SteppingStones

I am a patient at NYU, -- commuting in from Long Island -- and while there are some delays overall I put up with minor inconvenience just knowing that Dr. Fielding did my surgery is worth it. Dr. Ren is Dr. Fielding's wife. If I get voice mail I just keep calling back until I get a live person. Usually it only takes about 2 - 3 calls. Dealing with their office is truly not for the faint hearted, but like I said I had too many people who recommended George Fielding to me, which is why I picked him out over several others (on Long Island) and I am thrilled with him. My first fill is May 21st, Dr. Fielding will be doing it. Also, they have several satellite sites in Brooklyn where you can do fills. I also had my post surgery esophogram done at Long Island Jewish on Community Drive (Manhasset?) this morning (very near my work) and they do fills there all the time (so they said). They seemed very knowledgeable and nice. So perhaps getting a script from whatever Doctor you can, to then hand into LIJ radiology is another option.

Hi Shiney - I am from LI, too so I decided to hit you up with a hello! In my situation, my decision to go for the surgery, getting the surgery date, finishing the pre-tests, and being approved by insurance went like a speeding train -- about 5 weeks!!! I had researched 24/7, attended seminars, read "gastric bypass for dummies", spoke with coworkers and friends who had WLS (mostly bypass), peppered the NUT and NP and physicians with questions -- and thought I was ready. Then the night before the surgery I freaked out! OMG, what was I doing? How could I contemplate this wild action? I wanted to jump right off the crazy train! I would never eat again, I would have this foreign matter in my body blah blah blah But despite those "wedding nite jitters" I got myself to the hospital, and the surgery could not have been easier or less painful. Immediately post op things were awesome. I am one week (exactly) post op. I admit when I got home, though, physically I felt wiped out; like a truck hit me. It really took me a good four days post surgery to finally start to feel better. Gas really did not happen, except for yesterday the surgical gas (not stomach gas) hitting my left shoulder was like knives sticking in me. I walked a bit and it quieted down 99% and this morning there is nothing there. I think it is very normal to question, and be nervous, and be hesitant. Those things do not mean getting the lap band is "not in your future". It just means you are normal!

Part of the reason I joined this board, (while not an OCC patient) is that as a new bandster I too was shocked at the behavior of the newbies on the "other" boards. Folks here seem well grounded and are the type of bandsters I want to model myself after! I kid you not-- one woman who was 8 days (8 DAYS!!) post surgery said she had consumed half of a chicken salad sandwich (with bread) AND then a bagel a short time later. OMG. This was not because she was never told..... it was because she willfully wanted to "test" her restriction. I think the issue with those folks who are not following many (or any) of the standard rules for post surgery band behavior is due to several factors. they simply ignore the surgeon's rules. Do you know that people just don't pay attention? For example, we were told in the handouts to NOT bring blackberries or palmpilots or phones to the hospital. So, I kept mine home. The other lady in the room played on hers all afternoon.... we had the same surgeon. Same with bringing a c-pap machine mask. We were told to bring our own from home. Did anyone else besides me do this? Nope! They read that someone else could do this or that, and so they think its okay to do it too. Its sort of a sense of entitlement... hey, home come THEY get to do that?? Iwanna too!

Hi, I am new to the board! Just got my lap band a week ago. So far I am doing well, scared to death to "test" anything so I am following my surgeon's game plan 100% to the letter. Still on liquids until Wednesday when I graduate to mushies. I just wanted to comment because if there is one food that is my favorite of all time, it is pizza. Nothing fancy, just good ole New York plain cheese pizza. I am quite satisfied with 2 slices pre-surgery, but I thought this was a pleasure denied for me forever post-banding. I feel a smile coming on, to think that I will (perhaps) be able to eventually eat a slice of heaven (pizza!) in the future. I am totally on board with the smaller portions, chewing well, eating protein first, the whole 9 yards. Do not feel deprived or poor me, but sure was nostalgic about that pizza.....