I am going under the KNIFE!

[Coytee]

and has flourished his patient base immensely.

Aren't you trying to UN-flourish or am I playing semantics?

[]

[Cal Blacksmith]

LOL!

I saw that but all I did was a cut/paste from their website!

http://www.smartdimensions.com/index.html

under Staff

[dtel's wife]

Here is the PM:

I am going to a VERY conservative medical group.......

...I have also been to the support group meetings and that is going well. There is an online support group It is Obeasityhelp.com. They are a world wide site where the members range from just thinking about the surgery to people who are many years out from surgery. There is a lot of information there to be had. They rate hospitals, doctors, plastic surgeons. There are personal experiences related to all aspects of ALL the weight loss surgeries.

Cal best wishes from all the dtels, you will be in our prayers.

IMO, the statements above are really one the most important aspects of this surgery.

Our friend/neighbor, that dtel mentions in his earlier post was not committed to the "therapy" part of the program. The lack of commitment to therapy caused him tremendous grief in his early post-surgery stages. It actually took about one year for him to "get his head straight". He actually went through "withdrawal", both physically and emotionally.

Food can have a powerful psychological effect on our lives.

I will say, even without the "therapy" he overcame the obstacles and is much happier and healthier person.

And yes, it is a very brave decision you have made. I am really happy for you.

[DizRotus]

Best wishes Cal. It takes courage to make the decision, have the surgery, lose the weight and then persist in keeping the weight off.

[Me Loves Khorns]

Cal.

As a gynecologist, I suppose you won't be needin my helpin' so ta speak...

But, I am very familiar with the procedure and have seen them done.

Are they doing it with a laparoscope, or with open incision?

Paul

[kaiser SET say]

Cal, good luck and I wish the best possible outcome for you. I'll be watching for your updates[]

[rcarlton]

Cal...good luck. I've treated many patients who have had the procedure. All agree it was the best thing they did.

[Daddy Dee]

best wishes. hope all goes well and that your recovery is quick.

[fini]

Wow, Wayne, that's cool! You must really be looking forward to it. Mind if I ask if it's covered by insurance?

[TheEAR]

Good luck,may all go acording to plan and have a fast recovery.

[DrWho]

wow, best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Be sure to take those before and after pictures too []

[Cal Blacksmith]

I would again like to thank everyone for the best wishes

and prayers. I need all the help I can get.[H]

The surgery is going to be done Laparoscopy this means

that they are going to make 6 small holes and operate on me by looking at a video

monitor, like a video game! My doc said that he has only had to do the big OPEN

surgery once in the last year, on a patient that was much larger than me. The

man was so large (over 600#) that the instruments wouldnt safely reach where

he needed to go. The recovery time of a LAP surgery is MUCH shorter than with a

large open cut. If all goes according to plan, I will be up and walking about 4

hours after the surgery. This is to help wake up the insides which were put to

sleep when I went under and to help prevent blood clots forming in the legs

and traveling to places that can cause harm.

Fini, I am indeed looking forward to it! Yes it is covered by the insurance. My co-pay will

be $200 and the total operation billed will be between $20,000 and $30,000. It

is less expensive for the Insurance company to pay to have me get healthy VS pay

for all the other effects of excessive weight. Such as diabetes, hypertension,

heart disease, knee replacement and the like.

Ron, Paul, thanks again for the positive views from the

medical community. In the support group I attend (yes it is very important to

attend one!) to a person, they all say it was the best thing they ever did, regardless

of any of the side effects that some of them have had, and some of them are

dealing with a lot.

In addition to all the food changes I will need to make,

I will also need to take, forever, multi vitamins, iron supplements, calcium supplements

(2 Tums ultra) every day and vitamin B12 under the Tung, once a week. This is

caused because the portion of the intestines that are bypassed is where these

things are absorbed and extra is needed to make up for what is not absorbed

through the food. In the case of B12, it is almost not absorbed at all so the

pill goes under the Tung and absorbed directly into the system that way.

[dtel's wife]

Cal, I just wanted to tell you again that all us here will be thinking of you. You will be in our prayers. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and long lived healthy life.

And, yes, even though our friend did not participate in the "therapy" part of the program he still says the surgery is the best thing he ever did, for himself and his family.

Take care of yourself.

[jwc]

Cal. Prayers to you.

One important thing that I may add. Drink lots of water in the future after the surgery. I see a great deal of Kidney Stones in patients who have had bypass surgery. This isn't a reason not to have it.

Reason being there seems to be some fluid shift changes that are non detrimental but theoretically change the constituents of your urine. Hydration is a cheap, healthy way to prevent the stones.