swimbikerun

That I would not get the surgeon that I asked for and that I didn't have a choice in who I got. They were less than desirable for me and weren't supportive, etc. a good number of times, weren't up on education, etc. Bunch of things like that.

How would you like it? In what terms? In exercise or eating or what?

Yep I've had the same thing with Sentara Comprehensive Weight Loss Center, but the issue was more on not recognizing complications, nutrition not being followed nor worked with, records were a problem. The attitude there, someone once stated (in a nutshell) that if you were "easy pickings" then it was fine, but if there were problems, they would dump you. I am starting to post my records excerpts online at bariatrichelp.wordpress.com and getting together hints/tips so people can look through and make decisions before they get into a program. I'll be adding more. Once people see the records, its quite an eye opener. If you want to see a tough case, and how things are handled, I'm a poster child for that. I don't want people to suffer the same things I did, and maybe giving them my experiences and what doctors have helped me would help others have an easier time. One of the examples is that in November 2012 my urgent care PCP believed I had neuropathies by malnutrition (which I was diagnosed with after the surgery). The plastic surgeon said the same thing in Jan. The bariatric surgeon didn't. However, things have grown progressively worse and they're all saying nutrition. The medical literature indicates that this can be an issue of bariatric surgery, but the surgeon never picked up on it but an urgent care FP was the first one to figure it out. I've gotten flak for pointing it out but the facts are there in my records and medical literature. Vic

Always!! 21 days in I could eat some tuna and a few other things. Nothing major and very wet too. Very soft and very chewed up. It was about that time I started getting the gallbladder issues. When I go out to eat I never feel like I'm wasting my money. It takes me a couple of days or three sometimes to get through food. I'm used to leftovers. That means now too. I wasn't hungry. My biggest problem was I forgot to eat. A lot of times I forgot to eat. There was simply no connection between food and the brain. I mean gone. So I said well I'm fat, who cares? (Unfortunately that came back to haunt me when 6 months after surgery I had an A&E admission for malnutrition w/cachexia. LOL like I said there was no connection between food and the brain). If you want something to eat, are you sure it isn't head hunger? Are you getting Protein and fluids in? At this point, that's all that matters. If at first its been a couple of hours, drink 4 ounces of Water. Then drink another 2. Are you hungry? Are you getting in 60 grams of protein? Ask away. I just tell people my experience is very different as I had gastroparesis before the surgery (almost hospitalized for that because of malnutrition) and still have delayed emptying after, with a wild case of IBS and food intolerances to most anything edible.

You got Virginia but we're a big state. Hampton Roads, Roanoke, DC area or somewhere in between? Its all good! Vic

Dec 2011

So did I.

I'm sorry. Actually 35 BMI is the cutoff limit, so you met standard limits, I can't see why people are upset unless they think you have to be 300 to have the surgery. The fact is, the smaller you are at surgery the better and easier surgery will be on you. I lost between 30-40 pounds before I had surgery, with a year long diet and exercise program. It didn't help with my medical conditions, so I was still above 40 when I had it.

Go for it.

Don't know, but I am.

Howdy, What are you looking for? If you got your Protein before from a vegetarian diet, you're doing good. Btw, are you talking vegetarian or vegan? Vic

The issue seems really to come down to the type of food (and in the end, what it is). I've seen people eat a donut while I was eating a banana. Both cards, which is better for you? This is where I really look to see what the type of food is. Does it really matter if we're overeating salad or lean Protein? Drinking lots of Water? Are we drinking calorie laden drinks or eating pizza? If you can stretch a bit but get in all your veggies, fruits, and lean Proteins and maybe not need a Vitamin, would that be a problem? I don't do Vitamins but I do Vega packets. This works better for me as I choked on pills (especially the big Calcium ones) and liquid vitamins I spit out/up almost immediately.

Again it all depends on food and volume size. I can get down a lot more food than I originally could. We're talking things like salad, which I eat every day. I put vinegar or lemon spritz or something like that on it. Same thing for lean Proteins that are not fried, etc. Basically sticking to lean proteins, veggies, fruit, which I tolerate really well. So I don't count calories that much, although I can't get enough in. As long as you are eating healthy stuff, and drinking Water or non calorie, non carbonated liquids, to me, it really isn't a problem. Its the old stuff not on that list that gets us in trouble. Or in my case the malnutrition but everyone has to have something. LOL.

Same here - I maybe eat 3/4 of a cup but we're talking healthier food. I've not had hamburgers, hotdogs, French fries, pizza or carbonation, anything like that. I eat better so I don't count calories unless the doc wants. I have GI problems any way but I still eat as good as I can. The issue really is if you eat good, salad or veggies, fruit, lean meats not fried, etc. then your body will get the right nutrition. Its adding in more than one small tablespoon cookie that is the problem. Lack of exercise the other. That's where there is a difference also.

What would be interesting is if they reported on all the issues from it. I mean more than anything that diabetes, after so many years, doesn't resolve like it did or the weight issues. The off complications, I can see them lightly addressing, but they still should be. While I would still have the surgery done again, I'd want to see that they do address things that my surgeon apparently didn't know about or was familiar with. That way people know to get other help involved.

Natalie, Would you mind being a little more specific about disabilities? That might help us to know if we could help you, versus giving general help. Vic

Hi all, For those who have had complications (like myself), I started a blog about questions to ask their surgeons. Mine didn't recognize what others did about complications (polyneuropathies from malnutrition) and I'm wanting to let others know to help themselves, in case their surgeons are the same way. Apparently my PCP and the like were more up to date on the literature. I don't want to have others go through this. Is it possible that people could look at http://bariatrichelp.wordpress.com/ and let me know what you think of the question list? I'll expand it based on that and then maybe see about a website. Again, this is to educate others so that they're not in the same boat as I was. Thanks, Victoria

I will be adding more but spreading it around. I have spoken with a number of people and they're not interested in researching in this area. So it needs to be the patients who are doing this. I think its pretty obvious why no one wants to advertise it but this is for the patients not for any other reason. A LOT depends on the personality of the doctor. Find out where their heart is and where the money is.

That I would not have been forced to go to the surgeon I had, and that that surgeon wouldn't have had the personality he does and have been more up to date on research and complications.

Talk to your GP first. See what they say but you can go either way. I tried to get my sleeve surgeon to remove it, as they removed others gallbladders. No go. Everyone else said it had to go. I talked with my insurance company and they asked why there was a problem. No medical reason they could provide for not doing it, so they finally did it. My take: ask the GP, the sleeve surgeon was just in there. If they'll do it and quickly, yes. Otherwise, find someone else. No sense in you going thru the stuff I did with my bariatric surgeon when he was wrong and everyone else (2 other surgeons, a GP) is right.

Ok as someone who has been there: sleeved 12/15/11, hospitalized "you are going to die" from malnutrition 6/20/12, and have complications from it, I am pretty much unique. I had gastroparesis before the surgery. The surgery should have gotten rid of it. Gastroparesis is slow stomach emptying. Well a scan showed mine is still mildly delayed. I now have reflux, and a case of IBS, and who knows what else. I have food intolerances by the boatload. Would I get it again? Absolutely!!!! Even with things like they are now, I've done things in my life I imagined and some I never have. So from someone who has been there, yes, it is worth it. It is extremely, extremely rare for people to have my problems. I had a pre existing GI issue AND known allergies. Factor that in. You have a much larger chance of having problems getting the weight off and keeping it off than you do of mine. Again, I've not said everything here but OMB YES I would get it again. I just wouldn't have the surgeon I had. Then again, I asked for a different one and didn't get them, so that's part of the issue.

Whoo hoo! I had the same experience (and am not alone). I'm glad you found here. This is so much better, you can get so many more ideas, a wider range of experiences, etc. Its great!! You can also help more people on here. Glad it worked for you and congratulations!! Vic

What is your protein and water/liquid intake per day? Also, you can lose inches and not see anything on the scale. There are also plateaus at times, and yes a month out or so is the first one I've seen.

Does your surgeon have a support group? Or is there another support group in the area you can make arrangements to be a part of? Online, there is NOTHING like it though. You get the benefits of more than one programs viewpoints, lots more varied patient experiences. There is great personal touch and I've seen it (and seen the opposite side unfortunately). That being said, there is good in both types of experiences, but if all you can get is online, go for it. Frankly I've found a ton of people to be supportive and I personally enjoy seeing people do well, things go great and helping and supporting when there isn't. Giving back. So don't discount that there isn't something near you or whatever. You can get a TON of experience from all walks of life here. Vic

I saw an image that said 'don't dig your own grave with a knife and fork'. I did that for years. I'm not now. Please consider what you invested to be healthier for you and your loved ones.