Anyone out there near Maryland or Washington, DC

[gunn4ya 0]

Hi Buffy,

You're on the count down now to Bandland. You should just focus on getting yourself ready for your surgery and recovery. You will find a doctor who does fills. I just remembered I have a friend who gets hers done in VA. I will ask her who she uses.

[LauraT 0]

I am in Bel Air, Maryland hoping to get banded in the next few months. I have been going thru a long process, but just change my mind from RNY to Band. Now I just have to get all my information switched over. I have my consultation next week.

Laura

[Guest Oh Happy Day:-)]

Welcome Laura :-)

I had considered the RNY also, per my doctors recommendation. After much research - it wasn't something I was willing to consider. The doctors that I spoke with about the RNY were extremely negative about the band.... they were all so pro RNY. I am thankful a friend helped me learn more about the band :-)

I have been banded for about 2 weeks and I am so glad I did!

This site has such great information :-) Look forward to talking to you more.

Amy

[gunn4ya 0]

Welcome Laura T, glad you could make it here with us.

Buffy, I just sent you a PM in case you miss this thread but the drs. name in VA. is

Dr. Joseph Chebli 703-620-3211 he is in Fairfax Va.

[skatkat 0]

I am searching for ladies in my area to chat with...gain some support. Is this still a valid thread?

Hope to hear from you...Kathy

Skatkat

[hsbeach 0]

Hi, I'm Howard. I am scheduled to have the surgery at Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville. Anyone had the procedure done there or by Dr. Cynthia Long?

[Teresita 0]

Hello hsbeach, good luck and I'm not sure about Dr. Long but Shady Grove Hospital has a good reputation as far as bariatric surgery.

[obgray 0]

Hi, I live in the Damascus area. I am having my fill done next week at Washington Hospital Center by Dr Frederick Finelli. I am getting excited, but anxious. I know WHC has a monthly support group, are there any support groups in the Maryland area.

Thanks

[Laura_MD 5]

Hi Amy,

I had the same experience with a Migraine when I had my band. I ended up spending two days in the hospital on a morphine pump because of it. The bright side was that the morphine and the migraine made me forget all about the "pain" from the surgery!

I only got it because I had to go off of my blood thinners for the surgery, and when my blood thickens, I invariably get a migraine. Next time you get one, or feel like one is coming on, you might try eating something with a lot of garlic or vinegar (garlic is better) to thin your blood and see if you notice a difference in severity or length of the migraine.

Welcome to the losers club!

[stefgray 0]

I go to a support group at Johns Hopkins Bayview which is very close to downtown Baltimore. They meet once a month - first Thursdays for bandsters. There's a website with the info, but I can't recall it off the top of my head - if you google for bayview and bariatric, you should be able to find it. Let me know if you can't and I'll run it down. I had my band done nearly a year ago and very rarely miss my group. I think it's a very important piece of my success.

Stephanie

[Laura_MD 5]

Hey StefGray, I have been to that group as well and it is pretty good. I wish they met more often (like weekly) because I live on the Eastern Shore and it is not always easy to get over there so more choices would be good. They do have speakers on a regular basis as I understand it though, and I think that is great.

My doctor is Kim Steele. She didn't do my surgery though, I switched to her after a problem with my local surgeon that did my band. Who do you see?

[stefgray 0]

Hi Laura. I remember when you came to the group. You told everyone about the Building Brawn Protein. I went home that night and ordered some and have been drinking that particular shake of yours every day since! I just recently started adding ground flax meal to it for some extra Fiber. It's the best! Thanks for sharing that recipe when you came. And, it was great to have your inspirational pictures to see too.

Kim Steele is my surgeon. I think she's fantastic. I'm getting ready to go see her for my 1-year post visit. I'm having some tightness around my port and occasional discomfort there. I'm halfway thinking she may want to switch ports for something smaller. But, we'll see.

I had to miss the May group and will likely miss June because of other things my husband and I are doing, but am looking forward to going back. I love that forum!

Steph

[njudono 0]

Yes, I am in Glen Burnie, MD. I am going to be banded tomorrow at St. Agnes Hospital.

[katschai 0]

Hi Maryland, DC, VA - I have not been on the site for a while and glad the thread is back in action.

Njudono - I live in Severna Park and I was banded at St Ag. Good Luck!

[skatkat 0]

Hi all.......I'm in Martinsburg, WV which is below Hagerstown by about 18 miles or so.

I'm going to hop the border to the Maryland group...everyone else is doing it right? lol

I'm 38 a mom of 4, married for 20 years to Scott......dog, cat, fish, hamsters.

I'm an avid scrapbooker and consultant. I also do wedding flowers.

Finally on my way with my band after the third fill....I feel like I have a band now! and the scale is moving again, slowly but surely.

Curious how many people are still having a hard time getting on a schedule for eating and drinking? I believe if I would be more organized it would be so much easier.