new and kinda scared

Hi, everyone.  I live near Fargo and work in Fargo.  I have just been approved for wls.  I haven't heard from the doctor about a surgery date, but am thinking the first part of November would work well with work....I am looking for any information that will help with surgery and would love to offer my support for anyone that needs it.  Cindy

Hi Cindy...Congratulations on your approval!  I had Dr. Monson do a previous surgery of mine and he was great.  I absolutely love his nurse, she is very compassionate and quick to return calls.  The only thing I can say about my laproscopic surgeries that was uncomfortable was a pain I woke up with in my shoulders, from the gas I guess.  I never did have any pain from the incisions.  I'm having my wls open with Dr. Howell.  There is alot of information on these boards you just have to keep in the back of your mind that "we" don't know the whole story behind people's posts.  It's nice to have such a huge library of info though.  Good Luck

HI, Danni, thanks for your reply.  I have a date scheduled, November 15th!  I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time.  At the time I chose Dr. Monson I was really leaning toward having a lapband.  He was really helpful about listening to my concerns about the band and was very honest about the LapRNY being a better choice for me.  When are you due to have surgery?  Are you going to any of the support group meetings?  Cindy

I have my pre-op appt. on Wednesday and my surgery with Doc Howell is July 24th.  It's getting close now, I think it will really set in when I have my pre-op done.  I started this "journey" with thoughts of getting the lap band, after I went to the first mtg. I was basically talked out of it, and then I went online and saw that quite a few people that had it went back and had the gastric bypass anyways.  Of course you never know their story, and I think Sharon Osbourne had the lap band and she looks awesome!!  As it turns out because of my previous Nissen procedure I couldn't have the lap band anyways so it was good I talked myself out of it...lol  

Do you have to do two weeks of OptiSource before your surgery?  That's what I have to do with Dr. Monson (yuck, cuz that stuff is gross). I am thinking of rescheduling my surgery to September 15th.  I have to do some traveling on October 15th through the 21st but I should be good to go by then ( I would hope).  But why wait until November and waste two months of losing?  There are always going to be occasions and reasons to wait, but I really don't want to waste time. I hope your surgery goes really well and you get the results you are looking for!

None of that yuck for me, thats only if you have your sugery done laproscopically.  September sounds good, gives you time to research and get oriented on the surgeries befores and afters.  From what I've read the band goes pretty slick with recovery so I would think you would be fine for travel by Oct. 15th...heehee, thats my Birthday- I'll be the big 35.  I told myself I had until I was 35 to get my weight under control and after that I was going to have the surgery.  Yah, so I didn't get it under control and now I'm having the surgery :)   hmm... I guess the only thing you would have to work around is your fills?  I'm not sure how often that is, I kind of erased that info from memory once I found out I couldn't have it... Good Luck!

I was planning on having the lapband but changed my mind to the LapRNY.  I think i have to drink that Optisource for two weeks...euuww.  I am going to call Cora (Dr. Monson's nurse) and see if there's a date in September that would work for me...I've decided I don't want to wait until November.  You are smart to be doing this at your age...I've waited WAY too long. 

Gotcha...I wonder how many of the lap bands he does.  They sure seem to talk alot of people out of them.  I know when Cindy did her speech she made it sound like it didn't work well and that there was a lot of slippage, etc...  I liked that it was less invassive and that whole "death" risk was supposedly taken out.  I LOVED Cora, she has been the nicest person in this long process.  Even though I wasn't Dr. Monson's pt. anymore she still called me when the approval went through, SUPER nice nurse!!  Good Luck!