phyllser

This is a real struggle. I found out last week that my doctor wouldn't see me again to talk about scheduling surgery until I lost 10% of my body weight... the whole shrink your liver thing! I am anxious to get on with this, so a week ago today I started this "crash" diet. I am down a little over 10 lb. but its miserable! I'm having one protein drink in the morning, then at lunch time maybe a small salad with just a "splash" of dressing & vinegar, sugar free jello with a tiny bit of fruit later on in the day, water, tea, sometimes a little tomato juice. I had a small bowl of cantelope yesterday, too, and now I have some strawberries. But I've had about 450 calories a day. I've been depressed & cried a lot, but I love getting on the scale in the morning because its going down! Hang in there gang!! We're going to do this! :clap2:

Hi, Thanks...I am watching the tomato juice because of the sodium. Already having trouble with water retention.....swollen feet & ankles. But 5 lb. loss first two das of my "hunger strike"! Where in Ontario are you? I grew up in Buffalo NY but live in Everett WA now.

Hi, If you go to the top of the coumn & click on Thread Tools you'll ee an option to subscribe to this thread.

Well, I know its for my benefit so I've resigned mself to the idea of limiting my diet to Optifast, some green veggies, maybe some strawberries & occassional tomato juice.

My doctor told me he would like me to lose 10% of my body weight prior to surgery. That was a month ago. What I found out today is that he won't do the surgery until I lose it, so it was more than "I'd like you to.....". I wish he'd let me know it was a mandate & not a suggetion that I try. I was eating 800-1000 calories/day for the first three weeks after that initial appointment. I was down 7 lb.! Then I got discouraged because I started to retain fluid & I blew it. So I gained the whole 7 lb. back again & now I'm starting over. So now I decided I'm going on a liquid diet until I lose it..... Optifast, tomato juice, coffee, water. I'm discouraged & a little angry, I guess. I told the nurse coordinator, "If I could drop that much weight, why would I be pursuing this surgery??" I want to have the surgery ASAP because we go south for the winter! :faint::help::omg::angry

I used this site when I was exploring my options. Surgical Review Corporation - Locate a Center I don't see Creighton listed yet.

Hi, I am new to the site. I am planning to have my surgery this summer... the sooner the better. I went to a seminar in Palm Springs CA, done a lot of research & I'm currently reading a book: Laproscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding by Jessie H. Ahroni. I've had one appt. at Virginia Mason Clinic in Federal Way WA with Dr. Jefferey Hunter. I'm waiting for transfer of my medical records from OK to WA. Hopefully that will be accomplished soon. Once they've been reviewed, we should be setting a surgery date. I wish I'd done this a long time ago. I'm 63 & I'm a little apprehensive because of my age & things like high blood pressure, :embarassed: sleep apnea :notagree! I need to lose about 150 lb. At least, that is MY goal! :heh: Glad to find this site, thanks to an email friend who told me about it. Thanks, Sherry! Phyl

Hi, Caolin, I am on Medicare because I'm on SS Disability. When I was doing my research, I was told that there were only a couple of WA state surgeons who met Medicare's "Center of Excellence" criteria & accrpted Medicare patients... one in Spokane, Dr. Oh, whose office told me they had a 3 yr. wait for Medicare patients, and Dr. Hunter, who agreed to see me almost right away. I couldn't find any others, so went to him.

<p>Jen,</p> <p>thanks for your response. Can you help me find your 50+ group?? I've looked & looked & used the "search" & can't find it Thanks.</p>

Hi, I just signed on here. I live in the Lake Stevens area.... east Everett. Seeing Dr. Hunter in Fed Way because I had trouble finding a doc who would take Medicare and Medicare mandates going to a "Center of Excellence" designated doctor/facility. I hope to have my surgery this month or next (at Virginia Mason in Seattle). I'm waiting for medical records to be transferred from OK, then reviewed to see if I need any other consults/test before proceeding with setting a surgery date. I need to find support locally... support group, face-to-face meeting, etc.

Thanks, Devana. I will look for that thread. I am trying to find the photo area, too. How do I get there?

Oh, I'm going to Virginia Mason Clinic in Federal Way WA & seeing Dr. Hunter. Phyl

Hi, Amber & All, Wow! Amber, you are young. I am 63 & wish I had done something like this a long time ago. I've had my initial consultation & done a lot of research, attended a seminar. I'm waiting for my medical records to be transferred from OK to WA. Once they've been reviewed we should be ready to set a surgery date. I'm very anxious to get this surgery behind me & get on with some weight loss!!:clap2: