Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[riley4183 0]

I have my referral and will be going to the Lap Band Information class on Monday, Aug. 17th at the San Jose Kaiser. I'm not sure if this is the orientation or yet another step in the process, does anyone know if there's a difference between the orientation and the information class? I'm really excited to be starting this journey, and very glad to see this website. I've found so many posts that are really helpful, especially the posts about the Bay Area Kaiser program. I'm glad you're all here and I am looking forward to getting to know you better.

Welcome Pearls!!! We are happy you are here :-)

The Friday class is the informational class, a new requirement - lucky you! After that you will get orientation at one of the Kaiser hospitals that actually does the surgery - probably South SF for you, but you can actually go to any of the 4 that do it, so just figure out which is most convenient. Good luck, you are ON YOUR WAY!

[riley4183 0]

Nicole it can totally be caused by meds, too . . . I don't know if you take anything, but I totally lost my hair when I was on depakote - I mean like 25% of it - which I was on for 2 years due to a misdiagnosis, the moron psych (NOT Kaiser!) I think it was almost worst when it grew back in, I had short pokey hairs all the freak over my head . . . for some reason the new ones were super wiry and pokey . . . I cut it into short layers to hide it, it took years to grow out! I feel your pain girlfriend :-(

[riley4183 0]

Pearls - this presentation is kind of dated - Kaiser Fresno does bariatric surgery now, too - and SSF does the sleeve now - but it's pretty interesting and a lot of it's still applicable. The Lap-Band is discussed after the RNY. Note that all Kaiser facilities use the Lap-Band AP system now, which has much better early weight loss results and greatly decreased slippage problems :-)

Kaiser Permanente Annual National Surgical Symposium Bariatric Surgery in minutes

[riley4183 0]

looks like I'm just a-typin' to myself again, so I'm going for a walk! Had 2 (tiny) slices of killer choco cake today, and 4 handfuls of potatoe chips (I thought of you Reggie!!!) and uhm . . .that was not good! Gotta go do some damage control :-)

[swrktp 1]

Hey ladies I am back from vacation and with 2cc's less in my band. OMG I got really, really messed up fromt he band being too tight and had almost had to go to ER last night..........luckily I was able to see Dr. Baggs today but he took 2cc's out of my band and my band/stomach is having a break for 2-4 weeks. I have mixed feelings about it BUT I was in so much pain I didn't care I had to get an unfill............I wanted .5 cc's out not 2cc's through!! I was so against an unfill but finally "decided" that it was a good idea.

I haven't been able to eat for almost three days now and haven't gotten any Water down for almost two days........I was throwing up even water all day yesterday!! Could even keep sliders down yesterday.

We still played the tourist and went all over Napa, Angwin, St. Helena and than San Fransico today. I just couldn't eat anything. Today I got about 20 ounces of water down and that was all day!! Just my band and I were fighting all day!! I hurt to drink water.

I saw Dr. Baggs and Robin at 4:30 and Robin was like you are definetely too tight. We talked about all the Soup and ice cream and frozen yogurt and sliders the last two weeks.............I told her nothing stays down but soft stuff the last week and she was like you need some liquid out today. I totally agreed. She went and got Dr. Baggs and he was like we can take care of that.......after we talked a bit he said he was taking out 2cc's becuase there is likely alot of swelling that needs to go down( when I drank the water in his office it was still sore down there but at least it went down after the 2cc's were out).........I am sorta worried about bandster hell but seriously it was so bad the last two days I can live with what he decided!! I just wanted to be able to drink water again. I was so darn thirty yesterday and frustrated I couldn't keep it down........

I couldn't even pee until tonight cause nothing in nothing out.........

I FEEL so much better right now. Just worried about bandster hell. Robin said once i get the Fluid out the protiens will go down better again and I have to get really strict again starting tomorrow.................Dr Baggs mentioned staying on Clear Liquids for a full 24 hours and that it wouldn't hurt to do 48 if I am still sore.

I feel SO, SO much better tonight!! I couldn't even swallow my own spit without it coming back up........it hurt to much!!

Dr.Baggs doesn't know why it happened neither do I. Probably that I was to tight to start with and the last week or so it tightened when there was no room for it to tighten...........than all the PB'ing made things just swell up. The more I PB'd the more things swelled and the more I PB"d. I was just making myself worse.........

So I am not coming to the group fill next week. I can go back in two weeks to get a fill or I can wait a month and do the group thing...........he is gonna slowly get me back up to my sweet spot but I KNOW I don't want 6cc's again.......

So I am glad I have a band cause at least I can get an unfill and not have to go into ER or back inthe hospital when I get to tight!! I am so glad there was something to take out so I could feel better.........

Edited August 14, 2009 by swrktp

[swrktp 1]

I am on liquids for 48 hours so the swelling can go down. That means I can't eat much Saturday. I will probably still come to Reggies for the company and I think what I am making might work by Saturday afternoon..............

True is yesterday I was gonna cancel this weekend but the unfill has done wonders I feel better physicall but psychologically I am still upset about being at only 4ccs!! Grrr.............Dr Bagg was laughing cause I told him I didn't think 4cc's was a safe number and he asked what I though about 6cc's. LOL. Ah no don't want that either............

[swrktp 1]

5 pounds down howeve in three weeks. I was down 2 more but I think not eating for a few days and not drinking make me retain water..........

Robin said to tight also equals gaining weight too!!

Robin was very cool and I appreciated her and Dr. Baggs both staying later so I could see them today!!!

Tamra I spend the night right by the American Canyon Walmart and shopped there last night!!

[tamra. 6]

Tamra I spend the night right by the American Canyon Walmart and shopped there last night!!

isnt it amazing?! I loveeeee it!!!!!

[riley4183 0]

OMG Tina how scary!!!! I am so glad you got un-filled a bit. Yes let that swelling go down and you will be right back on your game! Just have to cut out the carbs again g-friend . . . . sucks huh? No choco cake and potatoe chips for you . .

You HAVE to come to Reggie's Saturday, you are bringing our veggie loaf! Otherwise I have to wait until the end of Sept. to see you, and that would SUCK I need my Tina fix!!

[riley4183 0]

OK you will love today's log:

B- soy milk with 1 scoop soy Protein Powder, 2 slices reduced fat swiss, 1/2 cup fat-free vegie Soup

L- 2 cups ceasar salad with 1/2 cup Quorn chik'n

S - 4 handfuls of potatoe chips and 2 small slices of chocolate cake!! OOPS

D - are you kidding? unsweetened herbal tea!

Totally, TOTALLy head hunger. Sometimes I just get SO SICK OF THE RULES!

I have to tell you though, I tried to power down 3 bites of that choco cake before I had to go up to the front for a meeting, NO GO I did not PB but had to keep excusing myself to go into the bathroom and spit cause I was afraid if I swallowed my spit it might not go down! Seriously, I sent into the bathroom like 3 times during this 5 minute meeting - different bathrooms, so I could say I was going to check the Code or whatever - and it's real hard to talk when you mouth is full of spit! This is a client I was meeting with so he does NOT know about the surgery. Talk about awkward! Then I went for a walk with my friend who got married last weekend, I spit like 8 more times - it took me like 25 minutes to get over that little episode! My friend is like, well gee Jane, did you really WANT to still be able to gulp down chocolate cake? Uhm . . no, I didn't. Good band!

So impressed that I do not PB at ALL anymore with my just-right restriction!!!

[smallerj 2]

WOW Tina, sounds like you really went through it. But you were a trooper continuing your vacation and all. Most important thing is you feel better. take it easy.

Riley, carpooling together sounds like a great plan. Problem is only have a 2 seater. I can chip in on gas if you or Candra want to drive. I think that would be fun.

[riley4183 0]

Ha Jes! If I drive I'll have to clean out my stinky car, LOL but sure can do! I need to clean it anyways. As long as someone tells me where to go WAY before I need to turn so I don't trip! Unless Candra wants to drive that is . . . we gonna vanpool, save a tree ya

[singand_dance 8]

Oh no Tina! That's terrible! I'm so glad you got your un-fill. Were you at least still in the bay area when you decided to go see Dr. Baggs? At least you didn't drive home and then drive back!

I'm so excited to see everyone Saturday!

[smallerj 2]

goodie, we are carpooling either way. Do you come over hwy 37? We can meet somewhere by that shopping center so there's no back tracking. I've got GPS on my phone so we should be good to go.

[smallerj 2]

hey one other thing I wanted to mention Riley & Nicole are close to 100 lbs loss!!!! woo hoo You go girls.