Re: alimentary limb - mine is 300cm- Healthchoice

[Guest guest]

I just noticed in your signature that you had problems with

Healthchoice. I have Empire Healthchoice (AKA Bluechoice) Prestige

plan. I am curious what problems you had with approval. My file was

just sent to them last week an I am getting nervous. Was part of your

problem your low BMI? Mine is 47 so that ahouldn't be a factor.

Any info is appreciated.

Maggie

> I just decided to pop into the list and see what is happening.

I

> apologize for all spelling errors ahead of time. No spell check on

> the web.

> I am a little over 6 months post-op. My BMI has gone from 38 to

> 25. So far I have never plataued (sp) and I consider my weight loss

> of about 75 pounds excellent (considering my lower starting BMI).

> My alimentary limb was made 300cm and my common channel is

> 100cm. I am extremely happy about this. I do eat more protein now

> than pre-op, probably around 6 ounces a day (pre-op was about 4

> ounces every other day.) My protein level is higher than it was

pre-

> op. I do eat a decent amount of carbs and sweets--especially lately

> chocolate chip cookies and 100,000 bars. Nothing seemed to make a

> difference in the speed of my weight loss. Honestly, if I lost

> faster I would be nervous about getting to thin. I weigh between

153-

> 155 at six months out.

> I think the speed and amount of weight loss is very

> individual. I always lost weight quickly when I lowered my caloric

> intake and I gained weight quickly when I got too hungry to eat at

> this lower caloric level. So for me, caloric restriction was enough

> to lose weight. Hopefully, the malabsorption and quicker satiation

> will keep it off. I know a lot of other people eat very little

> calorically and still do not lose weight. For them the

malabsorption

> component is more important for weight loss.

> So what I am saying is that there is no set rule on how fast

> you will or should lose. Being on the other side--I think the less

> malabsorption that you can have the better. I know it becomes a

> numbers game--alimentary limb, common channel, weight, etc... But

> remember nutrient deficiency is not a game. This operation effects

> the way your body is nurished(sp) and the more nurishment you can

get

> the better--hopefully with less calorie absorption. I am saying

this

> from someone who does not have any nutrition problems so far (knock

> wood) and I am not saying that people who have this surgery have

> problems with malnutrition--I think few do because they are so

> careful about there nutrition and understand the seriousness of

there

> post-op care. I am just saying the more you are able to absorb the

> less you have to worry and that is good. And if you ask anyone who

> is having problems after surgery--suddenly the need to be thin loses

> a lot of its importants--being healthy is the most important thing.

> So, I am very happy I have a 300cm alimentary limb--now that I

> have lost so well--I think I would have been happy to have an even

> bigger one. I am sure that I do absorb a bit more calories from

> carbs, but that is okay because I am thrilled to absorb more

protein.

>

> Oh, one thing Chris--if you read down to this part. Dr.

> Scopinaro study is based on patients who do have a different stomach

> and intestine connection than us. That does not make it invalid,

but

> it should be remembered that we are not exactly comparing oranges to

> oranges more like a brand of orange to another type of orange. That

> being said Dr. Ren did chose to make my alimentary limb longer based

> on the information in Dr. Scopinaro study.

>

>

> Dbbr (Deborah)

> NYU, Dr. Ren, Jan12

> LAP DS BMI 38, Now 25

> Bluecross Healthchoice (Yeh they finally paid)

> 70+ pounds