Houston Memorial Hermann Memorial City Review Chapter 4 10-9-09
Chapter 4
Hello all!
Well I finally went to my appointment with Dr. Garth Davis on Thursday! Yippie Skippie! I arrived a few minutes early and had to fill out the standard set of doctor's paperwork. I was a little curious why everyone had to fill all that out again because we had already filled out something similar at the seminar and to even get an appointment you have to fill out a highly detailed 7000 page online medical history and then again for the online video you have to watch. Seemed like too much paper pushing since they already have the information, but no big deal. Perhaps for legal purposes they need hand written filled forms.
Appointment was ontime even though there were some people waiting. Dr. Garth was even into the exam room very quickly after I went through the customary weigh in and BP. Very sharp guy and I like him a lot always have. He performed a RNY on my wife some years ago. We went though medical history and my co-morbities. He was a little "surprised" to be polite that his staff had not printed the aforementioned 7000 page online medical history for his review during our visit. Exam was short and sweet and we agreed to start the process. Normally after your visit with the doctor you move down and visit with the insurance specialist, but she was out for the day. Bummer... but I am not too worried about it, as she is supposed to call me when she gets back. I did get to visit with the staff Nutritionist. We sat down and went through the process of loosing the required weight before the surgery. My insurance requires 90 day supervised weight loss any way and god knows I need it so it works out. I bought the protein shake mixes from the clinic, enough to get me pretty far along. They are $30 a jug, which sounds like a lot, but far cheaper than hitting the grocery stores or Whataburger if you are practical about it. One jug will last me about a week under my plan, so that is not too bad I suppose.
After I left the Davis Clinic I went across the street to the cardiologists office that they recommended and require if you are over 40. By the way it is useful to know the the Davis Clinic is in the building on the LEFT (as of 10-9-09) as you enter the main entrance to the complex off Gessner. The cardiologist's office is in the building on the RIGHT as you enter from Gessner. The cardiologist is Dr. El Hafi. His office was an absolute ZOO. I was 4th in line to get to the window to check in. There were 22 people in the waiting room....no lie I counted. I know the Davis Clinic system is a work in progress, but this guy is not really ready to accept bariatric patients. The chairs in the waiting room are so tight even average size people they are tight on! They were about an hour late with my appointment as you can imagine. I got in the exam room and they had me take off my top. A tech came in and gave me an EKG. EKG's these days are a breeze, I thought she was still setting up and she was done! Next came in Dr. El Hafi. Rather curt fellow, but being covered up busy might explain it. Zoomed through a tiny exam and sent me down the hall for another test. This machine was some type of scanner. The tech had me lay down to "SEE IF YOU'LL FIT." Grrr... I laid down and she turned the thing on and some piece of the machine tried to roll around over my chest. No dice. Now I am big obviously but not really huge. I have had MRI's, CT scans, xrays, and PET scans all recently with no issues. Whatever that thing looks for was lost on me. They'll need to work that out if they they are going to do more bariatric patients. Next I got shuffled down to a sonogram tech who did a sonogram on my heart. Really pretty cool machine. Similar to what they do for pregnant women, squirt some goo on your chest and run a hand held scanner around your chest looking at your heart. Good news is I was cleared and they faxed over a form to the Davis Clinic for my file. I saw the doc maybe 3 minutes total.
Friday
First day of liquid protein diet.... I made a chocolate shake this morning for breakfast. Taste is not too bad. Livable.... Drank it on the way to work. I had 2 cups of decaf Earl Grey hot tea during the morning. A buddy and I eat out lunch everyday so I have decided that is going to be my whole foods meal. We went to Chili's and I ordered the combo fajitas, but just ate the chicken, beef, and bell peppers, no tortillas etc. I made a banana shake when I got home from work and took my vitamins. Usual fake banana flavor, but again livable. I got on our elliptical machine and worked it for a while. I am due another shake sometime tonight, but fairly amazingly I am not crazy hungry!
Kindest Regards,
Cocacolabeartx
Hello all!
Well I finally went to my appointment with Dr. Garth Davis on Thursday! Yippie Skippie! I arrived a few minutes early and had to fill out the standard set of doctor's paperwork. I was a little curious why everyone had to fill all that out again because we had already filled out something similar at the seminar and to even get an appointment you have to fill out a highly detailed 7000 page online medical history and then again for the online video you have to watch. Seemed like too much paper pushing since they already have the information, but no big deal. Perhaps for legal purposes they need hand written filled forms.
Appointment was ontime even though there were some people waiting. Dr. Garth was even into the exam room very quickly after I went through the customary weigh in and BP. Very sharp guy and I like him a lot always have. He performed a RNY on my wife some years ago. We went though medical history and my co-morbities. He was a little "surprised" to be polite that his staff had not printed the aforementioned 7000 page online medical history for his review during our visit. Exam was short and sweet and we agreed to start the process. Normally after your visit with the doctor you move down and visit with the insurance specialist, but she was out for the day. Bummer... but I am not too worried about it, as she is supposed to call me when she gets back. I did get to visit with the staff Nutritionist. We sat down and went through the process of loosing the required weight before the surgery. My insurance requires 90 day supervised weight loss any way and god knows I need it so it works out. I bought the protein shake mixes from the clinic, enough to get me pretty far along. They are $30 a jug, which sounds like a lot, but far cheaper than hitting the grocery stores or Whataburger if you are practical about it. One jug will last me about a week under my plan, so that is not too bad I suppose.
After I left the Davis Clinic I went across the street to the cardiologists office that they recommended and require if you are over 40. By the way it is useful to know the the Davis Clinic is in the building on the LEFT (as of 10-9-09) as you enter the main entrance to the complex off Gessner. The cardiologist's office is in the building on the RIGHT as you enter from Gessner. The cardiologist is Dr. El Hafi. His office was an absolute ZOO. I was 4th in line to get to the window to check in. There were 22 people in the waiting room....no lie I counted. I know the Davis Clinic system is a work in progress, but this guy is not really ready to accept bariatric patients. The chairs in the waiting room are so tight even average size people they are tight on! They were about an hour late with my appointment as you can imagine. I got in the exam room and they had me take off my top. A tech came in and gave me an EKG. EKG's these days are a breeze, I thought she was still setting up and she was done! Next came in Dr. El Hafi. Rather curt fellow, but being covered up busy might explain it. Zoomed through a tiny exam and sent me down the hall for another test. This machine was some type of scanner. The tech had me lay down to "SEE IF YOU'LL FIT." Grrr... I laid down and she turned the thing on and some piece of the machine tried to roll around over my chest. No dice. Now I am big obviously but not really huge. I have had MRI's, CT scans, xrays, and PET scans all recently with no issues. Whatever that thing looks for was lost on me. They'll need to work that out if they they are going to do more bariatric patients. Next I got shuffled down to a sonogram tech who did a sonogram on my heart. Really pretty cool machine. Similar to what they do for pregnant women, squirt some goo on your chest and run a hand held scanner around your chest looking at your heart. Good news is I was cleared and they faxed over a form to the Davis Clinic for my file. I saw the doc maybe 3 minutes total.
Friday
First day of liquid protein diet.... I made a chocolate shake this morning for breakfast. Taste is not too bad. Livable.... Drank it on the way to work. I had 2 cups of decaf Earl Grey hot tea during the morning. A buddy and I eat out lunch everyday so I have decided that is going to be my whole foods meal. We went to Chili's and I ordered the combo fajitas, but just ate the chicken, beef, and bell peppers, no tortillas etc. I made a banana shake when I got home from work and took my vitamins. Usual fake banana flavor, but again livable. I got on our elliptical machine and worked it for a while. I am due another shake sometime tonight, but fairly amazingly I am not crazy hungry!
Kindest Regards,
Cocacolabeartx
I LOVE Dr. Garth and have a super big crush on him...lol. He really is wonderful.
I had my RNY last September with him and reached my personal goal weight yesterday. I have progress pics on my profile, in case you'd like to see them.
Best wishes!!
Laura
I had my RNY last September with him and reached my personal goal weight yesterday. I have progress pics on my profile, in case you'd like to see them.
Best wishes!!
Laura
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
Sounds like you are on your way!
I guess the requirement for the cardiologist approval is new because I was 49 when I had surgery and have never seen a cardiologist or needed approval before Dr. Garth did my surgery. Probably a good precaution.
It sounds like you are on 2 protein shakes a day, plus one meal - is that what you will be doing for 3 months? You shouldn't have any trouble with the 2-week liquid protein only diet right before surgery LOL. If you get tired of the BA shakes, Unjury has some that taste better but you can only get them online. They also have a chicken soup one that is good for a change-of-pace from the sweet shakes. Unjury also sells sample sizes you can try out before you commit to a whole container.
I guess the requirement for the cardiologist approval is new because I was 49 when I had surgery and have never seen a cardiologist or needed approval before Dr. Garth did my surgery. Probably a good precaution.
It sounds like you are on 2 protein shakes a day, plus one meal - is that what you will be doing for 3 months? You shouldn't have any trouble with the 2-week liquid protein only diet right before surgery LOL. If you get tired of the BA shakes, Unjury has some that taste better but you can only get them online. They also have a chicken soup one that is good for a change-of-pace from the sweet shakes. Unjury also sells sample sizes you can try out before you commit to a whole container.
3 Months? I sure hope not. I think this was just to get me jump started. I have to go back to the nutritionist in about a month and reassess.
Thanks for the tips on the products I will definately check them out!
I did notice at sams they have a low carb protein shake powder made by EAS which is about $30 but it gives your 76 servings as opposed to the 24 from BA for the same money. EAS generally makes good stuff.
PS
I just order 2 Chicken Soups. A savory option sounds great. Thanks again
Thanks for the tips on the products I will definately check them out!
I did notice at sams they have a low carb protein shake powder made by EAS which is about $30 but it gives your 76 servings as opposed to the 24 from BA for the same money. EAS generally makes good stuff.
PS
I just order 2 Chicken Soups. A savory option sounds great. Thanks again
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