Getting Closer
· LindaO · 11/20/2009 18:58
- Read the Conversation
- 3 comments
- 238 views
Start here
Where are you in your journey?
Choose the path that fits today. We’ll take you to the most useful discussions.
- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
LindaO
LAP-BAND Patients
-
Joined
-
Last visited
Blog Entries posted by LindaO
-
Haven't blogged here for a long time...and it has been a long time since I began this journey back in April, but I finally have a surgery date. December 11, 2009. I start the pre-op diet next Friday, the day after Thanksgiving....which will be my last big pigout!
-
May Events
· LindaO · 05/01/2009 20:12
It will be a very busy May with all the appointments I have coming up. This is good because I guess it means thing are rolling along. Last week I met with my PCP who is going to try to get enough weight loss documentation together to sumbit to my insuance co in order to waive the 6 month waiting period. Next on the list is the appointment with the exercise psysiologist and the dietian. The following week I have my Psych evaluation. :biggrin: And I also need to schedule my stress test. Until I know whether I can get the PCP approval, I won't know when I can have the surgery. I am looking at anywhere between 2 to 5 more months. But I figure it will happen when it is supposed to happen.
- Read the Conversation
- 2 comments
- 262 views
-
May Events
· LindaO · 05/01/2009 18:09
It will be a very busy May with all the appointments I have coming up. This is good because I guess it means thing are rolling along. Last week I met with my PCP who is going to try to get enough weight loss documentation together to sumbit to my insuance co in order to waive the 6 month waiting period. Next on the list is the appointment with the exercise psysiologist and the dietian. The following week I have my Psych evaluation. :biggrin: And I also need to schedule my stress test. Until I know whether I can get the PCP approval, I won't know when I can have the surgery. I am looking at anywhere between 2 to 5 more months. But I figure it will happen when it is supposed to happen.
- Read the Conversation
- 1 comment
- 261 views
-
Medical Evaluation
· LindaO · 04/21/2009 13:22
Well, I started the program at Beaumont Hospital yesterday and met with the physician. They did lots of blood work, like 6 vials, and an EKG. My BMI IS 44 and I weighed in at a whopping 263. :tounge_smile: I have appointments scheduled next month with the dietition, the exercise physiologist, a psycologist for my psyc evaluation, and again with the doc for appointment #2. My insurance requires 6 months of documentation in a medically supervised WL program. Unless I get my PCP to sign off. Anyway, the ball is rolling so that is the good part. I made the leap so to speak. That evening I went to the hospital's Club Bariatrix support group meeting where one of the 2 surgeons in the program were speaking. He is an accomplished RnY surgeon but has not started doing the Lap Band in his practice yet. He has assisted the other surgeon with the procedure. He is getting started and needs to set up 3 people in one day to get his certification. Anyway, all the people in this meeting were RnY patients and not one Lab Bander. (just my luck) Everyone there looked like they had lost a lot of weight and I really can't say anyone looked "healthy". Everyone had a drawn out saggy, thinning hair look about them. It was really disheartening. I really need to get intouch with some other Lap Banders. As far as the surgeon goes. . . I am signed up with the other surgeon in the practice who has done about 150 LapBands. But I may end up going with the other surgeon because he happens to be my long lost second cousin, and I figure I can call him up and drive him nuts with any problems or questions I have. :thumbup:
- Read the Conversation
- 2 comments
- 241 views
-
Big Fat Greek Easter
· LindaO · 04/15/2009 12:39
It isn't bad enough that I celebrate traditional Easter Sunday with my husband and his family only to be followed this year, one week later with Greek Easter! For those of you that don't know, it is a day filled with eating literally tons of delicious home made Greek foods. Roasted Lamb, done outside on a spit just like in my Big Fat Greek Wedding, except we do ours in the back yard in stead of on the front lawn like the movie! Our side dishes include: Pastitsio (Greek version of Lasagna made with cream sauce)Spanakopita (Spinach Pie), roasted potatoes, rice, stewed green eans in tomato sauce, cooked and marinated fresh beets, a huge Greek Salad with feta cheese, dyed red easter eggs, breads, cheeses, and I am sure other stuff I am forgeting about. And you have to taste it all, because it is all just soooo good. So this year I am sure I will be stuffing myself silly, cause I still can. But next year if all goes well and I am banded, it will be a whole different story. But I hopefully won't be as fat as I am this year either!!!
- Read the Conversation
- 1 comment
- 223 views
-
In the beginning
· LindaO · 04/03/2009 19:08
Well, I started looking into the lap band proces about a month ago. I have gone to 2 free seminars at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak MI. I took my husband to the second one with me. He is very supportive in this decision and is helping me through the thought process. I am really lucky to have him. :wub: I on the otherhand am still not 100% convinced. I need to lose 100 pounds. That is a fact. Can I lose it on my own (again) and keep it off? Most likely not. Do I need a tool to help me get the weight off? Yes, for sure. Do I want to go through bariatric surgery and have my insides re-plumbed.? Not really. So, the Lap Band even with its downfalls (nothing is perfect) seems like the best route to go. So I made my medical exam appointment for April 20, 2009 and I am giving myself til then to make up my mind. I just ordered 3 books from Amazon about the Lap Band which should be a help. That and all the great things I am reading on this very helpful site. I am not hearing a lot of negative, which is a good thing. So that is where I am today.
By the way these are the books I ordered:
"Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery"
Jessie H. Ahroni Ph.D. A. R. N. P.
"LAP-BAND Companion"
Mark J. Watson;
"Lap-Band for Life"
Ariel Ortiz Lagardere
- Read the Conversation
- 1 comment
- 208 views