read. I am being banding on Sept 22, 2006 and just found that out today. I have been wanting this for soooooo long but after reading all the negative stuff on the complication section, I was starting to feel sceared and doute myself. I have diabetes and asthma, I am in constant pain from head to toe. I am 5" 7 1/2' tall and weight 267 rigth now. I need this surgery. We went to 6 flags ammusement part this summer with my girls and I wore and OK swim sute with a sporty looking skirt. I didn't think what I looked like because I know I would never see those people again. But when we went on one water ride that required seat belts I almost didn't fit. I had to suck my stomach in and required help to get it buckled. I was mortified. I told my family I would not go on another ride like that until I lost weight. My girls 9 and 5yrs old deserve a mom that can do all the rides. This has to work for me. After reading your post it gave me a renewed excitment and hope that 1 yr from now I can be riding bikes with my girls, going to public pools locally and going on rides without fearing the belt wont fit me. Thank you so much and happy anniversary...

I was approved in July after only 2 1/2 weeks of the request being sent to my new insurance. It was almost 3 yrs prior to that, that I had started the process. I just found out today my surgery is Sept 22 next Friday.....I am excited buy nervouse now that it is so soon. Good luck!!!

I went to my lap band dr yesterday and he gave me the green light.... I had gained 12 lbs since my first visit at his office and they have a 5lb rule where you cant gain more then 5 lbs from first visit to surgery date. But since it has been over 2 yrs since my very first visit he is waving the rule. He said that my meds probably did not help me with my weight. So his Nurse told me that there are no openings until Oct 16th and she would set me up for the first available appointment and let me know. I was at the hospital today have another procedure done to take care of some womenly issues so I was not here to get a call. I am hoping to hear something tomorrow or monday about the date. I am very ready. :clap2: Now it is just a matter of hurry up and wait.....

Hi everyone I am just wondering why so many people seem to go to Mexico to have the banding? If it was my only option I would probably do it tomorrow....

I am seeing my Banding Dr on Sept 6th and will be having my surgery 3-4 weeks after that. I am starting to get myself prepared for post op period by trying different Soup brothes and protien drinks. My personal trainer that works with Dr. Mckee my banding Dr, said I should try to get as close to 25G Protein per a shake. So I found a whey powder that is choc and it has 23G protein. The weight watcher high protein had 19 so if I dont find one I can stomach I plan on doing that one. so I just thought I would ask all of you what you did for Protein Drinks during your post op or even now. What liquid diet suggestions do you have? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks... Dr. Mckee Augusta Maine (Maine Bariatrics) Surgery Oct 2006 Highest weight 272 Current weight 269 5"8' tall

I love capaccino so much. I will have to try that. Thanks....

I tried the Body Fortress Whey Powder and loved it. I got the Choc one and put it in Low fat 1% Choc milk and you could not even taste the powder. I am going to by the vanilla one and try it will white milk. I only like Skim milk unless it is Choc then it has to be low fat 1%.

I know that the Dr's I am going to for my lap banding was the first Dr's in the state of Maine to do Lap banding. I know that they started banding in 2003 and in the first year did 200 surgeries or something like that. I know they took turns going to train doing lap bands but how do I know they are truly certified. Just wondering...

I would not go back to a Dr who questions how the band works. Hello you lost around 90 lbs so obviously it worked. Also he sounds like he wants the band out because he want GB. You really need to see another Dr. Good luck...

I respect everyone for their decissions. I am a RN and have seen a 50yr old man die when he was being transported from post op to the floor. He was in perfect health and just had his gall bladder out. So I know it can happen anywhere. I feel very confident with my choice in Dr's. I am going to Dr. Mckee here in Maine. He and his partner both do it and were the first ones here in Maine to do it starting in 2003. The did not do any wls prior to the lap band even though they were both trained to do lap band. They felt the other surgeries were too risky. When the FDA approved the Lap Band they researched it and took turns going to get trained. I am not sure of the number of bands they have done but I do know it was something like 200 in the first year. They have patients from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Every person I know that have had them do the band completly are happy with their choice in Dr. Thanks everyone for sharing... :confused:

Now that is a support system....

At the last support group I went to the women all said that if there is any kind of stress around dinner time they can not eat due to increaded restriction. They also said that they have to be on liquids for a full week or they throw it back up....Just my 2 Cents worth...