Brenda Stewart
I had my weight lose surgery done by Dr. Apparaol Vanguri on July 5, 2000. I had researched my options and chose Dr.Vanguri because he and his staff are very friendly and help you through every step. Beverly (Dr. V's tech), helped me with insurance and reassured me through it all. I knew that I was making the right decision for me. 
I was very sick first month after my RNY gastric bypass. I tummy was completely upset. I didn't throw up much at all. I just couldn't look or smell cooked pureed food. I lived off jello, clear broth and every now and again mashed potatoes.
By Christmas I had dropped around 80 pounds. It had only been 5 months. The weight kept falling off. I ate much smaller portions and a no fat diet. I dropped down to 152, but I felt weak in the first year. I tried to put on a few pounds because I look like my face was sinking in and looked thin. I was happy to settled in at 160. 
In the winter of 2005 I put on 20 pounds, but quickly dropped it. I maintain at 160-167lbs weight now. I was feeling depressed because I had lost so much weight that I was carrying rashes in folds of skin on my lower stomach. These rashes got real bad all that winter. It seemed that because I was getting older my skin was hanging even more. It became so unbearable, the cream weren't working. I couldn't wear my skirts and dresses without secretly wearing shorts styled nylon slips underneath. The slips (shorts) are hard to find in the stores. In the summer of 2006, I started looking into having a Panniculectomy. Thats when they remove the hanging skin for a person who has lost a lot of weight. I was having more issues as well. I had adhesions , (scar tissue) pulling and creating pockets. Those pockets held moisture and caused the raw rashes. Dr. V's staff helped me with my insurance
problems. I had United Health Care and they refused to pay for anything. I sent them pictures, once they seen the pictures that agreed to pay all the hospital fee's, but not Dr. V's fee's. I appealed, but they stood there ground and would not pay for Dr. V. I had my Panniculectomy done a few days ago on July 15, 2007. I am sore, but I know it will heal fine. My skin is pulled tight and I so happy not to have to rashes in my future.
