HeatherA

Hi Judi, Thanks for the low down. I'm off to bed right now to kick this head ache, but I've added you to my AIM list. I'll send you a message so you know it's me and we'll talk soon. I have a zillion more questions. So glad you don't mind me asking them... just tell me to shut up if I start to bug you :-) sleep well!

Hi Judy, No problem, I figured I was posting too late last night for a response. :-) I am having my surgery on the 18th. Can you help walk me through that day? Did you have to pay anything at the hospital? What did you wear? What did you pack? How long were you there? What was it like? How were the nurses? Now I'm really starting to get into the mode. I came home with my shopping bag of "food" for my pre-op diet and the ProtiDiet for afterwards... but I didn't think to ask most of these questions. I'm glad to hear that things are going well for you. I'm really ready to get to the other side of this and move forward. I dread the pain and the actual surgery more than the changes to my diet. Thanks for your help and letting me pick your brain! It's a real comfort!

Cool thanks!

Hi Sunrise, Thank you for your prayers. My pre-op went well this morning. We had a class with the nutritionist, then met with the nurse and the surgical assistant. After that we were taken one by one to be weighed and then to have our chests and lungs checked. Then we met with the Dr. to go over any questions we might have. Finally out to the desk to pay any remaining monies that are owed prior to surgery and then off for more blood work. It was a long morning and then I had to go to work. I came home with a splitting headache and here I sit. :-)

Nope, that's a completely different band... yours is really new in the US it's just been approved for use here.

Judy, I know it's late in the day and I may not catch you, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to give me a rundown of what to expect tomorrow at my pre-op visit. I'd appreciate it :-) Thansk!

If you do a search of the forums for AP Band you'll get a lot of information on the updated band. Many bandsters here have gotten them in the last several months. Congrats on being banded!

SpecialK, What time are the meetings? And can we go even if we've been banded elsewhere? Thanks!

Thanks Carol!

Hi Wheetsin, By recovery time I mean until you were back up and about and feeling 85-90% normal. Thanks!

I'm very curious as to recovery times... I've read a lot of threads that discuss this but I thought I'd take an informal poll. What I'd like to know is how long your recovery time was following lap band surgery, your weight at the time of surgery and if you smoke or not. Thanks. P.S. I was a smoker the last time I had lap. surgery for my gallbladder and I had a hard time recovering. I am just curious if I'll have an easier time now that I've been a non-smoker for 8+ years.

Hi Carol, Thank you for the quick reply... I know you must not be feeling the best at the moment... I had the laproscopic surgery not open so hopefully it won't be an issue. I wish you all of the best.

Oh I'm so sorry! I'm also a little worried now... I had gallbladder surgery in 1996 and worry that my scar tissue may cause the same problem. I wonder where the scar tissue was the caused such a problem? Did he tell you?

I just got my date today! I'm scheduled for December 18th! I was hoping it would be next week just so I'd be back in fighting form for my big holiday party on the 24th but I think a week might be enough time. Regardless it's really nice to finally have an "official" date! Whoo hoo

Good luck Sunrise!

' Hi Judy, Congrats on the good first fill! I am not even banded yet so no fills on my horizon :-) I hope to be banded in the next few weeks... should know tomorrow.

Just an update... my surgeon and the program I'm going through have worked with me to try to get my surgery before the end of the year. A few days ago I got the email that told me I was approved. I hope to have my surgery in a few weeks.

At the support group meeting one of the girls told us that he only does small fills. He's not aggressive at all to assure that you don't have any complications. I want to say she said it was like .5 cc each time? You'll definitely have to give us the scoop today Judy.

Sunrise, Investigate deaths due to Obesity related causes... that might help you find your way again. Also, if you are considering the band, the deaths from that surgery are considerably lower than the RNY or other bypass surgery deaths. Most complications arise from anesthesia rather than the surgery itself. Any kind of surgery scares me too and I worry about the complications but I try not to focus on that and to focus on the longer life I should have once I shed these extra pounds. We're here for you to talk to whenever you need us!

I am 37 (soon to be 38) and I hope to be banded in the next 2-3 weeks. I have been toying with the idea for about a year. I only wish I done this 10 years ago. Better late than never.

LOL... I'm still waiting for the call too... within an hour of being told I was approved I got the call about the money that was due at my pre-op appointment... but nothing about scheduling it. I'm hoping it's because they called my home phone rather than my cell phone.

Thanks! I'm excited and waiting for the scheduling person to call and set up my pre-op date. Do you think staring at the phone will make it ring quicker?

Thanks! I've been working with them to fast track me because my insurance changes to Cigna on January 1. My current insurance is great, not sure what Cigna will bring so I wanted to get this all done just in case I couldn't in January. Ideally I would have waited until January so that I could use my deductible up in the new year... that was the plan before I got the notice that my ins. was changing. Now I'll be on liquids or mushies over Christmas... but I think it will be worth it :-)

That's what I thought too... that's what the website said, but when I asked at my all day appointment I was told that that was not correct. I thought that was what a big part of our fee went towards. You could call and check

I have a question... for those of you that have been banded by Dr. Myers... what is the cost for the fills after your initial 90 days? Thanks!