Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

MaineGeneral Bariatric Center



Recommended Posts

Any Mainers out there?? How is everyone doing? I am just *patiently* waiting to get a date.. Are you still out there Sarah? Just wanted to check in with everyone, hope all is well:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, k_podski, I am from Maine. I haven't had any appointments yet. I have ask for Dr. Wolff in Portland. I live in West Paris. Sallie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Sallie:) Welcome to the site! I live just above Farmington.. I haven't heard much about the Portland Bariatric program.. How are things going for you? Did you have to attend a seminar?? Do you have to go through the regular appts like the psych eval, nutritionist etc..?? Ha ha.. Lots of questions.. sorry, I'm a talker:) Any idea on when you'll be banded?

:)Kerri

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello K Podski and other Mainers,

The wait, or what I call "The Process", can get frustrating, but hang in there. Your date is coming soon.:) I was banded two weeks ago and I have to say the first week and 1/2 was rough for me. I wasn't prepared for the "gas" pain from the surgery to be so severe, and I wasn't prepared to feel so tired.:cryin:

But everyone told me to get out and walk, walk, walk, and it did help. Each day got a little better and a little better. I am still a bit tender where the incisions are, but everything seems to be healing up okay. I am back to work now and feeling fine. Gotta love Protein Drinks and liquid diets. I already feel better and have lost some weight. :)

It is great to see some more Mainers logging on and replying. Anyone out there attending the Maine Bariatric Center in Augusta? How has your experience been?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Chi Chi. for the encouragement.. I am so anxious to get my date and get this started!! I am going through Maine General. Dr.Trieu said he's scheduling for mid March right now... GAAAHHHH!! I told him I am not one for lots of patience so he said he's going to put my name on the cancellation list.. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.. Sounds like you're doing good! Keep us informed on how you're doing?? Great to hear from someone that went through Maine General!:)

Take care!

Kerri

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Sallie:) Welcome to the site! I live just above Farmington.. I haven't heard much about the Portland Bariatric program.. How are things going for you? Did you have to attend a seminar?? Do you have to go through the regular appts like the psych eval, nutritionist etc..?? Ha ha.. Lots of questions.. sorry, I'm a talker:) Any idea on when you'll be banded?

:)Kerri

Hi Kerri, I haven't seen the doc.:) yet. I just wanted to talk to others that are (or) have had the surgery. I found this site and boy was I glad.::) I heard about Doc. Wolff on this site and talk to my doctor. She was glad that I had finally decided to go for it. I had been talking about it for over a year. And now I want it NOW But thats me. when I finally decide something. Anyhoo, I heard that Dr.Wolff was great. And that Maine Med. was 4 stars of the hospitals that do the LAPBand in the US. Hope to hear from you soon! Sallie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

YAY!! Finally got my date! Wednesday March 19! It's been a long haul, I am sooo ready for this!:thumbup: Just wanted to share:)

~Kerri

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeh kerri!! I've been under the weather, so I'm sorry It's been so long since I've posted. 19 days and counting- how exciting! I am so happy for you! Keep up the good work. This is one of those times it's great to be a "loser!" Take care, I'll post more often.

Sarah

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Sarah! Glad to hear from you again! How is everything going for you? You're psych eval is coming right up, right? Maybe the 15? Am I even close?? lol.. I remember it being near St.Patricks day.. Anyhoo, I hope things are moving right along for you, and you are feeling better soon:) Take care, and thanks for sharing my excitement!

:)Kerri

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Kerri! I'm jealous. I wish I were where you are right now! Yes, you were just about right on with my appts- 3/10 psyc eval and 3/14 2nd nutrish appt with Jackie. I'm hoping my psyc report will be in by my 3/14 appt so I can get ins approval rolling. I'v e heard good and bad things about ins approval. Take the 2 guys in the support group earlier in the month- they've been trying for over a year for approval, to find out they may need 5 years of documented wt loss by their dr! If my Ins goes through smoothly, I think I can expect a late April date. In my case, I am down 20 lbs in 2 weeks on my own. I really hope they take the starting wt at my eval appt for determination. If I keep losing at this rate, I may not qualify anymore by my surgery date! The trick is, I can lose all the wt I want quite quicly. The trick is, keeping it off!! That is where the band comes in! - Sorry to ramble on. I hope I can make it to the next meeting! I was at the one we spoke of earlier- I came in late- made it from Damariscotta to Augusta in 32 minutes- usually a 45 minute trip! Talk to you later!

~Sarah

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ahhhh man!! I wish I would have stayed after that meeting! I thought that could have been you, but didn't want to randomly go up to someone and say "Hi, are you Sarah?" lol... Plus I had to get right back to work..

I was really hoping to get out of work last Thursday for group. It was Protein, Protein, protein, and they were going to be sampling Protein drinks.. I still haven't found one I like, and I'm getting down to the wire. I so wish we had a GNC around here.. Unfortunately all there is is Wal Mart.. GAHHH!!!

I can't believe you are down 20lbs! I am so jealous! I've been sticking to the induction phase of Atkins for 2 weeks now, and I am only down 8.5lbs. I really wanted to lose at least 20 before surgery:( Are you following a certain plan?? Whatever you're doing, keep up the good work! It's less you'll have to worry about in the long run:) As for insurance, I've read on this site that they have to go with you're starting weight from first consult.. If there are any issues Lynn the insurance lady knows how to straighten things out:) If you're concerned I would just call the office and ask to talk to her.. She knows her stuff! Good luck!

Kerri

p.s. 17days and counting.. I am sooo psyched!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Kerri! I just got home from the hospital after a 2 day saty with influenza and asthma problems. I'm out of work for 2 weeks..hoarding money as we speak! Great job on the 8.5 lbs! I have done Atkins in the past, and have always been able to drop 1.5-2.5 lbs a day durring induction. I have eggs with cheese and sasuage with 24 oz of h2o for Breakfast. for lunch I'll have 1 cup of lettuce with either egg, chicken, or tuna salad on it (real mayo, not diet or light!) with cheese, a hard boiled egg, and oil and viegar dressing. for dinner, I'll cook a chicken breast wraped in cheese and bacon, or a bun less cheeseburger with sour cream and bacon, rather than the ketchup. I know they say low carb, <20g a day, but ususlly I have 5-8 carbs a day. For a snack I will have string cheese or a sugar free fat free Jello cup. You can even cheat and put real whipping cream with a little splenda in it to make whipped cream with your electric beater- the aresol caned stuff only has 3 carbs / serving, so i't worth the carbs for the conveinince! I was thinking that I lost a lot of wt quickly, but in the hospital, I was so dehydrated, they gave me 6 bags of fluids over 24 hrs. I feel like a blimp- that will all come off in a day or 2 with induction. I need to drink more Water though- sorry to babble! I hope your waiting days arent too bad for you!

Protien - Special K makes protien water- tropical splash, premade in a water bottle, at Walmart. 10g protien per 12oz bottle- it tastes like gatorade, no aftertaste or chalky taste! it's worth drinking 2 of thoes to 1 powder protien drink- I''ll mention it to jackie next week to see if that will surfice, and I'll let you know! Good luck and have a great week!

sarah

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh my Sarah, that is terrible! I am sorry:( No fun! Hope you are feeling better!

Thanks for the tips.. The Jello with whipped cream sounds yummy!! I'll have to remember that for week1 post op!:rolleyes2: The burger and chicken sound delish too! With induction I usually drop tons of weight, but this time it's just not happening. I am really starting to "grieve" the foods I won't be able to have after surgery.. I really just want to have them just one more time, but also don't want to throw my loss out the window! GAHHHHHHH!! It's never ending! lol.. I went out to eat last Friday and got pizza, and I am going out this Friday to get something else "naughty" to say my goodbyes lol... I am sure this is hindering my weight loss to some extent, but I feel it's better than just pigging out for 2 weeks on all the stuff I won't be able to have:)

I asked Krista about the sp. k Water, and she said it was ok, just not alot of Protein, but then we didn't have the nutrition facts in front of us... She thought it was only 3-5g per bottle... It would be great to get Water and Protein taken care of in one drink!

Well, I am on a mission to get ready for work.. lol.. Take care, rest lots and feel better soon!!

~Kerri

p.s. Just curious if you got a flu shot this year? A 43 y.o. man just died in Farmington from Influenza and supposedly got a flu shot this year? I have been hearing a lot lately about different strands or strains (lol I don't know which it is).. I got mine, and it surely makes me nervous?!

Ok, I am really done rambling.. lol.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all,

I am from Standish, Maine and had my surgery in Augusta by Dr Aslam a few years ago... he retired shortly after my surgery leaving me with no doc... then about a year ago I go in to Dr Cobean/Wolfe office in Portland and they have been good to me.. .I have been a slow loser and often wonder why I have this band in me, I would have been happier to have more weight loss... I still have alot to lose. I wish everyone luck with their surgery and encourage the support groups... I think with more support from my original doc I might have been more successful.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi formykids:)

Sorry about your doc leaving you in the cold.. That must've been so frustrating! I am glad for you that you were able to find help with the Portland folks.. Sounds like you're getting back on track:) Best of luck to you, and keep in touch.

:)Kerri

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×