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Profile: Debbie R
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Surgery: Post Op
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Personal Comments
Dr. Macura saved my life on 10/12/2000 when he wheeled me into surgery weighing 552 lbs. I had an uneventful recovery from my Duodenal Switch and as of 8/2002 was down to 298 lbs. By March 2004 I was at 305 down from 314 (I kept going up and down between these 10 lbs). So Dr. Macura and I both decided it would be advisable to have a revision to my DS as my stomach had stretched out and was too large again so I was hungry all the time. I had my DS Revision with Dr. Macura on 4/21/04 and have lost 55 lbs to date (4/26/05). I had problems after the revision that I didn't have after the original DS, i.e., vomitting after eating salmon (twice), chicken and scallops once although I eat scallops usually with no trouble. For a while I did not venture away from protein and did not eat any meat or chicken after the first attempt. I had horrible acid reflux and my Nexium was increased from once to twice a day and it helped tremendously.
Now one year later and after 2 endoscopies to stretch the middle of my revised and narrowed stomach, my appetite has come back and I can only eat small amounts of food so I eat several small meals over the course of the day but I don't have any more trouble digesting and have not vomitted since just before the 2nd endoscopy at the end of December. The gas and BM problems have subsided and are way less than they were before the revision although on rare occasions I have a bad deal with gas. My lactose intollerance is much better since the revision and I'd do it again in a NY minute. I was up walking the morning after the revision surgery which was done laproscopically and I was out of Maimonides in 4 days although I could have gone home in 3 days but opted not to. I am taking my full compliments of vitamins - same as before the revision with a few extras since I'm eating less.
As I said, I am now a year out from my revision and after a few glitches where Dr. Lazarro had to stretch the narrowed middle portion of my stomach last winter, I am doing really well. I have lost an additional 55 lbs since the revision but now I find I have to fight for every ounce I lose but I'm getting there slowly but surely. Each day is one step closer to my quest to have all the plastic surgery I now face but I'm ready to go. BTW...I am 50 years young and looking forward to my future thanks to the WONDERFUL Dr. Macura and Dr. Lazzarro. If anyone needs to talk ... please don't hesitate to Email me or call me.
Surgeon Info:
Jerzy M. Macura M.D. (Brooklyn, NY)
Insurer Info:
United Health Care
So far they have been great and without question approved my 4/20/04 revision to my original DS which was on 10/12/2000. I had stopped losing weight for about 18 months having gotten as low as 298 but gained back to 314. As of 5/14/2005 I am now down to 265 lbs. with a BMI of 42 so I am still obese and want to get down another 50 lbs. I have a ton of excess skin and a large panni and it's affecting my back, shoulders, neck and ability to get proper fitting clothing and exercise. I don't know how UHC is going to react for reconstructive plastic surgeries I need but we'll see and I'm willing to fight them until I get approval should it come to that.
If you are morbidly obese I think it will depend on the policy your company has with the insurance company. I was told when I got my original DS approval when I weighed 552 lbs at 5'7", that JPMorgan Chase had one of the best policies regarding weight loss that they had ever seen. I had my approval within 3 days.
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