"OK, this one doesn't taste that bad but it's texture is really bad, it is hard to chew and very dense. YUCK! However it does have 15g of protein per bar."
"Obviously this is for folks who are about a year out from surgery but this pizza tastes great and is really high in protein and fiber! I eat half the pizza per meal with a side salad and light dressing."
"I love these bars, works great for those days when you are on the go! And the flavors are so wonderful! Cinnamon Raisin, Maple Nut, Peanut Butter, & Chocolate! YUM!"
"In this review I will explain the less than excellent ratings I gave it above.
Blanchfield was able to accommodate Bypass patients by providing: large “heavyweight” wheel chairs, high-back wide chairs with substantial arm rests in the rooms for sitting in when not in bed, really big “sofa chair” that reclines and transforms into a bed for either patient or guest, stools with high handle bars for standing up and balance, large weight electronic scale with handlebars, abdominal binders for plus sized people, and some other stuff that I personally did not use. They only complaint is that the bathrooms and showers are too tight for large folks to maneuver in comfortably, let alone someone else to help you if you need it. When sitting on the toilet the door had to remain wide open just so hubby could assist me. You must keep in mind though; it is a military hospital so it was designed with healthy & fit 18-45 year old males in mind!
The parking at Blanchfield used to be enough and convenient. Unfortunately, after 9-11 they had permanently heightened security there so there are only 3 entrances of which, one of them is actually located inside a parking lot! 1 entrance is for ER only; it is open 24 hours a day but only has 12 parking spaces in it. The “clinic” entrance is in a major parking lot but is only open from 7am-6pm. The “Main entrance” has a traffic circle but no parking and it is open 24 hours but there is NO convenient access to any parking! You have a long walk through landscaping and grassy areas to find a parking lot.
The overall value is listed as good because of the two lower ratings otherwise it would be excellent. Especially because if you are military, your treatment there is “free” because the costs are picked up by the military and our insurance pays them 100%. You do not even have to pay for your food!
As far as the gastric bypass program at Blanchfield, there is definitely room for improvement. Keeping in mind that because this is a military hospital they do NOT Have to offer this program at all, it is something they are trying to help their healthcare costs of obese patients and give the surgeons experience in working with “healthy” tissue so that they can fix combat wounds easier! The following concerns are what I would address if I had the power to do so. #1- The wait list is entirely too long and you are not given detailed information to a timeline of the entire process. It is VERY discouraging. #2 Pre and Post surgical support could be better. After the soldiers came back from combat the Adult Behavioral Health department dropped the gastric bypass program like a bad habit. They still do mental health screens as a part of the approval process but that is it. Right now that support group meetings are run and maintained by the patients themselves and we are getting little support from the hospital as to guest speakers or anything of that manner. And the meetings are NO longer a mandatory part of the process, so LOTS of patients are falling through the cracks. #3- Also the familiarity with WLS patients and the nutrition counseling has much to be desired. #4- Same goes for knowledge concerning post surgery and medications. Basically the things mentioned are up to the patients to research themselves or we are given limited (sometimes out of date) information. There are quite a few civilian WLS programs in neighboring cities (within 1 hour drive) and there is really no reason why they cannot all collaborate together from time to time. Most of these things can be worked on but not entirely repaired because f the nature of the hospital; time you spend with your providers are limited, turn-over rate of providers is fairly fast, there is not a lot of support or money given to the WLS program b/c of the mindset of the people who make decisions for military hospitals. So I think Blanchfield does a good job of working with what they have, although there are some things that could be fixed with little to no cost of time, resources, or money such as the support and inclusion of the “Support group” program especially since the patients are proactive enough to assist them!
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"One spray bottle lasts 30 days. We received samples of the women's or men's MV and we were able to taste several other kinds. The sprays work through mucosa and sublingual absorption. I found them all quite pleasant and a wonderful alternative to pills!"
"OK, so this has 19g of protein and 3 net carbs & 0 Trans fat. I love S'mores so I figured this might be a good substitute after surgery. Big mistake, tastes nothing like it. It was extremely hard to chew, my jaw hurt afterwards. The taste is not bad; it is just not, what I was hoping for. :-) I also noticed that in the warnings on the bar it says that it can have a laxative effect. I already have that problem so I will probably avoid eating more than one of these a day."
"My first impression of Dr. Sanborn was "Hello, Ray Liotta!" Just kidding, it is a running joke around here that he is one doctor who is definitely soft on the eyes!
So far, I have had my WLS class and my first consultation appointment with him. Dr. Sanborn seems extremely nice and supportive. He appears to have enough experience with WLS needed to put you at ease. He conducts a very informative Q&A class on WLS before you have your first consultation appointment with him. It is a half hour long power point presentation and afterwards he asks for questions and answers anything we have for him. Dr. Sanborn does require a pre-op checklist covering all necessary tests and multiple visits to the nutritionists and behavioral health, so be prepared for that. However, he does NOT require any weight loss prior to surgery but does tell you that it is healthier for you in the end. Sanborn is a supporter of the support group meetings although the hospital chose to drop the program when the soldiers came back from combat. A group of post-op women has taken it upon themselves to restart the meetings and so far, they are going strong! (I enjoy them, thanks Moe!!!) Dr. Sanborn also treats his WLS patients just like any other surgical patient, he does not feel that we are “bottom of the list” when it comes to scheduling our surgeries. This is one of my favorite things about him! It is a real shame that there is only one of him! (Although there is a new surgeon that just PCSed here and Sanborn is training him up to take part in the WLS program!)
So far, my experience with the staff of the Surgical Clinic has not been the best. (Since this is a military hospital, it really should not reflect on the doctor but the hospital itself.) So far, the clinic staff, more specifically the front desk people, have lost my paperwork, been rude on occasions, and given me false information. I admit that sometimes the staff is nice but typically, I get such a cold and aloof feeling from them whenever I go in. It is such a complete difference from Dr. Sandborn and some of his nurses!"
"Gateway was very good! I was only frusterated in that they suggested that I take my normal sleep meds (Ambian) at the regular dose. Well I explained to them that I had not slept in 24 hours but they insisted I take my meds. I did and was so OUT, that I did nothing that I normally do while sleeping. So needless to say, my results were a bit off. Otherwise, I had a great experience."
