Missnurse

I was able to find this on Vitalady.com. My first surgeon did labs and never mentioned anything about taking vit d even though I was low in my my numbers. When I switched surgeons he has all his patients take 50,000IU weekly.

One of my main reasons as well for the surgery. I have heard somewhere on the forums that there was a study of 500 women who were unable to conceive prior to surgery and they were all 100% able to conceive afterwards. So I hope that means a yes for me.

Another Dr. Jossart patient!! How exciting!!!

Nutrition eval was super easy..I had to bring in my food journal and I wasn't really good at keeping track at that time. She gave me a packet of papers of tips for help losing weight and to keep on track before and after surgery. Also gave me information about what Vitamins and such I will be to be taking. She wrote out a little plan for me of what I needed to work on prior to surgery to prepare. She gave me a food scale and weighed me. Easy visit nothing to worry about and it took maybe 30 minutes.

Not sure about the lab work...I had my first round of labs just to check Vitamin levels, liver function tests and such this was at the start of my 3rd supervised weight loss. I have another set due 1-2 weeks prior to surgery date. The upper GI was tough for me. I was told it was worse than an EGD but I'm not sure. For me I had to drink a super fuzzy type of drink like poprocks and soda and down that super fast. Then I had to drink this nasty glue like substance pretty quickly as well. Then I laid on the table and had another substance that was thinner and drank that thru a straw and twirled around on a table. It was over in maybe 10 minutes. It was gross but manageable. The tech told me that many times patients get constipated and make sure to drink lots of Water afterwards. I did but I had the complete opposite and was sick the rest of the day. The substances went right through me in no time.

missnurse81 Just started using it..

Hi... December 7th date for me. Surgeon is Dr. Gregg Jossart and will be sleeved at California Pacific Medical Center. Two day liquid preop diet but thinking of starting it sooner. Can't wait Natalie

So I can't really help as far as using Care Credit in Mexico goes but I was a poor college student with no health insurance and needed dental work done. I applied for care credit and it was great. It is legit and easy to use. Good luck

I had this dream last night where I just had the surgery and just popped out of bed and was walking around the hospital with no pain whatsoever and everyone was just amazed at my wonderful recovery (lol) and I had no problems getting any liquids down. I ended up being able to eat more than I did preop. I remember thinking that I wasn't sure if the surgery even happened even though I had the incisions. I woke up all confused wondering if anyone else has had these dreams? Of course the surgery is on my mine 24/7 literally..

Danielle, I haven't had surgery yet... But I have always known that I have lost interest in other areas of my life. I don't go out and do certain things because I guess I'm hiding behind my weight. I am having my surgery 1 day before you and I have already started doing things that I would usually shy away from. I don't know if family members are getting annoyed with me since only my parents know. Maybe my mom cause I talk to her daily about this surgery but her and my husband are my #1 supporters. I am sure my bff is annoyed cause I am always texting her or chatting online about it or giving her links to before and after pictures just because I am amazed at what this surgery can do and that I also cannot wait for it to happen to me. I am constantly on this site reading as much as I can. I hope the time flies for both of us!! Natalie

I found a website that sells this dose that's why I'm curious. My surgeon wants me on it weekly for idk how long. I'll have to ask at my preop appt I guess.

I am not on TPN but have patients who are. They are not wls patients tho so I would just say take it slow. Remember TPN isnt forever and their goal is to slowly reduce your time on it until you are off of it compelety. I don't have much advice since I am pre op but I wish you all the best and hope you recover super fast!

TPN stands for Total Parenteral Nutrition basically if someone cannot eat/drink or get their nutrients in a patient is placed on TPN going in through a PICC (specially place IV)

I had a super easy experience. I had my consult one month and had to go back for two more months for my 3 month supervised weight loss. After the first visit I completed all my requirements within a couple of weeks. Then I just waited for the remaining 2 months to arrive. The 3rd visit I was notified my surgeon was closing up his practice and switching all patients to another surgeon. I did not have any desire to go to this particular surgeon so I searched another one and made an appointment. I then went to his information session which he requires. Two days later had my appointment and was scheduled that day for surgeon. The next day my paperwork was submitted and within 24 hours I was approved. To me it was super easy and I am so happy that other surgeon closed practice because I wouldn't have found my new fantastic surgeon. He even uses a smaller bougie so that excites me. I can't wait until Dec 7th...42 more days. Good luck to you!!

Initial Surgical Consult 7/19/11 - Didn't need referral Finishing requirements 7/11-8/11 Labs, Upper GI, CXR, NUT and Psych evals 2nd Surgical Consult 8/18/11 Found out my original surgeon is closing practice 9/28/11 (best thing that could have happened) 3rd Surgical Consult 9/30/11 New Surgeon consult 10/18/11 (Also when my surgery date was set) Sent off for approval 10/18/11 Approved 10/19/11 Surgery is 12/7/11

My surgeon does not use a drain.

So I just got word that my surgeon to be will be closing his practice in mid Oct. I've been seeing him since day one and never had to have a PCP referral. Friday will be my 3rd appointment with only 3 months of medical supervised diet. Wasn't going to be until Nov 1st I believe until my info was submitted to insurance because I had to have insurance for 1 year before they will cover the vsg. So now I feel like throwing my hands up and giving up... but I wont. I feel so let down. I have gotten my hopes up high that I was going to be having surgery in December. There are currently two surgeons in the one office so all of my surgeons patients are going to be transferred over to the other surgeon but there are 75 patients who have all their requirements completed including me. How will we all be fit in to the schedule with all of the other surgeons patients?? I called another doctor who said I could transfer everything to him. They don't do the vsg so I was thinking maybe I'll have to go with bypass even though that scares me. I cannot afford other surgeons program fees of $5k that just seems insane to me. Guess I'll have to wait for who knows how long.....

Thanks longer-life I actually made an appointment with a surgeon in the bay area and will be seeing him Oct 18th. I have finished my requirements and the new surgeons office can pick up right where I left off. I am not giving up nor having a surgery I am not 100% about.

Yes he is transferring my care to another surgeon but he is going to be over loaded for a while. Just not sure how he can handle all these extra patients. I spoke with the office manager at length today and will meet with my current surgeon Friday. I will be calling around tomorrow to possible search out other surgeons that are available as well.

Nooo I would not remove steri strips. They will fall off!! You can clip the edges if they start peeling back. Unlikely to happen but the steri strips are there to prevent a wound dehiscence (open up).

I called around and had person references for a few wls surgeons in my area. One surgeon was $5,700 for their program fee and another was around $4,500. I called one more office and spoke to the receptionist at length and found out this surgeon did not charge a program fee. I couldn't believe how different it was from surgeon to surgeon. The surgeon I went with was the one who did not charge a program fee of course and they follow us for life with on staff nutritionists.