JudyH

Hi Judy, I got banded June 5 at Ohio State by Dr. Mikami who's very nice. You're right. Mansfield is only an hour away by a speeding beetle!!!! Judy H

Hi bootboots, I live in Columbus but I'll be happy to be your band-buddy. Judy H

Thanks. JudyH

I have a question. What exactly are mushies? Also, I know we can drink all types of juices but what about V8? Judy H. :help: :hungry:

I belong to another online support group who I send jokes :faint:to. I would be happy to send some to any of you who wish to be on it. Let me know. :ranger: JudyH :car:

Thanks. I live on the east side of Columbus and I'll check it out.

I'm in Columbus but the only one I know about is up at Ohio State and mostly gastric bypassers attend it.

:help: I know I can't eat sticky foods. What about ethnic Jewish food like Lox, Herring, Gilfilte Fish, Bagels, etc. JudyH

Capt. Jack, Good for you. I may not have as much equipment as you did but I have my share!!! Suction machine (UGH), concentrator and assorted other stuff.

Hello, I'm JudyH from Columbus, OH. I received my band on June 5 at Ohio State. For my insurance co to pay 80% of the surgery, I had to take 6 months of "Living Well" classes at Ohio State. I took them happily!!! I then had to take an intense nutrition class for a month which I found interesting. Good luck on your journey.

Hello, As I said, I was banded June 5 by Dr. Mikami from Ohio State. I'm single but I included all my family members and friends in my decision. My mother wasn't to keen on the idea at first but when she saw how determined I was to get it, she stopped fighting with me about it. Both my brothers were very excited for me and never complained at all. Include your husband and family and everyone will be comfortable with it. I hope that helped. Judy H

Nice to meet you. Is Dr. Needleman nice cause Dr. Mikami is very nice.

Hello. I'm JudyH and I also live in Columbus, OH. I was banded June 5 at Ohio State University by Dr. Dean Mikami and had my first fill in August. So far I've lost 17 lbs and I'm very happy with that. I'd rather lose it slower with the band than unusually fast and dangerous with the gastric. I retired from the State of Ohio 4 years ago after 30 "wonderful and funfilled" years!!! As I was getting ready to retire, I went into Respiratory Failure due to obesity. Ended up getting trached to save my life and I still have the trach. I also ended up in a nursing home/subacute rehab center to get weaned off a ventilator that I was put on to let my lungs heal when I was rushed to the hospital. The main reason for me getting banded besides loosing weight was to get rid of the trach. According to my Pulmonary Doctor, once I lose enough weight, he'll remove the trach. So that's an added incentive. For my insurance to pay for 80% of the surgery, I had to take 6 months of "Living Well" classes at Ohio State. So I happily took them. Then I had to take an intense nutrition class which I found very interesting. So now I'm retired and would like to travel but can't because I have to much medical equipment to lug along. I'm so happy I found this website because all the support group meetings at Ohio State are geared towards the Gastric Bypass patient and not the Lap-bander. JudyH

Exactly. I had to be weaned off the ventilator. Stayed 6 months so I could lose weight which I did. I'm used to the trach and all that goes with it but I'm retired and I want to enjoy my retirement. I love to travel but when you have a trach you have a lot of medical equipment to carry along.

OK. I'll tell my whole sordid story. Four years ago I went into Respiratory Failure due to obesity. I was in the hospital for a month, 3 weeks in a drug-induced coma to let my lungs heal, trached and I was on a ventilator to aid in breathing. I then was transferred to a nursing home/subacute rehab center where I was for six months, the first three months being weaned off the ventilator. In the process of getting heathlier, I lost 100 lbs eating the "tasty" nursing home food. Fast forward 4 years, I had gained the 100 lbs back. My primary doctor suggested weight loss surgery and here I am. A trached Lap-bander. I was just wondering if anyone else has a trach or had a trach. JudyH :whoo:

A trach is a "pipe" that is inserted in someone's neck to help them to breath better. I am trached. Obviously you are not. Decannulation is when it is removed.

I was just wondering how many trached or non-trached Lap-banders there are. How long after you got banded did you get decannulated (removal of the trach)? Just curious. JudyH

I had a Purcacet pump. It was wonderful. The reason you couldn't talk was because you were on oxygen and a hose was put down your throat. I didn't have that because I have a trach and right before I went under, the ENT doc did a trach change. To involved to explain. So when I woke up in the recovery room, I hurt from the nexk down!! JudyH

Sorry. There is BariatricChoice.com and Bariatricadvantage.com. I'm sure there are more out there but I like these two. JudyH

Hello all. I've found some really good and healthy websites that only carry food for Lap-banders. I've already ordered some healthy Snacks and they are quite tasty. JudyH :hungry:

Res, I found this wedsite a couple weeks ago. It has been a great help for me. I haven't been back to my surgeon but I'm happy with my weight loss. As long as I continue to lose, I'm happy. Good luck with your fill. JudyH

Best of luck to you Nettie. Thank you for your support. JudyH

Mandi, They put you to sleep but when you awake, you're sore but there's drugs for that!!!!! JudyH :-)

Drema, Thank you and good luck. JudyH

Betty, Thank you for your encouragement. I'm trying my hardest. Judy H