cat lady

Jerseygirl: Thanks for your reply and support. I really want to do this for myself. I have High BP and am starting to feel the weight in my legs. Really would love to do it....hope I get approved. Keep up the teriffic weight loss. You are doing great. cat lady:thumbup:

Hi all 60+ bandsters: I am considering the band at 62 years old. Thought maybe I was being foolish to do this....but glad to see so many others my age did it already. Did anyone have the sils procedure and how did you do after surgery. Did it take long to heal? Did anyone have a problem with blood clots. I heard about a young girl on this site who had blood clots to her lungs after surgery and it scared the Heck out of me. Would you all do it again if given the choice? Thanks for your replies. cat lady:confused:

Hi Just Ice: Hope you are feeling better today. Did you go to the ER. I was thinking that maybe some of the pain meds are adding to your nausea. I know when I took pain meds for a bad back I got very nauseated. I was not banded yet still in the approval stage. Hope all goes well with you. cat lady

Hi So Excited: You are probably getting your fill right now. Good Luck to you. I hope it helps in your weight loss. You are doing so good -- just curious, how did you lose all the weight from your highest 310 to the 235.5 at time of surgery? That is over 75 lbs if I am correct. Please explain. Also let us know how your fill went. Did they find the port easily? Hope so. cat lady:confused::blushing:

Sorry for the terrible experience you had. I am pre op and these are the things that trouble me. I am older and I dont know if I should risk it. Blood clots in the lungs are a very serious issue -- glad you got past it and are recouperating. Has anyone else had this serious issue with the band surgery? Did the doctor say why you had so many clots? cat lady:frown:

Michelle: What did you think of Dr. G? Did you set up your psyc and nutritionist appts with their office yet? cat lady

Hi all: I am also a pre surgery patient of Dr. Geiss and did not have the psychology screening done yet. Are you going to the therapist in Dr. G office? Also the nutritionist there? I was told they dont take insurance....so that is $500. Seems alot for 1 visit each. Did your insurance cover any of these charges. Thanks cat lady

Hi Luv: glad to hear your post surgery and all is well. I'm sure you pains will lessen daily. How was Dr. G? How long were you in the hospital? Did you have many incisions or one? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks for keeping us posted on your recovery. Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year. cat lady:wink:

HappyHomeCC: thanks for your honest replies. Hope I can do as well as you did with the recovery process. Keep up the good work. cat lady

Hi LuvJonz: I am also a pre surgical patient of Dr. Geiss. I am curious how you like him. The consult was okay -- although I feel he was repeating a script he said many times before. He mentioned the 1 incision surgery might be okay for me. Are you getting that tomorrow? I wish you the best of luck tomorrow and I/m sure all will go well. You will be home before you know it and begin your new weight loss journey. How exciting! Let us know how you are doing. cat lady:thumbup:

Hutch444: Thanks for your reply about the single incision surgery. How fast did you heal? Was there alot of pain involved. Is there alot of bleeding during the procedure? I'm concerned about complications of this surgery. The more I research the more questions I have. I should be more courageous......but scared. cat lady:scared2:

HappyHomeCC: You never told us if you had the single incision procedure or not. You said the Dr mentioned it to you going down to the OR and you said it was up to him. which procedure did you have and how was the healing process. Was there alot of pain involved? How quickly did you get back to yourself? You are doing great with the weight loss. Very inspiring to those of us who are pre surgery. Thanks for your reply. cat lady:unsure:

Thanks girls for all your replies. I think its a good thing for me to consider. There is probably less healing time involved. Since my bikini days are over -- I'm not too concerned about the scars. More concerned about healing. Glad to hear you are all satisfied with the results. cat lady:smile:

Went for my first consult with Dr. Geiss on Long Is. and he mentioned doing a single incision on top of abdomen and another for the port. Has anyone had this done? Trying to research this new procedure to make sure its perfected. cat lady

Hi: My BMI is about 35-36. When I went for my consultation the doctor mentioned that I could have the surgery done with only 2 incisions. One would be for the port at the belly button area -- and one higher up in the abdomen to actually put the band in. Did anyone else have this type of surgery?? I want to know if its perfected. Dont want to try something too new. Replies please. Thanks cat lady:scared2::thumbup:

Hi MichelleClaire: Sorry the meeting didn't work out. Please check the dates because every time I ask -- at Dr. Geiss' office they tell me its the first Tuesday of each month at the Ritz across from Syosset Hospital. I think the first Tuesday would be January 5th. Are we talking about the same seminar with Dr. Geiss as a speaker there. I went to one in November (first Tuesday of the month)and Dr. Geiss was not there. Another Dr. spoke and a patient told his story. It was very informative. I do want to go again in January. :thumbup:

Hi all: My name is Chris and I am thinking of getting the band surgery. I have alot of questions that were answered on this website. I'm glad to see many of you with a lower BMI have chosen to do it. I have a BMI of 36 weighing about 220 presently. I have hi blood pressure and would like to cut down on some meds. I have lost and gained the same 20 lbs for the past 10 years. I'm disgusted with myself and cannot get past it. Would you do it again if given the chance. Is it worth the pain and suffering involved. I am 62 years old and would like to finally get down to a size 12 or even 14 again. It would make me feel so much better. I am ashamed of myself at times and tired of trying to hide my weight. It is so frustrating. Thanks for your honest replies. cat lady:confused:

Hi Band Groupie: Read alot of your posts. You seem to be doing so well with the band and you are inspiring to hear. Are you able to go out and socialize while eating with the band? I'm at about 220 now and hoping to be approved for the band. I have High Blood Pressure also. I know I can lose 20 lbs at a time but keep putting it back on. I hope this will be a tool to help me lose more and keep it off. I'm glad to hear that its the best think you've done for yourself. I really need to start doing something for me. I raised two grown and married children and now help out with the grandchildren and work also. I love being with the kids but I think its time for me -- if I can convince myself. I will keep reading your posts. Also you seem to be great with the computer. Can you answer a silly question?????what is the difference between a post -- blog -- thread???? I am not that computer savvy. Thanks for your reply. Chris (cat lady):eek:

Hi AJnbily - Amanda: Glad to hear you are feeling better and thank you for your honest replies to some questions. I guess you realize we are all frightened of the unknown. Doing this is "elective" surgery and the final decision is ours alone -- so its a hard decision for all of us. You seem to be doing good and the weight loss is great -- 21 lbs. I hope each day you feel better and better. What are you allowed to eat at this point since you are about 1 1/2 weeks post op. How hard is it to stick to the diet. What does Dr. Geiss tell you you can have post op. Do you feel like eating? I know it was more painful than you anticipated - did they give you pain meds right away in the hospital? Did you come home taking pain meds? Was tylenol enough? Can you swallow pills easily or do you have to crush them? Sorry for so many silly questions but my mind is wandering about this surgery. Will try to get to the "first" Tuesday seminar at the Ritz in early January. Could not make the one in December. Hope to see some of you there. Chris (cat lady):eek:

AJnbilly: How are you? I think you had the surgery on the 2nd of Dec. I was thinking about you. When you're up to it let us know how it REALLY was. I know everyones experience is different, but curious to know how you are feeling and what you are able to eat at this time. Good Luck to you. Chris (cat lady)

Hi Amanda: I guess by now its over for you. Isn't that great!!!! Wish it was me. Let us know how you are feeling. Im sure your okay and resting now. Lots of Luck, Chris (cat lady):tongue2:

Good Luck AJnbilly: I also went for a consult at Dr. Geiss. Please give us comments on how everything went. How bad was the pre surgery diet. Is it all liquids? I went to his office and a few patients gave me info that scared me. I need some positive input. I/m sure you will give me some. I will be thinking of you on Dec. 2nd. Good Luck on your special day.

Good Luck with your surgery. Please give us comments on how the surgery went. The best is yet to come! cat lady

Good luck Michelle & Electrawoman: Im just starting out on this journey. I hope I have the guts to continue it through. I"m getting nervous because I'm getting too much information. For my first consultation I met 3 patients who told me to forget it. I need some honest positive input from you girls when you get through the surgery. Please be honest with your comments. I will pray for both of you. Its so exciting. Wish I was you now. Good Luck to both of you. cat lady

Hi Corspenc: I also am on the fence about the band surgery. Went for my first consultation and got some negative feedback from patients in the office. Does this mean find another dr.???? I don't know. I am also early 60s with high blood pressure. My life is good, work, watch grandkids, happy with marriage, go away alot but I'm not happy being the size I am. Should I go for it? Only I can answer that question. Dont want to live the rest of my good years being fat.....but also dont want to be unable to enjoy socializing, which is with food. Dont want to keep vomiting or spitting up. My question is whether you can live a comfortable lifestyle with the band. I know I have to give up some foods but can you live a "normal" lifestyle. I guess I'm afraid to make the commitment.....but without commitment it wont work. Need to keep researching this before I make my ultimate decision. I must say that the thought of being thinner is very exciting to me. Not too much makes me excited these days. Hope it will be all that I expect. cat lady