Terri,
I am 4 weeks post op and still have to force myself to get 64 oz in. It doesn't get any easier until your new pouch accepts 2-3 oz at a time. I am just now at 4oz every 2-3 hours. I can drink water in between but still struggle to get 50 grams of protein and 64 oz of total fluids tho. Keep at it and don't make your self sick over it. My Dr. and Dietician both said to get down no less than 1/2 oz every 30 minutes or 1 oz per hour and that is how I build on it. I still have days when I sleep more than others and those are really my hardest days for fluid intake. The first two weeks or so you will NOT feel hungry or really even want to eat/drink. I like the crystal light lemon aid between protein and I use small dixie cups to freeze my shakes in for variety. I have also tried adding yogurt to my frozen shakes just be sure to keep good records of your intake. Good luck!
Tammie

Hey Carroll.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for replies here. It takes a while to get a reply or two, coz it doesn't seem like this forum gets used all that much. Although it does seem to have picked up a little bit lately. Anyway, I guess I'm just trying to say, don't get too disappointed if you don't get a reply on here for a few days.

Now, as for the rest of your post, since you're in Columbia, I can't really recommend a doctor, unless you're willing to take a trip to Spartanburg. Dr. Ross is a professional *****ally goes out of his way to care for and treat his patients. Now as far as what you'll have to do, (I'm assuming you haven't even started the process, yet) first, you'll have to find a doctor in your area that accepts Medicaid. I'd ask around first, because you might run across a Dr. that accepts Medicaid, but they'll want an extra $2000 for a bunch of other stuff that in my opinion, really isn't necessary, and to be truthful, who the hell can afford $2000 if you're on Medicaid?? The reason I say you should ask around is because whatever Dr. you choose, you're going to have to sit through a 2-3 hour long seminar, and they won't tell you about the extra $2000 charge until the very end of the seminar. Then, when you find a Dr. that doesn't charge the extra fee, you'll have to sit through that Dr's seminar, too.

Once the seminar is over, you'll have to fill out some paperwork and then a couple of weeks later, you'll get to see someone in the Dr's staff who will guide you through some more of the process and have you fill out some more paperwork. There you'll find out that you'll need a 2 year statement from your family doc and Medicaid requires a 6 week (or 6 month, but I'm pretty sure, it's 6 weeks) physisian supervised weight loss regiment. I was able to bypass this requirement, becaue of my problems with my back. Once you get all that, you'll have to have a phyciatric evaluation. (Why, I don't know. This still baffles me - It's just a bunch of questions that your family doctor should be able to answer, but it has to be performed by a phsych.) That can cost anywhere from $100 - $250, unless you can luck up and find one that accepts medicaid, if your surgeon will approve it. (Some of them require you to go through their preapproved psychs.) Them, once you get that evaluation done, and they turn it in to your surgeon, they'll run your file through a comittee, and once they approve it, you'll just have to wait for Medicaid to approve it. And finally, depending on how high your BMI is, you'll have to have at least 2 other weight related things wrong with you - chronic pain, problems with your knees, etc., depression, back pain, etc.

I was worried about not getting approved, too, but I eventually was. I had my surgery 2 weeks ago, tomorrow and  I only had minor problems since then. So if you need to talk or ask anything, just send me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Chris

I found out more information on the surgery at St. Francis. There will be no fee, and they are trying to get everything set up for an April start up.From what I was told,  they will be having free information seminars on a regular basis and so far the program sounds really good. Right now I am trying to get with the director of the program and see if I can be involved with it since I have "been there and done that", lol. I really think it would be wonderful to have  more people who have had the surgery get involved with it, rather than someone who has been a "Barbie" doll all their life. The nurse that is doing all the coordinating has had  the surgery also, so I think it will be a wonderful program. I will try to keep everyone informed as I get the information.

Hugs!
Mary

Dr. Ross at Spartanburg Regional does not charge an up-front fee... Also, a Center of Excellence.

Nice to see another Dr. B success-story! I just had my surgery 3 weeks ago, and I'm well on my way. Made it into Onederland today ...... woohoo!!!

Good luck at your upcoming surgery. I'll be praying for you!!!



~Heike