4LgrLife_53

A lot of posts on here are over a year old--if anyone still comes here--just want you to know I'm going thru the KC Bariatric Center (Dr. Aragon who works in the same office with Dr. Hoehn and Hamilton), in Lenexa, KS. I live about 20 miles from the Shawnee Mission Pavilion where the KC Bariatric Center is. I have a 4 November 2014 Gastric Sleeve surgery date. I went to their Support Group for the first time yesterday afternoon. What a blessing!! We got handouts from the Physical Therapy Dept as well as exercise bands and did a few repetitions of the exercises on the handouts. After the exercise portion, we broke into small circles by type of surgery, and I learned so much from the other Sleevers that eased a lot of anxieties and worries. I was amazed by some of the people's stories, just like on this site. It was good to hear their success stories up close and face-to-face. The Center also has a clothing exchange at the Support Group, so people can get reduced size clothes donated by people who have lost weight. I liked this part, because once I get my weight down, I know some good clothes will go to good use. Any excess clothes not used after a certain period of time at the Center gets donated by them to local charities. I am so excited to soon be smaller and healthier!

Congratulations Jack and keep up the good work!

I have my Gastric Sleeve scheduled for November 4th at the KC Bariatric Center in Lenexa, KS (Dr. Robert Aragon; he works the center with two other surgeons Dr. Hoehn and Dr. Hamilton). I see Dr. Aragon on Oct 23rd and start my pre-op Protein & liquid diet the following morning. Getting super excited! Good luck to all and best wishes for a speedy recovery (from the surgery) to all.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of my facial injuries (from an assault) that necessitated the removal of my natural teeth, I was only able to get the regular dentures and not the implants because the dentist (and oral surgeon) told me I don't have enough bone to do implants (I also found out that the bone on one side of my jaw is so thin it wouldn't take much to bust my jaw, and it made me more guarded around my facial area). I wish I could have the implants, because I wind up using a lot of Fixodent, Poligrip, and the other pastes to keep my teeth in, and by the end of week I'm in agony from gum pain and soreness and I usually have to go a couple of days without them for things to quiet back down. My dentures are made at the VA Medical Center, but it takes forever to get in, and then about 4 months worth of wait for a new set. It's unreal, but I learned to eat soft foods. Most of my weight gain was from a lack of self esteem and psychiatric issues in years that followed the violent assault. Thankfully I am in a better place in my mind and can now pursue this gastric sleeve surgery to work to get the excess pounds off that have been a detriment to my physical health. I have a 4 Nov date with the surgeon for my Gastric Sleeve.

I am pre-surgery (4 November date) and wondering if anyone else has troubles with horrible headaches. These just started since I started cutting a lot of carbs out of my diet, cutting down on foods (while trying to get more Protein in), and trying to lose a few pounds before my pre-op protein shake/clear liquid diet starts on 23 October. Is it carb withdrawal headaches? These are worse than the caffeine withdrawal headaches I had when I gave up soda pop products about two months ago. Any suggestions? Thanks, Terry

Congratulations on your success! I am so looking forward to the day I can take my XXL clothes to the clothing exchange night and donate them to someone coming down from a 3XL size (or more). That will be heaven!

I started out in the October sleevers forum hoping for an October date, but still start my pre-op diet on Oct 24th. My surgery is officially ON for the 4th of November. Good luck to all the October sleevers! Of course, they'll keep me in mind if anyone cancels their surgery for October, but at least I know I'm finally on the schedule. Prayers for all for a safe surgery and speedy recovery.

Best wishes for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery. You can do this!

Hoping to link up on the forum with anyone who lives in the NE Kansas area who may be patients at the Bariatric Center of Kansas City on Prairie Star Parkway. I haven't been to any of their post-op support groups yet, since I am still awaiting a surgery date. I have met all the other requirements, and my case manager submitted my file to Medicare for final approval this past Friday. I am so hoping for a surgery date soon to begin my weight loss journey. I have opted for the Gastric Sleeve surgery. I met a couple of people at the Patient Education Class, but didn't get their contact info. I was afraid that would have been asking too much at the class. Just want to be supportive of others and get support in this weight loss journey. I noticed a lot of the forum members were from different states and I don't have a problem with that, but thought it might help to find someone who would be a support group friend at the Center where I am going for my surgery and post-op care. A lot of my friends either don't think I am overweight or they say I carry my weight well, but I am overweight by at least 100 lbs and I have significant health problems related to being obese which qualifies me (I hope anyway) for the surgery. My user name is short, as in "For Longer Life". That is my goal, to have a healthy and longer life to spend with my children and grandchildren (as well as friends).

I am super excited right now--my surgery is on for the 4th of November!! Count-down has started. I start my pre-op diet on 24 October.

I just got my surgery date! I was hoping for sometime in October, but my official surgery date is November 4, 2014. I could not be happier at this point (shy of a move-up on the date). I start my pre-op Protein shake diet on Oct 24th.

I think your doctor was too hard on you at your last weigh in. I wonder how many patients don't have emotional issues tied into their weight gain. I know I do. I also know that I can gain 5 lbs in Water weight in a single day. Please don't beat yourself up -- you obviously are making some great decisions to move in the right direction to lose your excess weight as most of us here on these boards are doing. I'm sure a lot of people have slipped on their diets along the way. I have too. Starvation is a quick way to lose headway on your diet though, because after the starvation you'll be eating like crazy after your weigh in. Be honest, even if it means a temporary postponement of your surgery. And be sure to tell them their criticisms of you at your last weigh in hurt your feelings and led to the gain. Bariatric surgery is not the easy way out as some people may think---and those of us who have elected this surgery know we have a lifetime of changes we have to make to reach our goals and stay healthy. We are all at different points (pre and post-operatively). Good luck, and hope all goes well with your appointments. I'm praying for you that your insurance approves you and you have a successful surgery.

I asked my dietitian about the aspartame in the sugar-free popsicles and Jello. Can't find sugar-free of either without aspartame. Seems like the companies that make these products would look to make these products with the safer sweeteners. I have a friend who suffers from severe migraine headaches if she has any foods, including chewing gum, with aspartame in it. I'm writing to these companies to ask if they can make their products with a different artificial sweetener. Meanwhile, I'm going to be taking some of your advice and make my own with those plastic molds you can get at the store for popsicles.

I'm thinking from what I heard from the dietitian and the patient education class, that everyone has different food tolerances after surgery, and some stomachs are more sensitive than others in the first 2-4 months after surgery. I heard that backing off a little off the spices and acidic foods (as in pickles, vinegar) and trying them a tiny bit at a time helps. Also, you may want to ask your doctor about antacids. I haven't had my surgery yet, but just a couple lines of food for thought.

Thank you Linda. Wishing you success in your weight loss journey too. I'm excited about the upcoming surgery (once I get scheduled; awaiting final insurance approval now). I have been miserable at my current weight (242) and have been unable to get it off -- or I get a little off then I gain it back and then some with conventional diets. I know I poured out over $4000 in gym memberships and personal training sessions to try to get the weight off my belly, upper arms and thighs. After falling down (twice in the same day), and breaking several bones, I was wheelchair bound for almost five months recovering from the two surgeries that followed. I'm bouncing back after all the injuries, but now my focus is on getting the weight off and keeping it off, and getting back into decent physical shape (or as close to it as I can with my age). I cringe sometimes when I see the professional football players' profiles on TV and realize I weigh more than some of those big guys. It's a horrible feeling since I am very self-conscious about my appearance. I hate having my picture taken below my chest line because of my protruding gut. When I went whitewater rafting with 7 friends in Colorado about 6 years ago, the river guide put me and one other lady in the front as "ballast" because we were the heaviest. Although it was a safety measure (heaviest people in front to help prevent the raft from flipping when we hit the rapids (category 3-4 rapids), the statement stuck with me in my memory of an otherwise wonderful time. Determined to succeed in losing weight with the help of the gastric sleeve surgery and keep it off and stay fit.

I had my EGD with stomach biopsy done September 12th. I've had them before and knew what to expect, but I can tell you the KC Bariatric Surgery Center (on Prairie View Parkway, Lenexa, KS) was SUPERB! I had to go no food/drink after midnight. No gowns or lab tests were required beforehand. I stayed in my street clothes the whole time. The nurse administered a small anesthetic before placing the IV line, which was practically pain free (other than the little bit when the needle first went into my arm). The procedure went quick and I hardly remember anything other than the nurse helping put the guard in my mouth and spraying the back of my throat, which was painless. I had a little soreness (and not what anyone would consider pain) afterwards because of the biopsy, but nothing that stopped me from eating or drinking anything afterwards. Good luck and I'm sure you'll do fine.

Although I've been a non-smoker all my life, I can relate to the smokers' woes about quitting to qualify for their surgeries. My oldest son and my daughter have smoked since their teens and their father was a heavy smoker. I grew up around smokers too. I can tell you that quitting doesn't come easy. I've heard some good things and a lot of bad things about Chantix, including the possibility of suicidal ideations/thoughts. Be careful and talk to your doctor if you develop any signs of that and remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and only hurts your family and friends (since if you succeed, you don't feel anything). Now coming off my bandwagon (LOL), I've heard from many people that the urge to smoke is lessened if you get those artificial electronic cigarettes (but NO nicotine!!). Get the flavored ones and it goes a little smoother. My son is trying to quit and he has cut way back on cigarettes since starting on the electronic thing. They make all kinds of flavors and they're not nearly as expensive as a carton of cigarettes. Hope this helps, and good luck!! I just finished my EGD (with stomach biopsy), cleared by the psychologist, saw the dietitian today, and go for my patient education and physical therapy consult tomorrow. Hopefully my surgery will happen soon--shooting for October 2014 if possible.

For surgery, rule of thumb is nothing after midnight. For fasting lab work, the posted signs in the laboratory near to where I live says 12 hours is best for accurate fasting lab work, but it ranges between 8-12 hours of fasting depending on orders of the physician or clinic.

I was always told by doctors and nurses that if you pinch the skin up on the back of your hand and if it doesn't tighten back up and relax back down with the rest of your skin right away, that you need more fluids. I don't know how much truth is in that, but it sounds logical. I've also read if you sweat a lot, you need to take in more fluids, so I would guess that amounts to more sipping and it sounds like you've got that covered!! Just be careful with your potassium levels......I found when I sweat or use the bathroom too much I have to take potassium supplements. I found out the hard way when I wound up in ICU when my blood potassium levels dropped too low.

For Darwinlady33: I'm new to the gastric sleeve message boards, and still awaiting my surgery, but I am an avid cyclist. I don't know if you own one or not, but the camelbacks like the military use in the desert are great Water carriers you can put on your back (they look like a small backpack) and they hold a good quantity of water that you can sip thru a straw. They're not that expensive either. That may help when it comes to doing your long treks on the cycle.

I had my gall bladder removed about 7 years ago. Other than the doctors waited too long to take it out, causing the catch bag to bust (then they had to cut more than just a regular laparascopy), but other than that, I had no complications afterwards other than gas pains (very mild) and itch due to adhesive allergy to the big bandage they had on my chest. About the only thing I could suggest is (1) you have residual gas left in you that will cause pain (which I've heard you get when the sleeve surgery done too!) or (2) you might have tried lifting something too heavy too soon after your gall bladder was removed. There are weight and activity restrictions after that surgery too. If it doesn't let up soon, I suggest you call your doctor/surgeon to make sure nothing is wrong. Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

I think my surgery will happen sometime in October. I have my EGD procedure this Friday, followed by patient education class, dietitian, and physical therapy consult next week (17-18 Sept). Already got the seminar, psych approval and first surgeon visit out of the way. I'm so looking forward to this journey to finally make progress on getting some of this excess weight off. All other methods failed. Just trying to keep my patience knowing the journey will start soon. I've been miserable at this weight along with the medical problems I have, so each day that goes by I know is one day closer to getting the right tool to get the weight off and keep it off.

I was told they put a fluid/dye into your new stomach before they close your surgery up to make sure there are no leaks. As long as you follow doctor's orders after that, it minimizes complications.

Amazing amount of info here! So grateful for all the info. It lessens my fears about the surgery. I know anxieties and fears will always be there, but it sure helps to know and learn all I can beforehand. One issue that crosses my mind is the hair loss. Hopefully it won't come out in hanks-after years of excessive stress I lost a lot of hair (major thinning). Aren't the Vitamin supplements supposed to help prevent things like hair loss? Are Vitamins tablets, chewables, gummies, or liquid? Or which ones work best?

I bought the big book on the Gastric Sleeve (Kindle version), and it has been a great help!! I read more and more each night in preparation for my gastric sleeve surgery. I want to learn all I can about the surgery, pre-op, post-op, etc. I got some new kitchen gadgets to help me with my post-op (life long) diet too---mainly a mini food processor. Thanks for all the great info!! I am still waiting for my dietition appointment (already set for the middle of this month) and my patient education class. By then, hopefully, I'll have all the other pre-surgery workups done. Waiting for appointment for the initial EGD too. Not worried about that part of it, since I've been thru those before. I've been assigned to Dr. Aragon with the KC Bariatric Surgery Center on Prairie Star Parkway in Lenexa, KS. I did not see his name in the Surgeon's area of the profile page. He is a new doctor there, and works with Dr. Hoehn and Dr. Hamilton there.