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Dr. Grant Searles - Welcome Alaska Girls and Guys!



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Wow, this doesn't get much action, lol.

Ok, I am also new to the site and live on Ft. WW here in Alaska. I just got referred to Dr. Searles and am nervous as I don't know much about him. I was reading up in Dr. Todd and know of some people done by him so was surprised that is wasn't him. I am ok with it, just surprised. Been trying to find out how he is and what his process is. My appt is Oct. 20 for consult. I am nervous and excited.

Hello,

I too live in Ft.WW and I was referred to Dr. Searles. I just had an awesome experience with his staff and the process to get through all the tests that were preformed at FMH. I am very excited to have my surgery scheduled for Nov. 1st. The process only took me about 2 months after my initial consult with Dr. Searles. Try to schedule your psychological evaluation as soon as possible,, and get a nutrition consult soon also because those 2 appts take the longer time to complete. I completed these before my first appt with the doctor. FYI he is honest, sincere, and very informative. Nice too!!!

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Hi Ladies!! My name is Samantha and recently stationed at Ft Richardson here with my husband. Just had my referral approved to Dr. Searles here in Anchorage. So excited to start this process!! I have Tricare Prime and was wondering what should I be expecting consult, test and surgery wise? My first appt with him is on June 8th. Any feedback y'all could provide me with would be greatly appreciated!!

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Hello all,

I've only posted once or twice here....but I'm so excited...today I got my surgery date. ;) August 2nd!! I am so excited!! :D

Anyone stationed at Eielson??

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Hi girls I had my band done in Mexico-- Dr. Todd wouldn't do it because my BMI was too low for him. It cost 6,500 and TJ has a wonderful hospital and set up. I live in Wasilla so I'm getting my fills from Larry Walters at Dr. Woods. It's working. Slowly but surely. I've only lost 28 pounds since Dec. but thats alright_ I'm happy

Vickie,

I'm meeting with Dr. Todd for the first time in a week. How low was your BMI? Should I expect anything with him?

Thanks!!

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Hello fellow alaskans!!

I am new to this site and will be banded on friday 12/2/11!! I am so excited and nervous to have the surgery over and move on to a thinner me! I have chosen Dr. Searles to do my surgery. I will also have my hiatal hernia repair with the band placement. Can anyone tell me about how much post op pain was involved and more about their post op diet.

Thank you all and I am so looking forward to a new me!

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Ok so if there is anyone out there who still reads these....

I get that Dr. Todd is no good in Anchorage. What about this guy at Dr. Woods? Can anyone provide some more information such as a phone number please?

I live in SE Alaska and would much rather not have to fly south and deal with that rat race. I need a place that will do flouro!

Thank you!

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If you are asking about Dr Searles, in Anchorage he is wonderful! His staff are fabulous!

I went to Dr. Searles office and asked for lap band surgery, I was waiting for him to try to convince me to get a gastric bypass, but he never said a single word. He asks why I wanted lap band surgery, and told me what to expect. I am a medical professional and have treated many gastric bypass patients with bad outcomes, there was no way anyone would have ever talked me into a gastric bypass, and I would have little faith medically in anyone who would have tried. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Searles. I had no complications, and the one time I needed an urgent visit, they got me in immediately! On several visits I was a little down because the weigh loss is slow and steady but slower than I want, his staff gave me words of encouragement and even told me to call them If I just needed to talk. Can't say enough good things about Dr. Searles and his staff.

I hope this helps, but if you have specific question please feel free to send them my way.

Good luck!

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Thank you so much for responding! I am really desparate for a fill. Do you know how much it is? Does he do Flouro? Can you help me with contact info? I had heard the people in Anchorage charge $700 for flouro and make you go through hell to get a fill if you did not get the surgery from them. Please advise!

Thank you SO MUCH!

LeAnn

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I am not sure what Dr. Searles charges for a fill, as all of mine have been included in my surgery costs. I know he doesn't require fluro, as all of my fills have been in his office, but his office is at Alaska Regional hospital and they have fluro there.

Hope this helps, but I would call his office and speak to his staff, they are very helpful.

Karen

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He will not see people who did not get surgery from him so that is out. I found a person in Wasilla and will be up in May! SO EXCITED!

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    • 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

      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!
      · 2 replies
      1. 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. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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

        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

      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

        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

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