Looking for a MI Dr.

[UKmommyMI 0]

esummersett, Thanks for the reply. My BMI is 38!! I have never dropped below 190lbs since having children 11 years ago so even then my BMI was just under 30.

I am worried about never being normal again once I have the band, eating out with family and friends, my hair falling getting thin, drinking soda.... (i'm not a coffee drinker so I love my diet coke, gotta keep awake on those midnights somehow!)

I don't have any comorbidities ........ yet!!! However my Dad died at 54 (MI) and my grandmother at 61 (CAD) despite those facts I don't seem to have the willpower to maintain any sort of long term plan. I can throw myself into weight watchers and lose 30lb or so but once I slip up I can't climb back on the wagon.

It is so frustrating that I can be happily married, have a great job, 4 fantastic kids, keep things organised and running smoothly but I can't control my weight.

Sorry i'm rambling on here, can you tell i'm frustrated????

[esummersett 0]

;)I'm not married and have no children, have always been overweight 5'2 215lbs and have high blood pressure I'm sure is related to my weight and my job. Really love my job and don't want to get rid of it. I don't have 100lbs to lose, nor is my BMI 40 (39.5 is better than 40). But I obviously had alot of weight to lose and have tried it all, phen/phen was my favorite, lost 50lbs easily and put 70lbs back on even easier. Like you I feel like I have everything else in my life in control and on track except my weight. I have done the "look only at my face in a mirror, never at my body" to tease myself into thinking it was not as bad as it is. I like to play up my attributes-my face and my boobs! But at my younger sister's wedding in Jan. I was forced to deal with the fact that I'm starting to look like my chronicaly morbid obese mother and my older sister who is super morbid obese. I love looking at my sister's wedding photos and seeing our new family, but I have to change. My younger sister and I look at our older sister and want to cry becuase we love her and know her weight is going to kill her. (she has arrhythmias and diabetes and gross pitting edema in her legs). I hope when I lose my weight she sees that it wasn't that hard and how much better life is being able to do exactly what you want (Not that I ever let my weight stop me, I've traveled all over the world, am a scuba diver, climbed the Sidney Sky Harbor Bridge, surf) .

It motivates me that the doc said he thinks I can easily get down to a 6-8, I was thrilled thinking about a 10-12 myself. My younger sister is really beautiful (ask any man who has ever seen her, or woman for that matter) and is a 6-8 (5'4 and 125lbs healthy), I thought when the doc said the size in front of her she might laugh her fat sister in the same size as her, oh no, she said too bad she just moved to PA otherwise I could have doubled my wardrobe and hers.

I think if you can you should talk to Dr. Gazayerli 248-643-4646 (that's who did mine), he's a big help. I went through a company that advertises here "belite.com" ( he takes insurance, but if you have to pay yourself it's $11,700.). The other docs in his group are call MOSS (Michigan Obesity Surgical Specialists. Dr. Laker, Webber and another whose name I can't remember-same deal). They are all nice, but Gazayerli himself has a lap band and is very knowledgable, at a different level, having gone through this himself. Check into it, do it for yourself.

Sounds like your a typical nurse who does for everyone else but themself. OK so you don't have benefits through work, so what. You can still take time off through a FMLA. If your insurance won't pay, then work some extra shifts (I know your hospital must have ER shifts open that need to be picked up like everyone does, OT adds up quickly.) But check in out.

Granted I'm less than a week post-op, but I'm already losing weight, so good for me and hopefully good for you.

Please let me know if you have anyother questions or concerns, I would be happy to try and help anyway I can.

Elizabeth (esummersett)

[esummersett 0]

As for the eating out with friends, I went out with some the other night and told them I had just had surgery and was on liquids only still, sat there and drank Water and Decaf tea, even said "well I definately lose weight like this, I think I'll use it as a jump start". They don't have to know all the details.

I come from a very social eating group of people. I'll deal more with that once I can't eat solids. I read a book called "Fighting Wieght" by Kaliah Ali, she had the same issues and says "push the food around the plate, people don't really notice". I plan on trying that strategy.

I'm not a coffe drinker either, I do love my diet Coke too. I guess it just have to be flat. I can make that trade off if I'm healthy. Whose business is it anyway.

Elizabeth

[UKmommyMI 0]

OK so I made an appointment with Dr. Gazayerli, but not until August 29th my work schedule and vacation/ kids schedule won't let me get in any sooner. Any advice for the appointment?

Gilly.

[esummersett 0]

:clap2:Good for you!!! I would tell you to be honest with him, tell him you know you don't meet the 40BMI and you know that, but tell him all the diets you have tried. In the mean time take care of yourself as best you can. I've heard some people who don't weigh "enough" try to gain before they see the MD so they will weigh "enough". I think that's ridiculous. Just keep doing what you've been doing and don't become disheartened because you apt is in August. Remember you've taken the first step with someone new, and Gazayerli is very honest, he'll do it if he feels you qualify. If you can get that book by Kaliah Ali from the library, it's really good I thought. It answers alot of questions I had, her physician also had a lap band, and he also helps narrate (?) from a personal and a medical standpoint. Interestingly, Dr. Gazayerli recommended the book to me, I told him I had already read it twice.

IN the mean time enjoy eating (obviously not over-eating), enjoy all the different tastes, because after surgery it's 4 weeks before you get to try solids again. And a minimum diet prior to surgery is 2 Protein Shakes and :hungry: "balanced meal" for dinner, the week before surgery.:whoo:

Good fortune and let me know if you have any other questions or I can help you. Look foward to talking to you in the future, and I'll be able to tell you how much weight I've lost.

Elizabeth

[UKmommyMI 0]

Thanks for all your insight.... you sound very positive even though your at the difficult stage post op of no real weight loss, no real food and having pain. You are an inspiration!:clap2:

[esummersett 0]

I will weigh meyself later today to find out what I have lost. My highest weight had been 226lbs in Jan, 221lbs before the 1 week pre-op diet, day of surgery 214.5lbs 07-11-07 and on Saturday was 211lbs. Hopefully down to 208lbs.

Saw my urologist for a regular checkup yesterday (kidney stones), always a nice doc who I worked with, but always concerned about me needing to lose weight. He was really exicted for me yesterday, told me if I needed anything to just call him. I thought that was very sweet. My PCP also was very excited for me to have it done. He actually volunteered to write my off-work note, so he felt "like he had a part" in my weight loss.

PS. when I saw the urologist yesterday, I had a regular KUB done to see how big my stones are, the doc and the xray tech said they couldn't even see my kidneys because off all the gas LOL!!! I told him I would work on that for my 6 months apt. Interestingly, and I'm sure it was due to the angle of the xray, I swear, my port looked like one of those yellow smiley faces, doctor even agreed. I think that's a good sign. I feel better this am, came home yesterday and took 2 huge doses of Gas X and that helped do the trick to get rid of some of that gas finally, of course I need to Lysol the non-sense out of the house now. I also found some Soup receipes on this site, for the liquid phase. Now that alot of the gas has passed, I don't feel so afraid to eat (thought before I would surely vomit if I ate almost anything) and am happy to report though still distened, I can no longer feel my diaphram touch my lungs!!!

Ah, the simple things in life, a deep breath and no pain, hurray!

Elizabeth

[2BBANDED 0]

I couldnt help but to join in on this converstion. I myself am trying to get everything together to have lapband surgery. I too have a lower bmi but suffer from the co mors of being over weight. Right now I'm trying to find a Dr to give me the mmpi-2 test. I think thats what its called. One that will take medicare. I go for my stress test on Thurs. and then that will be the only one I'll need. Well, just wanted to say " HI " and good luck to all!!!!

[justme1 0]

I was banded by Dr. Gazayerli just this past June. I was very pleased with him. My BMI was 31 when he banded me and he had no problem with that.

-Lisa

[esummersett 0]

I was also banded by Dr. Gazayerli in July. Really great doctor.

Lisa, what size band do you have? I have the AP large and am scheduled for my first fill next Thursday. Just have some questions?

Elizabeth

[justme1 0]

Hi Elizabeth. I got the AP Small band. I just had my first fill today. I didn't go back to Detroit for my fills (I'm from PA). I'm going to get them locally. My doctor put 3 cc in the band to start. I'm a self-pay so hopefully I won't need too mant adjustments.

-Lisa

[esummersett 0]

Lisa, how's it going with the fill? Feel any different?

I have lost 21lbs since my surgery, nothing in the past 1.5 weeks though, so I know I'm ready for my fill. I've heard of people who did not lose any weight post-op, so I guess I'm rather fortunate in that regard. I went back to work this week, and several people have noticed the loss already, so I'm thrilled with my results fo far.

I'm fortunate becuase I live about 1 hour from the hospital and Gazayerli's office so I can take advantage of the free fills for 1 year.

Curious about what the local doctor is charging you for a fill, if I can be so nosey.?

Elizabeth

[justme1 0]

I'm not sure if I have much restriction yet because I haven't really eaten much. I'll find out in a few days because we go on vacation.LOL.

I lost 10 pounds right after getting the band and have "stalled" out now so that's why I went for the fill. My doc charges $300 (way too much I know) each fill, but adjustments during the 1 month period after each fill are free if needed. I will definatley take advantage of that. If worse comes to worse there is fill center in Jersey I can go to but it's 90 miles away.

Congrats with your weight loss! That is great for having no fill! :whoo:

Do you know how much Dr. Gazayerli is going to put in your band? Does he do the fills himself or is one of his associates going to do it? The only one I met was Dr. Weiner and he was very nice. I REALLY wish I lived closer so I could go back to Dr. Gazayerli- he is such a nice man and I felt really comfortable around him. (not that I don't like my fill doctor now, but he is no Dr. G!)

[esummersett 0]

Let me know what you feel after vacation about your fill. I'm really curious.

Hey, what is $300 compared to the price fo the surgery(assuming you paid $11,700 yourself). I agree that I would definately take advantage of the 1 month adjustment thing. I've heard some people with the AP bands get fills every 2 weeks to get to the right spot.

I'm not sure how much G will put in my band, very curious about that also. I've heard of the first fill in the AP being anything from 3mL to 5mL (mL=cc, I'm a nurse and we don't talk in cc's, just mL's). How much do you have?

Enjoy your vacation, where are you going?

Hey where are you at in PA, my sister lives outside Beaver Falls, in Industry.

Elizabeth

[esummersett 0]

Lisa,

FYI, the group with G just wrote the latest article for a medical journal about obesity. Hope I'm in the paper work in years to come about people who lose all the weight.

G himself does the fills, I can go back to the group (G has his own office abotu 15 mins away, near a mall I really like) for free for fills too. If I go to the group, Kyle the nurse and first assistant in the OR does the fills. I liked everyone up there in the MOSS group.

Elizabeth