MoMo12onTheGo

Hi. I am just wondering if anyone is using or has used Banner Gateway Bariatric for their surgery? My surgeon is Dr. Al Chen. I would appreciate any feedback on details or overall experience. Thanks!

Hi. I was told I only needed 3months for my insurance and just today I called to see what was taking so long since I was told they submitted last week and am now being told I need 4months. SO, I am going in on Wednesday the 1st to count for my 4th month and she wants me to have lost 5 lbs since they saw me on the 17th. Well, I haven't gained, but didn't know I was supposed to be losing either. (Had not yet started pre-op diet) Does anyone know of any quick tips to lose a fast 5 to make weight on Wednesday? (nothing unsafe please) I appreciate any feedback.

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@majorsmama.. Yes, I've lost each month as I was told I had to. It's not just that the story changed, but that it changed then again and then again. I am going to bring this up on Wednesday when I am in there. thanks for the support all who responded.

@@MichiganChic .. after successfully losing my weight once and doing it with lifestyle change and a trainer, I became that statistic of being the 95% of people that cannot maintain the loss long term. So, I am with you and will not allow myself to fail at this. I will do everything I am asked to do by my team and if I start to slide, I will ask for help to get back on track. There is no way I am going through all of this and letting my tummy be cut off and stapled inside me (freaks me out) just to go mess it up. ~~Taking control of my life, for GOOD this time!

@@Lani789 ... "I've heard you are wanting to get healthy and so do I. I have chosen a gastric sleeve bariatric surgery and before you think it's not for you, please hear me out." Obviously, you never want to say anything that makes someone feel attacked or judged and since you are doing it yourself, you are probably the best person to chat with her. Good luck.

@majorsmama... I was told that by front desk.. she said it would give me my best shot at being prepared for an April slot. So, I do the 3 hour prep class Wednesday morning then go over for final with DrChen and that dreaded weigh in. I'm gonna do my best to make weight. I just dont get how insurance saying 3 months and we were to submit last tuesday now turns into 4months and i have more to do? When things change, I lose faith and get uneasy.

@@Okinawa girl .. what is a military diet? @@Elode ... probably a good idea.. I've not been having BM's so I will ask the pharmacist something safe to get that going. Thanks.

My only concern is that there is no long term data on the titanium staples that we will forever carry with us. I fear one day there will be one of those commercials "if you or a loved one had titanium staples....." yeah, that freaks me out lol

My surgeon told me the sweet spot is month 1-6 so to do as much as humanly possible to lose the bulk of the excess weight during that window. He said after that you are just like everyone else working out and changing your lifestyle and losing weight fairly slow & steady.

I wasn't going to tell anyone, but decided to tell my Lash lady. I trust her to stay hush about it. Everyone knows I've been dieting, exercising and changes my lifestyle so I guess it will just appear all my efforts are really paying off

@@VickiCat .. I have spray vitamins for D and B, but crush or open the others and mix it with my morning protein drink. My surgeon suggested it and it works well without feeling like I can taste it.

@@taweedeegirl .. In general, insurance approves at a BMI of 40 or more and also a BMI as low as 35 if you have co-morbidities such as sleep apnea, diabetes, joint disease, etc. Obviously, all insurance is different but these are the general guidelines as my surgeon explained them to me. Hope that helps.

@emma88... Think I should just get the pre-op going? Actually, that's sort of obvious so DUH, I should have thought of it lol... Thank you, Emma.. I have 4 days so if I go full pre-op it's a safe diet and should yield some results.. Thanks

@@majorsmama .. I have medicare who used to require 6months. Then last month they said medicare now only requires 3 months so I hustled and got everything done. Now they are saying I am required 4 months? sigh...I am going in April 1st for my 4th month, but you know they didnt think I needed a 4th month or they would have scheduled me an appt when i was there last instead of telling me they were submitting. Not sure what the heck is going on over there, it makes me uneasy about it all. My friend had her sleeve surgery (not at banner) yesterday and is home today with all good things to say. She said the gas pains are the worst of what she is going through and I think you hear that a lot.

@@stephnichols .. in the same meeting we learned that leg cramps are common and it's probably a combo of potassium and Water deficiency so get yourself a potassium Vitamin crush it or open it and add to a shake or food and obviously water water water.

@@stephnichols ... we were taught by the surgeon and the NUT, you are allowed to open the prilosec or crush whatever other PPI you get and add it to your protein shakes or whatever other mashy food you are allowed. You dont have to swallow the pill. I just learned this last night , I wasn't aware either that it was ok to open prilosec, but it is. Best of luck .. and just advice.. stay away from pizza.. that's a long time out before you will probably be ok with that.

@@majorsmama .. We probably have the same insurance because I am only required 3 months as well, but they will not count December which was my initial consult. I am totally done with all requirements. It was all wrapped up in a little bow last Tuesday and Dr. Chen said I would probably be in surgery in 2.5 weeks so get my diet going (not full pre-op) but wean myself down because at any time I would be getting a call. MAN I AM ANGRY!!!!!

@@majorsmama ... I agree I love Dr. Chen.. the front office staff.. well.. hmm let me see we submitted last Tuesday and he told me to check in a week because it only takes about a week but the front office sits on it so that's what the 3 weeks is about they tell you it will take. I called today and guess what? They have not submitted. She said they need to go over my EGD from last September then they can submit. Umm they have had that since December at my first consult, I brought it with me. I was beyond angry.. BEYOND. I am on a time crunch and Dr. Chen was trying to help me so we did everything required but I did it quick and walked all my stuff in so it couldn't get lost. If I am not on the table by the 18th of April I have to wait until the end of May due to having to fly and needing a month of recovery before that. I am so down over this, it's super upsetting to me.

@@samanthafromAZ .. sounds good.. when is your surgery schedule for?

@@rnsamantha .. Hi.. I went to my first support group at Banner Gateway on Monday.. the Q&A one.. maybe I'll see ya there

@@della street .. I agree with you about "where the heck are all the AZ bariatric patients?" Banner Gateway is even a Bariatric Center of Excellence so obviously they are a busy place. hmmm...well, my surgeon submitted to my insurance for final clearance last Tuesday so I am hoping to hear back this week. He said, "The office staff tells you 3weeks, but it only takes one normally, so call next week if we haven't called you." haha. I plan to call Thursday. That will be a week and few days in. He says I have everything else so once that is back we can schedule for April The office manager there had a sleeve surgery 5 years ago and she is very vocal about #2, so it's not really TMI. We should know everything we are going to face so thanks for your candor.

@@della street .. Hi.. Thanks for the comment. I've had a very tough time finding anyone from AZ on here unless they're just not really verbal on posts. How are feeling 8 weeks out?

Today was my final appointment with my surgeon so we could submit to insurance. I had a list of questions with me because I have heard some of the most outlandish things and just wanted real answers. I hope this helps someone else as well. He confirmed NO gum/straws/alcohol for one full year. GUM=some dingdong swallowed a glob and they had to do surgery to remove it as it had clogged her tube leading to her tummy. STRAWS=this gives too much air a chance to get in, causing painful gas and bloating. ALCOHOL=You will NOT react the same to alcohol as you did prior to surgery, beer has carbonation and other drinks have sugar. It's to be completely avoided. At my Bariatric center they use a 36F Bougie, standard. These means your new stomach will be approximately the size of a pen. The bougie is NOT your new stomach, just a tool used to aid in sizing during surgery. Your surgeon may vary, but he said this is most common across the board. (Anything less than a 33 is known to cause exacerbated reflux issues.) I am fortunate and neither catheters or drains are used unless there is a complication. He said that is more common practice than not these days to reduce the risk of infections. --The permanent Titanium staples will not go off in an airport, cause x-ray or MRI issues. Scar tissue will grow over them-they are part of you for life. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you should have an all in hospital visit of 24 hours. --Your new stomach will have a leak test performed on it before you are woken up, so no need to concern yourself with that. Concerns over painful gas in your shoulder and arm: due to the gas they push in you during the surgery and gasEx will not help.. Walking it off and moving around works the quickest. Like when your baby was constipated and you pushed their knees to their belly to push out air. DO THAT, if you can find someone to help you. Realistic weight loss: In the first 6 months, if you follow all directions and are without complications, you should lose 60% of your excess weight. (If you are 100lbs over according to charts/bmi-you can expect a 60lb weight loss) This is only my personal experience with my surgeon. Obviously, check with your own bariatric team for specifics on how they do things.