kcarroll

WHOA!!!!!!!!!! This is absolutely nuts!! No wonder I am the size I am.. Well, all this keeps me moving the right directions!! I still have yet to set the date on my surery, but this is just the kinda stuff I love!! Thanks for sharing (:

WHOA!!!!!!!!!! This is absolutely nuts!! No wonder I am the size I am.. Well, all this keeps me moving the right directions!! I still have yet to set the date on my surery, but this is just the kinda stuff I love!! Thanks for sharing (:

You didn't ask about this, but it will likely be next on your list regardless of whether you go the insurance route or self-pay, but RESEARCH YOUR DOCTOR. Ask the tough questions, don't be afraid to do so- it is YOUR LIFE. Ask what their complication rate is, look up on the State Medical boards to see what/ if any complaints have been filed against them. Google their name, see what comes up. None of that is full proof that you have a good Dr., so when possible try to find and talk to past actual patients whether its at a support group or online.
Also, understand the details of the surgery- not just that your stomach is being cut out, but find out what size bougie your Dr. uses, and using your research decide if that is the size you want. My surgeon used a size 30 bougie. That is the tool they use to size your new stomach. The actual physical size differences between a 30 and a 40 a fairly nominal, HOWEVER, there are some schools of thought that when you start out w/a slightly larger cut stomach, that the stretching that eventually does occur is moreso than w/a smaller bougie. I'm not sure there is a definitive answer on that, but it was something that was important to me. Some surgeons say they don't want to go smaller than "X" size bougie because they think it increases the chances for complications. Like some surgeons think it can create the hour glass syndrome in your stomach which would be like taking a balloon and squeezing it in the middle and preventing anything getting through the middle. A lot of that is technique. Do they sew over the bougie, do they sew outsize the bougie? Do they use staples? Will you have drainage tubes? Much of this is unique to the surgeon.
The more you read and read and read, and do your research, you will find that while there are many similarities across the board, the individual technique by each surgeon is often slightly different. I spent 3 solid months reading and researching the different Weight Loss surgeries before I started the insurance process. Fortunately, I didn't have to do the supervised diet and only had to start liquids 12 hrs before surgery.
And, of course, we here will all answer whatever questions we can to help you along the way! Good luck!!