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I was sleeved on Jan 6th. I went to the driving range about 6 weeks later and walked 9 holes by the end of March. I walked 18 once this month but was wiped for 3 days. I find I just don't have the stamina to walk 18. I now ride 18 but am still very tired when I'm done. I usually come home and nap for 2 hrs! I'm having some slight anemia problems so that might be why I get so tired. Priscilla

Great news! I got a new PCP today...an internist who also has other bariatric patients that he follows and does the routine testing for. My 1st appt is next Fri for a 40 minute "establish new patient" visit, then I have an appt for a physical in the beginning of May. Thank you everyone for encouraging me to find a new PCP. Priscilla

Hi - See my answer to "groovearmada." Priscilla

My surgeon recommends your 1st check up 3 months after surgery. It consists of an Upper GI (check for strictures & leaks?), and the following blood worK: CBC (to check for anemia and lack of Vitamin B12) SMAC 24 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (sugar, cholesterol, Calcium and hepatic functioning) I know my surgeon has many patients that don't bother with the Upper GI if they are not having any problems. I am having severe reflux so I think it would be best if I had it done. Priscilla

Mine was left open to close on it's on and I just had my surgery with Dr Aceves on 1/06/2011. Priscilla

Thank you for all your replies. I'm going to find a Gastroenterologist to follow me and I'm also going to start looking around for a new PCP. Priscilla

Priscilla[/font][/size]Hi, I had my VSG done in Mexico 7 weeks ago. My surgeon suggests an Upper GI and certain blood work be done at 3 months. I saw my PCP last week and she agreed to order the tests. However, today she called me and said after speaking with her administrator, she would not be able to order the tests because she is not familiar with bariatrics. She said I would need to self refer myself to someone who would follow me in that aspect. The best she could do would be to have their referral coordinator send me a letter with a list of possible Dr's that might follow me and I could make the necessary contacts myself. She said I could also look on the internet to see if I could find someone since I found my surgeon that way. She said she would still follow me for my high cholesterol, HPB, and pre-diabetes and order those blood tests. I have other co-morbidities too. I would really like someone to follow me because I also have severe GERD for which I'm taking medication but has been worse since surgery. Has anyone else run into this problem? What did you do? Thanks, Priscilla

He use a 36 bougie and then oversews the staple line to a 32.

Hi Slowkat, I promised updates on my VSG 1/06/2011 (2 weeks out today) surgery with Dr Aceves in Mexicali Mexico. I lost 13 lbs pre op from around Thanksgiving till surgery day. Since surgery, I have lost another 9 lbs for a total of 22 lbs. Note I'm only 4'10" and started out at 174 less 22 lbs = 152 lbs. I have another 42 lbs to get to goal so the sleeve is working for me. I had a bougie of 36 which got oversewn to a 32 and is the standard size my surgeon uses. Another woman who had surgery the same day as I did requested a bougie of 40 which got oversewn to a 36 so I know my surgeon accomodates his patients after discussing what difference the size would make for them. Did you make any decsions yet? Priscilla

Kris- LOL...no, I don't know what I'm going to have yet tomorrow but that chocolate pudding idea sounds great! Did you get the E-mail that Gaby sent to me? Seems like an awful lot more on there that what had been given to us so far. I starting to wonder if maybe it's for band patients instead of us. Think I'll write to Gaby again just to make sure! I'll let you know what she says. Priscilla

Hello, I really appreciate your response. I finally contacted Dr Aceves' staff and they set me straight, just as you said...day of surgery is day zero. Thanks Again, Priscilla

Kristin, I just sent you an E-mail I received from Gaby today, that day one is considered the 1st day after surgery. His E-mail also included an more detailed post op diet than what we have received so far. You must have sent this note while I was composing mine to you! Are you kidding, of course I remember you! You're a sleeve buddie for sure. Priscilla

Hi Stacy 160, I didn't have anything on the day of surgery except for the IV fluids. The day following surgery is when I had my first clear fluids such as gatorade and clear broth. Thanks for responding, Priscilla

Hello, Can someone tell me what their DR considered day one post op - was it the day of surgery or the 1st day after surgery? I had my sleeve on 1/06/2011 and Phase I Clear liquids is for the 1st 10 days. If I count the day of surgery as day one, then yesterday was day 10 and today I could go on full liquids, otherwise I have to wait until tomorrow. Please answer ASAP because if I can start full liquids today, I'll be super excited to start Phase 2 today! Thanks so much, Priscilla VSG 1/06/2011 Dr Alberto Aceves, Mexicali, Mexico

Oh that will be great Elizabeth! And your surgery is with Dr Aceves too? I arrive in San Diego at 10:33 a.m. on the 5th via AS Airways. How about you?

Who is doing your surgery? Priscilla

Who are you having your surgery with? Priscilla

I have hypothroidism (Hashimoto's) and am scheduled to have the Sleeve surgery on Jan 6th with Dr Aceves. He and Dr Campos have both reviewed my medical history because I have other co-morbidities but neither of them ever mentioned that it would be a problem. I can let you know how the weight loss goes for me after I have it done, if you like. Priscilla

My surgery date is Jan 6th with Dr Aceves in Mexicali, MX. I'm flying in to San Diego on Jan 5th from New Hampshire. Anyone else going to Dr Aceves around that time that would be interested in staying in touch. I'm going alone. Priscilla

Yes, Kris I'm going alone. Still working on getting my flights.

Hi Kris, That's great! Nina gave me the 6th & 8th and then 4 days the following week to choose from. Will let you know when I finalize my date. Are you going alone? Priscilla

Happy Holidays to everyone! Your contributions to this board are "priceless." To 'My Journey Begins,' I haven't been on this board in quite a while but noticed that your surgery with Dr Aceves is on Jan 5, 2011. I'm in the process now of trying to schedule mine for the 1st week in January too! I had an original date of Dec 8th but had to cancel at the last minute because I came down with a Staph infection on Dec 6th...already had my boarding passes and everything! Are you going alone? I am. In case you're on some of the other boards, I am pas03064 on Dr Aceves' yahoo board and ecf1947 on the Obesity Help forum. Would love to hear from you. Priscilla

OMG Katie...that is so awesome! Hope your energy level picks up soon though...Adam did say to plan to be out of work for 2 weeks so it'll probably take that long to feel normal again. I'm still in a holding pattern waiting for a call back from Verizon, hoping now by Tues. Congratulations to everyone on the board for taking their lives back with this life long commitment! I'm looking forward to my turn to more actively participate too. Priscilla

Good Morning, Has anyone had any experience with BC/BS of Ohio PPO for Verizon Retirees? I was recently denied by them on the basis that I need a BMI of 40 or greater (mine is 36). Anthem only administers this self insured plan for Verizon. However, all the access materials to the benefits say a BMI of 35 to 39 is OK with comorbidities (sp?) which I have. I now have a Verizon Benefits Advocate helping me to get the actual benefit in writing but it's taking forever! BTW, an E-mail I sent from the "Anthem for Verizon website" in 2/2010 to verify my benefit was responded to me as needing a BMI of 35-39 w/comorbidities or 40+ w/o any so I was given wrong info to begin with. I faxed them a copy of the reply and they still denied me. This is a new health plan for us as of 1/1/2010 and I get the feeling that I'm the first Verizon retiree seeking approval for LAP-BAND®! Anthem claims it was my responsibility to verify my benefits with Verizon and that it is on Verizon's website. Not there...Verizon's website says to call the member # on the back of my ins card which I also did 4 times and always got the same answer of OK for the BMI 35-39, etc. Anthem says Verizon chose this exclusion from Anthem's normal contract regarding bariatric surgery. Please, can I get your inputs about how I should handle this and do you think I need an attorney? Priscilla