Extremely Grateful for Exceptional Care

[4LgrLife_53 82]

I just want everyone to know what an exceptional experience I have had so far, not only on these message boards, but with the Bariatric Center of Kansas City (Shawnee Mission Outpatient Pavilion).

Every one of you has been so kind and outgoing with your suggestions, comments, and congratulatory messages.

I had my gastric sleeve surgery on November 4th (right after 1130 am), and returned home around 0930 am on November 5th. I had very little pain or discomfort -- most of that being from gas, which is all normal. The anesthesiologist gave me anti-nausea medication in my IV, and I have had absolutely NO nausea so far. I guess I am one of the lucky ones so far in that regard. I am currently getting pureed foods in along with some Protein Shakes and lots of Water. I space out my meals for about 30 minutes each instead of the usual 20, and sip, sip, sip liquids. My doctor also gave me a prescription of omeprazole that I take every day to control stomach acid. It's great!

The surgery staff and the staff on the inpatient unit was so friendly and helpful, while always maintaining absolute professionalism. I cannot praise them highly enough.

I know I still have a long way to go in my weight loss journey. Thanks again everyone!!

Terry

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

So happy for you! Thanks for the info about the Bariatric Center. I have not heard one bad thing about that place or the staff. I sure hope to be able to post something just as awesome in a couple months. Keep us in the loop! Let us know how you are doing!

[4LgrLife_53 82]

Good luck to you too wannaBthinsoon! (and thanks again!) Really haven't been hungry (wow, that's a switch!!) but following the nutritional guidelines the Center gave me. I was able to separate the omeprazole capsules and sprinkle the contents (little pellets) into pureed baby food apples to get it down and chase with a couple sips of Water.

Now dealing with fever blisters on my lip (even though I wasn't running a temperature), which I think was due to the kind of Protein powder I was using (UNJURY). I didn't think I was going to have a reaction, but guess enough of it kicked in my shellfish allergy. powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury is processed with shellfish and other stuff, so be careful if anyone has this allergy. That's the only thing I can think of other than just stress. I get my staples out Nov 13th at my first post-op appt in clinic with my surgeon, followed by an appointment with their doctor who handles medications. I'm going to discuss having allergy testing done to find out what all I am allergic or sensitive to. I already have to use LACTAID because I have some degree of lactose intolerance (before surgery). I use the vanilla dissolvable tablets. I'm on my second day of pureed foods and still no nausea (so YAY!!!!).

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

I ordered a sample pack of unjury just to see if it was something I would be able to tolerate afterward, and I don't like it. The unflavored is nasty! I may just stick to whatever the bariatric center has for sale, and Sams Club. I'm real close to the new one on Parallel, so no probs stocking up! I hope I get an opportunity to meet you one day at a meeting. Oh! I had my 5th of 6th Dr's supv Diet visits, and I actually lost 2 pounds this time! Thank goodness I will finally show a loss! They wanted to talk me out of surgery and into diet pills. They had a NEW Diet pill I would be a good candidate for. I am mid 50's with a BMI around 42, I have health insurance for only a couple more years before I retire. I don't have time to test pills, only to fail again. I want this done once and for all, and ain't nobody gonna talk me out of it! (Just thought I'd share) Take Care!

[4LgrLife_53 82]

To WannaBthinsoon: I'm so glad you didn't opt for the diet pills. I have no faith in diet pills whatsoever. While I used to take herbal stuff (Vitamins, etc.), a very good friend of mine is 41 now and roughly 8 years ago (when she was 33) had to have her heart valve replaced with a pig valve and an artificial pacemaker put in because she took that Phen-Phen drug. While Phen-Phen compensated thru lawsuits, the damage to her heart is permanent. She now has the heart of a 70-80 year old with something like a 40% ejection fraction. To help her lose weight, even though she was high risk, to ease the burden on her heart, they did gastric bypass at St Lukes. She lost over 100 lbs and brought her ejection fraction up to where it is now (it was way below 40%). Her mother, another friend my age, tried those diet pills designed to rid your body of fat (Alli or something like that), and she had uncontrollable bouts of diarrhea with orange poo that stained a lot of her clothes when she had accidents. She continues taking diet pills and laxatives to try to lose weight (she cannot have WLS because of other health issues) and know she is damaging her body and organs, and have watched her yo-yo in weight dramatically. At one time she had lost 60 lbs, then she put back on 80 as soon as she started eating again.

Part of my decision to have the WLS (gastric sleeve) came after my older sister (10 years older than me) had a massive stroke before Christmas last year. In addition to respiratory problems, she is diabetic, morbidly obese, her kidneys are failing, and has congestive heart failure. She is now paralyzed and living out the remainder of her days in a nursing home. Another part of my WLS is that I fell last year and severely broke my right ankle, and dislocated my lower leg bones. In another fall, the same day, I fell again and broke my left hand, broke my tailbone, and almost broke my other foot. While all that has healed, the excess weight on my joints has been very painful. I was not going to wait any longer to take action to get the weight off. I did try cutting calories and other non-pill diet forms, including the Atkins shakes, etc. and years of gym membership. I worked my tail off, but then I was hungry as all get out. So I consulted the Bariatric Center for help and so glad I did!!

I'm down 26 lbs today!! I started at the Center in August, and had my sleeve done November 4th. Weather permitting I'll be at the Center's support group in December. I was told by a nurse they are planning to go to 2 support groups a month starting in 2015. I was super impressed and got a lot of questions answered by veteran sleevers at the group in October. By the way, you can be awaiting surgery and still attend the groups (just in case you didn't know that). Hope to see you there,

Terry

Edited November 9, 2014 by 4LgrLife_53

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

HI Terry. I'm Sherrie. I have had a few falls in the past year, and luckily I didn't break anything. But Getting up from a fall is not an easy task when you're a large woman. I would hate to think what I'd of done if my husband hadn't been here when I fell. My BMI is 42, I thought it was right at 40, but I've lost 2 inches in height. Dang gravity! But with a BMI of 42, sleep apnea, 6 months of dr diet, bloodwork done, documentation of over 5 years of unsuccessful on-stop dieting should cinch it for me, I would hope. I am super determined to do this, and to be successful, whatever it takes. I will see you there. Once I am approved, I will post an actual photo of myself on here. But I don't want to jinx it for myself, you see, I'm sure people I know are on this site. UHC covers wls. So, cross your fingers for me for January 2, when I call them for an appt. See ya!!

[4LgrLife_53 82]

Will see you down there, and wish you luck and will say a few prayers for you that all goes well with your insurance and the processing. I am so happy I took this step. It's not an easy road but it is definitely worth it. Like you, I have sleep apnea too, and until I got approved for surgery there wasn't a night that went by I wondered if I would die in my sleep, even though I have a CPAP (which I hate with a passion). I know it's to keep you breathing, but it's so artificial and uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to post picture on your profile. All of us on here are struggling with our weight, or have over the past years. I'll be posting before and after pictures after I drop some clothes sizes. Still early on. Even though I've lost 26 pounds, I'm still wearing 2X shirts and Large (Men's size) jogging pants as my tummy is still swollen from the IV fluids and the surgery itself. The staff is so exceptionally excellent at the KC Bariatric Center I can hardly wait to go back for my post-op appt. I have spent years (since 1994) in the VA Medical Center's care prior to this (with my leg/ankle and hand surgery at KU). While KU was great, the KC Bariatric Center beats them by a mile. The VA is a whole different story, and if it was on an A-F grading scale, they'd be getting a D. I had to argue with the pharmacist alone to get my lovenox prescription filled, even though my VA primary care physician rewrote the prescription so it could be filled. The A-hole got into my medical records, which he wasn't supposed to be in. I reported him.

Anyway, keep your chin up and I'll keep you in my prayers and cross my fingers just for added support.

Terry

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]