Hop_Scotch

I know nothing of HIPPA as I am in Australia, so can't have an opinion whether they did or didn't violate the regulation. What did they violate? In my opinion, good old plain human decency. Laughing about a patient's arms or other body part is not letting off steam or venting in a black humour way, they were being downright nasty and mean spirited towards a patient/client. It doesn't make it any less so that they were among themselves behind a closed door thinking they couldn't be heard.

Less than two months now for my ESG. Date is set for Tuesday 16 October, time off work booked and authorised, Sydney accommodation and airfares booked and paid for. Bought tickets to see Book of Mormon while in Sydney. All my appointments are set: dietician and behavioural coach one month before the procedure, doctor day before surgery, surgery :), infusion day following and dexa scan plus my follow up appointment with the doctor one week later. I have a friend coming with me who will be there up to the Thursday, I was going to be travelling solo, however, the doctor insisted that I have someone with me for 48hrs following the procedure in case of complications. It is a day surgery, no overnight stay in hospital is required which I am pleased with. While Christmas is many months away, in Australia lots of workplaces are busily planning Christmas dinners, even my sister got in early yesterday, sending a save the date for a big cousin/family dinner out the Saturday before Christmas, and because we have family coming home for Christmas we are even planning our Christmas day. There is also a small group of school friends that meet up with once or twice a year, we will be having a get together in late November/early December. There are lots of what could be awkward food situations coming up, fortunately I have plenty of time to plan how I will manage meals out and responses to any comments about what I am consuming (or not consuming for that matter). I wont't be telling very many people at all about my procedure (one so far, the friend above), but I am assuming that people probably won't be too interested with the food on my plate, but will be focussed on their own meals/drinks and enjoying the social situation. I haven't updated my weight but have put on the two kilos lost, I am disappointed in myself, but today I am recomitting to my health! My doctor said he didn't care if I didn't lose weight before the procedure but to make sure I didn't put on weight, but with a two week pre op liquid diet I assume I would have lost some weight before the ESG. I will lose the two kilos gained and I hope to lose another three before my ESG, anymore than that will be a bonus, the more I lose before hand, the less need to lose after! At least five kilos is not unreasonable before 16 October. Now to work on the emotional / boredom eating and the sweet tooth so that goal is achieved. I will be going back to basics from here-on-in, lots of water, walking, occasional glass of wine, portion control but with increased protein and reduced carbs, nil added sugar foods (sugar friend here, one skerritt of sugar and its a full on sugar fest). Hadn't realised I had waffled on so much, fortunately I don't do it too often! I hope to see more ESGers posting on the ESG sub forum, the support we receive and give is invaluable!

When I first heard the term slider food, I assumed it was food such as ice cream, mousse, foods with lots of creamy sauces or gravies, mushy type of foods full of sugar, fat, cream. I guess foods (high in calories) that would easily slide into the pouch or pass a lapband. It wasn't until a few weeks ago when I was reading on a WLS facebook page someone's post about the slider foods they had been consuming, chips, crackers, etc, I though eh? I found the article posted above which was good reading. I have read a lot of the bariatricpal magazine articles since and most of them are really quite helpful and interesting reading.

Sorry I can't help as I haven't had WLS yet but hopefully someone with some experince will chime in soon.

I am booked for my ESG 16 October, it feels like forever, but days are now counting quickly. My BMI is just under 40.

Has the rash developed any further? Is it an itchy rash?

ESG has a stand alone procedure hasn't been around for all that long really, care to share the research that you have about it's long term viability. We know that ESG on average has lower weight loss than VSG and RNY, which in of itself isn't an issue, there is less restriction and no malabsorption, and its a trade of for weight loss option that is non surgical and minimally invasive. Yes it isn't covered by insurance in USA or medicare in Australia (but is currently under revew for that), but then for a lot of people in USA they self pay for a lot of WLS. Not sure what your point is there. So do they know why your restriction didn't hold?

Here is a link to the article http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0199244 It lists the authors and their competing interests as well as what organisations funded the research.

My doctor will not do ESG on anyone who hasd previously had a gastric balloon as there is a high failure rate there, but do they know why the stitching had come apart? Did your surgeon do a bad ESG eg too loose stitching? Do you know how many ESGs they have done and what that surgeon's failure / revision rate is? I am a member of three facebook ESG groups and while there are people on there who haven't had success or much success there are so many more who have lost plenty of weight many longterm and maintaining. There are many reasons for failure just as VSG or RNY fail and until the reason is determined we can't say ESG (or even VSG and RNY) is a waste of money.

Hi there, unfortunately the ESG subforum isn't all that active at the moment, which is probably not surprising its a fairly new procedure and there aren't too many people on this forum who have had an ESG. There is a Facebook page (ESG USA page) that is a bit more active than here, if you are concerned about privacy with your fb, you could create new profile with an alias, that's want I did. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1935274250043041/

Hi there, unfortunately the ESG subforum isn't all that active at the moment. You may get a response if you leverage off one of the other existing threads, and quote some of the more experienced ESGers. If their settings allow they will receive an email with your post, and they may return to reply. Failing that, there is a facebook page (ESG USA page) that is a bit more active than here, if you are concerned about privacy with your fb, you could create new profile with an alias, that's want I did. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1935274250043041/

I still read the ESG subforum, been trying to increase the activity here without much result. It's great to get an update from a ESGer. Your scale weight may not be coming back down as quickly as you'd like but you have achieved a major non scale victory in getting through that danger zone!

As much I would like by ESG to be undertaken sooner it won't be happening until mid October. Marisol it won't be long before you will be starting your pre-op diet. Let us know how you are progressing, good luck!

Won't be a win win if breast implants are not something you'd want for yourself, something you feel pressure to do because of your own insecurities. What would be a win win is if you worked on developing assertiveness (would cost a lot less than breast implants) and started commmunicating assertively and honestly with your husband, and he with you.

If they did I imagine they would test women for STDs too.

I am a member of a few WLS support pages on facebook, it saddened and frustrated me the other day to see someone three weeks post op asking if it would be too soon to eat ice cream? I was one of the first to post saying its would be best to discuss with their surgeon/nutritionist before consuming ice cream. The post and comments disappeared between my log ins so I can only assume that a comment war ensued and the post was deleted by the moderators. Yesterday the poster posted again, prefacing the post 'no food police'...saying how they had ice cream and had enjoyed it without any issues. Person says they didn't much icecream. I blocked that person so I didn't see any further posts of theirs. Why did I block the person? I couldn't bear to see the self-sabotage, the slippery slope of eating what is presumably an additive food for that person. I was saddened and frustrated that someone who would undertake surgery (along with the risks and complications that may arise) that costs thousands of dollars would risk a successful outcome so early in the game, that they would risk their health. I was frustrated that either their surgeon/nutritionist hadn't educated them properly or the person had purposely ignored or defied those who they had trusted their body with. This person could be me in the future, but I sincerly hope that should I find myself on a slippery slope that someone would attempt to offer a helping hand before I hit the hard downward slide. I am slowing learning that not everyone wants to be helped and we can try, but at some point we need to let them go so as they hit rock bottom, for them to find the what they need within themselves to stop the self sabotage and make positive moves to better outcomes. Note by the way, I realise that at some point, that people will eventually reach a point when treats and other foods are part of a balanced diet and lifestyle, my point above is not about that or ice cream in particularly, but about potentially self sabotaging a successful result or putting health at risk, and possibly not giving a shite about it...that and the fact that not everyone can be or wants to be helped.

Is an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty an option for you? Using an endoscope the stomach is stitched internally to create a sleeve. It is minimally invasive and ideal for those overweight but with a lower BMI.

Hey fellow St. Louisan! I’m having the VSG done at Mercy in Festus soon (fingers crossed I get insurance approval soon) but have considered the gastroplasty. Being a year out now may I ask your thoughts and if you’d still choose this method? Hi, I hope Jim responds to you, but as I have just said in the post above, ESG subforum has been quite quiet lately, I posted a link to a FB ESG group in the post above that you may find some useful info,

Hi there, unfortunately the ESG subforum here has been fairly quiet lately and it possible you won't get much of a response here regarding ESG. There is a USA ESG facebook group I am a member of, not overly active but members are responsive to questions. It's possible you may find a UK ESG facebook group too. If you use FB and are concerned about privacy re joining a WLS group, do what i did, I set up a second account to join the WLS groups. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1935274250043041/

I wonder if the responses will vary according to our own perceptions as to whether we have control of the outcome of events in our lives. Those who perceive they have little control in the outcome may say luck or skill of the surgeon, whereas those who feel they have control in the outcome would say it diet, exercise or their will to succeed (assuming it was strong). Then there are those who straddle both sides. Some of the factors I would consider important are mental health which could go hand in hand with emotional stability, diet and supportive family/home environment. Stable mental health, emotional stability and supportive family/home environment would hopefully help support a lifestyle (ncluding diet) conducive to weight loss and then long term maintenance.

Even with birth control should have been using condoms particularly if its just a hook up - safe sex doesn't mean just protection from pregnancy. Even if condoms are not fun for anyone, I would think catching a sexually transmitted disease wouldn't be fun as well.

How is everything going for you nowadays?

Hey TransitionKate, just wondering how you are faring now that is a few months down the track?

So its been a while since any ESGers have posted, hopefully everyone is still well and continue to have losses or are successfully reaching their non scale goals. Any updates anyone would be happy to share please?

Hey ESG_Gal how did your procedure go? Still feeling any gas pain?