Carmadeleta----Really----
On the other hand, she has an odd point, I do think that Dr. Cirangle is one of the best bariatric surgeons in the country, and although I don't get a single nickle for referring patients to him, I do recommend and refer people to him on a regular basis; people like my best friend. Diane, on the maintenance board also refers people to him on a regular basis; people like her husband. I am sure she also gets paid handsomely for that, NOT.
I think the real reason so many of Dr. Cirangle's patients stick around and post is that: 1) Many are successful long term and wish to share their success. 2) Many of us go to monthly support groups with Dr. Cirangle, so we feel a personal connection to him and to the research in the field. For many of us, the journey continues and stays alive through these support groups. We also socialize with each other at these groups, and that too builds a sense of community. We would like others to have a similar experience, both because of his technical skills and because of the aftercare.
To be fair, I wanted to add that yes, I did once get something from Dr. Cirangle, I got a plastic protein shake mixer, of course he gives one to all his patients. :)
JIMBO... 350lbs! lost!..... TRIPLE CENTURY CLUB!! HELL ...YEAH!
MY VSG......KICKS ASS! 
I am 6' 2" 
While I find the writing style, etc., irritating to an extreme, I actually agree with her to the extent that there's generally not one 'narrow' path to success. Trying to shoe-horn everyone into the same paramaters rarely works. I'm not Criangle patient, and in fact, my plan differs in some fairly material ways from Dr. C's; however, I reocgnize his high success rate, etc.
I worked with my surgeon and other doctors to make rationale, well thought-out modifications to the plan I follow based on my unique needs. I think that's the hallmark of proper medical care. We learn a lot on this an other sites that we can apply to our own programs, but ultimately, we have to have a medical profession in whom we place a certain amount of trust. VSG should not be about weightloss for weightloss' sake; rather, weightloss for the restoration of health and prevention of chronic, obesity related diseases. I would run -- not walk -- away from a program that can't articulate how it will support you in the event your personal plan needs to be tailored for whatever reason.
Right now, on the advice of the medical professionals in whom I have placed my trust, I am making some fairly significant changes to my eating (adding calories and carbs) that will effectively put me in maintenance short of my personal 'goal,' but well past my surgeon's goal and well into the range of "Normal" BMI. It's necessary to preserve my health. That's why I did this in the first place, and my medical team and I are all on the same page.
Carolyn (32 lbs lost Pre-op) HW: 291, SW: 259, GW: 129.5, CW: 126.4
Age: 45, Height: 5'2 1/4" , Stretch Goal: 122 
However, I wish that person well and hope they find whatever it is they are missing that is making them so unhappy and miserable.
CW 278 SW 260 GW 140 
Pounds lost: mth1=26.7; mth 2=21.2; mth 3=24.8; mth 4=13.8; mth 5=14.2;
mth 6=11.8; mth 7=9.2; mth 8&9= 17.2
Lisa
Most of you know the vsg maintenance group was set up a little over a year ago in reponse to discussion on this forum that such a group was needed because maintainers faced different issues than beginners and there is less publicly available information on maintenance. So while I was the one that did the set up through OH (was out of town with a new laptop and needed stuff to do) the idea for the group was not mine - it came from this forum. I did post on the main board and this one about its creation and invited everyone to participate. It seems to me that there are common maintenance issues faced by all wls patients regardless of surgery type and that that even someone just considering wls might want to know what life is like after a few years.
As far as trashing Dr. C, anyone who had a bad experience with him is free to discuss it but there is no call to trash a surgeon you didn't use. Yes, I am a Cirangle patient, had an excellent surgical experience, got to goal weight, and still get care from C in maintaining my weight loss. My husband chose him too and is doing well. My brother chose a different surgeon but he lives 2000 miles away. He is doing well too. It makes no sense to bash someone you don't know and haven't worked with.
I believe in telling it like it is and really hate seeing untrue comments tossed about. There is already too much bs in the world.
Diane
Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
