dreamkin

I had my initial consultation yesterday wth Dr. Yu in houston. He was very nice, and patient. He took time to talk to me and listen to me... which i greatly appriciate. i know he is an amazing surgeon. ive done my research and have a friend who is a surgeon look into him for me. i know he will definitely be my surgeon.... Then he threw me a curve ball. He said that while 70% of the surgerys he does are for single incision VSG, he would prefer i have GB. ??!?!?!!!?!!? he says there is science emerging that says GB is basically curing diabetes. not the weightloss, but the actual surgery. He says the rerouting of the intestines effects glycogon (sp?) and in a significant number of patients, diabetes is being reversed before they even lose much weight. I have been diabetic almost my whole life, and would love to be free of the fear of future related complications.. but im TERRIFIED of GB. he assures me that it has changed completely from 10 yrs ago. the risk is nearly the same as sleeve, with few long term complication possibilities as long as im compliant. he says he truely believes it is what is best for me. I was 100% set of VSG. now im about 80% set. i know i will have to do my own research, and soul searching... but i just wanted to reach out and see what your thoughts are.. anyone been through this? any input is so appriciated. im slightly freaked out, slightly confused. i will have my nut class and psych eval march 8 (thats all my insurance requires) and my endoscopy that same day. looks like surgery will likely be early april. thanks! tricia

all your information is helping me SO much! all the things you guysare saying ive had swimming around in my mind.. the malabsorption issues, the DS later as an option. My gut is telling me to have the sleeve. to not be "greedy" ... you know the story about the puppy with a bone looking at his own reflection in the Water... i dont want to drop my perfectly good bone for the perceived bigger bone, just to be left empty handed. It has taken me so long just to come to terms with the decision to have the sleeve that i cant imagine at this point wrapping my mind around GB. ive wrestled with the possibility of complications taking me away from my family, wrestled with feeling selfish because of that, and i dont think i can allow myself to take on added risk. thank you all so much for replying, the support and added perspective helps so much. i feel so much better than when i wrote the post earlier today. i appriciate you. tricia

losing weight can only help my diabetes. GB offers the possibility of curing it. My surgeon wanted me to choose BG but said that most his surgeries are VSG. he added that like 3% of the surgeries he does in his bariatric practice are the band. He said its a useless and ineffective procedure. hes clearly not pro-band. the sleeve feels like a happy medium to me too... most of the benefits, only a fraction of the risk. sigh... what a decision.

Thanks dooter, i actually JUST had a conversation about this with my surgeon friend and she said the same thing. ill need some more info, and opinions before i can be confident in any decision i make.

thanks for the reply rootman... i was thinking the same thing about having the re routing later if i still wanted. its a valid argument that i was too taken aback to come up with at the time of my consultation. im making a written list of questions fo my next appt. it is a tough choice. bedhead... i am a juvinile type 2 diabetic. i do take insulin now, because it has progressed to that point. i got type 2 diabetes at age 6, at was at a normal weight at that time... weird i know. the surgeon is aware of that weirdness and has said that my particular case may not be helped by GB.. but that he feels its my best shot at even having a chance of ridding myself of the disease. he didnt sugar coat it all make it sound 100% rosey. he just wants me to know that in his opinion its my best hope.

Hi Everyone!!! I will be having my surgical consultation with Dr. Yu in Houston in 2 weeks! I know its just the beginning of the process, but I'm super excited!!! I was wondering if you all could help me out by giving some advice about questions i should be asking the surgeon? ive never had surgery of any sort, and i"m not sure quite what to expect, or what i "need to know" ANY help will be greatly appriciated! THANKS:) Patricia

HI! I am new here:) I will be joining BCBS Illinois in feb and will be jumping their hoops to have VSG. I came across this in my research today and am wondering what your thoughts are, or if anyone else has read related info. it states that BCBS (Illinois, tx, OK, NM) has decided in conjunction with HCSC (their parent company) and ASMBS (american society of metobolic and bariatric surgery) to eliminate the pre operative 6 mth diet requirment. It states that it was announced on sept. 21, 2011. I have called bcbs and they say they have no knowledge of that policy change. HOWEVER... i have read a ton on this board and it appears that many people didnt know in febuary that they would be making the policy change from 3 mth diet to 6 mth diet that was done in march. AND in sept of 2010 people had no idea that VSG would become a covered surgery in Oct. so it seems like maybe you wont know about the policy change until it happens. thats what im hoping for. i will do this however i have to, but it would be amazing to not have to wait the 6 mths. http://asmbs.org/2011/12/hcsc-removes-mandatory-pre-operative-weight-loss-requirement/ thoughts? tricia

memeMEEE.. i dont currently have insurance, which is why i am conserned about the pre existing condition thing. i plan on keeping excelent documantation from my dr nut and weight watchers. i will leave nothing to chance, but am afraid to start all that until im on the policy. looking for a provider now is a good idea though because ive often heard new patients can sometimes wait over a month for an initial visit. would be smart to schedule ahead and simply give them my insur info when i get it:) thanks for that idea! i agree with you indi1! the wait may be a blessing in disguise.things happen for a reason, and jus because im inpatient and excited doesnt mean i have to get what i want RIGHT THIS SECOND! lol. itll come to me as its supposed to. thanks ladies! tricia

OH and im also concerned about starting the 6mths now because the dr i go to may not be my PCP once the insurance kicks in.. and ive read some posts that make me think BCBS wants documentation SPECIFICALLY from my pcp. ?? tricia

memeMEEE... the article talks about weightloss, but im sure they are referring to the 6 mth diet, because in the policy im told they need "6 mths of active participation in a non surgical weightloss program". i HAD thought about starting the weightloss months now, to save the time, BUT im not on the insurance yet. i wont be added until we actually get married feb 5th, so my fiance is concerned they wont accept the time put in before coverage.. OR even that they will hold it against me as some sort of "pre existing condition" issue. any thoughts on that? it would be great to hear what you all think of that logic! i dont want to do ANYTHING to jeopardize my chances at approval. THANKS:) tricia

well i do know my bcbs ill will cover the sleeve, and i dont need any certain period of time worth of documentation of my weight (UHC wanted a 5 yr consecutive history!) but as of now they DO require the 6mth diet. they have actually been really amazing helping me figure out EXACTLY what i need to do and how to do it. i will do the 6 mths if they need it, but this article gives me hope. my prayer is that once the new policy kicks in jan 1 they will update their requirements and i will be able to proceed immediatly:) maybe its a pipe dream, but its MY pipe dream lol! the thing that gives me real hope is that the ASMBS is a legit organization. they would not have posted that if it werent true. now just to see when it goes into effect, and if my husbands employers plan is included. fingers crossed.. toes and eyes too! tricia

oooooo. this is good. i havent given this much thought before. im going to put together a little list too. what motivation that would be:)! THANKS! tricia

I have told a few people. a very select few. i told my father and the first thing he started talking about was all the loose skin ill have. awsome. i told him i would rather live the rest of my life with loose skin, than not live the rest of my life. i am not ashamed to have surgery, there is no shame in a solution. i am fearful of the actual procedure and of the recovery, because i do have comorbidities that will make healing risky. because of this fear i dont want anyones input. it has been my experience that peoples "concerns" sometimes are only a mask for their own agenda. there are people in my life who cannot feel good about themselves, unless i feel bad about me. these are the same people who have contributed to my almost 300lbs, and who certainly have not earned ANY right to participate in such a life changing decision and time. i was extremely honest with the people ive told. ive explained that this is a decision i am making to save my life, to be here for my son in 15 years. this is not about a bikini, or a pair of jeans. ive explained that it is my decision alone and asked that they keep their personal opinions to themselves. the people who dont know are people who have no need to know, or whom i am certain would not be able to keep their opinions to themselves. this is my life, my choice, my risk. period. i think those of us with these weight issues are so often concerned with how "others" will be affected by our choices or lives. i know thats been true for me. but ive decided to put myself first. deciding to have this surgery, as scared as i am, is the first step. i am literally staking a claim to my life! it is mine. i deserve it. and i WILL fight for it with all means available to me. if you dont like it youve got a whole life of your own to focus on. take your nose out of mine. tell who you want to tell and dont tell anyone you dont want to tell. this is your life and your concern should be for you and anyone who cant see that, doesnt need to know. HOW DARE THEY BE ANGRY WITH YOU ! HOW DARE THEY!! they should only be proud and inspired by your strength to make this decision to save your life, and greatful that you will be in their lives that much longer! sorry for the tangent, im on a self respect kick lol! tricia