Hello

[dawnmarie]

Hello Everyone my name is Dawn I am from Sag Harbor, married with two sons. I am thinking of having the Gastric Bypass surgery, can someone give me an idea of the timeline this all takes and what the first step is. How long does it take from your first visit to the Dr. before you have the surgery? I've been wanting to do this for a very long time actually and I haven't because it's hard for me to admit that I can't do something on my own or have people thing that I'm weak, pretty silly I know. Well any information I can get would be wonderful.

Thank you all so much!

[Regina]

Welcome Dawn and let me be the first to say thank you for taking the time out to introduce you to us.

Now about gastric bypass, I had my surgery Sept 4, 2003. My life began that day again for me. I am sure that other members here will say that as well. :)

Please don't focus on that fact that you couldn't do this on your own. We all have been in your shoes and it is ok to ask for help. Just remember that Dr. Allam gives us all a tool that we could not have gotten without his help. Once we get that tool, the rest is up to us. We have to follow the plan that Pat the nutritionist gives us. We have to go to follow up appointments with Dr. Allam. We have to go for our blood work each month. We should attend as many support group meetings as possible. We should also come here for that extra support that you will get from each and everyone of us. Whether it be a gastric bypass or Band patient of Dr. Allam's we are all here as one. We are a family that will be here for each other no matter what. So see Dawn you have a lot of work to do so you shouldn’t feel that you are not doing this on your own. You have to do all the above we are here to help but it is all up to you. No one can force you to follow the plan you are the only one that can make that commitment to yourself. It's a proven fact that if you do all the above then you will be successful on this journey that you are now on.
Making that call to set up an appointment with Dr, Allam was the first day of your new journey. So smile you are on your way to a new YOU!

The whole process really depends on how fast you get all your appointments with all the other doctors that you need to see. Don't worry about how soon you get your date. It will happen so don’t worry about it. Just leave that up to Dr. Allam and his great staff they will let you know as soon as they can. It also might depend on what your insurance company wants before approved. So, don't focus on that leave it up to them. Just make all your appointments try to come to our next support meeting Aug 19 at Hampton Bays Library start time 6:30PM. Do the all the things that you have CONTROL of right now and leave the rest to Dr. Allam and his staff.

I also would like to invite you to our 3rd Annual picnic that we are having on August 10th at Indian Island Park in Riverhead. It will be a great way for you to meet us. So, try to make it. All the information about this is here on the website in Patient Corner. I hope you will try to make it. I look forward to meeting you.

Good luck on one of the best journeys you are going to go on.;)

[Sallarae]

Hey dawn~ I am Christine. I am 32, married (10 years) with a 3 year old. I am like you -cant show signs of wekness. I had been thinking about WLS for YEARS, swore I would NEVER do RNY just lapband. I personally do not like the idea of a foreign object in my body and the thought of the adjustments was way too much so I opted for the RNY I was so against. I was talking to my hairdresser and his daughter had had it done by Dr. Allam the previous year with amazing results and limited complications. As her father (my hairdresser) recommended him for his knowlege and thoroughness. I called the very next day (FRIDAY) and had an appointment for the following tuesday. That was January 15th 2008. My surgery was Feb 14th. This is something Dr allam said to me that stuck with me: How long the process takes is determined on A) how bad you want it & B) how long it takes for you to progress through all of the specialists. I rock & rolled and had it all done in 2 weeks. I also had no complications other than my weight so it may depend on your situation. I found that once I accepted that I did need the help that this surgery offered, I felt better. It still is MUCH harder than dieting, but it does facilitate the process. I hope this helps you. Please feel free to email me anytime!

Christine

sallarae@hotmail.com

[Sissy]

Hi Dawn -uyh welcome to the group!! We all have different stories and the more you hear the more normal you will see you are in this struggle. I fought a losing battle with my weight my whole life untill I decided to ask for the help I needed. Taking those initial steps began the best thing I ever did for myself. It has been rough at times but well worth it!!!!!!! I am a totally new person and my life is so much better. To name just a few things: I don't sweat like a pig, I don't snore, I love to shop for clothes and looking in the mirror, I even get a few double takes for an old gal(ha ha). Life is good and I enjoy living it now rather than enduring it as I used to. Good Luck to you in your journey - Darla

[connie]

Hey Dawn ! Welcome to our group. I had lap band surgery on March 31 and have already lost 63 lbs. I live in East Hampton and have 5 children. This was the best decision I made in my life and It has benefited my entire family. Good luck and talk to you soon. Connie

[dawnmarie]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you all so much, it's great having people to talk to. I actually emailed Dr. Allam with some questions and he emailed back letting me know that he accepts my insurance and told me to call the office on Tuesday and make an appointment, so that is what I will be doing. I have also been big my entire life, I know some people can imagine what they look like thin as they have been there before, I can't. People don't realize (not here on this forum) what an impact your weight has on you, how much it hinders you and has control over your life. Anything I do I have to think first wheter or not I will be able to because of my weight, what kind of seats do they have will I fit, going on amusement park rides, I had to fly to Texas for my job with a coworker who probably weighed 110 pounds soaking wet and from the moment I found out I had to go I was sick, I knew I wasn't going to fit in the seat and I was going to be mortified in front of my coworker, I researched the airline and found a company that sold seat belt extensions and bought my own so I wouldn't have to ask for one. These are the kind of things you deal with everyday.

I do have some medical conditions, however, my cholestrol, sugar, blood pressure are all great. I have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) which is insulin resistant, I have a thyroid problem, and I have an enlarged heart muscle in the main pumping chamber of my heart caused by the PCOS. So I am on meds for all of this. Hopefully none of this will interfere with me having the surgery.

Both of my sisters have had the surgery, My youngest had it in the city and my middle sister had hers a couple years ago by Dr. Allam, and they both look terrific.

Thank you all again. I will let you know how I make out when I call on Tuesday.

Dawn

[Regina]

Dawn I am so glad to see you posting and talking to us about what you are going through right now. I am sure when you visit Dr. Allam on Tuesday he will speak to you about all the things related to your health. Most of us here have had health problems before the surgery. I know I had some things like sleep apnea, I also have COPD, asthma, and I was borderline diabetic. Although losing the weight has helped my COPD and Asthma, some it will always be with me due to many years of smoking. I gave that up 2 years before my surgery. All my other medical problems before surgery are no longer with me. I still watch for the diabetes since it runs strongly in my family. I remember back a few years we had a member that had heart problems and if my memory is correct, she was waiting on a heart transplant. Long story short I believe that since she had the surgery (wls) she was doing so much better and I think they might have postponed the surgery. Since her heart wasn’t under added stress from being over weight. So, fingscrssed that it will all work out for you.

Please try to come to the picnic it will be a great opportunity for you to meet us and talk to us. I don't think you are going to find a friendlier group then us. We are family and we welcome all new members into our family with open arms. So, do try to come.

Please keep us posted after you meet Dr. Allam and his wonderful staff. Good luck on Tuesday, as you already know from your sister having the surgery Dr. Allam is a great doctor.

[Jamie]

Hi Dawn,

My name is Jamie and I am from East Hampton. I had Lap Band surgery in June of 2007. I have lost about 95 lbs. so far and want to say that it was by far the best decision I have ever made for myself and my family.

Thank you, first for having the courage to post and ask questions. That is a hurdle that I wish more newcomers would do. That is a big step in the right direction. Our group is a combination of Bypass and Banders that take on the cause of helping others and will try to give you any helpful advice that we can, because we have all gone through it and as different as the operations are, they are alike in many ways. We all understand what you are going through and have jumped through all of the hoops that you are about to partake in. The process will seem to be a huge undertaking, but it sounds like you are totally ready for this journey. I can bet that this will be the best decision you will ever make!

You sound like you have done your research and have looked at both surgeries and have chosen the right one for your lifestyle. That is the first big step and making the appointment with Dr. Allam is the second. As everyone else has said, it would be a tremendous help if you were to attend our Support Group Meeting on the 19th of August. The meetings are a very important part of the success of bariatric surgery and will help keep you focused even after the operation is over and you get back to a normal life. Regina has worked very hard to revive the group and has been successful in starting a spark and the meetings have been very interesting and more and more people from the past are starting to come back again after a leave of absence.

Anyway, welcome to the group, and if you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to ask. If you have any questions you want to ask someone in particular, you can private message them and only they can read and answer the message. Thank you for posting and I think you can now see that you are not the only one going through these problems associated with the extra weight. We have all gone through them and will help guide you through them if you need us.

Hope to see you at the meeting,

Jamie

[connie]

Dawn its Connie look at my pix I 'm sure I know you. Sounds like you are on the right tract. I also had medical problems high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other problems. Since my lap band in March I am happy to say they have completely took me off my cholesterol med and have cut my BP med in half. I have lost about 63 lbs so far ,my knee problems have gone away .................it really helped save/prolong my life. It was the best decision I ever made. Good luck and keep posting. Come to our meetings in Hampton Bays the group is a great method of support. I never see your sister Kathy at our meetings ?????? How is she doing ???? Talk to you soon. Connie

[QUEEBELL]

Hi, DawnMarie! My name is Isabel. Congratulations on your decision. I understand the worry of feeling out of control. I'm a single mother with 2 daughters 13 and 14. I had RNY about 8 months ago and I've lost around 115 pounds, probably more since I haven't weighed myself in a while. It didn't take me long once I'd made my decision, to get my appointments done. Be vigilant about it, stay on top of the specialist for your clearences and don't get discouraged.

Now, I'd like to address your PCOS and your thyroid issues. I had thyroid cancer in 2004. I had my throid removed and RAI therapy, but just 6 months later I had a reoccurance and 3 months after that I had 120somehting lymp nodes removed and another much higher dose of RAI. The doctors strugled to get my TSH down as I gained 80 pounds and then 10 more and so on and so on. Since my surgery my labs are all perfect, though we'll see what Sloan thinks Wednesday. I never thought I'd see a day when my TSH was nearly undetectable, but here I am. I have had PCOD probably since I was 14. I feel your pain. And where I still feel the pain during ovulation and menstration, it is much more managable than it had been before. I am almost completely regular, which I know may sound crazy to you right now, and my blood sugars are completely normal. I never thought I had any hope of a solution to my PCOD. This surgery may not be the solution, but it has sure helped me more than I can ever convey. Good luck and keep us posted.

Isabel

[dawnmarie]

Well I called Dr. Allam's office today and made my appointment, I go see him on Wed Aug 13th. I have so many different feelings going through me right now, I can't explain it, I'm excited and happy yet I'm nervous and worried I'm anxious and so much more. I haven't been able to sleep since I've made the decision with all the different thoughts going through my head, I cry at the drop of a hat. I talked to my sister who had Gastric Bypass with Dr. Allam 3 years ago and she has answered alot of my concerns and has made me feel a little better.

Thank you all for your support and your stories. I'll keep you all informed.

Dawn

[Jamie]

Hi dawnmarie,

I just wanted to wish you good luck on the 13th. You will make out just fine. I know that when I first started to go through the process that it was so scary, and at that point, I wasn't aware of the message board and all of the help and support you can get from everyone here. I couldn't believe that I had enough nerve to make that inital call to make an appointment, but I was so impressed with the friendly manner of Dr. Allam's office personnel that I even commented on it to my wife when I got off of the phone!!! The office helped me out with my initial questions about everything from insurance to what the operation procedures were and what to expect in regards to recovery time.

I know you have a million questions racing through your mind right now, and you are lucky to have your sister to turn to for advice, and that should help tremendously. Please feel free to ask us any questions that you need to, because you will get a number of comments from us and that always seems to help when you get advice from people that have gone through all of the steps already.

Well anyway, I am sure that you will make out just fine with Dr. Allam on the 13th. Make sure you write down any questions that you want to ask him so you don't leave anything out. You will be in good hands with him, he is absoutely the best!!!!

Please try to come to the Support Group Meeting on the
19th and introduce yourself to everyone, we look foward to meeting you and helping you with any concerns that you may have.

Talk to you soon,

Jamie

[Regina]

Hi DawnMarie, what more can I say then congratulations on the first step to the new you. I can still remember that day I made my call to Doctor Allam's office. I had just about all those feelings that you said as well. I remember that I couldn’t sleep either just cause of the excitement that my dream of losing this weight once and for all was soon to come true. See I started at another doctor and I went through all the testing that this doctor recommended his patients to go through. After all my testing was done and I got my approval from the insurance company for the surgery, all I needed was the date from the doctor’s office now. I waited and waited and waited. Then finally I called and said what’s the hold up? The girls who to be honest with you in that office weren't very nice. However, the reason I went there was cause this doctor came recommended to me by a close friend. Anyway they finally told me that they couldn't set up a date do to the doctors insurance. He was in the process of searching for new malpractice insurance. So this other girl I made friends with there is the one who found Dr. Allam, she made an appointment and went to see him, and got a date for her surgery, She phoned me from the parking lot and told me. I said give me his number. That is how I ended up with Dr. Allam.
I always say that things happen for a reason and I truly believe that with all my heart. At my second support meeting right before my surgery is when Dr. Allam asked me to if I would write his newsletter. I of course said yes. Then he started this website and said to me it is yours to run. I was like ok. See DawnMarie all the good things that have come out of this surgery for me. I met so many wonderful people here and have become close friends with a few. I now with the help of Jamie write the newsletter and again with the help of Jamie and Aleeya now have help with this board. So I just didn't have gastric bypass by the best doctor I also have a new family thanks to him. I wouldn’t change any of the above at all.
So please ask us any questions that you might have. It is so good that you have your sister to turn to. I am sure she will be there to help you in every step you take on this journey. Plus like we have all said you have us. You are now part of our family. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Try to come to our picnic on the 10th of August. If you can’t then try to come to the support meeting on the 19 of August. I hope to meet you either place. See you soon.

Oops, I guess I shouldn’t have said what else could I say cause I had a lot to say didn't I.

[dawnmarie]

Thank you Jamie and Regina, I appreciate all your kind words and encouragement. I can't wait for the 13th. I've had so many question that my sister has been able to answer, I'm thankful for that. I am going to try my best to make the next meeting. I won't be able to make the picnic as I'll be away.

Thanks again,

Dawn