Got my first call for Orientation
Hello fellow Buckeyes and Banders...
I got my first phone call from the Cleveland Clinic setting up my appointment for my orientation. The woman on the phone pretty much let me choose which day I wanted to come in, so I chose the earliest I could...April 7th. Wow...it was only 19 days ago that I sent in the forms for them! So far, it's going pretty quickly, but I will keep my feet planted on the ground and realize that this is only the first of more appointments before my surgery.
I am so psyched right now and excited, knowing that this is really going to happen for me. I have been on failed diets for some 30 plus years now, trying to make myself thinner and healthier....but to no avail. An uphill struggle all the way. My dieting was making me fatter and sicker. Just to know that I can eliminate my type 2 diabetes, is in itself so wonderful.
I just wanted to share the first of my good news with the rest of my Ohio bandsters. If anyone can share with me their experiences with the first step in this process and what I have to look forward to before my surgery, it would sure help out.
Have a good day all! 
Allergan 10 cc band: First fill: 4cc'c 9/8/08 Second fill: .9cc's 10/13/08
Third fill: 1cc 2/11/09.... Total in band -- 5.9cc's Very slooooow weight loss!
BW- 273 / CW -250 / GW- 170 Total weightloss to date: 23 lbs. ( in 10 months ) 
Sept. 22, '09-- Had .2 cc's removed from my band. Slowly gaining back the weight. Up 10 lbs. CW- 260 Lapband not working for me!
Hi - I had RNY 16 weeks ago and was a Type II Diabetic for 4 years with increasing my meds yearly to control it. I went off of all my meds for diabetes, high BP and cholesterol the day of surgery. Was on insulin while in the hospital for 5 days and went home on 1/4 the amount of Glucophage I had been on and two weeks later stopped it as well. My blood sugars are low now, scared me when I had my first fasting one under 110. Now I am usually in the 90's and my Aic is down to 6.3 - my physician is very happy with my results. Having this surgery has changed my life - I can now expect a healtier outlook and feeling good again is great. I am 63 yrs old and was concerned that I was too old to do this, but I thought that if I am going to live 20 more years, it will be so much better to be lighter and healtier. Good luck with your process and we will be glad to hear that you have a date!
Highest wt: 1/4/06 - 296
Met surgeon: 6/7/07 - 287
Surgery day: 12/12/07 - 277
Current: 9/28/08 - 196.5
Drs Goal 180 My Goal: 145
"When a believing person prays, great things happen." James 5:16
I opted for the lap band and not the RNY because of my high risk of blood clots. I thought the less invasive surgery would be better for me, and I wouldn't have to worry as much about blood clots as I would if I had the gastric bypass.
Pammylou....that is amazing that your diabetes stabilized so quickly! That is what I am wanting so bad, is to be completely free of my type 2 diabetes. My mom died 20 years ago from complications from her diabetes at the age of 70, and I didn't want to follow in her footsteps. This is the main reason for getting the lap band surgery, so I can get rid of all of my medical conditions I have now. I don't want to wait until I've had a stroke, or went blind from the diabetes, or whatever else might happen to me...I am going to be 60 at the end of August, and I'd like to be here for another 20 years or so like you said. Your story is really inspiring, and also your weight loss at this point. Thank you for replying to my post. Keep up the good work. I will let everyone know when I do have a surgery date.
Take care... Susie
Allergan 10 cc band: First fill: 4cc'c 9/8/08 Second fill: .9cc's 10/13/08
Third fill: 1cc 2/11/09.... Total in band -- 5.9cc's Very slooooow weight loss!
BW- 273 / CW -250 / GW- 170 Total weightloss to date: 23 lbs. ( in 10 months ) Sept. 22, '09-- Had .2 cc's removed from my band. Slowly gaining back the weight. Up 10 lbs. CW- 260 Lapband not working for me!
I understand you concern about blood clots. I had those same fears because I had a previous hospitalization with long bedrest and was on Heparin during that time. My surgeon told me that I would be on heparin while in the hospital, got my first dose just before I went into the operating room. I also had the SCD's or sequential compression devises on my legs to keep the circulation going. My surgeon also has all of his patients walking 4-6 hours after surgery and 4 times a day while in the hospital. He encouraged lots of movement when discharged. Good advise for any surgery. So we did everything we could to minimize the risks of blood clots. In the process of researching what surgery I wanted, I also found out the the bypass can eliminate diabetes, because of the rerouting of the small intestines away from the area in the pancreas that regulates glucose metabolism. There are many studies being published that the bypass may be used on patients who are not obese but have uncontroled diabetes. I felt that was going to give me the best chance of decreasing my comorbidities. I know that I first thought of having the lapband - my surgeon does both, but I started researching everything about both and decided on the RNY. But, every person has to make their own decisions, and I am sure you will do what is best for you. What I like about this forum is that you are exposed to so much information to supplement what you get from your bariatric program. I actually had a hugh folder with articles I copied off the internet from other bariatric hospitals. There is lots to read and during the 6 months getting ready for approval, I read anything that even talked about obesity and weight loss. This is the advice someone gave me, which was to get as much information as you can, and then make your own decision. I wish you the best in your journey. We'll be watching for your date!
Highest wt: 1/4/06 - 296
Met surgeon: 6/7/07 - 287
Surgery day: 12/12/07 - 277
Current: 9/28/08 - 196.5
Drs Goal 180 My Goal: 145
"When a believing person prays, great things happen." James 5:16
I received my package from Cleveland Clinic on March 14th, filled it out, and took the return envelope and questionnaire to our local post office the same day. I just heard from the Clinic yesterday, April 2, which was 19 days from the time I sent it back to them.
The woman on the phone asked me when I would like to come in for the orientation...either on a Monday or Wednesday. I chose a Monday, and she scheduled me for this next Monday at 11:30 am. I've got a lot of questions wrote down, plus I'm taking a small tape recorder so I don't miss anything and remember all that was said. My memory isn't the greatest, especially when I'm nervous.
Hope you hear from them soon, too.
Susie
Allergan 10 cc band: First fill: 4cc'c 9/8/08 Second fill: .9cc's 10/13/08
Third fill: 1cc 2/11/09.... Total in band -- 5.9cc's Very slooooow weight loss!
BW- 273 / CW -250 / GW- 170 Total weightloss to date: 23 lbs. ( in 10 months ) Sept. 22, '09-- Had .2 cc's removed from my band. Slowly gaining back the weight. Up 10 lbs. CW- 260 Lapband not working for me!
Good luck!! I just got my band 2 weeks ago, and I love it! I have nothing but good things to say about the cleveland clinic. Since you are going to a monday meeting you will probably be assigned to Dr. Schauer because that's his workshop day, though you can always request one of the other ones. But I wouldn't suggest it..Dr. Schauer is amazing. One thing I will tell you is that they tend to push the RNY more than the band in my opinion but if you know what you want (like I did) just give him the reasons you picked the band and he will give it to you. Don't back down from what you want. During the workshop they will throw out statistics of RNY vs. Band but if you've been on this board any amount of time you know that many band patients lose the majority of their excess wt, not the 40-50% that is average. You HAVE to be dedicated to the follow up routine to make it work.
Again, good luck and good choice. I did a lot of research before picking Dr. Schauer and as I said before I have been very very pleased.
Angela
P.S One other thing to mention. Be fore warned that you will wait....a lot when you have appointments.
Thank you Brat (lol) and Angela for your responses. I am so glad that someone else let me know what to expect at the Cleveland Clinic, as far as the orientation goes. They had sent me a map on where to go, once we got to the Clinic...hope we don't get lost!! I have read a lot on Dr. Shauer, and I know that I would want him to do my surgery...he sounds really knowledgeable and experienced in the lap band procedure, and I would feel more confident and less nervous with him as my surgeon. Yes, my mind is made up that I do want the lap band and not the more invasive RNY because of my history of blood clots. If you have any more info about your experience with the CC that I should know, please feel free to fill me in on what to expect when I get there. Every bit of first hand info will help me.
I am used to "waiting" for appointments, which won't be an issue for me, considering what is to come....a healthier and longer life, hopefully. I have researched the lap band procedure and have oodles of info on it from the OH website and the messageboards.
Thank you both for your responses.
Angela, my nephew lives in Mansfield, Oh, and my DH and I go through there occasionally on our way to Holmes Co to visit the Amish stores and restaurants. Love going there for the peacefullness and relaxation of the drive.
Susie
Allergan 10 cc band: First fill: 4cc'c 9/8/08 Second fill: .9cc's 10/13/08
Third fill: 1cc 2/11/09.... Total in band -- 5.9cc's Very slooooow weight loss!
BW- 273 / CW -250 / GW- 170 Total weightloss to date: 23 lbs. ( in 10 months ) Sept. 22, '09-- Had .2 cc's removed from my band. Slowly gaining back the weight. Up 10 lbs. CW- 260 Lapband not working for me!
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