IS ANYONE ON THE NJ SITE, HAVING LAPBAND SURGERY IN FEB?

First, to all my "oh" family a very happy new year to you all!!!! I would like to to know if their are any new jersey people that are going to have "lapband" surgery in feb/2007 if so I would love to hear from you. Thanks!!!! "nobetterwomen" bridget k.

Hi Bridget, I am having the lap band done on Jan. 15. I guess that is half way to Feb. Hope you had a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year! -Carroll

Hi! Carroll I will keep you in my thoughts, please keep me posted on everything. Thanks for posting and letting me know. I'm from south jersey. I have a sister in fairlawn, so I do know where you are. I will watch for your post. Thanks bridget k.

Bridget, Are you scheduled yet, in the gathering info stage, or have been banded already? I am sure that we can share some info about the band....before during and after. Do you have a doc yet? I am an xray tech so i see the lap band patients after thier surgery for their upper GI .....so I get to see them and how they are feeling after the surgery. So if you have any questions let me know. Hope all is well! Carroll

CARROLL, YOU ARE A LAPBAND PATIENTS DREAM GIRLFRIEND. THAT IS THE WORSE PART FOR ME. THE UPPER GI. I HAD SUCH A HARD TIME WITH IT AND THEN WIND UP HAVING A TUBE PUT UP MY NOSE AND DOWN MY THROAT TO FIND OUT NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHY CAN'T THEY FLAVOR IT SO IT IS NOT SO HARD. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT "PATIENT WISE" SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRINK LESS. IF THEIR IS ANYWAY I WILL NOT FIND IT SO DRAMATIC I WOULD WELCOME THE HELP. YES, I'VE BEEN APPROVED. IT TOOK 24HRS. IT WAS FAST. I STARTED THE PROCESS WITH A MEETING IN SEPT. THAN SAW THE SURGEON IN OCT. DID ALL THE TEST BETWEEN THAT DATE AND DEC 7TH. BUT HAD TO DO THE SLEEP STUDY AGAIN, TO GET A MACHINE. SO NOW THAT IS WHY I'M IN FEB. I PICKED THIS DATE SO I COULD TAKE LESS SICK TIME. I DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS. 19YR. SO I ONLY WORK 10 MON'S A YEAR. PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR FRIENDS LIST, AND I WILL PUT YOU ON MINE. WHERE AE YOU IN THS PROCESS. ARE YOU IN NEW JERSEY? I'M IN SOUTH JERSEY. I WILL HAVE THE SURGERY IN MARLTON. WRITE SOON, AND KEEP IN TOUCH MY FRIEND. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS. BRIDGET K. "NOBETTERWOMEN:" it is what i wish to be!!!

Bridget, I live in Bayonne but I work at Morristown Memorial Hospital where I will be having the surgery on 1-15-07. That horrible white stuff you have to drink is called barium. And no, it does not taste good. However, we have to do the upper GI after the banding to make sure that fluid can pass thru the band and to make sure that the band is in place. Also, just and FYI if you have your band adjusted in the future you will have the same test done. Generally speaking, after you come out of recovery you will be sent to Radiology to have your UGI (upper gi) so at that point you will be so thirsty from being intubated that anything will do. Gernerally, for my patients I try to make sure that the water I mix the barium with is really cold so that it goes down easier. I know that has a very chalky taste but we don't really have any control over that. You can ask your surgeon if you can have your UGI done with gastrograffin (another type of contrast) but in my opinion it taste much worse than the barium. It is syrup like and very very sour. But it is another option for you. After the surgery you won't have to drink that much as your pouch can't hold that much and again they are just checking positioning and making sure that the fluid goes thru it. This will be the ONLY time you can drink with a straw. I started this process in September but decided to wait unitl January to have the band done. It is two weeks until my surgery and I have been getting all the things that I need for it together. Another suggestion that I have is to start trying out the protein shakes. If you can't tolerate the barium, you might have a hard time with the protien shakes. I would suggest ordering some samples from vitalady.com so that you don't buy a big can of a flavor that you don't like. Have all your vitamins, protein drinks, Gas-X, water, and heating ready for when you get home. Also, be sure to have chapstick with you at the hospital. Your lips will be so dry after surgery and you can't drink anything until you finish your UGI. I am sure I will think of a million more tid-bits....i will post as I think of them. Carroll

Carroll thank you so much. I wrote everything down. I don't know syrup/ chalk ????? I can't decide. Well, maybe I will not have to sip too much. Do you have to do it standing and again laying down. My doc says it doesn't happen after surgery but before leaving the hospital. I know where your hospital is. That is kinda far for you to travel, don't you think? My niece has a house in basking ridge, I grew up in bloomfield and we once lived in verona, nj. My children were born in "mountainside hospital, montclair". I will watch for your post. It is just good to know you are out there for my ????????????????? Take care carroll bridget k.