Hi everyone, I'm Gena and I'm having my Lap Band done on Feb 11 at New Britain General by Dr Carlos Barba. I'm so excited!!! I just had my endoscopy done yesterday, what a breeze that was, I was worried for nothing. The staff at NBGH was great.

Hey Ct Man

I guess your a celebrity here now!!!

I had my psych eval today and have my nutrition tomorrow and then sleep study on Friday. That leaves me with all of my cardiology tests. I saw cardiology today also and now I have an echocardiogram,stress test and galium study next week. God I'm going away on January 21-26 on a cruise and I'm exhausted because all of my tests have been completed in a 3 week period!! I have my sleep study Friday this week...whew I'm hoping that will all be done and presented to insurance (anthem bluecross) and hope to get a date soon. Starting to get nervous What if doesn't work?? What if I'm one of the 1 percent that it erodes or whatever....

Sharon:)

Are you sure you want to go to Dr. Barba??? PLEASE ask alot of questions.....his aftercare is not known to be very good. Can you switch to Hartford???? Really think about it......ask to talk to his patients, ask him about his complications, accessibility, fills.....

sharon RN/MSN

No I don't think it will take that long...it depends on your insurance. I had my first meeting with Dr. Tischler on 12/27 and I will be done with everything by the end of next week. That's the GI = upper, bloodwork, nutritionist, psychologist, sleepstudy, cardiology (includes EKG, echo, galium study, stress test). I need one more nutritionist appt which I have on 2/7 and then I am done with everything. I have Anthem/Blue cross should take about a week to approve and hope to get a date shortly after that.

sharon
RN/MSN
wgt 240
5'3
BMI 41
Hope to lose 100 lbs

GenaO, Best Wishes and I hope u have a painless and speedy recovery. I researched the Lap Band for 2mos. prior to going to the seminar. The doctor in Hartford comes highly recommended. Try to switch to someone who people really speak good of.

Sherona I am not a celebrity. I'm just FAT me tryin to get some support and support others up in here. I'm just waiting for my primary doctor to get my last blood test back that was taken yesterday, write the letter and fax it too my surgeon so that they can submit it to Anthem BC/BS. My co worker is being banded tomorrow morning. We work for the state and Anthem only took like 6 days to approve her. I would like to be banded on 3/3/08. Have fun on your cruise and good luck with your banding. Please keep us posted on your post op experience.

Wow, my husband is a retired state employee so its great to hear that it took so little time. I have my sleep study tonight and my cardiology tests next week. One more nutrition visit on Feb7 then I'm done...or should I say I'm just beginning...

Hey your fat like the rest of us...or like my daughter used to say when she was little your "fluffy" mom

:)
thanks for the support
Sharon:)

thanks for the concern, but I'm pretty comfortable with my choice of surgeon. I've done my research and am satisfied. I think what happened with DR. Barba is that he use to be in a practice with other doctors and then opened his own practice and things got a bit messy for a while cause he was under staffed and the staff he did have wasn't great. But now they have increased the staff for 3 to 12 people, and have a nurse manager and a PA and a nurtitionist so they have really turned things around. I have had nothing but a positive experience so far. Thanks for the heads up.

Well good luck to you....sharon

Hi Everyone,
I will be banded on 2/11 at St. Raphael's in New Haven by Dr. Nadzam. I had my pre-op tests on Friday, which included an endoscopy, EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, physical, and meeting with an anesthesia nurse. I have to attend one last pre-op meeting which will be held on Wednesday. My pre-op diet will begin on Jan. 28 and consists of a 1000 calorie diet, which is designed to shrink the liver.
I am excited and nervous and hope I can successfully manage this tool. Good luck to us all!
Tina

How are you doing Ct. Man???

sharon

Hello Beachcomber and Sharona,
I am patiently waiting for approval from BC/ BS. My family has a very busy February so I'm hoping that I get a date around March 3rd. St.V's says that's doable so I'm just waiting to live healthier. Thanks for thinking of me Sharona and I'm praying that you both have speedy recoveries and fulfilled weight loss goals.
Peace, Ctmann = Chris
5' 11", 301lbs. BMI = 41, Goal - 180lbs. or less.
12/11/07 - Initial Meeting
12/18/07 - Therapist & Dietician Appts.
01/03/08 - Dr. Ehrlich Visit, Gallbladder Ultrasound, Bloodwork
01/08/08 - PC Visit - EKG,more bloodwork
01/17/08 - Called the Dr. to remind him to fax my letter and bloodwork to Kevin B. @ St. V's.
01/22/08 - Kevin left me a message that all of the paperwork has been submitted to BC/BS. Hopefully we should hear something in less than 2 weeks.

Hi Ctman,
Dr. Craig Floch did my surgery on 1/15, and all went well. My first week postop was pretty rough---GAS coming from everywhere!!!!! Make sure you have a couple of boxes of the Gas-X strips on hand. I survived the week of clear liquids and tomorrow will be day 7 of full liquids. The post-op pain was minimal, the pressure from the gas they fill you with was very uncomfortable, though. Had to give myself Lovenox injections for one week postop, due to being high risk for blood clots.
I was on the 10th floor, the nursing staff there was great.
I feel pretty good, have to start exercising now that I'm allowed to resume my arthritis med.
Take care----Carol

Poodle,
Congratulations on becoming an official band carrying family member. I thank you for the gas info. I am going to ask for something special to deal with that. They better come up with something. Stay with it. Best wishes. CTman= Chris

Ct man: Hope you get your approval soon. At two months out now, I'm still waiting to get a fill that will restrict me. Next appt is Weds (fourth fill) so fingers crossed. One of these fills has got to work soon, right?

Until then, I continue to "diet" and watch my calories, count my protein and drink my water. Weight loss is slow, but scale is going in the right direction.

Don't think there is much they can do about the gas following surgery. It just seems to take time for the body to get rid of it. Others on the forum have said walking and heating pads helped them. It was the worst part of the first few days post op for me, but bearable, so you'll manage just fine.

I talked with Dr. Tischler's office today and they have all my stuff together just waiting for them to send to insurance company. I'm also hoping for a March surgery. Just got back from a cruise and was thinking how Dr. Tischler can have his own office right on the ship. It is incredible how much you notice larger people when your large yourself. I'm so sick of being fat....don't want to wear anything just comfortable in flannels and sweats.

Here's hoping I hear something soon. Good luck to everyone. St. Raph's has a great program. I've had friends who live on the other side of Ct go there for their great surgeons. Your in good hands.


sharon:)