kewlshort1

My cousin had surgery with him last month, and has nothing but positive things to say. She personally knew a number of people that all raved about him and his practice as well.

I just had my band removed three days ago for similar reasons. I'm working on converting to bypass, and expect my surgery will be in February. I had my band placed in 2011, and lost about 85 pounds. Unfortunately I started having problems with esophageal hypomotility, and was vomiting all the time. So my surgeon removed all the fluid, and I've gained most of the weight back. I'm looking forward to the bypass, and finding a more permanent weight loss.

I am going from band to bypass. I have to redo the nutrition classes. I had the band in 2011, but I have switched jobs and insurances since then. Not sure if that plays a part or not. I was disappointed, but it is what it is.

I was banded December 19th, and it has been a breeze. I had major nausea post-op, even with the patch and maxed out on IV nausea meds, but only had it the day of surgery. I had very little gas pain, and none in my shoulder. It was just a pressure under my sternum, and passed after post op day one. My dr is less strict than many, so I have been eating regular food for almost a week now. I have no fluid in my band yet, so I have had no problems eating anything. I mostly have head-hunger over real hunger though, so I'm constantly having to ask myself if I'm really hungry or just bored, etc. I won't get my first fill until the end of January, and I'm anxious for it to get here. I'm down about 20 lbs, but haven't lost anything over the past 5 days or so.

I had the patch as well as maxed out on multiple anti-nausea meds, yet I still came out with major nausea. I had the patch for 3 days, and had a few bouts of nausea the day after surgery still. Some of us are just more prone to nausea, no matter what steps we take to prevent it.

I gained weight during my 6 mos nutrition counseling. It was insurance mandated, not physician mandated btw. My surgeon had no weight loss requirements, like some do. I wound up on large doses of prednisone during my 6 mos, and subsequently gained a bit of weight. I was still approved on the first try. I have Humana insurance.

I have to say, every time you post, I do a double take. Your avatar is the same picture I have for my twitter picture, so it always catches my eye and makes me wonder when I posted that

I'm being banded on the 19th as well. I have my pre-anesthesia phone interview this Friday, and my pre-op appointment the following Wednesday. I was initially set for the 15th, but I'll make do with the 19th Either way, it's my Christmas present to myself, so I'll take missing out on whatever I have to at dinner on Christmas!

Didn't your dr give you post-op directions? The post-op diet varies greatly by doctor. My dr is one of the more lenient. I have one week post-op full liquids, with the guidelines of "anything that can be sucked through a large straw, or poured from a pitcher." After that first week, I can move to mushies and then up to solids as tolerated. Some people are full liquids for up to a few weeks. It's not a cut-and-dry rule, so it really depends on your surgeon's preferences.

What do your post op directions say? My post-op directions allow me to eat anything that can be taken through a large straw or poured from a pitcher. Cream of Wheat is allowed, as long as it is thinned and not thick. This is an area that varies with each doctor as well though, so I can't say that your doctor agrees with mine.

Holy crow, that is awesome!! I've never heard of a surgeon doing that. Sweet!

I'm so sad My surgery date was initially supposed to be on 12/15, and today I was told it will be 12/19. It's 4 days, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but it totally messes things up. The 15th would have allowed me to be able to miss fewer days off of work because it's my e/o weekend off. The 19th not only means I'll have to miss a stretch of work days, but puts me too close to Christmas, which means my boss may not allow me the time off. Apparently being the week before Christmas, and being an elective procedure, gives her the ability to say no I've emailed her, and am waiting on a response. Regardless, I'm not putting it off any longer. I don't want to wait until January. It will just mean that I will have to trade shifts with coworkers, and the week before surgery I will have to work all the hours I am scheduled in a 2 week payperiod. That would stink, since I have a sick pay bank that would pay for me to have a week off to recover if she approves it. ::sigh:: I should have known that the 15th was too good to be true!!!

First, I would move hell and high waters to get the surgery. That being said, I have worked in patient accounts for a number of years. I wouldn't count on the hospital covering your balance, and would think about alternatives. Even if the alternative is working like crazy to make payments. While hospitals are required to "write off" a certain amount of debt, and you may qualify based on income alone, every hospital I've worked at has the clause that states the assistance is NOT allowed for elective procedures. And as much as many of us would say this surgery is NEEDED and not just elective, it is going to be considered elective. Regardless of what the representative might have told you, the ultimate decision is way out of their hands. Perhaps you could contact patient accounts and get information on their assistance program. The guidelines should be clearly stated. Not trying to be a downer, just don't want you to wind up with added stress later!!

It looks amazing!!

I have Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In addition to multiple other pills, I do take a prescription NSAID. My surgeon recommended I stop taking it. I haven't taken it for quite a while now. Really, I never felt it did a whole lot for me anyway. My other meds do much more to control my symptoms, so I haven't missed it.