esummersett

Joanne, What was your weight prior to surgery? I was banded 1 week ago and was 214lbs at the time of the banding. No offense to anyone, but I'm trying to be realistic about my future weight loss (hopefully 90-100lbs). But you sound like you're around my size. Just looking for some insight. Elizabeth

:)I was banded 1 week ago, I have a hugh bladder capacity-I summed mine up to nervous bladder, mine also started in pre-op and lasted about 48hours. Be aware the other option is symptoms of an early bladder infection. No matter what be sure to take in LOTS of water. Wether a shy bladder or infection, it's a post-op order. Good fortune in the future.

ALOHAJO Write down the sequence of events, when and who you told. Write down who knows now. File a grievence through your union (make sure they tell the Union attorney) and tell your HR rep you belive that your Federal rights have been infringed. If you are part of a union and you have a FMLA for your leave, this is a federal privacy offense, if you wanted you could sue your employeer, you could. (You would need to prove damages and that you told your boss why you would be on leave as part of the heirarcy of your job, not just because you wanted him to know.) As a supervisor at a Union facility, let me tell you the rules are spelled out very clearly-you cannot ask an employee why they are late or why they are calling off work for the day. You cannot ask why they are taking an FMLA, they simply turn the paper work into you or HR. I for instance, could ask how an employee is , that's OK, but not why they're off. The federal government set these laws up for privacy for a reason. Maybe someone needs to challange infringments and see what the punishment for not following of the law. (Bet it would be a monetary settlement:)

I will weigh meyself later today to find out what I have lost. My highest weight had been 226lbs in Jan, 221lbs before the 1 week pre-op diet, day of surgery 214.5lbs 07-11-07 and on Saturday was 211lbs. Hopefully down to 208lbs. Saw my urologist for a regular checkup yesterday (kidney stones), always a nice doc who I worked with, but always concerned about me needing to lose weight. He was really exicted for me yesterday, told me if I needed anything to just call him. I thought that was very sweet. My PCP also was very excited for me to have it done. He actually volunteered to write my off-work note, so he felt "like he had a part" in my weight loss. PS. when I saw the urologist yesterday, I had a regular KUB done to see how big my stones are, the doc and the xray tech said they couldn't even see my kidneys because off all the gas LOL!!! I told him I would work on that for my 6 months apt. Interestingly, and I'm sure it was due to the angle of the xray, I swear, my port looked like one of those yellow smiley faces, doctor even agreed. I think that's a good sign. I feel better this am, came home yesterday and took 2 huge doses of Gas X and that helped do the trick to get rid of some of that gas finally, of course I need to Lysol the non-sense out of the house now. I also found some soup receipes on this site, for the liquid phase. Now that alot of the gas has passed, I don't feel so afraid to eat (thought before I would surely vomit if I ate almost anything) and am happy to report though still distened, I can no longer feel my diaphram touch my lungs!!! Ah, the simple things in life, a deep breath and no pain, hurray! Elizabeth

went to my regular urology apt today, they always do and xray to see how many kidney stones I have. The urologist and the xray tech announced that I had so much gas in my intestines that they couldn't even see my kidneys and were guessing that I still had several kidney stones based on my history, The doctor said he'll see me for a recheck in 6 months and I told him that I would "work on" all the gas so he could read the xray the next time. LOL!!! PS. saw my port, and at the angle of the xray I swear it has a smiley face, even the doctor agreed.

:clap2:Good for you!!! I would tell you to be honest with him, tell him you know you don't meet the 40BMI and you know that, but tell him all the diets you have tried. In the mean time take care of yourself as best you can. I've heard some people who don't weigh "enough" try to gain before they see the MD so they will weigh "enough". I think that's ridiculous. Just keep doing what you've been doing and don't become disheartened because you apt is in August. Remember you've taken the first step with someone new, and Gazayerli is very honest, he'll do it if he feels you qualify. If you can get that book by Kaliah Ali from the library, it's really good I thought. It answers alot of questions I had, her physician also had a lap band, and he also helps narrate (?) from a personal and a medical standpoint. Interestingly, Dr. Gazayerli recommended the book to me, I told him I had already read it twice. IN the mean time enjoy eating (obviously not over-eating), enjoy all the different tastes, because after surgery it's 4 weeks before you get to try solids again. And a minimum diet prior to surgery is 2 protein shakes and :hungry: "balanced meal" for dinner, the week before surgery.:whoo: Good fortune and let me know if you have any other questions or I can help you. Look foward to talking to you in the future, and I'll be able to tell you how much weight I've lost. Elizabeth

None of her business. I didn't tell either of my bosses, just said I was having surgery and left it at that, filled out my FMLA paper work and turned it in. She is not allowed by federal law to ask you or try to find out why you'll be gone. Simply as that, none of her business. Sounds like she's a meany most of the time, so in reality it probably won't make much of a difference. She's gonna be slamming doors if you have surgery or not. Is she overweight, maybe she's having problems with her insurance trying to get them to pay for her lap band, LOL. Don't worry about her, worry about you and think about your new life. Is your boss being made going t stop you from having your surgery? Come on.

As for the eating out with friends, I went out with some the other night and told them I had just had surgery and was on liquids only still, sat there and drank water and decaf tea, even said "well I definately lose weight like this, I think I'll use it as a jump start". They don't have to know all the details. I come from a very social eating group of people. I'll deal more with that once I can't eat solids. I read a book called "Fighting Wieght" by Kaliah Ali, she had the same issues and says "push the food around the plate, people don't really notice". I plan on trying that strategy. I'm not a coffe drinker either, I do love my diet Coke too. I guess it just have to be flat. I can make that trade off if I'm healthy. Whose business is it anyway. Elizabeth

;)I'm not married and have no children, have always been overweight 5'2 215lbs and have high blood pressure I'm sure is related to my weight and my job. Really love my job and don't want to get rid of it. I don't have 100lbs to lose, nor is my BMI 40 (39.5 is better than 40). But I obviously had alot of weight to lose and have tried it all, phen/phen was my favorite, lost 50lbs easily and put 70lbs back on even easier. Like you I feel like I have everything else in my life in control and on track except my weight. I have done the "look only at my face in a mirror, never at my body" to tease myself into thinking it was not as bad as it is. I like to play up my attributes-my face and my boobs! But at my younger sister's wedding in Jan. I was forced to deal with the fact that I'm starting to look like my chronicaly morbid obese mother and my older sister who is super morbid obese. I love looking at my sister's wedding photos and seeing our new family, but I have to change. My younger sister and I look at our older sister and want to cry becuase we love her and know her weight is going to kill her. (she has arrhythmias and diabetes and gross pitting edema in her legs). I hope when I lose my weight she sees that it wasn't that hard and how much better life is being able to do exactly what you want (Not that I ever let my weight stop me, I've traveled all over the world, am a scuba diver, climbed the Sidney Sky Harbor Bridge, surf) . It motivates me that the doc said he thinks I can easily get down to a 6-8, I was thrilled thinking about a 10-12 myself. My younger sister is really beautiful (ask any man who has ever seen her, or woman for that matter) and is a 6-8 (5'4 and 125lbs healthy), I thought when the doc said the size in front of her she might laugh her fat sister in the same size as her, oh no, she said too bad she just moved to PA otherwise I could have doubled my wardrobe and hers. I think if you can you should talk to Dr. Gazayerli 248-643-4646 (that's who did mine), he's a big help. I went through a company that advertises here "belite.com" ( he takes insurance, but if you have to pay yourself it's $11,700.). The other docs in his group are call MOSS (Michigan Obesity Surgical Specialists. Dr. Laker, Webber and another whose name I can't remember-same deal). They are all nice, but Gazayerli himself has a lap band and is very knowledgable, at a different level, having gone through this himself. Check into it, do it for yourself. Sounds like your a typical nurse who does for everyone else but themself. OK so you don't have benefits through work, so what. You can still take time off through a FMLA. If your insurance won't pay, then work some extra shifts (I know your hospital must have ER shifts open that need to be picked up like everyone does, OT adds up quickly.) But check in out. Granted I'm less than a week post-op, but I'm already losing weight, so good for me and hopefully good for you. Please let me know if you have anyother questions or concerns, I would be happy to try and help anyway I can. Elizabeth (esummersett)

Have you seen your OB yet? There are risks associated with general anesthesia and the fetus. You should consult your OB and see what they think. You may need to go see a maternal-fetal specialist, to see about risks concerneing surgery at this time and risks of the antibiotics you were on. I know this isn't many answers, but it is questions to ask your OB. Please give serious thought to what is said.

I was just banded 07-11-07 in Detroit and live about 40 minutes away from there outside Monroe. Had Dr. Gazareyli from Harper Hospital. Had to pay for the surgery myself, $11,700. Great care, great hospital, would do it again.

WOW! I work as a coordinator at at a Level I Trauma Center, so I too am an ER nurse. I told 2 people I work with what I was doing, neither of whom are my bosses. I took 3 weeks off and am thinking about taking 1 more week in addition. My doc is really concerned about not lifting ANYTHING more than 10 lbs for 4 weeks. Even as a coordinator, I can't guarantee that. Think about when you're doing CPR- compressing a sternum a minimum of of 2 1/2 inches- how many pounds of pressure do you think that takes? Or using the "old fashioned" paddles for defibrillating of cardioverting a pt-minimum of 25lbs of pressure. Or you get called out to the parking lot becasue someone is on the ground, and can't get in or you have to help lift a patient in bed or roll someone who is obese off a backboard (yes, I said a patient who is obese takes more physical effort to take care of than thinner patients). As nurses we're always concerned with everyone else, this time be concerned about yourself. I had to pay for my lap band ($11,700). Not going to take one chance having my band slip becuase I went back to work early. I did this for myself AND my patients, to be healthier. I have a lot of sick time built up, but even if I didn't I wouldn't go back early. You can take an FMLA (wether or not you have sick or vacation time for it), and there is nothing your employeer can do. It a federal law. Major surgery on yourself qualifies as FMLA. Take advantage of this law for your own health. Ask you doctor and she what she thinks. If you're not happy with her response, find another doctor (as a nurse, you wouldn't hesitate to help a patient "pin" a doctor to an answer, do it for yourself). I don't know what your BMI is or if you have any other comorbidities, but if you've made this educated decision to look into having gastric banding done, you must be a candidate.

I was just banded on 07-11-07 with an AP large. Wondering why? I'm 5'2" and 215lb. If at the proper weight I would be considered petite. If I understand you correctly, the surgeon chooses the band based on the "thickness of the stomach walls"? So, my surgeon thought I had a "thick stomach"? If I have an AP large, does that mean it will take "more fills" (ie. number of times it needs to be filled to find the correct "sweet spot")? I'm not even 1 week post op and am ? afraid to eat, that I may vomit. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time and think that this repair is now causing me to have espohageal spasms more than 20 times a day. I hope it has nothing to do with the band. (And yes I'm calling my doctor tomorrow about the spasms, if not I'll not get enough nourishment or sleep).

I was just banded 07-11-07 by Dr. Gazarelyi at Harper Hospital, he works with 3 other doctors (Webber, Laker, can't remember the other). Expierence was great! Gazarelyi himself has a lap band. They want you to stay 1 night at the hospital which was great (thought I wanted to go home right after but had serious problems with nausea post-op, so glad I stayed and got IV fluid until right before I left, know it made me feel better). Loved it, would definately recommend it. I live about 40 mins away and am very pickey not just because it's my life we're talking about,but since I am an RN. 226/214/211

day 3 post op and having intermittent chest pain that lasts only a few seconds but is very intense and comes every 10-20 minutes. I had hiatal hernia repair at the same time. Any suggestions?