BODY WEIGHT SAGA 3:

I'M ON MY WAY TO TIJUANA!!

I am, on the 7th of December 2011, having bariatric surgery: VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY SURGERY! aka The Gastric Sleeve.

No place in the United States will do this surgery on me because I'm not heavy enough! But in Mexico, they will!!!

Through laproscopic incisions, 80% of the stomach is removed and the stomach is stapled together to resemble a sleeve. This not only reduces the capacity of the stomach, allowing only small meals, it removes that section of the stomach that produces Ghrelin, a hormone that induces hunger and increases appetite. It's the latest of the bariatric surgeries and destined to become the most popular. Unlike the "by-pass" surgeries, it's less invasive and it preserves the pyloric valve and duodenum.

Weight loss is very successful. Losing most of the excess weight in about a year is normal. Mine will be slightly quicker as I have less to lose than the typical patient. I'd like to lose 60 lbs. (225-165), BMI of 22.1.

In the U.S., one needs to have a BMI of 40 (300#) or with complications, 35 (257#). Mine is currently 32.5 (225#). (It's been as high as 35.6 (259#) in 2001.)

click to see: GS SURGERY

I have FIVE comorbities that weight loss will help: Diabetes 2 (A lot of patients are cured!), High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Heart Disease and Sleep Apnea. And my constantly sore feet will benefit as well as my psychological well-being. It'll help my hurting feet and getting off some of the medicines will reduce, if not cure my shaking hand. It also adds to my life expectancy.

My primary care physician, Dr. Alarcon is delighted I'm getting the surgery. He has done blood work and adjusted my chemistry. I'm suitable for the surgery. Also, Dr. Rosa, my cardiologist, has OKed me for surgery.

Louise Johnson is weightlossagent.com. She was excellent and a good reference.

The costs are $4,500 for the surgery and $1,100 for the airplane. (I'm coming back first class so as to be more comfortable.) The surgery in the U.S. would run $12 to 20,000! No insurance covers it in either place.

I'll be home early Sunday morning, the 11th. I'll blog on the 14th about it all.