Day Dreamer

Hey CCBC, I have been researching both options. My seminar is tomorrow, so I am anxious. I think that if it is meant to be, you will get your surgery (no matter which one it is). Just think, many people that need Band revision or removals, end up getting the sleeve anyway. You shouldn't feel defeated just yet. Keep your chin up. Hugs!!!!

Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if you had any back problems before the surgery? I had spinal cord surgery last year and wondered if I would have severe back pain after this surgery. I hope you feel better soon!!!

Kristen, were you talking to my husband?!?! LOL Omg... sounds just like him. My friend had RNY a couple years back and he tore into her about how lazy she was. She was in tears and I yelled at him to stop!! She was so hurt that she wouldn't come over to the house when he was there. Here it is years later, I am now fat and looking to get WLS and what say he - not a darn thing!!! LOL I am not sure why people are so rude and think they understand what you are going through. I get this a lot at work with this thin girl who constantly ask me if I worked out the night before. WTH?!!? Why do you care? She said she is just looking out for me, but I am sick of it!!! I even got a candy bar and walked past her eating it. She said.. oh I wish I could eat that but I am trying be bikini perfect by June... pfft.. Bikini-smini!!! Needless to say, I won't be telling her about my surgery She can kiss my fat butt!!

ccbc, I have read that you cannot get the Lap Band if you had the Nissen Fundoplasty. I did read that you would be able to do RNY instead. Is that an option?? I was going through Louisville as well (Dr Schuster) but worried about the drive and follow up visits. Good luck.

Going to the seminar on Saturday to get a feel for Dr. Oldham. I have heard some pretty good things about the Bluegrass Group in Etown, I just hope it holds true. I am looking to ask quite a few questions, but looking for more ideas on what to ask and what to look for... ?!?? My questions so far: - how many sleeves have you done? - what is your complication rate? leak rate? - do you use stitches over the staple line? - will you be providing my post op care as well? Anything else? Thanks!

Thank you for sharing. Sounds like you are doing well and staying positive. Did you have any pain when loading the dishwasher? Do they give you type of compression garmet post op? Thanks and good luck!

Aww you guys.. here I am having my pity party and seems there are other people that feel this way. Yeah, I know I am a bit hard on myself - but I feel like I have to be. No one else is going to discipline me, if I don't. @ Aro - your words cut to my heart. I suppose women are a bit more cruel when it comes to judging but I know men do it too. I am ashamed to tell people I was a soldier... and worse if they ask "how long ago was that?". Wow. Really? @ Everyone - I thought I could have some "fat accpetance" but just can't get my mind around it. I feel like people stare at me everywhere I go. They must think, "Oh that poor girl. She is out of control". *sigh* But it is so much worse when your friends and family judge you. They remember this thin, fit girl.. then they see me. My own child thinks I am "sooo big". Ugh. I want to lose weight for her too. yes, for me, but for her too. I want to run and play with my daughter. I want to fit in the chair at the school when she has a recital. I want her to say my mom is soo pretty instead of my mom is sooo big. Food has become my enemy. I don't even like the smell of food anymore. Things that tasted good, no longer offer that console. I want the band to help me - help myself. Does that make sense? I need that extra edge to fight this war. Dieting alone is like fighting a war with a limited number of bullets.. [motivation]... once my bullets are gone, I will lose the war.

Looking for E-town/Radcliff pre op people. Thinking of going through BlueGrass instead of my originally planned St Mary group. I am going to the seminar on Saturday

This is just plain scary for NOOBS like me to read. I am here to research, get honest info and hear good/bad stories. To be honest, it sounds like you started eating the bad foods (as you said, you began to crave). I know all WLS work differently on everyone. I know many people with varied WLS and most are doing well. One friend had her RNY 10 yrs ago and she is still thin as ever (she drinks socially and eats goodies but in small amounts). There are no 10 year studies in the US on Band (that I know of) but many people 5 years out are doing well. Some Bandsters don't even need it because they learned to eat and work out so that it is second nature. (Finger crossed, that will be me.) I want to hear about complications - because knowledge is power, but to blast the band because it didn't work for you is a bit harsh.

My coordinator said I would meet with the Dr two times pre op - once to do intake / vitals / all the insurance screening sutff (psych, labs etc) and one more time to set surgery date, ask any questions etc. I am sure every program, Dr and insurance vary, but mine looks like: Seminar Intake - weigh-in, labs, etc Paperwork submitted to insurance for approval Surgeon visit Surgery

Thank you for the kind words

Good info!! Thanks!!

Maybe I should use this as a 'selling point' to my hubby, because right now he isn't very supportive of any WLS.

Sounds crazy right? Somewhere in my mind, I thought I was normal / average sized. Ok, except the days when I saw someone starring in mirror back at me and she was 400lbs heavier than I really am... total body dismorphia. I have friends that were the same size and told me how well I "hold my weight"?!? That led to not worrying about little gains here and there. Then one day, my 4y/o daughter told me "When I grow up I want to be pretty like you mommy... just not fat". Ohhh dagger through the heart... My 4 y/o knew what I denied myself to believe. I was a fatty. Is there a 12 step program for admitting this?!?! *Shouts to the world* I AM A FATTY, I ADMIT IT! Sadly, the world shouts back "We already knew that; what mirror were you looking in this whole time?" I refused to let anyone take my picture. I know how to hold the camera at the right angle and use the right lighting to make my FaceBook pictures look ever so slim and sleek. I was only hiding it from myself. Everyone that knows me, knew how I looked in person. So between the ups and downs of body dismorphia, I have imagined myself to be a slvet size 12 to a size 6XL +++. My mind was playing tricks on me and the hardest part was admitting my real size (18 btw). I still had my skinny mind set, but I was living in my fat body - I just couldn't admit it. So here I am. I am admitting to myself that I have a problem. I am fat. I let myself get this way from years of overeating and no exercise. Would you believe I was a Soldier? Would you believe that was 6 years ago? I won't tell people because I know their reaction. They look me up and down and say something along the lines of, "Oh, I wouldn't have pictured you as the soldier type". Dagger. Yes, I beat myself up a lot. I can't help it. I was running 4 miles a day with 75 lb ruck. I was fit and happy. I lost myself. I lost the admiration of my hubby. My ex-Army buddies think I am a total loser. And now... my beautiful little girl sees mommy as a big fat wad. *tears* /end pitty party for one

Mit, they didn't offer you the sleeve? I have noticed that a lot of people that need the band removed, get the sleeve done the same time or soon after. I have to say, I would be so happy to lose 95lbs I know it doesn't console you, because you are gaining but you have to be happy with that huge feat. 95lbs is a small adult I am proud of you and I know you will start losing again soon. Good luck

Tnt, thank goodness to find someone local!!! I am so happy you said Dr Oldham is good. I am ready to go to Louisville but would prefer not to. Do they do your fills in Etown? Did you have your surgery at Baptist East? How was the hospital experience? I think I will skip the seminar in Louisville tonight. I worry that it will be too far if I have complications and need to see the Dr right away! Thanks for answering, and congrats on your weight loss thus far!!

Just spoke to my coordinator and she asked if I went under BMI because I did a test run on the pre-op diet... I was under and she told me, "you have to meet BMI from intake till they place you on the diet officially". Needless to say, I was sad because who wants to gain weight?!?! But I hate to be denied over 0.5 under BMI. BTW I am going through a bariatric center vs my PCP. Good luck

I can't seem to find any current /past banders of Dr. Oldham in Etown. Please drop me a line if you went through BlueGrass because I am considering them over Louisville Bariatric group. Thank you

I currently have Anthem Blue Cross and I am unsure what type of visit insurance companies consider a "fill" (office visit, specialty visit, etc). I was wondering, what are the typical cost associated with getting your 'fill/unfill'? Please note if you are self pay or if your insurance covers it. Thanks!!!

So here I am, on my way for approval of LB and I find out my insurance covers VSG. I was worried that I would have issues with my LB - slip, erosion, port flip etc. VSG may be a good option for me since it has less complications than traditional RNY and no fills/slips/flips/ etc like LB. (Of course I know there are more serious risk like leakage from the sleeve, but no foreign objects in me?!?!) The bad part is that i would need to change bariatric groups because I picked a group that only does LB. A local group (BlueGrass Bariatric Group) does the all of the procedures but they charge a program fee where as Louisville Surgical does not have a fee. Either way, I am going to both seminars - one for each Dr - to see which surgery fits me best and which group I like better. Both groups are Center of Excellence, board certified surgeons. Any tips when shopping for a bariatric group?

Hopefully you will find a Dr to do the revision/removal. I have heard many people say they went to a new Dr when they needed the Band out and got the Sleeve instead. Good Luck

Just curious: but how does a leaking port have an effect on weight loss? Thanks in advance

I have Hypothyroidism as well and I am constantly cold. I know my cold intolerance is not due to being skinny LOL.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/find/bariatric-surgeon/WA/ BTW here is a list of Bariatric surgeons in your area.

Hmmm.. you are "unable to eat anything except junk food" without throwing up?? Ok I get that junk foods / slider foods go down easier but I question why that is "all" you can eat?!?! No Protein shakes? No mushy foods? Hmm.. Not to be rude but it sounds off. Q- did the surgeon fill your band during surgery? Have you been to a bariatric center of excellence to get a revision consult? Good luck and hope things work out.