new to the board.
Hi everyone,
New to the board, am researching EVERYTHING that I can find on the gastric bypass. Have been to Louisville for the seminar, have my paperwork all filled out and ready to go, but I haven't sent to out yet. It is still sitting on my desk, when I think that I have everything covered I start to worry about other things, all of the what if's, what do I need to have ready for when I get home, all the concerns of recovery. I know that I need a good support group and from everything that I have read here I think that this is the best place for me to be. If you wouldn't mind I still have questions. Has anyone had their surgery at Nortons by Dr Rodriguez? What was your care like? Did you have someone at the hospital with you? How long did you have to wait for the surgery? Thanks Sheila
Hey Shelia, welcome to the boards! I don't know much about Dr Rod. My cousin had lapband with him back in 2005 and he's not happy with his band but I don't think thats Dr Rod's fault. I had Dr Shina. He's at Nortons Suburban. I don't know much about Nortons downtown. Good luck anyway and sorry I didn't have more info for ya.
Hugs
Angela
Hi Sheila, I am using Northon's downtown. I am going to see Dr. Allen next Friday the 16th. hopeing he will give me a date for surgery. I have so far been very pleased with what I have been though. I have seen the pysch, and talk about nurtrition with a dietitian. I am from Indiana with bariatric surgeons here, but my family care dr. thought that Nortons was very good. i wish you good luck with your journy, If I can be of any help please let me know.
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I know that having a good support group is very important and I'm so glad to have people to talk to about this that will know and understand what I'm talking about or going through. When I went to the seminar I had my mother go with me so that I could later ask her questions about anything that I might have missed or needed refreshed in my memory, I find it strange that since my brother is having such a hard time with his bypass that she doesn't recall much of what what was said at the seminar. Mothers, you just gotta love them.
Cynthia what do you think of Dr Allen? He is the Dr that did the seminar that I went to? On the packet I have him and Dr Rod checked as to who I want to do my surgery. How long did you have to wait from the time of the seminar til you got your first appointment? What was the pysch like? I know that they told me that they would try to get my pysch and nutrition on the same day as it is a three hour drive for me one way to go to the hospital.
The things that are weighing heavy on my mind at this point are probably minor, just something else to worry about that I don't need to but did any of you worry about the excess skin or having flab after losing the weight? My hubby says that I jus****ch to much TV before I go to bed at night, but one night I was watching the DHC and it showed the lady that lost weight and had so much excess, when she went to have her tummy tuck she had problems, then she went to get her legs and arms done and her legs got infected. I know that not everyone is the same but it kinda made me take a step back for a couple days. I have no one that can go with me to the hospital while I'm there, I have no one that can come in to assist me after I get home, my 4 year old is going to stay with my daughter while I'm in the hospital but so far I can see that that is the end of the help that I will be getting.
The things that my brother are going through right now I can't even think about, he was told if he didn't have the surgery that he was going to die. He was in bad health when he had the surgery, his was in Michigan, he had heart problems, he is on oxygen, he has had trouble walking for the past couple years, he has lung problems and he has been through the seminars. The first time that I seen him after surgery he was 6 months post-op and I couldn't believe how much he had lost, now he just isn't doing what the Dr is telling him to do and since he is back to work he is gaining his weight back. Part of it is the schedule that he works, he goes in at 11 and gets off at 11, when he gets home he eats then goes to bed, he doesn't exercise like he should, he is back to eating McDonalds cheese burgers and he is a year post-op. In my opinion he isn't useing his tool to the best of his ability. I did talk to him not to long ago about his surgery, he said that if he HAD to do it over he would have gone with the band but that if he was given a choice he wouldn't have it at all because he is in misery most of the time. He said that he knows when he takes his last bite of food when he has had to much and he hurts bad for bad for several hours to a full day later.
I, on the other hand, am going to follow the rules to the T. Yes as selfish as it may seem I want this surgery for ME! I know that while it is improving my quality of life it is also improving the quality of life for my children and grandchildren. At this point my health isn't all that great, I am 44, well over 350 lbs, my BMI must be scary as the chart that they gave me at the seminar doesn't go that high. I have been obese for as long as I can remember, I remember how the kids used to tease me at school. I have OA and RA, fibromyalgia, I have no cartledge left in my ankles, knees and part of my left wrist. My bones are pent and I have been warned by the Dr about falling. I can't climb more then 5 steps and some days that is not doable. On a personal note, when the weather is bad the arthritus and fibro rear their ugly head I have trouble even wipeing my own butt, now at 94 I would have to except that but at 44 I shouldn't have to. I have tried all kinds of diets, I have done low fat, no fat, low carb and no carb, weigh****chers, LA weight loss, slim fast and south beach diet and so many others. I have danced with Richard Simmons and have went through hypnosis but I can't seem to get the weight off and keep it off. Everytime that I lose weight it all comes back and more. It is said that the bypass is the last resort, well I feel that that is where I am at this point.
Ok Sheila, I will try to answer your questions as much as I know so far. Dr.Tanner did the semeinar I attended. I chose Dr.Allen as my family dr. wanted me to see him. He told me he was the best. I have two hosiptals in the town I live in thats also does these surgerys. But I have faith in my dr. when he ask that I go there. I went to a semeinar on Nov 1st sent all paper work in and recieved my first appiontment in Jan. at that time they did the psych, and nutrition togeather and also watch a movie that lasted about 30 mins. My daughter went with me she was allow to go in everything except the my seeing the psych. I was with her only fifteen mins as she felt that I had really did my homework on this and knew what was ahead of me and felt that I would be able to do it. I live with alot of pain due to my weight. My back is a mess I have DJD in it. I had lung cancer five years back and am now cancer free. Thank god. My knees are shot I have no cartledge left but have to lose weight to have replacement. I have OA, GERD, UMGUS, I sleep with a cpap machine, I have WPW heart troubles. also H/B thats just a few of the things going on with me. think you get it. I have wanted to do this for five years and just now getting to do it I hope. We all shorten our lives by being this size. Bottom line is we will die if we sat back and do nothing. I dont care about wrinkles are any of that, I just want to feel better, and stop taking so many meds. I will cross the bridges as they come. this is a journey that am very excited to take. I feel if anything happens from it then at lt least I tryed. And for sure if I dont try, someting will happen!!!!!!!. Hope I have help you in some way. My offer is still good if you would like me to call you. Good luck ahead.
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