ssflbelle

Hi Everyone I saw the WLS surgeon and his staff for the first time on June 17th 2015. They all seemed to be very nice and attentive. I was the only patient there which was good as my scooter took up most of their narrow hallway. There was no way I was able to get it into the examining room so after they weighed me I had to wall across the narrow hallway to the room. Adrienne asked me for all my paper work which I had to fill out from their online site. She took the names of all my meds and my medical story. She told me I had to follow a six month supervised diet and get a whole bunch of tests done before they could even send in the paper work for approval. The Dr came in and explained the surgery to me (which I already knew about because of all the research and the reading of Alex's sleeve surgery book.) gave me his blue book that explained everything and said I would have to see the NUT and that Adrienne would schedule that for me. I told him about Nutrisystem and the hernia and other medical problems I had. He told me to stay with Nutrisystem for this first month and to keep a food diary. He wanted a Catscan of the lower part of the body to see where the hernia is and he would see me again July 22nd. I did see the NUT on June 29th. Why I have no idea, as what she had to say to me was exactly what I had read in the blue book. So as far as I am concerned it was a wasted 3 1/2 hours of my time. On July 22nd I was weighed in again by Adrienne. I had lost 10 pounds. Again I was the only patient there. I asked her to look into why I was being charged $250.00 for the NUT when I was under the impression she was part of the Dr's staff. She said she would. I also gave her all the copies of the NS bills for the food I had gotten from them over the last year. Also gave her the Catscan results. The Dr came in and was happy I had lost the 10 pounds, looked at the food diary and said I should get off of NS. I told him I had at least another month's worth of food I still had to use up as I was not about to throw away that money. He said don't order any more and try to eat protein first then vegs, then fruits and carbs last. He told me I had an umbilical hernia and a porcelain gallbladder. He would take out the gallbladder if and when I had the WLS. As for the hernia he wants to leave it in as he said it could come back again if he removed it. He would rather wait until I have lost weight to take it out. Besides he thinks that taking out three things might be too much time in surgery for me. I am a bit concerned as the hernia I believe is located in the area directly above my belly button which is one of the locations for an incision. I will need to discuss this with him in more detail when I see him again Aug 24th. He told me I only had 4 more visits with him as the first visit counts toward the 6 months supervised diet. That also sounded odd to me and will have to discuss that with him a well. I will post again after the 3rd visit on Aug 24th. Have a Happy and Healthy life till then.

I'll say that was fast. I have to wait about a 10 days before my stuff gets delivered from them, no matter what has been ordered. I guess living in South Florida delays everything.

I also saw myself in this posting of yours. I am in my 3rd month of the 6th month supervised diet. Due to the disability I suffer from cooking during the work week is very difficult so I have done what others suggested. I cook all my meats on the weekend and weigh out my 4 oz portion and make them up into several individual bags and then put that one type of meat into a large gallon bag. I have at least 6 different variety of meats in my freezer right now. I have all kinds of pouch or canned tuna, chicken, ham and turkey, cheeses, and meats for lunch as well and make rollups minus the bread. For breakfast a shake or yogurt, cottage cheese or eggs in the microwave using the new eggstatic being advertised. For veg I have canned three bean salad, zucchini, beets, frozen butternut squash, peppers, onions, cauliflower and salad. I still have variety and don't have to cook much during the week at all. If I am still hungry at a meal I will have canned fruit as well. Now a days there are lots of higher protein-lower carb frozen brand named foods for those time when you really do not want to cook. Every now and then I don't think it would hurt to have them, unless your Dr or NUT said to stay away from them for one reason or another. You must be doing something right to have lost 20 pounds in your first month. Try some of the suggestions everyone has provided you with and I am sure you will get through the 6 months. I believe we exchanged friend requests, so if you are one to chat on yahoo Im send me a request there and we can chat and help each other seeing as how we are going through the 6 month supervised diet at the same time and have about the same amount of weight to lose.

I told only 2 people as I do not wish to have all the negative nannies and Debbie downs tell me why I shouldn't do it. My roommate as he will be driving me to and from the hospital. Second person is the one who told me he had weightloss surgery. I met him online when he was over 500 pounds 2 years ago. Even though we were in the same county we never meet. He contacted me again in June and told me he had the surgery and has lost 150 and has about 50 to 75 more to lose. This time we did meet. When I asked he told me the Doctors name. I spoke with my PCP and he referred me to this Dr who is on my plan. Since June it has been discovered I have a porcelain gallbladder which the surgeon said he would remove at the time of my WLS. So I will need to tell my boss as I will need the time off from work. If she asks me about the surgery she will be informed I have to have gallbladder surgery. That is not a lie as I do. No need to volunteer any additional information.

About a month ago I ordered one case of each flavor. It took about 1 1/2 weeks to get here and came in two different boxes. I have had the chocolate and the strawberry and liked them both. I really bought them for the 2 weeks pre-op diet I will have to be on after this 6 month supervised diet is over. My roommate tried the chocolate yesterday and even liked it. I know some people said their taste buds changed after surgery and they couldn't stand the taste anymore of these shakes. I am hoping that is not the case for me. These shakes I can afford on a disability budget. I have a friend who uses her card to order on line for me so no service charge and no shipping charges. She just lives down the street from me and brings them to me and I give her the money when they come in. It is a lot easier than carrying three cases home from the store.

I am also in the 300+ pound club before surgery. Am still waiting for my sleeve surgery. It is nice to see how well you have done in a year. Wonderful results and you look amazing. Keep up the good work.

Hi all I was looking at the profile of Jss1988 and saw a posting she made to this forum. I am not 100% sure if my surgery will be in Dec or Jan but I thought I would start posting here anyhow. Here is a little bit about me: I am a 59 year old physically disabled 5' 6" woman who has been obese since I was 10 years old. Parents sent me to a fat camp 3 times and all three time after the summer I came home thin and since eating patterns at home didn't change all the weight plus more came back. Have also lost weight as an adult more times then I can count and it always came back. I will not go into a lot of detail as I do have a blog listed in my signature line if anyone cares to read about my life after I became injuried. Onto present day info: In June I spoke with my new PCP about WLS and he gave me a referral to a WL surgeon whom a friend of mine used. I saw the surgeon June 17 and found out I need to go through a 6 month supervised diet as none of my previous attempts at losing weight were supervised. I had been on Nutrisystem since June of 2014 and had only lost 38 pounds and told the Dr this. He said to stay with NS and do a food diary which he would look at during the second visit. The lady at the Dr office set me up to see the NUT June 29th and all she did was go over the post diet I was to follow. She said nothing about the supervised diet and when I asked if I see her each month for the next 5 months she said no I see the Surgeon. That was odd so I thought. July 22nd I saw the Surgeon again and had lost 10 more pounds. He looked at my food diary and told me to get off of NS as they gave me way too many carbs. He wanted me to more or less follow the low carb/high protein diet. I see him again Aug 24th for the 3rd visit. If insurance approves me I guess my surgery will be in 2016. I also have a porcelain gallbladder and umbilical hernia. The gallbladder will be removed if and when I have the WLS. I have only told my friend and my roommate about the possible WLS. My friend is answering all kinds of specific questions about the WLS staff and program which is wonderful. I feel much more comfortable knowing someone who use that Dr and has already lost 150 pounds. He has about 50-75 more to lose. Hope to become friends with all of you and will be following this thread.

Stories like this make me so mad. These are supposed to be medical "professionals".... why aren't they conducting themselves in a professional manor? You should definitely report her. Yes when I read this I was thinking the same thing. Why does she need to know what surgery you are having anyhow? I would have said yes to the pre-op and if the additional comments came I would have said this is a private matter do you really need to know why in order to perform this EKG? If she had said yes at that point I would lied. I will be having gallbladder surgery along with the sleeve. So if I get questioned like this it is for my gallbaldder. I do not need the crap and the stress of what others deal out Shellyd88 This is your business just as it is mine. You don't need to tell anyone. BUt i fyou have please tune them out when they give you all the stress and hassle. As or me It is my business, my WLS and his staff and my PCP and his staff. The only person in my life I told is my roommate as he needs to be there to help me with the drive to and from the hospital.

I looked at it and 1 garment is $35.00, 2 is $59, 3 is $79, 5 is $99, 7 is $129, 10 is $159. I think I will just go to goodwill shops or other places like that. Or better yet just take in my clothing as it starts to get bigger on me. Some of the the Weight Loss forums have a thread that offers free clothing. Some of the WLS conferences and support groups have an exchange program. You submit a piece of clothing and can take a smaller size for free.

Wow what a cool idea! I haven't had surgery yet so can't contribute. I don't even know how to make a video when the time comes However you can be assured I will be visiting that page once it is up and running to view the videos of those you have had the surgery. I can use all the support I can get and just love reading and hearing about all the success.

These postings are all from June. Did you ever have your surgery Michael and how did things go for you? Did you get the help you needed and are you recovery well?

I am so sorry this happened to you and all the others and that people lost their lives because of this Dr and the Weight Loss Agents.com. When I saw the link url as WPTV I clicked on it. WPTV is a TV station in my viewing area and I never saw that on TV. How I missed it I do not know. I am so glad you brought it to our attention. I hope all those who are thinking of having surgery with this Dr will view this and think twice before they finalize their plans. Being on disability I can't contribute to the gofundme but I sure hope others will be able to help you out. Good luck in getting the justice you and all the other deserve.

I see you found the South Florida group. I believe jemars and isit5yet had Dr Wizman. Maybe others too as there are 5 pages to this thread.

Can people who had surgery by another Dr go to this support group? It is much closer to me than Jupiter. When is it?

I am from South Florida Palm Beach County There is a group her on Bariatricpal from South Florida at this link http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/309384-fl-south-florida/ If approved my surgeon will be Dr Vaughan. I also have a few fears and will have to discuss them with him. The biggest one is that every one says walk as much as possible after surgery. I have to use 2 canes and can only walk for 2 minutes not sure that would be enough time for the gas to even begin to move out. Also I have a hernia above my belly button and am concerned as I believe an incision is made the the location of where my hernia is. Not sure how that is going to happen as the Dr didn't want to remove hernia until I lost almost all my weight. He said this kind of a hernia could come back.

Thank you for the suggestion. I will have to check into this Zero Water. I had no idea this was available.

I gave up diet soda 4 years ago, However I did get a carbonation machine. Drinking this Florida tap Water was just not possible for me without carbonation. During my 2nd of 6 pre surgery visits with the Surgeon we talked about water and I asked him about the carbonated water. He said after surgery I couldn't drink it for 2 months so I better find a non carbonated water I can drink. After the 2nd month he said there would be no problem.

I have read many say one of their incisions is right above their belly buttons. I have a umbilical hernia above my belly button. The Dr said he would not remove it until months after I have had the surgery. Does anyone (maybe a Dr or Nurse who reads this post) know how making an incision above my belly button is going to take place if I have a hernia there? Will my recovery time take longer? How safe is it to have surgery and not remove the hernia? I guess next time I see the Dr I will have to ask him this questions but thought maybe someone would know now. Thanks

Wishing you the very best and hope the recovery is easy for you. In 2016 I hope to be having these feelings your experience if I am approved. I will be following your journey.

Mistie So sorry to hear you have been postphoned till next week. Wow you certainly are meeting with a lot of people.During my first visit I only met the surgeon and the nurse who took my weight and went over all my meds that I take. About a week later I met the NUT and do not need to see her again. Hope all goes well for you when you do meet them all next week.

Cool idea and you all have very unique names. I am thinking about naming mine if I am approved. I have another 4 months to think of something.

Thanks Ladies for answering the question about the shots. It sounds like you both are doing well. Will keep following your journey. Anxious to hear how the first post op visit goes for the both of you.

Ladies I do not know the size of your boobs. But mine are huge, probably the largest any of you have ever seen and my concern for wearing a bra also has to do with the fact that my loose boobs will be hanging on top of all the incisions. So 1. I feel it will be very painful to have these heavy boobs resting on my incisions and even worse when I am walking. 2. Since they will be swinging when walking they will get very hot and sweaty and couldn't that cause possible infections to the boobs and the incisions. 3. The hospital I do not believe has a bariatric floor and I will be mixed in with others and will feel very uncomfortable walking around (if I am even able to do so as I am physically handicapped to begin with and must use 2 canes or a walker) without at least a sports bra on. So I will be wearing one. I did it when I was in the hospital years ago for Lymphedema and can't imagine not doing it again.

Exactly what I went through! But even worse I didn't get to the bathroom in time and peed my pants. Had to cut the underwear off and hope and pray the sheet cover didn't come off during the rest of the night. I told my Surgeon I had that test done years ago. Had a Cpap machine, got a terrible sore throat twice and finally gave the machine back to the rental company as I couldn't stand it. He said so nothing has changed and I said nope. So I assumed I don't have to take the test again. Have 4 more supervised visits and will have to ask him for sure.

Thanks However during the second visit with the surgeon I told him about the NUT visit and this time he told me to get off of NS and eat protein first then vegs and only 3 meals. He wants me to try now to eat like I will after I have recovered from the surgery. He still did not give me an amount of weight I am to lose but he was happy with the 10 pounds I lost this first month. I see the surgeon 4 more time and the next visit is Aug 24th. He said I will not see the NUT again. I met a man who had surgery ( he lost 150 and still have 50 more to lose) by the same Dr and he also thought the NUT was not good. He used different words for her. However the surgeon is good and answered all his questions and mine too.