Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[Guest sodapop]

HI Ali! I am doing good! 5 days out. getting sick of eating the same crap....what shall I have for Breakfast? yogurt? pudding? lol I am SUPER picky and will only eat that or the cream of mushroom Soup so choosing from 3 things is rather BORING and sad! ha ha. alright my sleevesters!!!!!!!!! what else can I have? stage 2 is for 2 weeks! this sucks. ha ha. Water is still an issue but Dr. Im said as long as I am peeing I am okay. ha ha. my neck is draining still but the antibiotics are helping this stupid thing looks better already! Thank god for keflex.. it's leaking plasma! ewww I am STILL waiting for neck, head, surgery to contact me. I should start saving it-I know they pay good MONEY for plasma now adays....and waiting for a disability check sucks. lmao!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

Tina-yeah we ARE nightmares aren't we. :thumbdown:I feel ya on the panic attacks. I have them too. ohh and I have asthma and get chronic bronchitus and sinus infection like 8-10 a year! I am now alergic to EVERYTHING under the sun because of all the antibiotics I have taken. I get them soooo bad. I totally sympathize with you. You totally panic and that makes everything 1000 times worse. Well now we can grovel with eachother let me know what they do. I hear ya with all the breathing problems. I get sick SO much that I am always checking to see if I am sick. I am so nuts. lol. Everyone calls me hypo-but your not hypo when your always sick! It sucks. It's nice to know someone who has this same problem seriously!!! After I had my gallbladder taken out? They told me I was gonna die cause I had 5 clots on my lungs. I was actually diagnosed with PTS because of all the crap I went through. My hubby and I even split up at that time I went loopy! Thank god he eventually realized that was my mid-life crisis and took my crazy ass back. It was horrible. When the doctors say your not gonna make it-imagine what that does. man ohh man. anywho-so I am here if ya need someone to vent too! Medical nightmares together. :Banane20: awwww lol.

BAND SUBJECT:Yeah ASH I was totally surprised when you showed me YOUR KAISER book. 1 in 6 people is a HUGE amount in people to get a revision!!!!!!!! I think it sucks that kaiser FREEMONT and KAISER RICHMOND's bariatric programs differ so much. I kinda like yours better Ash! They seem to tell you A LOT more. I was all gung-ho for the band in the begining like ash, ali, john, and I were. After doing research and hearing from other bandsters that made my decision. Even Dr. Im told me that he thought the band wasn't even a choice. I guess they have know for a while that they where phasing them out. My dad also JUST went and had his surgeon appointment. They didn't offer him the band! I just talked to him about his appointment. He had it a week ago and I asked him if the Doctor mentioned it and he said it's really not an option. I am HAPPY with my decision with the sleeve. I am SO surprised that I am recovering so QUICKLY! (knock on wood) My health isn't the greatest and I am always slow to heal ect...but 5 days out and I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!! I HOPE THIS CONTINUES! I don't wanna JINX myself. I walk walk walk so that is proll helping greatly too. Then again it's all a personal choice! I am anxious to see what will happen!

10 POUNDS IN 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! IF SOMEONE SAYS THAT ISN'T A MIRACLE THEN THEY ARE NUTS! LOL!

[LaChica707 0]

La Chica I say do your think and see how you feel in two months...............that give you time to see how motivated you are and if you can make it long term or not. YOu should know by than if your gonna stick to it or start to regain. YOu can always have surgery later if you start to gain. Just my opinion.

Thanks SWRKTP that's what I will do. I just had a long talk with one of my good friends and she just made me realize.. the REAL whole point is to lose the weight not to just get surgery.. and even if I did have the surgery.. it Shouldn't give me a reason to stop my workout or change my eating habit..which makes sense. it should actually make me stick to what i'm doing or do it even more. uggh.. ok 2 months.. we'll see.. but I coudlve sworn someone told me no matter how much you lose before pre-op.. they would still do it... oh wells.. maybe it really isn't meant to be for me? .... 2 months.. 2 months...:thumbup:

[swrktp 1]

Chrissy:

I bet I have asthma.........I had same thing in February this year as well and yep I always have sinus infections and colds. I just HOPE I don't have it.......but if I do oh well at least it would explain some stuff.

ANNALYN:

Yep the point is to lose weight. IF you don't need surgery or if you do I think you will know in a couple of months. Your profile picture looks great.

Well I talk to Robin in about 30 minutes and I am gonna ask her what is up with the banding at Kaiser. I might email the doc later but I want to see what she says. I also want to find out if they are doing revisions But I think I will probably have to talk to the doc on that one. I have an appointment with him on July 15 and I don't think I want a fill but either way I am going to see what he says about my fills/unfills and revisions. I know he is confused too as to why I don't operate the same as his other bandsters with the band. Maybe he will even suggest something different? Will be interesting to see. I am still losing slowly though.............just getting frustrated with my band and can't figure out why I don't fit the norm!! LOL. I really want to get an x ray or barium swallow to make sure I haven't slipped or dilated the pouch. Cause I read that can cause the fill/unfill cycle.

But for now I am focusing on the respirtory therapist stuff first, than Richmond Kaiser second.

I have been researching to much it scares me some of the stuff you read out there!! LOL. :-(

[swishbc 0]

Tina, I have an appt with Dr. Baggs on 7/15 too! Mine is at 10:15, when is yours? That would be weird if Kaiser stopped doing the band...would they still treat us for our band maintenance? I hope so! I don't want to have a revision surgery, I love my band!

[disp4so 3]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to give an update, I got my time to report for surgery tomorrow 8:30

yeaaaa so glad I'm first up in the morning...

Chrissy .. glad your starting to feel better..

I hope to see all you guys at the next point west meeting.. don't think I'll make this saturday... but I will If I can

thinking good thoughts for everyone..

Sherri :thumbup:

[skiingj 0]

Hi Everyone!

We are all doing so well and on the right track!

Ash – I ate deli meats, eggs and chicken mostly. You do get so tired of the food and I was not good with mixing it up as I’m a picky eater. It gets better! I’m loving my Sleeve, it’s doing exactly what I want/need; Portion Control. I’m eating a little of everything I like and loving it. 130 pounds total lost and closing in on onederland. Hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll break into onederland, about 15 pounds to go. Still getting satisfied with small meals and I’m not snacking much. Need to exercise more, I’m not good in that department…

Good job Pam putting down the ice cream and cake!!!

Sherri – Best wishes for a speedy recovery!! Let us know how you’re doing when you can.

Happy Monday!!!

[momcof3 1]

Good Luck tomorrow Sherri - it'll be over before you know it.

Christine - I would think they would have to provide service for our bands for as long as we need it - they put it in - same as when someone gets a pacemaker - they can't decide not to take care of it if they decide not to use pacemakers anymore.

Tina - how did Dr Baggs say you differ from the norm? Losing slow is the norm for the band after the first six months or so - what is the norm supposed to be?

Just took a nice swim in my pool - Water was 86 - felt so good but now I have crinkled fingers. :thumbup:

[swrktp 1]

Pam only outside the norm cause I get tight really fast even when I lose weight...........usually 10-15 down the band loosens up. Mine never does. Maybe that makes me lucky!! LOL. So I can't go by the normal rules of fills. I am learning to go more by how the band feels to me if that makes sense!! My band is normal my fill schedule is not :-) I should have needed a fill last time being down 15 and I just didn't!! :-( I am learning........

Losing slowly I am fine with. As long as I am not going up anymore and as long as I get below 200 before summer is over!! :-)

I sorta wonder if my lungs and breathing interfer with the band. Maybe once I get that dealt with things will all work better. My chest has been really tight for the last month. I am breathing way better and feel almost normal now but if I breath really deep it hurts. I know my lungs are up to something..............can't wait to see the resp therapist.

I don't know if I would do a revision. And I think they have to service the band for those of us that have it. Maybe they would transfer us over to a SAcramento fill site or something like that. I really like having Dr. Baggs do the fills though he does a good job and I trust him with the needles!! I know the difference since I have had other doctors do my fills do.............even if I get a bruise now and than!! LOL.

Remember when Liz did the fills so she could learn how to do them!!! Poor Nicole was the only one who said yes........LOL!! That didn't last long!! I said I preferred Dr. BAggs and he laughed.

I am happy with my band don't get me wrong but I do think I would have seriously considered the sleeve if I was offered. Or if I was to I slipped or something I would want to have a revision to the sleeve. I wouldn't want to chance another slip. I am scared of slips...since I have heard the stories.

I don't know mostly just thinking out loud.

Robin didn't call I must have got the day wrong or something. So I couldn't ask them what was up. I am not gonna email the doc I will just ask him in person next month. Hopefully tomorrow.

Edited June 22, 2010 by swrktp

[swrktp 1]

Good Luck Sherri you'll be fine!! I don't think you will want to come to West Point though. You will still be tired.

Pam I sorta knew not to get a fill last month. But the chart says 15 down you need a fill so I agreed. But I should have gone with my gut. Gonna try to do that from now on. SAves everyone all the extra time and hassle. I am a slow learner. I figure if the charts says have a fill than give it a try. But...........I am not the norm!!

Christine:

I go in a 11:30 on the 15th of July. Maybe we will run into each other that would be fun!!

Edited June 22, 2010 by swrktp

[reggie71 0]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all well. Chrissy congrats and I am sorry you are having a hard time. Hope you get better soon. Christine it is good to have you back. Checking in with you guys. I am doing ok taking it a day at a time and ready to get back on track full force.

[swrktp 1]

Reggie are you coming this weekend?? Would love to see you!!

[cole83 1]

So in your research was the band still recommended? I don't think for me personally I could do any other surgery, at least not yet. My mom had one of the originals 30 years ago and had it reversed..but had a lot of issues. So though it has evolved it still scares me to death. I feel if I started malnurishing myself now it could be fatal later as it was for my mom

But on the other hand this weight needs to come off or it too will be detrimental as well.

I have not figured out the picture thing...I added one on some part of my page but don't know how to add it as a profile picture. I must say you ladies have me hooked...I love to check my email to see what new advice I can take away from it all. Such smart and super helpful people on here.

I think I should sleep better tonight...not as worried, I kinda have my mind made up about the lap-band but love hearing the new info you all have on it. I just worry about everything in life

Good night all :smile2:

[swrktp 1]

Mo is your band doing good now?? I see your name down there.........

I sure do miss Candra and Jes and Riley and Pat and the rest of the gang that use to post.

Miss you to Reggie!!

[swrktp 1]

Cole I worry to but I have lost almost 50 pounds. Once I hit the 50 pound mark I am considered a lap band success!! So I have been successful I try to focus on that to.......I just want to lose another 50 to consider myself a success!! But I am off the blood pressure meds, the GERD is gone, and the irriatable bowl thing they told me I had is totally gone too.

So if I am down 50 and considered a success than maybe revisions are not an option. Like Annalyn said the goal is to lose and maintain lose.

Maybe I am already a success and the rest is extra :-)

That might be closer to reality

My mom is driving my crazy lately wanting to know why I am not down the 100 I aimed for in the beginning!! Ughhh...sorta annoying me cause than I start to wonder the same darn thing!!

[momcof3 1]

Well I guess I am a success too and I doubt they would do a revision unless I had a problem.

My band hasn't loosened up at all and I have lost over 15 lbs since I had my last fill - Dr. Im does his fills differently so I never felt it loosen up in between fills - they were big fills and less of them. I'm kind of scared to ask for a slight unfill as I will have to tell them why and once they find out I am in the medical weight loss program they are probably not going to be happy with me - guess I will have to take my chances - I don't want to lie and just say I am too tight - oh I don't know what to tell them.

Hang in there Reggie - we are here for you - and don't worry none of us are perfect - a lot of us are struggling so come back and hang with us and we can get through it together.