Alfred Said:

is vitamin D 50,000 IU daily too much?

We Answered:

There's a yes and no answer to that. 50,000 IU of Vitamin D is a VERY intensive dosage regiment (like over 100 times the RDA), but people severely deficient are often prescribed this dose short-term. Taking that dose daily for a few months could easily be toxic (which is why your doctor said no) because Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and can build up in your system.
I'd stick with what your primary doctor and pharmacist said for a couple reasons.... 1) They agree and 2) taking an intensive dose of a fat-soluble vitamin for several weeks could be dangerous and potentially fatal (in some cases, not all).

Gina Said:

having trouble with financing my bariatric surgery. does anyone know of any special funds that will help?

We Answered:

I must sincerely apologize for the other 2 respondents. One is simply cruel and the other completely ignorant. The inherent openness of this forum leads to such unfortunate answers. Blue Cross / Blue Shield does - as you have stated - pay for a Roux en Y procedure (bypass) or a gastric laparoscopic banding. BC/BS criteria is a Body Mass Index greater than 40 kg/M2 in an adult or greater than 35 kg/M2 in an adult with a co-morbid condition such as hypertension or diabetes. A BMI of 40 kg/M2 is a genetic disorder. Diet and exercise rarely bring the BMI down below 30 kg/M2 so bariatric surgery has become the recommendation. I do not know why the 'sleeve' has been deemed most appropriate for you as gastric lap banding is over-all the preferred procedure. I would suggest that you reconsider gastric lap banding or clarify with your bariatric surgeon why a sleeve would be better. We honestly have a great deal more data about lap banding than we do about the sleeve. The sleeve is simply the latest toy for bariatric surgeon's to play with and the surgeon may be touting it for that reason. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you the very best of health and happiness and in all things may God bless. JR

Sergio Said:

I need some different opinions on bariatric surgery?

We Answered:

i had gastric bypass when i was 19, i didn't go with the band because of the statistics behind each surgery. GB (gastric bypass) patients lose 90 percent of their excess weight and have a higher percentage of keeping the weight off. Lap Band patients on average lose 60 percent of the excess weight. In 3 years I have lost 130 pounds and maintained my current weight.

If you are in Southern California I would recommend Dr Allen Wittgrove, he was my surgeon, he pioneered lapriscopic gastric bypass and worked with Johnson and Johnson to develop the tools. I went to many surgeons before i found him, but he was worth the search and the wait.

Pay the extra money for something that will change your life, don't just go with the lesser amount because of the cheaper cost. it is less expensive but not worth the investment.

Oh, and gastric bypass is completely reversible, people don't typically know this... The surgeon leaves the part of the stomach and intestine that was cut off, in your body, there is no medical reason to have it taken out. So it CAN be reversed, but there are less cases of reversing gastric bypass because people typically have great results...

Direct quote from the lapbandsurgeryfap.com website....
"Late complication affects more on this. About 33.1% of late complications including band erosion (9.5%), band slippage (6.3%), port related problems (7.6%), re-operation (21.7%)"

i would look in to pros and cons of both, once you do the extra 12k wont seem like a burden to spend, the extra money pays off in the end.

Hazel Said:

Financing Bariatric Surgery?

We Answered:

Weight loss surgery-like gastric bypass /lap band surgery / stomach stapling and gastrectomy have become very common and very safe now. My cousin got her Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in India. She has lost more than 65 lbs in 5 months and is very happy with the results. The price for obesity surgery is very less in India. My cousin just paid 25% of the cost she was quoted in America. She got her surgery from a company called Forerunners Healthcare.

Forerunners Healthcare is very famous in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines. I have read a lot of their patient stories also. They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as bariatric surgery and weight loss surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that your Obesity surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com
Hope this helps.