Dr. Strom Patients?
Hi Jacki - I too live in Bloomfield and had my lapband done by Dr. Strom on 9/9.
The staff at Mountainside was terrific - same for Dr. Strom. I got there about 10am, my surgery was scheduled for noon and I was in my room later afternoon. I was alone for a few hours, then had roomate who was also a patient of Dr. Strom's. You just spend one night - the next day you need to go for a swallow test to make sure that the band is in place - you have to drink some totally disgusting liquid and they xray you. I was home by mid afternoon.
You will be sore - they do send you home with painkillers and you do have a pain pump while in the hospital. I took Tue-Fri off and was back to work on Monday. A bit tired/sore but once I got past the week I was fine. I did have a problem one day with horrible reflux (which I really did not have prior to the surgery), but when I called the office to tell them what my problem was, Toni called me back and had me take some extra prevacid which did the trick.
I had my first fill on 10/11 and it seemed to go okay. I go back for a follow up visit/fill on 11/24. I also just attended my first support group in October and am looking forward to seeing what they are all about - I couldn't stay for the entire time as I had another engagement that I had to go to.
From the day I had my surgery til today I have lost about 24lbs. I don't feel full per say, although I am not hungry - they did mention at the support group that sometimes it takes a few fills before it "kicks in". Oh, and you can feel the port if you bend or move in an odd way, it's not painful, just that you are aware of it - now I don't feel it at all.
All in all, I have been very pleased with my experience with the office and hospital staff. I did have a minor problem with one of my stitches that got infected and Dr. Joe insisted I meet him at the office on the Saturday after my surgery just to make sure all was well - he made me feel like it was not a burden at all, he'd rather be safe than sorry to make sure I was okay. I was really impressed wih that.
Feel free to email me with any questions either here or my personal email at anneprince4(at)comcast(dot)net.
Good luck!
Anne, Thanks so much for the information. I have been dying to hear "real world" info from someone who's under Dr. Strom's care. You allayed many of my fears. The only thing I'm disappointed about is having to go through all of the unpleasant post surgery experiences (gas) in the presence of a roommate. Hopefully, it WILL ONLY be for 1 day.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WEIGHT LOSS 
!!! That is incredible. Keep up the good work. I pray I succeed as you have.
Feel free to contact me with any other questions. Oh one other thing that I liked (and it makes no connection at all to the surgery per se) is that Fran Coon is the wife of my first pediatrician who I went to for almost 20 years (waaaaay back when as I am 50!) and I felt comfortable, like I knew she wouldn't associate with someone who was a bad doctor. She was her husbands nurse when they first started out. I know, strange....but the logic worked for me.
on 11/2/08 11:07 pm - Montclair, NJ
