 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Surgeon: Dr. Ara Keshishian, Delano, CA
by Suzanne: 7/19/00: Hi--I'm 45 years old, 5'7" and weigh around 308. I am at the end of my rope and seriously considering surgery if I can find the right surgeon and have the operation approved by my insurance company (United Health Care). I am encouraged to read all of the comments about how the insurance was approved easily, or after one appeal letter. I have constant pain in my back, my feet and my knees. My blood pressure is elevated and I often have pains in my chest. My BMI is 49.9. I am so afraid of getting even bigger than I already am. I am maxed out on sizes at the large women's stores. Just walking up my stairs at home, and doing simple household chores exhausts me. I am in serious need of help. I'd appreciate feedback from anyone who has undergone this surgery and considers it a success in their lives. Thank you. 7/20/00: This website is fabulous! Thank you one and all for sharing your experiences so openly. I found more info on this website, and its links, than any place else. I have a consultation with Dr. Crooke at USC (works with Dr. Anthone)but not until November 22--that was the earliest. I also asked to be on a wait list in case there are any cancellations sooner. Next week I have an appointment with Dr. Gary Furman in Los Angeles. I've only seen one patient profile that mentioned him. Has anyone else had experience with Dr. Furman? It seems the most popular new procedure is the DS procedure (where the transection goes the length of the stomach, rather than up top--I'm not up with the terminology yet). Yesterday my boss was talking to me and she actually suggested this type of surgery. She said she hoped I wasn't offended by the suggestion but she had been thinking of it a lot since last Thursday. Last Thursday is when I saw a TV program on Dr. Fobi, and it got me thinking of investigating surgery. My boss is also a good friend. She's behind me 100% if I do this--will even come to my house and wash my dishes! She said I can take off as much time as I need to and she'll help me with HR and insurance issues if they arise. What a sweetheart! I'll keep you all posted! 8/3/00: Cancelled appt. with Dr. Furman. I have decided that the DGB/DS is the procedure for me, and he doesn't do this one. I did have a consult. with Dr. Keshishian up in Delano (north of Bakersfield). The next day they called to say my insurance approved the operation on their phone call alone. Amazing! I need to decide if I want to wait for Dr. Anthone at USC, or go ahead with Dr. Keshishian. If I do go with Dr. "K", it would be around the end of September, even sooner if I wanted, but work schedule does not permit. For now I will just sit with all of this and contemplate my next move. 8/28/00: Surgery is scheduled for 9/25/00 with Dr. Keshishian in Delano, CA. Right now I'm trying to find a new PCP to work with me post-op. My doctor is nervous about me being out of town (3 hours away) and scared of a lawsuit if she releases me for surgery out of town. Great! I'm scrambling to find a referral. I also need to have the psychological evaluation done. Got a list of PhD's from my mental health insurance provider--and it can possibly be covered if pre-authorized. Woohoo! I'm very excited and a bit scared. I'll keep you all posted. If anyone has a good PCP in the Los Angeles area, please email me. Thanks! 9/23/00: Hi Everyone! My surgery is set for 9/25!!! Yippee! Everything has gone so smoothly--I know this was just meant to be for me. Through referrals on this list I found a new PCP in my area who is also a preferred provider on my insurance plan (United Healthcare POS Plus). I got in right away and he was glad to work with me. Found a psychologist for the psych eval and got right in also. Absolutely everything I have needed has been there. My department took me to lunch on Thursday. Three of them know my 'whole' story, the others think I'm just having my gall bladder removed (which I am). They gave me a really nice card, a guided imagery/relaxation tape, a set of affirmation cards by Louise Hay, and a beautiful amethyst crystal in a pretty mesh bag. They told me later that the amethyst is supposed to promote healing for the stomach. What a bunch, eh? This weekend I'm just relaxing and taking it easy. Today I had my hair cut and colored, went to the cleaners, and bought a new cotton knit night shirt--in a sexy animal print--to wear at the hospital! Tonight I'm heading over to the massage therapy center for a massage. In the morning I'll go have a pedicure then come home and drink the magnesium citrate and wait for it to work its magic! When I feel 'complete' in that area, I'll take my cats to my mom's house, then my mom will drive up to Delano with me. She has a roommate who will look after the cats for a couple of days. She will stay in my hospital room the first night and then stay the next day. She will also come after I get home and stay a couple more days. She even said to bring my laundry along with me and she'd do it before I come home--so I wouldn't have to bother this weekend. Hey, if it makes her feel good to help me like that, then go for it! Thanks for all the love, wisdom and support that you all offer on this list. I absolutely know that my healing is already full and complete in the mind of God--that's all I need to know. I also have the strength and experience of all of you to draw upon. All the best to you!!! Love, Suzanne 11/17/00: Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I had surgery (open gastric reduction/duodenal switch) on 9/25/00. Everything went so well. The surgery only took 2 hours and 10 minutes--record time for Dr. Keshishian! My start weight was 311; and today I am down to 271! I feel fantastic! My only side effect was heartburn for the first three weeks, but pepto-bismal and saltine crackers helped a lot. I still have diarrhea, but usually in the morning only. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, but not as often. My surgery, and the outcome to date, has been a classic text-book case. I feel so blessed to have come through with such flying colors. And thank you to all the wonderful people who sent me pre-op prayers and well wishes. Your love and support went a long way towards my quick and uneventful recovery. I also must make a little 'commercial' here. I used Peggy Huddleston's "Prepare for Surgery/Heal Faster" program (book and tape) before surgery and followed all her suggestions. I can honestly say it WORKED! I didn't use as much pain medication as most patients, I came out of anesthesia quickly, and my recovery has been so smooth. All of you pre-ops out there--get this book and tape--it will help you so much in so many ways: http://www.healfaster.com/. I'm walking for exercise, and doing water aerobics occasionally. I'm also thinking of joining the health club near my office so I can work on firming and toning as the weight is dropping. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Keshishian, his staff, and the wonderful nurses at Delano Regional Medical Center. This was, and continues to be, a very postive experience. I'm just enjoying the ride now! Love and blessings to all! 9/25/01--Happy Anniversary to me!!! But it still blows me away to see how much I have changed. Here are the numbers: I'm 5'7", and will be 47 years old next month. I started weighing in at 311 lbs, with a bmi of 49.9, size 30/32 and 3X. Current bmi is 28, and weight is 176. New size is Large or 14/16. Total losses are: 135 pounds released forever! The inches lost are -11" from bust That's a whole lotta inches!! I attend the gym regularly--and my new thing is doing the spinning classes (also known as cycle) and yoga flexibility (intense stretching). If any of you have a chance to try spinning--by all means, go for it! It's intense, it's challenging, you'll sweat like crazy, but you will feel so good afterwards! And it's doing wonders for the shape of my legs--which need all the help they can get. I look and feel great. I no longer have a fear of chairs with arms! I fit into my surroundings easily and effortlessly. I can do exercises on the floor, and get up off the floor easily. It's no longer a monumental effort just to move from one place to the next. The freedom is amazing. I am so grateful to have found this procedure--and that everything went so smoothly. The entire process--finding the wonderful Dr. Keshishian, insurance approval, surgery, recovery--it was all perfect! It's the closest thing to a miracle that I've ever experienced. To all of you who are still working on getting your surgery, hang in there--it's totally worth it. Ask the post-ops--even with complications, ups and downs, I think in the long-run it's so worth it. Thanks for letting me share with you on this very special day. With love and gratitude,
|
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
Email the site administrator with questions, corrections, or suggestions. Copyright © 1999-2006 by The Duodenal Switch Information Zone, all rights reserved. Text, graphics, and HTML code are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission. |
|||||||
