Hi Shannon,

I live in Southern Maryland, where there are no local surgeons that do the gastric bypass surgery.  I did a lot of research and found Dr. Joseph Afram, in Washington DC to be the best.  He has a HIGH success rate and LOW complication rate.  I know many people that went with Dr. Afram.  I was very happy with him and his staff.  He offers a quality program to meet all of your needs.  He requires you to go to a heart and a lung doctor in DC to be tested before surgery, as well as a sleep study if you've never had one.  Then you have an all day appointment at his office to meet with him, the insurance lady, the shrink, the nutritionist, and the personal trainer... and you also stay for a group meeting and then scoot on over to George Washington University Hospital for a bariatric class.  They tell you all about the surgery and give you a tour of the hospital.  You do have to jump through a lot of hoops to get the surgery.. different tests and such... but in the end, its worth it.

So, with Dr. Afram, some patients have to go in the hospital the day before to get a filter placed in through your groin to prevent blood clots going to your heart and lungs.  Its a quick process, that doesnt hurt a bit.  In 3-6 months post op, it gets removed.  Then you go in for your surgery... it all goes so fast that by the time you'r scheduled to go in to the OR, you're basicaly out of it.  I dont remember anything from the time they starting wheeling me back til sometime in the middle of the night.  The next day I woke up and was walking around just fine.  They keep you well medicated so the pain is very minimal.  He does surgery on Tuesday and most get released on Thursday.

It is an adjustment getting used to only eating 2 ounces of food at a time... but when you see your first weigh in, you feel good.

I decided to go off of his scale so I dont confuse myself.. so this passed Wednesday, only a week after my surgery, I had lost 9 pounds.  I think I've lost a few more already.

HI all

So I have thought about weight loss surgery on and off for about 2 years.  I think now I'm at the point where there is a strong possibility that I want to do it.  I have an appointment with my primary next month to just get an idea and feel for things. 

My question to you is this...Who did your surgery.  Were you happy with them?  Have you seen anyone you didn't like?  Also tell me the good bad and the ugly...any complications, things of that nature.  I know everyone is different and I have been looking around and reading but I also like to hear from people that have went through it and not just some medical journal

Thanks

Shannon

Hello!!  My name is Melissa, and I had Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass done back in 2003.  On the day of my surgery, I weighed 326 pounds.  My lowest weight after surgery was 160 pounds.   I currently weigh 245 pounds.  I am really interested in having a revisional surgery,  such as StomaPhyx.  Has anyone had any luck getting insurance approval for it?  If you did, which type of surgery did you have, and what surgeon did your procedure?  I would greatly appreciate any information that you would be willing to share with me.  Thanks so much!!    XOXOXOX   

Hi Neighbor Cindy, I am struggling to get back on a healthy eating plan.  Over the last 21 days I have given up coffee and tea.  This was extremely hard for me but necessary.   My next 21 days (starting 7 Jul) will be to give up the  junk type food and the uncontrolled snacking at night. 

Sunshine, I hope all is going well with you.  I haven't been on this board in a long while but will start checking it regularly.  Hope to hear from you.

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Hi Sunshine.  I had my gastric by-pass on 9 Nov 2011.  I was weighing 318 and wearing a size 28+.    My weight loss journey has been different from yours.  I am still hanging at 230.  I haven't lost weight in a long time.  I am in need of friends and encouragement.  I live in Lexington Park, MD.  I had my surgery done at the University of MD Hospital, Baltimore.  Dr. Kligman. 

Hope to hear from you.