Introduction
Wow. I didn't realize there was a Maryland forum. Shame on me for not digging further. I've been posting on the VSG forum off and on for a bit now. More regular now that I finally have my surgery date.
I live in Germantown, anybody nearby? My VSG is August 18, with Dr. Barry Greene. I've only met Dr. Greene a couple times, but I can't say enough good things about his office staff. They were all my personal cheerleaders throughout this process. It's taken me longer than some to get everything together and all my testing done (resulting in me losing 54 pounds just on their low carb/high protein diet alone since September). Of course, this was for the best of reasons, my grandson.
I'm only 42 and 'too young' LOL, but I love that little guy and take care of him. He's one of the many reasons I made the decision to have the surgery. I want to see this little guy grow up and be able to keep up with him. He was born 3 months premature in August, just about a month before I started Dr. Greene's program. Don't worry, he's fantastic. At 11 months, he's not very far behind other babies who weren't born premature. He's even trying to walk! He's taken up a huge part of my life and I wouldn't change it for the world. I won't be able to watch him for awhile post surgery, but my daughter has managed to work out a temporary work schedule so it won't be an issue.
I finally managed to get all my pre-op testing done (the testing they needed before they'd even submit to insurance). Aetna approved the VSG the first go, and the rest is history. I'm so excited. Not so excited about starting the liquid diet on August 4, but very, very excited to be having my surgery finally.
I live in Germantown, anybody nearby? My VSG is August 18, with Dr. Barry Greene. I've only met Dr. Greene a couple times, but I can't say enough good things about his office staff. They were all my personal cheerleaders throughout this process. It's taken me longer than some to get everything together and all my testing done (resulting in me losing 54 pounds just on their low carb/high protein diet alone since September). Of course, this was for the best of reasons, my grandson.
I'm only 42 and 'too young' LOL, but I love that little guy and take care of him. He's one of the many reasons I made the decision to have the surgery. I want to see this little guy grow up and be able to keep up with him. He was born 3 months premature in August, just about a month before I started Dr. Greene's program. Don't worry, he's fantastic. At 11 months, he's not very far behind other babies who weren't born premature. He's even trying to walk! He's taken up a huge part of my life and I wouldn't change it for the world. I won't be able to watch him for awhile post surgery, but my daughter has managed to work out a temporary work schedule so it won't be an issue.
I finally managed to get all my pre-op testing done (the testing they needed before they'd even submit to insurance). Aetna approved the VSG the first go, and the rest is history. I'm so excited. Not so excited about starting the liquid diet on August 4, but very, very excited to be having my surgery finally.
Sorry Jeannette I should have told you about the Maryland one. I founf the VSG one by accident and now they have made it alot easier to navigate the whole website. Congrtas on your approval and you won't regret it. Other than some pain to deal with the surgery is not bad the worse part is the sore stomach muscles you can't feel your pouch and there is no pain there. I'll say it like this it is like getting kicked in the stomach not bad if you ask me the first 2 days are the worse and with a pain pump you'll get through it just fine. So we will soon be cleaning off the loser's bench for you and congrats on the pre diet weight loss. I would like to see that diet. Can you send it to me Email?
It's actually very similar to the diet I will be following post surgery, once I can eat solid foods again.
First, they told me to start replacing one meal a day with a protein shake. For me, that meal was breakfast and holds me over until lunch on most days.
70 grams of protein
30-50 grams of carbs - I keep mine to around 40-45
30 grams of fat
Eliminate breads rice, pasta, potatoes, cereal, fruit and other foods made with sugar and flour
Make sure I'm getting in 64 ounces of fluids (which can include the protein shake)
Eliminate sodas, juice and carbonated beverages - even diet soda - and limit caffeine
That's pretty much it. They gave me a recommended calorie range, but it is more for after surgery than before. No way I can only eat 700-900 calories now on my huge stomach and not feel like I'm starving to death, so I haven't paid CLOSE attention to calories as a result.
As of now, I'm also on two shakes a day, plus a small meal in preparation for my all liquid diet that starts August 4.
First, they told me to start replacing one meal a day with a protein shake. For me, that meal was breakfast and holds me over until lunch on most days.
70 grams of protein
30-50 grams of carbs - I keep mine to around 40-45
30 grams of fat
Eliminate breads rice, pasta, potatoes, cereal, fruit and other foods made with sugar and flour
Make sure I'm getting in 64 ounces of fluids (which can include the protein shake)
Eliminate sodas, juice and carbonated beverages - even diet soda - and limit caffeine
That's pretty much it. They gave me a recommended calorie range, but it is more for after surgery than before. No way I can only eat 700-900 calories now on my huge stomach and not feel like I'm starving to death, so I haven't paid CLOSE attention to calories as a result.
As of now, I'm also on two shakes a day, plus a small meal in preparation for my all liquid diet that starts August 4.
Hi Jeannette! I live in Silver Spring, work in Rockville right off Key West Avenue so we're pretty close!
Congrats on your pre-op weight loss, that's fantastic results! And best wishes for a safe surgery and speedy recovery and continued weight loss!
We have a pre-op informational and post op support group at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring if you're interested in visiting or joining us you don't have to be a patient of Holy Cross Hospital to come! Here's the link for Holy Cross Hosp. Weight Loss Surgery online group. It's no where near as acitve as this site, but it's local!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HolycrossWLS/
Our meeting nights are the 1st and 2nd Mondays and the 4th Wednesday of each month. Info meeting starts at 6 PM and Post Ops are asked to introduce themselves to the pre-ops and give your stats and advise and maybe answer a question or two. Then when the Dr that is presenting gets there we move over to the next meeting room for our Post Op Support Group (usually 6:30ish).
This Wednesday (28th) is the next Meeting and there will be a Protein Tasting at our Post Op as well! I won't make the 28th meeting though, will be recouperating from Hip Replacement Surgery from Monday 26th! (I may still be up on the 8th floor!)
Would love to have you join our Group You can send me PM or email and we'll chat.
Congrats on your pre-op weight loss, that's fantastic results! And best wishes for a safe surgery and speedy recovery and continued weight loss!
We have a pre-op informational and post op support group at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring if you're interested in visiting or joining us you don't have to be a patient of Holy Cross Hospital to come! Here's the link for Holy Cross Hosp. Weight Loss Surgery online group. It's no where near as acitve as this site, but it's local!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HolycrossWLS/
Our meeting nights are the 1st and 2nd Mondays and the 4th Wednesday of each month. Info meeting starts at 6 PM and Post Ops are asked to introduce themselves to the pre-ops and give your stats and advise and maybe answer a question or two. Then when the Dr that is presenting gets there we move over to the next meeting room for our Post Op Support Group (usually 6:30ish).
This Wednesday (28th) is the next Meeting and there will be a Protein Tasting at our Post Op as well! I won't make the 28th meeting though, will be recouperating from Hip Replacement Surgery from Monday 26th! (I may still be up on the 8th floor!)
Would love to have you join our Group You can send me PM or email and we'll chat.