Newbeginnings

HI Emily's dad, when are you being banded? I see you have 1.5 kids. Does that mean one on the way? when is it due? We have about the same amount of weight to lose but you will probably lose it quicker being a guy. I don't know if the band helps even the playing field on that one or not. good luck to you. new beginnings

Hi Kathryn, how do i get to the umass thread? I would really like to check that out. Did you have your band there? I stayed the same this week, thank god. I am still fighting the demons that say "eat while you can" I really can't wait though. I want to conquere the food thing once and for all and I think my band can really help me. Has anyone named their band or is that too weird? New beginnings

I am going in on march 31 also. where are you having surgery? I am going to worcester Ma with dr kelly. Do you know the time yet? I dont know what time mine is but i have to go march 21 for bloodwork and a chest xray and ekg. We should keep in touch as we go through this process. Good luck I will be thinking of your on our band b-day New beginnings

I finally got my date and just barely will be a march bandster. Has anyone else wanted to eat everything in sight? I am trying hard to control the monsters. My dr doesnt require the liquid 10 day diet, thank god but he did say he didnt want me to gain a bunch of weight so not to come back in a month weighing 5 lbs more. I thought" 5 lbs is a bunch of weight? I could do that in one week" I am doing my 2 miles a day on my treadmill and trying to behave myself. I have to stay one night because I am traveling 200 miles and the dr is fixing my hiatal hernia at the same time. I realized the next day would be April 1, April fools day. I am thinking of something to do as an april fools joke to my Dr when he comes in to check on me in the morning. Any idea's. :thumbup: New beginnings

Hi Barbie that would be cool for all of us bandsters to go on a cruise. The whole ship could be us talking about our success and problems. It sure would be awesome to meet some of these nice people on lap band talk. when were you banded? Kathy

HI Norton, I have bccs gov basic option and have a bmi of 42. I just got approved in like 7 days. I am so excited. I am scheduled for march 31. I just wanted to tell you that if you have 2 other issues going on like high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea they will aprove on a lower bmi. good luck hang in there . It took me 1 and 1/2 yrs to get to this point. New Beginnings

Hi everyone, I finally did it. After all the struggles of the past year and 1/2 I finally got my approval and my surgery date March 31. Can I join a group for march bandsters? I am so excited but scared at the same time. I know this is normal but I do have a few questions. Can someone please tell me what I should have at home for meds and food before surgery. I saw somewhere on here that someone took some sort of medication so they wouldnt throw up. One of my fears is that and band slippage. Would I know if I were in trouble and had a slip or blockage? I had to travel 200 miles to a specialist because of a huge 5cc hiatal hernia so I am concerned that if something happens, i have so far to travel. I really like my dr, Dr Kelly of worcester Ma. He has done these since 99 and has never had any problems other than one infected port. He uses Johnson and Johnson bands. Does anyone know anything about these bands. Yesterday I was on cloud nine . Today I am stressing over no pizza, soda, and bread. I know this is going to be just what I need but its scary. I am putting my faith into this forum and you guys. I figure you all can't be wrong. Sometimes its hard to let go and just put your faith in the unknown. On the other hand, I know things are going to change and be better. I cant wait. I am finally getting my new beginning....... New beginnings.

Hi I'm glad you are doing so well. Its good to hear not to be afraid. I think we all are at some point or another. I am seeing my dr on Feb 7 and then hopefully its schedule time for surgery so I am right behind you. Keep up the good work and a quick speedy recovery to you. New beginnings

Hi MAC, I just read your post and it moved me so much I just had to answer. I am 42 and going through this journey too to have a l.b.s. I feel your pain. When my 22 year old son was in graded school he was very active in sports. I can't tell you the pain I still feel now when I think of all the games with the parents against the kids that I missed. I would always say "when mom loses the weight I will play" Well needless to say, I never got the chance and now all these years later I still feel guilty. I would sit on the bench and watch the other parents and kids and wish I were out there. Not to mention sitting and watching while my husband took our kids on the rides at amusement parks. I was the one who would run the camcorder because I was too afraid I wouldnt fit in the seats. I have finally had it and even though my kids are grown, I am not going to miss out on my grandchilden. I go for my last visit on jan 31 and hopefully i will join you in feb surgery. good luck to you. just remember you wife and daughter need you. You dont want to miss out on walking her down the isle or playing soccer or basketball because of your weight. You sound like a really great dad...... Newbeginnings

Hi transformer, thanks for posting a thread. I found out i have a hiatal hernia when my first dr made me do a barrium swallow. then i had to do an upper gi where they stick a camara down your throat to take pictures and take samples for biopsies. You would remember if you had one. haha. anyhow it came back i have a huge one about 5 cm and my dr wanted me to do surgery with him but he would either fix the hernia or place the band or switch out to an open gastric bypass which i told him no way. he then told me i could go to a specialist which i opted for. I think i did the right thing as these people seem to have it all together. this dr said it is very important to fix the hernia if you have a lapband so you dont get acid reflux. the other dr has only done about 100 lapband surgeries so i think he is either very conservative or doesnt know what he is talking about. I see you had LBS about a year ago. any regrets? I have been thinking of doing this for over a year now. I am so ready.! No one but my husband is supporting me. everyone else says i can do it on my own and i'm not having that surgery. even my mom. oh well when i start losing weight and looking and feeling like a million bucks they will be sorry. haha. whats the temp in virginia? we just got over 1 foot of snow up here in vt... Newbeginnings

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let everyone know that I finally got somewhere and have an appointment with dr. Kelly in Worcester MA on January 31. I am so excited and nervous. After all the trouble with my original Dr. not wanting to perform the surgery because of my large hiatal hernia, I was referred to this specialist in Ma. I have to travel 200 miles but it will be worth it to get my lapband and have my hernia fixed at the same time. Thank you everyone who gave me support and advice about my hernia. I was so frustrated because it seemed like everyone who has a hernia got it fixed the time of surgery and I didnt' know what the big deal was with my old dr. I know feel like I am in excellent hands. They even gave me 3 appointments in one day knowing i am coming from so far away. I the behavioral class, then the nutrition class, then meet the dr all in the same day. I asked the secretary if the dr. would then schedule my surgery and she said it would depend on the dr and she didnt see why not as I was getting my ducks in a row. Maybe I will finally get my surgery in february. Then I will really depend on everyone to keep me calm and cool. My new beginning may be happening...... Newbeginnings

Hi calls, how are you doing? I am still bandless so i am so jealous that you got yours done. Just kidding. I am in the process of waiting to hear from a new dr. in ma that is a hernia specialist. he is willing to place my band and repair the hernia where my old dr would do one or the other not both. I was all set for the surgery date so the Ma hospital has to figure out where have me start in their program. I hope they accept all of my records and i dont have to start from the beginning as it is 200 miles away to their hospital. I feel like i am getting the better dr so it is worth it. are you in much pain? Are you back to work. I will be thinking of you and hoping things are going great for you in bandland. Newbeginnings

Hi everyone, Yes it is awesome to have snow for xmas but we just got over 1 foot yesterday. It snowed again today just a couple of inches but everyone is saying "will it ever stop" I live in Vt and this is just the start of it. It makes me want to get out my xmas decorations and go get a tree. of course now I will have to traipse thru the deep snow to get one but thats ok.. I keep saying I am going to retire where there is no snow but I just couldnt imagine xmas without it. Newbeginnings

Hi all, I am a rural carrier and have bcbs insurance basic option and am so glad to see others on here that have had LB surgery with not problems. At my support group meeting someone said they will only cover fills for the first 6 mos. does anyone know if this is true? I am hoping to get surgery in jan or feb. The one thing about the basic plan is you have to go to one of their dr's and hospitals or they do not pay for any of it. other than that, i have had basic gov bcbs and they have been great. they just approved the band this year. I am so excited. are there any other rural carriers out there that have had this done? How long before going back to work? I worry about that as i have to lift and drive for long periods of the day. Newbeginnings

Hi everyone, I was referred to Dr Kelly at U-mass because of my large hiatal hernia. He is a specialist down there. Has anyone had him for a dr? he seems very nice. I am forwarding my personal charts down there and also wanted to know if there is a long waiting list to see him. Thanks for all your help. I was so disappointed that instead of getting my november surgery, i had to start over with a new dr. but now i think its for the best. New beginnings

Hi Twilight, I have yet to be banded but wish I were in your shoes. I probably would be nervous too. If and when its my time, I would hope someone would give me support and let me know that I am doing the right thing. Never give up on yourself and not try something new. One of these days we will all get it right or the band will help us get it right. good luck to you. hang in there . the L.B has helped tons of people on here reach their goals and have the life they always wanted. New beginnings ps I always wanted to go to Montana and I used to have a horse named Twilight. LOL

Hi all, I had my appointment with Dr. F Oct 30 and he told me he would go ahead and do the surgery but if he got in there and my hernia was 5cm like he thinks, he would either fix the hernia and ruin any chances of me ever getting LBS or he would switch to an open gastric bypass or he would refer me to Boston. I am going to do that I guess. I am scared about going to boston and have never driven down there. does anyone know which dr they use down there which hospital? I hate to give up after I have done all the requirements that he has you do and I don't know if the boston dr will make me start all over again. what would you guys do? I dont like the 50/50 odds on my hernia. other dr's seem to fix them at the same time as the Lbs. I think he might just be very conservative. He was great though and said he would do my fills and checkups but if something went wrong with my band I would have to go back to boston. has anyone driven down there that can give this country girl the heads up???? New beginnings or almost

Hi everyone, I wanted to update everyone on my news. I went to my dr on oct 30 and was told because of my hiatal hernia being so large, 5cm, that I have 3 choices.... 1. go ahead and schedule LBS and once he gets the scope in and see's what my hernia looks like he will either do the L.b. or fix my hernia. The problem with him fixing my hernia is he does it right and it removes the skin from around the back of the stomach which will ruin any chances of me ever getting a lapband. Also i would have to go into surgery not knowing if I was going to wake up with my dream, the band, or having a hernia fixed that doesn't even cause me trouble. 2. If the hernia is as big as he thinks it is, he could switch out his tools and do an open gastric bypass, which to me isn't an option. 3. Refer me to boston to some specialist down there. I an leaning towards this one as my dr has only done about 100 LBS and I think because of his inexperience, he is being overly cautious. Other people have told me on here that they got the band having bigger hernia's than me and had them fixed at the same time. I am devastated. I have done all the requirements they have asked and now I don't know if I will have to start all over again. I was supposed to be scheduled for surgery in nov but because of this setback, i might be back to square one. does anyone know what it is like to drive in boston and what hospital they do LBS at and the name of the dr? Sorry to be so long but I just don't know what to do anymore. Part of me wants to just give up but I usually go by "whats worth having is worth fighting for" motto. Newbeginnings or almost new beginnings

Hi everyone, I have been reading everything I can on here and I was wondering what is the most ignornant response to you telling someone you are going to have LBS? I have heard it all from "you are going to blow your stomach out" to "you won't have the strength to work fulltime" like it is easy to carry around an extra 100 lbs of weight? get this one "you will go crazy not being able to eat" and the old ones of "you can just lose weight on your own" I even try to educate people but sometimes its like pulling teeth.:whoo: Newbeginnings

hi citimom how are you doing? thanks for responding to me. Are you having any problems? Do you know how large your h.h. was? I go next tues to find out if I can still have LBS. I hope I can. What has been your toughest challenge so far.

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all the responses I have gotton. I really appreciate it so much. I have hope again. Spiritus, thanks so much for telling me the size of your hernia. I really needed to hear that your's was 8cm and mine is only 5cm so maybe I will have to find another surgeon. I will see what he say's on the 30. Good luck on your great recovery. I hope and pray that I too will be able to join bandland. I just didn't want to do it and then have acid reflux all the time. That would have made it not worth it.

Do you know what size your's was? Mine is a 5 cm. Did you have a longer recovery period because of the hernia?

Hi everyone, I am wondering if anyone out there had a hiatal hernia and was able to get surgery or was told they should have an open roux-en-y gastric bypass. I have been doing everything I was told and passed all my tests for 4 mos and was just told that since I have a hernia of 5 cm that I should get the bypass surgery instead. I do not want bypass. I am so disappointed and upset. I really wanted to do this. I see my dr. on oct 30 so maybe I can talk him into it. I really want this but don't want to have problems with acid reflux after. Please, please someone tell me they had a hernia repaired of this size and still got the lbs and is doing great. They told me I would have a 30% chance of slippage and my chance of complications would go from 2% to 35%. Now I don't know if I should insist on getting this. My dr. has only done about 100 of these lbs so i wonder if he is just being overly cautious. Does anyone know if you have the hernia repaired what is the difference in the recovery period or is there any? thank you so much anyone who can help me. I feel like I have lost something I havent had for a while...... HOPE

Hi Cyndi, I know what you mean about d.w. I told her I did not want to get the bypass and she said"then don't. Don't feel obligated to get one". I was devastated and said"but I went through all this stuff to get a lapband and I want that" No sympathy whatso ever. Anyhow I am going to stick to my guns on the 30 and see what he says. He seems to be a very nice man. my only concern was he has only done a little over a 100 of these so that may be why he is so cautious. I will look into manchester, nh or ny if I have too before I give up. Do you live near burlington? I live down near Barre. Are you happy you got lbs and have you had trouble adjusting to your new life? thanks again.

thanks for posting about your hiatal hernia. It gives me hope that you were able to get yours. How long ago was it and were you in more pain because they fixed your 5 hernia's . Do you know how big your's were? I will stick to my guns about no bypass. I think I will tell him if he won't do it I will transfer my records to another hospital and they will do it. Maybe if he see's how stubborn I am, he will change his mind. How come you had a 6 week recovery period? Is this because of the lifting thing? Do you have any acid reflux or problems now that the hernia is fixed? Ps. sorry I posted my problems her but I didnt know how to start a new link. Can someone help me with this?