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Goals

Be in the "normal" weight range

21 People
 in progress, 
7 People
 achieved this

weigh less than 170

3 People
 in progress, 
2 People
 achieved this

be able to buy knee-high boots that zip easily over my calves!

13 People
 in progress, 
6 People
 achieved this

Fly without a seatbelt extender

2 People
 in progress, 
4 People
 achieved this

To reach my desired weight and be the person i was meant to be.

13 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this
View Other Goals
Surgeon Testimonial

George Skrekas
Dr. Skrekas is a fine surgeon specializing in Bariatric Surgery and especially in VSG or "The Sleeve".

My first impression was excellent. He struck me as extremely knowledgeable in his field and I knew almost immediately that if I ever decided to undergo WLS he would be the one that I would want to perform it on me. Although I know other fine surgeons that perform the same procedure in the Athens area, the fact that dr. Skrekas specializes in this type of surgery was the deciding factor for me.

His staff is friendly and well-mannered, however, they are reticent about giving information or advice. I disliked one of his surgical assistants who kept trying for a long time to find a vein for the anesthesia, resulting in great pain for me. When I suggested that he put me out or give me pain medicine before continuing, he threatened to stop the operation right then and there. The truth is, I have very deeply seated veins and I saw how hard the team was struggling to find one, but the pain I was feeling did not allow me to be too forgiving at the time.

The only trait I disliked about dr. Skrekas himself, is that he is quite strict in having patients follow his directions exactly. Not a major fault since his goal is to get the patient healed as well as possible but his manner could stand to become a little less abrupt.

Dr. Skrekas gave me explicit directions in writing to follow post-op and has a structured program of exams and visits I have to go through post-op and for a year thereafter.

He was very open about the risks of surgery pre-op, without being overly discouraging. I appreciated his candid manner and the opportunity he gave me to discuss my own concerns with him.

Overall, I would rate him an excellent choice for Bariatric Surgery.

In my opinion, although a good bedside manner is highly desirable in a surgeon, his surgical competence is what counts the most in the end. After all, your life may depend on the surgeon's skill!

Member Interests

Amalia S.'s Journey

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Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I had been a yo-yo dieter. It seems I was always on one diet or the other since I was 16. I was rarely happy with myself and it seems that the few times I finally was, my other problem - MS - would raise its ugly head and send me back to where I had been before plus interest. This cycle made me nervous about having WLS. On the other hand, nothing ventured, nothing gained and the combo of MS + fat was painful and deadly. i decided to take control of the one thing I could - fat. I don't know how it will work out, but a girl can hope, can't she?
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by sunshinexoxo on 3/1/10 10:14 am
    I hope your feeling well sweetie. AS you daily recover may gods love and light beam warmly on your heart both day and night. You are in my prayers. Nadia! OH FAM :)
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Meanderings of the Stomach
amasot's Blog


Disappointed, Frustrated and Dispondent
on July 4, 2010 11:19 pm
What a waste my 5th month was! Not only did I not lose any weight, I GAINED 1.5 kg to boot!

Part of it I can excuse. I can blame the cortisone therapy for doing a number on me. It increased my appetite. It made me gain water weight. But I tried so hard to control it and by the time I had taken my last 'roid pill I had not gained any weight. When the therapy was over, I breathed a sigh of relief. Surely I'd be able to go back to my old routine and start losing again, I thought.

No such thing! I did my 3-day liquids only diet. I followed up by a 3-day carb detox routine. None of that worked. The best I could do those 6 days was to maintain. As soon as I started eating "normally" again (for me), the weight started climbing up and up. And what is my big "sin"? I can't eat proteins. Suddenly, I can't tolerate meats, chicken or any other protein-packed food. I take a couple of bites and throw up. For a while I couldn't tolerate ANY food, except clear broths and light soups and yes, I did take PPI's, double dose! I introduced some carbs slowly because those seemed to sit better for my stomach and I'm now working on the proteins.

You'd think with all this mess I'd be losing a lot of weight, wouldn't you? I thought I would! Instead, the scale is going upwards. Granted, I eat more carbs than I ate the first 4 months, but I struggle to keep my daily caloric intake at the same level approximately or less. I try to eat proteins even if it means they won't stay down. I drink TONS of water and unsweetened green tea. In short, the only thing  HAVEN'T tried is to starve myself because - listen to this - I can't! So much for the removal of the gherlin gland that was supposed to leave me hunger-free! It seems that it hasn't worked on me, EVER! I've been hungry from Day#1 of my VSG and I continue to be hungry today.

I'm sooo disappointed and very frustrated. I'm leaving for vacation next week and for the rest of the month. I will be incommunicado, away from computers (and scales!). I plan to feed mostly on fish and to do a lot of swimming over the next 3 weeks. I don't know how this will work for me. If I come back and have gained, that "dispondent" on the title will very much describe how I'll feel.

I don't know, perhaps I'm not meant to ever become a "normal" weight. Perhaps my body likes the fat and my efforts to get rid of it only make it hold on to it more stubbornly. Frankly, I'm tired. I don't want to battle with my body any longer. I don't want to starve, God knows I've done enough of that in my yo-yo dieting life. I don't even want to keep denying myself everything I like to eat for the sake of a dubious future svelte body. This was supposed to be easy! I'm trying to keep my part of the deal... eat healthy, eat less, be more active (hard as the last part is when you are disabled). Why isn't my body keeping its end of the deal?
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