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Hi, I had a VSG done in 2011 where I lost 150lbs, but due to things in life and falling off the wagon and having a 4-year long pity party I've gained most of that back on, I'm sad to say.
I'm based in the province of NB where there's a good 7 year wait to even get a first consultation with the only surgeon who does the DS. By that time, I'll have aged out of the system, which is 55 so I decided to go self-pay. I've also decided to go with someone with a great reputation, Dr Gagner.
ive had my first consultation with him and he brought up SADI. I hadn't heard of it before, so I wanted to read more about it. I have another consultation with him next week where I want to discuss having the DS because I really want to lose as much weight as I can and to keep it off.
i guess my question is has anyone here had Dr Gagner as a surgeon? And what are thoughts on SADI vs DS.
thanks so much!
Hi Stacie -
I think you're AMAZING!!! To go through all you have been through in the last 15 years and still have the "I can do this" attitude...well most people would have said "F-it" and just ate their way back to the beginning again.
You're an inspiration and I, for one, am glad to know that people don't give up on themselves due to "bad luck" situations. I just had my SADI (I have the sleeve done in 2011) and over that period of time, I lost 100# then over the last 4 year, gained back about 30 of it. At that point, I said ENOUGH!!! I did my research and contacted my origin surgeon and then went to Mexico 09/01/2021 and had it done. I was blessed to have the EXACT same team of doctors to do this one.
Even with the Christmas holidays, I did cheat a little but still managed to lose around 6 pounds. I'm down 40 from my surgery date and I'm back on the eating well wagon again (man, those horses are glad not to pull my big butt around anymore...LOL)!
Happy Surgiversary to you!!!
Barbara
If that hospital placed a hold I would have to bet that others are doing the same. WLS is considered an elective surgery and many hospitals are putting surgeries like WLS and other non important surgeries on hold until the Covid spike has gone back down.
Not sure if it is possible to switch surgeons without going through their protocol. Is your initial surgeon in the Aetna network?
I have Aetna POS Choice insurance .
My surgery was scheduled for 1/5/22 for a revision from VSG to Sadi however I received the most devastating call 12/30/21 where I was advised my operation was cancelled and placed on hold due to COV19 spike cases at the hospital I was going to have my procedure done . I was advised by the coordinator it could be an approx 6-8 weeks wait for a new date .
After the tears I immediately began to be proactive trying to find an alternative. Since that day I contacted my initial surgeon from VSG and scheduled a consultation. Has this ever happened to someone changing surgeons late in the game ?
what I'm hoping happens is my approved
pre authorization is transferred and I'm able to schedule a surgery date .
BTW : my previous surgeon is in another state that doesn't have an executive to temporarily
cancel elective surgery.
Happy New Year! Thank you for everyone who posted responses to my question. I really appreciate all the help and guidance, very thoughtful.
I wanted to give an update because it might be helpful for anyone with DS or other bariatric procedure who are dealing with Kaiser and in particular So Cal Kaiser.
Basically, I ended up writing my primary care doctor on Kaiser website expressing my frustration and explaining that while I wanted to stay with Kaiser and not switch to Blue Cross, it would be cost prohibitive if I had to pay for my much needed labs out of pocket. She is a good PC, and ended up calling me explaining that her hands were basically tied in regards to ordering labs (both vertical sleeve and DS were done in Mexico) but that she could refer me to Kaiser's Bariatric Dept. This, my friends, was a the break I had been seeking. KP Bariatric Dept. was fantastic and basically ordered 12 separate labs and scheduled a follow up with me in 3 weeks.
So to answer the question of "How Pushy is Pushy?" I believe it serves us well to reach out to others in the community and not be afraid to advocate for your own medical needs.
Thanks again for the responses and guidance!
Thank you so much! My daughter is going to help me implement this and start exercising. You are always so helpful. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Insulin does make you feel like you starving. It also helps you to store more fat. Plan to eat a lot of things like turkey breast. Roast a turkey breast, slice it, and keep in the refrigerator. It also helps to eat a lot of fish, chicken, eggs, beef, pork, beans and lentils. Avoid cereal, bread, pasta, sweets, anything made with flour or sugar. It is not easy, but it is doable. Eat a lot of non-starchy vegetables, and limit fruit. I belong to Weigh****chers and find their points system very helpful. Since you are DS and don't absorb fat, you can eat whole fat cheeses and meats and that will help you to feel fuller. Exercise will help more than you think.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
Thank you, I will do that. I am 1 year postop, and I feel like nothing is happening because of the insulin I have to take. When I take it, it makes me feel like I am starving. So, I am at a loss for what to do
Get an Atkins diet book. Anything on the induction diet should give you ideas. New food, have a little and see how it goes.
The idea is high protein and low carb. Right now your stomach is tiny so you should be eating about 90% protein with maybe a bite or 2 of something else. Make up some chicken/tuna/egg/ham salad. Soft and goes down easy. Have a bite or 2 every time you pass the fridge. Spread some deli meat with cream cheese. Roll and eat!
Your stomach is probably too small for real meals at this point and that's OK.
So hi, my name is Jeff and I'm 9.5 years out on my DS (12 years since the initial VSG). Was 778lbs at my highest recorded weight and I'm presently 255lbs and dropping.
Recently I've all of a sudden started having issues tolerating food. I have to force myself to eat at least once a day minimum knowing that I'm likely going to feel miserable. Doesn't matter what it is.
I'm going to give a rundown of an issue that came on suddenly as I'm not sure if it is due to my DS. Perhaps someone else has had something similar and maybe it is part of the reason for my current issue. I just know that not eating is not helpful and sadly the Ontario government abandoned me after my surgeries in 2009 and 2012. I tried for years to get them to move my file back to the only facility that had any DS knowledge. I never had proper blood work done. And I've had to pick one vitamin over another as my income level is so low I can't afford the full regimen. I don't even get the chance to try and prove how for my case vitamins and supplements are vital the way prescription drugs are for other issues, as a special needs case.
End of January 2021 I was under the weather for a few days and thought it was just food related. Celebrated my birthday, but then thought I had the symptoms of a UTI. Was prescribed antibiotics after a phone appointment with my doctor. Then I began having pain while sitting and we thought maybe it was prostate inflammation so an even stronger antibiotic was given. Each passing day the pain just got worse and worse. Eventually I could only lay in bed and even then the pain was constant. I endured 32 days of misery taking as many low dose oxycocet as I could along with Tylenol to try and numb the pain.
I fell and landed right on my left buttock, which was the painful side, as I was trying to change and I ran out of stamina and blacked out for a moment. The pain was unreal and I clearly burst something as I saw some drops of blood on the floor when I managed to get back up and get to my bed. My mom saw the blood soaked pillow I had under me later that night when she brought me ice and water and I declined to go to the hospital as I said it looked worse than it was. Told her I had an in person appointment with our doctor in a couple days and wanted to see what he had to say. Next day I tried to use the toilet and couple as the pain was just too much. I collapsed in the hall on the way out and my mom came in and found me as she left work early as she just had a feeling.
Shortly after arriving at the ER via ambulance I learned I had necrotizing fasciitis (aka flesh eating bacteria). Just before midnight I was transferred to another hospital and on the OR table. Thankfully when I woke up I learned the bacteria didn't get any vital things below the belt. I lost part of a cheek, and thankfully no colostomy. Though it was a lengthy, painful and ongoing recovery. I still getting recurring abscesses on the right side and on December 24th I actually had to go by ambulance after a new infected abscess flared up to have it lanced.
With so much time spent in bed this year my abdomen muscles are somewhat atrophied, but I was wondering if that was masking symptoms of a gallbladder issue as I would have almost immediate reflux or nausea from eating or drinking. Now that has sort of dissipated a bit, but I'm dealing with diarrhea and my stomach constantly being in knots.
Sorry for the length. I can be a long-winded person at times. I've been thinking of just going on a liquid diet for a bit of just some whey protein shakes for protein, and then water or flavoured water to keep hydrated. I'd just be happy to get rid of the diarrhea and stomach unease. I miss how life was before all this happened. A normal day was using the washroom when I got up, and then being good until before I began my night routine. Feeling like I constantly have to go drives me crazy.
Thanks for those who actually made it through this, heh. I appreciate anyone who might have suggestions, advice, went through something similar, etc.
I would take a stool sample in to be tested to see what might be causing the diarrhea.
also carbs will cause loose stool on ppl with ds, especially white flour products.
reflux is not unusual in ppl with ds, as the stomach is made into a narrow sleeve and as the stomach is a high pressure system anyway, the sleeve can cause or make existing reflux worse. I would ask for/ take Nexium or the like for the reflux.
- acid reflux can cause nausea, vomiting, and chest pain mimicking a heart attack.
- gallbladder issues often cause pain in the center of the breast bone area, and can be mild to severe.
- the flesh eating bacteria, obviously, has nothing to do with your DS.
- I would do my very best to stay on plan, high protein, high fat, low to no carbs snd continue to lose weight as the ulcers will likely improve as you approach a normal weight.
edited to add: dehydration can cause nausea so I would make sure I was getting 64+ oz of sf fluid s day.