Hi all,

I've really enjoyed your post but I have only seen one other person for the Cleveland area, so I would like to start a place for all of us die-hard Clevelanders to come together and talk, and share information. What do you say????

Hi there! I was beginning to think I was the only person from Northern Ohio too. I plan to be banded at St Vincent Hospital by Dr Ben-Meir. I have gone through all the testing, and then was denied by CIGNA because they said I hadn't met the requirements of documentation for the 6 month pre-op diet. Turns out my primary Dr had only sent in 2 months of documentation. So hopefully once that is cleared up I will get a surgery date.

What hospital/Dr are you working with?

I'll check back soon -

Forestcat

Hey Forestcat5,

I am going to Dr Brethauer at the Cleveland Clinic, I've heard good things about St Vincent too. Anyway, I just found out that I was approved by insurance last week and I have to call the nurse tomorrow for scheduling my surgery. I can't wait... Well it looks like it just me and u from NE Oh so let's keep in touch

GREAT!!! Please let me know when you get your date. Any idea how soon it might be?

I think we are very spoiled here in the Cleveland area with all the good hospitals - no matter what kind of surgery you need. I feel so bad for the people on the site who have to drive for hours to and from the Dr. I live about a half hour away from St Vincents. I was planning to contact the Cleveland Clinic about lap-band surgery, but then saw a seminar for St Vincents that was scheduled only a few days away, and impatient me just had to go! I hear only good things about both places.

I also have a hernia (inguial?), anyway - by my navel, and the surgeon is going to repair that at the same time. I've had 2 abdominal surgeries in the past, emergency C-section and 10 yrs later my gallbladder removed, so I know something of what to expect. Main thing I learned was make sure you have a pillow to hold against your stomach for the ride home!

Let's hope we have our surgeries before the snow starts piling up.....

Hey ForestCat.

I got my tenative date today. Looks like I'll be banded on the 2nd. So I guess I'll be losing my winter coat (or blubber) during our oh so great winters. What stage are you at?

How great that you have a tentative date!! Is it tentative for you or the Dr? Will you have to have any more testing?

I got a letter last week from my ins (CIGNA) telling me I was denied because I didn't have enough documentation of the required 6 month weightloss. Turns out my Dr's office had only sent in 2 months. So now they are working on getting the rest sent in. I talked to them yesterday and they told me that my Dr was really ticked that I got denied, and that she might be calling my ins company. I've had all the tests, psych eval, etc. I found out that I have sleep apnea. and the c-pap machine has made a BIG difference. I no longer feel like I'm going to fall asleep at work and have my head THUD down on my desk. And they found the hernia.

Let's start the countdown to Oct 2nd!!

Hi

I JUST had my banding done on Thursday, Sept 6th at St Vincent. Other than a slow heart rate during the night (I have a slow heart rate at baseline, but it got slower, in the 40's, I guess from the pain meds) everything went fine. I was moved to the telemetry unit in the middle of the night, so that was a bummer. The nurses on that unit weren't really educated about banding, but they were still very nice.

Overall I thought the hospital was great; everyone was polite and attentive. I do remember them removing the endotracheal tube in the recovery room, and that was the most unpleasant experience of all.

Just 2 days post-op, I don't have much pain, and haven't needed to take any narcotics today. BUt I did do something REALLY stupid this morning...I woke up at 6 am, still kinda in a daze, and thought b/c my pain was so mild that I wouldn't need narcotics so tylenol should be enough. Well, I completely forgot that all pills/caps had to be crushed and I swallowed 2 tylenol capsules! I was so worried, but nothing happened.

I recommend lots of walking the first couple days. Every trip down the hallway was a little bit easier.

Good to meet others from Cleveland!

Teri

Teri -

So happy to hear from someone who went to St Vincents! I'm glad you are doing so well. (well, besides the removal of the endotracheal thingy!) I've only been to Dr Ben-Meir once, but he seemed really nice.

What have you had to drink since the surgery? I'm concerned about getting enough Protein post-op, since that is key for healing properly. I ordered some samples of the "InJury" protein mix I've seen people write about, so I can see if I like them. I hope they come soon. Did they have you do a liquid pre-op diet? Sorry I have so many questions..........

Please keep in touch and let me know how you're doing. I'll check back often.

I did TRY to do the Optifast beforehand, but to be honest I hated that stuff! Would take me an entire day to eat one of the PB bars (so gritty). chocolate bars are much better. So I drank liquids during the day, including carnation instant Breakfast mixed w/skim milk and dry milk powder for extra Protein, and ate a healthy dinner at night. I lost 10# in a month on that diet.

So far (besides the tyelonl, lol) I've only had liquids, including instant breakfast made w/skim milk and dry milk powder, broth, popsicles, flavor-ice (the long sticks of flavored ice..those are my favorite), diet v-8 splash, tomato Soup, and a little bit of coffee. I made a yogurt smoothie w/some of my left over optifast, and was able to drink a couple ounces.

Ben-Meir seems very nice; I was discharged before he came to see me, so he called me at home that night to check on me. The nurses in the office are very nice too.

If you need some optifast, I can sell you some for cheap! I am still going to try to drink 1/2-1 packet per day, but it isn't easy. I think instant breakfast w/dry milk powder is much more appealing, and a heck of a lot cheaper than optifast drinks.

Hope you get your insurance approval soon!

Let me know if you have any other questions.

How are you feeling today? Everything going ok? If you work outside the home - when do you see yourself returning?

I'm going to have a difficult time cutting back/giving up coffee. My Dr already has me down to 2 cups a day of "leaded" and the rest has to be "unleaded".

Are you on any meds that you have to crush or get in liguid form? (I won't bring up the Tylenol incident!) I take quite a bit, so I need to check into all of that. My Case Specialist is LaTonya - who is yours?

Only my husband and daughter and 2 close friends know I am doing this. I have a hernia that Dr Ben-Meir said he can repair along with putting in the band, so I've just told people I'm having hernia surgery. But I spent the day with some of my family today, and they kept asking why it was taking so long to get scheduled for the hernia surgery....I felt like I was a big fat liar (literally!). I said that I thought the ins company needed more paperwork or something. I have had problems in the past with some family members, when I would be losing weight, being told I didn't look healthy or I was getting "too thin". I don't know - I guess I'll play it by ear.

I hope you continue to do well, and rest and HEAL.

I'm sure I'll have more questions!

HEY sbee - HOW'S IT GOING?

Hi

I was actually able to sleep on my stomach last night...yahoo!!! That is how I normally sleep. Felt great this morning, really no pain except occasional chest/shoulder pain from the gas that they use to inflate the abdominal cavity.

It is really feeling like a FT job to get in adequate fluids, calories and protein. I've been writing down everything and keeping track, and so far I've gotten in 43 oz fluids, 55 gm protein, and 610 calories.

I wasn't told that I shouldn't drink coffee...I don't think I could survive! I had a cup today. I don't think it is good to drink too much b/c caffeine can be a diuretic, but a cup or two per day shouldn't matter, esp if you meet your fluid needs.

I am going back to work on Thursday, one week after my surgery. I don't do any heavy lifting, so I'm sure I'll be fine (to be honest, I could probably go back tomorrow). I have told 3 people about the surgery! That's it!! I think people can be pretty judgemental about it, so I've used vacation days for the surgery.

I was crushing some Vicodin on Friday for pain relief, but other than multivitamin, I'm not on any other meds.

I did have LaTonya initially, but when my surgery was scheduled, I was switched to Connie. Both are very nice.

Thanks for checking in on me

Feel free to ask more questions!

It's such great news to hear you are doing so well! Some of the posts on the main board are pretty scary - all the problems and pain people have. I know it's because everyone is different, and our age and health make a difference. I just don't want to have a horror story to tell. And YOU were able to sleep on your stomach - very impressive!

I know there's nothing in the info that St Vincents gave us about not drinking any coffee, but just the fact they say not to drink too much was enough to make me begin to whimper.

I plan to use my 2 week vacation for the surgery. I'm thinking I might need the 2 weeks because of the hernia repair. Plus I'm on my feet most of the time at work. So I hope to be at home, trying to get in all my liquids and calories like you are, and taking walks.

When do you go back to see the Dr, or get a fill? Do you have to call Connie to let her know how you're doing? Yes, LaTonya is nice - everyone there has been nice. I can't imagine how they keep all our paperwork straight. The only bad experience I've had is when the vascular Dr sent me downstairs to get a blood test....the woman who checked me in and took all my info to put into the computer had to be one of the rudest, non-professional people I have ever met! I'm pretty easy-going and can easily understand how people can be having a bad day - but this woman went beyond all that. I had recently switched jobs, and when she asked for my employers phone number and I didn't immediately know it, she gave this huge exasperated sigh and loudly said "I'm putting you in as "Unemployed" because if I don't enter anything it will screw everything up!" She acted like I was a huge pain, never once looked at me, and she was slamming her fingers so hard on the keyboard I thought the keys would start flying off. If they send me back down there for pre-op testing, and I get her again, I'm going to lean over the desk and get in her face and yell "HELLO SUNSHINE!" Then duck.

Take care and keep up the good work!

Hi

That's terrible re: customer service in the lab! I've only had my blood drawn once there (pre-op visit) other than the bloodwork obtained before surgery and didn't encounter anyone like that, so hopefully the person is no longer working there.

I think a 2 wk break is an excellent idea. I think it will be challenging to keep up with drinking and eating enough protein (and recording everything) after I go back to work.

It is amazing how little it takes to fill me up! I still really miss food, though! I've been trying different things to keep me satisfied, such as french onion soup w/grated parmesan cheese and thinned cream of wheat. I've tolerated them just fine as long as I take it SLOW and stop when I feel full. I am fearful of throwing up...can cause the band to slip if it happens within 1 mo. post-op.

Connie called me yesterday to check on things..I didn't have to call her Isn't that nice!

Other than some mild shoulder pain, I have absolutely no incision pain today, even over the port. I can sit up without support now!

I also had to visit the vascular doc. She will stop by to see you in the hospital too (I forgot who she was, but eventually figured it out based on the context of the conversation).

The burping is annoying, though my daughter finds it amusing!

If you want to talk by phone at any point, let me know and I can email you privately w/my phone #.

Hi terrisch,

I think it's cool to have another Clevelander here. (Although I'm going to the Clinic.) You about a month ahead of me so I'll be really intrested in how you're doing. Congrats on being banded!!!! BTW did you have a pre-op diet???

Hey Forestcat

It's offical...OCTOBER 2nd!!!!!

Terrisch -

You are doing so amazingly well!! You are quite an inspiration! Reading your posts just makes me want to have the surgery right now. This waiting is for the birds. I feel like one of those race horses that are in the gate before a race, banging around and snorting, screaming in their heads "C'MON!! LET'S GO! LET'S GO! LET'S GO!!!"

I am trying to imagine what it's like to eat a little bit of food - and be full. The only thing I'm a little concerned about is not drinking with meals, or before or after. Are you having any problems with that? I only drink Water and coffee, and I drink them all day long. I chug down a whole bottle of water easily at every meal. I have tried a few times not to drink during meals, and didn't succeed - so I have to work on that.

I'm trying to be patient and not call LaTonya to see if she's gotten the paperwork from my Dr. I have a lot going on for the next few weeks, so maybe I can get my mind off of the W-A-I-T-I-N-G.

You mentioned the burping - have you had any heartburn or acid reflux? I have to take 2 Pepcid's a day or I'm in agony. Dr Ben-Meir sent me for an upper GI barium xray to look for a hiatal hernia, but I don't know what the results are. He said if I had one, and I already have the one by my navel, he could not fix both AND do the banding. Wonder if I get to pick which ones get done?? :confused:

Enjoy your day tomorrow.....do you still plan to go to work on Thurs??