Anyone use him yet. My preop is tomorrow then my surgerys on the 19th next weds. looking for any other Dr. Bellows patients in Baton Rouge.

Hola amigos!
My name is "MiMi" * I'm a 26yrs old Spanish teacher that’s  5'5, & 256pds.

 I've had surgery on my knees due to a bad wreck in 2002 and I have permanent damage to my knees and back so NO extra weight is good for me. I had a brain mass half the size of a tennis ball that went away, Thank God. However, the medication that I took to remove the brain mass was full of steroids and I gained 55pds. I’ve tried every weight lose program on the market and products. I’ve spent so much money and have been working my butt off, but nothing is working.

 I don’t like to go places unless I’ll be with close friends and family that aren’t reminding me that I was a size 7/8 4yrs ago when I started dating my future husband. I won’t even set a wedding date because I don’t want to be a fat bride. It is difficult to walk and get up the stairs to my apartment. I’m always out of breathe which isn’t good and I constantly have to stand up & walk around in my classroom. I cater, sing, and sponsor things for my school for fun, but lately I haven’t been wanting to do any of this because I just don’t have a energy.

I had blood work done May 11,2010 so the doctor can rule out diabetes, thyroid issues, etc. My doctor said I definitely need weight lose surgery and I won’t make it at this rate. I pray the test is fine so I can have surgery. I have great support from my family and I even have a cousin that had the Duodenal Switch, she’s a lot of help.

I’m looking for any advise you guys can give me and what steps need to take. I have Humana HMO, but I’m not sure how to find out if they will cover my surgery.

Adios amigos!

MY APPOINTMENT IS AT 2:15, BUT I WILL BE THERE EARLY!!! WE WILL PROBABLY SEE EACH OTHER THERE. I AM SO EXCITED!!! I WILL SAY MY PRAYERS FOR YOU ALSO, BUT I THINK WE WILL BE OK...I HAD NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER MAKING THE APPOINTMENT, THEY WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.  I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHO YOU GET WHEN YOU CALL TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT.  I GOT REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE THE DAY THAT I CALLED, THIS LADY JUST HAPPENED TO BE FILLING IN FOR SOMEONE AND SHE HAD RECENTLY HAD THE SURGERY, SO SHE KNEW HOW I WAS FEELING...BUT ANYWAYS GOOD LUCK, MUCH PRAYERS...AND I WILL SEE U IN NOLA ON THE 18TH!!!

After my vertical sleeve surgery that I had in Mexico, I had major complications.  It was found a few days after I got home, I was very sick, and weak, went into the work that morning, and my boss made me go to the hospital, so I did.  At first I went to East Jefferson Hospital, and I was told that I had leaks caused by my vertical sleeve surgery.  I had to be operated on and for them to try to fix the leak, and they had a tube for drainage in my stomach.  After a number of CT Scans, being fed through the IV and a hospital stay resulting in approximately 2 1/2 weeks, the doctor at East Jefferson told me that I could be discharged.  I wanted to be discharged, but was still very very weak.  It was only about two days after my discharge when I began feeling stomach pains, had fever and then was rushed to the hospital, but this time I went to Ochsner.  Dr. Wooldridge was my bariatric surgeon taking care of me at Ochsner, and I was in there for approximately 1 1/2 months.  I had multiple abdominal abcesses, they had to do surgery on me also, they had to place a stent to try to correct the leak, I was not given any food or drink because they didn't trust that my food or drink could make yet another abcess, so they fed me through IV.  He was a great doctor, and told you everything you needed to know.  He would consult with many physicians, and other experts in the field on how to handle my case, because actually I almost died.  I was very very sick.  I was very very weak for quite some time.  But, it was through Dr. Wooldridge that I am here today.  I am much better, he virtually saved my life.  They told me also that there are numerous times when there are leaks after weight loss surgery, but sometimes they don't occur right after surgeon, perhaps it could be days or weeks after surgery, but they do have these more times than what they say.  I would caution anyone not to go into this surgery, thinking everything will be okay, sometimes it will be okay, but like in my case, I almost died, but thank God, I am here.  I don't know what caused the leaks, but any little strain could have caused it, and I don't think it was done at the time of surgery, because if that was the case, they would have found the leak in the leak test they done before I left.  Anyway, Dr. Wooldridge fixed me up, and I thank him today, that I am alive.  He is the best.

Debby Luv

It's good to hear from you.