Re: Introduction

[Guest guest]

Penny,

Welcome to the list! 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). It is a long trip but others have had

excellent results. Otherwise you just have a very long wait. 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.

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) and then have the surgery

in Nov 2002 done as a revision. I think the cost of AGB is about

$10,000 US, 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,

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

restrictive and will force you to eat less or vomit. 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.

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

>

>