I know that Creighton and the Nebraska Medical Center both have support groups.

Dr Gary Anthone/Methodist Hospital 10060 Regency Circle, 2nd Floor Omaha, NE 402-354-1320 My understanding is he does accept Medicaid and is currently awaiting his approval from Medicare for his COE which should come through within the next few months.

I talk to Jill on a regular basis.  She is still on bariatric fluids.  She doesn't seem to be her usual high self.  But she gets like that occasionally.  The only thing we can really do for her is pray and support her.  I know what you mean about the hubby not shopping like we do.  I don't let mine shop for me.  If he wants something, he has to go and buy it for himself.  Have a good week.  Hazel

The eating is going way too good if you know what I mean.  I need another fill and will have to call and get that arranged. I will be at the next meeting unless the weather is bad.  That is why I didn't go to the last one it was snowing and blowing like crazy and icy. I will be glad when I can go and get my own groceries and start cooking again, I know Stuart is trying real hard but sometimes he gets stuff I should not have and way to much fast food.  Today I had a grilled chicken from Wendy's so I had it without the sauce and the bun, ate the meat and the lettuce and tomato. Last night we had company and went to Carlos O'kelly they have a "lite" menu there that gives all the nurtrition stuff so I ordered one of those things on tht menu and brought half of it home so hopefully I am not gaining. Today at church my Pastor said to me "you are looking good" I thought he meant I was walking better but he was talking about my weight. Have you heard from Jill? I have wondered how she was doing. Barb

Hi Jennifer,               I have just recently decided to have WLS and have chosen the DS as my surgery of choice with Dr. Anthone as my surgeon. I have done extensive research and chose the surgery that is best for ME. I just thought I could share with you some information that I obtained from the WLS seminar that Dr. Anthone held on Feb. 7th. Lap Band - the most MINIMALLY invasive of all WLS but also has the slowest and lowest percentage of excessive weight(EW) loss, can be reversed(though should be considered permanent) or revised. In a nut shell - lowest risk but also lowest effect VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) removes approx. 85% of the stomach- restriction only, removes 85% of the Ghrelin (hunger hormone) - the VSG is the first step of the DS - non reversible, is revisable, most high BMI patients are not able to achieve a BMI lower than 35 and usually need a revision to have a BMI below 35, second lowest risk but also second lowest effect RNY- creates pouch and bypasses intestines for restriction and malabsorption. Must chew food to mush, sugar and complex starches causes dumping syndrome, can lose large amount of weight quickly mostly during honeymoon period (first 18 months)- some patients gain approx. 50% of their weight back because of pouch stretching...higher risk than both WLSs above but also higher effect DS - removes 85% of stomach, reduces the ghrelin which reduces hunger feeling, and bypasses intestines while leaving the pylorus valve intact. has highest amount of EW loss with little to no regain, also has higher risk during surgery (Dr. Anthone only does this surgery OPEN, other surgeons perform it LAP- tho there are only a handfull of surgeons who perform this surgery) Has the highest risk but highest effect as well Other things I learned are: *Men have the greatest risk because they are apple shaped and women are pear shaped *Patients have less risk if they are able to walk shortly after surgery (within 24 hours I think) decreases risk of clots *the more co-morbidities the more risk Research all surgeries so she can know which surgery is for her. Look at the good and bad in each surgery.... DEFINITELY choose the surgery BEFORE choosing a surgeon. Not all surgeons perform the same surgeries, and they don't perform them in the same way. Like I said, I'm new at this too... I just wanted to share what I learned.