Re: weight loss due to surgery recovery

[Guest guest]

---Hi Kim,

Weight loss from surgery depends on many factors including present

nutritional and overall status, metabolism, and activity level. The

answer really should depend on what exactly your expectations are.

Are you having surgery in hopes of losing weight? Or, are you

completely nutritionally deficient and are wary that you might lose

too much or more weight? Are you presently functional and able to

carry out activities of daily living or do are you at a point you may

need nutritional support by other means and remain at a decreased

activity level? Are you able to have the surgery, any surgery, to

begin with? Will the surgery be a lap or an open one? I did not lose

any weight with the lap, but had open surgery 20 years ago and I

almost disappeared. I am 38-years-old and still have a very active

metabolism and a very active lifestyle. I lost weight because of A,

but gained it back after the surgery. I am at a comfortable 135 lbs.

From my own personal experience, the bathroom running and throwing up

is no longer an issue. I no longer throw up, have white foam, and

can sleep completely flat if I so choose. I am a nurse and have had

serious issues getting to the bathroom when I am/was too busy.

As for the last question, can you consult with physicians outside of

your group? I have a very good friend who had insurance through the

Coast Guard and was able to consult a physician outside of her

group. She also had a rare disorder called Chiari Malformation and

wanted someone who was very, very good with it. Achalasia is a very

rare disorder, and you need someone who is extremely experienced.

Good luck! I know there are others out there in our group with more

answers for you.

Jo from South Florida

In achalasia , krbosco@k... wrote:

> Hello all,

>

> I'm still waiting for my surgery consult on Thursday, but have come

> up with a few questions for the group:

>

> 1) How much weight might I expect to lose during my recovery from

> the Heller? I don't know yet if I'll be getting a wrap.

>

> 2) I'm finishing my degree to become a high school teacher. Does

> anyone else here teach? Do you find it difficult to not be able to

> run out to the bathroom if/when you need to? I'm hoping with the

> surgery, this won't be an issue...

>

> 3) Has anyone had experience with military doctors? We're

stationed

> at Fort Riley, Kansas. I've seen Dr McCallum listed on the

> surgeon database, but haven't been able to find anything more about

> him online. I'm going to see if I can get a referral to a doctor

> that might have more experience with this surgery, once I find out

> who the army wants to do it...

>

> Thanks!

>

> Kim in KS

[Guest guest]

I'm not hoping to lose weight, I'm just curious how much I might

lose. I'm only about 10-15 pounds overweight at the moment, so I'm

hoping not to lose too much.

I'm able to eat almost anything I want at the moment. Some things

hurt a little bit more than others, but nothing hurts every time I

eat it, so I'm not limiting myself. I know I'm lucky to have caught

the problem early, so I don't have nearly the problems that most

other people in the group have.

If I do have the surgery, and I'm hoping that's what the doctors

want to do, it will be the lap. I have no other health reasons to

limit me from any of the treatment options, other than relative

youth (so no botox, please). I'd rather have the surgery now before

anything gets bad than deal with dilation after dilation.

As for getting referred out of the military hospital, I have yet to

meet whoever I'll be " assigned " to, so until I find that out, I'm

not looking into anything else. Once I meet him or her and find out

how much experience he or she has had, then I'll decide if I want to

look elsewhere.

I'm really new in this. I was initially (unofficially) " diagnosed "

by the radiologist doctor about two weeks ago. I've only had the

barium swallow test, so I have a ways to go before scheduling any

surgery. Just trying to find out as much as I can before the

consult so I know as much as I can about what I'm getting into.

This group has taught me so much in a very short time!

Kim in KS

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I'm still waiting for my surgery consult on Thursday, but have

come

> > up with a few questions for the group:

> >

> > 1) How much weight might I expect to lose during my recovery

from

> > the Heller? I don't know yet if I'll be getting a wrap.

> >

> > 2) I'm finishing my degree to become a high school teacher.

Does

> > anyone else here teach? Do you find it difficult to not be able

to

> > run out to the bathroom if/when you need to? I'm hoping with

the

> > surgery, this won't be an issue...

> >

> > 3) Has anyone had experience with military doctors? We're

> stationed

> > at Fort Riley, Kansas. I've seen Dr McCallum listed on

the

> > surgeon database, but haven't been able to find anything more

about

> > him online. I'm going to see if I can get a referral to a

doctor

> > that might have more experience with this surgery, once I find

out

> > who the army wants to do it...

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Kim in KS

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

There is a Dr. McCallum at KUMED who I have heard is very

experienced with Achalasia. I believe that JC Elder who is a member of this

group had Dr. McCallum as the surgeon who did her Esophagectomy. I do

remember that she though very highly of him and had a successful outcome. I

have not seen her posting lately though. I did a search for her but didn't

find her name listed.

Perhaps someone here may know how to contact her.

The Address is:

University of Kansas Medical Center

Gastrotroenterology/Internal Medicine

3901 Rainbow Blvd.

Kansas City, Kansas 66160

F

weight loss due to surgery recovery

>

> Hello all,

>

> I'm still waiting for my surgery consult on Thursday, but have come

> up with a few questions for the group:

>

> 1) How much weight might I expect to lose during my recovery from

> the Heller? I don't know yet if I'll be getting a wrap.

>

> 2) I'm finishing my degree to become a high school teacher. Does

> anyone else here teach? Do you find it difficult to not be able to

> run out to the bathroom if/when you need to? I'm hoping with the

> surgery, this won't be an issue...

>

> 3) Has anyone had experience with military doctors? We're stationed

> at Fort Riley, Kansas. I've seen Dr McCallum listed on the

> surgeon database, but haven't been able to find anything more about

> him online. I'm going to see if I can get a referral to a doctor

> that might have more experience with this surgery, once I find out

> who the army wants to do it...

>

> Thanks!

>

> Kim in KS

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, if they let me go elsewhere for treatment, I'll start with

him. Thanks (and JC)!

Kim

> Hi Kim,

> There is a Dr. McCallum at KUMED who I have heard is very

> experienced with Achalasia. I believe that JC Elder who is a

member of this

> group had Dr. McCallum as the surgeon who did her Esophagectomy. I

do

> remember that she though very highly of him and had a successful

outcome. I

> have not seen her posting lately though. I did a search for her

but didn't

> find her name listed.

> Perhaps someone here may know how to contact her.

>

> The Address is:

> University of Kansas Medical Center

> Gastrotroenterology/Internal Medicine

> 3901 Rainbow Blvd.

> Kansas City, Kansas 66160

>

> F

> weight loss due to surgery recovery

>

>

> >

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I'm still waiting for my surgery consult on Thursday, but have

come

> > up with a few questions for the group:

> >

> > 1) How much weight might I expect to lose during my recovery from

> > the Heller? I don't know yet if I'll be getting a wrap.

> >

> > 2) I'm finishing my degree to become a high school teacher. Does

> > anyone else here teach? Do you find it difficult to not be able

to

> > run out to the bathroom if/when you need to? I'm hoping with the

> > surgery, this won't be an issue...

> >

> > 3) Has anyone had experience with military doctors? We're

stationed

> > at Fort Riley, Kansas. I've seen Dr McCallum listed on

the

> > surgeon database, but haven't been able to find anything more

about

> > him online. I'm going to see if I can get a referral to a doctor

> > that might have more experience with this surgery, once I find

out

> > who the army wants to do it...

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Kim in KS

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

--- Hi Kim,

If I do have the surgery, and I'm hoping that's what the doctors

want to do, it will be the lap. I have no other health reasons to

limit me from any of the treatment options, other than relative

youth (so no botox, please). I'd rather have the surgery now before

anything gets bad than deal with dilation after dilation.

Wise choice. No botox or dilatations for me either. The younger you

are, the earlier in the disease process, the potential for a good

surgical outcome is tremendously increased. There is so much

information to arm yourself with before your surgical visit. I find

army medical personnel to have the nicest and most respectful

disposition compared to the civilian bunch. Everyone seems to have

the teamwork attitude down pat. Wish it could rollover to the rest

of the world. I have two very good friends in the reserves, one who

was in Desert Storm, we lovingly call " the Major " --she's the most

disciplined nurse I know and she's a Lt. Colonel now, a pharm d., who

is a Colonel. You sound like a very grounded, young lady.

Congratulations on your choice of vocation--we need good teachers!

Jo from South Florida

In achalasia , krbosco@k... wrote:

> I'm not hoping to lose weight, I'm just curious how much I might

> lose. I'm only about 10-15 pounds overweight at the moment, so I'm

> hoping not to lose too much.

>

> I'm able to eat almost anything I want at the moment. Some things

> hurt a little bit more than others, but nothing hurts every time I

> eat it, so I'm not limiting myself. I know I'm lucky to have

caught

> the problem early, so I don't have nearly the problems that most

> other people in the group have.

>

> If I do have the surgery, and I'm hoping that's what the doctors

> want to do, it will be the lap. I have no other health reasons to

> limit me from any of the treatment options, other than relative

> youth (so no botox, please). I'd rather have the surgery now

before

> anything gets bad than deal with dilation after dilation.

>

> As for getting referred out of the military hospital, I have yet to

> meet whoever I'll be " assigned " to, so until I find that out, I'm

> not looking into anything else. Once I meet him or her and find

out

> how much experience he or she has had, then I'll decide if I want

to

> look elsewhere.

>

> I'm really new in this. I was initially (unofficially) " diagnosed "

> by the radiologist doctor about two weeks ago. I've only had the

> barium swallow test, so I have a ways to go before scheduling any

> surgery. Just trying to find out as much as I can before the

> consult so I know as much as I can about what I'm getting into.

> This group has taught me so much in a very short time!

>

> Kim in KS

>

>

> > > Hello all,

> > >

> > > I'm still waiting for my surgery consult on Thursday, but have

> come

> > > up with a few questions for the group:

> > >

> > > 1) How much weight might I expect to lose during my recovery

> from

> > > the Heller? I don't know yet if I'll be getting a wrap.

> > >

> > > 2) I'm finishing my degree to become a high school teacher.

> Does

> > > anyone else here teach? Do you find it difficult to not be

able

> to

> > > run out to the bathroom if/when you need to? I'm hoping with

> the

> > > surgery, this won't be an issue...

> > >

> > > 3) Has anyone had experience with military doctors? We're

> > stationed

> > > at Fort Riley, Kansas. I've seen Dr McCallum listed on

> the

> > > surgeon database, but haven't been able to find anything more

> about

> > > him online. I'm going to see if I can get a referral to a

> doctor

> > > that might have more experience with this surgery, once I find

> out

> > > who the army wants to do it...

> > >

> > > Thanks!

> > >

> > > Kim in KS