MikeR

Considering that my surgery should have been in April' date=' but was not due to the office coordinators mistake and given that she is the one who neglected to submit all of the documentation; that there are few doctors who due the surgery here, and the hospital is a center of excellence recipient. (which encompasses all of the facilities within it) they should be extremely accommodating. Further, I completed all of my steps based around their schedule and timed my surgery knowing when I would be on break (it's in my medical records because I spoke to the surgeon about it in December). I can make a phone call to the medical board and have a negligence case opened up again them as well, bad publicity. Someone who has something bad to say about them, and them being under review means they lose patients and money as well as the center for excellency award. I spoke to one of the nurses and she said the coordinator has done this before and is on probationary status with the surgical association. She is going to contact them Monday to have me moved to the front of the schedule since I should have had my surgery last month. And since it is their fault, they now have to accommodate me.[/quote']

well good luck with everything, sounds like you may have things partly under control then, you still have the 10 day pre op diet to look at though and from my experience and what I hear from others the centers of excellence doctors do not budge on their requirements, it is part of how the get center of excellence. Number of doctors in the office usually doesn't make a difference, I went through 3 surgeons in the same office cause 1 left the other retired suddenly and each time insurance had to be resubmitted, the last time it only took 1 week for approval though and the office proceeded as if I was already approved since they knew it would be. Your likely to get nowhere with medical board, that is for doctors and nurses not ordinary people that work front office or coordinators unless they happen to be nurses and from what you said it doesn't sound like doctor did anything wrong. You can always try though, but it may cause the doctor to drop you if you succeed in anything. Right now it sounds like the nurse its your best bet. Good luck with everything, hope it all works out for you one way or another, I know about the frustration, having 3 doctors messed things up for me, I was supposed to have surgery originally in December and had it just over a week ago, and I dropped out of the college I was in to prepare and have been out all this time, going back next month though.

Highest weight 602 about 1 month pre op. <br />575 just before entering operating room.<br />1 week post op 564

I'm not OTR but it depends on the surgeon...I have no preop diet but most people do...some are for a few days' date=' some a week, some 2 weeks[/quote']

It varies per doctor and it its rare if not impossible for a doctor to give exceptions on something they believe will be better for you medically. My Doctor is so strict he only required a 2 week clear liquid diet, but required Protein shakes ordered from a specific company through their office so they know your doing it and to prevent cheating, if you don't lose at least 15 pounds by surgery you get cancelled right their in the surgical prep room.

Highest weight 602 about 1 month pre op. <br />575 just before entering operating room.<br />1 week post op 564

Your biggest problem is that to my knowledge there is not a doctors office on the planet that works on your schedule, you have to find a way to work on their schedule. I wasn't trying to give you school advice, just trying to let you know the most likely choices you have to get things done. I don't know your Dr. but the threat to go elsewhere probably does not bother him/her. Most doctors have plenty if not too many patients and the loss of one is no big deal. People are human and make mistakes, you need to find a way to work around it or wait till you have another break, a year is a long time to wait, but better than not at all. Switching doctors will delay even more, most well make you go through their education class, you will need an initial consultation, possibly other appts. and whatever else the new Dr. requires of their patients, plus that Dr. will have to resubmit to insurance, but since your already approved that may be able to be expedited and done in 1 to 2 weeks all that puts you another month or longer out. From what you described it sound like trying to get things sped up like your doing, make sure you remain civil and polite no matter what or they may drop you before you can drop them. If it doesn't work keep your appt. on the 20th and work the surgery for a day you have off school our at least the fewest class to miss and explain to instructors of any class you may miss your situation, hope they understand. Many of us were released from hospital within 24 hours, I was released after 20 hours, of course that is up to your Dr. and how well you do after surgery, be prepared for up to 2 or 3 days. My sister goes to that same school and I know you can miss a couple classes without any recourse, I am sure you don't want to, but based on what you have said it's either this or wait a year. You can always call around to other doctors in the area and see what time frame and requirements your looking at while continuing with current Dr.

Highest weight 602 about 1 month pre op. <br />575 just before entering operating room.<br />1 week post op 564

@ sldeluxe06

You have several choices, easiest would be to take your classes online if possible. You can explain your situation and desire for a better healthier life to scholarship associations (or whatever they're called) and see if they can let you take the term off. Speaking of which what kind of scholarships require summer classes, usually the normal fall and spring are necessary. Other choices include scheduling all appts. between classes. The actual surgery depending on how you do would only have you in hospital for up to 3 days. You could always wait and have the surgery during your next break. Not sure what else you have going on in life, but there could be other options. Hope I helped

Highest weight 602 about 1 month pre op. <br />575 just before entering operating room.<br />1 week post op 564

Good morning all' date='I have my date May 24th ,but I'm not going to be sleeved ;( ill have the bypass instead, I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday to ask why I was approved for the bypass and not the sleeve ,which I had requested,he said it was because my esophagus lining was damage because of the acid reflux, and the sleeve would just make the reflux worse,also it would damage my esophagus even farther.i asked about the down time,the dumping,the malabsorption ,and was quite surprised that there really isn't any different except for the rerouting of the stomach,and the amount of weight you lose.so with that I have a date May 24th and per op is may 16th ,start per op diet May 17th only one week of liquids then surgery. I'm sad that I can't have the sleeve but I'm excited that I will be able to get this weight off I know I'm not a sleever,but I would like to continue on this forum, is that possible? In my heart I'm a sleever !!!![/quote']

Do your homework and Google the bypass and see what it involves before having it done. Not saying don't do it, if it is what you are approved for and you need the help to lose weight it is a fine surgery, I believe still the most common that exists. Just make sure you understand it before doing it, and that goes for any surgery, you should always be informed about what someone is doing to your body. You can also find simulated and actual videos of that and any weight loss surgeries on YouTube. As for the support group, I don't think anyone would mind you being here, but you may want to join the bypass one also cause at some point you will probably have bypass specific questions we would not be able to answer from experience. Good luck to you and congratulations on the date.

Highest weight 602 about 1 month pre op. <br />575 just before entering operating room.<br />1 week post op 564

Just weighed myself yesterday, 1 week post op and lost 11 pounds. Started at 602 pounds at about 1 month before surgery. After pre op diet but before surgery weighed 575 pounds. As of last night 564 pounds. I am almost down 40 pounds from my high.

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I was sleeved on Monday and still can not lie flat. I slept on the couch last night and may try the bed propped up tonight. I had no pre op diet and was absolutely fine. They said i was a model patient. I was up and walking within a few hours and the pain was tolerable but the pump made me very itchy. The only thing is I havent had a bowl movement since like Saturday and I am thinking of taking something. I am not eating anything except drinking my fluids at this point so there is not so much inside me to come out however' date=' I don;t want to wait to long. Hope everyone is doing well and those yet to come you will do great. It really hasn't been bad at all![/quote']

Don't worry about the bowl movement, my nurse called me after 3 days at home, Monday, and asked me about that, told her I had just poured a dose of milk of magnesia and about to drink it when she called, she said don't. She said remember I was on clear liquid diet before surgery and full liquid diet now, she said add Fiber like metamucil or benefiber once a day and then if no bowel movement in 4-5 days I can try milk of magnesia. So surgery Thursday, home Friday, Monday added metamucil bowl movement that night, but if I didn't have till tomorrow, Friday, before I need milk of magnesia. Just talked to nurse again today to clarify some eating issues.

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I just had surgery last the 8th. You must stay your diet. I stayed on mine down to the dotted line. My doctor could tell by my liver. The surgery went very well because of that. The girl across from me did not and she is having problems with throwing up continuous. She still hasn't been up walking yet.

The pre op diet has nothing to do with how you out the other person are doing, every doctor is different and every patient is different. Some doctors are very lenient and don't give any pre op diet others very strict and have a 3 week or longer strict liquid diet and everything in between. Yes one of the main points of the diet is to help shrink liver and lose a little weight before the surgery to make things easier on the surgeon, but a good surgeon can work with almost anything. Each patient is also different, you were strict with yourself, I cheated twice and ate something. I was up walking, without assistance getting up our walking, within 30 minutes of entering my room, according to nurses average person takes 4 hours and needs assistance getting up and walking. The throwing up could be anesthesia, they say it makes a lot of people ill, and not just wls patients, but any type of surgery. I was released from hospital less than 24 hours from my surgery cause I did so great.

Now I am not condoning people cheat on their pre op diet, but just pointing out that cheating doesn't necessarily mean things are going to be bad for you. Also even with cheating I lost 17 pounds on my diet.

What is important is don't cheat after, you can cause yourself problems, listen to everything your doctor tells you, again here doctors vary but not as much cause they don't want you to cause a leak or have to throw up something that won't go down cause your not ready for it yet.

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Sleeved Monday 5/6 in N TX! Still in some pain but overall doing well. Tracking calls on my fitness pal and feel healthier already but the choices I'm making!! How r y'all doing? My 1st post op appt in 2.5 weeks out on 5/23.

I was sleeved on the 2nd as, pretty much of pain meds except when I sneeze, that hurts a lot and sometime need pain meds to relieve it, and bed time, can't find a comfortable non painful way to sleep. Do you have that problem? I would like to do away with pain meds completely, but bedtime is such a chore can't seem to do it. My post op is the 21st. Also gonna weigh layer today to see what my 1 week loss has been

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I have felt somewhat like you, I was 602 at my highest, lost 17 lbs on pre-op and was 575 day of surgery, tomorrow is 1 week post op and I am both scared and excited to see what I weigh. There are time before surgery I read this forum and was like to people don't even know what overweight is, but I have realized we are all different. It doesn't matter what weight others are, your life is what matters. We do have a longer journey, but the end results will be worth it. My patient advocate told me about a patient they had that was 720 pre-op and ended up below 280 so the weight loss is there if you do everything your supposed to. Your health, energy, ability to do what you want that you can't do now is the most important thing to think about. This forum is so we have people to relate to, not compare ourselves to. Good luck with your surgery and you can always ask your doctor about future alternatives. My Doctor will do the DS in a year or more out if I am not happy with my weight loss.

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It is supposed to shrink your liver. My doc didn't make me do it because he said' date=' in his experience, he didn't think it shrunk the liver that much and it just makes the patient feel like crap. My doc actually did the diet and he said it was too hard so he wasn't going to make his patients do something that he couldn't do when it didn't really make that much of a difference.[/quote']

It's also a great kickstart to weight loss, I lost 17 pounds on my pre-op liquid diet.

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I understand completely...I had surgery atv730a and they released me from the hospital at 130p....it hurts me to take a deep breath feels like I was hit in the ribs....but my main issue is getting in the fluids....

You need the deep breaths to help prevent possibility of pneumonia.

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Had my surgery May 2nd, tons of pain waking in recovery room, within 30 minutes of going to my room I was asking to get up to use restroom and go for walk, they let me but kept an eye on me. Guess normally it is 3-4 hours after getting in room that most people get up with lots of coaxing. Also they say must need a walker in the beginning, I just got up walked around the floor, then went back to the bed. Since I did things so early and so well and was as independent as I could be, went home the afternoon of the next day. Since I have been home I am almost off pain meds, still pretty painful to burp our cough though. My problem is can't find enough hours in the day to take in everything I am supposed to. It is painful to drink to much or too often.

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In pre op in my gown anesthesiologist coming now. Not nervous but wonder about pain

Good luck, I am heading to hospital in an hour

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I am also using Dr Juarez, surgery is tomorrow. Bridges is an excellent program and they give you a patient advocate that helps you with everything and is only a phone call away (unfortunately only during business hours). I don't know if doctor info is there, but for bridges you can go to www.bridgesaz.com. They also have a Facebook page and YouTube videos. You can also look for Dr Hilario Juarez and Daniel Fang on you tube.

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Well tomorrow at 1 revision to vsg all in one operation

I am at 1:30

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This pre-op diet sucks!! I am having such a hard time Had my last appointment today to go over everything before surgery on Monday. I am really nervous. I hear you feel really nauseated 18 to 36 hours after surgery. Is this true? I hate feeling sick. But I know it will be worth it!!

It actually varies from person to person, anesthesia can make some people sick, where others it has no effect. I think the most common issue with surgery is gas

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Dr. Juarez Phx too are either one of you going to the 05/07 class?

My surgery is the 2nd, This coming Thursday.

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I have Dr Fang at St. Luke's.

I have Dr Juarez, when is your surgery?

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Who was your doctor that is no longer doing surgeries?

Eric Schlesinger out of Tempe St. Luke's in Tempe, AZ

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My surgery is May 2nd, it has been a long process. I was scheduled for March, one week into pre-op liquid diet and got call from surgeons office canceling surgery and he would no longer be doing surgeries, sorry. Now it is finally happening