Anyone from Massachusetts?

[renaye83]

Hi Renaye,
Hope all is well and your feeling well! Hope your not in any pain! Can I I ask how long the process is?
I meet with my Dr and the nutritionist this Thursday. I can't wait!
Thanks

Hi Massgal,

I am doing much better. No pain (from the surgery). I just started soft foods and its still uncomfortable to eat and I get crazy heartburn, even from a sip of water.

The approval process varies depending on what your insurance company requires. What insurance do you have? I have Harvard Pilgrim and they are one of the rare insurance companies that don't require the 6 month supervised weight loss program. I just had to do a bunch of tests (sleep study, upper gi exam, psych evals, nutrition appointments, etc.) and lost 10 percent of my body weight.

Losing the weight takes the longest. Once I lost the weight I got a surgery date.

Where are you having your surgery?

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[cindylbandtogastsleeve]

I wish you all the best; it is exciting to look forward to such a positive change in our lives. I a so happy for you. I still will be going through the program a little longer for me to be in a place in my head. Plus my surgeon is having a problem with his license, so I am leery of the future with this surgeon. I have faith in him, but I must be realistic and get all the facts straight before I make a decision on when and if I will do the sleeve. I was already to take the Lap band out in September, but my doctor had his license suspended. Scary, gotta check it out some more. You have to trust your surgeon, and I feel that mine has to win be back with a really good reason for his suspension.

[sunnygirl_28734]

Springfield here. Surgery 6 days @Mercy Medical Centre

[Massgal55]

Framingham here!
Best of luck in your journey!!! Keep us updated! My date is thd 9th of Dec I cant wait!!!!

[cindylbandtogastsleeve]

Best wishes on your surgery.

[cindylbandtogastsleeve]

Wanda I am happy you found a new doctor. My surgery is on hold right now due to my doctor's license issue.

[Massgal55]

Hi Cindy,
Thanks!! I just cant wait to start my journey! Your still not waiting for Dr Randell are you? Someone told me their was a big write up in the globe news that he lost his license.

[Massgal55]

Hi Renaye,
Hope your doing fine!!! Hope your heartburn is under control! How are you feeling?

[cindylbandtogastsleeve]

Yes. not waiting for Dr. Randall; I am done with him. I will wait for the hospital to bring in someone else. I have insurance where I have to go to the hospital I work at. The hospital should be bringing in someone from Tufts, which is a great hospital. It was very disappointing about Dr. Randall. He put my Lap Band in, and did a great job, but it is disturbing that he has a number of complaints against him. My plans are on hold, but I am happy that you found Dr. Shikora. He is actually the doctor that performed my daughter's gastric bypass six years ago! I have met him a few times. Very good choice. I wish you well; keep me posted!

[Massgal55]

Hi Cindy,
Thank you I will keep you posted. I'm glad you said your daughter had him! So I feel better knowing that.
Dr Randell was once the best dr around I believe he preformed the first one in Massachusetts. I truly am sad this all happened. I did hear of them bring someone from tufts over.I have 3 good friends that dr Randell did and now they have no follew ups. Not sure if you seen I posted dec 9th is my surgery date.
Well best of luck to you and keep me posted also!
Take care

[cindylbandtogastsleeve]

Hi Wanda, Dr. Shikora was wonderful for my daughter. He is an excellent surgeon. Tufts is a great hospital. You will be fine. I don't have anyone to follow up with - this is true, but I am fine for now. Best of luck to you as well. take care as well!

[Cmk1196]

Don't have a date scheduled yet, still on the fence. But have met with surgeon at Newton Wellesley hospital. Seems like a great team!

[mtcantor]

Dr. Shikora is doing my sleeve tomorrow! I find out in just about an hour what time the surgery is. Nervous and excited.

[cindylbandtogastsleeve]

Hope you are feeling okay. Just wanted to say hello. When you are feeling up to it let me know how you are doing and how the surgery was with Dr. Shikora! take care. Cindy

[mtcantor]

Hope you are feeling okay. Just wanted to say hello. When you are feeling up to it let me know how you are doing and how the surgery was with Dr. Shikora! take care. Cindy

Hi Cindy! So, I am 6 days post op, and I am doing well. I am getting my protein and water down no problem, I have almost no pain (save a twinge every now and then in the incisions and a stomach pain or two late at night and early in the morning), I am off any pain meds, and my energy level is about 75% of where it was. Oh, I am also nearly 25 lbs down from my high point before the pre-op diet. I am not hungry, though I am already sick of protein shakes, and am still dealing with residual "head hunger." I made latkes yesterday for my wife and my brain was doing summersaults not being able to put one in my mouth.

So, thus far, the surgery has been a great success and I have zero regrets. Shikora is a masterful surgeon, and I had ZERO complications, apart from some bad acid the day after surgery. I am honestly a little disturbed by how well I am doing considering some of the other stories I've read on here. I highly recommend anyone use him for this surgery. He really is one of the best.

But, that all being said, I am not a big fan of the hospital (the Faulkner). My stay there was characterized by undertrained nurses, zero communication between residents and PA's, long and unnecessary waits, and generally a negative experience. I won't go into all the petty details, but suffice it to say when day 3 came, and it was time for me to leave, a ridiculous cascade of crossed wires and miscommunication, not to mention people refusing to take responsibility and get answers, lead to all sorts of mixed messages and delays. That's not even getting into the directly contradictory dietary and post-surgical instructions I got from residents, the PA, and Shikora himself. I am following the ones I got from Shikora, btw.

So, not a big fan of Faulkner. Huge fan of Shikora. Maybe all hospitals are like this. I wouldn't know. This was my only surgery.