DebDUtah

Ok basically I learned this a long time ago from my personal trainer. When a body is getting good nutrition, on a regular/consistent basis, it does NOT store excess food, as it "knows" that more nutrients are coming soon. For example the surest way to lose water weight is to drink a lot of water, just ask a body builder. The more water you drink the less water weight your body carries. When you limit caloric intake (i.e one small meal) your body goes into a starvation mode so to speak. Storing everything you eat because it doesn't know when it will get food again, in turn you can gain weight! Just make sensible choices and keep up your exercise. Hope that made sense.

Ok this is making sense now, thank you everyone hope everyone has fantastic outcomes with the desired results.

I am confused, because the self pay total I have been given including hospital stays wasn't even 20k. Is the experience more and the outcomes better?

I am sure this will seem like an overly simple question to some, but I am curious what the advantage is of choosing to go to Mexico to have your surgery is? I am anxious enough to undergo such a permanent elective surgery, that being in a country other than my home would seem to add additional stress to an otherwise already stressful situation. And when you have the surgery in Mexico, who does your follow-up visits? Thanks for any insight you can give.

I have had genetic testing, which does not show any predispotition to cancer, however there is no guarantee (nice double talk by the doctors). However, due to my obesity and the fact that my mother had a colonoscopy less than 6 mos to the cancer being detected with NO polyps or signs of abnormalities, basically given a clean bill of health, every 2 yrs is within reason for my pre-screening. And in relation, the prep is nothing compared to chemo. I am sure once I get my BMI within normal range I can go to every 5 yrs, at least this is the plan.

I go every 2 years due to my family history, my mother was diagnosed and treated for Stage IV colon cancer (it was very aggressive and she showed no symptoms), which was found in a routine checkup by her PCP. She is not the only immediate family member with a cancer diagnosis. So my GI doc, based on my family history and risk factors, advised to go every 2 years. For me the peace of mind it provides it is not a big deal. The earlier it is caught the better the survival rate.

what did you faint from?

You know I don't know what to say. Life is hard, not fair and full of compromise to make it thru everyday. You have to take comfort in the fact that you were honest and upfront with your evaluation. I work in healthcare and I can tell you that three doctors can evaluate the same person and come up with three different diagnosis. I feel your side of this and understand completely where you are coming from. Perhaps it is the view she had taken of you at that particular moment. Don't let this stop you, be honest with yourself and keep working towards your goal.

I am pre-op, but I will tell you I have had my concerns as I have to have a colonscopy every 2 years due to family history and have been doing them for the last 8 years. The prep has come a long way, and both my GI doc and my VSG doc said that it is not a problem as long as I am healed and well post surgery. It will probably mean a day or more of Clear liquids prior but it can be done and since it isnt a gastri by-pass the procedure is the same on the GI docs part. Hope that gives you a little comfort.