UMass Medical Center Bandsters

[amm.imperial 1]

I thought it was next week, too. My husband got last minute tickets to the Red Sox game today, so I went there.

We can try to hook up again in June.

[marypetunia 0]

Yes, next month it is! There were only two of us lapbanders there...

[lucy12 0]

Hi: I am 7 days post op and I am having a hard time. I had surgery in Norwood MA and I am looking for a lap band group around the Dudley area.

Thank you,

MaryAnn

[amm.imperial 1]

Hi Lucy,

Why are you having a hard time?

I'm not real close to Dudley, but I'm pretty sure anyone can go to those meetings once a month in Worcester. They never ask where you had it done.

It's at the university campus in Worcester on the 4 thursday of the month. The next one is on June 26th at 6 pm in the Lazare Auditorium.

Surgical Information Meeting and Surgery Discussion Group Schedule

that is the web address.

Maybe we can help from online, my journey has been different than I expected, but I have had the tools to get thru. One of the reasons I like the UMASS program so much.

[marypetunia 0]

Hi MaryAnn,

I sent you a personal email on June 7 with my phone number...Please feel free to call me anytime! I'm planning to be at the June meeting at Umass as well. Hope you are doing better.

amm and kathrynrose, how is everything going for you?

Mary

[KathrynRose 0]

I am in bandster hell, so I have not lost or gained any weight since the first week. Dr. C. did not have any openings at 6 weeks post op, so I have an appointment with him at 7 weeks post op, which I may have to miss because another birth mother has chosen us and she is due any day. I am hoping the baby waits to come until after I get my first fill! I think I would have to wait another six weeks for a fill if the baby comes sooner.

[amm.imperial 1]

OH My KatherineRose!!!

I have had weeks of sitting at the same weight. 260 seemed to be my own personal hell. I finally saw 258 on the scale last week, and now I'm staying there.

I am glad I had so many classes that made me think about why I eat.

I've had a couple of emotional eating days. I tried my best to spend some time with myself, thinking about why, what and what I could do to change that.

It took more effort than I would have liked.

It hasn't been as easy as I thought it would be. I'm still glad I did it. I'm looking forward to my next fill, but it is still weeks away. How many times did we hear, this isn't a magic bullet? We thought we knew what they meant, way back. It'll happen, slow and steady wins the race.

Birth mother? Are you a midwife? My daughter is in labor right now.

[KathrynRose 0]

No, I am an adoptive mother, hoping to adopt another child. I actually hate the term birth mother, but I have learned that most people at least know what I am talking about. I call my son's birth mother his mother, I am also his mother. I see no problem with him having two mothers, but other people think I am weird for that. The baby is due in South Carolina, that is why I would have to cancel my appointment.

[amm.imperial 1]

Congratulations on your new child. My daughter finally had her little girl on Father's Day. It was a long labor, but everyone is fine.

As far as what you are called, I think whatever everyone is comfortable with, should work. My step-kid's bio mom is a pain for who spends how much time where, and when they can spend time at my family functions. It's such a nuisance. Mom is MOM, regardless of how she became mom.

That is a bit of a stressfull situation for undergoing a life changing surgical process.

I hope you can just concentrate on making good choices, and stop worrying about the scale. It will take care of itself, in time.

[amm.imperial 1]

I have on a pink, white and blue button down shirt and jeans. My hair is up.

Who is going to be there tonight?????

Let's try to hook up.

Edited June 26, 2008 by amm.imperial

[amm.imperial 1]

Wow, I don't think any of us were there last night. Well, I mean, I went, but when AJ asked for a show of hands for the banders, I only saw one other hand go up.

there were a lot of pre-surgery people asking questions last night. it was good.

They moved us to the amphitheater on the 2nd floor because the informational meeting was so large they needed both rooms.

I hate to think how long those people will have to wait.

Hope you are all finding a way to cope with the summer cookouts.

I'm just enjoying the fresh vegetables. :-)

[mich 74]

Hi all! I just wanted to post a quick update. I decided to stay with the Umass program and things have been progressing well. I met with Dr Kelly and Robin, both are super nice. I also received my insurance approval :wink_smile: and a surgery date of July 30.

I didn't make it to the June meeting but I was at the May meeting. It was my first support meeting and I liked it very much. The only thing that bugged me was one man who said you would be better off going to weight watchers than getting lapband. I don't know his story, maybe he was a conversion patient, he has bypass now. I can accept that it's now for everyone, but can't he just say "It wasn't for me" instead of being so negative?

Is the next meeting August 24? I hope to be there.

[amm.imperial 1]

No wonder there were only two of us this month for lapband. And the other one had a bad experience and had the bypass afterwards.

There weren't a lot of positive things said about the lapband, unless I said them.

Hmmmm, there have been very successful banders in the past. I hope they come back.

There is a meeting July 24th, I guess you can't make that one.

I'm glad you stuck with UMASS, I like it a lot. The important thing is to feel comfortable. I'm hearing great things about the every other week post op meetings, too. I haven't looked into it yet, but I think I am going to request a majority of lapbanders in one, if possible. It is a very different experience.

[marypetunia 0]

Hi All,

I was SO sorry to miss the June meeting, I had another commitment I just couldn't change. I hadn't heard about the post-op meetings, sounds like a good improvement to follow-up. I dont usually miss a meeting, but just couldn't help it this month. I go specifically to be at least one succesful bandster who others can talk to.

AMM, so glad YOU made the meeting, I'd like to meet up with you next one if possible. There is no question that bandsters ARE different than the bypass patients in many ways, and they NEED threir own peer group help...They took a survey a few months back about what we'd like to see or have changed at the Thurs meetings, and I wrote a whole litany of thoughts regarding bandsters... nothing has changed thus far but if others speak up, maybe it will!

My first 2 years I was online with bandsters all the time to get that support. I really didn't get it at the UMass group meetings, but I DID find a great band-buddy there who has become a great friend which was certainly worth going to the meetings for! :biggrin:

I've been plateau-ed for over three months now (since my panni surgery). Have started counting calories again this week, hope it helps nudge the scale again since I've added lots of activity the past month with the good weather. WATERMELON is my best friend this summer!!! :smile2: I'd really like to lose another 20 lbs before the end of the year.

Have a WONDERFUL holiday weekend all, REMEMBER, there are many more holidays and cookouts in your future in years to come...THIS one can be a good eating experience if you plan well and it WON't set you up for guilt later....(I hate when I do that to myself :biggrin:) I'm going for Protein, veggies, and fruit...the rest will be there when I want it on another day!

HAPPY FOURTH! Mary:patriot:

[mich 74]

Sorry, I typed August by mistake. I hope to attend the July 24 meeting. I was thinking at the meeting I did attend, why it is they don't have seperate meetings for lapband and bypass. Or at least have a leader/speaker for each. The man running the meeting had bypass. Do they sometime have a band patient run the meeting?

I did find it supportive for the life changes and food program aspect. But much of the discussion involved dumping and other things I am not interested in.

It sounds like they do a lot of bands at Umass. I wonder how hard it would be to start up a band support meeting?