What a time I've had since arriving in Tennessee to be with family for my surgery. First I had pneumonia, then I twisted my knee (it looks like it will need surgery in the near future), and then I went to Vanderbilt to see my surgeon for my pre-op appt. My surgery was supposed to be June 5th.

They found a bruit in my carotid arteries and recommended I have a doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries, which I did yesterday. Both arteries are almost completely blocked and they are surprised I haven't had a massive stroke. Needless to say I need surgery soon for this problem, and the banding is in the back burner for now. I have to call Vanderbilt on Tues. and make sure it is cancelled so perhaps they can get someone else in.

I'm totally bummed, but I also know that perhaps finding out here with this physical was the best thing that could happen to me. I live alone and if I had a stoke I don't know when anyone would have found me. God truly works in mysterious ways. I don't know why my cardiologist didn't find this in Idaho, but he didn't, so I doubt it would have been diagnosed.

Thank God for the doctors at Vanderbilt who do a very thorough exam for the lap-banding that they found this. I will be seeing a vascular surgeon next week as Mon. is a holiday and so far I've been asymptomatic.

My kids are wonderfully supportive, and I'm hoping that you, my friends here on lap-band, will send me some prayers that all goes well.

Thanks and God Bless,

Dody

Your support has meant a lot to me. The band is on hold, but never far from my mind. I have to see a vascular surgeon this week and have an MRI of my knee....it looks like there could be two surgeries before banding. I'm even more concerned because I will be on Plavix (a strong blood thinner) for quite awhile and to have the lap-banding you have to be off even aspirin for a week. My dr. thinks depending on what they decide to do...either clean out the arteries or stent them it could be up to six weeks before I could go off the Plavix for a week. I'm really confused to say the least, but I'm not giving up and thankful they found this in time. Having the surgery could have caused a major stroke, so I thank God I found out in time. It makes me wonder about older people going out of country without these extensive tests...and I send out a prayer for them. It could have been the Kiss Of Death if I had done that. I'm glad I jumped through all the hoops before the surgery took place, so please don't ever get discouraged by the number of tests your American dr. puts you through. There is most definitely a reason.

Thank you again to all you wonderful friends on here.

God Bless,

Dody