New to this group

[Guest guest]

:

Welcome to the list. My wife and I have both had the DS. We had ours in

Portland with Dr. Welker who is currently on sabbatical. My BMI was

48 as was Joy's. She was the same height as you and 5 pounds heavier. Drs.

Rabkin and Jossart are fine surgeons and you will find lots of members here

on the list who have used them and given them very high marks. It's great

that your insurance looks like it will work out as that is one of the

biggest stumbling blocks encountered by those of us seeking the DS.

There is a wealth of knowledge here on the list. I'm sure you have lots of

questions so feel free to ask anything. And I mean anything. Someone will

have an answer. We're glad to have you here. Everyone has a different

experience and your sharing will help us just as we hopefully can help you.

Again, welcome.

Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fart

San , TX, 60 years old

Surgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker

Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch

340 starting weight, currently 240

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

New to this group

> Hi my name is . I am 36 y/o, 5'2 " & 250#. My BMI is 47. I have

> been looking into this surgery for a long time. I have Blue Cross of

> CA PPO and just found out today that the doctors I want to have do my

> surgery are finally contracted with this insurance! I want to have my

> surgery done by Dr. Rabkin and Dr. Jossart at the California Pacific

> Medical Center in San Francisco.

>

> Anyone out there had their surgery at this facility with these docs?

>

> I look forward to being part of this group.

>

> Thank you!

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Joe! I enjoyed reading all the posts last night. Your words of

encouragement were wonderful! I will be back daily and post regularly about my

progress and any questions I think of. I appreciate being welcomed to the group!

Take care!

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

Welcome to the group. Based on my experience you will find it to be very

helpful. My, wife, Terry, is on a similar path as Tom but not quite as far

along even though she was Dxed with PD in 1995. Terry does not have, as

yet any incontinence. However, she does have mild constipation

problems. Miralax, a prescription item, has proven to be very helpful and

very palatable. I believe others on the group have also had similar

experience with it.

Being a part of this group will help cope with the aloneness and isolation

one experiences as a care giver for a loved one with MSA.

Message: 2

Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 13:10:53 EDT

From: sandybierman@...

Subject: New to this group

My name is Sandy Bierman and I've been reading all your emails for a few

months and my heart goes out to all of you. I'm a caregiver for my husband

Tom. He was dxed with Parkinson's in March '99 as he was about to retire at

62. He did not exhibit tremor and after a year on Sinemet without it

helping, I took him to Stanford Hospital's Motion Disorder Clinic. They then

dxed MSA and added an agonist which he took 6 months with no change. We

treat symptom/problems as they crop up (he doesn't have any OH symptoms or

problems w/BP). Looking back I can see that the classic symptoms started

long before the PD dx. (Sleep disturbance, sleep apnea, urinary problems,

severe constipation, impotence, small & scratchy handwriting, imbalance,

etc.). In Sept. of 2000 he was able to take a trip to Ohio to see relatives

(even handled an 8 hr. layover in Chicago using a walker). Now he sleeps

most day and night, can no longer walk from room to room in the house. He

has some dementia, especially when he first wakes, some

Sennewald Charlottesville, Virginia