kmwheel

I've been reading for right around a year, too. Part of the reason I was/am leaning towards Dr. Kelly was because I've seen the BS that has occurred with coordinator/coordinator companies and I was hoping to avoid all of that. Plus, I feel better about using a coordinator that works directly for the doctor. I can't help but think that coordinators that work for multiples doctors will always have their own experiences and agendas that impact potential patients making a decision about which doctor to use. I've done a TON of research, at this point well over a year. A coordinator change won't be the deciding factor in which surgeon I ultimately go with. It's just nice to have the information vs changes with no explanation.
~Kat

Dr Kelly has a lot of staff changes! I had my surgery with him back in March at the exact time that Trish decided to leave and Anna took over. Thankfully she agreed to still be my co-ordinator and my sister and I were the last of her patients of Dr Kellys. I have to say it was pretty awkward because they were not getting along. That being said, we had a great experience and recovery. What matters is what happens on the operating table. I have never had one episode of vomiting, reflux, or heartburn. My sister and I both felt great from the very beginning. I have lost slowly and steadily, down #70 and 5-8#s from my goal. Good luck to you. You are in good hands.

No, Tricare doesn't cover it, BUT you can find surgeons and MTFs that will provide the procedure. It's similar to how you can meet that odd person here and there that had plastics done (even though Tricare doesn't cover them) or even folks like my husband, who had a vasectomy reversal done (also not covered).
It's confusing for a lot of people, actually, because Tricare doesn't even get involved for these "optional" procedures - it's a program run by that specific MTF and the surgeons that do the operations there.
That said, it's good to know that Ft. Hood is providing VSG.
~Cheri

I am not going to be critical of your husband, but I have seen plenty of great soldiers chaptered for weight and PT. They're not given WLS as an option, and are basically beaten down on low calorie diets and tons of PT that doesn't work for many of these poor guys. The military and frankly, every single doctor I've met at a MTF, love to quote from the Bible of weight loss:
"It's calories in vs. calories out"
"Eat less, exercise more"
"If you're not losing weight you must be cheating somewhere or not trying hard enough"
Well, if weight loss were one size fits all (and the military is RUN on that one-size-fits-all basis!) we'd all lose weight the first time we gave Weight Watchers a solid go. Sorry, but it's not that easy for anyone here. Nobody here has just woken up twenty pounds overweight and opted for surgery. I had dieted since age TWELVE and resisted my doctor's urging to get a lapband for more than a year before finally choosing a surgery and going with it. In that time I spent thousands of dollars and a huge amount of time on various diets and exercise plans. I failed every single time.
I had a sleeve and still took 17 months to lose 107 pounds. I could not eat more than 700-900 calories a day in the loss phase, even with surgery. There is no way on this earth that I, personally, could have achieved my goal without my sleeve. The willpower to stay on a highly restricted diet for seventeen months is something that would challenge anyone, I think.
In any case, it's easy for people that don't have a weight problem to dictate how we can be healthier. Every one of us has had a thin doctor, or an overweight family member, even, tell us exactly what we need to do to keep the weight off. I call B.S. Eating right is part of it, but nobody, not even the medical world, really understands obesity. There are other factors at play here that we don't understand, or like I said, simple math in vs. out would yield results for everyone. Even post surgery it's a challenge for some people!
My husband never wanted me to have surgery. He wanted me to be happier and healthier, but he loved my larger body and never had a problem with my size. I did what I did because it's my life, literally. I'm the one that had diabetes and couldn't climb stairs and nearly died on a hike in Heidelberg! I'm the one that had to chase two year old twins around but was too tired to play with them at the park for more than half an hour at a time. I love him and I value what he says but I was the one trapped in a fat body, unhappy and unhealthy.
With time, he has come around. He might have been attracted to "big Cheri" but he loves the girl he calls "skinny Cheri" just as much. He loves how much more open and outgoing I am, he loves how I'm more comfortable in my skin and he loves that I'm happy.
So - all this rambling to say - sorry, it's not about him. It's about you and what you want. Only you know if you've given traditional diets a real solid go, and only you can know if VSG is the right option for you. I promise, your husband, like so many other military men, will understand a bit more about watching what you eat when he's not getting up at five to PT every morning but still eats like he's a busy athlete. My husband has definitely learned a bit more about that as he's hit forty and isn't in a traditional unit.
~Cheri

There's a military spouse group on here that has a post about MTFs that do the procedure.
I chose not to use a MTF because I wanted the sleeve and it wasn't offered where I lived. I self-paid and don't regret at all, even though the loan is only going to be paid off this July (3 years post op) and I had to travel pretty far to use the surgeon of my choice.
I don't wish to fear monger, either, but I do think a huge part of avoiding complications is to have a skilled and experienced surgeon. So before trusting a surgeon at the MTF to do the procedure I would want to talk to others that had experience with that surgeon, first, the same way I did because I self-paid. There are plenty of ladies here that had surgery on base and had a great experience. My concern would be the same if I wanted plastics - I'm not going to the doctor that does them once in a while to practice, between other procedures. I'd rather have a skilled surgeon that does my procedure regularly and has great results with the absolute minimum of complications.
Good luck. And if you do manage to get the procedures done, please post how it went and what MTF was used, along with the surgeon's info so that there's more experience out there for those researching. Any little bit can help the next person, too.
~Cheri

Tricare does not cover the sleeve. Certain MTF will do them so that's the only way to be covered for the sleeve. If you go to a MTF it doesn't go through tricare.

I went to a plastic surgeon in Tijuana Mexico called Dr Salas. He has been in business for 22 years and I am very pleased with how my arms look 3/4 of the incision is already a pencil line just the underarm area is taking longer to heal. I wore my compression garment right through the draining process which lasted about 3 days, I put gauze pads on my arms to absorb it then put on the garment. It was gross but I think will aide in my arms healing nicely. I wear my garment 24/7 and my arms look fantastic!!

Ok all it's been a month...well it's been 6 weeks but I have pic's from the one month out. These were taken about 2 weeks after the stitches came out. I had a slight infection and took antibiotics but feel so much better today. Yesterday I saw the PS and he took me off all restrictions and said when all the swelling is gone he wanted to know if he could put my arms on his website..woohoo my arms will be famous...LOL
As you can see the scars are already fading nicely. The PS loved the combo of the "Scar Away" pads and Vitamin E oil. So for only about 10-12 days of treatment..i know they will fade nicely! and as of one month out i have lost a total ( since before weight loss surgery to now) 6.25 inches and PS said ther e might be more once he swelling is gone
Gayle

My updates:
9/21 Surgery wt 225
Current wt 175
I had like a two week stall right before the cruise. One week after the cruise I lost 3.8 in a week.
YEAH...even went on a 5 day cruise and lost weight (could be because i simply couldn't eat AND I was in the gym at 0630 w 2 other peeps on a ship w over 3000 guests). Just had to share!

The only thing I'm going to contribute here is that I urge any new and researching folks to wait out the results of this thread before jumping to conclusions.
It is a physical impossibility for a properly sleeved stomach to first of all, stretch that much, especially that quickly (especially during the swollen healing phase) and all without the pain and vomiting that follows a sleever eating even a bite too many. Second, to stretch to the point where you could rapidly regain 20 pounds is something I have never, ever seen here. Anyone I've seen regain has regained on sliders. And immediately post op? No way.
Anyone that's been operated on can see there is something missing here - either on the OP's or surgeon's end. I reserve my own judgment for when we know more, but acknowledge that we can't ever really "know" anything about this situation because we're trusting in social media without any way to prove anything.
Remember those first few days post op? I clearly remember not being able to sip more than three spoonfuls of broth in the hospital because that much made me feel full. All sleeves aren't equal, but none of us can fit the quantities as discussed by OP on other threads, even at seven weeks post op.
So, let's not panic, everyone! Wait and see if anything more concrete comes from this, because this isn't even a case of getting a bypass instead of a sleeve. I have friends that had a bypass and none of them bounced back or were able to eat like that, either. In fact, I'd argue the bypass surgery was harder on all of them than my sleeve was on me!
OP - sorry you're going through whatever situation we have here. I hope that you won't disappear before filling us in on the rest of the story.
~Cheri

My husband is delighted with my weight loss, he keeps telling me I look hot!

My hubby couldnt keep his hands off of me even at my highest weight (242) but now that Im losing (currently at 200) he chases me around even more. Good thing I can run faster now lol. He wants to take me shopping and buy me new clothes and is always telling me how good I look. Im 42, he's 50 (but a super fit sexy 50). I couldnt ask for a more supportive loving husband.

Great posts. I'm happy that everything has gone so well. Your posts are very informative and have put my mind at ease, at least somewhat. I'm still so nervous but I think its more because I will be without my husband. It was nice of you to check on the other patient traveling alone. I'm scheduled for February 22nd. It can't get here fast enough. Keep posting and I hope you have a quick recovery.

Yes, my mom is in the hospital room with me. She has her own bed, and has had no problems at all sleeping. I do recommend ear plugs and a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper. The hospital isn't noisy, but the traffic outside in the morning is, lots of honking horns and such. There is a window above the room door which lets in a good bit of light, I had no trouble sleeping but I can see how it would bother someone who likes it very dark to sleep.

So here are some more details...and I had to laugh at loud at all my typos in the first post, haha! I forgot to add that last night they brought me some sleeping medicine by request, I think you have to ask for it, they don't just bring it. It knocked me out...but it also gave me my first experience of the foamies. I guess I had to learn what a sip really is...when people say sip they literally mean like a tiny baby kitten. Was didn't vomit, but sure felt like I could. I had the same experience when I brushed my teeth this morning, even tough I didn't swallow anything. Started foaming really badly and then got some strong hiccups.
I did the upper GI earlier this morning which wasn't bad at all. You drink this clear sweet stuff. Don't be worried about it. If you can't finish the whole cup that's okay! Came back upstairs and have been doing laps in the wing ever 90 minutes. Come back to my rom and do breathing exercise and then take a nap . Quite the life, haha! They gave me ice chips around 1:30 which felt so Good on my dry tounge. And the heparin shot, which you barely feel, the needle is very tiny! They also give you levaquin through your IV to stave off any chance of infection. A few minutes ago they brought me three medicine cups of liquid (yeah!). One blue Gatorade, one iced tea, and one apple juice. I've only made it through about half of the Gatorade and I feel full. The nurse says that good, and just take my time with them. At this rate I will probably drink them all night!
I really can't say enough about how pleased I am with the care here. Everyone is SO nice. And if you need anything they come right in. I will be honest though, I am very friendly and polite too, so that might be helping as well. There hasn't been too much of a language barrier so far with any of the nurses, although some do speak much better English that others (my day nurse and I just finished a lengthy chat about our love of the show Glee if that gives you any indication )
My mom was also telling my dad how impressed she is with the care...she was very nervous initially. Speaking of phone calls...ach nurse station has a phone you can use anytime to make international calls. There is also an 800 number for the hospital that your friends and family can call and will be transferred to your room. Wifi is working great and I have been face timing multiple times a day with my husband and son back home. I'll be doing the blue dye test at 6 pm tonight and then drain comes out shortly there after. I will continue adding details as time goes on! Glad this helping everyone. Also user MikeRoss is here with me and he is doing great! He is on the 4th floor and I am n the 3rd, but they took me upstairs to check n m since he is traveling alone. He said "this whole surgery wasn't nearly as bad as he expected" and he to is very pleased with his care so far.

Approved AARP/SecureHorizon/Medcare . . 1/25/2013 I live in Washington surgery will be in Oregon and just got approved...When doctors office would call provider line they would say not covered yet but when I would call the coustomer line they would say its covered against doctors office advice I had them send in paper work on 1/23/2013 approved 1/25/2013 .Sometimes you have to do the work and belive... :wub:

Congratulations! I just hit the "overweight" category, too. After years of being "obese", it's nice to be something else for a change.

I went to my PCP yesterday and he took me off my dibetes and high blood pressure meds. I'm thrilled. That was my biggest reason to get surgery. And I'm only down 34 lbs. best decision I ever made.

Actually, yes. I was never a soda drinker before surgery. I never craved the stuff and certainly never bought it. But since my surgery I have craved soda A LOT and I've given in to that craving a few times even though I know it's a big no-no for sleevers.

My highest weight was 232. The last jeans I bought prior to surgery were in the men's dept. 38x32. Dress size 18 - 20 and my tops were 1X but a 2X was more comfy!
What a horrible time. I shopped when I HAD to have something, never just because I saw something pretty or wanted a new dress for church.
I am 5' 6.75" - I now weigh between 144 and 148, depending on the day. My jeans are 4's and 6's. My tops are consistantly a medium and my new dress size is a 6. Of course this all depends on the brand, some run a little bigger, some run a little smaller. I lost down to 133, but that was too low, my face was too thin, I had to gain a little back.

So a week before my preop liquid diet i did my own thing. I made sure to drink my Water excercise everyday with my walking video and make better choices instead of a burger an fries at mcds i got a side salad an a side of grilled chicken an a yogurt parfait. That kind of stuff, now I am day 3 of liquids and I am so happy in the last 13 days I have lost 10 pounds!!! I feel great!! I haven't lost this much in over a year! Down from 330 (pre 6 months of bariatric testing) down to 311.8 !!!! I am thrilled, to anyone struggling you can do it. I am the biggest couch potato/ sweetavoire i know and I am doing it!

It's cause for celebrating, as of my weight this morning, for the first time in 25 yrs, I'm not "officially" obese! I'm overweight!!! BMI is 29.9. I feel so giddy I could start dancing at work! I know its an arbitrary number, it doesn't really mean anything, and my weight will fluctuate and put me back in the obese category for a while. But today I will enjoy being overweight!

I have been silently lurking around this forum for quite some time. Finally late last year, I decided it is time to act. I am scheduled to be sleeved next Wednesday, January 30th. I am nervous but optimistic. I am a 40 y/o female, 5 feet 7 inches and 274 lbs at weigh-in two weeks ago. At yesterday's physical, I was 264 lbs.I am hoping this surgery gives me the tools and a kick-start of sorts to get some control back into managing my weight. I may not post often, but all of your stories have truly inspired me and I am grateful to have found this site.

I am almost 4 months out and eat popcorn at the movies. Be very careful because I was amazed how much I could eat. It goes down way to easy and tastes way too good. I still eat it at the movies but I am careful not to overeat. Popcorn does not bother my stomach at all and like I said just be mindful when you are eating it that you don't overdue it. I do enjoy Popcorn at the movies and I feel that if I can eat it in moderation then that is fine. Oh by the way I hit 60 pounds down today. Not quite 4 months out. I am a happy camper!!

I just wanted to add that if calorie deficits were so cut and dry as simple math, we'd all lose the weight on our first diet. We all know how to diet here - we're professionals. There's so much more to the equation that simple calories in vs. calories out and using a little willpower. If it was so easy, none of us would diet for most of our lives only to wind up having surgery to fix the issue. I think genetics, hormones and blood sugar play a much larger part than anyone realizes.
Hang in there,
~Cheri