Hi I have my surgery scheduled for Aug. 3 with Dr. Edward C. Mun
at the Faulkner Hospital I've done lots of research and he has all
the best credentials and comes recommended as the best for bariatric
surgery.

Good Luck!! I just got banded on 6/29 at the Brigham. They were great. I have my post op appt today and it is at Faulkner. My surgery wasn't bad at all. You will be fine. The only hard part was getting in and out of bed for the first 2-3 days. It also hurt to laugh but all of the pain has subsided. I do recommend that you get some gas meds. The gas pain that I had in my left side and shoulder was almost unbearable for 3 days. I bought some chewable gas ex and that halped a bit.

I'm 5'2 and weigh 255 and I have only Masshealth, will I be able to have this done?The gas that your talking about is it so bad that you can not control it? Is this something that never goes away?

Thank you,

I have read here a few times about having to go on a liquid diet before having surgery, the name of the liquid drink is optifast? Is this true for everybody? where do you get optifast? And how is the taste?

I have heard that Dr. Mun is excellent. I am having mine done at BIDMC by Dr. Jones - I love him. I do not have a pre op requirement for liquid diet but will be on modified or full liquids for 3 weeks post op.

Not everyone get gas pains but from what I hear it is managable with meds and lots of walking.

anyone have information on the Brigham? I am attending an information schudule there in a few weeks.

after you have gotten the call that you are approved to begin what is the process?

For the program at BIDMC it goes like this

Appointment with Medical director & Bariatric nurse ($500 program fee due), EKG, Blood draw.

Nutritionist appointment

Psychologist appointment

Gallbladder Ultrasound

(additional tests as needed: Cardiac Echo, Pulmonary Function, Sleep study)

2 support group meetings (held every other thursday night)

Once all of this is done (the girls that do the scheduling are really good about trying to get as many appointments as possible done in the least number of visits) and you have been reviewed by the bariatric team and found to be a good candidate for surgery you get an appointment with the surgeon.

When you meet with the surgeon they schedule your surgery date and your pre-admission testing date

Pre admission testing (more blood, EKG, anesthesia nurse)

Surgery day

I started this journey with a support group meeting on 6/8/05 and will be banded in 5 days (9/12/05). I also had my gallbladder out during this process due to stones (8/18/05).

of course every program and doctor are different. Good luck!

I have my initial appiontment at NEMC in mid-october. I am meeting with the psychologist. Step one outof the way

Lynn,
good luck tomorrow

Thanks!! I am sooooo excited. Good luck on your journey...first step is always the hardest to make!

I was banded at the Brigham, they were wonderful!!