KOLaficionado

I don't know about any Dr's south of the border, but I would say that if you don't have a lot of cash, the fills are going to put you in the poor house. It took 8 fills to get me to a good level, and they cost anywhere from 150-400 bucks a pop. That said, I recommend the surgery to anyone who's willing to use it right. It is a tool, you'll only loose so much if you're not willing to eat decently right(+ no carbonated beverages) , and do some moderate exercise.

Hello, I had this done when the surgeon had only done a relative handfull of them. But he's great, a prior vascular surgeon, so my big fear of something going wrong and the vena cava being compromised, was well relieved with his particular skills. The surgery took 30 minutes, plus 15 to close me up. I arrived at the hospital at 6 am and was home at 11am. Crazy. It's great so far the port sight was sore for a week and a half, but I was off meds within a few days and the scar is only about two inches long on the left upper part of my stomach. Can't complain:)

I had my surgery Monday and it's now Friday and I almost feel back to normal! The port site and the gas they blow your stomach up with were really the only two pain issues. The gas problem went away in 2 days and I am still having medium pain around my port site. I have two incisions, one little one right under my left boob...and a 2 1/5 inch one in the middle of my stomach on the left. They didn't use stitches just that liquid band aid or whatever it's called. I got to the hospital at 6am and was home by 10:45. I was only under anesthesia for about 40 minutes and then in recovery for a couple of hours. The hardest part was being ready to be wheeled back but having to wait till the doctor got there(for an hour and a half...). I just got in this weird mood and started sweating so I just closed my eyes and dosed. I don't know if it was nerves or something they put in the IV or what, but I just felt soo weird! After I woke up in recovery they had me do a barium swallow and it went right through, and one of the nurses said I'd probably need a few fills before I was happy with my level of restriction. But yeah, I can manage by myself now pretty well:) I'd do it again in a heart beat! Down 4 pounds since surgery and 15 lbs altogether!

Well I just got a bomb dropped on me. My EKG from my pre op came back abnormal and unless my cardiologist will fax over a clearance for surgery, I'm screwed. My surgery is scheduled for Monday at 9am(arrive at 7) My insurance requires it to be preformed at a particular place and my surgeon only does it there once a month. If I don't get the clearance today, it could easily be 2 even 3 months before I can be reschedualed. Talk about going from euphoria to devestation with a phone call:sad2:

I'm so happy for everyone who's had it done already! I can't believe that THE time has actually rolled around! Mine's Monday and I'm not a bit nervous anymore, that might change come the day of, but right now I just want it DONE!!

This diet just makes me mad. I understand you go off carbs for a bit and your liver uses up it's energy store and shrinks a bit making the surgery safer and easier. THAT SAID what is up with all of the pre op diets with all the milk and yogurt, applesause and fruit???? My own doc said eat all the soup you want! ANY kind except la Madeline. Also yogurt and low fat cottage cheese! What the heck kind of good is that going to do shriniking my liver?? I just don't see the point! Sorry for the rave but it's frustrating being on a diet that doesn't seem to be doing any good!