tomorrowsdream

Cindy, I'm in Idaho....across the country from you, but I've been to Florida to visit and have a daughter that lives in Tennessee. I'm sorry you had to endure Wilma. This hurricane season has been horrific for those of you in the south. I've never been through a hurricane. Idaho probably has the calmest weather of anywhere. The change in seasons is usally mild with snow in the mountains but not much in the valley. It gets pretty hot in the summer, but it is never humid. The climate is really good. Parts of Idaho are beautiful like Sun Valley, etc. and parts are desert. I live in a small town closer to the Oregon border and it is really pretty. I have a daughter in Boise, Idaho who is a nurse, and 4 other daughters that don't live around here. Keep in touch with me please. It's nice to have found someone I have a lot in common with I think the bypass surgery makes us pals for life. We know what it is like to go through that, and there is no experience in this world to describe the healing process and how helpless you feel at first.

Well, someone suggested it and it sounds like a great idea, so here it is. The check-in site for older bandsters. I'll get this started. I'm 63 and in the process of getting a loan to pay for my surgery if needed (can't cound on Medicare). I've had the Thallium scan. I had 5-way-bypass in 2001 and am doing fine in that department, but the weight has to go. I devoted myself literally to eating when they took my cigarettes away...but then that is what ended me up in surgery to start with. Now, the culprit is almost as bad. The weight has to go to help my heart and my arthritis. I have taken the sleep study and have sleep apnea. I'll be in the hospital for a night next week to see what amount of C-pap I need. I have taken a thallium stress test to make sure the arteries are still open. I'm scheduled for an echocardiogram on Monday (just because my cardiologist is overly careful and hears a slight murmur he thinks is mitral valve prolapse), which is liveable, but he wants to make sure there are no leaks from the bypass surgery. I am going to have all my blood work done on the 17th of Nov. and then I have the psych appt. and the appt. with the surgeon, at which point all the testing will be done, and I'll only have to wait for the surgery and to make sure I have money in hand. OK, now the rest of you older bandsters (who are banded or waiting) please check in and lets give each other lots of encouragement and talk about our experiences. To date I don't have much to share, but am looking forward to hearing from all of you that have been banded and the weight loss you have achieved. Check-in site officially open.

I can relate to everything you said. All the same symptoms....everything. My home is paid for so I'm taking out a reverse mortgage. I'm on disability and can't afford any more payments out of pocket. With a reverse mortgage they pay me, only in the end there won't be a whole lot of money for my kids to get. They actually don't need it anyway, except for the youngest. I have to do what is best for myself. My kids are all married and have their own lives, and if I have to get a mortgage on the house to get this surgery I shall do it. That is really what is holding up my surgery somewhat. I want to make sure I have the money in hand, even though Medicare assures me they will pay. They don't pre-authorize and it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't come through for me...so I have to have the money. I think it may be the best investment of my life. I think at the same time I need surgery for a large hernia on the upper right hand side. It will be killing 2 birds with one stone so to speak. It really is beginning to hurt. Anyway...I'm slowly waiting till everything falls into place. Thanks for all the encouragement. I bet I will be a slow loser too, as I haven't been into excercise with my arthritis. Perhaps some of that will get better with weight loss. I'd love to just take my dog for a walk around the block. That is my goal right now....that and walking right by the "handicap carts" at Walmart.

Wow, the similarities here are scary to say the least. After 38 years as a medical transcriptionist I wish you all the luck in the world. It is a great paying job. I never went to school. Back when I worked in a hospital as I secretary I self-taught myself out of a PDR and other books and learned on the job. They don't do it like that anymore. You will love doing it, but take lots of breaks. You tend to keep going and find yourself stiff and sore after a few hours. I wish you oh so much luck. I already know my liver is fat. I was insulted to have a dr. tell me that but it is, so I know this is essential for me to get through the liquid phase, which hasen't started yet, as there is oh so much paperwork involved and getting cardiac clearance was a pain. My gosh, you have had 4-way-bypass and I have had 5-way-bypass. Was told at the time I "drove myself to the hospital with what I thought was indigestion" that I was none to soon and would have had a major heart attack and been dead in 2 mo. The arteries were 99% blocked, so I really lucked out. I feel like God's hand was guiding me, so I know he wouldn't want me to give up now. This surgery will help me be here to see the grandkids grow up. I think you are probably a lot younge then me, but what the heck you are my new "best friend" We truly have a lot in common. If you can survive having your chest cracked open this should be a piece of cake. That was horrible recovering from, and I gained a lot of weight that first yr. between quitting smoking and eating....all my own fault. Thanks for all your input. I'll make it through this. Please keep in touch "night owl"

Danistar..small world. My daughter works at Roane Medical Center. If you've ever been to the ER she probably checked you in. Her name is Tiffany. She is a Bullard and tells me everyone in Harriman knows them. Her mother-in-law's name is Mona and she runs a small cafe near the hospital. What a small world. Perhaps someday we shall meet. I would love to meet someone from here. As for the other person with the knee problems who is worried about the stress test. My dr. knew I have joint and knee problems so gave me a thallium scan. Completely painless and gives the exact same results. Mine was given this year to make sure all my arteries were still open to my heart. I would talk to your dr. about going this route. I could no more have done the treadmill then hiked up a mountain. The sleep apnea test was well worth the time because I have it bad and am going on C-pap. I go in Sat. night Nov. 12 to be tried on the C-pap and spend what I hope is the last night before my surgery. I'll going a little backwards and getting all the tests done. I've talked to the man who does the psych tests and he said he could get me in most anytime so he isn't that booked up. I'm psyched alright...I know the surgery is my hope for living to see my grandchildren grow up. I can't think of a better reason. Support is my problem. I only have the people I met on here, and my daughter in Tn. I haven't told the other girls about it, because they would begin carping I'm sure about my spending their "inheritance" I'm doing this for me and not anyone else. Husband has been gone for 10 years; and the rest of the family aren't overly supportive. They tend to have their own lives. One daughter is in Italy and her husband is on TDY to Iraq, so she has issues of her own to worry about....anyway I come here to get my support. I was up very late last night and went all through the before and after pictures and have to say I'm very impressed with all these women and guys. I only hope I do half as well. If determination makes for succeeding I have it!! Danistar get back to me on what part of Harriman you are in and perhaps you might even know my youngest daughter. She has a boy who will be 7 in Dec. Good luck and please keep in touch.

Twice I tried it, and twice it cut off before the surgery even started. Can't understand why, but perhaps ignorance is bliss when you haven't had the surgery yet.

Things sure differ from state to state. I've heard several people on here say they were eating right up until the day of their surgery. My daughter who had gastric bypass (sure you all know that by now) was eating steak and lobster the night before her surgery till she was so full she couldn't walk. I don't understand why the doctor's differ so much. How hard can the liver be to find if people can eat up till the day of surgery and some can't have food for 2 weeks before...only liquids. I wish I'd found the dr. that lets me eat up until the surgery. How lucky can you be!!

I am typing this at 1:50 a.m. so you can see I'm a nightowl. I've raised my kids and I sleep as late as I want in the morning. I worked 38 years as a medical transcriptionist, and would probably still be working had it not been for the open heart surgery and dr's. orders it was time to retire. I now find I stay up till very late at night, and I'm so scared this will be a major problem after surgery. My eating habits suck. I have coffee in the morning, and then I don't eat a thing till about 5:00 when I'm starving and scarf up everything in sight. This means of course snacks later in the evening, which absolutely has to become a no-no for me. There is nothing worse then eating at night and I know it. Before my heart surgery 5 years ago I was 5'8 1/2" and weighed 157....so you can see where retirement and giving up smoking have gotten me. I have gained 100 lbs. One good thing...I have a fat closet and a thin closet which should come in handy unless everything is out of style. I'm very depressed about the weight I gained, but I'm the one who overate. To top it off I have a lousy thyroid, but smoking kept my weight down. That is all it did though...it led to major heart surgery, so if you smoke please quit for yourselves and your loved ones and if you don't smoke, don't ever start. My daughter had gastric bypass 3 years ago and she eats like 5 times a day...little things, not much. She has some applesauce or a little cereal with skimmed milk in the morning, mid-morning yogurt or a yogurt drink, afternoon some fruit or a protein bar, and a light dinner. She also goes to bed at a decent time because she has two kids at home. I have to change things. I don't think I will ever not be a nightowl, but I do think I can change the way I eat and try and never get so hungry I keep scarfing up food. I'm going to try little meals (when I can eat real food)_ I haven't started any of this yet, as I've been busy getting all the tests done so when I see the dr. there shouldn't be anything left to do. I'm rambling and probably the only person awake on this board. Night all and thanks for all your help. You are all angels in desguise.

I only got about 10 min. of it and it quit. Not sure what is wrong.

I'm doing things a little backwards. I did all the tests first as I'm a bypass patient and I needed cardiac clearance and loads of tests to get the cardiologist's approval. He readily approved it after all the tests were done, but said he would never have approved gastric bypass surgery. I didn't ever want that anyway. I like to know there is an alternative if anything goes wrong. I will have to get past the two weeks of liquids, but I haven't started on it yet. I probably will do a lot of bawling though. Luckily I don't have to cook for anyone else so that shouldn't be a problem. I know my liver is fatty because they told me that when I had my gallbladder removed 2 years ago, so I guess what he is requiring makes perfect sense. You women and guys are all surviving and seem to have a great support system going. I still have a psych eval to get through and then the testing stage will be finished. It took a mo. to get the sleep eval done. Two weeks till the results got back to my dr. that I had sleep apnea, and then going in the hospital 10 days later to find out how much C-pap I needed. I'm going to make it through this though...probably be calling on all for some help. Thanks for your reply.

My surgeon tells me I will be required to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery. Now, my thought is that if I could remain on a liquid diet for 2 weeks I wouldn't be needing him. I would shrink my stomach on my own. It doesn't make any sense to me. I don't see how this can be accomplished, and if it is possible why will I need the surgery. I will have already learned how to starve. Very confused.

What causes a band to erode? I had heard that FDA approved bands here in the states weren't likely to do that. Did I hear wrong? Please fill me in. Is this caused from having the band for too long or what? Hope you do well with your surgery. Could you put a Cowboy's helmet up there

I'm not even banded yet, but get horrible sinus headaches. I use that new roll on one that you just put on your forehead. Works great. What if some of your pills say "don't crush"? I have 3 that say that. I take a total of 6 pills a day. Two or Three are small, but it is the big ones that say not to crush them. Am I left not taking my medicine, and why would crushing them hurt them as long as I get them down?

How do you get those cute little "ticker things" on your posts? It's clever. I have no clue how it is done. New and dumb to boot!!

You have to know I'm new if I have no clue what PB means. After reading it seems like regurgitation of some sort, but I'm guessing. Can someone explain what I have to look forward to

Jack sounds normal and sane. What is wrong with this picture? I wish I were as confident and well adjusted as he is. Is this a man thing? Jack, are you a dr? You certainly are funny and tell it as it is. I don't have the band yet, but I'm taking in everything I read here, especially the positive remarks. You have a great attitude....but there are those like me that aren't as well adjusted

After major heart surgery most people are put on blood thinnners, but my dr. opted for just aspirin as I had no history of clotting. I've only taken aspirin for 5 years. It doesn't seem like taking a blood thinner should really have anything to do with your fill, but I sure wouldn't stop taking my medication. This dr. put the band in. He is responsible for you getting your fills. I agree...camp out in the office till you can talk to him (and give the receptionist hell). It's not really her fault...but she is following his orders, so let her know just unhappy and put-out you feel. You should be able to get your point across. Last step..I would report him. I truly would. I would report him to the medical board if he gave you a band and won't perform the upkeep. He should never have done the surgery if he didn't feel comfortable. It sounds like this is about money more than anything. He probably has been paid and is giving you the runaround.

You know I was curious when I started thinking about the surgery if everyone needs a fill or not. I wondered...do you not start losing weight till you have a fill or what? I think that is great. I haven't had the surgery yet, but would be thrilled if I could lose the weight without a fill. You must be doing something exceptionally well.

After seeing Dr. Phil I don't think he is following his own diet. Who is that chubby guy to be giving advice anyway? He isn't my idea of a cover boy. I got a 41. Should have been 40 and it would have been right. Messed up 1 point somewhere, because that score isn't me.

Bayteelee, take a look at the salt content on TopRamen. It all comes from the packets. It will make your BP skyrocket. As for the liquid diet, it seems some of you are getting off easy. I have to be on one for 2 weeks before surgery. At least that is what the dr. said at the seminar. It is definitely to shrink the liver, and I know mine needs shrinking. Most heavy people are in the same position. I had my gall bladder out 2 yrs. ago and the surgeon told me I had a "fat liver". I told her it just matched the rest of me. I guess our liver is what we eat too. Shrinking the liver is very important, and your surgery could have to be canceled if you don't do it. I would not want to be put under and have them cut me and find out they couldn't band me. I drink Nourishe which you can buy anywhere. It is a liquid yogurt drink and is very filling, more so I think then Slim Fast. Yoplait also makes a yogurt drink. They are delicious and give you Protein and Calcium...lots of calcium. You can overdo the protein. I wish you well. I know I will be complaining when I have to go through it. I am a person that can go all day with nothing but coffee but comes about 6:00 I'm starving and want everything in sight. I have only myself to worry about, so I eat anything and everything......not good and a habit I have to break. :mad:

You may have developed a small ulcer and it can be fixed easily with a prescribed antacid. I have taken one for years and will continue taking it even though my ulcer has healed. Maybe the stress of waiting for your surgery and all the paper work has just stressed you out (leading cause of ulcers) along with caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. I would back off any of those if you are using them in any way. Good Luck.

After being through what you went through with that band, it must really take some initiative and courage to go through it again. I imagine you were terrified when things went wrong. It sounds like you had a tough time of it. I admire the courage you have to go through this again. It shows you really are committed to this goal of losing weight, and hey if they are picking up the cost (and they certainly should) go for it and be happy. Chances of that happening again are slim to none, so if you miss the band get it back. Be happy.

Celexa is a great anti-depressant. It is fairly new, and is the only anti-depressant that has ever helped me (trust me I'm the queen of anti-depressants). This one targets a different part of the brain, and I guess it is just what I needed. I was on Prozac and wanted to hurt people Seriously, I was in a worse mood then I was before I took it. Sometimes just a pill can't fix a real depression, it merely coats the symptoms. I had lost 3 family members in 3 years and was really down; then went through a horrible car accident with one of my daughters in which her fiance was killed and she spent mo. in the hospital recovering. The Celexa helps me deal with things and see things more clearly, although with or without Celexa I have a bit of temper if provoked enough. Seeing as just my dog and I live together, I don't get provoked very often. I do, however, spend lots of time alone and that isn't so bad. I raised 5 girls and I kind of enjoy having my own space. Finding this board has brought me lots of comfort because I see I'm not alone going through anything. We are all in some state of banding; either working on the process; thinking of the process; or having had it done and talking about things that are really great and some not so great on it. I've learned a lot from listening to all of you and for that I thank you. Thanks for letting me take part, and please ask your dr. if Celexa might help you. It is supposed to help you lose weight actually, but in my case I have a bad thyroid so nothing much helps. I didn't gain on it however. I gained all my weight when I quit smoking (no excuse I know). I'll say a prayer that you find the right solution to help you. God Bless.

I'm in Idaho and went to the seminar here. They require a psych test before ever seeing the dr. It's just a bunch of questions you need to answer basically on paper. Aside from that I need an EKG, sleep study (already completed the first half and found I have sleep apnea). I go Nov 12 for the second half of the study to be put on C-pap. I'm having an echocardiogram which is merely an ultrasound of the heart. It isn't required but my dr. wants it done because I'm a bypass patient. A stress test can be as simple as a thallium scan. No treadmill involved. Very simple and completely painless. It isn't required for me, but I did have one about 4 mo. ago. It shows if all the arteries in the heart are open and functioning. Very important if you are a bypass patient to know everything is still fine. I need blood work...last minute stuff. I'm slowing plodding through it and plan on having most of it accomplished before I see the dr. It seems like the easiest way to go. I have the papers requiring what he needs and slowly but surely I'm getting them all taken care of. You can only take so many steps at one time, and I think patience is the key to this surgery.

I would never consider Wellbutrin if you are a smoker. It is also used to help people quit smoking, but is a bad combination if you are already a smoker. With that said while I was on prozac I was angry and mad all the time; not for me. I am taking Celexa and have been for a yr. now. I feel so much better than I ever did before. I was probably one of the most depressed people in the world, after losing 3 people in my family in the same yr.; my husband, my mother and my dad. I thought there was no hope. Now, I wake up every morning feeling much better. I have had no side-effects and whatever is in this drug certainly has helped me tremendously. I didn't gain weight on it....I gained weight from all I ate when I quit smoking. I haven't gained any extra on this medication. Personally I think Prozac is a downer, but perhaps it works for some people. I hated it.