ginarn1

Hi- I guess I'll be the first to post. Anyone out there in RI? It would be nice to have another local to chat with. Banded 2/14/08.

gingin

hey gina...im gina as well :)

im actually in fall river, ma, but i think you are more local than anyone on these boards to me in mass :)

im not banded yet but hope hope to be in june...i have my consult at brigham and womens later this month. i actually looked into ri docs but my insurance is out of network in ri, so stuck going into the big city.

how is it going with the band so far for you? i am nervous/excited/anxious and can really hardly wait to get this process going :)

i really am just done with being fat. i have steadily gained weight over the last 10 years and it really has gotten to a point i never imagined would come. the idea of being 200 pounds was frightening to me back then nevermind the 300 i weigh today. i want to chase my 3 year old with enthusiasm, not horror because i cant keep up.

how bout you...how did you get here :)

gingin

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Lap Band w/Dr. Ashley Vernon @ Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA on 6/26/08

307/278.6/175

ginarn1

Hi- I thought nobody was out there. I was banded 2/14/08. It's going well. The first couple of weeks were a little difficult. I had alot of post surgical pain. Esp. form the gas from the CO2. I am a nurse, so I knew what I was in for, but, wasn't prepared for that. It seems people really run the gammet on jumping jacks the next day to 6 weeks of being miserable. I had my 6 week follow up, and was still very restricted and not ready for a fill. But, just the last week or so I am hungry for the first time. I have lost 28.5 lbs. Just that much has made such a huge difference in how I feel. I was 227 going in, so that 200 lb mark was a big deal for me. As I write this I am making some organic cookies for my 2 dogs. My husband wants to go to this local coffee shop for a tea, but I just can't be around all the cases of desserts. I guess I'll have a glass of water instead. Some days feel so easy, and some are so hard. Today is a hungry day. I just keep trying to take it one day at time. Keep in touch on your progress.
Good luck!

gingin

Congrats on 200! Im tearing up at the thought of being 200 lbs again...im afraid i have a while to get there.

I had my physical today w/my PCP and got the go ahead

Im getting there...a few weeks to my consult! I think this is the longest month of my life...

How long was your process pre-op? Im gathering it really varies from provider to provider...

Nice to hear from you...BTW did you see how well MA and RI did in the Miss USA pageant last week...the girl in RI was from N. Providence and the girl from MA was from Assonet...we ladies are so good-looking and talented in this area

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Lap Band w/Dr. Ashley Vernon @ Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA on 6/26/08

307/278.6/175

Allison

Hey! I live in Attleboro, MA, so I can get to Pawtucket, RI in maybe 3 minutes lol, so I spent most of my time in Providence or Pawtucket. My dad works in Pawtucket but our insurance is BCBS MA. Its funny how Rhode-Islandy people from Attleboro are. I went to Boston for the first time this past Halloween lol, I know, kinda sad lol. In college (I go to Bridgewater State in MA,) everyone is all about "south shore!" and such, and I haven't even heard of most of the towns they all live in lol.

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ginarn1

Hi Gina #2... or I'll call you the other Gina. My appointments took me 2 months. I squeezed them in tight. Took 2 half days at work, and tried to do multiple appts. on one day. I know how you feel. I thought this surgery for almost 2 years before I did it. Then when you decide to do it you want it NOW, yesterday even!! It will happen. I notice some docs do their appts. slightly different. I had to do 3 nutrition appts., did not have to see my PCP, no sleep study because I had one 1 year prior with no sleep apnea. They are all slightly different. It will happen. Enjoy things while you can. Although I would do it again in 1 second, there was a couple of days I was thinking what on god's green earth did I do. Psychologically, it is a little harder than I expected, but getting easier all the time. Yesterday was 8 weeks for me. Went out to dinner Sat. with some couples for the first time. Had my first "PB" disguisting. I ate too fast, was socializing, and barely made it to the bathroom before it all came up, and it hurt, and I was scared! I thought that only happened to other people. It is so hard to change your brain after 35 years of overeating. Keep in touch!!

ginarn1

Hi Alison- Getting close, you must be excited! Are you having a RI doc? or Boston? It sounds like you'll be banded before summer!!

Allison

Thanks! I'm really hoping to be banded the end of May, I end school May 15th and start school again June 2nd so its really my only window of time. My surgeon is in Norwood, about 20 mins south of Boston, its only about 40 mins north of my house so its not too bad. I'm just stressed out about tomorrow!! If you look at my little "checklist" in my signiture, you see I have most of my appointments in the next two days, along with school and work both days. I'm going to have to pack for my sleep study AND work before I leave for school at 10 am tomorrow morning, the hospital is an hour away and so is my school, but of course they are in different directions. AND I have to go back to the hospital for the psych eval on Friday, along with two stops to my PCP for a meeting after school tomorrow before work and then bloodwork after the sleep lab. AHHHH!

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ama

I have never posted before so I'm hoping this goes through right I am from MA and banded 4/1. would love to meet / chat with others in the area. I am the first I know to be banded and not bipass so this is an adventure

gingin

Thanks Gina...I am trying to be patient...AHHHH

Hi Allison...I love Attleboro...I have a lot of friends who live there :) I grew up in Middlboro right up the street from BSC too, and my sis graduated BSC.

Hi AMA, welcome to our humble thread...congrats on your banding! How is it going for you so far? Where are you from/who's your doctor...fill us in :)

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Lap Band w/Dr. Ashley Vernon @ Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA on 6/26/08

307/278.6/175

ama

I am from Blackstone and so far so good. my MD is out of Norwood, Dr Glasgow. I am hopeful that the worst of it is behind me now and looking forward to continued weight loss.

Allison

Hey ama we have the same surgeon!!! I'm seeing Dr. Adam Glasgow, I have to go to Norwood hospital tonight for the sleep study and then tomorrow for the psych eval. How were your experiences?? Good luck with everything!

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ama

Hi Allison,
I had arthur but met adam too. they do the surgeries together and you will be very pleased. my experience has been wonderful with them. Are you going to the meeting Tues night? I will be there.

Allison

Maybe! Are pre-bandsters encouraged to go??

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ama

it is for anyone interested in and that has had the surgery to get all perspectives and to support one another.