SYRENITY
~ 3-13-07~
Mar 13, 2007
Day 2
Today went well I wasn't hungry I felt my stomach make some rumbles a few times but I didn't feel hungry like yesterday. I drank my carnation instant breakfast before I left for work. At work I drank my diet peach snapple which took me all damn day to drink for some reason I started it about 12 and drank it on and off until about 7pm. It was a 32 oz bottle but damn had that been a pepsi it would have been a wrap in an hour.
Around 2pm I made some chicken broth and I also made a protein shake. I sipped on both until I left work at 5:30 I went to the movies and after I went to eat guess what I had a CUP of chicken vegetable soup and I also ordered a side order of steamed broccoli and a glass of water. You can probably guess by now that broccoli is my favorite.
When the food came the broth was delicious it was flavored just right. I took 2 stalks of the broccoli and cut it up and put it in the broth. I was very proud of myself because lawd knows I wanted to eat those chicken chunks they had in the soup but I refrained from eating them and left the table with the bottom of the bowl filled with the chicken and half of a broccoli stalk I was actually full after that.
My Baby kept trying to tempt me with the bread that came to the table and other things on the menu but I stuck to my guns and felt good about it when I left but lord knows I wanted to order the jerk pork chops and plantains {Shaking my head.... you just don't know} I am trying to think of the big picture and I am trying to stick in there for the long haul. I am definitely challenging myslef working in an office with mostly women and working in the food service industry isn't helping either for those that don't know me I am a caterer by trade and have my own business and I also work in an office dealing with the online catering aspects of most of the major restaruants in NYC as well as Boston and Florida so entering and revising menus and dealing with corporate catering orders every day is definitely a big challenge for me..
I will find out on friday if I lost any weight during this first week of liquids. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Stay Blessed
Today went well I wasn't hungry I felt my stomach make some rumbles a few times but I didn't feel hungry like yesterday. I drank my carnation instant breakfast before I left for work. At work I drank my diet peach snapple which took me all damn day to drink for some reason I started it about 12 and drank it on and off until about 7pm. It was a 32 oz bottle but damn had that been a pepsi it would have been a wrap in an hour.
Around 2pm I made some chicken broth and I also made a protein shake. I sipped on both until I left work at 5:30 I went to the movies and after I went to eat guess what I had a CUP of chicken vegetable soup and I also ordered a side order of steamed broccoli and a glass of water. You can probably guess by now that broccoli is my favorite.
When the food came the broth was delicious it was flavored just right. I took 2 stalks of the broccoli and cut it up and put it in the broth. I was very proud of myself because lawd knows I wanted to eat those chicken chunks they had in the soup but I refrained from eating them and left the table with the bottom of the bowl filled with the chicken and half of a broccoli stalk I was actually full after that.
My Baby kept trying to tempt me with the bread that came to the table and other things on the menu but I stuck to my guns and felt good about it when I left but lord knows I wanted to order the jerk pork chops and plantains {Shaking my head.... you just don't know} I am trying to think of the big picture and I am trying to stick in there for the long haul. I am definitely challenging myslef working in an office with mostly women and working in the food service industry isn't helping either for those that don't know me I am a caterer by trade and have my own business and I also work in an office dealing with the online catering aspects of most of the major restaruants in NYC as well as Boston and Florida so entering and revising menus and dealing with corporate catering orders every day is definitely a big challenge for me..
I will find out on friday if I lost any weight during this first week of liquids. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Stay Blessed
~ 3-12-07 ~
Mar 12, 2007
DAY DAMN 1....
I have to be honest the majority of the day went well & was pretty easy but by the end of the day it became a challenge. I woke up this morning and had my carnation instant breakfast then about 1pm I had some chicken broth & a diet peach snapple. About an hour later I had a vanilla protein shake then finally about 4:30pm my stomach started growling and feeling tight and I drank some peach tea crystal light.
Now I knew I was going to have to eventually do this liquid thing but nothing prepares you until you actually are doing it. Like I said the morning went well I didn't really get hungry until late in the afternoon but when I drank the crystal light my stomach liked to slap the holy hell out of me like heffa please ! You know your fat ass is HONGRY ! yes I said HONGRY not HUNGRY. It is amazing that when I could eat everything without restriction I could go all damn day without eating and not be hungry some water would do me just fine but, now just because I can't eat solid foods my big ass stomach wants to growl this is some straight bull.
Well, on my way home I decided to get something to eat / drink for dinner. I stopped in the chinese restaurant & ordered a wonton soup but I requested that they not put the wontons in the broth. I also ordered some steamed broccoli because on my pre- op diet booklet it states that we are allowed to have veggies for lunch & dinner if we are hungry but, we are limited to 2 cups of veggies per day. Ok I can work with that the days that I eat veggies I will either split up 1 cup for lunch & 1 for dinner or save both cups for dinner altogether. Tonight for damn sure I had half of that broccoli & half of the wonton soup broth for dinner and you couldn't tell me that I wasn't tearing up some Jerk Chicken or some Baked Mac & Cheese.
I am about to go have my second shake for the day to get my grams of protein in. I also saved it until now so that there will be something on my stomach and I can sleep in peace without stomach cramps. I am thinking about eating half a cup of sugar free Jell-O before I go to sleep along with some water since Jell-O is another item we are allowed to have on the pre op diet. Anyway I made it through the first day alive and so far I'm not cranky like I was told I should expect to be but is is only 1 day so, let's pray I can make it through the week the same way.
I didn't miss my pepsi today
1 day down 13 to go !!!!
I have to be honest the majority of the day went well & was pretty easy but by the end of the day it became a challenge. I woke up this morning and had my carnation instant breakfast then about 1pm I had some chicken broth & a diet peach snapple. About an hour later I had a vanilla protein shake then finally about 4:30pm my stomach started growling and feeling tight and I drank some peach tea crystal light.
Now I knew I was going to have to eventually do this liquid thing but nothing prepares you until you actually are doing it. Like I said the morning went well I didn't really get hungry until late in the afternoon but when I drank the crystal light my stomach liked to slap the holy hell out of me like heffa please ! You know your fat ass is HONGRY ! yes I said HONGRY not HUNGRY. It is amazing that when I could eat everything without restriction I could go all damn day without eating and not be hungry some water would do me just fine but, now just because I can't eat solid foods my big ass stomach wants to growl this is some straight bull.
Well, on my way home I decided to get something to eat / drink for dinner. I stopped in the chinese restaurant & ordered a wonton soup but I requested that they not put the wontons in the broth. I also ordered some steamed broccoli because on my pre- op diet booklet it states that we are allowed to have veggies for lunch & dinner if we are hungry but, we are limited to 2 cups of veggies per day. Ok I can work with that the days that I eat veggies I will either split up 1 cup for lunch & 1 for dinner or save both cups for dinner altogether. Tonight for damn sure I had half of that broccoli & half of the wonton soup broth for dinner and you couldn't tell me that I wasn't tearing up some Jerk Chicken or some Baked Mac & Cheese.
I am about to go have my second shake for the day to get my grams of protein in. I also saved it until now so that there will be something on my stomach and I can sleep in peace without stomach cramps. I am thinking about eating half a cup of sugar free Jell-O before I go to sleep along with some water since Jell-O is another item we are allowed to have on the pre op diet. Anyway I made it through the first day alive and so far I'm not cranky like I was told I should expect to be but is is only 1 day so, let's pray I can make it through the week the same way.
I didn't miss my pepsi today
1 day down 13 to go !!!!
I GOT A DATE !!!!
Mar 08, 2007
Well people I got a surgery date. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!! I go in for Lap Band Surgery March 26th. WOW that was fast..... I went today and had to see the nurse first who administered my physical. Gasper was so relaxing and eased some fears and I had a great visit with him. Then I met with Dr fielding who of course was extremely pleasant and who said I was indeed an ideal candidate for the procedure. I'm sure everyone's surgeon has probably stated this to them but it felt good because mine said it to me. He told me that because I have a large frame and I am so tall that I will never be skinny I told him thank God because I have never been and I really don't want to be. He told me that he just wants to get the bulk of the weight off of me and would like to get me down to 200 or 210lbs which would be perfect for my frame and body make up. WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO !
He asked if I had any further questions and I asked 2 he then began speaking into his recorder regarding our conversation and things in my file and when he was finished we both went to the schedule an appointement for my surgery. Johanna who is the surgical coordinator was really nice and we laughed and talked so much about the upcoming events that as I was about to leave I realized she had not told me the date so when I asked her what my date was she was like oh my god we were talking so much I thought I told you the date but we had a really good laugh at that.
I then had to go to the front desk to pay my co payment and take a small pre op exam I was told that I would be called later with the results. Johanna also told me that I had to call and schedule my pre op blood work and EKG because she didn't see any appointments open on her screen. She told me I could start calling for one on monday but, of course you know my big butt couldn't wait so when I got home I called and I was given a date of March, 16th to do the pre admission testing. While I was on my house phone with the pre admission office Christina the Nutritiionist called me on my cell with my test results from the pre op quiz I took before I left the office.
The only questions she brought up were the cup size of food that we are allowed to eat post op I got that wrong by a few ounces and the second question was how many weeks is the first visit to the surgeon scheduled after the procedure. I put 3-4 weeks but I was told by Christina that they overlooked this question as being wrong because they don't tell patients that the first visit is a week after the procedure to check the band and port stitches. She stated they don't tell patients this until after the procedure when they are being released from the hospital .... UMMM call me crazy but, why not tell patients this before hand or remove that question from the exam maybe it's me. So basically I got 1 question wrong and in her words everything else was perfect.
I start my liquid diet on Monday 3/12/07 This is going to be one of the hardest months of my life. I have been praying on it and now it's 4 days away but, I trust that I will make it through ok. I didn't think that I would have a date so soon so I didn't purchase the protein for my shakes, Jello or the broth etc... so between Friday and Sunday I will be a shopping fool. Luckily I went out to dinner last night and tomorrow night my mom is having a seafood / fish fry for me and my girls which I opted to do friday night instead of tonight. It didn't make sense on a thursday night when we all have to get up and go to work tomorrow. Saturday my cousin and my friends had planned to take me out for my birthday to some secret location I have been trying all week to find out and I am not sure what I have planned for sunday but which ever way it goes this weekend will include my last couple of solid meals at least for a while.
Pray for me with this liquid thing I know I am going to be evil as hell lol especially without my pepsi. May God have mercy on my loved ones lol. Until next time..
Stay Blessed.
He asked if I had any further questions and I asked 2 he then began speaking into his recorder regarding our conversation and things in my file and when he was finished we both went to the schedule an appointement for my surgery. Johanna who is the surgical coordinator was really nice and we laughed and talked so much about the upcoming events that as I was about to leave I realized she had not told me the date so when I asked her what my date was she was like oh my god we were talking so much I thought I told you the date but we had a really good laugh at that.
I then had to go to the front desk to pay my co payment and take a small pre op exam I was told that I would be called later with the results. Johanna also told me that I had to call and schedule my pre op blood work and EKG because she didn't see any appointments open on her screen. She told me I could start calling for one on monday but, of course you know my big butt couldn't wait so when I got home I called and I was given a date of March, 16th to do the pre admission testing. While I was on my house phone with the pre admission office Christina the Nutritiionist called me on my cell with my test results from the pre op quiz I took before I left the office.
The only questions she brought up were the cup size of food that we are allowed to eat post op I got that wrong by a few ounces and the second question was how many weeks is the first visit to the surgeon scheduled after the procedure. I put 3-4 weeks but I was told by Christina that they overlooked this question as being wrong because they don't tell patients that the first visit is a week after the procedure to check the band and port stitches. She stated they don't tell patients this until after the procedure when they are being released from the hospital .... UMMM call me crazy but, why not tell patients this before hand or remove that question from the exam maybe it's me. So basically I got 1 question wrong and in her words everything else was perfect.
I start my liquid diet on Monday 3/12/07 This is going to be one of the hardest months of my life. I have been praying on it and now it's 4 days away but, I trust that I will make it through ok. I didn't think that I would have a date so soon so I didn't purchase the protein for my shakes, Jello or the broth etc... so between Friday and Sunday I will be a shopping fool. Luckily I went out to dinner last night and tomorrow night my mom is having a seafood / fish fry for me and my girls which I opted to do friday night instead of tonight. It didn't make sense on a thursday night when we all have to get up and go to work tomorrow. Saturday my cousin and my friends had planned to take me out for my birthday to some secret location I have been trying all week to find out and I am not sure what I have planned for sunday but which ever way it goes this weekend will include my last couple of solid meals at least for a while.
Pray for me with this liquid thing I know I am going to be evil as hell lol especially without my pepsi. May God have mercy on my loved ones lol. Until next time..
Stay Blessed.
~ 3-3-07 ~
Mar 03, 2007
Well........ They got me lol it took them 3 1/2 weeks to figure it out but the surgeon's office called me on Monday to tell me that they did not receive payment for my last visit. So basically I told them I come on the 9th to see the surgeon I will make the payment. I also explained to the staff that I didn't see the nurse like I should have on my last visit so I will pay when I come which they said was fine.
Then On Wednesday I get another call from the surgeon's office and I started getting nervous because the message they left on my cell began with the message being related to my appointment on the 9th. I listened further as they explained that my surgeon will not be in town on that day and would instead like to see me the day before. On one hand I was like thank God he didn't cancel and reschedule for the follwing weeks or the following month and on the other hand I was like damn I already put in for a day off for the visit on the 9th.
Luckily I was able to switch the day to the 8th without any problems because they do the schedule monthly at my job and they had not finalized or posted the schedule for March yet. Now I have to be at the doctor on my birthday lol. Oh well I guess it's a whole lot better than having to wait a month like my cousin who got pushed from last month to the 20th of this month to find out her surgery date so I feel blessed.
This whole process went by so fast I just keep praying that nothing will hinder me from reaching my goal. I know some people didn't have such an easy process and when I read about their setbacks it worried me in the beginning. I began to wonder if I even wanted to go through all of this just to lose weight but, I am thankful that I have not had to experience any disappointments as of yet that is aside from parting with my money for out of pocket costs but If it means a healthier me than it is more than worth it in my book.
Right now I am still overly excited I didn't think that I would be I thought that at this point I would be a nervous wreck and on pins & needles waiting to see what day I would have to undergo such a serious step and follow through with one of the biggest decisions I've made in my life. But I know I still have to wait for at least 1 more exam and for insurance approval which I have read can be hell on wheels for some people but, I am not anticipating anything bad happening.
I trust my surgeon and his word and from what he has told me my insurance is one of the two that responds the fastest and he never has problems with approval from so that was good to hear and hopefully it will hold true in my case as well. Until next time everyone stay blessed and never give up even when you feel like you want to. God will see us all through this chapter in our lives.
Then On Wednesday I get another call from the surgeon's office and I started getting nervous because the message they left on my cell began with the message being related to my appointment on the 9th. I listened further as they explained that my surgeon will not be in town on that day and would instead like to see me the day before. On one hand I was like thank God he didn't cancel and reschedule for the follwing weeks or the following month and on the other hand I was like damn I already put in for a day off for the visit on the 9th.
Luckily I was able to switch the day to the 8th without any problems because they do the schedule monthly at my job and they had not finalized or posted the schedule for March yet. Now I have to be at the doctor on my birthday lol. Oh well I guess it's a whole lot better than having to wait a month like my cousin who got pushed from last month to the 20th of this month to find out her surgery date so I feel blessed.
This whole process went by so fast I just keep praying that nothing will hinder me from reaching my goal. I know some people didn't have such an easy process and when I read about their setbacks it worried me in the beginning. I began to wonder if I even wanted to go through all of this just to lose weight but, I am thankful that I have not had to experience any disappointments as of yet that is aside from parting with my money for out of pocket costs but If it means a healthier me than it is more than worth it in my book.
Right now I am still overly excited I didn't think that I would be I thought that at this point I would be a nervous wreck and on pins & needles waiting to see what day I would have to undergo such a serious step and follow through with one of the biggest decisions I've made in my life. But I know I still have to wait for at least 1 more exam and for insurance approval which I have read can be hell on wheels for some people but, I am not anticipating anything bad happening.
I trust my surgeon and his word and from what he has told me my insurance is one of the two that responds the fastest and he never has problems with approval from so that was good to hear and hopefully it will hold true in my case as well. Until next time everyone stay blessed and never give up even when you feel like you want to. God will see us all through this chapter in our lives.
~2-18-07~
Feb 18, 2007
Well I should be shot because I have not been keeping up with my updates between being lazy and recovering from a slip and fall I it's been over a month since my last update but here goes.
2/8/07 I had an appointement with the nutritionist and I was also supposed to do my pre-op bloodwork or whatever with the nurse in the same visit so because I was limping and had to take 3 buses to get from Brooklyn to Manhattan {for those of you that don't live in NYC it would have been a 45 min ride from my house to the hospital on the train} but since my leg was messed up it was easier for me to take the bus which ended up making my trip a little over 2 hrs which sucked.
Well long story short my appointment was scheduled for 3:30 and I arrived minutes to 4 after calling at 3pm to inform them I was running late when I got there I had a shit load of forms to fill out but since I arrived late they took me right away. I sat with the nutritionist for about 30 minutes and she asked me a bunch of questions regarding my medical history and eating habits then we reviewed the booklet that she gave me about the foods I am expected to eat and when. They were things I already knew but it didn't hurt to review. After I went back to the waiting area and filled out the remaining forms I was also told that the nurse had left for the day but that I would be able to call the next morning to make an appointment to see the surgeon and that I would be scheduled to see the nurse the same day. Only plus to that was that they never asked me for the $325 payment.... Shhhhhhh ! I won't tell if you won't lol.
Needless to say I called at 9am the next morning very anxious to get my appointment with the surgeon I also had to have my pcp fax over my blood test results and I had to email them a before picture of myself and .... TAA DAH !!!! My appointment is March 9th the day after my birthday. My first thought ironically was thank God I get to have my last dinner for my birthday lol I now hear that a lot of people say that and what's funny is that the psychologist confirmed it he said they even have a syndrome known as the last supper syndrome I was too through folks come up with anything these days.
Anyhow I feel like a child on Christmas Eve and I simply can not wait until the 9th I will know then for sure when this is really going down. I know for sure I will have to take one more test between now and then which is the cardio pulmonary because I have asthma but all of the other tests that I was expected to get are over as well as all of the paperwork that was to be submitted. The waiting game now begins.
As suggested I started sampling the different flavors of protien shakes and so far the only one I ruled out is the Strawberry Sorbet from Unjury that was a hot mess. The Chicken Broth from Unjury wasn't bad I would be able to live with that every other day. I tried a few flavors from GNC and the next two I am going to try are the Ensure & Carnation Instant Breakfast. and this week I plan to pick up the viactiv multivitamins to supplement the multivitamins I already take.
Well that is about all for now my next update probably won't be until the 9th when I get my official surgery date unless something pops up between now and then. If anyone has any comments or suggestions please feel free to holla at a sister. Until then everyone stay blessed.
2/8/07 I had an appointement with the nutritionist and I was also supposed to do my pre-op bloodwork or whatever with the nurse in the same visit so because I was limping and had to take 3 buses to get from Brooklyn to Manhattan {for those of you that don't live in NYC it would have been a 45 min ride from my house to the hospital on the train} but since my leg was messed up it was easier for me to take the bus which ended up making my trip a little over 2 hrs which sucked.
Well long story short my appointment was scheduled for 3:30 and I arrived minutes to 4 after calling at 3pm to inform them I was running late when I got there I had a shit load of forms to fill out but since I arrived late they took me right away. I sat with the nutritionist for about 30 minutes and she asked me a bunch of questions regarding my medical history and eating habits then we reviewed the booklet that she gave me about the foods I am expected to eat and when. They were things I already knew but it didn't hurt to review. After I went back to the waiting area and filled out the remaining forms I was also told that the nurse had left for the day but that I would be able to call the next morning to make an appointment to see the surgeon and that I would be scheduled to see the nurse the same day. Only plus to that was that they never asked me for the $325 payment.... Shhhhhhh ! I won't tell if you won't lol.
Needless to say I called at 9am the next morning very anxious to get my appointment with the surgeon I also had to have my pcp fax over my blood test results and I had to email them a before picture of myself and .... TAA DAH !!!! My appointment is March 9th the day after my birthday. My first thought ironically was thank God I get to have my last dinner for my birthday lol I now hear that a lot of people say that and what's funny is that the psychologist confirmed it he said they even have a syndrome known as the last supper syndrome I was too through folks come up with anything these days.
Anyhow I feel like a child on Christmas Eve and I simply can not wait until the 9th I will know then for sure when this is really going down. I know for sure I will have to take one more test between now and then which is the cardio pulmonary because I have asthma but all of the other tests that I was expected to get are over as well as all of the paperwork that was to be submitted. The waiting game now begins.
As suggested I started sampling the different flavors of protien shakes and so far the only one I ruled out is the Strawberry Sorbet from Unjury that was a hot mess. The Chicken Broth from Unjury wasn't bad I would be able to live with that every other day. I tried a few flavors from GNC and the next two I am going to try are the Ensure & Carnation Instant Breakfast. and this week I plan to pick up the viactiv multivitamins to supplement the multivitamins I already take.
Well that is about all for now my next update probably won't be until the 9th when I get my official surgery date unless something pops up between now and then. If anyone has any comments or suggestions please feel free to holla at a sister. Until then everyone stay blessed.
~1-16-07~
Jan 18, 2007
Well Today I had my appointment with the psychologist and YEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH I'm $275 lighter in the pocket but happy because I was cleared from him to move on to the next step which is seeing the nutritionist and to complete my bloodwork with the nurse the same day. I have both appointments scheduled for 2/8/07 and I will have to spend $325 out of pocket beacause it isn't covered by Blue Cross. I tried my best to get something earlier which at the time they didn't have anything sooner but the receptionist told me to call her back every couple of days to see if there were any cancellations.
My visit with him was very pleasant he was very nice and we talked like old friends I guess that is a psychologist job to get in your head lol anyway we spoke of my expectations after surgery and from the forms that I had to fill out he was given an idea of my eating habits and he basically told me that all he sees is that I have is a pepsi addiction which has to stop which I never lie about and actually put down on his form and I have a portion control issue which I won't have an option about once I have the procedure.
He informed me that he felt that I was a good candidate for the surgery and in his words he said he would do or say nothing that would stand in the way of me having the procedure. He then began to explain the procedure and how it will work even though I had already known the things he spoke of it did feel good to know that the surgeon that I chose, his staff and the team of assisting physicians and nutritionists he works with all work as a team and are all about health first and not out to make an easy buck or put a patients life on the line for a dollar. The psychologist stated that he figured I would more than likely be having my surgery mid to late february and by June {which is a very important month for the love of my life} I will have lost at least 50lbs he said I would probably lose the first 20 to 30lbs off the liquid diet alone which I had already anticipated.
I left feeling really positive about the next step and I could hardly wait to call the nutritionist and set up my appointment I stopped in Grand Central Station before I hopped on the train going home and made the call . After I was given my appointment I was estatic. Hopefully I won't run into any of the road blocks that I hear some people have to face but if I do I will be fine God didn't bring me this far to leave me and I put all my trust in him. Until next time people I will keep you all posted.
~1-11-07~
Jan 13, 2007
Today was my first appointment with my new PCP my new insurance with Blue Cross kicked in as of the 1st and i am happy about that especially since the surgeon i chose stated that my insurance was one of the companies that gives the fastest approvals to his office as well as one of the companies that don't require the 6 month weigh-in list that some companies require. I called my insurance company to verify if this was needed and I was told they don't require that neither do they require an insurance referral which is great.
I am not too sure if I like my PCP but this was my first visit and we only met briefly because as I was told during the visit I was an overbook appointment which basically means they just tried to squeeze me in between 2 other appointments. That I didn't care for too much but had I known this previous to my appointment I would have opted for a different appointment especially since I took a day off from work only to feel rushed. I did however see that she had a lot of paitients including 10 month old Twins that were the appointment directly after mines. The doctor did however write a letter suggesting that she recommends weight loss surgery but, {Now here's the catch} she did not want to give it to me today because she wants to wait for the results from the other test i have to take as well as her wanting to see me for a full Physical within the next 2 weeks.
Now I can understand from a legal point of view a doctor would not want to recommend such a procedure without knowing if i am healthy enough for it because if something goes wrong they don't want to be liable. On the other hand she isn't administering the tests and she isn't the one who has to preform the proceedure so what would she be liable for exactly since she is just giving me a general physical {height, weight, bp, etc..} Aside from that I have my psych appointment scheduled for 1-16-07 and my nutrition appointment after that. You know of course I will keep you all posted on my progress.
~12-19-06~
Jan 13, 2007
Hello all I'm back for another update. Well for starters I did attend both consultations the first being Dr. Teixeria and the second Dr. Fielding. Let's start with Dr. Teixeria upon arrival i met with some really great people who were in hopes of having surgery themselves it was really relaxing to conduct conversations with individuals that immediately understood the things I spoke of because they themselves had experienced those things.
As far as the Staff we were given the orientation by another doctor who assist the surgeon and handles other aspects of the pre-op process. She was very knowledgeable and personable. After she spoke the Surgeon himself came in for a little bit before being called away he did however answer everyones questions. Then came the Nutritionist she was a bit of a control freak for lack of a better term. She gave great information as far as what is expected of us before and after surgery but she did not have any patience or show any indication of posessing any during future visits. She was very stern which is what a lot of people need but she just appeared to be a take my way or the highway type of person without any additional alternatives or suggestions. To say the least that aspect of her personality I didn't care for.
The meeting with Dr. Fielding was the extreme opposite. When I arrived I expected way less people but the auditorium was packed there were people standing and sitting against the wall in the back and all. After nicely asking some of the surgeons staff who were in the hallway to find a chair for me I was able to find a spot way in back where I would be comfortable for the next 2 hours. The orientation was given by Dr. Fielding himself which I was excited about. I had originally thought I would have to wait until after the bulk of all of my testing was complete before I had a chance to meet with him. Needless to say I was impressed not only because the doctor was informed on the surgical end of the procedure but because he himself has had the procedure and can relate to his patients concerns, questions and fears from a patients point of view. About halfway through the evening while former patients were speaking of their experiences I began crying and I knew at that moment that Dr. Fielding was the surgeon for me.
~12-11-06~
Jan 13, 2007
Ok people so i have been out of commission for a few days battling this darn flu. Thankfully i am feeling much better i lost my voice and everything. Anyhow it gave me a little extra time to do some more research on the surgeon i would like to have my surgery done with. I have narrowed it down to 2 surgeons although i am leaning towards one of them much more.
First there is Dr.Julio Teixeira MD. who works out of St. Luke's Hospital and the one I am really anxious to meet with is Dr. George Fielding who was one of the pioneers of the surgery in the states and works out of NYU. Dr. Fielding has also preformed the surgery for Mohammed Ali's daughter as well as battled with his own weight and had the surgery himself. He has preformed over 5,000 weight loss surgeries and he has various other positive credits that impressed me as well. Personally i think he is the one i will ultimately choose.
I am scheduled to attend orientation for Dr. Teixeira's team 12/14/06 and i also have a one on one consultation with him 12/22/06. I am also scheduled to attend an orientation with Dr. Fielding's surgical staff 12/19/06 so i will be busy for the next couple of days gathering more information and making a final decision as to who will preform my surgery. I will keep you posted.
~12-4-06~
Hello all I just wanted to formally introduce myself My name is Alicia and i am 32 yrs old i have no children yet and i am in a committed relationship with a wonderful person. I have been overweight the majority of my life i was alway the thickest and tallest friend in the bunch and i began gaining significant weight during college. Stress along with poor eating habits contributed throughout the years along with subjecting myself to various yo-yo methods of weight loss.
I've Tried the pills, the exercise tapes, the weight loss centers, the teas, the shakes, diet pills, the grapefruit diet, low carbs, no carbs, the patches you name it i more than likely had my moment with it. Obviously nothing worked long term or i would not be at the point in my life where i am making this big decision. About 4 yrs ago was a critical time for me i was at my worse emotionally when i discovered i was significantly above 300lbs during a routine GYN visit and shortly after the internal disappointement began. I started to lose confidence in myself and my struggle with weight. I tried once again to lose weight on my own I joined a very popular gym which was my second attempt at that and i felt uncomfortable because 99% of the individuals that surrounded me when i went to work out were slim so of course although i knew i was there for a purpose I felt out of place so, the work out thing was short lived and once again i was at a stand still on my weight loss journey. In 2004 I was given the link to this site by my manager who's sister along with 2 of my co workers who had already had gastric bypass surgery. They gave me information first hand about their experiences and gave me the courage to research the procedure even further. Fortunately I let my fear prolong my decision to have surgery at that time which gave me time to research further and to find out about the Lab Band procedure which i have now decided to have. I am at the point now where i am looking at weight loss surgery as my LIFE OR DEATH crossroad. This is my personal fork in the road and I have decided to do something about it and God willing i will have made the right decision in the end. At this point i am deciding on a doctor to have the procedure done with. I have a few in mind that i am researching and I have an appointment with one of them December 14th. I will keep you all posted on who i choose.
About Me
Brooklyn, NY
Location
42.1
BMI
Surgery
04/02/2007
Surgery Date
Surgeon
Nov 18, 2006
Member Since
