introduction

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Love and Hugs to all

http://phoenixrisng.www6.50megs.com

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-- Re: Introduction

Penny,

Welcome to the list! Thank you

If time is of the essense for you and you cannot affoard $25,000, you might

consider Dr. Baltasar in Spain (about $11,000 US equiv) (Thank you again,

but I do not have even $11,000.00 Canadian also it would be more as I

require an attendant) . It is a long trip but others have had

excellent results.

Otherwise you just have a very long wait.(I have waited 4 years so far.)

You could try the dreaded diet in the mean time just to try to keep your

helath from getting worse. The Atkins diet has worked for me (as a

short term measure). You should of cousre speak with your Dr. on

this.( I have been trying to lose since my hormones went for a poop in 1987

due to PCOS, not being able to exercise due to MS has enhanced the problem.

I have tried most all diets and to no avail. I have tried medications they

start to work and I have another attack of MS get the methylprenisoline drip

and then those dont work anymore (Phen Phen 3 years))

Another alnternative (though not a great one) is to get the

adjustable gastric band (AGB) done right away (it is less risk and

costly then the DS - but not as effective) (This the one Dr leung in Surrey

said he would not do for me, in case something went wrong after and he got

sued. Needless to say I was in tears) and then have the surgery

in Nov 2002 done as a revision (Nov 2002 is only a consult.) I think the

cost of AGB is about

$10,000 US,( It is about $4000 canadian in BC, because the appliance is not

covered the rest is covered by Provincial Medical) though few centers are

doing it. You can go to Mexico and have it done cheap if you dare. I am not

a big fan of the AGB,( I also do not feel comfortable about AGB after

reading the end results and the short period of time these other operations

Lap Band etc retain the weight loss also the amount of cases having to go

for more surgery due to other complications etc. The BPD has better Results

)

but in your case it might be a life saver. The AGB is purely

restrictive and will force you to eat less or vomit.(One thing here, that

may be different is that, I eat usually one meal aday on occasion two, the

amount is not excessive the retention is the problem ) This won't be fun,

but if you can't loose weight at all on your own, then it might

be your only choice. The AGB has the advantage of being relatively

easy to install and remove, and the damage should be limited.

Just a thought. (Thank you for your thoughts, I wish I could have done these

things at times, but also realize, mabe there is a reason all the other

attempts have failed maybe BPD will be my life saver.)

Hull

> Hi! I am Penny Kittson, at age 48 , married 27 years,I am the

mother of two,

> grandmother of one.I am still seeking WLS since 1998 I am 5'2 " 238

lbs and

> BMI 43 1/2

> I have seen, Dr March, Coquitlam 1998, Dr. Ross, Tacoma 1998 (could

not

> afford the $28,000.oo plus American), Dr. Cleater, St s Hospital

> Vancouver 1998 ( was okayed but niether Doctor followed through with

> arrangements for sleep apnea test and Dr. Cleater changed his

criteria to no

> one over forty. Also neglected to call or write me about this

change.), and

> Dr. Leung in Surrey August 2001 (who told me I had too much wrong

and did

> not want to be sued), I am now pencilled in to see Dr calqhoun In

Saskatoon

> Nov 29 2002 to hopefully be accepted for a Bilio Pancreatic

Diversion, I

> will not go to this one until he has read my files thoroughly

talked to my

> GP and considers me to be a strong candidate. To do any different

would be

> too exhausting & stressful on my physical and emotional state, not

to

> mention unneeded expense. I have done my research, and I know the

basic

> pros and cons, my life now is not a life. I do not know how long I

have left

> I do know that I have been told back in 1998 that i would be lucky

to be

> alive in five years if I do not recieve WLS. I do know that I have

been

> going down hill steadily since 1987. I know this surgery will not

cure my MS

> Polycystic Ovarian syndrome, or Osteo arthritus, nor my Major

depression.

> It will however, alleviate my symptoms exacerbated by the weight and

> therefore several of the drugs I now take, will not be needed,

saving my

> liver and kidneys, which are already showing ill affects from

medications. (

> No I do not drink) Even with the research I have done there is

always more

> one can learn from actual patients who have gone through the

procedures, and

> the comraderie of such a group of people that is why I joined this

group .

> Respectfully submitted

>

> Love and Hugs to all

> http://phoenixrisng.www6.50megs.com

> http://ca.geocities.com/phoenixrisngca/blue.html

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi I am B. from New Jersey. My surgery was 6/25/01. I am trying to get

myself back on track because in the last few months I had a small gain. For now

I am going to be lurking and listening and learning.

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[Guest guest]

hi brenda, welcome! i can't say that wls hasn't brought heartache &

pain & perhaps new sets of challenges, but guess what? i'd do it again.

to be able to recapture my quality of life was worth it, it feels good

to feel young, not 99 years old!

lori h.

23 months post-op

I would just love to hear any information about this surgery anything

anyone wants to share with me. Their highpoints, lowpoints,

complications,

> would they do it again, how much they lost and how long it took.

Thank you for letting me join this list and I look forward to getting

to know you all as the time goes by. Any feedback would be highly

appreciated.

>