SParkle

Wow - thats a fab weightloss Gary!! And its great to keep track of inches lost too! Looking forward to seeing 'less' of you in the future! Kathy

Thanks deedee - it'll be interesting to see what others say, I think he worked thru with a mathematician taking all of his case historys into play....so as a rule of thumb it could be this......but with no guarantees..... I'm ever hopeful tho!!

You look fabulous.... congrats!!

Thinking of you! Good luck. Kathy

Smelly Melly, Congrats on your date!! And Thanks for posting this, as its one of my concerns and worries. And Tiff - thanks for the response! I certainly feel much more positive about this side of it all. Kathy

Can I ask were you all worried before your surgery? I've read countless posts where the hunger has almost all gone...but I can't help but worry about will it work for me... all that money (self paying) and I really don't want to disappoint myself or DH...I was in tears today at my consult at having to admit to being a dieting failure after 21 yrs of trying.... this for me will be the last chance saloon, I really can't fail this one.

Well..... just got back from my first consult. It went very well. I was SO nervous, as my weight issues are such an emotional thing for me, but it was ok. I saw a dietitian first, then a Physcologist, then the surgeon. They were all nice and asked questions about previous dieting and my eating habits. The surgeon then went thru everything, answering all my questions, and it illustrated to me that all my research had stood me in good stead - there was nothing he told me that was new. He uses a 32 bougie, and has done 160 VSG. No deaths, and only 3 incidents where further hospitalisation was required. He triple staples with sutures, does a leak test on the table and then 2 more, at 24 and 48 hrs post op. They do what seems like all the standard pre op tests, bloods, thyroid, ECG, xray, upper digestive tract etc etc..... I would need to do a 7 day pre op diet if i went with him, and that would depend on further questioning from the dietician to determine exactly what it would entail. Its a 2 night hospitalisation (I am only one hour from the hospital) if there are no complications. He reckoned with a current BMI of 35.3 and weighing 93.5kg/206lbs that I would loose 73% of excess weight. Which would take me to about the 68kg/150lb zone. So.... I now sit tight and wait for consult no 2 with another surgeon for a second opinion and see what he has to say. And also to talk everything thru with DH, as he went with me... and as it involves him too. Thanks to you all for your posts on this board, as without this I would have gone in knowing less - I felt prepared having researched it all.

Aww.. thanks Tiff....can't wait til the next one now.... at least going away for the weekend took my mind of it all for a bit, although I can't admit to being that good foodwise!! Kathy

Thanks so much to you all for your replies - sorry for the delay in response but we went away for a long weekend and have only just got back. Kathy

Thanks Carrie. Kathy

Hi there Carrie Good luck for tomorrow.... my consult went well... chatted first to the dietitian, then Psych, then the surgeon... My next one is next Monday, so I can then at least compare and contrast the two. Kathy

Thanks for the reassurance Mini me.....I so want this to work!!

Well..... just got back from my first consult. It went very well. I was SO nervous, as my weight issues are such an emotional thing for me, but it was ok. I saw a dietitian first, then a Physcologist, then the surgeon. They were all nice and asked questions about previous dieting and my eating habits. The surgeon then went thru everything, answering all my questions, and it illustrated to me that all my research had stood me in good stead - there was nothing he told me that was new. He uses a 32 bougie, and has done 160 VSG. No deaths, and only 3 incidents where further hospitalisation was required. He triple staples with sutures, does a leak test on the table and then 2 more, at 24 and 48 hrs post op. They do what seems like all the standard pre op tests, bloods, thyroid, ECG, xray, upper digestive tract etc etc..... I would need to do a 7 day pre op diet if i went with him, and that would depend on further questioning from the dietician to determine exactly what it would entail. Its a 2 night hospitalisation (I am only one hour from the hospital) if there are no complications. He reckoned with a current BMI of 35.3 and weighing 93.5kg/206lbs that I would loose 73% of excess weight. Which would take me to about the 68kg/150lb zone. So.... I now sit tight and wait for consult no 2 with another surgeon for a second opinion and see what he has to say. And also to talk everything thru with DH, as he went with me... and as it involves him too. Thanks to you all for your posts on this board, as without this I would have gone in knowing less - I felt prepared having researched it all.

Right, having chatted things through with hubby after reading loads of stuff on here and the net I have booked 2 consults, one for March 3rd, and one of the 15th. I'm also compiling my list of things to ask as I think of them, as I know I'll forget somethings when I'm in there and be totally overwhelmed with it, and prob break down in tears about my weight when asked!! (But then I guess they are used to that right??!) I'm looking forward to it, but the cost is an issue, as we will pay, and its a lot of money, so I have tried to offset that against what we would save by my eating habits changing and me not being able to eat as much in house or in restaurants....and also that needs to be countered by the fact I would need a totally new wardrobe!! Luckily both surgeons are local to me, within one hour car journey, one in Valencia, Dr Ferrer, and one in Alcoy, Dr Baltasar. I feel I might like Dr B more, but have to see both to have a comparison anyway. I did look further afield, but even with lower costs, by the time you add in flights back and forth and check ups etc the costs may well work out the same if not more. So....I'll keep you informed, exciting times!! :biggrin0:

Thanks for the replies..... see my new thread about the consult I have just had.

Lynda - good luck, I'm seeing a surgeon today for my first consult so its exciting times. I am also worried about the pre op liquid diet as our life is sometimes hectic on the social front so timing for me will be something to fit in as well, but if I could I'd have it done tomorrow!! Kabranda - good luck for your op....I'm feeling apprehensive for you already!!

Thanks Tiff - I have my long list of questions and will see the first surgeon tomorrow.... so will let you know what I think after chatting to him.

Hi Carrie and welcome. Like you I'm just preparing for my first consult, tomorrow... I've read a whole load of information both on this site and around the internet and have come up with a list of questions to ask the surgeons. I know I'll forget the questions if they aren't written down so I'll just print them off and make notes when talking to them. I have 2 booked, one tomorrow and another on the 15th, so I can compare the two and see who I feel comfortable with. I know I'd rather see at least 2 surgeons to get the different opinions and to have something to compare. Good luck with your consult.

Hi Michelle Congratulations!! I'm so jealous (still waiting for my consults...!) but wishing you all the best.

Thanks for the link Tiff.... I'll check some of them out and see what I can get this end as well.

OK - So I'm thinking about the sleeve and have 2 consults booked, I have been reading about the protein drinks that you have post op....and am a tad confused by all the info and also what I find online if I do a search.... :biggrin0::scared0: Whey powders - are they the same thing? You make them up into a shake? Or should I just be looking for protein drinks? Are we talking the same stuff body builders use or should I be looking at gastric op products?? I live in Spain so I think products here will be limited, but I know of a couple of shops I can try, or I will resort to online shopping when the time comes, but I do like to be prepared!!

Congratulations!

Another thread I was reading about scars prompted the following.... Can I ask whereabouts peoples scars are?, Do they always use the same areas or does everyone/each surgeon vary? If you have previous scars would they be able to reuse that area to avoid any more?

If in doubt then cover up with sun block anyway.... I think it can still get thru, as you often see those sunblock costumes they put kids in on the beach as a total cover up.

Thanks for posting all that Tiff - I think I have a lot of reading to do!