SMMC LB support group chicas

[Wheetsin 714]

Didn't make group, a family emergency has me out of town.

Congratulations on your date. It's ironic - that that particular person would appear in your nightmares. I've referred many ppl to Dr. H, and I know more than a handful have sought other surgeons after the way that either they were treated/talked do during info night, or after observing the same treatment of others. I can think of 6 in this situation off the top of my head, with a 7th on the way. Of course, then they all want to come to me and tell me the stories... unfortunately. It's sad because I have complete trust in him as a surgeon and respect for the work he did, and think he can help others, but they just can't get past her.

What size do you wear/need?

[TheGh0st 9]

I just wanted to say I had a great time at Dos Reales with all of you!

Chantay - It was good to meet you & your mother. The next 4 weeks and 5 days will go by in a flash.

Angela - I now what you mean. I still refer ppl to Dr. H as I also have complete faith in him & Billie. But I've begun to casually suggest to people that they check out both Dr. H's & Malley's office. I have absolutely NO (I REPEAT NO) regrets in using Dr. H and not once have I suggested to anyone that Malley is better, just that he is another good doctor in town and it is always wise to look around before you decide where you are more comfortable.

For anyone that might be curious...

Here are the pro's I know about Dr H:

- My own personal doctor trusted him to perform surgery on her son when he was critically injured a few months before I had my band

- A personal friend of mine that is an RN at SMMC who has been known to critisize other docs at SMMC had only praises for Dr H.

- He has been doing the lapband since 2004 on over 300 patients

- A member of his staff has been actively working to help create the testing and standards for RN's to specialize in Bariatrics.

- The SMMC location has just been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

Some of the pro's I know about Dr. M:

- I have multiple friends who are his patients and fully support him and his staff.

- I regularily attend support groups hosted at his office as well.

- several members of his staff have also had the band.

- He has been doing the lapband since 2004 on over 600 patients

- He is a general surgeon but works exclusively with the Band now. Only performing non-band related surgeries (like Gallbladder removal) on current banded patients of his.

- Inamed has certified him as a proctor for training new Lapband surgeons in the Midwest.

[ChantayMarie71 1]

Mary, it was great to meet you last night....I was so cought up in meeting another girl last night and talking to some others that I didn't get around to talking to you and then we left and i forgot to ask if you wanted to go across the way to have Mexican with us..I am still feeling bad about that..Im so sorry...What area do you live in? Im in Independence..seems like eveyrone else in in KS.....I am so excited to be meeting more bansters it helps in not only this process but also in making more friends witch I can sure use!! Im on aol ChantayMarie71 if you wanna ad me or talk sometime...let us know how your appts go. ~Chantay

[TheGh0st 9]

:faint: Sorry Mary - I meant to ask you to join us as well. Maybe next we can do it again next time.

[MEW 0]

Diane...I was hoping to get to say hi to you at least, but I didnt even realize you were there, I was looking for your child. Next time, point yourself out to me, please??

Wheetsin...Hopefully you can go to the next meeting, I was looking for you (hoping I could recognize you by your picture). Hope everything is OK with your family now!!

Awww...Dont feel bad Chantay, I wouldn't have gone last night, I was actually in a hurry to get home and watch the end of the KU game (GO JAYHAWKS!!) Maybe next time!! I'm also in Kansas City...dont ask me where, LOL, because I'm actually an Indiana transplant, but I'm beginning to know my way around.

I did spend a few minutes talking with another lady after the meeting last night, and she had some very helpful advice for me!! Looking forward to seeing her at the next meeting, too!!

I must say, I was very nervous about going last night, but everyone made me feel so comfortable, and for once...I didnt feel out of place, I was in a room full of people who actually understands. I'm actually looking forward to the next meeting!!

[TheGh0st 9]

Mary,

My husband ended up watching Brian so I didn't need to bring him. I'm a short red-head. I was in group #1 at the front of the room when we split up. I'm also the one who said when Sabobathy comes next month one of the topics he might discuss was the changing dynamics of relationships with those around us. Like my mother-in-law that had been very close and supportive of my surgery but now that I'm approaching a weight near her own seems to be becoming more distant and less supportive.

[MEW 0]

Diane...I remember someone saying that about thier mother-in-law, but since we were sitting on the same side of the long table, I didnt get to see who's mouth it came out of. You know what...at the next meeting I think I might just stand up and ask you to raise your hand!! LOL

I went to my pulmonologist appointment today, and he said my lungs are fine!! (after 15 years of smoking, he said they are actually in great shape!!) He said he will write a letter to Dr. Hoehn's office clearing me for surgery based on my lungs, but wants me to have a sleep study done. (Hubby says I snore, but I've never heard me!!) I figured I was in for more waiting, but they got me scheduled for this Thursday night!!

Hope everyone has a Great Evening!!!

[ChantayMarie71 1]

Hey there...what size do I need huh...LOL well Im not sure I just bought some cheap stretchy capri's from kmart and they are a 3x but as far as jeans and things i cant fit into the 28 anymore

I wear big shirts like 26/28 but not for long cuz im 29 days away from surgery !!! so is anyone going to the meeting next thursday night where the 2 groups are combined for the plastic surgeon?? i wanna go just to meet more and be around "my kind" lol ~Chantay

[TheGh0st 9]

I'll be there next week. I'll double check my clothes as well, I might have a top or two but I've already given away most of my early day clothes.

[jbtullis 0]

Does anyone know a place that has a listing of all the different area support groups and what they focus on? I have the Dr. Malley one and saw something about a Heartland Hospital one but not sure what is open to all and what is a closed group to specific paients.

Thanks

[TheGh0st 9]

:welcome2: Hey Jonathan! Don't remember seeing you here before. Nice to meet you.

Both Malley's & Heartland's are open to all patients. Hitchcock&Hoehn's is closed to just theirs. I believe there is also a open group that meets at the Independence Mall. There is a yahoo group called KCBandsters that lists some of these groups on its calendar page. There use to be a website that listed most of the groups for KC & St. Joe area but the link wasn't working the last time I looked so the site might not exist any longer.

Were you banded by Hoehn/Hitchcock?

:clap2:BTW GREAT START!!!!

:rockon:29 pounds in 29 days!

:target:You are BURNING though the pounds right now.

How are you feeling? Are you having any problems adjusting? If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[jbtullis 0]

I was banded by Dr. Malley at Heartland funny enough. I did even know about the Heartland support group until I saw it mentioned on the yahoo group you said.

So far no issues other than I am ready for the first fill as I need more restricition. That is scheduled for the 4th. I have the larger band so the Dr. said it takes a bit longer to get it adjusted. Not really sure how much the difference is but here we go!!!!

Thanks for the info.

[TheGh0st 9]

IMHO - is that there are several factors that come into play whe adjusting a band, especially a larger band. The first which is true for either band is that the doctor will want to be relatively cautious when giving fills. They would much rather give you too little than too much and risk needing an unfill (in a worst case senario at the ER). Even though they make you drink some Water after a fill to make sure its still going down there are those that find they are more restricted a couple days after a fill than they were immediately afterwards.

But what I feel to be the bigger factor in that ever-ellusive "sweet-spot" of fills whith the larger band. Is that most of us were given the larger band (myself included) because we had a larger fat pad around the stomach wall. This fat pad will also naturally shrink as you lose weight causing the band to feel looser again. Which is why with the larger band I feel you usually end up finding and losing that sweet spot more often than not needing more tweaks until that fat pad has stopped shrinking. Personally, I ended up with over 12 fills in my first year. But have only had 1 in the last 6 months. And to be honest it probably was a mistake as I think that last fill left me a little too tight for several months.

:eek:BTW - Am I reading your ticker right. The last time you posted your ticker said you were down 29 pounds now it reads 37. WOW!!!

One bit of advice if you feel you are continuing to lose right now more on good ol' will power rather than "band-power" Make sure to emphasize that with your doc or he's likely to suggest you don't need a fill with such drastic weight loss.

My doc refused me on either my first or second fill as he thought the band must be fine considering how much I had lost. But I was starving all the time and only restricting my intake through sheer effort. :ban:But I was so new to the process I didn't think to explain that to him and went away with out a fill. Coming back for one a few weeks later and after an unecessary 2 pound weight gain.

[jbtullis 0]

Thanks Diane, I would not have thought explaining the will power vs band power level so I will make sure I bring it up. Right now it is a lot of will power and making myself go to the gym.

[ChantayMarie71 1]

Hey all just wanted to stop by and say hi...and ITS APRIL!!!!! Only 25 days till my band!! Im excited!!! Anyone going to the support group Thursday?? ~Chantay