New Here

Hi everyone, I am new here and just wanted to say hi.  I began looking into weight loss surgery a year ago and recently made the decision to have lapband surgery.  I already have my insurance approval and have "passed" the psych evaluation.  I will be scheduling my surgery next week, which I'm hoping should be around mid-February. I live in Nashville, TN and Dr. McDowell of the Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center is my surgeon.  If you're a patient of Dr. McDowell or have had WLS at Baptist, I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks!!

Hi Jeannie, I am a patient of Dr. McDowell's.  I had gastric bypass surgery 5months ago. I  have lost 91lbs. My experience has been pretty good overall.  Dr. McDowell is a great doctor.  Very nice.  Have you gone to any support group meetings at Baptist? I usually go monthly, I missed January's due to being sick but will go in February.  My 6month follow-up will be in February. Unfortunately everything I lacked in losing weight before still remains.  I don't dump so I can eat most things I did before,,,just much less of it.  I struggle sometimes to get enough protein in, so my weightloss could've been greater and I have only recently started to incorporate exercise.  But I would'nt have been able to lose this much weight in this short of time had I not had surgery, so I am happy.  I hope you have a good experience and find what you are looking for.  :-) Lisa

Lisa, Just wait, you might become a dumper later on.  I was 2 years out before I had my first episode of dumping.  I thought I was dying because the fact that I could be dumping never crossed my mind.  I didn't even dump on sugar, I dumped on MSG in chinese food.  So be careful what you wish for.  lol darlene

Lisa, you took my breath when I saw your new photo. You look wonderful! I'm so sorry you had to miss the January meeting due to illness. I'll miss the February meeting, don't think I'll be up to going anywhere less than a week after plastics. Hopefully I'll see you in March. Unless you can make the dinner club next Friday at Olive Garden in Mt. Juliet. I would love to see you.

Sorry to interrupt this post but LISA....you look fabulous!  Big ole smooch to you!

Welcome, and you should know that the people on here are great. They are some of the most wonderful people I know.

Cant help you out with the doc, hospital or type of surgey, but I just wanted to welcome you to the TN board.  I don't get to come to alot of events because I live 2 hours away, but I do feel like I have known all these sweet folks forever.  They are all wonderful.

darlene

Welcome Jeannie, Sorry, I can't help with either of your questions.  Had my surgery at Centennial with Dr. Dyer, but I just wanted to give you a great big Welcome to the Tenn. Boards.  Feel free to ask or answer any question that pops up!  I love  this group so much!  They are helpful, compassionate, knowledgeable, and best of all supportive! Congrats on the surgery and keep us informed of your progress.  We'll start sanding off a spot on the Losers Bench. Oh yeah, my son saw your avatar and said, "OMG Legally BLonde is have WLS, I thinkI Love her!"

Congratulations on your insurance approval! I had RNY at Baptist almost 2 years ago. My surgeon is Dr. Spaw but I have met Dr. McDowell and he is a sweetie. I've heard nothing but good things about him. And, the staff at Baptist is wonderful. You are in very good hands.  I know that the Lap Band support group is a large, active group. So, you will have wonderful support, not only from the clinic staff but from fellow patients as well. Let us know your surgery date.

Hello sweetie, you'll love here, they'll make you feel so much at home, I grant you that. I too, won't be much help with the Doc. I am a Vandy patient, but there is alot of Baptist folks that are just marvaleous, and are wait'n here with so many answers to your questions. And they are friendly too. Congrats on you approval!!!! Hugs Barb