Cathy R.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

BMI at 26!  Cholesterol three months ago 193 (it didn't get included in the last round).  Dr Martin is now in Afganistan so I did see Dr Kjorstad.  I asked him about plastic surgery about breast lift reduction and he suggested I wait the full year (next January).  We talked briefly about the tummy tuck and was told that general and plastic surgery were starting to charge a co-pay of $2000-$4000 (I don't know the deciding factor).  I was needing a breast lift before the surgery, but now I am having shoulder pain that radiates down my arms to my finger tips.  Kind of a tingling feeling.  Luckily my shoulders take turns with the pain but boy is it miserable.  Sometimes I have to resort to my lidocaine patches I use for my MS to get relief.  I am stil very, very happy with my sleeve!

Cathy

I just noticed that i hadn't updated this.

I had my surgery on the 29th and returned home on the 31st of January 2010.  I'm doing great (even better than I expected) and am excited to see my surgeon again on the 9th of February.  Hopefully my drainage tube can be removed then.  I'm pretty much back to normal as far as movement is concerned.  The only exception being reaching or bending to much and that is because of the drain being in my way.

So far my quality of life is improving with my MS to.  I have decreased pain in my back, increased ability to return to walking with a walker and my general feeling of well being has improved.

Will update later.

Not only did he say that the surgery would be beneficial (Whew!) he set the date for next week. I'm so excited!

I have my first appointment with the surgeon today and hope that he doesn't focus on my Multiple Sclerosis but on me.  I had my in clinic pre-op yesterday and everything was great.  My blood pressure and EKG were fine.  I'm hoping soon that I will have the same blood pressure level without medication.  Will post an update after the visit this afternoon.

It has been awhile since I have posted, must have been the holidays.  My pathway program is finished and I have an appointment with Dr Martin in the surgical clinic next week.  Was starting to run into people that attended the seminar in November, mine was last July.  Pam said that they are working off the list and she wasn't kidding.  I know that they brought in an additional Mental Health professional  part time to help.

Unless I change my mind at the consult appointment, I looking to the VSG for help.  The biggest downfall being that I mostly use a wheelchair and exercise is a sizable part in the success of this.  Recently, I have looked at the DS option but the loss of nutrients concerns me.  I need the appointment with the surgeon to feel more concrete.  I'm hoping my MS doesn't get in the way of all this.  I'm sure that I would be looking at this regardless of it or not.  Any thoughts on doctors?? How about aftercare, what worked better for you??

I had my first pathways appointment yesterday Nov 9th.  I see that I have 9 items on my list.  Of those items I have one done, one more possible exchange, two more scheduled before the month is over.  Another 1/2 item and I'd be halfway there.  Not bad I'd say.  Pam expects I'll be done in about a month.  I'll be surprised because of the holidays.  On the other hand January is my birth month, what a present to me.  Will update when I have more.

Finally got my call for my first pathways appointment October 21st.  It is scheduled for November 9th, 2009.  I asked the scheduler about the wait for the actual surgery and she wasn't sure but estimated 4-5 months.  Will write more when I know more.

Wava says 1-2 months for pathways now.  I'm getting a bit more excited now.  Still researching my options but still feel confident that the sleeve procedure is the best for me.  Been busy with my dogs and grandkids.  I have a MS retreat scheduled for my husband and myself mid November in Seatac.  So looking forward to that as well.  October is generally a quite month for us.  Nice break between seasons.

Noticed when I started wearing pants again (for the season) that they seem tight.  Haven't checked my weight lately but am guessing that it went up during the summer.  I'm thinking more about the program sit and be fit, my daughter suggested it so I will be checking it out.

Cathy

But now 3-4 months wait for pathways beginning instead of November.  The clinic is down some rpoviders so they have to slow things down.  Maximum of 30/ month getting through.

7/9/2009
The Surgical Dept for bariatrics at MAMC is currently at number 152 so the estimated wait time is 4-6 months.