Hi All!

I wanted to start a thread for African-American sleevers (no worries I HEART all sleevers from the rainbow). I just thought, no scientific proof, that African-American sleevers may respond to the surgery different than our lovely non-African American sleeved sisters and brothers. I wanted to know if we had the same skin issue, hair problems, and other surgery related issues. Also, how to deal with the culture shock. African-American "soul food" may be something of the past... or not. So I was just looking for a space to voice culture related issues and concens.

PS- I TRULY :heart: ALL SLEEVERS.

I'm from Atlanta, too My first appointment with my PCP is Monday! I've got Kaiser, by the way. Hope all goes well!

I'm from Alabama and I was originally scheduled to have RNY and I just recently found out that my insurance covers the VSG and I am scheduled to have surgery on December 8!! I just wanted to say hello to everybody♥

Hello to all jus received approval on 11-14-11 hope to have a date soon. Good luck to you all!

38 year old, AA from Dallas

I LOVE this tread! Hi all I was sleeved on 11/15/11 I will be 1 wk out tomorrow. The gas is gone. I was almost banded on 11/10/11 but God stepped in just in time. On my 9th day of pre-op I received a call from the doctor's office stating my insurance will not cover the hospital because it was not a center of excellence. I was scrambling at the last minute because I was previously told it was approved. Anyway after finding another surgeon and going to his seminar, I saw he did all 3 surgeries as my lapband doc only did lapbands and I had no other option. The new surgeon had options and when I saw the sleeve it was a no brainer. I called my insurance company and they approved me for the sleeve within 5 minutes(I was already approved for the lap band). So I realized that God's will is what's best for me. Had my lapband doctor's insurance verification rep not slipped up with the insurance, I would have been banded and not known about the sleeve. Glory Be To God Almighty for this change. Thank you again for starting this post. I will keep yall updated as I continue my journey.

He doesn't make mistakes....Congrats!

I LOVE this tread! Hi all I was sleeved on 11/15/11 I will be 1 wk out tomorrow. The gas is gone. I was almost banded on 11/10/11 but God stepped in just in time. On my 9th day of pre-op I received a call from the doctor's office stating my insurance will not cover the hospital because it was not a center of excellence. I was scrambling at the last minute because I was previously told it was approved. Anyway after finding another surgeon and going to his seminar, I saw he did all 3 surgeries as my lapband doc only did lapbands and I had no other option. The new surgeon had options and when I saw the sleeve it was a no brainer. I called my insurance company and they approved me for the sleeve within 5 minutes(I was already approved for the lap band). So I realized that God's will is what's best for me. Had my lapband doctor's insurance verification rep not slipped up with the insurance, I would have been banded and not known about the sleeve. Glory Be To God Almighty for this change. Thank you again for starting this post. I will keep yall updated as I continue my journey.

I don't recall if I've ever posted on this thread, but hello sleeve sistassssssss!!!!!

Since I am self-pay (my insurance has an exclusion) I'm being sleeved by Dr. Kelly in Tijuana, MX on December 12th. I am super excited and anxious. I have 20 more days to go. Just waiting on my passport to come in.

I am glad I'm getting sleeved during the winter so by summer......BOW! Sexy me!

Hello my fellow sleve sisters!!! I was sleeved by Dr. Kelly in Mexico on 11/05/11 and have no regrets..it has not been easy but I am not in a race Congrats and goodluck to all

Hello all... I am to be sleeved January 10th, 2012. I am so excited yet extremely nervous. I'm just praying that God's will shall be done. I'm only 28 years old and will be 29 five days before my sleeve... I can't wait to see how I'm going to look at 30. :aureola: I suffered from undetected high blood pressure which caused me to have kidney failure in March of this year (2011) (thank God I didn't need dialysis). I've always been over weight but with the kidney failure and recently being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic oavry syndrome) my fiance and I thought it was only right for me to consider weight loss surgery when my doctors brought my weight to my attention. This will be my first major surgery and again I can not stress how nervous I am but I will do whatever it takes for me to live. If anyone can tell me about the pain (i.e. feeling etc.) would greatly help and things you did to coop. Thanks Ladies!!!

Hello all! I was soo happy to see this thread. I have found several of the conversation very helpful. I was sleeved Dec. 28,2011. I have lost 24lbs since my pre-op liquid diet. I would love to continue to connect with other AA sleevers.

Hello my sista's!

I'm from Cleveland and I was sleeved on December 12th. Nit has been a challenge but also a blessing. I've been trying to be so careful, so I would not have any issues from the surgery. I was 235 the day of surgery and I'm now 209....what! I'm moving around much better and also sleeping much better and starting to understand what my new tummy want from me. I pray everyone have a successful journey and a blessed one.

Hey all I didnt know there was another AA sleevers thread... I always post on the other one. Now I have 2 to stay connected with yay!..

ANywho, im Joy..im 26 and I live in long beach.. was sleeved when i was still 25 (lol) in sept 2011 (sept 1st to be exact).

Day of surgery..270 pounds size 20 waist

currently im 204 wearing size 11... still wanna lose another 50... ive yet to exercise.. but imma start! I have a trip to miami for memorial day to get me started! LOL

Hi ATL girl! You could be right about the differences in surgercial outcomes. I know first hand of a few differences as it relates to health. I have experieced cultural issues as it relates to my own healthcare. If I wear my hair too short I suffer from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (hair bumps and scars that occur mostly in African Americans). There are varying degrees despite the hype alcohol and OTC products don't always work. I got really frustrated after seeing 3 dermatologists and none of them could help me with any creams or pills they gave me. All of them were awesome Dr's who had great bedside manner' date=' but they were all Cacasian. Finally I felt I needed to travel out ot the area.

I went to the National Medical Association's website to see if I could find an African American Dermatologist. There was one about 60 miles away. I went to him and immediately he recognized the condition which he said is common in African Americans and Hispanics because of the curl pattern we tend to have in our hair. He wrote a script that I had to take to a small phramacy because it had to be mixed by hand. I told him about my issue he said all of the Dr's I went to were great physicans, but most were probably trained trained in an area where there was a disproportionate number of African Americans, one he knew for certain came from Iowa. He also explained a few other skin differences. He told me that skin cancer is vey rare in African Americans because of our melanin. However when we get it our survival rate is very slim compared to Caucasians because if we get it it is a rare and much more aggressive form.

When I was in undergrad I completed an internship at the National Institiutes of Health. I found out that transplant recipients who are African American in most cases have to receive a slightly higher dosage of anti-rejection drugs because our bodies respond differently. We can still learn allot from each other despite our background. I joined Vertical Sleeve Talk last week, everyone is so resourceful and I have seen so much I never knew much about.

I am in the beginning stage of all of this I went to a seminar recently wanting a lapband and came out wanting the Vertical Sleeve. I have a consult with my surgeon on 2/14. I do know my insurance company covers the switch, bypass, lap band, and sleeve. The coordiator has already got the ball rolling on that, wish me well.

[/quote'] COULD YOU EMAIL ME THE NAME OF THE MEDICINE YOU WERE PRESCRIBED FOR PSEUDO FOLLICULITIS. I HAVE THE SAME DIAGNOSIS . My email is dkna2@me.com

Cud

I have HS which is similar to folluculitis, but I digress. Hey yall! Anyone getting their surgery in July?

i am now gettiing my surgery june 4 by dr garcia in tijuanna. i was going with dr almanza but decided to ho with dr garcia die to jis surheries r in an actual hospital. I am a RN amd i jusy feel more comfy with that

i am now gettiing my surgery june 4 by dr garcia in tijuanna. i was going with dr almanza but decided to ho with dr garcia die to jis surheries r in an actual hospital. I am a RN amd i jusy feel more comfy with that

i had bad typos . im not hoing to mexico, lol, I

meant going. n the surgeries r done in a hospital is what i meant. sorry