Hey everyone going through Kaiser Richmond!!

Where are you in the process?

Thanks ladies... I know if anyone understands my disappointment and frustration, you will. I can't help thinking "Today I should have been waking up in the hospital, and walking around with Kim" and things like that. I know it will go quickly, but I've waited so long already. It figures I would get sick (at the start of summer, no less!) and have to delay surgery. Of all the people I've met, no one has had to delay surgery because they got sick!

Anyway... I'm just having a little pity party for one here, don't mind me. It just makes me even more determined.

No worries your turn will come soon enough....In the meantime you will be able to get all the details from Kim.

FYI- Kim is doing ok, a lot of nausea but she was able to walk about 3am. Not sure if she will be able to go home today, Never the less she's sleeved!

Thanks ladies... I know if anyone understands my disappointment and frustration, you will. I can't help thinking "Today I should have been waking up in the hospital, and walking around with Kim" and things like that. I know it will go quickly, but I've waited so long already. It figures I would get sick (at the start of summer, no less!) and have to delay surgery. Of all the people I've met, no one has had to delay surgery because they got sick!

Anyway... I'm just having a little pity party for one here, don't mind me. It just makes me even more determined.

If anyone reading this is taking their info class at Kaiser Vallejo tomorrow, (Tuesday, June 28) let me know! I'll be there. I'm a tall redhead. I'll likely have a motorcycle helmet with me, because I can't leave it out on the bike! I'll be pretty easy to find! Say hi if you see me!

-Christine

Hi everyone, just checking in to say hello. I've just returned from two great weeks in Spain. The food sux and was too expensive to eat out so we pretty much ate from the farmer's markets which is great after WLS anyways. I wore my pedometer daily and logged in 10-15 miles a day for 13 days. It felt so great to have the weight off and be able to be so excited about moving.

I went to a Weight Watchers meeting in Sevilla, Spain and hit my Lifetime status. I'm using WW to be accountable to a weekly weigh in. I figure my leader will hit me upside the head if I start to slip. I need all the help I can get to make this Sleevie successful.

Big congrats to Kim! Welcome to the Sleeve Loser's Bench.

Heather, I'm so glad you didn't have your surgery while you were sick. You'll have such an easier recovery when you're feeling great to start with.

Hello All,

Thank you for your warm thoughts. I am sleeved!!!! YES FINALLY...!!! I have been on this journey for over 2 yrs and I have finally arrived to the losers bench. I was sleeved last Wed the 22nd and was released Fri the 24th. The Dr's and nurses were great with the exception of the Radiology Dr but that's another story. I did call the manager of Radiology and made a complaint. She said she takes this very seriously especially since my stay there was great with the exception of him. He said he will inform the Chief of Radiology and will go from there I will not let that jerk rain on my parade. My favorite nurse was ERNIE I was sleeved by Dr Alami. With the assistance with Dr Le they did the 1 incision thru the belly button. I was a lil nauseated after surgery but that all went away once they discontinued the morphine. I appreciate Dr Alami making SURE I was ok to go home. On my 2nd day after surgery he came to visit me 3 times. I didnt mind staying the extra day. I am doing and moving around great that I was able to attend a concert on Sat at a small intimate venue. It was kind of weird that my table was sipping on wine while I was sipping on water. NO REGRETS! It didnt not bother me at all. I also went to church on Sunday and was able to wear heels with my flip flops close by . I stopped the Tylenol on Sunday and I am doing fine. I am able to get in 45-50 gram of protein in a day. I just really need to improve on my water intake. I am only able to take in about 24oz a day. I need to do better. Its still a trip to me on how little I can eat. I try to go for things high in protein because they say that can prevent your hair from shedding I have no craving so far and it doesnt bother me when my kids are cooking. I hope it stays that way. My surgeon told me not to weigh myself until my appt with him on the 5th I will try to comply

Hello All,

Thank you for your warm thoughts. I am sleeved!!!! YES FINALLY...!!! I have been on this journey for over 2 yrs and I have finally arrived to the losers bench.

Kim,

I am so glad to hear from you and that all went well. You sound like you are doing great!!! The water will come - after almost a year and a half I struggle some days too!

I am so happy that you got to this goal after such a long journey. Hang in - it will get better.

Hugs,

Congratulations Kim! You are doing terrific. Isn't it amazing what you can do so early out. I remember being on the treadmill on day 5, sipping 64 oz of water. How cool that you had the one incision procedure! I don't think they're doing them at Richmond yet.

My surgeon Dr. Baggs came to speak at one of the Richmond support groups. He said that regardless of what you do, your hair will shed. It will stop when your rapid weight loss stage is over, so wear this as a badge of huge accomplishment. I remember mine stopping at around 10 months and now at 17 months it's very thick and you'd never know I lost any.

Take good care of yourself and don't overdo it!

Thanks Pat and Lee for the encouragement.

I just love SSF Kaiser...... Well earlier in my posting I told you guys about the jerk Radiology Dr. I called yesterday and made a complaint. I spoke to the manager over Radiology and told her that considering the discomfort I went thru from the surgery my stay there was great with the staff except for him. I told her he did not have any bed side manners what so ever. Never considered the pain I was going threw being that I just had surgery less than 24 hrs ago. I also felt it was unprofessional that he would reprimand the technichian in front of me She apologized for his actions and said she takes this very seriously. Especially since I say my stay there was great except for that incident. Which reflects bad on her. She said she would discuss this with the Chief of Radiology and see where he wants to go from there. During some part of the afternoon I missed a call from SSF Kaiser but they didnt leave a message. Later on that evening the manager from Radiology called me again and said she spoke to Dr Duh (the jerk) and he tried calling me at home to apoligize but noone answered and he did not feel comfortable leaving a message on my answering service. She said he was very embarressed and sorry that he made me feel that way. He told her its no excuse but he was having a bad day. She thanked me for calling because they need the positive and negative feedback in order to improve. I just thought that was awesome!!!....

HI all,

hope all is well with you all! Are we all in hibernation or did the site move? :-). I wish you all well and keep in touch.

Reggie

HI Reggie,

I was wondering the same thing! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the summer. I'm so happy that it's finally warming up!

Take care everyone!

I think we are all still around - just busy with summer. How are you doing Heather? I follow alot of people on Facebook - I don't know most of the people on the Facebook discussion group and I think most of them were sleeved.

HI Reggie,

I was wondering the same thing! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the summer. I'm so happy that it's finally warming up!

Take care everyone!

Pam, just jump right into the conversation on Rich Bar facebook page. You're right, we haven't seen a new band person in a very long time. A few RNY and mostly Sleeves.

Hi I have my intial class on 9/2 in Fremont, with BMI over 50 I understand surgeons will "push" gastic bypass, but I'm all for the band, what should I expect? anything thats going to floor me, whats the timeline with kaiser from 1st this class to surgery, been told 3-4 months. I have begun a 1200 calorie a day diet, ( wow it's tough) plus excercising 4-5 days a week for 45-50 min a day,

thanks

Hi JST, I'm part of Kaiser Richmond and we're seeing far more Sleeves than RNY these days. I think we have 1 band person come to group and that's only sporatically. I know that Kaiser Richmond doesn't do many of them these days.

Obestityhelp.com has good forums on all of the surgeries. You might like to check them all out.

I think a good question to ask is whether people are happy with their bands and if they might make another choice is it was available to them.

Good luck to you on your journey!

Hi Jst and all LB Family,

jst if I had to do it all over, honestly I would explore the sleeve. The most important question that some of us face is whether we can be discipline enough. That is a major requirement for all surgeries but more so for the band.

Best wishes, I say research and figure out which one would beat suite you.

Reggie.