singand_dance

How close is your BMI? How tall are you? If you're an inch shorter at the same weight, your BMI is higher.

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I'm nervous for sure. I had my pre-op appt on Tuesday, I woke up the next day with a major cold! I'm home sick today and just trying to take it easy. I'll call SSF again on Monday (as they suggested) but I'm scared this will delay surgery. I definately don't want to have surgery if this could be dangerous.... Ugh, so frusterated!

I feel lucky, I've been having gallbladder attacks for the past year so I'm having my gallbladder out at the same time I get sleeved! No lies to anyone... except by omission. But when I say I'm having my gallbladder out, it's the truth!

I was told no metallic nail polish, and be sure the right index finger nail is trimmed to 1". It's funny how different each surgeon is!

Hey Ladies! I have less than 2 weeks until my surgery! I'm so obsessed. All I can think about is surgery/recovery/my future body! Agggghhh! Seriously. Today I kept thinking... "2 weeks from today I'll be discharged from the hosptial and drive home from SF..." I've missed seeing everyone, so I'm thinking about hosting a brunch in a month or two (Once I'm on solid foods again!) What do you think? I've so missed our get-togethers. I'll send details later, but I'd love to see y'all!

I'm a Kaiser patient also (Northern CA, I don't know about other programs) I was told you don't need to worry about losing too much weight. If you're in to the orientation, you're in the program. I even had my first surgeon say if I lost 140 lbs pre-op, he'd still do surgery.

Of course its normal! I'm having the same feelings right now, my surgery is in 2 weeks. You'll do fine! You've done your research and you now must have faith in your surgeon. Always remember, he really doesn't want anything to go wrong... just like you. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow! See you on the loser's bench!

June 22, San Francisco, CA! I'm completely nervous today. Only two weeks....

I asked this same question when a plastic surgeon spoke at a WLS support group. He said get the plastic surgery first!

What do you thin the beans with?

There's a large group in Sacramento that meets at Kaiser Point West on the 4th Saturday of every month from 11 to 1 with a clothing exchange. All the clothes that aren't taken are then donated to charity. It's a combined WLS support group with RNY VSG and band but the last time I was there, it was 50/50 for RNY and VSG and only 2 band.

June 22, Kaiser South San Francisco, CA. I can't believe I've got 19 days left! I even got a countdown app on my phone and I look at it every day and get excited. I'm starting to get really nervous now, the clock is ticking.

That sucks Christine! Is Dr Machado at UCD? She used to be at Mercy San Juan. I went to her orientation about 5 years ago but was told I had to go through UCD's program. The UC Davis doc didn't do many bands and said there was no way I'd lose 100 lbs with a band. So I told him I wouldn't get surgery from a dr who doesn't believe in me. I think I offended him. I'm so glad I have Kaiser now.

I'm surprised to hear she was rude... Dr Fisher I would believe... I went to orientation at Richmond 2 years ago, assigned to Dr Fisher. He said I needed to lose 85 lbs before he'd schedule surgery. (Yes, he was serious). I worked really hard for months and lost 50 lbs but it still wasn't good enough for him. I finally decided to have my care transfered to South San Francisco. While I did have to start over as far as going to another orientation and psych appt again, I've got a Dr I love (Dr Alami is awesome) and I have my sleeve surgery scheduled. If you're having that much trouble with Richmond, do not hesitate to get a second opinion. There's another thread on here with Richmond patients, its hundreds of pages long but jump right in, everyone's frendly.

Hi ladies! I just heard some good news for the Sacramento area bandsters... I was in the E.R. this morning for my stupid, stupid gallbladder and the Dr and I were talking about WLS. He told me they will have a bariatric surgery center in Sacramento in about a year. He said they're currently recruiting surgeons. Good news, eh?

I decided to go with the sleeve after following along with everyone over the past two years. Too many people can't eat the right foods, but the wrong foods go down fine. I also talked to several people who had the band and wished they hadn't (or wished they'd just had the sleeve in the first place). One of the things that really helped was learning that my grandfather had essentially the same surgery in the 1950's. He had ulcers and back in the olden days they would remove about 80% of the stomach. He could never eat a ton of food at any sitting and was a very slim man while his siblings were morbidly obese (and they were both diabetic, Type 2) From what my grandma told us, he actually was on the hefty side before his surgery but ever since then he was slim. He lived well for 45 years or so after his surgery. I have surgery in 46 days! I'm really excited now. I've been working so long and it's finally my turn. I'm excited to see the body hiding inside me. And I must admit, I'm also excited to take the time off work, and to finally get rid of my gallbladder (I've had at least 9 attacks) I wonder if they'll let me play with my gallbladder after surgery? I hope you all are doing well! I miss my ladies!

Do you also have nausea/back pain? It could be gallbladder. Probably gas though.

The 'reasoning' behind the NO PROTEIN DRINKS rule is that you eat food, you don't drink it. You shouldn't drink your calories...it's a slippery slope etc...... that's Kaiser Richmond for ya!

Licked in the face by a rat?! LOL!

Just got my date.... June 22!

Hello Ladies, I've missed you all! I'm happy to report that I FINALLY HAVE A SURGERY DATE!!! After 2 years, 2 hospitals, 2 surgeons.... I'll be getting sleeved on June 22 by Dr Alami at SSF and I couldn't be happier. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to the walk (we're going to a wedding that morning). I do hope to get together with everyone soon.

Does your program only do band? I started 2 years ago, wanting the band. My surgeon wanted me to lose 85 lbs before surgery. I lost 50, and he wasn't satisfied and wouldn't schedule surgery. In that time I've changed my mind and my mind is made up, I'm getting sleeved! I switched surgeons and I was asked to lose 30 lbs before surgery. I had to do all my pre-op tests, labs and psych consults etc all over again. If you can get a personal trainer, I highly recommend it. Having a trainer really makes a difference, way more than just having a gym membership.

My grandfather had a partial gastrectomy in the 1950's to resolve his ulcers. He had about 80% of his stomach removed, and lived 45+ years without complication.

I'd love to see you ladies! It's been way too long. Hopefully once this rain goes away we can plan a walk or something?

My first surgeon (when I wanted the band) wanted me to lose 85 lbs before surgery. I started at 335, and lost 50 lbs, and he still didn't want to schedule surgery. I got discouraged and gained about 30 lbs back over the course of 18 months. I got a new surgeon who only wants me to lose 20-25 lbs before surgery. Unfortunately it's so much harder to lose weight this time around. I'll get there soon though!