Nancy Rivers

I have already attended his informational seminar last month and he seemed like a good doc. I've checked some of his credentials and stuff and it all seems good. I was just wondering if anyone else has had him do their surgery and what was your experience with him. Thanks!

Congratulations! I can't wait until I can say some of those things too!

Good luck with the CPAP machine. The weight loss doctor that I went to about 3 years ago first suspected that I had sleep apnea and I went for the tests - sure enough I had it. However, I have stopped using my CPAP because I couldn't stand it. I did try different masks and tried it for a year, but no matter what, it felt like someone was trying to suffocate me with a pillow. I finally decided that I had slept just fine for 35 years without the machine, so I would go back to that. However, I know a few others that it really does help - so I hope it helps you as well.

I made the decision to have the sleeve done just 2 days ago and don't even meet with the surgeon until the 18th, but I took my first step today. I typically will stop at McD's each weekday morning and get a large diet coke to get me through the morning (yeah, it takes me 6+ hours to drink a large from McD's). Today, I did NOT get the large diet. In fact, I skipped getting a drink at all (I did get their oatmeal though as I needed to have something for breakfast and didn't have time to fix it at home first). So, for me, it's day one without my crutch. I figure if I can do this one step now, it will help me out in the long run. So far so good today - but it's only the first day. I don't usually drink it on the weekends, so I know that I can go a couple of days without it without any "withdrawls". Which means this weekend I might not be too pleasant to be around... LOL

Definitely call your insurance to find out. I have BCBSM as an individual and it is specifically an exclusion on my plan, but your plan MAY cover it. The only way to know for sure is to call and find out.

When I did a liquid diet with a doctor before (it was medifast), I too had diarrhea. When I asked him about it, he told me that it was most likely due to lactose intolerance and to use "lactaid" before each shake. Apparently the lactose that was in those shakes was a different type of lactose that is in milk and cheese (which I can eat with NO issues) and it was that different form that apparently I couldn't tolerate. Using lactaid about 1/2 hour before each shake took care of of the diarrhea for me on that program. I don't know if that is an option for being sleeved, but check into it - it might help.

Thanks for the feedback. I have decided to have the sleeve done. I will be meeting with the doctor on the 18th to discuss all of my options (it's the first appt after attending an informational seminar). I had wanted to have a decision made when I went to see him, so I'm glad I've made the decision. I'm hopeful I can get the surgery scheduled for in July sometime after the 9th (Family reunion that day - and I don't want to be "newly sleeved" when there). I suppose I will find out more on the 18th when I talk to the doctor. The hardest parts for me I think will be giving up my diet coke and living on a liquid diet for a while. I've tried liquid diets in the past (including medically supervised ones) and haven't been able to loose weight or keep going due to my being hungry even after taking the drink or craving certain foods. Hopefully the sleeve will "help" with those things. I usually get a large diet coke from McD's each morning before work as I have 12 hour work days and it helps get me through the day. I'll need to find something else to do that now.

I am trying to decide and am doing my research. I know I need to loose weight, although I am happy with myself right now for the most part. I have had back surgery once and it still bothers me. I also have type two diabetes for the last 8 years, and my A1C is unde 8, but keeps increasing. I am now wearing size 28w. I have never been this large in my life. I have tried nutrisystem, weight watchers, and several liquid diets, and a few others over the years. My sister who is a nurse is dead set against me doing a surgery. Frankly, I am not entirely thrilled with the idea either since it is a major surgery. However, all of the other things are not working for me. I am tired of my health going downhill and just want to be able to stand for 5 minutes without breking out in a sweat and my back killing me with pain. I cannot count on support from family or friends which I know will make this harder. My insurance will NOT pay for this - it is specifically excluded. Therefore I will be self pay. The sleeve will be cheaper than bypass for me, and I am considering it for that reason. I went to a seminar already and based on that, I thought bypass would be "better" because according to the stats the doctor provided, it had the better weight loss. I want to loose 120 to 150 pounds. Is this possible with the sleeve? Or would the bypass be better? Or should I not even do surgery and attempt some other method? I know this is a decision that only I can make, but I need info to make the decision. Thanks for listening.