Re: CAN ALL OF YOU HELP ME

July 31, 2001

Answers:

> 1) HOW IS DR. POMP?

Can't answer this had Gagner.

> 2) HOW IS MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL?

I had surgery July 3rd at Mt Sanai. The nurses were rude and not in

the least bit helpful. The nurses aides are overworked and as a

result have very little time to assist you. Your best best is to hire

a companion. The companion will provide the care you need and the

support you need. A companion seems like a luxury until you try to

wash yourself the first time or until you lie in bed for 4 hours just

wishing that someone would get you a glass of water.

A companion is $135 for a 12 hour shift but you can get one for as

little as 4 hours a day.

To set one up you can call . You should call them prior to

arriving to clarify their policy and billing. You have to set one up

the day of the surgery the admitting nurse can help you and then after

that you have to set one up every day after that. Once you have the

companion they can help you set one up on the following days. I know

that for the first few days I did not even feel like dialing the

phone.

> 3) IS THE LAP SURGERY JUST AS EFFECTIVE LAPRASCOPICALLY AS IT IS

OPEN?

My understanding and the stats I have seen thus far indicate that the

efficacy rate is pretty much the same. What is different is rate of

recovery. Patients tend to recover faster with Lap surgery than with

open.

>

> MY OTHER FEAR IS THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME MY WEIGHT IS 360 LBS AND

MY

> BMI IS 50- I DO NOT EAT ALOT AT THE PRESENT TIME BUT I STILL DO NOT

> LOSE ANY WEIGHT- I MAYBE EAT ONCE AT NIGHT I HARDLY EAT ANYTHING

> THROUGHOUT THE DAY BUT I DON'T DROP A POUND. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW

> AFTER I HAVE THIS SURGERY HOW I AM GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT-I KNOW I

WONT

> BE ABLE TO EAT THAT MUCH IN THE BEGINNING AFTER SURGERY BUT I FEEL I

> DON'T EAT ALOT NOW SO HOW AM I GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT-I'M SCARED I

WONT

> LOSE CAN ANYONE CALM MY FEARS.

We all know that high protein low/carb diets are effective. The

problems is that for most of us cutting out the carbs is almost

impossible pre-op. Post-op I have followed the Doctors instructions

and eat my protein first. After eating my protein I do not have any

room for carbs. My carbs usually go in the trash. The protein will

give you energy to burn the stored fat. A lot of people don't eat a

lot during the course of the day but they snack on small high caloric

food during the day. Then even a small meal if it is high caloric can

cause the pounds to pile on. You will lose weight with Lap/DS. I have

never seen one post here about someone not losing weight and there are

thousands of post every month. Some are lucky and lose quickly others

lose a bit slower but steady. You can rest assured that you will lose

weight and feel better.

The best thing you can do to calm your fears is to read all the

information you can find on ds. You will find that the results speak

for themselves.

July 31, 2001