I posted this in wrong forum! Moving it here:

Am in a tough situation, as most everyone is. While I've been morbidly obese now for over 12 yrs, I had been able to get around and was working on adopting a Keto way of life, not just as a diet as I truly feel physically better when I eat that way. Unfortunately while I've been working on losing weight, it's been much slower than expected (I've hit that female time of 'life' and everything seems to have slowed to a crawl) - I've only lost 46 lbs in the past 6 months.

I ended up tearing meniscus on 1 side of my right knee while exercising. I had surgery to trim part of meniscus that was hanging so it wouldn't get caught in knee when it bends. I also have history of throwing clots but I do NOT have a clotting disorder (like Factor V, etc.) I have a permanent IVC filter installed. My cardiologist recommended amount of Lovenox for me to bridge (for 1st knee surgery) to based on my body weight. Well, they don't make lovenox in that 'dosage'. The doctors decided to 'wing it' with the normal amount of Lovenox. Needless to say, I clotted again but I feel decision was made in error (i.e. cause & effect).

Since then I've torn meniscus on other side of right knee and my back has started to spasm (diagnosed with herniated disc). No big shock as I've put my body thru too much stress with weight. My issue is I REALLY wanted to avoid surgery & truly wanted Keto as my WOL. The problem is the pain my knee and back are causing is now so severe I cannot take it anymore. I thought I had a big pain tolerance but seems I cannot handle 'chronic pain' as well.

With my mobility limited until summer when pool is warm enough to swim in, I'm not losing weight fast enough to get to move on with my life and have the knee replacement my ortho is suggesting but will not do at my current weight..

So, I've been on these boards off & on for a few years, mostly researching & I feel that since I'm 50, I'm running out of time, especially with amount of pain I"m in. I truly want my life back more than I want food at this point and have felt that way the whole time I've been doing Keto. At 344 (down from 390), I'm ready for the pain to stop and I've researched until I'm blue in the face. I do know that I want to start down the road of interviewing doctors, my primary dr already was supervising my keto loss, I have a psych dr but am willing to do eval with another if they won't accept my own. I've discussed possibility of surgery with current docs for 2.5 years now.

I was also diagnosed with melanoma recently and after losing my best friend to brain cancer, I certainly feel a bit of concern that since we do not know how many days we will be on this earth, that surgery is definitely on the table. I looked for a Bariatric COE in DFW area and only come up with Baylor Hospital in Grapevine; however, when I look at bios & reviews of the 3 docs they have, none of them inspired me with confidence. Anyone have a dr to recommend who has a long history of performing both sleeve and bypass with great results?

I had considered combining lapband with my keto to see if that would help speed things up but looks like with my BMI, that may not be an option? I also have to carefully consider surgery options due to my clotting history. Ortho docs want to do knee replacement when my BMI is lower, until then, I just put up with pain.

Any input is appreciated!

I hope my friend @ Orchids and Dragons doe see this, I believe she had her surgeries in Arlington, and she seems to have superior doctors there.

Thank you for responding, Frustr8. Guess there are not a lot of outstanding bariatric doctors in the dallas-fort worth area or everyone who may have had their surgery around here is just busy, which I understand.

As stated in the other/dupe post, the following doctor is a preeminent bariatric surgeon in the DFW area, and is also one of the few in the US that can handle complex revisions cases.

Many people travel from all over the country, Texas, and even internationally, to get surgery with him. He also is very experienced with the Duodenal Switch (2 anastomoses) procedure, which very few surgeons are capable of performing.

Folahan Ayoola, MD

Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas

Phone: 940-382-9429

Locations: Denton, Flower Mound, & Frisco

Hey! Seeing this a little late, but Dr. Bagshahi (Bagshahi Bariatric in Fort Worth) is amazing!! He specializes in complicated revisions and also does the duodenal switch. He actually does the DS in one surgery rather than two separate surgeries like some do, if possible. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and did his surgical internship at the Mayo Clinic. He did my sleeve in March and my husband’s last week! Very thorough. Love him!

I recommend Dr. Carlton at Lonestar Bariatrics. He does all of the surgeries! My surgery date is 5/20 and I will be revising from the sleeve to the dswitch.

On ‎3‎/‎16‎/‎2019 at 8:48 PM, MarinaGirl said:

As stated in the other/dupe post, the following doctor is a preeminent bariatric surgeon in the DFW area, and is also one of the few in the US that can handle complex revisions cases.

Many people travel from all over the country, Texas, and even internationally, to get surgery with him. He also is very experienced with the Duodenal Switch (2 anastomoses) procedure, which very few surgeons are capable of performing.

Folahan Ayoola, MD

Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas

Phone: 940-382-9429

Locations: Denton, Flower Mound, & Frisco

Marina Girl - thanks so much for the info. I'm adding Dr. Ayoola and Dr. Carlton (recommended by another user) to my backup list to research immediately. The surgeon I found has a great reputation but his office staff is about to drive me nuts. Sounds like Dr. Ayoola has wonderful credentials! I appreciate you taking the time to share his name/info!

On ‎5‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 9:31 PM, Melody Nicole said:

I recommend Dr. Carlton at Lonestar Bariatrics. He does all of the surgeries! My surgery date is 5/20 and I will be revising from the sleeve to the dswitch. 

Melody - thanks for taking time to respond. I'll add Dr. Carlton to my list with 2 other names you folks have so kindly shared with me! I truly appreciate it!!

On ‎5‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 9:52 AM, Neely said:

Hey! Seeing this a little late, but Dr. Bagshahi (Bagshahi Bariatric in Fort Worth) is amazing!! He specializes in complicated revisions and also does the duodenal switch. He actually does the DS in one surgery rather than two separate surgeries like some do, if possible. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and did his surgical internship at the Mayo Clinic. He did my sleeve in March and my husband’s last week! Very thorough. Love him!

Neely, Dr. Bagshahi is definitely going on my list. Thanks for taking time to post and give me really good background info about him! He has a very respectable background!

Hi! A little late here but Dr. Gus Lyons at USMD Arlington hospital. Genuinely one of the most caring, kind, and respectful doctors I have ever met. I cannot picture going through this journey with any other doctor. We have laughed, celebrated, and cried together in his office. Would recommend him 1000x over. His nurses are the sweetest ladies too! The front desk staff can be a bit rough around the edges by Dr. Lyons makes it sooo worth it.