Post Date: 1/31/10 5:56 am
Topic: RE: Article documents preliminary findings about fractures after any type of bariatric surgery
Not recently.  I willhave to wait for insureance...whenever one of us gets full time job.

Post Date: 1/30/10 6:54 am
Topic: RE: Article documents preliminary findings about fractures after any type of bariatric surgery
Hmmmm, I seem to break easily these days.

Post Date: 1/29/10 4:49 am
Topic: RE: Support Group - Jacksonville, FL
Good luck in your group!  I wish I was in Florida right now.  It is a whole 3 degrees out there! lol

Post Date: 1/27/10 12:12 pm
Topic: Article documents preliminary findings about fractures after any type of bariatric surgery

An early analysis of a study done at the Mayo Clinic was presented by ASMBS president, John Backer, MD at the Endocrine Society in June 2009 which found that those who had bariatric surgery were nearly 4 times as likely to sustain a fracture after surgery than the general population. They were not sure if the fractures were due to vitamin deficiencies prior to surgery, malabsorbtion issues after surgery or possibly because people's bodies shapes and centers of balance had changed substantially. The following excerpt points to the need to get sufficient supplimentation of calicium and vitamin D regardless of your surgery type.

"Before and after gastric bypass, patients are routinely told to take at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily, and usually 800 milligrams of D, but that may not be enough," Baker said.

Monitoring patients closely is crucial, he said. "No matter which surgery [of several bariatric surgery options] they have had done, they need to be monitored for calcium, vitamin D levels and parathyroid hormones long term," he said. Parathyroid hormones help increase calcium levels in the blood.

To see the article, please click here.

Post Date: 1/27/10 8:03 am
Topic: RE: What are the qualifications? What if your insurance doesn't cover MGB?
Tiffany, the scars are almost unnoticeable - not that I'll ever be in a bikini; too much loose skin and not enough $$ for plastic surgery! (I wear spandex garments from Lipo in a Box and, with my clothes on, I look like I've had plastics; I highly recommend them!!)

My nails were in pretty good shape (I attribute that to all the vitamins), but now I get them "done"; it's one of my perks! My hair stayed in good shape, although like most, I did have some hair loss. i have pretty thick hair, so it really wasn't noticeable - except on the shower floor!

Good luck with everything! To post a private message, just click on "contact" at the bottom of the message!

Yours,
Nancy

Post Date: 1/27/10 7:23 am
Topic: RE: What are the qualifications? What if your insurance doesn't cover MGB?
Hi, Rocky!

Hmmm, it's been a few years, and I can't quite remember how much we actually wound up paying; seems like it was right around 16K for everything. Dr. Brown uses St. Thomas Moore Hospital in Canon City, where I stayed two nights and had the most excellent nursing care I have ever received!

Dr. Brown is a stellar surgeon and his office staff is wonderful. The only thing I found lacking was his follow-up care (at the time, his office did not have a nutritionist; I understand they do now). I use a lot of the advice on supplements and after-care from the clos.net website. I have my primary care doc look after my blood-work (which has been excellent, by the way!)

I lost weight pretty steadily and without too much effort the first few months til I got to my goal, then maintained. I do "dump" like many RNY patients, but I can avoid that by staying away from sugar - still hard for me! Too many white/refined carbs= wicked, room-clearing gas (hey, you asked for the gritty details!) My weight has now bounced back up by about 10 lbs, and I do have to really pay attention to what I eat to keep it from going up any higher. (I'm okay with the 10 lbs, BTW, as I think my face looked older at my lowest weight....)

You can find Dr. Brown's website at http://www.coloradochoicebariatrics.com/

Hope this helps! Give me a holler if you are ever down in the Colo. Springs area; maybe we can meet up!

Yours,
Nancy

Post Date: 1/26/10 6:33 pm
Topic: RE: What are the qualifications? What if your insurance doesn't cover MGB?
Howdy!
I notice you're in CO. My surgeon (down in Canon City, south of Colorado Springs) does what he calls a Simplified Gastric Bypass; it is the same same surgery that Dr. Rutledge performs, but he has a patent on the name and no other doc can call his surgery by that name. He revised me from a band 3 years ago and I couldn't be happier with the results. Not quite as many hoops to jump through as on clos.net (although they are an excellent surgical group, from what I can gather)!

Let me know if you'd like more info, and good luck woth your journey!

Post Date: 1/26/10 12:26 pm
Topic: RE: MGB in Canada
Hi, i myself would have liked to have this option but as far as I know you can only have it done in the States.  My friend had it done in the fall of 2007 (she is from the niagara peninsula) and had to go to Michigan and stay at a motel after wards for a week before she could come back home.  I belive she told me that they don't perform them in Michigan anymore.  She was actually covered by ohip but they stopped doing it as of the fall of 2008 wich is when I started to become interested in the procedure.  Right now the only procedure covered here in Canada is the ryn bypass.  I wish that ohip covered more options than they do.  Atleast with the mgb it can be reversed if it needed to be.  However I am waiting to have the ryn.  Hope this helps, Tammy

Post Date: 1/25/10 3:30 am
Topic: RE: Caffine and coffee?
Hi,

I may be a bad influence, but I drink coffee.  I don't drink alot of it, one or two cups a day.  Over time, I have developed some bad habits which I am hoping to break.

Post Date: 1/21/10 6:59 pm
Topic: RE: oklahoma or texas
I would actually like to know the same thing.  What is the deal with this MGB?  I have seen tons of people on YouTube that have had that.  I am having my surgery (RNY) on 2/11.  We are very close in our date.  I am actually already on partial liquids trying to lose 20 lbs. before my surgery.

How are you doing?  Are you getting excited.  I am very much.  So much so that I can't sleep very well.  I am too busy researching and finding new ideas on how to be successful.  I am anxious about it all.  

I hope we can be of help to each other and stay in touch.

 

Post Date: 1/19/10 6:51 pm
Topic: RE: oklahoma or texas
I'm in Oklahoma City, honestly i dont know a thing about the Mini, but I was wondering why you wouldnt want the full shebang?

Have you talked to any of the area doctors?
I actually am going tomorrow to see Dr. Keith in Norman for my labs/ekg and such because i am sceduled for Feb 22nd for Gastric bypass.

Good luck to you either way :)

Post Date: 1/18/10 2:51 am
Topic: RE: Hospital Vida in TJ
Hi,

I have attached a link for you.  These are the folks you need to contact about the MGB.

http://clos.net/contact.htm

Post Date: 1/17/10 3:23 pm
Topic: Hospital Vida in TJ
 Hi Everybody!
Does anyone here know anything about the Hospital Vida or Dr. Ponce in TJ?
I wanted to schedule surgery for the 29th with Dr. Almanza @ the Jerusalem Clinic/Emanuel Ctr and I am being told that there are not any available appts. but that I can have Dr. Ponce do the surgery (also that he has more experience with MGB) at the "Vida Hospital".
I was just curious if anyone here had any input?
Just a bit nervous but I really am anxious to get the surgery too....

Post Date: 1/17/10 1:21 am
Topic: RE: About the procedure and insulin restistance
Just curious, have you researched the duodenal switch?  It cures Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance immediately after having the procedure (that is, it is cured through the mechanism of action in surgery, not by the weight loss itself.)  So, you'd go under anesthesia with insulin resistance and wake up cured.  Pretty amazing.  And the cure rate remains about 98%.  Not bad odds.
 
I was insulin resistant pre-op.  Not anymore.  Love my DS!

Post Date: 1/16/10 4:18 am
Topic: RE: question?
Hi,

No.  These are two different surgeries.  To be approved for the mini gastric bypass, you must complete twelve steps.  See http:clos.net and click on the tab on the left side called, "start here" in yellow highlighter.  It will explain what these twelve steps are.  Congrats on your approval!

Post Date: 1/15/10 1:17 pm
Topic: What are the qualifications? What if your insurance doesn't cover MGB?
Hello everyone!

I'm new to this board.  I'm seriously considering MGB, and was hoping that some of you could help me.  I'm pretty sure my insurance won't cover any bariatric surgeries.  If that is the case, could I still pay myself to have it done?  Also, what are the qualifications?  I'm slightly confused.  It sounds like you have to be under age 30 and less than 250lbs.  Can anyone confirm this?

Thank you SO much!  I hope I get to share my experience in the near future.

Post Date: 1/14/10 9:39 am
Topic: question?
If you have been approved for the RNY gastric bypass, does that mean you are also approved for the mini bypass?

Post Date: 1/10/10 12:04 pm
Topic: About the procedure and insulin restistance
Story
When seeing my Endo 1.5 years ago, I had wicked high insulin levels 93 (non-diabtic was 0-9 and diabetic was 9-27). A1C 6.0.  I had gained about 140 pounds in 14 years... and of that I gained 100 pounds in 4 years.  College scholarship athlete use to be very active.

Through the 1.5 years I have worked with her I have managed to get it down to a 27.3 and a a1c of 6.1

I have been on Byetta and Metformin watching carbs.  I managed to loose 25 pounds and keep it off during that time.  I was 350 now 325 and am 5'7 tall.  Unfortunately, I am starting to have adverse reactions to the byetta and my doctor has now taken me off that med.

Which concerns me as this is the first time *ever* I was able to loose any weight and keep it off.

It is also the first time ever I have realized that 70% of my cravings for certian types of food and being hungry did *not* stem from emotional eating.

As I went off the meds and as I write this even though I had breakfast an hour ago I am feeling freakin hungry, shelly and jittery....  The struggle to no eat is back...

And I am worried I am going to gain my weight back not from eating but because of the excess insulin in my body and how that promotes weight gain.

I have blamed myself my entire life.  I realized I was only really 1/3 of the problem.

Questions
With that said, I have read some about the ROUx-en-y procedure and the mini gastric procedure.  The major difference I see is that one does a pouch and the other does a tube as the stomach.

the one thing I am trying to find out is if the Mini procedure still by-passes the upper small institine.

for people with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance they are realizing through the by passing of the upper institent that it reverses the issue of insulin insentivity.

Does the mini to by pass that area?  I went to a site clos.net they had a video for comparison but it said I was not allowed to watch it because I was not a friend of someone's on Youtube.

I watched the video about the Mini but they aren't labeling portions of the stomach/instinal areas...

Anyone with Type 2 or insulin resistance care to comment as well?  Did you do full remission with this type of surgery?

Many Blessings,

Angela Law

Post Date: 1/8/10 3:57 am
Topic: RE: oklahoma or texas
Hi,

I would contact Dr Rutledge's staff at http://clos.net and find out the status on insurance coverage and surgery locations.  It's a great procedure and worth every penny if they don't take insurance.  They have a couple incentive programs that you may fall into but you will need to check with them.  Good luck!

Post Date: 1/4/10 3:39 am
Topic: RE: Any Canadians have surg. by Dr. Rutledge?
Hi,

Yes there are patients in Canada.  I suggest you start from their website http://clos.net and talk to the staff.  There is a great email list you can join and talk to many folks who are in various stages of their journey.  I am nine years postop.  With any weight loss surgery, you need to learn to eat healthy and keep active.  This will be a big plus in your success.  Lots to read on the website so give yourself time. 

Post Date: 1/2/10 4:50 am
Topic: RE: I cant decide between revision or reversal
Hi,

If I were you, I would call Dr. Rutledge on his cell phone (http://clos.net) and get his opinion.  Don't leave a message.  Just call until he answers per his staff. He is the master of this procedure and he may have some suggestions for you.  I would be a little nervous taking the advice from a surgeon who is not familiar with this procedure.  And, yes, if you were to get a reversal, you would probably gain it back unless you have established a very healthy and strong relationship with food and healthy eating habits.

Post Date: 12/31/09 11:42 am
Topic: I cant decide between revision or reversal
Had MGB over 8 years ago. Hit my goal wieght within a year ans contiuned to lose. I am 5"7 and about 122lbs. I have had issues with bile reflux on and off for about 3 years. It seems to be getting progessively worse. Waking up at night aspirating bile is the most frightening experience I have ever had. I have come very close to dialing 911 because you literally feel like you are going to die
from the pain and breathing restrictions. I have seen a bariatric surgeon in my area and he strongly
suggests a revision or reversal. My question is, do you gain all your weight back after a reversal ??
The revision seem to be a complicated procedure and I do not want to lose any more weight. My friends and family are already concerned enough. I am really leaing towards reversing this ongoing nightmare. At least I could sleep at night then.

Post Date: 12/29/09 3:18 pm
Topic: RE: Hi -- Surgery physician
I dont know if VA is too far for you, But in Fairfax VA there is a surgeon named Dr. Anez.  I am looking to get my surgery done by hime. Fairfax VA is one of the Northern most tip of VA not far from the border of PA.  I have yet to see him but I am making an apt soon. There is a section here on obesityhelp.com on Dr. Anez.  

Post Date: 12/18/09 6:38 am
Topic: RE: Bile Reflux after MGB
I had my mini gastric bypass revised this past August and the bile reflux resolved immediately.  After having almost constant reflux for the past 2 years, I am so relieved!  I work as a bariatric coordinator and I have seen multiple patients with a MGB need to have revision to roux.  As a matter of fact the ASMBS does NOT recommend that people have the MGB and studies have shown over 99% of MGB patiens will need a revision for a variety of reasons...bile reflux, leak at the G-J anastamosis due to ulceration, failure to thrive, etc.  Revision really is the only way to get it to stop.  Carafate worked at first but over time that didn't even help.  I woke up several times in the middle of the night coughing up bile (actually pouring out of my mouth) and even aspirated it a few times(it really burns when it is in your lungs!).   Good luck to all of you and hopefully you will also get some relief from your reflux. If you have any questions I could answer let me know.

Darcie

Post Date: 12/11/09 9:24 am
Topic: RE: Bile Reflux after MGB
DId you have your revision?  I am having persistent bile reflux (for 6 months), nausea, terrible taste in my mouth all the time.  My surgery was in 2000 and maintained 140 lb. loss all this time.  Nothing has worked!  My GI doctor says only thing left is evaluation for revision.  I need an EXPERIENCED bariatric surgeon in the Houston area (to do revisions to the roux).  My doc recommended with only 5 yrs experience.  Anyone, please send me names of docs.  This will be a major surgery. 
Thank you.