Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Maggie, If you don't get the answers to your many questions in your post, you might consider sending out individual posts with only one or two questions in them. Sometimes I am just overwhelmed at a lot of questions in a single post and fail to respond to the ones I can answer.\ Welcome to the list. ----- Original Message ----- > Hi everyone. I have posted here a couple times, but never introduced > myself. Anyhow, my name is Maggie and I am 5'5 " and about 255#. I have > a BMI of 43 with the standard height/weight calculator, but have found > a calculator that uses strictly measurements, not weight, and got a 57 > on that one. Ouch! I guess if you carry more weight in the abdominal > area it gives a higher BMI. I am seriously considering the lap BPD/DS > and am looking at a five hour drive (each way) to have it done. I > chose the DS for a variety of reasons, no tiny pouch, hope of a > somewhat normal life after losing the weight (purtaining to food), > keeping as many natural parts as possible, low accurance of regain > (malabsorption), and the lap procedure for the quicker recovery and > smaller scars. I do have some questions on the lap procedure > pertaining to recovery rate. I do have a few questions. For those who > traveled a distance for your surgery, how was the ride home? How long > were you in the hospital? Were you allowed to go home or did you have > to stay close to the hospital for a while? Another thing, I have seen > people talk about having " drains " , is this just for RNY's, open > procedures, DS's..., all of the above? Any info that is specific to > the lap procedure. I do know the lap is a more difficult surgery and > takes longer on the table, and that the recovery rate is faster. I am > in pretty good health, low BP, cholesterol is high, 232, but overall > I do pretty good for my size. Oh yeah, I am 36. Young enough that age > isn't a big factor. I heal quick and have had several other surgeries. > Nothing in the abdominal area though. Fractured skull, knee > reconstructions... stuff like that. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Maggie, If you don't get the answers to your many questions in your post, you might consider sending out individual posts with only one or two questions in them. Sometimes I am just overwhelmed at a lot of questions in a single post and fail to respond to the ones I can answer.\ Welcome to the list. ----- Original Message ----- > Hi everyone. I have posted here a couple times, but never introduced > myself. Anyhow, my name is Maggie and I am 5'5 " and about 255#. I have > a BMI of 43 with the standard height/weight calculator, but have found > a calculator that uses strictly measurements, not weight, and got a 57 > on that one. Ouch! I guess if you carry more weight in the abdominal > area it gives a higher BMI. I am seriously considering the lap BPD/DS > and am looking at a five hour drive (each way) to have it done. I > chose the DS for a variety of reasons, no tiny pouch, hope of a > somewhat normal life after losing the weight (purtaining to food), > keeping as many natural parts as possible, low accurance of regain > (malabsorption), and the lap procedure for the quicker recovery and > smaller scars. I do have some questions on the lap procedure > pertaining to recovery rate. I do have a few questions. For those who > traveled a distance for your surgery, how was the ride home? How long > were you in the hospital? Were you allowed to go home or did you have > to stay close to the hospital for a while? Another thing, I have seen > people talk about having " drains " , is this just for RNY's, open > procedures, DS's..., all of the above? Any info that is specific to > the lap procedure. I do know the lap is a more difficult surgery and > takes longer on the table, and that the recovery rate is faster. I am > in pretty good health, low BP, cholesterol is high, 232, but overall > I do pretty good for my size. Oh yeah, I am 36. Young enough that age > isn't a big factor. I heal quick and have had several other surgeries. > Nothing in the abdominal area though. Fractured skull, knee > reconstructions... stuff like that. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Maggie, depending on the surgeon, laproscopy does not necessarily mean a longer time on the table. My surgery (done by Drs. Jossart and Rabkin) took 2 hours and 15 minutes. I don't know that you could do a DS is significantly less time even if it was open. With respect to recovery time, my surgery was at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday, and I went home on Wednesday morning, about a 45 minute drive for me. I do not think I would have wanted to do a 5 hour drive at that point (unless, perhaps, I was in the back seat of a BMW 750 IL). Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Hi Maggie... I had an Open DS a year ago.. I traveled 5 hours by car. Because I traveled, my doc kept me in the hospital a couple more days for a total of 8. I went straight home after that. It was a long ride by very do-able. I would suggest some type of protein bars (Met-Rx protein plus) for food. You wont be able to eat much else on the road. If you go to a restaurant, it's wasted $$, as you'll only be able to eat a couple bites. Water & protein bars are my suggestion.. Good luck to you! heidi Home Page: http://www.myWLS.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Hi Maggie... I had an Open DS a year ago.. I traveled 5 hours by car. Because I traveled, my doc kept me in the hospital a couple more days for a total of 8. I went straight home after that. It was a long ride by very do-able. I would suggest some type of protein bars (Met-Rx protein plus) for food. You wont be able to eat much else on the road. If you go to a restaurant, it's wasted $$, as you'll only be able to eat a couple bites. Water & protein bars are my suggestion.. Good luck to you! heidi Home Page: http://www.myWLS.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Kate, Drs. Jossart and Rabkin means you had the surgery in San Francisco. I am about five hours from there myself. I am in Bakersfield. I am glad to hear that they DS laproscopy. I am leaning toward that. I am going to a seminar on Wednesday from Alvarado they are putting on here on Wednesday the 3rd. Next Monday is a support group meeting that meets once a month here. Probably RNY Group. Alvarado does the RNY. I am going for the experience. On Tuesday I am going to Delano. There is a doctor there that does the DS. I am going to listen to what he has to say as well. Then on the 19th I have an appointment with my PCP, (Moved it up from March). He doesn't yet know my decision to have a DS. He will learn on the 19th. He does not approve of any WLS. The surgeon in Delano is 30 minutes from home, but has only done about 60 DS surgeries. At least that is my understanding. I know they do it at UCLA as well. But they do the open. If it can be done laproscopilly I would rather do that in San Francisco. Re: Indroducing myself > Maggie, depending on the surgeon, laproscopy does not necessarily > mean a longer time on the table. My surgery (done by Drs. Jossart > and Rabkin) took 2 hours and 15 minutes. I don't know that you could > do a DS is significantly less time even if it was open. With respect > to recovery time, my surgery was at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday, and I went > home on Wednesday morning, about a 45 minute drive for me. I do not > think I would have wanted to do a 5 hour drive at that point (unless, > perhaps, I was in the back seat of a BMW 750 IL). > > Kate > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Kate, Drs. Jossart and Rabkin means you had the surgery in San Francisco. I am about five hours from there myself. I am in Bakersfield. I am glad to hear that they DS laproscopy. I am leaning toward that. I am going to a seminar on Wednesday from Alvarado they are putting on here on Wednesday the 3rd. Next Monday is a support group meeting that meets once a month here. Probably RNY Group. Alvarado does the RNY. I am going for the experience. On Tuesday I am going to Delano. There is a doctor there that does the DS. I am going to listen to what he has to say as well. Then on the 19th I have an appointment with my PCP, (Moved it up from March). He doesn't yet know my decision to have a DS. He will learn on the 19th. He does not approve of any WLS. The surgeon in Delano is 30 minutes from home, but has only done about 60 DS surgeries. At least that is my understanding. I know they do it at UCLA as well. But they do the open. If it can be done laproscopilly I would rather do that in San Francisco. Re: Indroducing myself > Maggie, depending on the surgeon, laproscopy does not necessarily > mean a longer time on the table. My surgery (done by Drs. Jossart > and Rabkin) took 2 hours and 15 minutes. I don't know that you could > do a DS is significantly less time even if it was open. With respect > to recovery time, my surgery was at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday, and I went > home on Wednesday morning, about a 45 minute drive for me. I do not > think I would have wanted to do a 5 hour drive at that point (unless, > perhaps, I was in the back seat of a BMW 750 IL). > > Kate > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2001 Report Share Posted January 1, 2001 Kate, Drs. Jossart and Rabkin means you had the surgery in San Francisco. I am about five hours from there myself. I am in Bakersfield. I am glad to hear that they DS laproscopy. I am leaning toward that. I am going to a seminar on Wednesday from Alvarado they are putting on here on Wednesday the 3rd. Next Monday is a support group meeting that meets once a month here. Probably RNY Group. Alvarado does the RNY. I am going for the experience. On Tuesday I am going to Delano. There is a doctor there that does the DS. I am going to listen to what he has to say as well. Then on the 19th I have an appointment with my PCP, (Moved it up from March). He doesn't yet know my decision to have a DS. He will learn on the 19th. He does not approve of any WLS. The surgeon in Delano is 30 minutes from home, but has only done about 60 DS surgeries. At least that is my understanding. I know they do it at UCLA as well. But they do the open. If it can be done laproscopilly I would rather do that in San Francisco. Re: Indroducing myself > Maggie, depending on the surgeon, laproscopy does not necessarily > mean a longer time on the table. My surgery (done by Drs. Jossart > and Rabkin) took 2 hours and 15 minutes. I don't know that you could > do a DS is significantly less time even if it was open. With respect > to recovery time, my surgery was at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday, and I went > home on Wednesday morning, about a 45 minute drive for me. I do not > think I would have wanted to do a 5 hour drive at that point (unless, > perhaps, I was in the back seat of a BMW 750 IL). > > Kate > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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