Any Sleever's from NY?

[kwikwits 20]

kenbr14 - Dr. Ren is excellent -- she is bariatric surgery super star! Dr. Ren is now Dr. Ren-Fielding because she

is married to my surgeon -- Dr. George Fielding. The only reason I didn't use Dr. Ren is because Dr. Fielding used to be fat -- he has been lap banded since 1999. When I initially had my surgical consultation with Dr. Fielding I was going to get the lapband. It was Dr. Fielding who suggested VSG. He even told me to make an appointment for a 2nd surgical consult so I could research VSG and see if it was for me. I had my surgery at NYU June 1, 2011. They will keep you there for 3 days to make sure you aren't "leaking" i.e. bleeding internally. I have been very pleased with the NYU Weight Management Program since my surgery. I am down over 100 pounds from my heaviest weight and 101 pounds from what I weighed when I first went to NYU for my surgical consult. VSG was right for me. Currently I can eat just about anything (but my tastes have changed drastically since I was 100 pounds heavier) -- I can't eat a large amount of food. I can eat 3 - 4 ounces of food -- possibly more when it is sashimi. I prefer to eat Protein mostly but I'm not totally carb free -- I just can't eat much so I prefer to fill my sleeved stomach with Protein first -- also I feel that carbs make me fill full faster and I haven't gotten in the grams of protein I need to keep healing (it isn't 1 year yet so I still need protein to heal my surgically altered stomach) and to keep me losing weight. I am still losing weight but slower than I was in the first 6 months. I had lots of different issues transitioning to solid food but in time things got better and easier. My only side effect that continues is I developed gastric reflux -- which I treat with omeprazole (Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid). I don't eat as many tomatoes, or citrus as I used to because of their acidity. I take a B12 sublingual tablet daily too because taking a ppi (proton pump inhibitor) interferes with your ability to asorb Vitamin B12. More importantly, I feel great! No more high cholesterol, my blood sugar is normal, I don't take any medications anymore. My knees don't hurt, my back doesn't hurt and I can move quickly and easily.

Good luck to you on March 1st!

[rosiegirl 6]

wow - congrats kwikwits! Sounds like a really successful story! You give me encouragement in that I, too, have been having issues w/solid foods (I'm only 5 mos out) ..... but I know that it will get better in time .... thanks for such an inspiring story!

[Willow216 91]

Hey New York Sleevers!!

I am having my surgery with Dr. Dakin from Weils Cornell/Presbyterian Hospital on 68th Street on 3/14/12 (just got my date yesterday, Finally). Nervous has heck but excited for the new change in my life. I have read alot of the blogs on this chanel and it has given me alot of information and encouragement. I was wondering basically how long of a hospital stay there will be, I have heard of 1 to 3 days, (I really don't like hospitals LOL). Good Luck everyone on your journey and I wish you all Great Success!

[Willow216 91]

Hey New York Sleevers!!

I am having my surgery with Dr. Dakin from Weils Cornell/Presbyterian Hospital on 68th Street on 3/14/12 (just got my date yesterday, Finally). Nervous has heck but excited for the new change in my life. I have read alot of the blogs on this chanel and it has given me alot of information and encouragement. I was wondering basically how long of a hospital stay there will be, I have heard of 1 to 3 days, (I really don't like hospitals LOL). Good Luck everyone on your journey and I wish you all Great Success!

5' 4"

Weight 250

Goal 135-140

[rosiegirl 6]

assuming there are no complications - 2-3 days sounds right ... I unfortunately caught pneumonia while I was in the hospital (I think my lungs were in bad shape to begin with) and was there for 4 days (although they wanted to keep me longer, I insisted I go home cause I knew I would feel better once home) ... good luck to you -- hope you have a great journey!

[Willow216 91]

Hi Rosiegirl,

Thank you for the response! I hope you are in great health today after your pneumonia experience, I had walkin pheumonia and I know how that is and how awful a person can feel, but I can't imagine having it right after VSG surgery. Thank you for your well wishes.

Many Blessings to you!

[Willow216 91]

I am haing mine at Weill Cornell in NY

Gusmom who was your surgeon?

Denise

I am having my VSG done at Cornell Weiss with Dr. Dakin also on 3/14/12, I have only met him once and he seems like a real good surgeon. Any opinions?

[Willow216 91]

I had my surgery at NY Presbyterian Cornell Weill last April--I couldn't say enough about how well it went--and I was a very high risk patient, I have lost 134 lbs. in just over a year

I am having my surgery with Dr. Dakin at Cornell Weill on 3/14/12. Seriously nervous but he seems like a decent surgeon and his office staff is awesome. Were you in the hospital very long?

[losetobemeagain 9]

I am having my surgery with Dr. Dakin at Cornell Weill on 3/14/12. Seriously nervous but he seems like a decent surgeon and his office staff is awesome. Were you in the hospital very long?

I love him, I don't really care for to many other people in his office his PA and I had it out once over a prescription for prilosec that she didn't want to give, but after speaking to him the pharmacy called me and told me my prescription was ready, his nutritionist is kind of Condescending if you ask me, and the last time I went there they forgot about me and took 3 patients ahead of me. But again he is excellent, my hospital stay was awesome with great care from nurses and residents and beautiful views to boot. My liver was to fatty and he found an umbiblical hernia when he got in there so he couldn't do the single incision the the incision he made are so tiny. He used a size 40 bougie(?) I went in on Wed July 13 and left that friday. I got me a private room because I had some problems withanesthesia ( which is all me nothing to do with the hospital or him ) I am so happy to have had him as my surgeon. I will probably send you home with something for heartburn if you have it, a stool softner and pain pills, you will need a pill crusher.

My restriction was really tight in the beginning and I had bad chest pains from it which lasted about 6 weeks I don't know if it was just my body or the way he cuts so just a warning in case you chest hurts right after you know what it is, because I woke up in recovery scared to death wondering why my chest hurt so bad. At eight months out I can probably eat about 3 oz of food, so my restrition is still pretty tight, I am starting to get my hunger pains back so I am eating more meals thoughout the day, in the beginning I didn't have to snack and had to remind myself to eat my regular 3 meals now I need a snack between lunch and dinner and one after dinner.< /p>

I'm still losing but it has slowed down pretty much since 6 mos post op only about 1 -1.5 lbs a week before that I averaged about 3 lbs a week. I've lost 88 lbs so far and have 15 lbs till goal.

[Willow216 91]

I love him, I don't really care for to many other people in his office his PA and I had it out once over a prescription for prilosec that she didn't want to give, but after speaking to him the pharmacy called me and told me my prescription was ready, his nutritionist is kind of Condescending if you ask me, and the last time I went there they forgot about me and took 3 patients ahead of me. But again he is excellent, my hospital stay was awesome with great care from nurses and residents and beautiful views to boot. My liver was to fatty and he found an umbiblical hernia when he got in there so he couldn't do the single incision the the incision he made are so tiny. He used a size 40 bougie(?) I went in on Wed July 13 and left that friday. I got me a private room because I had some problems withanesthesia ( which is all me nothing to do with the hospital or him ) I am so happy to have had him as my surgeon. I will probably send you home with something for heartburn if you have it, a stool softner and pain pills, you will need a pill crusher.

My restriction was really tight in the beginning and I had bad chest pains from it which lasted about 6 weeks I don't know if it was just my body or the way he cuts so just a warning in case you chest hurts right after you know what it is, because I woke up in recovery scared to death wondering why my chest hurt so bad. At eight months out I can probably eat about 3 oz of food, so my restrition is still pretty tight, I am starting to get my hunger pains back so I am eating more meals thoughout the day, in the beginning I didn't have to snack and had to remind myself to eat my regular 3 meals now I need a snack between lunch and dinner and one after dinner.< /p>

I'm still losing but it has slowed down pretty much since 6 mos post op only about 1 -1.5 lbs a week before that I averaged about 3 lbs a week. I've lost 88 lbs so far and have 15 lbs till goal.

Thank you for your experience and opinion of Dr. Dakin and his office your info is invaluable to me. I am nervous as heck!

I agree with you on the dietician, I have Ms. Illiana, and I have noted an "air" about her but I'm there to do what I gotta do so I take the information I need and pay the rest no mind . I also have been recently diagnosed with the "fatty liver" but my doctor states that wouldn't delay surgery since the surgery will help get rid of the fatty liver issue, he states most people with an obesity problem has this condition. I also have a small hernia for a couple of years, I haven't told Jill, the insurance intake person, because I thought it might delay my surgery and I have already had to delay it due to the H.Pylori virus they found in my stomach, that delayed me for 3 wks, so I hope they can work around the hernia, it hasn't bother me and I figure I will have that repaired next year after this surgery (I don't want to deal with 2 procedures in one year due to work).

I am so relieved at the opinion you gave on Dr. Dakin, I only met him once when I first went in for consultation and he seemed kinda stand-offish to me, my next appt with him is on 3/6 and I hope it is a more reassuring visit . I haven't had any issues with the staff so far but thanks for the "heads-up" just in case. I have seen you photos and you look Great! I will put some of my up but I am going to wait until I lose a few before I put up a pre-surgery photo, I am ridiculously photo sef conscious and after I lose a few I will feel better when I have a better pic next to the "icky" pic, LOL

Thank you! It's great to have someone's opinion, experience and your advisements with Cornell Weill and I am way more comfortable than before.

Many Blessing to you on Your continued Journey and I'll let you know how it things go! Bye for now.

[losetobemeagain 9]

I also have, I haven't told Jill, the insurance intake person, because I thought it might delay my surgery and I have already had to delay it due to the H.Pylori virus they found in my stomach, that delayed me for 3 wks, so I hope they can work around the hernia, it hasn't bother me and I figure I will have that repaired next year after this surgery (I don't want to deal with 2 procedures in one year due to work).

I didn't even know I had the Hernia so mine wasn't found till he went in, He said he did a partial repair, didn't want to start messing around with the mesh to much after cutting my stomach, he said he was more worried about me getting an infection then repairing the hernia at this point, besides he later told me if I decide to have body contouring after I lose the weight, the hernia repair could work to my advantage with insurance. My nutritionist is Liz I do exactly what you said get my info and go, but since the surgery I have not gone to see her in the office I do all my appts. by phone it's easier for my because I live in Long Island. I have one next month.

And yes I don't know if he is shy or stand-offish like you said but he is good and an artist as far as my scaring goes, my pain meds were making me sick and they were changed right away, it's a great hospital because it is a teaching hospital so there are so many people around all the time to help because everybody is teaching or learning, I like that I didn't have a drain, or staples or all the other stuff I read about on here and only a 2 day liquid diet muahhhh I love him for that lol....

The worst part for me was walking myself the the operating room lol they didn't wheel me in and my operating room was at the end of the long hall I remember looking back and waving bye to my husband and just felt so scared, like I was walking to my death, I started crying and everyone in that room was so sweet petting my head wiping my tears, they were so great. So the moral of that story is, don't be scared because now you know someone else that took that walk, and I can tell you that now looking back it wasn't that scary and that was actually the walk that saved my life and not the walk to my death...

Oh and I never posted a picture of my before until after I lost weight either. You can see pictures of my view on Facebook under the same name.

[losetobemeagain 9]

Hey New York Sleevers!!

I am having my surgery with Dr. Dakin from Weils Cornell/Presbyterian Hospital on 68th Street on 3/14/12 (just got my date yesterday, Finally). Nervous has heck but excited for the new change in my life. I have read alot of the blogs on this chanel and it has given me alot of information and encouragement. I was wondering basically how long of a hospital stay there will be, I have heard of 1 to 3 days, (I really don't like hospitals LOL). Good Luck everyone on your journey and I wish you all Great Success!

no more thing the next morning you will go down for the xray to check for leaks, obviously you wont be able to drink anything before that, but after that you will get gatorade and I think tea? I don't really remember I stuck with the gatorade for fear of dehydration, after that it's mushies, you go straight to mushies, I believe I had oatmeal, yogurt and Jello brought up to me, now obviously there was no way I could eat it all, as a matter of fact I wasn't even hungery, but just a note they want you to be able to eat mushies' before they send you home, don't be scared that it is going to slow down your weight loss it wont, as a matter of fact I think it helped because I didn't hit that stall that everyone else seems to have when they go from liquids to mushies. and don't be surprised when one or two bites fill you up, don't pust it or force it, I followed the nutrionist rules and stop once i get that feeling that i've had enough and I've never gotten sick from over eaten.

[Willow216 91]

I didn't even know I had the Hernia so mine wasn't found till he went in, He said he did a partial repair, didn't want to start messing around with the mesh to much after cutting my stomach, he said he was more worried about me getting an infection then repairing the hernia at this point, besides he later told me if I decide to have body contouring after I lose the weight, the hernia repair could work to my advantage with insurance. My nutritionist is Liz I do exactly what you said get my info and go, but since the surgery I have not gone to see her in the office I do all my appts. by phone it's easier for my because I live in Long Island. I have one next month.

And yes I don't know if he is shy or stand-offish like you said but he is good and an artist as far as my scaring goes, my pain meds were making me sick and they were changed right away, it's a great hospital because it is a teaching hospital so there are so many people around all the time to help because everybody is teaching or learning, I like that I didn't have a drain, or staples or all the other stuff I read about on here and only a 2 day liquid diet muahhhh I love him for that lol....

The worst part for me was walking myself the the operating room lol they didn't wheel me in and my operating room was at the end of the long hall I remember looking back and waving bye to my husband and just felt so scared, like I was walking to my death, I started crying and everyone in that room was so sweet petting my head wiping my tears, they were so great. So the moral of that story is, don't be scared because now you know someone else that took that walk, and I can tell you that now looking back it wasn't that scary and that was actually the walk that saved my life and not the walk to my death...

Oh and I never posted a picture of my before until after I lost weight either. You can see pictures of my view on Facebook under the same name.

Wow, they had you walking to your surgery, talk about "The Green Mile" effect, I can understand why you were upset, I'd thought at least they roll you in on a gurney or something. Thanks for telling me so I can prepare myself beside all in all its gonna be worth the walk!! How long did it take you to start getting around after the surgery? I'm hoping to get back to work after 2 wks, I work a desk job and figure since there is no heavy lifting I'm hoping it should not be a problem, I have been on youtube searching the VSG and alot of people said they were able to get out of the house and drive etc after 3 or 4 days. My dietician says I should take off 3 wks but if I have no difficulties I want to be out of that house with no more than 2wks.

[losetobemeagain 9]

My surgery went great, but like a said I had a problem with the anesthesia so they kept me in the recovery room for a long time because my blood pressure shot up.. I got to my room around 10 pm at about 1 am my darling nurse came in to get me for my first walk, she came again at 5 or 6 am and after that I did the rest of the walks by myself and felt good. The first day home I rested walked down the block a couple of times and after that day, or once all the anesthesia was out of my systom I felt great, and seeing that scale move makes you feel even better lol I was back to normal by day 4, that Tuesday after my husband went back to work so 6 days later I was back to my regular schedule of taking care of the house and kids, i'm currently not working, but I think I would have been fine if I was, I had a desk job when I was working and got more rest at work then being home with the kids.

[Lilu 65]

Once again I am getting the jitters and looking for anyone that was high risk and has been sleeved that is willing to share your story. I am high risk and have not meet anyone with high risk issue. I was already cancelled once and waiting for the new date, which it is the last week of april.

Help please reach out.