Two-year Report

[Guest guest]

Hi, Everyone:

November 29 was my two-year anniversary. I didn't fill out the recent

" satisfaction " questionnaire, but I am highly satisfied.

I've " bounced " a little in the past four months, but I am at a pretty solid

100 lbs. lost, going from a size 22/24 to a size 12/14. I'm just very happy

with that.

BMI was nearly 41 - now it is 24.

But, most importantly, I feel great. I will have to do something eventually

about my severely arthritic left shoulder, but can live with it for now.

The pain is less than it would be if I still had such heavy arms. The

increased flexibility - and the new body as reflected in store windows -

it's all great!

My BP medicine has been cut in half - to a minimum dose, and now no chance

of diabetes, which runs in the family. I can share my recliner chair with

two grandchildren at once now. I go up and down stairs one foot on the

step at a time. Before the surgery, (by Dr. K), even going DOWNSTAIRS, I

had to bring one foot even with the other one on the same stair tread before

going ahead.

The side effects, such as gas, etc. issues - yes I do have them, but mostly

confined to the mornings. I luckily have outside my kitchen door, in the

utility room, a separate half-bath, which comes in handy for me when I have

a houseful of company (which is often).

I can eat anything now, but had to gradually work milk, bread, beef and

oranges back into my diet, because I had aversions after surgery, to all of

them.

I've had to mount an extra, brighter, reading lamp above my chair - but that

may be age, rather than GRDS effects on my vision.

I've been lucky in that I don't anticipate needing any plastic surgery (or

maybe, just not vain enough). I AM contemplating a neck lift (is that a

procedure?).

I should by rights be going to Delano for my two-year checkup. But, like

Marla, of WA State says, it is incredibly complicated (and expensive) to

make the trip. I send in my labs religiously, but last time I was there, I

spent on airfare, a rental car, and a hotel, to spend 7-8 minutes with Dr.

K, who never really even looked at my incision site. I'm questioning, since

I keep him up to date by e-mail of any medical or prescription changes, if

it is necessary to make the trip. I'm traveling from Washington DC. I have

a G/I doc, a urologist, a podiatrist, an orthopedist, and a great dentist

involved in my care here - which I myself coordinate very carefully. My

eldest daughter is a Family Medicine physician, and lives in Baltimore.

Any thoughts on the need to travel to Delano?

And yes, Happy GRDSday to me!

Sonja Sweek

GRDS November 29, 2006

Washington DC

[Guest guest]

>

> Any thoughts on the need to travel to Delano?

>

>

>

> And yes, Happy GRDSday to me!

Sonja

Happy GRDS!!!! You have done fantastically!

" MY " opinion on the need to come to Delano yearly was stated in a

post to Marla. Basically as long as you are following up with a

Primary and doing your labs, the trip to Delano isn't necessary.

From the beginning I don't thing Dr. K expected to Manage our care

beyond the first 18 months unless your primary doctor needed to

consult with him. But then there become a need as many PCP's either

didn't WANT to deal with it or refused to " understand " . So it became

easier to just look you over hisself.

Hugs

Jo