BubblesCT

AWESOME! Yay...it must feel so good! Super happy for you.

Great information as always! Thanks a million. So happy you are doing well.

So happy for you Tex! Thanks for keeping us posted. Sending you my best.

Absolutely, you got a deal. I will need your support and happy to help you. I believe helping others is a great way to stay accountable. This has been a long struggle for me and I know the surgery alone will not "fix" my relationship with food. I need accountability!

We have so many parallels.. thank you universe for bringing us together via this forum. Wow, it feels so good not to be alone on such a frightening journey. Everytime I come off the phen I blow up. So hard to get off. My heart is definitely not like it used to be . I can feel the negative effects yet being morbidly obese seems like a greatly risk factor. I explained to the doctor that everyday off of it, I’m white knuckling it. Hanging my a thread to not eat my arm. My hunger is insatiable. It has messed me up big time. Praying this procedure will do the trick and save my heart from any more damage.

Hi AmyAlexis, thanks for the encouragement. Did insurance cover your nutisionist visit? Did you have to wait until after your nutisionist consultation to schedule your procedure? How is your restriction feeling? Are you hungry for more food? I picked up some of the Vitamin Water Zero... Yum! Thanks for the suggestion. Trying to get used to post procedure diet now. Are you taking a probiotic and/or fiber supplement? If so, is there one you recommend? I’ve been reading a lot about how lean people have different gut flora then overweight people. Considering that, I wonder what probiotic would be best for an overweight person’? So many to choose from... I want my new belly to be as healthy as possible. Thanks again

Thanks for your encouragement hope4momof4. You are absolutely right, after receiving sage advise from you and others, I'm ready to take a long hard look at my eating behavior and make some changes. My goal is to eliminate sugar/flour/grains (my body has an inflammatory response to them), and eat three small meals a day and a light snack like cottage cheese for a evening snack. I have decided to come off the phentermine before my surgery to see if I can adjust behaviorally without it. I will hit the grocery store tomorrow to meal prep. Making lemonade at of lemons!!

Thank you, what you said really reaignates with me. It makes sense and It has motivated me to start focusing on my food choices without phentermine before my procedure. I have taken myself off it befor so I can handl the side effects. I just need a good plan so I don’t make poor choices. Thanks a million!!

Thanks for that info. I appreciate it. I hear what you are saying, my biggest concern is for my heart. The reason I'm having the surgery is because the meds stopped working and if I go off of them I balloon up. I'm having the Endoscopic Sleeve so maybe because it is less invasive there is less risk?? Who the heck know... Thanks

I'm so sorry to hear about this. What you described is my worse fear. This hits home for me, I had severe complication during my second C-Section because of scar tissue. I was advised against having more children. In researching bariatric procedures the deciding factor is what the complication from scar tissue will be. I met with one surgeon who recommended the lap band, when I described my scar tissue issue, he replied, that it would not be a problem if done by a skilled surgeon. I'm going with my gut, and not pursuing the lap-band, my scar tissue history brings back too many traumatic memories and I do not want future complications. I have decided to go with the new endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure since it is less invasive. However, my doctor does not recommend the ESG for prior lap-bander, she explained that the technique of shrinking the stomach is similar to stomach's of individuals who have been banded and they do not respond as well. I guess the body is that smart. It's like.. been there done that..I know that trick. I assume your surgeon removing a bunch of scar tissue put a toll on your body. The next 6 weeks will provide your body the time to heal. When he goes in for the VSG hopefully you will be scar free. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I understand how frustrating and disappointed you are, hang in there.

OMG..I just figured how to respond with the quote bc above. Thanks and I will.

O geez... I just figured out how to respond with the quote box above...I'm a forum rookie! It went well, she was really nice and informative. I found the desk staff and nurse who took my vitals to be rude but they were busy, so I will let it slide. I had to wait 2 hours to see her which was painful. I was able to complete my bloodwork today. I meet with the Nutritionist on December 15th. I wish I could get in sooner because I can not schedule a surgery date until the nutritionist gives her the OK. The thought of getting through the holiday's at the rate I'm going scares the heck out of me. I've gained 20 pounds in just the last 2 months. I will take my H Pylori test tomorrow and check that off my list. I've decided to work on eating well and chips some of these lbs off while I journey toward my procedure. Thanks for checking in.

So just an update on my consultation for the ESG procedure. My day started by ordering a Starbucks latte for my hour commute, after paying the cashier, I drove away WITHOUT my latte. What a dope. My appointment was scheduled for 11am in NYC which takes me a little over an hour without traffic. I checked in at 10:45, and waited patiently for two bleepin hours. At this point my caffeine withdrawal is setting in and my tummy is A rumbling. The doctor was pleasant and I didn't feel rushed. She informed me that they had me scheduled for a 5 minute follow up appointment today. Fortunately, the doctor honored my consultation, and spent plenty of time with me. After my consultation, she gave me a Pre-Op Evaluation form. I will attach a picture of it below. I was able to complete my bloodwork at the office today, I figured what's another hour. They weighed me, which I have been dreading. I have gained 20 pounds over the last 8 weeks. So my official start weight is ..... 194lbs. Dr. Sharaiha asked that besides the bloodwork and H-Pylori test, that I meet with a nutritionist. While I was waiting to get my blood drawn, I scheduled an appointment with the Nutritionist (December 15th) . I attempted to schedule a surgery date but was denied. She said I could not schedule an appointment for surgery until the meeting with nutritionist was complete. I wonder if it's because when she asked me what I had for breakfast, I frankly replied, "a cupcake" and when she laughed, I said, "well since I'm being honest, I had two". Maybe it was a red flag that I have an eating disorder...yikes. I just assumed the majority of overweight people eat disorderly.... Dr. Sharaiha reported that they have 4 years worth of data in the US to measure results. She stated that the US has been doing the procedure the longest. I assume she does not equate the ESG to the similar procedure performed in other countries. She reported that most people do not need revisions. She compared the ESG revision to that of the lap-band. She said that some individuals needed a little tightening to increase their restriction. She warned against relying on possibility of future tightening as a crutch to possible slack.. She reported that in over 200 ESG procedures she has performed, she has revised(tightened) very few. She reported that the average amount of ESG's lost 19% of their total body weight compared to 30% of VSG's She stated that the part of the stomach that is "stitched off" from the rest is not susceptible to disease or ulcers. Comparison of complications to a VSG is, that leaks and ruptures can, and do occur with ESG, however it is rare. She was not concerned about my history of scar tissue and inflammatory disease associated with an autoimmune disorder. For me the food I eat negatively impacts my health to the degree in which surgery is worth the risk. My goal is to cut out sugar/flour/wheat/grains and eat 3 meals a day until my surgery. I want to get my weight down as much as possible to maximize the surgery assisted total weight loss. I'm sure I have missed some stuff but my brain is starting to putter out. I"ll be back.... I welcome any and all questions. If you are out there browsing this site and afraid to speak up in the forum...private message me. You are not alone, it takes a village.

Congratulations hope4momof4 on your consult date. I'm here to support you and share my experience.

Thank you!!

Thank you Amy Alexis for your support and encouragement. I will keep you updated. I'm equally nervous and excited! I fear that for some reason I will not be a candidate. This procedure is a glimpse of hope from my current state of being held hostage in a overweight, unhealthy body, that lacks control over eating. I will post an update tomorrow. Thank you Tex Slim for sharing your experience, knowledge and insight. Hope4momof4, you ask great questions, I have gained invaluable information from you asking others about their experiences. So grateful for this forum and all if you guys!!

Great to hear that you are doing well, Tex Slimm, AmyAlexis, and Melesg. Your recovery and progress are encouraging! I'm keeping you all in my thoughts and wish you continued success.

I will make note of the small sips of water helping with gas pains. Thank goodness for the anti-nausea meds! The thought of cooking bacon and not devouring is dreamy. Feeling hope through your posts.

I'm so happy to hear your recovery is going well. Your suggestion are so helpful, I will add them to the list I have compiled for Tuesday. It's reassuring to know that your hunger has subsided, hunger is my biggest challenge. When I'm hungry my will goes out the window. Great to hear from you. Rest up and look forward to your updates.

Hi Tex Slim. I'm happy to hear you are doing well. Thank you for your updates, it helps me better understand what to expect. I have my first consultation this Tuesday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you AmyAlexis, for reaching out. It is so helpful to get your input on Dr. Shariah and the staff at Cornell. Congratulations on your 14lb weight loss! I will private message you so we can connect on the phone. Your kindness is most appreciated.

Hi hope4momof4, thank you for sharing your story with me. I will ask the doctor when I meet with her next week if she has any information on long term data of ESG procedure performed in other countries. I'm also curious to know what the revision would entail and the cost. I'm happy to answer any questions and share as much detail as possible to help those that are considering the procedure. It takes a village. I will update after my appointment next week.