Don

I am glad to be a new member. My history:In 2009 I had all of my tests in and visits done and ready to have a Roux en Y in June of 2009. In January I had my usual 3 month lab test done for my diabetes and my bad cholesterol was 75. I was working on weight loss pre-surgery and successfully lost 20 pounds. In late February I had some shoulder blade pain that I attributed to long hours and poor posture while playing the piano and being on the computer, and on a fall I had taken. Early March I had 2 really bad nights with the pain. So I went to work and after work I said maybe I should do something about that pain, so I went to the ER. It was really packed so I put down I had chest pains so I could get done earlier. The joke was on me. I was in the middle of a cardiac event and left on an ambulance 45 minutes later headed to the nearest cath lab. A day and a half later I had a 3XCABG. After that I lost another 25 pounds and was right on the borderline of the 35 BMI index and in my mind put off the gastric surgery (plus it was way too soon). Here I am 18 months later, 22 pounds heavier, and having problems with lousy diabetes control (as well as sleep apnea, high blood pressure). I went back to see the Bariatric Surgeon and he suggested the sleeve surgery as our Blue Cross in Michigan recently approved the surgery for people with lower BMI's and because I have to take a daily aspirin. So I am pretty sure I am point to follow my Dr.s advice and have the VSL.

I have not been banded yet. Have my consult in late November. At the seminar, the nurse said they took all people off from their long-acting insulin after surgery. I wonder now, if she meant just the full-fledged R n Y and the sleeve or if it includes the banded people too. I am on 60 units of Levimir a day. Second, I am also afraid of lows. Many of them I have had have been at night. Anyone experience any lows after surgery (lap-band)? Thanks Don:thumbup:

(Gastric) Bypass after a (Cardiac)bypass God must have heard me wrong. I went through all of the steps and was approved for Gastric Bypass Surgery in June. All he heard was that I wanted a bypass. March 4th, I went to the ER with shoulder blade pain. (I had googled it and came up with only gall bladder and I had mine out in 2000). I had been playing the piano a lot and at the computer a lot (and I have bad arthritis in the neck). So I figured I would get a pain pill or a shot and go home. The next thing you know I am on an EKG then an ambulance to the next town where they have the heart stuff ( catheter lab etc.) Two days later I have a triple bypass. I believe I am having a better than average recovery ( no depression, no cognition problems. no infections, etc.) They told me at my Bariatric Surgeon's office that I would need cardiac clearance. I am certainly not going to have it done the first of June. I have lost 19 pounds since the operation, so I am right at the cusp of the 35% BMI. I have a feeling, if I do have an operation, it might be for the lap band, as it wouldn't be such a stress on the body. Anybody have experience with this??? Don

It was on Tuesday night. She fought very hard to get by-pass surgery. She found one Dr. who was willing to take her on. She had a 5 1/2 hour procedure. She survived the surgery and was on her way to recovery and she died of a heart attack. It was a real bummer. I wanted to see her lose the weight and maybe have a happy ending... it just wasn't to be. Obviously her weight caused her death not the surgery, but still they usually cover a successful patient. Don

Wow I was the one complaining about waiting so long and finally was scheduled for June 1st. My wife had an ovary and a growth removed on February 10 and on March 4th I went to the ER for back and shoulder pains. I ended up on the ekg, then an ambulance takes me north 14 miles to where the nearest catheter center is. There is a table round people waiting for me. Tjhe next day I have all sorts of tests and on Friday the 6th I had a triple bypass. I had had a stress test about year ago and they have always come back fine. I take a small dose of Lipitor and my cholesterol always comes back picture perfect (except my HDL is just 4-5 points low)> This came from out of the blue, 1) Should I still consider bariatric surgery??? 2) If so, which one? (I wanted the band, Surgeon convinced me ROux EN Y) To me it is now a toss-up.........especially since the Roux En Y seems to be almost as stressful to the body as this bypass. 3) I am hoping that I have alredy started to lose some weight, maybe this will be the clincher or the closer. I am down to almost 240 now( from 270 a year ago and an all time high of 283). WHat a surprise!!!!!!!!:scared2::scared2: Not a good one. Don

Well I finally have a date. Actually not a firm date, but I am number one in June. My surgeon is booking for May 15, so I asked to wait 2 weeks and let me finish the school year (God knows I need the money). He does surgery on Mondays and Wednesdays so I am hoping to get June 1st. The Monday works best as I only have 2 paid Sundays off at church.....so it will be like 3 weeks off (minus 1 day). Now I am scared.:sneaky: I don't think I would be (as much), except my wife had a tumor removed laproscopically last week and she is still in a lot of pain and I decided to go with what the Dr. recommended and he said a Roux N Y (sp????). So here we gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo:w00t: Don

everything is waiting and ready for the insurance company except my psychological evaluation. I saw her in October. She said she was finished with it in November and just needed the address. I responded quickly and gave it to her. Talked to her in December and she said she hadn't sent it in because she didn't know I was serious or not. I told her I was (and nothing in our sessions would lead her to believe otherwise). Now it is nearing the end of January. I have called her office and left the fax number of the surgeons and their office even called her!!!!!! Is there psychological help for psychologists????? I am frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But maybe there is a reason for the delay and I should be patient. I may be 90 before I get the procedure...... Don

Finally, they called yesterday and they have the report. After the nurse practioner and the surgeon review it ( for insurance purposes) they will call and schedule the surgery. My doc is scheduling into May, so I am going to wait until June 1 and finish the school year ( I am kind of a part-time music teacher/substitute HS art teacher/K-1-2 Computer teacher/and 3-4 art and physical education teacher). We are lucky, we don't start until after Labor Day and are finished by Memorial Day and we still have 2 weeks at Christmas and Easter. Now I am getting apprehensive about having the full R n Y done ( my surgeon stongly suggested it for me).:thumbdown: But have 4 months to get over that. Dandy Don

I went into my first visit with the surgeon with my mind 99 1/2 % made up to have the Lapband. He strongly pushed because of my age 58 and co morbidities to have the RNY. My BMI is between 35-40, so I am severely obese, but not 100's of pounds to lose. I am 5 foot 8 inches tall and 254 pounds.(70- 80 pounds would be nice.) I have diabetes (with insulin), sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. I actually am scared of the RNY, as it is so drastic, but I told myself to let the Dr. decide. So I will go bravely forward. I just wish they didn't have such a long waiting list. They are booking into February already. I would just as soon get it over with. Don:confused_smile: I am a church organist and also am the music director for the Spring Musical.With the Lapband I could afford the week off, but with the RNY I am sure I will need the 3 weeks. So to get through the musical and Easter, I guess it will be April for me.

I attended my seminar in August, had my pre-op surgical consult in November, had my conoloscopy and treadmeill test done just before I decided to do this. Have started changing my diet so I am doing 1 liquid meal a day. Called the office and the lab slip and chest x-ray were to be done right away. I didn't understand that then. I thought they wanted them done closer to the surgery date. Then the psychologist finished my report early in November, asked me for the address and never sent in my report saying she didn't know for sure if I was going through with it. Nothing I ever told her should have led her to belive that. It makes me wonder. Even if that all gets turned in this week, I am probably looking at a March or April Surgery date, because of the scheduling. We are fairly close to Canada and they have to wait 10 years for the surgery there, so many are opting to come to the states and having it done. There must have been 40 + Canadians in our group. O Lord teach me patience, NOW!!!!!!!!!!:party: Don

Haven't been banded yet. Have my pre-sugical consult on November 20th. It seems to take a lot longer up her in Northern Michigan to get on the list for surgery. It seems in the Canadian HealthCare system they have to wait 10 years to have the surgery so they are all coming here. Have had all the stomach work and heart tests within the last 2 years and psych work is done, so I think all I need to do after this is set the date. I feel it would be helpful to chat with someone about all that goes on before, during, and after. I really don't think my wife will understand. Don

A written contract helps, but doesn't always guarantee it. I had written formal guidelines for wedding sent out early to the bride and groom. I needed a substitute for the wedding at the last minute and they tried to stiff her. I was proud of her....she refused to play a note until they paid her. We live in a resort area and they come (north)up here and pay thousands for the Banquet Hall ( at a local castle) and thousands more for the catering and well over a thousand for the flowers and they don't want to pay a musician a $150 for their time and training. Besides the bride's dress, the food at the reception, that is often the part that people remember the most. I try to insist they pay me the night of the rehearsal, because as you say standing around waiting for it or getting into the reception line is awkward. They do have much more on their minds the day of the wedding. The contracts I do are simple. What they can expect from me and what I expect from them. Good luck Don

I was about 85% convinced to have the surgery before the summer started and then I read about 6-7 different trials on how much the surgery improves diabetes and I was convinced. I didn't get into the August seminar, but attended the September one. I have had all of the heart tests, stomach tests, and sleep studies done in the last 2 years, so I am ready to go. I have to wait until November 20th for my initial consultation. I am so impatient, I'd just as soon have it done tomorrow. Secondly, when we get into the new year, my co-pays and deductibles apply anew. So, I will have to come up with about a grand ( I think ) to have it done. I live in Northern Michigan and what the hold-up is we have so many Canadians coming down (driving 5-8 hours ). They have to wait 10 years to have it done in Canada. So all you folks who want socailized medicine..think about that. Anyways, am glad this group is here. It seems to be the most comprehensive I have found on the web. Don

Finally got an appointment for a consult. I live in Charlevoix and my appointment is with Dr. Nizzi in T.C. I am very impatient now that I have made up my mind to do it. I would just as soon as it would be tomorrow.

Finally gotmy consult appointment on November 20th. Were you all as impatient as I am about this whole process? I took a long time to make up my mind and now that it is made up I would just as soon as it would be done tomorrow.

Vegeterian is an old Indian term for Poor Hunter

Hi, I am a 58 y.o. retired music teacher (not) from Northern Michigan. I retired from Public School teaching 6 years ago, but am now teaching in a charter school 4 hours a day. I also am a church organist/choir director so I play for one church on Saturday evening and another on Sunday. So you can see why I said (not). Anyways, I have floated from 180 pounds in High School ( where I truly thought I was fat ) to 230 in college and down to 175 after college and over the next ten years I gained 100 pounds+ to 283. A few years back I got down to between 245 and 250 and kept it there or years. Last year (2007) between August and December I gained 20 pounds.........without a change in diet or exercise. The Dr.s won't believe me, but it was in 2 ten day periods. (No, it wasn't the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas). I just ballooned. That, plus all the pills I take (for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia,depression, and uric acid kidney stones) and the shot (4 a day for insulin and 2 a day for Byetta) has gotten me down. The final thing that made me decide to DO IT, was the research on the improvement to a person's diabetes by having gastric surgery. So all I need is the surgery consult and to set a date. I have had all of the stress tests, colonoscopy, etc. during the last 1 and 1/2 years. What an adventure and what a challenge ahead:whatchutalkingabout!!! /a>