Back~To~Amy

You look great! Congrats on your success!

Good luck today to both of you!

You can apply on their website: carecredit.com You can use it to pay medical expenses but the medical care provider has to accept it. Not all do. You can call the provider and ask them or do a search on the Care Credit website.

My mom has had other abdominal surgery more than once and prefers staples to sutures as they come out easier.

I second this question. I've never heard of staples that have to be removed with a VSG.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry you aren't getting the support you deserve from your hubby. I encourage you to continue in your journey to a healthier you and to cime here often for support. Best if much to you! I look forward to following your journey.

Love your attitude!

Glad to hear your are feeling somewhat better. I hope it continues.

Hey Kim. I'll send you a PM.

I am looking for someone to work out with on a regular basis. Anyone from this area who is interested?

Oops! Didn't know it was a chain. I just thought you liked tropical flavored smoothies. :-) What about making your own at home.? You can pick up a Ninja at Walmart or Target pretty cheap these days and that thing rocks! Otherwise, you could get the 20 ounce one realizing when you do that you most likely won't be able to drink it all.

Very true, but I still don't feel ready for the gym. Maybe after I lose a little more weight then I'll go.

Well, there are a lot of people here who eat very low carb who would tell you there's a lot of carbs in that. I'm not a low carber. I mainly care about getting my protein in and your shake would help that. However, 20 oz. soon after surgery is a lot to get down before it melts. Heck. I'm 7 weeks, 1 day and don't think I could get all that down before it melts. Is there a way you could make 1/4 of it at a time and space it throughout the day. That way you'd be concentrating on getting 5 ounces down a day?

How are you doing? Better, I hope.

Forest Park accepts it because I used it on my sinus surgery there 2 months before my VSG there.

Yes, like bengay patch. You might wanna cover the area with gauze before putting on you patch if the incision is bothering you. That way the medicine in the patch doesn't irritate your incision.

I also have a Ninja and love it. You can get a small one for pretty cheap at Walmart or Target as one poster did from Target.

Good luck to you. I'm sure you will do great! You won't need much for the hospital. Pack lightly. When you feel like it, check back in after surgery and let us know you're doing.

What you're going through is completely normal. I took prescription pain meds off and in the first 4 weeks. I even called my doctor's office 3 weeks postop crying because I was in so much pain. What helped was to use one of those stick on pads that gets hot with a Spanx type garment over it. Hang in there. It will get better. I woke up on the 4th week anniversary with no pain. I was sure it would come back, but nope it hasn't and today I'm 7 weeks postop.

13 a day is his number too. The same two nurses that told me how he is always on time also told me how awesome he is. One even went on to say that, in her opinion, he is the best surgeon that works put of there. Again, I don't know about Dr. Kim, but Dr. Nicholson provides you a hotel room. If you have surgery at Forest Park, you would have surgery with him on Tuesday. A girl I've now become friends with came from out of town. She arrived on Sunday to the hotel. She checked out of the hotel and had surgery Tuesday. She spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the hospital Nd checked back on the hotel Thursday. She had a follow up the next day and was cleared to go home. The hotel was part of the cash pay price of $12,000.00. The other thing is if you are paying cash, the cash price includes all follow up visits for life. Most doctors only include up to a year at most in the cash price. Good luck as you make your decision. If you'd like to talk more about Dr. Nick, send me a pm and I'll give you my cell number. I'd be glad to tell you more.

I can't say too much about how Dr. Kim is as a doctor as I used Dr. Nicholson. But I did have my surgery on June 5th at Forest Park and I can only say wonderful things about my experience there. Everyone I came in contact with was very caring and on top of things. You will love it there. In answer to questions from others, about Dr. Kim's preop diet, I've heard he requires you to use a specific brand of product regardless of whether or not you like it. Also, someone commented that a nurse said expect to wait on Dr. Kim unless you are the first patient of the day. I was told by two different nurses that Dr. Nicholson is always on time unless there is a patient complication which is very, very rare. Good luck to everyone!

Best of luck to you!

I wasn't bitter prior to my surgery, but I did suffer with some depression. My body HURT all the time and doing anything seemed like a lot of work. I always put on a happy face, but inside I wasn't happy. I was "drowning" in my weight and I felt like I was too far under Water to swim to the top. I didn't want to die or anything, but I sure didn't look forward to the future. Now, I'm almost 7 weeks out and down about 44 pounds and my whole outlook on life has changed and more importantly, my whole body doesn't hurt like it did. Today, I look forward to the future. Heck, I can't wait for it. Good luck to you!