singand_dance

Lindsey, glad to hear you're feeling well! Lisa, How'd it go? I finally had my phone appt with Kirk today, it took so much time to have that darn appt with all the holidays. Next up is my appt with Dr Alami in a month. Exciting!

Good luck Lindsey! I'll be thinking about you tomorrow!

How is everyone doing with the holidays?

I just watched one on youtube. It's fascinating! Actually the first sleeve surgery video I've watched. I'd be a little nervous about bungee-cording my liver up like that, but hey... if my surgeon wants to do it, I would probably go for it.

Many of my post-op friends recommend sleeping in a recliner for the first few days. I plan on borrowing one from my parents when its my time! I'm glad to hear you are doing well!

Lol! He told ME that because I've never had a baby and I'm still in my 20's, my abdomen hasn't been stretched and therefore the internal abdominal pressure during surgery would be too dangerous. WTF? No one else has ever heard of anything like that. When I called Richmond, no one answered so I left a message with my name, medical record number, requested that the transfer me to SSF. I gave them my number and said it was ok to leave a message on that phone. A week later someone called and left a message saying "This is Richmond, I have a note that you called, I don't know why but call us back and hopefully we can figure out what you called for". Why? Every time I call Richmond I seem to get the voicemail. I'm so glad to be done with them, even if that meant I had to go to orientation agan, psych eval again, and drive extra. Good luck to you!

Oh, and Dr Fisher wanted me to have RNY (I wanted the band for the past year) but told me if I lose over 100 lbs, he'll do any surgery I wanted. He's delusional!

I had the same problem with Dr Fisher, except he wanted me to lose 85 lbs before he'd do surgery. After my last appt with him (a year after orientation) he said the same thing... "Stick with the program" He told me my food logs looked good for a person of normal weight but I'd have to cut out all fruit except apples and pears, cut all cereal (I'd been eating cream of wheat) and cut down on my morning protein from 3 proteins to 2. I was so disappointed I ended up gaining about 20 lbs in the 6 months since. Everyone told me to switch to SSF, I finally did it. I was told to call Lisa at SSF (I can PM her number if you'd like) she told me all I needed to do was call Richmond and request to have my care transfered to SSF. It took multiple weeks, multiple calls that were never returned by Richmond and I'd had enough. I finally emailed my primary care doc and asked him to assist. The very next day I got a call from SSF advising me they'd already scheduled me for orientation and my psych eval. I love SSF, the whole atmosphere is so different. They're much nicer than Richmond and they're really supportive. It's totally worth the extra time driving. Plus the program Stacey was describing, I love that they will reimburse for bridge toll and a hotel room. Start getting receipts for the bridge toll, so you're in the habit! I'm also in the Sac area, we've got a nice size group of us here. We'll have to meet up sometime for a walk and lunch or something.

Hoping you're doing well Amber! Sending good, healing thoughts your way!

I've been having gallbladder attacks and was told by my surgeon's office that I MUST take care of my gallbladder first. They won't do them both at the same time. He said it's much safer to go under anesthesia twice, than to be under for a long time. I was told the surgeries could be approx 6 weeks apart.

Anyone at SSF have Dr Fallah? I had my appt with him on Thursday. Appt was at 2pm. I was in the car by 2:20. I did the psych eval at Richmond and that was around 45 minutes, but with Dr Fallah it was seriously less than 10 minutes! Just wondering if anyone else experienced the same thing?

Stacey- How are you feeling? Are you out of the hospital yet? Sending good thoughts your way! Did anyone go to the Kaiser Point West meeting last weekend? I completely forgot! There is not December meeting, so the next Sacramento Kaiser Point West support meeting will be the 4th Saturday in January, 1/22/11. Hope to meet some of you there! I have two appts in SSF next week, the lifestyle/nutrition classes (and hoping to do the medical clearance that morning) and on Thurs I've got my psych eval. I hate to drive so much in one week, but I love that SSF can get me in quickly. They're so accomadating!

Nov 29th? I'm so happy for you Stacey!

Congrats on the surgery dates Amber & Lemon! I'm so excited for you both. Maybe having different surgery dates is actually better, you can each help the other in recovery.

The next Kaiser Point West meeting is next Saturday 11/27 from 11-1. Hope to see you all there! We should make a sign for all the sleevers... or we should all carry a single red rose or something to find each other. lol. I had my orientation at SSF today and it was great. I left home at 5 am because Google maps said it would take 2 hours and 40 min to get to SSF from Elk Grove during traffic. I was an hour and a half early (I also was thinking it started at 8, not 8:30). The staff seemed really great, they didn't get snotty with anyone, even people who were an hour late. I also love that SSF lists a bunch of support groups in their binder, which Richmond wouldn't do. Dr Le said they're scheduling surgeries about 6 weeks out. I'm a little nervouse but I'm excited. I can't believe I've already got 2 more appointments scheduled with SSF. I think this means I should go off my bc as soon as I finish this pack. Whoah! That'll be wierd.

Dr Fisher said that time and children stretch everything out in your abdomen. He said the internal pressure would be great and would make surgery more difficult. I've never heard that anywhere else either. I've also never met anyone who had to lose 85 lbs before surgery. I met someone once who came close, and she was in her 60s and she also was a Dr Fisher patient. Anyone know how much extra time I should take to get to SSF on tuesday morning? I've always tried to avoid driving to SF at during rush hour.

Hello all! I first attended orientation at Richmond in May of 2009. Dr Fisher wanted me to lose 85 lbs before surgery, citing my age and lack of child-bearing as some of the reasons. I did well on the pre-op diet for the first 6 months or so and lost over 50 lbs before my weight loss stalled. I originally planned to get the band but after watching people on the lap band forum go for a year and a half with complications and endless fills and pb'ing etc, I decided to go for the sleeve. I've also switched from Richmond to SSF. I called Richmond four weeks ago, and it took them a week to return my call (and the message I received was them saying they didn't know why I called and to call them back again). After 2-3 weeks of calling Richmond with no respons, I emailed my PCP and asked to have him send my referral to SSF. Within two days I was already scheduled for orientation and psych eval at SSF. I'm excited! I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Thanks Ashley! I finally got the nerve to call Richmond to get my referral sent to SSD. They were closed for lunch! So I worked myself up again so I could leave a message. lol. I don't know what I'm so scared of! Still no sugar, but I still want it. I guess that "head hunger" won't ever go away. At least that "resistance muscle" has reappeared!

Ash- I can't believe you've hit the 80 lb mark already! You look amazing! Congrats!!! You too Chrissy! You guys are smaller and smaller every time I see you. So inspiring! (I'm on day 8 without sugar! I think I'm back on track.)

I bought the Premier Nutrition protein drink from Costco. I also bougth a case of muscle milk light and that stuff is foul. I also found sublingual b-12 at Costco, but I can't find it there all the time. I haven't tried any others yet.

I've heard great things about Dr Alami at SSF. If I switch, I'm requesting him. I think Stacey has Dr. Le. You should check out verticalsleevetalk.com for the Kaiser Richmond Board. Yeah... no one at Point West last week?! I was working that morning but I showed up at the end. Things have been crazy with tons of overtime at work. It's a mixed blessing. I'm happy to get caught up in the office and I'm thrilled to get the CTO, but now I'm working 11 hour days, and working every other Saturday. And I'm working on my 9/80 too. I'm not cooking or exercise like I want to, but the overtime won't last forever. How are my ladies? I miss you all!

Stacey, how easy was it to switch from Richmond to SSF?

The Point West meeting is always the 4th Saturday from 11-1.

Howdy folks! I've been in the process with Kaiser Richmond for 15 months. Dr Fisher wants me to lose 84 lbs from my orientation weight. I saw him after 1 year of my pre-op diet. He said I shouldn't care that it's been a year without a surgery date. Ugh. Since that appt I've stalled in a major way. Now I'm going to see about switching to SSF and switching from band to sleeve. I keep hearing great things about Dr Alami, so I'm hoping for him.

Just got back from walking the dog. It is so cool out tonight! I could have easily worn long pants and been comfortable. Doing good Ash! Keep it up! I only know one person (besides you guys) with a sle.eve. She's 2 or 3 years out and doing fantastic. Congrats miss size 14!!!