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Surgeon TestimonialMahbod Mark Paya, M. D.My first impression of Dr. Paya was on this website. I was debating over having Dr. Paya at Northridge Hospital (my hospital of choice) or Dr. Qualici at St. Josephs in Burbank. rnrnAfter talking to a couple of former patients, there were very little discouraging words regarding Dr. Paya's care or office staff. And, best news of all, his office processed patients far sooner than the other option I was given. rnrnFor me, surgical competence is more important than bedside manner, but what is MOST important to me is my ability to contact the office for information. rnrnThe \"guy\" Dr. Paya is friendly, confident, professional and very cute. lol He was honest on how much weight I would lose, and how much weight I COULD lose. He is a busy guy and when I was in the hospital I only saw him pre-op. His associate, Dr. Kokkalera, saw me each day while I was in Northridge Hospital. Dr. Kokkalera is very nice and thoughtful and had a friendly sense of humor. rnrnMy medical group (Facey) has an extensive bariatric surgery preparation procedure, so I don't have a lot of information on what Dr. Paya's office offers. I did meet with a nutritionist with detailed pre-op/ post-op/ maintenance diet information. I met with a Dr. Paya's nurse with a detailed explanation of pretty much every aspect of the process, which included all the \"realities\" of what does/doesn't work with bariatric surgery. Finally, I received a simple psychiatric evaluation from one of NR Hosp's staff psych MDs.rnrnThe office staff was stellar when I was in the hospital. Crystal and Shelly visited me every day at least once. Both doted over me in pre-op, making sure my husband saw me before surgery and having my paperwork for disability processing the minute I was in surgery. They made sure my post-op pain meds were waiting in MY pharmacy for pickup on my drive home!rnrnI would be remiss without mentioning my frustration when someone made my first appointment with Dr. Paya for 4PM, but it was entered in his system for 3:30. I was deemed a \"no show\" and he left before I arrived at 3:43. I was DEVASTATED! Fortunately, Crystal made an appointment for the very next week, so I had my surgery exactly when I was planning...the last week of April! The one way out of this frustration is to make sure to call the office and verify the appointment before going in. The office staff is professional and friendly and phone messages are returned quickly. rn Member Interests
- Dogs - Fargo is a blonde Australian Shepherd mix, saved from shelter demise August 2007
- Sewing - I like sewing clothes. Simple stuff...NO HEMMING, please. ;)
- Radiological Technologist - It is "radiologic", not "radiological". Since '78. I am a mammographer.
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I Am Not Losing Weight on May 24, 2008 1:37 pm
I am being good and logging all my food in Fitday.com, and my calorie total is between 700 and 1000 calories.
My weight has been 279.4 since Monday. Five days. I even pulled the battery out of the scale and reset it, thinking that maybe the balance on the scale was stuck. Nope. 279.4.
Others have said to have patience. Fine. It isn't like I am going to get all pissy and go to In-N-Out and get a double-double cheese with fries and a vanilla shake. I could eat maybe a quarter of the burger with a swallow of shake then I would throw up not so much as a "dump" but because the shake would remind me of the protein shakes I have been eating. blech.
In conventional dieting, I was always good for a 20-25 lb loss then I would fall apart and quit. Now I see why. My body just shuts down in the weight loss department. grr.
I am also frustrated because I am able to eat more than I thought I could by this time....over 1/2 cup! I realize I take a good 20 minutes to eat it "all", but that is theoretically still a lot of food! :(
Anyway, I went to Walmart and found some sugar free chocolate sauce and I picked up a little jar of decaf instant coffee. I will make some frappuccinno protein shake for a change of pace.
Update: Sunday. Still 279.4. 
Wednesday. STILL 279.4. Break/Lunch just protein!
I'M FULLLL! on May 16, 2008 6:41 pm
I have been praying to feel full...here I was, only a week ago, praying to no longer be hungry. Are we never satisfied?
So today at 1PM I had an ounce of chicken, a string cheese, and fresh steamed broccoli for lunch and when I was done...I was full! Now, I wasn't stuffed. I pray I never get that full. But I thought to myself, "Hey...I am not hungry any more!" That felt really really good.
In fact, I didn't want any food until dinnertime. The chicken was not cooperating and was not cooked through, but I had a little mash potato and broccoli and ate the chicken half-hour later. I am full now, at 6:45! Yay! My pouch is healing on the insides! 
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Some Thoughts About Hunger on May 13, 2008 9:39 am
I am a 50 year old American woman who has worked all my life and I have never had to experience the feeling of true hunger. I have had hunger pangs at work before lunch and I have had hypoglycemic events, but not going-to-bed hungry like my sisters and brothers in other parts of the world.
Yesterday, I took my 11 y.o. daughter to the doctors. My girl has some issues and now that she is approaching puberty it is important that she is made aware, by another adult, that what she puts in her mouth now will affect her overall feelings later. The doctor was new, a sweet woman with a common sense approach to such things. I explained to her I had WLS 2 weeks earlier. She asked how that was going for me.
My reply:
I have learned in the last 2 weeks that hunger, especially in America, is 85-90% in the head. I have yet to think that I will ever say again, "Oh, gosh! I just couldn't eat another bite!" Also, the only hunger I have felt, which manifests itself with stomach growling and pangs during "usual" hunger times...11:30-12noon. 4:30-5PM. 7-8AM. I know I am not hungry, physically. I know my pouch cannot take any more than what is given.
It is frustrating that I am experiencing this. Whoever said this is the "easy way" out...lied.
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sweet stuff. YUK! on May 10, 2008 8:08 pm
Day 11 1/2.
Everything tastes sweet. I am hating sweet. My skin tastes sweet. I hate the sweet protein powders and the unflavored does not work in hot soup!
GRRRR!
Today I boiled a chicken to make tacos for the family. I took a piece of meat, stuck it in my mouth, chewed to to nothing, then spit it out into the sink. Gross, yes...but heaven! :)
Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Dad is coming and I have prepared a fruit salad and some sourdough biscuits (yes, I have starter) and I will cook Hangtown Fry for the main event. And I can eat none of it.
That is OK. :)
UPDATE
Mother's Day Afternoon:
Dad came about 9AM. The hangtown fry was the hit of the meal. The biscuits smelled so good that I pulled a "Christina Aguilera", chewed some of the bread then spit it out in the toilet. It was yummy. lol (There are rumors that the singer keeps a baggie in her purse for deposits to keep her from swallowing the wrong things.) When I "true confessed" this to my daughter she asked why I didn't do it to the eggs...because I will be able to have egg and oysters in about 3-6 months, tops. Bread is not a good option, even in the long run. :)
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The Days of Remorse on May 9, 2008 6:03 am
I was told by GBS patients as well as support groups and my doctor and nutritionists that soon after WLS patients have a time of depression. I didn't understand until day 8 or 9 post-op.
A little after 1 week post-op, although I am feeling great, I cannot have anything to eat beyond my protein shakes, which by now taste like being force-fed Splenda, or watered down instant cream of wheat cereal, instant oatmeal, or cream soup. Yogurt and cottage cheese is allowed now, but only in tablespoons, never again in cups.
Nothing would make me happier than to run a can of fruit cocktail through my Magic Bullet blender and eat a couple spoons of that. Carrots and peas, maybe. NO, Dr. Paya's office tells me! Not for 2 more weeks. Fine.
I am in the days of remorse. One day at a time, Judi...one day at a time.
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