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slojo67

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by slojo67

  1. Only have one week to go till surgery. I am not scared but i am very excited to have it done. I'm excited about the trip. i paid for the surgery today, OUCH! but it couldve been alot higher if done in the states of course. I feel it's worth it to pay cash. My bmi isn't high enough for insurance to pay for it. I don't have alot to say,i packed my bags today (yes, already) I'm like a little kid waiting for santa to come lol...Don't have much to say except i'm ready for this....I'm ready to start the rest of my life and get on with things. we have alot going on at home, building on, re-roofing, new front porch etc. trying to finish nursing school for bachelor's degree... gonna be too busy to eat! thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts!
  2. Well it's been 36 hours since I completely stopped smoking. I'm using Chantix and it is really helping. I'm not having cigarette cravings at all. I sometimes find myself looking for my cigarettes out of habit ( i use to lose them ALL the time), but I don't feel like i NEED a cigarette anymore. I'm using electronic cigarettes to help with having to do something with my hands, but i'm not puffing on it alot. I just hold it, and i used suckers at work yesterday. I;m surprised how well the med is working. I don't know how it works really, (ive read how it works), but it does work.
     
    Well, it's 17 days until surgery, it's finally becoming more real to me that this is really going to happen.I can't wait. I'm not nervous about the procedure, but just excited to get it done and start losing weight. I registered for a half-marathon to be held in Paducah may 11 2013! I bought new running shoes,clothes and a sports watch to monitor heartrate/distance etc... I'm going to start tonight on walking then eventually running again. Running for me is very therapeutic mentally as well as physically. I said i was going to replace the smoking with running. I always have to have something to obsess over. It's just how i am. I don't "exercise" but I am a runner by nature. It's a free feeling for me once I get past the burning in my chest and pain everywhegotre because i'm in TERRIBLE shape now.
     
    Well, i'll go thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts!
  3. I found a surgery buddy today, and got my passport! It's been a really good day. I'm feeling excited and encouraged about my upcoming surgery Aug.28th. I found my surgery buddy on verticalsleevetalk.com because I couldn't find anyone having lapband on the same day/same surgeon. I'm so glad I found here, she's really cool. We'll meet at the jet-blue terminal at San Diego airport august 28th at 0900, then shuttled to the hospital for our pre-op ekg/labwork then surgery! My passport picture is terrible. I had worked 12 hours on night shift and didn't have any make-up on. They may not let me back in. I look like a hardened criminal...Well, I'm at work, that's why I'm up at this time, trying to work extra to have a little extra money for the trip. Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...
  4. Just received my Band Wagon book today. It's pretty informative. I also filled out my history papers for Dr. Swain for my post op care/fills. Seems like the day will never get here! Buddy, my husband, is out west on the motorcycle, the kids are all staying here with me. Been trying to get some sun on my body, tried to go to lake the other day but it rained. So i guess I'll just stay pale. Just trying to pass the time. I'm on this site probably 75% of the day, just trying to find someone who's going to my surgeon on the same day. I even got on verticlesleevetalk.com to try to find someone. Thought I had found someone on there but then I lost her and couldn't find her again. I'm just ready to go and get the rest of my life started. We're going to add a porch/new roof/carport this fall to the house i'm ready to get on with that as soon as my husband and I both get back from our trips... We have alot going on. I start dayshift at my nursing job tomororrow morning. I've gained 30 lbs. since going on nights 8 mo. ago. though dayshift would aid in my wt. loss. It's hard to know when to eat working nights, and I haven't been sleeping enough. Also when all of this is over i'm going to finish nursing school. I have 5 classes to go (online) then clinicals to complete my BSN in nursing. I've been working on it for 10+ years and have to finish it this year. I HAVE to!!! Otherwise alot of money will go down the drain. Not just in wages, but the cost of college will be wasted.Well, I'm "just a waitin!). Gotta go ....
  6. I found a Dr. that will do my aftercare/fills that is 45 min from home! I thought I was going to have to drive 5 hours each time! My best friend who had lapband surgery 3 years ago's dr agreed to take me even though I'm having surgery in Mexico! He's very well know in our area, as there aren't many bariatric dr's at this time (we're out in BFE as some would call it). HAHA I'm really sure now that lapband was the way for me to go vs. vsg. I almost opted for the sleeve because of problems with f/u care/fill dr's being scarce. But now I don't doubt I'm doing the right thing...He charges 450.00 for 1st post op visit, then 200.00 for each fil, whick seems hight, but I was going to pay more for the dr. that was 5 hours away, so I feel fortunate to have this Dr. to take care of me... Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts, Just a waitin'...

  7. The Trip To Mexico

    · slojo67 · 07/10/2012 10:47

    Saturday I got great news! My best friend who also has been banded (3 years ago), and who also is a nurse is going with me to mexico for my surgery! I am so happy.... I'll have to continue this later I've got a terrible headache, woke up with it..

  10. Still Just A Waitin'

    · slojo67 · 08/25/2012 23:18

    Justa waitin' only have 3 days to go before surgery. I'm having all kinds of feelings. No doubts or fears really just hopes that everything goes okay and that i never have a slip or erosion. I would like to keep my band (gertrude) forever. I am looking forward to the trip to san diego then mexico. Never have been out west at all. Never have flown on a large jet before. I'm sitting in seat 13A on the flights from home to chicago! THat's my lucky number... The large jets don't have a 13th seat... well i don't have alot to say. Started liquids this am doing okay with that i'v e had Unjury chicken noodle soup, sf jello, and unjury unflavored in water and crystal light to drink. Haven't cheated. haven't had the urge to yet. My husband is grilling chicken wings right now,(don't like them) he had mercy on me and fixed something i don't really like. I'm a vegetarian about 90% of the time. Plan on being a full-time vegetarian now that i'm being banded. I'll write more on the trip to let you know how Mexico/San Diego goes...Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

  11. Computer Issues

    · slojo67 · 07/21/2012 02:11

    I've been out of comission for a while, had to get a new computer. Got a little netbook so I can keep in touch everywhere I go! The other notebook laptop had a bunch of stuff on it from my kids (games) and I couldn't get it to run. I got this just for ME ME ME! Had a long day today, applied for my passport for the trip to Mexico,should be here in 2 1/2 weeks- 3 weeks they said. Just a waitin'...

  12. New Computer

    · slojo67 · 07/12/2012 10:22

    Well, yesterday I traded my eldest son a desktop that was 4 years old, for a good laptop that was 4 months old! I didn't rip him off either!! haha Well, maybe, but I bought both of them anyways, so... He wanted a desktop (don't know why), and I needed a laptop to take on trip to mexico in august, and to take to work etc... I had an awful time getting on lapbandtalk.com yesterday, you might say I was going through lapbandtalk DT'S! This is the first time I've ever blogged or forumed before...But, now I see why people do it. You can learn alot. And it's awesome to talk to others having same experiences. i've always been a pretty private, (non-social) person. But this interest in WLS and improving my looks/health (not necessarily in that order) has sparked my social-side. Gotta go, Just a waitin!

  13. Just A Waitin'

    · slojo67 · 07/11/2012 03:15

    I'm calling it pre-op hell, where I still have this ferocious appetite, not much control over my diet at all. Trying to change eating habits at this time, more veggies, protein, & taking vitamins in preparations for surgery August 28th. Have all of the arrangements made up to my first post op aptmnt. on Sept. 4th to remove suturess if I have them. I guess I'll have sutures. The director of nursing where I work just had gastric sleeve done 2 weeks ago tuesday and she didn't have sutures, she was just "superglued" on the outside. My bariatric dr in the states is Dr. Brian Swain in Murray Ky. My best friend, the one going with me to mexico had her surgery/fill per this dr. as well. He's only an hour away, I got lucky when I found him, the only other option I had for my follow up care/fills was going to be in Cinncinati Oh. which is 5 hours away from me! I just found out earlier today that Dr. Swain would take me, as I'm having the band done in Mexico by another surgeon. The nurse I spoke with said more dr's are taking patients who had surgery out of the states nowadays. The first visit will be 450.00 the subsequent office visits/fills will be 200.00. This is also less than the Dr. in Cincinati was going to charge. I have been very fortunate in my quest for lapband surgery options. I found a reputable surgeon in Tijuana mexico with the awesome price of 3500.00, my flight is onlly 333.00 round trip, I have a fill dr. 1 hr from home... I have a best friend who was banded 3 years ago and also is a nurse. I feel very greatful that i'll have good care at decent prices...I just wish the day would ARRIVE! I can hardly stand myself. I want to be healthy and look good again...5 years ago I weighed 125 lbs, but I had to starve to get there and starve to maintain it. I took diet pills everyday just to maintain it. I hated the nervous feeling they gave me. HATED IT! Well, gotta go do something else. I just got a new laptop today so that I can stay in touch with you all on my trip in August... Enjoying sitting on the sofa on the pc rather than at the desk all the time. My right shoulder would kill me after just a short time on the desktop pc. Good-bye and Just a waitin'...
  14. I've found a physician that will take me close to home! I'm having lapband in Mexico,and you all know it's hard to find a dr. to take you for f/u care & fills if you had surgery per another physician. But my best friend recommended her dr. Dr. Brian Swain, I called and they'll take me! it's only 1 hr away, had found another dr. but it was 5 hours away! So glad I called this dr. It's 450.00 for 1st visit/suture removal, record review etc. the 200.00 each fill after this. Not cheap but it's cheaper and alot closer than the other physician was.... I'm ecstatic I found this dr. I had assumed he wouldn't take me so I hadnt called him. I live in western ky. Can't wait to get started on this journey...

  16. First Entry On My Blog

    · slojo67 · 07/03/2012 09:09

    I'm impatiently waiting to have WLS on august 28th 2012, I can hardly wait... I have dug out my carry-0n bag, my suitcase, picked my seats on the airline (in the rear of plane of course, less impact...) HAHA. I'm not afraid, but when I googled the type of jet i'll be flying from Paducah ky, to Chicago a picture of a plane sitting in water popped up!! The one where the pilot miraculously landed the jet in the bay in New York a while back...OMG!!! But, anyways... I weigh 183 lbs, I want to weigh around 125. I'm 5'3" the dr says this is ideal for my height...I have bought new skinny clothes. hung them around the bedroom to look at...Cute! stuff! can't wait until they fit... I'm very new to blogs, forums, tickers and all of this. but i'm getting around on this site a little better. I think it is awesome to be able to obtain/share info with others going through this same experience... I do work with another nurse who had lapband a while back (she lost 85 lbs) and looks awesome... Very pretty/healthy looking...I have struggled with my weight all my life. I've had spells where my weight was down but I had to STARVE to maintain it. My thyroid is okay the dr says...I live in western ky. found a dr. near cincinatti that will do my follow up care as i am having surgery in mexico... He takes any WLS patients from any surgeon, even if you have complications.. His name on internet is thebanddr. for pete's sake. I was going to have the sleeve done until I found him. He charges 500.00 for first fill with fluorscopy, the 100.oo for subsequent fills. very reasonable...He's 41/2 hours away, but i'll enjoy the time away from home. I never go anywhere except work.. I'm a RN, wife, mother of 2 grown boys, have a teacup chihuahua Teko, and about 60 chickens. I raise fancy bantam chickens... I'm obsessed with them. I grew up up north and have ended up more southern than anyone I know...haha... I have 2 nursing jobs, one fulltime, one parttime,(1-2 days/wk) I work 12hr shifts at my first job which is only 3 days/wk. I've saved cash for this surgery by working 2 jobs... I am soooo determined to make this successful...My BMI is too low in the states for insurance to consider me, so i'm gone to m-e-x-i-c-o... I look forward to the trip as much as the surgery. I've researched and researched on this surgeon Dr. Mario Almanza-reyes, and haveread a few negative things like incision-site infections, (which happens in the u.s. everyday) which usually is due to the patient touching the suture-sites with dirty hands, or not using good technique when cleaning the skin/caring for the incision sites... No major complilcations have I read about, but alot of people want to be negative about mexican surgeons because they're probably just prejudiced about any foreign people period.... Why pay 20,000 for something when you can get the same thing (plus excellent service in Mexico, I hear? The dr. lives across the street from the hospital and also takes you shopping in Tijuana as part of your recovery!! That would NEVER happen in the US, EVER.... Anyways, the surgery, flights, insurance for surgery for 1 year (covers any complications, flights, etc)costs 4500.00 for everything...I become so upset when I hear negative remarks about surgery in Mexico online...Do your research and go with your gut, and you could save 15,000.00 or so. And not have to jump through hoops for insurance companies...Well, it's 4:30am time to wake up my hardworking hubby for work... Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts....

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