UMass Medical Center Bandsters

[KathrynRose 0]

Hey, Amp. I have my surgery consult the same day as your surgery! My consult is at 1, maybe I will see you in there.

I can't go to the Thursday meeting for the next three months because we need to take foster parent training classes and they are only on Thursday nights. I took us six months to get into these classes. They start on the 27th and go for 10 weeks. I hope to make it to the June meeting. Of course by then I will probably already be banded!

[amm.imperial 1]

Did he tell you to stay with the behavior program?

Denied is a strong word. Did he offer other options?

One of the reasons I like this program is the fact that they aren't just cutting into everyone that wants it, but their strict guidelines (maybe too strict) carefully evaluate the reasons one is looking for surgery. Keep looking for help, I look forward to my BMI being under 40, it just barely snuck under 50.

[amm.imperial 1]

surgery happens in the Memorial building, not the university campus. I only found that out later in the program. :-)

Good Luck on your consult, and see, didn't the time go by faster than you thought it would.

Remind me in June, I'll wear something, so we can find each other.

[amm.imperial 1]

How was the consult?

My surgery was great!!! Because I have sleep apnea they made me stay overnight, but I was home around noon today, took a quick nap and feel great now. A little sore, but not even enough to bother with the pain meds.

I'm resting, and wandering around the house, and hoping to go to work tomorrow. I feel good enough now, if I don't in the morning, I'll rest some more.

[KathrynRose 0]

Great, they said I could be banded in as little as six weeks, it would depend on how the adoption goes. You were apparently Dr. Kelly's 21st Realize band. Dr. Czierniak said, "He is putting in his 21st Realize band today." I thought, "I know who that is!" I don't know who will be doing my surgery because he has to get to 25 bands before the other two can put them in.

For others reading, they have put in hundreds of bands, they are just starting to put in Realize bands.

I am glad everything went well.

Did they call you to set up the Esophogeal study, or did you have to call them?

[amm.imperial 1]

Dr. Perugini did mine, so I don't think I have the Realize one. They didn't mention it one way or the other.

Dr. Kelly was doing a procedure on Wednesday then came and released me from the hospital, that was probably the one you are talking about.

They made me stay overnight because of the sleep apnea. There are no exceptions to that rule, but I was home by noon on Wed. I actually went to work today for a couple of hours, and my boss has some work I can do from home. So I am laying in bed with my laptop, dozing and working. How great is that?

I feel pretty good, a little sore, but I'm not even taking tylenol for that. They prescribed pain meds and seemed surprised that I didnt' need them, so I might be the exception on that issue.

[KathrynRose 0]

Got my date May 5th

[lucy12 0]

Congradulations!!!!

That is great:) Keep me posted and if you need to email feel free too.

MAG

[mich 74]

Hi! It's so great to find people going through the Umass program. amm.imperial, congratulations on your surgery, glad your feeling well. Kathrynrose congrats on your surgery date.

I was in the March classes and I was the only bandster there. It was depressing at times, people would talk about a friend or who ever who had to do a conversion to bypass because the band "does not work". This was all said in the first 2 weeks. At the time no one had said what surgery they wanted. Then on week 3 the leader asked each one of us what we were going for so she could give out the correct papers, and I was the only one who said Band.

I missed the last class and I'm doing a make-up class tomorrow. Maybe this group will have other Bandsters.

I did not know the surgery's were at Memorial? I also didn't know that they were doing the Realize band. Things I have wondered about, but had yet to ask. Do you know where you will go for fills yet?

[mich 74]

KathrynRose, I just realised we were in the same September seminars. It's nice to get more info on how long this process actually is. I was starting to worry I would not get banded until September! But 6 weeks (if it's still the case) from surgery consult sounds great.

Also good luck on becoming a foster parent!

[marypetunia 0]

Hello all!

I just happened to drop by and found your thread, SO happy to find you! I am over 2 years out from my banding and just had an abdominoplasty...I go to the Thurs night meetings, maybe we can hook up sometime? You will LOVE the band, you just have to work with it. It was a great choice for me, although everyone at UMass suggested bypass and didn't think the band would work for me. Dr. C is absolutely wonderful (I believe I am the biggest person he's banded) and he now agrees that it was a good choice for me. I experienced the same kind of odds in the classes and still at the meetings...feeling a bit like the "odd man out". Last night it was stated that the stats are 300 bandings at Umass compared to 1500 bypasses...5 to 1- that's why we feel like the minority! LOL! Don't let it get to you, the band DOES work!! I'm living proof!

Blessings,

Mary:thumbup:

Edited April 26, 2008 by marypetunia

[amm.imperial 1]

How Awesome, I was at Thursday's meeting too!

I'm down 17 lbs this morning since surgery, and it is working. I feel like it's slow, but then I think, I'm not even 4 weeks out. 17 lbs is awesome. :-)

I brought a friend to the meeting who is going to start the process in May. She wants a friend to go with her, so I'll be attending the orientation meetings with her.

I've actually overeaten a couple of times since surgery, and I'm getting used to what that feels like. It's not nice, very different from pre-surgery. The first time I was concerned it was a serious problem. Then I realized what had happened. It's all about learning new skills and practicing new habits.

By the way, I'm the one who brought up the information I had seen online in forums and was shocked at how people in other programs seemed to be less informed.

Nice to meet you all, virtually.

Edited April 26, 2008 by amm.imperial

[lucy12 0]

Do you go to the meetings in Worcester? I know they have one in Dudley as well. Let know???

MAG

[amm.imperial 1]

I go to Worcester, I live east of Worcester so going to Dudley would be further away.

I didn't even know they did meetings in Dudley, that's cool.

[marypetunia 0]

Dear amm,

CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss!! Great beginning!! We will have to make a point to look for each other at the next meeting, it's always good to meet other bandsters.