iheartz

My primary doctor is with the Cadence Physician's Group at Central DuPage Hospital. I do just about everything out of CDH and have always been happy.

Hey everyone!
I haven't been on here in awhile, but I saw this thread so I thought I would write a quick comment. I am from Villa Grove originally and live in Tolono now. I had my surgery at the Illinois Bariatric Center almost 3 years ago, and they host a support group at their Champaign location on the 1st Thursday of every month (so tonight) at 6:00. It helped me a lot when I was first starting out, and I plan to go tonight as well. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to in person support too!

Still trying to get back on track. Will have to go back to basics again and start writing things down. Next step find a new primary care Dr. that will be in my corner with me not against me. She was aganist my surgery from the start but came around when I got off all my meds. Just seen her for muscle and joint fatigue and here we go again threw the surgery in my face. Reminding me Its because of surgery that all this is happening and now I'm stuck the rest of my life with problems. So now I feel everytime I have a problem it will be because of surgery. I need a new Dr who will be in my corner. Wish surgeon was primary care. There's always going to be those people on the sidelines waiting to see me fail but I have to prove them all WRONG, and stop letting them get in my head. Have apt with Surgeon in 2 weeks for 9 month check and am up 10 lbs he will not be happy. Day one of back to basics. Yeah!

OK .. so I've started a FB group. It's called Gastric Banders in Illinois. My intention is for this to be a SAFE group for all of us. So .. come join me.
@@tiffball45 the thing required me to add someone, so I put you in it. I hope that's cool.

I'm from Elgin. Banded on May 30, 2014. Glad to be through the holidays and get back on track.

I'm from Elgin. Banded on May 30, 2014. Glad to be through the holidays and get back on track.

We could almost start our own little "Illinois Residents" FB group.

Hi Dee Dee!

I agree! We should start one.

I agree with everyone here! WLS by no means is the easy way out. To each his own, it has worked for me so far. No longer taking Diabetes or High blood pressure meds. My only regret is why I didn't do it sooner. My LapBand is a tool and reminds me everyday to stay on track. We all still have to work hard at this. EASY WAY OUT MY A##.

For me, I was exactly at 35% with 2 Co-Morbidities. My Insurance approved my surgery at my official weigh in at first apt. They still covered my surgery when my BMI was at 33% on day of surgery. Make sure your height is correct it does make a difference. I used to be 5'7 back in the day and when they weighed me in and got my height at first apt I was suprised to learn I have shrunk to 5'5 1/2. Good luck with your journey! Buy the way My Ins is BCBS PPO. And I didn't have to do a 6 month pre-op diet. The only diet I did was my 2 week pre-op per my surgeon.

That's where my port is located as well and it took longer for that incision to heal. Best wishes to you -- surgery behind and now it all begins! Almost a year out now and I can barely recall those early weeks but I do remember how much the walking helped.

Sounds all normal to me but if you have any questions just call the doctor's office. They are there just for that! Congratulations on your surgery!

Sounds normal to me and you're also describing exactly where my port is positioned and if memory serves that was tender for a couple of weeks. Probably didn't help that my cat jumped on me in my sleep 2nd night banded. Any doubts check in with your Surgeon. That's why they're there.
Good Luck!

WHAT AN IDIOT!!! I can't stand her anyway and won't be watching her anytime soon. DUMBASS

I do not watch the view at all. They are all crazy and too liberal in my opinions everything is either their way or no way.

Rosie is known for her outrageous comments! Of course she is going to criticize other surgeries because she did not choose that one. Does not make her view on the View right. Somewhere out people will start to realize that all weight loss surgeries are the tool for those of us that are at that point in our lives where we need help. Like she did!
That is what she should be focusing on not the procedures themselves. I don't watch the view either. Too jumbled with a lot of tension.

vincereautmori,
May I quote you? The last words in your post are ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!
"unfortunately for our naysayers, there is no surgery for ignorance."
Absolutely profound! It not only applies to WLS but to so many other things.
Blessings,
Kathleen

So we get a few people who think surgery is the easy way out, so what? In a year from now when we're leaner, healthier, and we can keep up with our more athletic freinds and family, what then? Do those same people keep saying, "but you took the easy way out", it just gets old. This is a personal journey, only we know the pain of our failed attempts, only we have suffered the effects of our obesity, only we know the internal struggle to make a decision to invade our bodies and modify them in the hopes of gaining health that many people take for advantage. The easy way out? We know it isn't, but we decided to take responsibility for our health problem, unfortunately for our naysayers, there is no surgery for ignorance.

You know what they say about opinions and "exit doors"...right? Everybody's got one! Well so do I and my opinion is this...It worked for me, I have no regrets and I'm not really interested in anyone elses opinion! I know what I have invested and continue to invest in myself everyday. That ONE day was 1 year ago TODAY and I'm happier, healthier and on track for a longer better life because of it. Hooray for what ever works for you...I hope your choices will bring you as much happiness and success as mine have. Have a wonderful day.

I didn't tell my mother in the beginning about my decision to have the WLS. I mean, we are talking about almost 2 yrs. SHe was totally against it. she was one of those that said it was an easy way out. When I did tell her in August, she out right told me No, you are not going to get it. Okay, I am a 39 year old married woman with five children mother. I didn't say that to her though. I was like okay. The day before my surgery my brother processed to tell her that I was still having the surgery. Of course, he gave me the heads up and I sorta avoided her first 2 call, lol.
Anyway, after reading about it herself and actually watching the shows she has a different insight now. She sees how happy I am now and how well things went for me. I think educating oneself is key. SHe had no knowledge of the WLs and it caused her to have fears. It is defintely not the easy way out.

WLS... the ONLY way out for some of us.

I don't think we truly understand why some people are more prone to obesity than others. I believe its more than lack of exercise and overeating. I think there are multiple factors involved: psychological, genetic, hormonal, environmental, etc. I've known people who live unhealthy, outrageous diets of bacon, steak, and such but they live thin, healthy lives past 100!
Speaking for myself, obsesity has been a long and difficult journey for me. Bariatric surgery was the "silver bullet" to help me achieve a healthy lifestyle. If anyone has a problem with that, they can stuff it!

Don't be vain about your height if they're relying on your own height testimony? For instance, my daughter is 4' 11.5". She says she's 5 ft tall but she's not. If your rounding up, don't. Round down. 1 inch can make a big difference with your BMI.

In my experience, yes, Once the insurance company approves you, yes you can drop below the qualifying weight (assuming your dr will still do the surgery). I was at 34.8 BMI (w/1 co morbidity) and was lucky enough that the office staff got the insurance to approve it. By the time I had the surgery my BMI was around a 33.8