I was instructed no drinking thirty minutes prior, during or thirty minutes after eating. I have always had a need to have something to drink with me almost everywhere so I found it hard to do. Drinking before meals doesn't seem to have had any negative effect. If I try to drink during meals it's a problem because there isn't enough room for the liquid and it backs up into my throat. I can take a tiny sip if needed but that's it. I follow the no drinking for thirty minutes after meals rule.

Thanks for the heads up....I think. Yes I see that they do cover DS now but I can't seem to find an effective date. Doesn't matter I guess I'm just curious. You see the last time somebody tried to promote weight loss by skipping 70%-80% of somebodies small bowel it worked. They all lost weight. Then about 10 years later 50% of them started dieing of Kidney and/or Liver failure. Nobody ever figured out why. Nobody ever figured out how to know who was at risk. There was a theory. That theory is addressed in the DS but the surgery has not been around long enough in my opinion to prove the kidney and liver issues will not return. I have a guarded amount of faith in Medicare though, so if they approve then the procedure just might be as safe as the rest. I'll do some reading. Obviously I'm a little behind. My opinion of RNY remains unscathed. I would do it again in a second regardless. That's probably because it worked for me and I was as desperate for an answer to weight loss as the next guy. The willingness to excoriate on these boards is sad.

Im not sure about Dr Sudan's price but I payed $29,500 for Dr Anthone and after care  has been done by my own Dr here in Emporia. I had to go back to see Dr Anthone at 3 weeks post-op to get the tubes and stitches removed and then again at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months and now I only need to go see him once a year for follow up and lab work. Its a 4 hour trip from here and my wife and I usually make a long weekend out of it when we go up there. There are so many things to do in Omaha.

I have looked at the two dotors you suggested but I was worried about aftercare because of the distance.  Do you mind me asking about the cost of their proceedures?  Thanks Charlene

Better Check again...Medicare approves of the DS now and it is not considered "experimental" any more. Alot of people have there insurance cover the DS now. They may have to fight for it and appeal for it but those that do think it was well worth the fight.  I was lucky enough to be able to pay for mine..Best 30,000 dollars I ever spent. There are 2 very well known Dr's that do the DS, that are not to far from here. Dr. Anthone and Dr Sudan, both are from Omaha, Nebraska and Dr Sudan does the DS laproscopic.