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Banded on the 1/17/2013 weightloss surgery center in KC



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I am glad to see there is a large number of fine folks to ask questions to on the good old interwebs..

I started at 400 pounds in Dec of 2011. I had enough and decided it's time to do something. I had talked to my Dr about it many times and he would say yeah yeah its a great idea but I had never pushed him. That December I made an appointment to specifically discuss getting the lapband and I am really glad that I did. Once I sat him down and told him i was serious he was ecstatic and seemed to pop to life. We talked about it for probably an hour and a half and he could not tell me enough how proud he was that I was taking the next step. He told me I have been telling you for a very long time you can do it and you need too. However until you make up your mind and put forth the effort there wasn't much he could do. At that point I started my journey with the support of my favorite doctor. 2012 was a very busy year for me I had to do a ton of travel for my work. It seemed I was on the east coast at least once a week. I started looking into whom to use and going to seminars ect. It seems everyone that does lapband surgery has their own set of rules and classes ect.

I started with Via Christi and attending their seminars I went to both the HMR and gastric surgery. I filled out countless forms and found out that my insurance did cover the procedure but I had to jump through many burning rings of fire. :) Just kidding but it sure looked that way. I found out I had to do 6mo of supervised dieting, do a psy eval, see a nutritionist, sleep study and countless blood works. Of course I have a copay for each of these and time out of my day. In the end it took me a year to get everything completed. This is mostly because of all my traveling.

I lost 70 lbs total and had a slight increase during the holidays. I was banded 1/17/2013 in Overland Park and seem to be feeling ok. I am prone to infections for what ever reason. However I seem to be doing ok thus far I let my surgeon know my issues with infections and he took precautions. The night before last I ran a really high fever and was intensely cold. The next morning the fever had broke and I sweat my butt off. That evening ended in cold sweats and a very low grade fever. I have a Dr. Attp this morning were I am certain to get even more antibiotics.

I am glad to say my hunger is gone. I mean I do not have an appetite at all since the surgery. My surgeon said a large percentage of people who get the band have this effect. So far I am very excited as this was one of the ultimate goals I had for the surgery. For years I have been hungry even after eating until I was bloated. I was always hungry and no matter what I did I was never satisfied. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this does not change. Don't get me wrong I can hear and feel my stomach growl and knot up but I do not have any hunger that makes me search for food. Since the surgery I know I have to eat and that is what has directed me to do so.

All in all this is the start of my story and I hope I am able to receive support from you fine folks and intern be able to give it back.

Cheers,

Adam

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Congrats on your decision. You will do well.

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Congratulations! 70lbs is a huge success -- especially doing that all on your own! I was also just banded on the 18th, and I also haven't felt hungry yet. I do feel like I want to eat, but I'm not actually physically hungry.

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I am getting banded thru them in feb I am also going thru the independence office! I have a bunch of questions to ask you if you don't mind!

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Ask away I will do my best to answer...

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My surgeon was Lawrence Drahota. I personally liked him but mostly because out personalities aligned. I am a don't beat around the bush get to the point kind of guy and so was the surgeon. We did not discuss my ideal weight as I use the local clinic here in Wichita and we discuss that type of stuff here.

All in all I was pleased with the services they provided. It was clean and the day shift nurses were very nice. The nurse I had on the night shift was ok but I didn't like the fact when what she had to say contradicted what the surgeon said. She put it off like I should still listen to her rather than the surgeon. Other than that I was very satisfied. I went to my PCP the next Monday and he took a look at the incisions and said the surgeon had done a very nice job. It is healing nicely and it doesn't look like it will scar or at least be overly noticeable

The hotel they put you up in the first night is ok and only by a fine line. It was clean and the people friendly. With my profession I do a lot of traveling and lets say it's not my typical hotel but it was not bad enough to make me use my points for a nicer hotel somewhere else..

Regards,

Adam

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I'm getting banded in Overland Park, Ks my surgeon is going to be dr. Drahota on the 21st of this month. I'm excited and all I've heard so far are good things.

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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