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fiddledd
on 7/2/12 4:17 pm
Topic: Dr. Cram take my Fig #23 pictures off your website please

I'm was relieved when the doctor who did my buttock lift  consented to remove my before and after pictures off of his website when I asked him to.  They are very misleading. But if you look close you can see I really didn't need (or want) my hip and belly and leg skin tucked very much.  Things went very badly after my zapwraped  skin contracted I've had and still, after eleven years have  terrible pain and pelvic instability complications.  

Pictures  are back up on his site again.  I would think after such a long time he would have improved and evolved and have much better results to show off but I guess not. It's true, I had a lot of issues, but removing all the good suspensive skin and tightly zapwrapping the bad skin up for awhile wasn't the answer. Nothing stayed where it was put and my quadricepts knotted under my leg and my belly buckled under. I don't even have a crotch, just  super thin tight inner leg skin  pulled  up thru my pelvic slope  that gets stuck in sharp  bony crevices.  It's as if I'm  wearing panty hose that are three sizes too small that are made of steel and  spun glass fibers. Very painful. Very awkward. Eleven years was a long time ago and doctors were new to doing this type of surgery.  You got what you got back then. But come on let's see some better pictures or aren't there any?

aka Leech
12Rowrena
on 6/19/12 6:48 pm - Reinbeck, IA
Topic: RE: Anyone have Dr. Glas**** in Cedar Falls?
I got approved and my surgery date is scheduled for July 16, 2012!  If anyone can help me with ideas for my liquid diet for two weeks before surgery I would appreciate it.  I have a short list of ideas and I need all the ideas anyone can help me with so I'm not drinking the same things all the time.  I would assume when you get hungry you just drink water?
12Rowrena
on 6/8/12 1:27 am - Reinbeck, IA
Topic: RE: Anyone have Dr. Glas**** in Cedar Falls?
I asked the same question and no one answered mine. I too and going through all the hoops to have surgery with Dr. G. I've finally gotten my Insurance to approve the hospital as they are not providers but Dr. G is. Last week I had my EGD from Hell - I was totally awake through the whole horrible thing - glad it's done. Two days ago I had to have 8 tubes of blood drawn, chest x-ray and ultrasound of my tummy area (that includes pretty much everything down there), then I had an appointment with the Pulmonologist and did breathing test that I did well on. I do have sleep apnea but have been unable to wear the mask because with the pressures it is set for it blows air out and around it and I am unable to wear the mask. Dr. Cafaro said that with the highest number of 30 - that would make that happen. Dr. C also said that Dr. G is a stickler for wearing your BiPap after surgery so this bothers me as I've passed everything else and if this keeps me from having surgery I'll be so upset. After that appointment I had an appointment a Cardiac Dr. Sbavity and was OK'd for the surgery.

I wanted anyone who has had surgery with Dr. G. to tell me what they think will happen now. Will I get my surgery rather soon or will I have to go through yet a fourth Sleep Apnea test since 1997. I've never had trouble falling asleep driving or at any time with Sleep apnea until my last 3 back surgeries that failed with nerve damage and all the very strong pain medicine I have to take for the really bad chronic pain I suffer with daily. I believe the pain medicine is what makes me sleep as much as I do now and is the only reason I do not drive very far. I had no problem until I have been on Pain medicine strong enough to cause it.

There has to be someone out there from Iowa that has had Dr. G who has sleep apnea and knows what he might say after he receivers all the positives from my testing except for wearing my Bipap - If they could fix it so that the air didn't blow past the mask and continually wake me up and if I didn't have to wake up with the whole right side of my face numb again - I would wear the mask. I'm afraid I will have to go through yet another sleep test and have to wait for it. I need this surgery done before my husband has to take his 2 weeks’ vacation by the middle of August. I've been working at this since the first of December 2011 - first fighting the insurance company once they said ok the testing was all scheduled within two weeks of that ok and now I'm waiting to hear from Dr. G office as to what is next. I'd love to hear the surgery date and appointment to visit with Dr. G.

Does anyone have any advice for me????? Please? There has to be some Iowan's out there that have used Dr. G as he has done many many WLS.

Thank you all and I
wish you all the best!
Tonya M.
on 6/1/12 6:56 am - Fort Dodge, IA
Topic: RE: Revision help???

Thanks for your response Cheryl.  According to the bariatric center in Grinnell..my insurance will pay for a revision if its deemed medically necessary.  They require the same thing as the first time around, BMI over 35 w/ co-morbs or BMI of 40 or greater.  I had to do a 6 month supervised diet as well, but the lady told me in this surgeon's office that if there is evidence that my stoma or something is wrong with my stomach, then that may be cause enough for them to waive the 6 month supervised diet since that is not something a diet can fix, only surgery could.  I have an appointment of June 13, so I am not sure if they will do a test then or not.  Hopefully they do and can see if anything is wrong.  Ideally, I don't want to do the diet all over again, but I will if need be.  Anyway, I appreciate you getting back to me.

 

Have a nice weekend,

 

Tonya 

Remember to: "Love God, Love Yourself & Love Others"

Highest W. 260/Pre-Surgery W. 247

Revision: 4/9/2013

 

cheryl B.
on 5/30/12 2:02 pm - southeastern, IA
Topic: RE: Revision help???
I'm not sure if I will be of much help. What type of revision are you looking at?  I know the most recent info I read on rulings from CMS over medicare/medicaid at the national level still consider laproscopic gastric sleeve to be experimental/not proven and not a covered benefit.  I am not on Medicaid but I know I was curious a whle back on what would happen if I needed/wanted a revision, would my insurance pay for it and for my insurance you have to meet the same criteria that you had to meet the first time around, including the BMI criteria and supervised diet.
Cheryl B.
 
        
tscasto
on 5/29/12 4:45 am - Urbandale, IA
VSG on 03/22/12
Topic: RE: 4 Year Anniversary
Congrats!!!  

It's wonderful to have some serious vets out here!
Tenille 

   
   HW-248.8   SW-233.4  1M-216.2   4M- 188.6
Tonya M.
on 5/28/12 9:13 am - Fort Dodge, IA
Topic: Revision help???

Does anyone know about having revision surgery in the state of Iowa?  I am really wanting to get this done.  I have Medicaid and they paid for my surgery 4 years ago and am wondering if they will pay for it again?  Also, I wonder if you have to go through another 6-month supervised diet?  Any and all help would be appreciated, thanks!


Tonya

Remember to: "Love God, Love Yourself & Love Others"

Highest W. 260/Pre-Surgery W. 247

Revision: 4/9/2013

 

12Rowrena
on 5/24/12 1:01 am - Reinbeck, IA
Topic: Looking for someone who had a VBG revision to RNY with Dr. Glas**** in Cedar Falls, IA

I know there are some of you out there.  I would like to hear how your surgery went.  How long it took?  Did you have a feeding tube?  How long you had to stay in the hospital?

My testing has been scheduled then I'm sure the surgery date will be scheduled with a visit to Dr. Glas**** before the surgery. 

I want to hear from other patients about how their revision went   - Please

It is simply amazing to look an this site and see the number of people who view the postings but never leave a message of any kind.  I thought that is what this place is for - help from your fellow Iowans.

So Please let me see a few more posts compared to so many who have 0.  I am new and can't answer most of their questions.  I had my VBG July 15, 1999, with Dr. Breiling in Cedar Rapids and he has since retired.

I'm looking for a friend who I can sit with at the support group meetings once a month.  So hopefully I will meet at least one but I'll take as many as I can get.  Everyone needs friends.

tscasto
on 5/24/12 1:00 am - Urbandale, IA
VSG on 03/22/12
Topic: RE: Anyone else fighting with UHC through John Deere for Dr. Glas****
I've noticed that it seems most Iowans aren't out here much. Idk why. I even met another 1 in my Post- op group & she said she doesn't come out here often & I requested to friend her after the group & no response yet.

I have found a lot of good "advice" through experience out here & I track myself on lbs & measurements also.  I suggest staying out here & check out some other forums like the VSG forum under forums.

Best wishes & congrats!!!
Tenille 

   
   HW-248.8   SW-233.4  1M-216.2   4M- 188.6
12Rowrena
on 5/24/12 12:51 am - Reinbeck, IA
Topic: RE: Anyone else fighting with UHC through John Deere for Dr. Glas****
Thank you for your post to try and help me.  It surprisees me that there were not more people from Iowa to try and help me with advice or who I could talk to that might know the info I was seeking.

Without giving up and continual fighting and my husband getting his Union involved I here there were only 3 of us waiting approval and I've been waiting since December and just a week ago I got my letter of approval and my testing is scheduled so am looking at surgery hopefully very soon.
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