Meeting my Surgeon Today!

[Lee 19]

Hello,

I've been reading everything here for the last month. I started my WLS journey on 11/10/2009 at Kaiser Orientation. I knew I didn't want RNY but thought the LapBand sounded like a good option. After much research, I know that the LB isn't for me. I don't want to deal with fills and possible problems down the road. I know that Kaiser Richmond, has a great program but they encourage everyone to have the RNY. I'm hoping that Dr. Baggs will have an open mind and discuss the Sleeve with me.

Things I want to bring up with him:

I had Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2001-2003. Should it flare up again, I don't think I would be able to take the RA drugs with the RNY.

My mom had Celiac Sprue, a malabsorption disease that's herediary. I'm already showing signs of having it. I don't want to compound malabsorption diseases.

I have hereditary cholesterol issues. It spiked when I was raw vegan for three years. I'm taking HCTZ for blood pressure that's a little high.

I take motrin for ankle surgery 17 months ago that still causes pain when I exercise.

Wow, I sound like a train wreck! Is there anything else that people have discusses with their doctors to help sway them from RNY to Sleeve?

I appreciate all the posts that I've read about questions to ask my doctor. I'm armed with my questions and concerns for my appointment this afternoon. Am I missing anything? I really hope I come back here tonight to post that I'm on track for a Sleeve!

Thank you all for sharing your stories because they've all helped me come to an informed decision about what I want from surgery.

[Tiffykins 673]

Hey Lee, your list sounds really great. I hope you come back tonight with good news. If this surgeon isn't open to doing the sleeve, I hope you are able to find a surgeon who will give you the sleeve that you want.

Keep us posted ! ! !

[cajun 46]

I agree with Tiff. You are purchasing a service and have every right to purchase what you want, not what someone else says they want to give you. Sounds like you've done your research...kudos to you!

[Lee 19]

Back from my appointment with great news! Tiffy and Cajun, thanks for your supportive words.

I had my spiel all laid out for why I want the Sleeve, but before I had a chance to even go through it, the doctor told me that he thinks the best WLS for me is the Sleeve! I had a ton of questions about the surgery and he answered each of them. At the end of the consult he told me that he really liked that I came with my book of questions and hopes that I continue to do so.

I know that Kaiser generally asks for a 10% weight loss before surgery. He told me that my recent CT scan shows that my liver is in great shape and gave me a surgery weight goal of 230. YAY! I have my consult with the psych next Friday.

He told me that I can look forward to surgery in February or March. I still have the NUT and the case manager, plus some things to work out at the office so that I'll have relatively stress free time away from work. He said that the Sleeve patients generally can return to work after two weeks for a desk job.

I'm jumping up and down with joy. I'm going to join the ranks of the Merry Sleevesters.

My biggest concern is long term success, not in terms of weight loss, but medically. The doc explained that there's less information available about the long term with the Sleeve. Anyone else with the same concern?

YAY!!!

[cajun 46]

What do you mean by "medically"?

[Lee 19]

What do you mean by "medically"?

Cajun, when they started with the LapBand, they didn't expect to run into problems. Now several years down the road, they're finding problems. That's what I meant by medically. We have no way to know about long range success, or do we?

[cajun 46]

Cajun, when they started with the LapBand, they didn't expect to run into problems. Now several years down the road, they're finding problems. That's what I meant by medically. We have no way to know about long range success, or do we?

Actually the VSG has been used for many years as a part of the duodenal switch WLS, so it is not a new procedure. Many patients who are super morbidly have the VSG initially and after a year or two, the rest of the duodenal switch was completed, and this surgery has been performed since 1988.

Since some patients did very well after having just the VSG, they decided to not proceed with the "switch" part of the surgery. That started research into using the VSG alone. Of course more research is being done and I'm sure there is more to learn.

[Lee 19]

Thanks Cajun. Your weight loss is awesome!

[cajun 46]

Thanks Cajun. Your weight loss is awesome!

Thanks! Another pound this morning, down to 229. ! It amazes me too. I have not been in the 220s for about ten years.

I thought I was fat as a teenager, but was looking at some old photos yesterday, and I actually looked pretty good! By this time next year, I'll look like that again! Am so excited about my transformation. It's the best Christmas present I could ever give myself. What a blessing.

[Tiffykins 673]

That's awesome news Lee ! ! ! I really didn't have any concerns about long term results with the sleeve since it's been done as the first step to the DS, and gastrectomies have been done for decades. I read a lot of information on just gastrectomies, and it was comforting.