serenity55

Hi Lauren, congratulations on getting banded tomorrow! I'm still working through the process, but can definitely understand your anxiety about needles; they terrify me, too, but losing weight is more important to me. (Don't know if I'd have said that a year ago!) :-) What time is your surgery? Good luck, and best wishes for an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery! Be sure and let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it. Debbie

I got a letter, well, some kind of agreement from my surgeon's office which asked me to agree to continuing therapy, cognative behavior specifically. I don't have a problem with that. So I signed the letter and sent it off yesterday. It came back today. My roommate checked the address and it was correct, so I don't know why it was returned. lLate this afternoon I got a call from the patient liaison at my surgeon's office asking if I'd returned the letter. I said yes, never thinking it would be returned. Then she asked me about my cardiology exam. I told her that I'd had one in June, but it was my understanding that I might have to have another one because the anesthesiologist doesn't want the tests to be any older than six months. I don't mind taking it over, especially since I know what to expect. (I hope!) The liaison asked me to call my primary care doctor and have them fax the report to the surgeon's office. When I spoke with my doctor's nurse, she said they couldn't find the report. I know they had it because the last time I saw my doctor I asked her about it and she read it to me. I'm mad! I feel like a kid who's been disappointed. I shouldn't have to do this stuff again; it should already be there, and how, why! could they lose the freakin' report?! I can fax the letter to the surgeon's office tomorrow from work, and the nurse assured me that they'd find it, or have the cardiologist send them another copy, but boy! does this upset me! I know that I should take every minute of every day to prepare myself for the surgery, and I think I'm doing that, but there's a part of me that wants everything to be done!

I got a letter, well, some kind of agreement from my surgeon's office which asked me to agree to continuing therapy, cognative behavior specifically. I don't have a problem with that. So I signed the letter and sent it off yesterday. It came back today. My roommate checked the address and it was correct, so I don't know why it was returned. lLate this afternoon I got a call from the patient liaison at my surgeon's office asking if I'd returned the letter. I said yes, never thinking it would be returned. Then she asked me about my cardiology exam. I told her that I'd had one in June, but it was my understanding that I might have to have another one because the anesthesiologist doesn't want the tests to be any older than six months. I don't mind taking it over, especially since I know what to expect. (I hope!) The liaison asked me to call my primary care doctor and have them fax the report to the surgeon's office. When I spoke with my doctor's nurse, she said they couldn't find the report. I know they had it because the last time I saw my doctor I asked her about it and she read it to me. I'm mad! I feel like a kid who's been disappointed. I shouldn't have to do this stuff again; it should already be there, and how, why! could they lose the freakin' report?! I can fax the letter to the surgeon's office tomorrow from work, and the nurse assured me that they'd find it, or have the cardiologist send them another copy, but boy! does this upset me! I know that I should take every minute of every day to prepare myself for the surgery, and I think I'm doing that, but there's a part of me that wants everything to be done!

Hi all, I haven't been banded yet, but there really is a lot of information and support here; enough information to confirm for me that the lap band is definitely what I want. As you read, you'll find that a lot of people feel that it is only as effective as you make it. The band is only a tool, but if you're willing to work it can be very effective. Barb, from the things I've read, those who get banded in Mexico seem very happy with the results. I've read the hospitals are clean; the staff very helpful. Hopefully someone who is knowledgeable will come along. The best of luck to us all!

Hi there! Welcome to the forum! this is a great place for information and support. I haven't been banded yet, but I've read that pain is reduced for a lot of people. I also have severe sleep apnea, and while I'm not sure that we can lose our CPAP machines, the pressure could be lowered, as a result of weight loss. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Hi all, Heartfire, and Coloradochick, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, both for your kind offers to read the lap band book on tape for me. The person who was in charge of the recording department where I work was out of town last week, which I didn't know. He's back now, and has found a good reader to record the book that you, Michelle, and Slim-in-Tn both have. I want to thank you for being willing to record for me, and should another book come along that anyone feels is good, I'd still love to have you read, if you're still interested. As I said in an earlier post, I know I'm not the only blind or visually impaired person who has or will be banded, so I guess I just need to make the powers that be, those with the ability to, put things in braille or on tape. That was a long convolluted sentence, but I'm sure you all understood it. Anyway, thank you again, and I won't forget how to get in touch, should I need you! :-)

Good luck, and let me know how it goes. It's pretty exciting, and I know exactly how you feel!

Hi Gretchen, by the time you read this, you will have been banded. I hope all goes well, and will look forward to hearing your surgery day story when you are up to it. Wishing you all the best.

Hi Christine, Congratulations on your initial visit. (I'm assuming that's what this is.) I was nervous about mine, too, but there really wasn't anything to worry about. I met the dietician and the patient liaison, had to fill out the usual medical history kind of things, and then met with the surgeon and his assistant. I was also weighed and my blood pressure was taken. Maybe others are different, but my initial visit went very well. I hope yours does too.

Like so many others, I've related, smiled, and sighed because so many of these things are true. This is an awesome thread. I will not miss pulling off certain pairs of knee high socks only to find they have left impressions, dents, where they touched the tops of my legs. (They don't go up to the knee, like they're supposed to.) I won't miss the self-consciousness I feel when I walk to the bank with my roommate and can't wait to get to the light, so I can stop to rest, then to the bank so I can stop to rest, then back home, so I can stop to rest. I won't miss hearing myself breathing hard after these walks, or any time I'm with friends and try not to let them know just how out of breath I am. I won't miss wondering just how people really see me, and what they're saying when I leave a room. I won't miss, as someone else said, swollen ankles and legs an hour after I get up. I won't miss the feeling that I'm taking up more than my share of space when I'm in a car, and how clumsy I feel trying to get out of one. I can't wait to go skating again, sit in the middle seat in a car, or on an airplane, being able to walk and talk without feeling like I'm dying. And so many more things that have been written here.

Thank you, Michelle and ColoradoChick. It's really touching for me to know that there are people who are willing to read books on tape for me. When I talked to our reference librarian and the coordinator at our braille press, I felt that both of them were thinking, "Well, of course, you're not doing this," or "Why would we even want to transcribe books like that?" Interesting, I talked to an old friend of mine who had the duodenal switch in 1998, and another friend who had bypass surgery a few years ago, I'm not sure which, but both of them are blind--well, one is visually impaired, and definitely would have benefited frombooks on tape or in braille. Lapbandtalker, I think you're absolutely right; I am going to have to do it myself, either have books read on tape, or put in braille. Michelle, usually when books are recorded for the National Library Service (NLS) they read every page, but I'm not so sure I'd want that; it's a lot of reading. Also, if you don't have any means to record, I wouldn't want to have you buy something just for that, though it's a wonderful offer. I'm going to talk to our recording coordinator, because although I have some ideas of what needs to happen I want to find out just how much is involved. I'm afraid it might be too much. Anyway, hopefully I'll have an answer on Monday, and if there's not too much involved, we can do this. I can't thank you enough.

Michelle, that is so nice of you! Thank you! Is it a very long book? If you let me know, I can figure out how many tapes to send to you, and we can work something out. If it's too long I could just buy it and have it brailled. I still can't believe there is nothing in the entire national library service (NLS) but our reference librarian didn't find anything. There is also a "casual" recording department where I work, and I suppose they could do it, but I'm not sure how long that would take, or how good the readers are. So thank you again for such a kind offer. Let me know how long the book is and maybe we can go from there.

Hello Geanie, Welcome to the forum. Where in California are you? I haven't been banded yet, but I hope you will find the encouragement and support you deserve. This is a great place for getting both. Perhaps you could tell us a little about yourself. Is the move something you wanted to do? If not, could it be that you're sad about leaving your former home? For me, depression is always a really good reason to eat, and I love sweets, Cookies especially. I hope you will keep posting. It really does help just to share things with people who understand.

Hi Laura, I am definitely interested in the support meeting; unfortunately, I have a bad cold, so I won't be able to come tomorrow night. Thank you so much for opening your home to us, and I look forward to hearing how it goes.

Thank you. I finally talked to our reference librarian and from what she told me there is absolutely nothing in braille. I can't believe I'm the first blind person, well, I know I'm not, to have weight loss surgery. I know someone who has. But I guess it was meant for me to try to get things transcribed in to braille. I can do it! Thanks again.

Hi all, I'm at work, and I call the library to ask if there are any books in braille or on tape dealing with weight loss surgery, specifically, lap band. there is nothing. I called the reference librarian who wasn't in her office, to see if she could find one through interlibrary loan. she wasn't there. I am at lunch now, checking the web site of another organization for the blind and visually impaired, which was recommended by someone in our press department. they only have things about weight management for everybody, from the Mayo Clinic. I have decided to ask my bandster family to please help. Has anyone read any books they think were really helpful? I'm going to try to have them brailled. Even the literature at my surgeon's office isn't accessible to me, and while I don't mind having someone read things to me it would be nice if I could do it myself. It's not going to be cheap, but it's important to me to get this done, so please send me anything that has helped you. Thanks in advance.

Hi pfrance, Congratulations! I don't blame you for being excited and scared; in fact I think that's probably normal, based on all the things I've read. Be sure to let us know which date you get, and good luck!

Gretchen, it's been a circus, but I've had my initial consultation with the surgeon, and I just took the psychological evaluation, for the secondd time. Now, I'm told, that as soonas the psychologist completes her report a request for approval for surgery will go to my insurance, and then I'll take nutrition classes and all the pre op testing. I'm just so happy to finally have the ball rolling I don't care that I will probably have to take my cardiology exam again too. Thank you for asking. I'll be following your progress and hope everything goes well.

Hi Inuit, I haven't had surgery yet, but I'm learning that every little thing I can do beforehand will help. I don't usually drink liquids with my meals, so I'm ahead of the game there, but I do have to make myself exercise, and I do have to try harder to stop eating sweets. I've cut back, have smaller portions, but, as you say, it's really hard to change old habits. Hopefully someone will come along with some helpful hints. Welcome, and keep posting. Sometimes just connecting with people helps. Good luck.

Hi Gretchen, Welcome to lap band talk. there are some really great people here, very supportive. I haven't been banded yet, but I've learned so much just from being here. You have definitely come to the right place. Congratulations on getting a surgery date, and please keep us posted on how things are going. Do you have to do a pre op liquid diet? The best of luck to you!

Hello, and welcome! Where are you in the process? Have you been to a seminar, had your initial consultation with the surgeon? Let us know.

Hi Bearbelly, What a great poll. I hope more people will come here and find it. I have been playing the piano since I was five years old. I also play a baritone ukelele, as well as the smaller one. I play accordion, self-taught, so I'm not fantastic, but I did play for an Octoberfest a few years ago, and it was really fun. I have released three CD's, one original, one Christmas and one which is just a few pieces I really enjoy playing. I have also played on other people's CD's. I've been musical director for four musicals in a local theater near me, as well as accompanied performers in San Francisco and New York. I played at the White House when I was seventeen, with a group of blind and visually impaired kids, and have even played for Julie Andrews, but that was many, many years ago. I look forward to going to your web site, and hope others will take the poll and tell us about themselves. Thank you for starting this. Debbie

Hi Bearbelly, and welcome! First let me congratulate you on getting this far in the lap band process. I just had my psychological evaluation yesterday, but have been dealing with insurance issues since March. I was switched to another medical group and things seem to be going much better now, thank goodness! The first time I had any idea that music could touch another person, and that I could do that, was when I played Debussy's Reverie for a friend of mine, and she told me her eyes were wet. I was in college then, but people have told me since that time that when I play it touches them. I used to be too critical of myself to let what they were saying in, but now it kind of fills me with wonder that I could do that. All this to say that, yes, music can really be a spiritual thing for the listener and the performer. Sorry to go on so long. How has your experience been so far with the process of lap band? What instrument do you play? It might be interesting to start a thread on how music has affected us as performers as well as the people we play for, or teach. Again, welcome! Debbie

thank you Laura, for opening your home to us. I'm definitely going to try to be there. And thank you, ellen, for posting this information. I hope we get lots of takers, because i'd love to learn all I can before i get banded.

I didn't have to take my clothes off, but I did get weighed, and had my temperature and blood pressure taken, as someone else posted. I met with the nutritionist (or dietician) and the patient liaison, the surgeon and his assistant. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.