Dody

I'm baffled by this one. I had knee surgery on Fri. and was at Walmart yesterday (in a riding cart of course). My memory is fine. I woke right up from the anesthesia, hungry, thirsty and having to go to the bathroom. I wouldn'd even concern myself with something that may not even happen to you. Maybe some people just react differently. If I feel this good after lap-banding I'll have it made. I'm not as sure it is the anesthesia as the pain pills and medication they give you.

I will be banded on the 18th and was told to even quit taking my aspirin a day a week before surgery. They wanted nothing in my system that would cause extensive bleeding during the operation.

This was my frist ever knee problem, and I know that down the road somewhere I will need knee replacement, but I want it with my own surgeon at home. If lap-banding is easier than the knee surgery (which was a pice of cake for me)....I awoke with I'm hungry, thirsty and have to go the bathroom (although not in that order) I'm going to be OK. This surgery did not bother me at all as I have no problems with a general anesthesia, and because I've had 5-way-bypass surgery (which I think is the worse surgery you could possibly have) I'm pretty pain tolerant, so I'm hoping all goes well. Strangely, I'm not nervous about the banding at all...the 18th can't get here quick enough. I do feel better knowing I have the forum to turn to if anything goes wrong though. This is one great source of info and friends. God Bless, Dody

Today I had surgery on my right knee. To stay it isn't hurting would be a lie, but I'm up and around on it anyway. The dr. said the sooner I'm on it the better off I'll be. I hate pain meds so I'm only taking Tylenol, so probably a good part of the reason I'm hurting. I'm not sure he cured me though, as he said he found a lot of arthritis that may be giving me some of the problems. I'm keeping good thoughts though. I woke up immediately (as they were taking the tube out of my throat), hungry and thirsty and having to go to the bathroom. All 3 things were allowed. My daughter can't get over how well I wake up from a general anesthesia, so I hope everything goes as smoothly with the band. July 18 is the big day. This was just something I needed to get out of the way first. God Bless, Dody (I'm finally making headway)

That's basically what I needed to to Elizabeth was buy time. Considering the fact my knees had never, ever hurt before I hurt the right knee here in Tennessee, he thought that possibly the surgery might help me enough to get through. It was an injury that caused mine. If I haden't seen the MRI I would not have believed I had arthritis in my knee. It never, ever bothered me, so I think he was taking my word for the fact that arthritis or not, I'd never had any trouble before. Therefore, I think he was merely hoping to help me. I guess I'll know within a few days if that is true I'm definitely older than you Elizabeth (64) and have had 5-way-bypass surgery. My feeling is if you can survive that you can get through anything....Keep me in your thoughts please as the 18th is just around the corner. I didn't bounce back from the by-pass as all. Somewhere all my red blood cells got lost and it was 6-months before I was feeling anywhere close to normal. I was very anemic and required several blood transfusions. I've heard of others that did much better with their bypass than me, but I was a smoker at the time and had to quit that at the very same time....wow was I a grump :scared: but it's the best thing I have done for myself so far...and now the banding is the second. God Bless, Dody

That part about him not seeing the extent of the arhritis on the MRI bothered me too, but I want to be back home before I have oomplete knee replacement (which is obviously coming in the future). I really wanted to not postpone my band surgery again so we both opted for arthroscopy. He said he didn't realize the extent of the arthritis, but I like you question this. For now I will setle for relief for awhile, and am hoping I can get it. I will get the knee surgery done down the road. I'm sure the other knee has just as much arthritis, but I've never had trouble with my knees, and twisting this is what hurt it. If the dr. had his way he reocmmended total knee replacement, but I would never have been able to keep my banding date in about a week. Let's hope this works for now. I'm being spoiled by my kids and have to admit I'm enjoying it just a little :scared: God Bless, Dody

I will be banded at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee on Jul 18 by Dr. Willie Melvin. I had to put off my lap-banding for almost a mo. to have surgery on my knee and some vascular studies of my neck before I could finalize a date. I'm so excited. Pre-op diet is 7 days of Carnation Instant Breakfast, which I love. God Bless, Dody

You are entering a new and wonderful phase of your life. I wish you well with your journey. It has taken me nearly a year of jumping through all the hoops to finally get to a date. It is getting closer for me everyday. I will be banded on July 18th at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. My surgeon is one of the most cheery and optomistic guys I've ever met. He thinks the band is the way to go and he performs all types of weight loss surgeries. He thinks the head games with RNY and DS are too tough to deal with knowing it is virtually (I said virtually) impossible to reverse. The lapband ....well you always have that option of having it removed in the back of your head, but heck who really wants to if it works as great as everyone says. I'm excited to begin my journey. I hope you fly through your tests with flying colors and are banded before you know it. I have no idea if you have a dr. in the US or are going to Mexico, but I wish you the best of luck. For me Mexico was never even a consideration, but that is why there are all options available to people. Best of Luck and God Bless, Dody

I'm being banded at Vanderbilt on July 18 by Dr. Willie Melvin.

Dr. Cahn and Dr. Anderson do not do fills for ANYONE else but their own patients.

I traveled to Tennessee for my surgery because they won't even do surgery unless it is a center of excellence. I am lucky I have family here and they encouraged me to come here. I didn't want the surgery in the state I was from anyway. The dr's. there had only done about 50 lap bands between them. I was happy Medicare was recommending a center of excellence to be honest. A center of excellence means the dr. has done many, many lapbands. It basically has nothing to do with the hospital itself, but with the dr. My dr. here in Nashville has done over 1000 lapbands and therefore qualifies as a center of excellence. All my fills for 6 mo. are included. Leener, can you run a google check and find a center of excellence not too far from you to get your fills at. I've been working on my banding for about a yr. when Medicare threw this clunker into the works, but I have to admit at 64 I'm rather glad they did. I planned on coming to Tennessee anyway but to a dr. closer to Knoxville (Marysville) and he hasen't yet been accepted as a center of excellence and probably won't be, because he hasen't done over 1000 bands.I have found numerous things that were wrong with me that needed corrected before surgery that I believe I wouldn't have found anywhere else. I traveled a long way to get this surgery and am staying for the fills, which are included for a 6 mo. period. I wish you luck in finding a center of excellence near by. God Bless, Dody

I have no problem sharing...I would be traveling alone. Dody

I hope you are ready for a long journey. First comes the seminar, and than the dr. is going to have a huge list for you to complete (most likely, because you are in the states). I have been in the process of getting things done the better part of a yr. You need documentation of weight loss (how long depends on the lap band dr.), you need a sleep study and a psych eval, along with blood work, an EKG and various other things. Please, by all means, jump through the hoops. It is so worth it to find out if there are any other medical problems before getting banded. Enjoy the trip and don't get frustrated. God Bless, Dody

I thought you were serious about drinking slurpies after being banded My dr. says I can't have any carbonated soda unless I let it go flat first, and that sounds so unappealing. I have found a variety of other things I love (see above post) so I don't think I'll be missing sodas. I would never kill the messenger....I just thought you were drinking slurpees and was preparing my lecture against carbonation No need to now. God Bless, Dody

Are you joking about drinking "carbonated" slurpees? Gosh, I believe everything I read. I've never had a Slurpee in my life. Am I deprived or what? They just never appealed to me.

Now that I'm in Tennessee for my surgery I've become a sweet tea lover. Everyone here drinks it. I buy decaffinated tea bags and boil them, add splenda (I love a touch of lemon too) and have it cold over ice. I also love lemonade. I am not going to be banded till the 18th, but I thought it was time I gave up my addiction to root beer and diet Cherry-vanilla Dr. Pepper. I really haven't missed it that much. I also love cranberry juice light, which is especially good for the bladder and kidneys. I didn't think I could find a sub for my diet colas but there are lots out there and I want to be on them before surgery. The sweet tea with splenda and a touch of lemon is absolutely delicious. I guess where I come from it's just ice tea, but it is sweetened more here. Splenda makes it taste wonderful and is a great sub for the sugar in it. Start experimenting...also limeade is good. I drink orange juice in moderation because my dr. wants me on Metamucil and I mix it with a little orange juice....not too much though because it contains acid. I also love my Water with the sugar free kool-aid or Crystal Light in it. You have to put sodas out of your mind completely and leave your mind open to the new things that will work with the band. My dr. tells me people do insist on drinking carbonated drinks, but he strongly suggests you let them go flat first....doesn't appeal to me. They are truly empty calories, so keep that in mind. God Bless, Dody

severe arthritis and osteoporosis keeps me from the excercise I need so badly. I'm having knee surgery this coming Fri. and will be riding a stationary bike for recovery. I'm hoping losing some weight will help me in the walking process, as my problem is not so much in what I eat but the fact I can't excercise. I'm sure my feet will quit hurting some if I take some weight off. God Bless, Dody

In going through your pre-testing were you tested for sleep apnea. Having it can drain a lot of energy out of your body even with the right amount of protein. I feel sooooooooo much better since I was diagnosed and am on C-Pap and finally getting a good night's sleep. It is something to think about, and yes your diet is definitely important. God Bless, Dody

I've lurked here for a year and posted for about half that time. I will be banded July 18 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Because of this terrific site and people I have learned so much what to expect after banding. It's been a great trip getting to know all these people. There are just a few spoilers in the bunch, but don't let them rain on your parade. You are doing the best and healthiest thing you will ever do for yourself. Best of Luck. You are going to meet some fantastic people who will be able to help you with every part of the journey both pre-band and post-band. God Bless, Dody

I am in Tennessee to have my surgery and I merely signed a form with my family dr. and cardiologist and they faxed all my medical info down here. I had no problem getting a quick responce from my physician and I also quickly was able to obtain a letter from both her and my cardiologist stating they were 100% behind this surgery. Those letters both helped me out a lot. My dr. even documented the years I had gone to her as not being able to lose weight, and went out of her way to help me and she is one of the most popular doctors in my city. I doubt being an internist/gyn that she has much time off herself but she is always bright and cheerful. I would suggest you obtain your medical records yourself and find yourself a new dr. This one sounds like he may be a tad old fashioned and mean spirited. Perhaps he is getting on in years, but that is certainly no excuse. I'm certainly older than he is You have every right to your medical records anytime-anywhere. Get them and send them yourself. Best of luck. God Bless, Dody

Tagamet is one of the older medications used to treat ulcers, and used rarely anymore. I don't see where it could contain histamines of any sort. Prevecid and some of the rest are far newer than Tagmet. It's been around since the late 70's. God Bless, Dody

So sorry you had to go through this. I'm sure you were scared to death. What you experienced may help those of us that are yet to be banded to avoid trying anything with skin on it. Thanks for sharing, and I sure hope you are feeling better. God Bless, Dody

Well I have two surgeries to get through in about 2 weeks time. I have to have arthroscopic surgery on my knee for a torn medial meniscus on July 7th, stitches out on the 14th, then leave for Vanderbilt in Nashville on the 17th for my surgery on the 18th. Wow, two surgeries in so little time seems like a lot to tackle, but I have to be able to get around so, therefore, the knee definitely needs fixed first. I'm getting anxious but not scared. I've faced one very serious surgery when I had my bypass heart surgery, and nothing in this world could be worse than that, so I'm anxious to get this over with. I want an epidural for the knee surgery. I don't want to be out if I don't have to be. I have no choice with the lap-band. So much to do and so little time. It took so very long to get to this point with injuries and delays in my surgery that I can't believe the time is almost here. I'm so ready for this new journey, and this board has been a huge inspiration to me in the time I've been hanging around here. I think I have a much greater understanding of what to expect after banding, and I know I've picked up some great recipes for mushy and solids when I go on them. My dr. wants me on Carnation Instant Breakfast and Water for days prior to surgery. I thought he might want me on something else, but he says Carnation Instant Breakfast is really high in Protein and he's the expert here. Wish me luck please and keep me in your prayers. It's been a really rough few months for me first with pneumonia, then tearing up my knee and postponement of my surgery in June for what they thought were blocked carotid arteries and turned out not to be....but it's finally coming to an end and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. God Bless, Dody

I was thinking this would be the easier surgery to recover from, but apparently it isn't. Well...I need to be able to move around after banding so I can do my part and right now I'm just stuck with sitting and a walker of all things. I really can't go anywhere or get any excercise, so this surgery is a must. I'm hoping I recover pretty quickly because I have surgery within 2 weeks for the band. Just please keep me in your prayers. I'm determined after all the waiting to get this all done. I will definitely be walking and aware of bloot clots. I'm a retired nurse and know what can happen. Thank you so much for your support. God Bless, Dody

I'm having surgery on my knee on July 7, but I'm getting an epidural. Still I get my stitches out on the 14th and have my band surgery on the 18th. I've handed it over to God, and I truly believe that is the best way to go. I wish you lots of luck. I had my gall bladder out a couple years ago and recovered really quickly from it. Dody