docbree

Wow, Sannah - my heart goes out to you! I'm glad there are people on this site like iggychic who've been through similar circumstances and give such wonderful support and advice. I am rooting for you! (((Hugs)))

I haven't been sleeved yet, but when I went to the consultation appointment the doctor told me I would need 50 grams of protein per day. I am 5'4''... I guess different doctors recommend different amounts.

Hi from Midlothian (south of DFW)!

I don't know about vagus nerve issues, but a bariatric surgeon I talked to said about 50% of patients who get the VGS have hiatal hernias and they're fixed at time of the VSG.

Hi everyone - I had my consultation January 25th and just didn't feel comfortable with the surgeon. I had posted before that I believed he was an excellent surgeon, but didn't really seem to address my concerns and I thought aftercare might be lacking. I have done a lot of research since then, and I just scheduled an appointment with a second surgeon. She is with a large medical group that has a full weight loss program with psychologists, nutritionists and support groups. I think this may be exactly what I am looking for. I hope things go well and I will you keep you all posted.

Thank you all for the support - I feel so much more optimistic, now. Can't wait to meet the new doc and get this process going

What a great husband!

That's wonderful!!! I'm so happy for you.

Thanks!

Congratulations!!! You look great and are doing such a great job - I agree, you are an inspiration!

I know this is really off topic - but PM me if I can be of any assistance.

As a veterinarian - I can tell you that vet school is much harder to get into than med school. There are only 28 vet schools in North America so it's a numbers game. I have had several MDs tell me they weren't accepted to vet school.

I don't have DI but I know a bit a about it. I think you are right to be concerned about dehydration after the surgery if you aren't on meds for it. When you have DI it's just like being on a diuretic all the time and you fluid requirements are higher than for other people. I would speak to my endocrinologist (or internist) about ADH supplementation (anti-diuretic hormone because that's what your body is not making enough of. HTH and good luck.

Wow - that sounds great. That's what I need to find - a comprehensive program. I will look for something like that in my area.

I finally had the information meeting with my prospective surgeon last Friday. I had really been looking forward to it - but left feeling deflated. I told him I was worried about not being able to walk with my rheumatoid arthritis if I can't take ibuprofen. He never answered me regarding that issue - just said the need for other RA meds would decrease. I also think I will need a lot of support after the surgery because I think it will be very difficult psychologically. He never mentioned a support group so I asked if they had one "yes, we do," was the only response - no additional information whatsoever. In general, I felt like he didn't really address my concerns, I got the feeling there would not be much after care. I have decided to get a consultation with another surgeon. I know that the one I went to is very talented surgically, but after the surgery I don't think he'll really be there. There was another patient there who wanted to schedule a band to sleeve revision and the Dr. told him he looked familiar - the patient said "you did my lap band and I saw you referred me for an EGD last month." Kind of felt like we were just warm bodies sitting there. Maybe I'm wrong- maybe that's how all surgeons are and I am just making excuses for my fear and second thoughts. My mom went with me and kept saying she was afraid I would become an alcoholic if I wasn't able to eat junk food, and that I would be even more unhappy being thin with sagging skin than being fat. I appreciate your thoughts

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful responses. I am definitely addicted to carbohydrates - so, unfortunately, my mom was not joking - she is really concerned about what I will do to cope with stress if I can't eat chocolate, etc. I am going to go to a second surgeon. If I don't feel comfortable there, then maybe I'm just not ready. I know this is not something you can undo and I want to be 100% sure before I take the plunge.

Are there any sleevers on this board who have RA? If so, are you able to take nsaids such as ibuprofen? Is the anemia of RA made worse by the gastric sleeve? 2nd part: I am in school this semester (online). I have BCBS of IL which apparently sometimes gives approval in as little as 3 weeks. Should I wait until summer break if I get approved quickly, or would I be able to do homework during the recovery period? I am in a statistics program so I have to be able to concentrate pretty well. Just not sure how cloudy headed and tired I would be during the liquid diet stages. Thanks again for all the great information and advice on this site!

I don't know about the procedure personally, but I have come across it this weekend doing internet research. Instead of actually cutting away a portion of the stomach, they invert it into itself and suture or staple it in to place. It would give you a smaller stomach volume like the VGS, but would be much less invasive. However, it would not decrease the amount of ghrelin in your system (a hormone that stimulates hunger and sweets craving). I hope this helps a little - maybe someone else will have more information. Good luck on your weight loss journey!

Bradsgirl - I am sorry you are having such a hard time. I haven't been sleeved yet, but my friend was about a month ago and she told me it's very common to say "what the he11 have I done to myself?" for the first couple of months until you are able to eat a more varied diet - and the fatigue should get better then, too. I wish you the best of luck and my thoughts are with you. What is PT?

Thank you Gypsy and GM. I will speak to the surgeon at my consultation tomorrow and see what he has to say. I have never had much relief from hydrocodone or tylenol. Ibuprofen really seems to be the only thing that allows me to function. Creams don't really work, either because it's pretty much every joint that hurts. I hope he will have some solutions.

Thank Annie and UPRR. That's really scary to me - I don't know how in the world I would ever function without my ibuprofen.

You look great - what an inspiration!