Bandster with Celiac Disease

[Micia il MINIac 0]

Even though I was banded in February of this year, I just found out about this site and wanted to express my dismay that no one in Dr. Spiegel's office shared such a great tool with me. While I am curious about how others found the newsgroup, I am more anxious to see if there is another person out there who is dealing with the added restriction of Celiac Disease (Sprue).

[neenagh 0]

Hi Kristin, I dont have Celiac, but two of my grandkids do. It's quite a challenge at the best of times! I really have to give you a big pat on the back for taking on the band as well as Celiac disease! I wish you all the success in the world.

[Micia il MINIac 0]

Bless your heart! That is so sweet of you! Honestly, I am thankful that it happened as an adult (diagnosed 11Nov2004) rather than as a child. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be on them... and the other family members.

Wishing you (and them) the best of luck!

[neenagh 0]

my little grandson almost died before they figured out what it was. he was diagnosed at 18 months with a biopsy, and they blood tested his little sister (5 mo) and she had anti bodies too. they say northern europeans have the highest incidence and within that group the irish are even higher. and guess what? we're irish!

[neenagh 0]

ps that's them in the avatar!

[Micia il MINIac 0]

They are beyond precious! Poor kiddos... dealing with that kind of adversity so young.

While I have kissed the Blarney Stone plenty of times, sadly I don't have a drop of Irish; however, the northern European rings true for me as well. My Mom's family hails from Germany while my Dad's kin was banished from Norway. :eek:

[neenagh 0]

see! it's that northern european curse!:eek:

[KariK 0]

Hey Kristin, Im scheduled with Dr. Speigel on July 28. The Surgi Center told me about this site. Im wondering if you would recommend Speigel?

[Micia il MINIac 0]

Hey Kristin, Im scheduled with Dr. Speigel on July 28. The Surgi Center told me about this site. Im wondering if you would recommend Speigel?

First, congrats on making such a life-changing decision! I hope this tool (LapBand) is as beneficial for you as I feel it has been for me. Now about your question... While I feel Dr. Speigel is a highly-skilled surgeon and I felt safe having him perform the surgery and the fills, I have to tell you that his office staff is less than steller. If you were having it done anywhere but at Physicians SurgiCenter, I would suggest you do more research on this site and others to read about the chief complaints against his office before making up your own mind about what you want from the surgery.

That said, the support at the SurgiCenter more than makes up for his staffing problems. The first problem I had with his office occurred during the first week after the surgery, I called his office with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and cramping, but I was basically told that there was nothing they could do; regardless of the symptoms, they pretty much chalked it up to hunger pains.

When the pain increased, I called the SurgiCenter and they put me in touch with one of their staff (after hours and on her personal cell phone). She took the time to review everything I was doing, the medicines I was taking, and what liquids I was consuming. Thanks to the time she took, we were able to identify the problem; one of the medicines that the pharmacist declared to be gluten-free did, in fact, contain gluten. Once I replaced that medicine with Little Tummies (for gas pressure), I recovered within a few days. She called me several times to follow-up and offered incredible moral support.

So, if one of your concerns is post-surgery support, I would not expect it from Dr. Speigel's office staff; however, as I said, the SurgiCenter is wonderful and all of Dr. Speigel's fills are now done there. I just wish that I had known about this site, so I wasn't quite so disappointed with the level of customer service they provided at his office.

I really hope that my response helps; I am sorry that I can't give you a more definitive answer. This is such a personal decision... Regardless of which doctor you chose, I offer you my best wishes and know that you will make a success of it.

Please feel free to keep in touch. I would be interested in hearing about your experience and your progress (SUCCESS)! :biggrin1:

[KariK 0]

Thanks Kristin. I am running into some problems with the organization of things between Speigels office and the SurgiCenter staff. I think its all going to work out but jeez these people dont seem to know what the other is doing.

For instance Speigels office did not tell me that I have to have someone with me or else the SurgiCenter will not allow the surgery. I just found that out Today!! Since Im from Minnesota its not so easy for me to line someone up with this short bit of notice. I have to pay to have a nurse sit with me $20.00 per hour.

Also the Surgicenter was supposed to provide two nights of hotel accomidations but guess what... They don't have any rooms available so I have to provide my own accomidations. That nice little bit of info. was just left on my answering machine yesterday afternoon.

These aren't major things but annoying and makes me wonder about if Im making the right decision about who is doing my surgery. However as long as Dr. Speigel is a good surgeon I still think that outweighs these last minute problems.

I am definitely going to let the world know it if more problems persist or if God forbid something goes bad with my surgery. I still feel pretty optomistic at this point. And if all goes well I'll let the world know that too.

[lapbanderNC 0]

I also have celiac disease and will be getting my band on Feb 7, 2007. I am borderline celiac, it happens only when I am under stress. I am having a crisis right now.... I wonder why ( 10 days before surgery)

[lapbanderNC 0]

Also.... I do not have Northern European blood, my ancestors are Portuguese and Italian and I was born in Brazil.

[delouhigh 0]

I was banded in November 2006 and was just diagnosed with Celiac Sprue in that last week....in fact, my surgeon just called me this morning with the final diagnosis. I haven't had a dietary consultation yet as she is at meetings so I am in a holding position for now. How do you deal with the restrictions in diet? The dietitican and I are both shocked by the diagnosis but apparently my surgeon suspected it even though he didn't tell me. I have had problems with vomiting (not PBing) almost the entire time since being Banded. I had 2 barium swallow studies done that showed nothing. I had an endoscopy done 2 1/2 weeks ago which the doctor took a biopsy and then did a Celiac Panel, based on those results. I love breads, so this is going to be a tough thing for me to follow...breads never gave me a problem with the Band, so I continued to eat it. Do you have any suggestions to get me started on the new diet regimen? Thanks, DEB