meggiep

Wow- 10k Sterling? OUCH!!!! That is so expensive- but well worth it, I think you will find out! Congratulations on being on the other side of your surgery and full speed ahead!

I wonder if the sleeves in the UK are done to give a larger size sleeve in the end than we do here in the states? That will probably slow the weight loss a bit. In the end we will all get ther! I think a bit slower results in less droopy skin so look on the bright side!

My doctor is wonderful- he has been doing lap surgeries for 9 or 10 years, and worked with the originator of the sleeve in New York. He works with Palo Alto Medical Foundation doing surgeries at Sequoia and Stanford, PAMF takes all kinds of insurance.. His web page: Dr. John Feng

It may differr for your company but my doctor said that the weight you record on first visit is what will determine it. Surely they should not penalize you for doing what they asked!

I am not a man but I want to give you a big hug for everything you have been through. Honestly from what I have seen at the two seminars I have attended given by my doctor (two require- check!) and my first appointment with him, I feel the band will eventually lose favor. Not only does it not give the best results in terms of percentage of excess weight lost, but the problems with slippage, hernias,ease with which you can increase your intake, ...well, I just don't see it as optimal. I think you will find the sleeve a whole different matter- and the aid it gives you will last a long time. YOu wont have to worry about erosion or slippage or anything like that. I am happy to join your support team and root you on! BTW I took my husband to the seminar tonight and he really came out of it with great respect for anyone who does this.

I am almost exactly your height and weight - and I too do not have a pattern of eating a great deal. I have always had a low low metabolism but could keep my weight down with activity and that went south when I hurt my back. The post about carbs also resonates and therefore I feel with the extreme cut back in calories as well as the focus on Protein the sleeve will be great for me. You may lose a bit more slowly than some but you will lose. Go for it!

HI everyone, I am on the search for this as I think having stuff you like can make a huge difference! My doctor has an e-sales area on his site and I would love to know if this seems like a good deal or not I am just starting out looking around but if his stuff is good and if it's reasonably priced I would love to get it through him. It actually is the Bariatric Advantage stuff- I would love feedback about it. If anyone in Northern CA is looking for a great doctor - Dr. John Feng Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Post Op Kit Contains: 2 - Bariatric Advantage High Protein Meal Replacements (35 servings each) (21 days/3 meals per day = 3 TUBs) 1 - Bariatric Advantage® Multi-Form Chew Orange (180 count bottle) (2 tablets per day= 1 bottle) 1 - Bariatric Advantage® Chewable Iron (60mg) - Passion Fruit (90 count bottle) (1 tablet per day= 1 bottle) 1 - Bariatric Advantage® Calcium Citrate Lozenges w/ Vit. D. - 500mg (270 count bottle) (3 tablets per day= 1 bottle) $ 215.25

( do not have to do that before my surgery (liquid Protein for three weeks before though) but I DO have to have a colonoscopy in two weeks to get that taken care of before the surgery as I am due for one. Same prep- DISGUSTING! As mentioned- chill it to be very very cold- i keep the next glass full in the freezer each time and use a straw to drink it down fast- ice cold is the best. For me it is the thick feeling more than the taste. Know that you will b starting this new chapter in your life with a squeaky clean colon- probably a good way to start so that your system is not taxed digesting anything as you recover.

Does she still cut the stomach or does she fold it (plication)?

From what I have read, a lot of it is about letting the staple line heal well- and I will err on the side of conservative to hep that happen. I figure giving that time without stressing the incision area is worth it for a short while in prep for a long life of healthy (tiny) stomach!

Today was the big day- and I am thrilled to finally be on my way- with a huge list of appointments to make for lab work, heart tests, sleep study, upper GI, and even the colonoscopy that is due this year in order to not have to do it after the surgery. My wonderful Dr., Doctor John Feng of PAMF, thinks I could be having the surgery within three months- and I am motivated to have it be sooner! With his process, once the psych eval clears me and the nutrition department does the same, my surgery is scheduled. So of course those were the two I could not speak with personally today! It figures... I hope to be able to do both immediately so I am researching the niutrition on my own so I can dazzle them with my knowledge when we meet. I am just so excited to be in the program and on my way. HOORAY!!!

You have all made my heart glad! I have already planned to wean off the caffeine if I can before surgery but my husband and I love to drink mugs of coffee together while we work on our weddings (we're photogs) and it is something I do not want to lose. I add lots of 1 percent milk- I am post menopausal and want to add the calcium. I swear this was my only really big concern in looking at the surgery.

OMG you all made my day! I of course planned to ask my doctor at my first appointment this Wednesday but the presentation said something about it being bad for blood sugar levels. Seriously- I can face my new eating lifestye happily if I can have my coffee! I drink it with a lot of milk. OH HOORAY!

Once you are eating solids again I have a suggestion that has been really effective for me (I am not sleeved yet but am on medication for chronic pain with a huge problem of constipation)- dried unsulpher apricots work every time. I imagine for chewing to mush they should be soaked in water first or stewed. Recently I had a new injury meaning more medication and started to have the problem and had stopped the apricots- started again- voila- problem gone. They offer a lot of other vitamins and minerals as well. Hope this helps! Obviously not during the non solid phases.

I like that you posted this so there can be some reality checks for what comes to seem like a panacea. I know that with my pain issues and near invalid status outside the Water I will probably still have a fairluy slow time of it. I Know I can lose weight if I eat very very little and the sleeve will help me do that. That said- yep- water it most likely is. Remember with water and weight- a pints a pound the world around!

I just read about this evolution of the sleeve and it sounds so great- has anyone had this? I would love to hear about it, though it would mean going to Mexico as I am pretty sure my insurance will consider it experimental. Thanks for the feedback!