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Richmond Virginia Sleevers Around?

GeekyGamerGrrl

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bandita    16

bandita
Posted

Hey richmond sleevers! I wish that i had foubd you all sooner. I too am in richmnd and scheduled for my sleeve on monday the 27th of august. I amm at the vcu health sys and dr kellum is going to be doing my surgery. Let me just say that i am a lap band pt and had that surgery done at st marys hosp. And now speaking from experience there is no comparison and vcu is at the top! Not to say that the surgeons are not just as good at st marys but the whole process is much more organized, the staff are excellent and the nurritionists are superb. I agree with alicia....dr bautistas staff is incrediblly cold.

Vcu has a nuritionist that does all of your counselling...not a nurse. They function on evidence based practice which means they are using the latest information and not necessairly something tried and true that may not be as healthy or effective. The unit that i will be staying on is absolutely gorfeous...all private rooms etc and it makes me feel safer that should i have any complications the doctor os always in house....or the fellow surgeon (no back and forth phone calling). It doesnt hurt to have every sub specialty at arms legnth in case they are needed.

I wish all of you the best of luck!

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AliciaA122    24

AliciaA122
Posted

Oh man, now I'm a little jealous! :)

If I wasn't so far along at St Mary's I may consider switching. My information has been submitted to insurance AGAIN and will be denied AGAIN because they didn't have or send the medical clearance letter.

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GeekyGamerGrrl    7

GeekyGamerGrrl
Posted

I too am at VCU, and excited, because everyone has been so nice, and informative. No matter how many times you call and ask questions, they never make you feel like a bother. :) Good luck to all that are undergoing the surgery soon. If only I could lose the weight I need to. Its so frustrating!

Have a great day everyone!

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AliciaA122    24

AliciaA122
Posted

Bandita, did you have to lose a certain percentage of your body weight during pre-op as well?

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GeekyGamerGrrl    7

GeekyGamerGrrl
Posted

Dr. Maher wants me to get to 285 :( I started at 311. Thats ALLLLLLLLLOOOTTTT of weight to lose. He suggested weight watchers. So I guess I am going to have to suck it up and do it that way. Ugh! I dunno. I really really want this surgery. And I know I need to do this. But sometimes its hard to get over the hump of food. :( Know what I mean?

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AliciaA122    24

AliciaA122
Posted

oh yes, I definitely know! We're about the same starting weight. I would have a very hard time getting down to 285.

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GeekyGamerGrrl    7

GeekyGamerGrrl
Posted

So far, I am down to 300. I have even been down to 298. But because I have been going through some things health wise. Alot of the medications they have put me on, have hindered my weightloss goal. Blegh! It sucks honestly!

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bandita    16

bandita
Posted

I did not have to lose any weight before surgery. My starting weight was 258.5. I have been doing the pre op diet for 9 days and am down to 247.5. If you have to lose weight before surgery this shake diet will def get it off of you! I am in ketosis and actually feel pretty good, i would never do this type of diet if i was not close to surgery because i imagine as soon as i would stop it the weight would just jump back on. But if you are moving forward with surgery it would get that last 15 lbs off quickly...if you can tolerate the bad breath and constant peeing! Hope that helps good luck!

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quitaboo1    12

quitaboo1
Posted

I got approved today and my surgery date is October 8....Im excited and nervous!!!!!!! :)

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msnae    21

msnae
Posted

I got approved today and my surgery date is October 8....Im excited and nervous!!!!!!! :)

Congrats. I know that you are happy. Where are you having surgery at?

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quitaboo1    12

quitaboo1
Posted

Congrats. I know that you are happy. Where are you having surgery at?

Thanks and I am having surgery at St Marys.

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AliciaA122    24

AliciaA122
Posted

Just called my insurance company and they said they have NO file open for me with the new surgeon. lol. This, despite the fact that Dr. Bautista's insurance coordinator told me she's been in touch with them and sent them requested information.

So, who's telling the truth? Who's confused?

Well, I am for one. Confused and frustrated and tired of this whole process.

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GeekyGamerGrrl    7

GeekyGamerGrrl
Posted

I am so sorry Alicia. :( *hugs* I hope you get it figured out soon. Maybe its time to get mean :angry:

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aug62012    27

aug62012
Posted

I have not been on line here after surgery so here is my update. I had the sleeve on 8/6 with Dr Brengman at St Marys. He also fixed my hiatal hernia. I stayed 1 night in hospital and did not have any problems. Loved the nurses and had a fabulous experience. I did go to the support group on 8/16 and enjoyed it. The nutritionist is at Dr Brengmans office 1 day a week and you can see her there and not pay extra. Of you see her in the hospital nutrition center then you pay your copay. Tomorrow is 3 weeks since surgery and I have lost 20 pounds, I lost 11 during my 2 week pre op diet which was 2 shakes and a low cal low carb meal each day. I am sooo exited with life!!

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aug62012    27

aug62012
Posted

Total of 31 pounds down! Best decision I made was to get this tool.

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Go To Topic Listing Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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