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Newbie from Meherrin, VA

leeanghadn

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leeanghadn    0

leeanghadn
Posted

Hi, just heard of this site and joined today. I was referred by "mamato3" ~ she was my roomie after surgery and says this site has been most helpful and help is what I need right now. I had my surgery on Jan 7 with Dr. Brengman with Richmond Surgical Group at St Mary's in Richmond, VA. I am finding it extremely hard to communicate how I feel to those around me that don't have a clue. I've called the doctor's office, but the nurse and I keep playing phone tag and the info given to me, I'm finding, is quite vague. So, I have lots of questions with little to no answers. I lost 7 pounds during my pre-op LSD diet and then gained 5 of that back during my 24 hr stay at the hospital b/c of the fluids, etc. 2 days after surgery I "re"weighed and had lost that 5 plus an additional 4 pounds which was SO exciting for me. THEN, I started on the soft foods and the scales haven't budged since... now I know it's only been 1 1/2 weeks and we're supposed to move slowly with this, but I'm getting discouraged. I don't feel any different now than I did before surgery as far as food... I feel like I could keep going like always, I never seem full and the hunger pangs hit at least every couple of hours. More than that, I feel like I need to see a psychiatrist b/c I didn't really graze before surgery and now I can't keep my head out of the fridge. What do you all do for that? or am I the only one with this issue? Jeez, this was quite an introduction... sorry about that. On a positive note, I am a Type II Diabetic and have been on medication for quite some time and I've already been able to stop the meds and my sugar is NORMAL!!! Now, I'm sure this is b/c of the food I'm eating, but still, that is awesome!!! I opted for this surgery to get my weight down & control my diabetes so that we can have another child.... we start trying Jan 09, & lord willing we'll conceive a happy, healthy baby!

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determined2lose    0

determined2lose
Posted

:cursing:Dr. Brengman did my surgery on 10/22/07. I have gone on the same emotional rollercoaster as you. I have at many times been very discouraged and been at a complete stand still at losing weight. I have read people's posts on this website and felt like a complete failure when they tell of their success and how they stick to their 4 ozs etc... so strictly. I am happy to say that I got my third fill on 2/29/08 and I finally got restriction and could feel the rewards of having the band. I go back Monday 3/17 to see Dr. Brengman and am happy to say I will have lost weight this time!! When I have seen him in the past and not lost any weight, he has never been judgemental and does a really good job of putting you at ease and giving you a pep talk. It makes a world of difference when you finally get enough Fluid in your band to feel restriction! Hang in there.

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ywilson    0

ywilson
Posted

If you don't mind my asking? How much is it for self pay with the Richmond Surgical Group. I reside in the Tidewater area of Virginia and although I feel I have made an excellent choice of surgeon, I am still shopping around because you can never be too careful.

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determined2lose    0

determined2lose
Posted

The cost can vary. It is definitely more expensive if you fit into the category of having to stay overnight in the hospital. I was same day surgery and it was $13,500.00. I thought the figure for staying overnight was around $18,000.00 but I am not 100% sure on that. Their prices include all of your follow up visits and fills for one year. It also includes an insurance policy for a company Richmond Surgical has contracted with to cover the cost of major complications. I had no problems with not being kept in the hospital overnight. In fact, I was glad I did not have to stay overnight. At the time of my surgery I weighed 227 1lb (5'5 1/2") and have high blood pressure. I highly recommend Richmond Surgical Group and Dr. Brengman. The only thing you might want to consider when choosing a surgeon not in your local area is having to travel for all of your follow up appointments and fills. I work about 1 hr 15 minutes from Richmond so I always have to schedule to take time off to go to my appointments. I've had three fills and three follow up appointments since my surgery on 10/22/07 so it does start to eat away at your sick/vacation time.

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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