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POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery REVIEWS

Female, 58. 3 Grown Children with Families. 6 Grandchildren & Can't Hug Them Enough. Married 40 Years - Charlottesville, VA

ORIGINAL POST

I begin my journey 9/4/2014. Prior to my first...

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morriswl56September 26, 2014
WORTH IT$43,773
I begin my journey 9/4/2014.
Prior to my first appointment, I researched the locations that perform the Gastric bypass surgery.
I decided on University of Virginia Health Center located in Charlottesville, VA.
I see Rheumatologist and Digestive Health Specialist Physicians.
I need to start Journaling.

morriswl56's provider

Bruce Schirmer, MD

Bruce Schirmer, MD

Board Certified General Surgeon

Replies (22)

debN
September 27, 2014
I went to the information siminar on Sept 9th. My Dr visit is Sept 30th and psych eval on Oct 14th. I just hope we don't have alot of holdups and everything goes smoothly.
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morriswl56
September 28, 2014
DebN, Our start is almost identical dates. I will be following your journey. My seminars date and Dr appointment were both on 9/4/2014. My Psychiatric evaluation was 9/25/2014. My medical insurance authorization for surgery and hospital stay was 9/26/2014. I am awaiting to be scheduled for Endoscopy and appointment with my surgeon. I pray my surgery is before the end of the year. Wanda VA
debN
September 28, 2014
Do you know if everyone has to have the endoscopy?
maryella1
September 28, 2014
if I am right a endoscopy is going down the throat? if so, I didn't have one done.
debN
September 28, 2014
Ok thanks. Maybe it's just people that have sleep apnea and other problems.
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morriswl56
September 28, 2014
I have GERD and another stomach problem Gastrparesis. That is probably why I need a endoscopy. I was told I might need a heart clearance. I guess because of being on blood pressure medicine.
maryella1
October 2, 2014
I'm not sure because I do have sleep apnea. like someone else said I think every doctor is different.
maryella1
September 27, 2014
it's nice to see people on this website that are closer to my age. I am 65 yrs old and I am having the surgery on the 9th of October. I started my journey on may 30th. I will have to start my liquid diet on this Thursday. please keep in contact.
debN
September 27, 2014
I will.. I know what you mean about the age. I'm glad. To b able to have friends on here that are going through the same thing. My first dr visit is Tuesday so your quit a bit ahead of me but please keep me updated on your progress.
debN
September 27, 2014
I wish my surgery was that soon. Good luck
maryella1
September 28, 2014
thank you very much, I appreciate it.
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morriswl56
September 28, 2014
Good luck on your upcoming surgery.
K_at_RealSelf
September 27, 2014
Hi there, welcome and thanks so much for sharing your journey with us!

You may want to check out the Gastric Sleeve Forum. There are hundreds of sleevers in there, supporting each other. We also have a number of guides that will help with preparation. I've put links to them below:

Gastric Sleeve Guide
Nutritional Guide
Food Survival Guide

Good luck and please do keep us updated with your progress!
debN
September 28, 2014
Thank you:) I will
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morriswl56
September 28, 2014
Kirsty, Thank you for the links to help me on my way. Wanda VA
K_at_RealSelf
September 28, 2014
No problem, I hope they're helpful. We've all been at the beginning of this journey!
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herringbones
September 28, 2014
I had the endoscopy done. My friend is also having the sleeve done and she didn't have to have the endoscopy. It's primarily ordered for patients who have GERD or heartburn. (Meanwhile, she has to have a sleep study done, and I did not, so the pre-op test orders are tailored to the patient, depending on their history).
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morriswl56
September 28, 2014
Thank you Herringbones for your reply.
donnag53
January 10, 2015
I'm happy to see people of my age with the same problems as me. I have been gaining weight over the past several years and now find that at 61 years old i weigh 220 lbs at 5'3 I started my process in Nov and am scheduled for surgery on March 18th. Needless to say , I'm pretty nervous and find this forum very helpful
Mom1976
January 10, 2015
Hi this is mom76, I am 56 and had my sleeve on Monday. The first day was pretty rough but it is going a little better each day I even ate 3 small bits of scambled eggs and it stayed down . My Dr. does things a little different but i am going by exactly what he says.
Auburn1
January 10, 2015
I agree. This forum is so helpful.
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morriswl56
January 12, 2015
:)
UPDATED FROM morriswl56
2 months pre

This week. 6 -10 October 2014

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morriswl56October 6, 2014
I called the surgeon's office last Friday for an update.
I need my heart clearance for surgery.
I see my heart doctor on Friday, 10/10/2014.
I hope he does letter quickly.

Once the surgeon's office receives clearance, they will schedule me for EGD on a Tuesday and surgeon doctor visit on that Thursday.
Don't have the Tueday/Thursday dates yet.

I don't know about the liquid diet.
I guess I will find out.

I can't complain, I began my journey on 9/4/2014.
That's all for now.
Wanda
VA

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM morriswl56
2 months pre

Received Cardiology Clearance for Surgery!

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morriswl56October 24, 2014
Wednesday 10/22, I received a call from Jeff, the scheduler, in the surgeon's office.
November 18 scheduled for EGD
November 20 scheduled for Work up appointment with the surgeon.

Jeff told me to be thinking of a surgery date. I asked if we can schedule now. We started looking at 21, 24, 26 or 28 November. I told him I had to discuss with my husband the best date because he will need to be my driver.
I called Jeff back and he said the surgeon will set the date on the work up appointment on 20 November.
Venting........
I asked him if we can schedule a date now because my appointment 20 November would probably put surgery around Christmas or January.
He hasn't called me back.

I don't know if anyone else has medical insurance that towards the end of the year you have reached your out of pocket co-pays and my portion of the bill is around $200. All my prescriptions are free.
If the surgery is in January, my co-pay would be around $1000.
Big difference.
Prescriptions will be about half cost. I have one that I have to pay $280 a month.
well that is enough venting.
Wanda
from Fredericksburg ,VA

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