Dr. Anthone @usc

[Guest guest]

Hey ! I saw Dr. Anthone for the first time Monday, 4/9, too. 1:30 PM in

fact. Yes, I to am having a lot of fear and anxiety, but I made and

intellectual search for the best surgery, given what I know about medical stuff

(which is a fair amount for a non-medical person) and I know this proceedure,

and this doctor are probably the best choices for good results and lifestyle

after. Plus the program is a team approach ( read that heap of stuff they sent

you in the pinkish folder). Read the article included in the folder from the

Bariatric surgery association that describes all the surgeries available. Other

than a simple gastric band with no cutting of anything, the DS surgery looks

like the best choice to me. I am doing a second re-think-- maybe the band

proceedure would be a good " first step " to see if I can loose the weight and

keep it off-- but I know my eating behaviors are a problem, and not likely to be

magically removed by surgery. The switch will ensure that!

any outbreaks of over-eating or stupid eating don't have disasterous effects

before I get control again.

Intellectual work aside, I also have a rip-snorting collection of emotional

responses to the whole idea of being cut open and re-arranged. I can't let

these emotional tides wash out the intellectual knowledge and decision I have

pretty much made. Feel the fear, and do it anyway, if you are satisified on an

intellectual level the choice is a good one.

I too have concerns about the long term nutritional difficencies, but I am also

sure they can be mannaged by good eating and good supplements-- that's what the

committment to continued follow up care is all about. Ant hat is why you keep

reading about ADEKs on the list-- these are the fat soluable vitamins that we

need in water souluble form to maintain our health. Then there is the calcium

and iron issue, allong with the B's and Protien issues-- all nutrients that can

be obtained in other ways than eating-- so long as we are looking after our

health with regular blood work. I don't know about you, but I get regular check

ups and take vitamins anyway-- this only makes the insurance issue a long term

one!

Hang in there -- read the materials we got and have someone you trust

read them too, then talk about all of it. This is only one way to save your

life, but it is one of the better ones.

Nan Earnheart

BMI 70, 5'2 " , 386 lbs, Dr. Anthone recomends panniulotomy first to

improve chances of good recovery from the major surgery. ( sigh- I really wasn't

looking a 2 surgeries this year.)