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I was sleeved on Jan 6th. I went to the driving range about 6 weeks later and walked 9 holes by the end of March. I walked 18 once this month but was wiped for 3 days. I find I just don't have the stamina to walk 18. I now ride 18 but am still very tired when I'm done. I usually come home and nap for 2 hrs! I'm having some slight anemia problems so that might be why I get so tired. Priscilla

Hello Everyone, I am feeling conflicted about getting the LAP-BAND® instead of the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. Let me tell you what recently happened to my 66 yr old sister (BMI 36 or 37) regarding her recently diagnosed Type II diabetes and ongoing GERD. She had been prediabetic for several years but maintaining a constant fasting # of 117 and her A1c's (??) were always within a good range. She went through a bariatric program in AZ and had a surgery date scheduled for the LAP-BAND® on May 12, 2010. She did her preop on May 5th and had her 1st surgeon visit on May 6th at which time she found out the results of her fasting preop blood work. Unfortunately she finally crossed the line into diabetes with a 130, whereas just 2 months earlier she was a 117! She had a 2 hr glucose tolerance test the next day to verify and started the medication May 10th. Her surgeon now refuses to do a LAP-BAND® on her and said that she now definitely needed the GBP due to her Type II diabetes. She said even if my sister were still prediabetic, she would have still recommended the GBP due to her severe GERD. Her Dr said she has been doing these surgeries for so long (she's also on some board of bariatric surgeons) that she now knows that mostly all Type II diabetics or those with severe GERD who get the LAP-BAND® continue to struggle with both, whereas her Type II diabetic patients who get the GBP actually get it reversed to the point where medication is no longer required! She also said those with severe GERD do much better with the GBP and it very often gets totally resolved. After much discussion with her family, she became comfortable with GBP now being her best option and is now in a waiting mode for her insurance to approve the GBP instead of the LAP-BAND®. I can't help to now question my own decision to have the LAP-BAND® instead of GBP since I have severe GERD too. I also have a hiatal hernia that my surgeon is going to repair at the same time but there is a poll here on another thread where the majority of Lap Banders who voted, continue to have GERD! My sister doesn't even have a hiatal hernia with her GERD. BTW, my BMI is 36 and I was denied by insurance so now I have to appeal it which gives me more time to sort this out for myself. The bad news is that my surgeon's practice does Lap Bands only, so if I want to switch to the GBP I would have to enter another program and start all over again. I need to hear from others any comments or experiences you may have had like my sister's but your surgeon still allowed the LAP-BAND® and your diabetes and GERD resolved or didn't resolve??? So sorry for the long post! Priscilla PS. My 44 yr old niece in VA who is in excellent health but needed to lose over 90 lbs just had a GBP on May 10th instead of the LAP-BAND® on the advice of her surgeon because he said he has found that his patients that have over 70lbs to lose (I have 60 to lose, I'm only 4'10") are much more successful with the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass.

Priscilla[/font][/size]Hi, I had my VSG done in Mexico 7 weeks ago. My surgeon suggests an Upper GI and certain blood work be done at 3 months. I saw my PCP last week and she agreed to order the tests. However, today she called me and said after speaking with her administrator, she would not be able to order the tests because she is not familiar with bariatrics. She said I would need to self refer myself to someone who would follow me in that aspect. The best she could do would be to have their referral coordinator send me a letter with a list of possible Dr's that might follow me and I could make the necessary contacts myself. She said I could also look on the internet to see if I could find someone since I found my surgeon that way. She said she would still follow me for my high cholesterol, HPB, and pre-diabetes and order those blood tests. I have other co-morbidities too. I would really like someone to follow me because I also have severe GERD for which I'm taking medication but has been worse since surgery. Has anyone else run into this problem? What did you do? Thanks, Priscilla

Great news! I got a new PCP today...an internist who also has other bariatric patients that he follows and does the routine testing for. My 1st appt is next Fri for a 40 minute "establish new patient" visit, then I have an appt for a physical in the beginning of May. Thank you everyone for encouraging me to find a new PCP. Priscilla

Hi - See my answer to "groovearmada." Priscilla

My surgeon recommends your 1st check up 3 months after surgery. It consists of an Upper GI (check for strictures & leaks?), and the following blood worK: CBC (to check for anemia and lack of Vitamin B12) SMAC 24 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (sugar, cholesterol, Calcium and hepatic functioning) I know my surgeon has many patients that don't bother with the Upper GI if they are not having any problems. I am having severe reflux so I think it would be best if I had it done. Priscilla

Mine was left open to close on it's on and I just had my surgery with Dr Aceves on 1/06/2011. Priscilla

Thank you for all your replies. I'm going to find a Gastroenterologist to follow me and I'm also going to start looking around for a new PCP. Priscilla

He use a 36 bougie and then oversews the staple line to a 32.

Hi Slowkat, I promised updates on my VSG 1/06/2011 (2 weeks out today) surgery with Dr Aceves in Mexicali Mexico. I lost 13 lbs pre op from around Thanksgiving till surgery day. Since surgery, I have lost another 9 lbs for a total of 22 lbs. Note I'm only 4'10" and started out at 174 less 22 lbs = 152 lbs. I have another 42 lbs to get to goal so the sleeve is working for me. I had a bougie of 36 which got oversewn to a 32 and is the standard size my surgeon uses. Another woman who had surgery the same day as I did requested a bougie of 40 which got oversewn to a 36 so I know my surgeon accomodates his patients after discussing what difference the size would make for them. Did you make any decsions yet? Priscilla

Hello, Can someone tell me what their DR considered day one post op - was it the day of surgery or the 1st day after surgery? I had my sleeve on 1/06/2011 and Phase I Clear liquids is for the 1st 10 days. If I count the day of surgery as day one, then yesterday was day 10 and today I could go on full liquids, otherwise I have to wait until tomorrow. Please answer ASAP because if I can start full liquids today, I'll be super excited to start Phase 2 today! Thanks so much, Priscilla VSG 1/06/2011 Dr Alberto Aceves, Mexicali, Mexico

Kris- LOL...no, I don't know what I'm going to have yet tomorrow but that chocolate pudding idea sounds great! Did you get the E-mail that Gaby sent to me? Seems like an awful lot more on there that what had been given to us so far. I starting to wonder if maybe it's for band patients instead of us. Think I'll write to Gaby again just to make sure! I'll let you know what she says. Priscilla

Hello, I really appreciate your response. I finally contacted Dr Aceves' staff and they set me straight, just as you said...day of surgery is day zero. Thanks Again, Priscilla

Kristin, I just sent you an E-mail I received from Gaby today, that day one is considered the 1st day after surgery. His E-mail also included an more detailed post op diet than what we have received so far. You must have sent this note while I was composing mine to you! Are you kidding, of course I remember you! You're a sleeve buddie for sure. Priscilla

Hi Nikki, I'm 61 and had my sleeve surgery on 1/06/2011...wish I could have had this available to me 30 years ago...LOL! Priscilla VSG 1/06/2011 Dr Aceves Mexicali, Mexico

Hi Stacy 160, I didn't have anything on the day of surgery except for the IV fluids. The day following surgery is when I had my first clear fluids such as gatorade and clear broth. Thanks for responding, Priscilla

Oh that will be great Elizabeth! And your surgery is with Dr Aceves too? I arrive in San Diego at 10:33 a.m. on the 5th via AS Airways. How about you?

Who is doing your surgery? Priscilla

Who are you having your surgery with? Priscilla

I have hypothroidism (Hashimoto's) and am scheduled to have the Sleeve surgery on Jan 6th with Dr Aceves. He and Dr Campos have both reviewed my medical history because I have other co-morbidities but neither of them ever mentioned that it would be a problem. I can let you know how the weight loss goes for me after I have it done, if you like. Priscilla

My surgery date is Jan 6th with Dr Aceves in Mexicali, MX. I'm flying in to San Diego on Jan 5th from New Hampshire. Anyone else going to Dr Aceves around that time that would be interested in staying in touch. I'm going alone. Priscilla

Yes, Kris I'm going alone. Still working on getting my flights.