Donny

I too live in FW and am a few weeks away from surgery. I am using Dr. Kim. I have had a fantastic experience with his entire staff! I agree that it is weird not seeing your Dr., but I have been so happy with his staff it dosent matter! I compared it to taking your car to the shop lol. I never meet the mechanic that worked on it, but if they have good customer service specialists I feel comfortable and in good hands! So on that note, go with a surgeon you feel has the best experience. Not the best "salesman"

That's awesome! Keep up the good work! I know it has been said time and time again but I fell victim to the situation so.... Make sure to get plenty of calories! I'm 6'4" and started pre op at 380. I cut to 1200 health conscious calories a day and felt fine, no hunger, good energy, but I wasn't losing like I thought I would. So I upped it to 1600-1800 cals and upped the Water and I can't believe how quick I'm losing! My Fitness Pal reccomended around 2800 but I couldn't imagine eating that much (healthy) food!

I have an off topic question for you! I have my surgery in a month and found out it is scheduled for 10 days before on of my buddies is coming to visit me. How are you feeling 9 days out? Do you have energy and feel you could entertain? Thanks!

I have all my requirements done and approval in hand! My date is Oct. 22nd, I'm down 20 lbs from first visit and shooting for another 30 by surgery. My goal in the next 3 mo. Is adjusting my eating habits to that of a post-op (with more calls tho) I have been using post op recipes and trying to get used to no added carbs/sugar/salt and drinking regularly with no liquids 30min to either end of a meal. I used my 3 mo of insurance hoops to get in healthy habits and using the next 3 to get into VSG habits!

For me, my out of network max is $2500 so I'm planning on that just because it is the max I can pay. But my coordinator said it shouldn't be over $1500 out of pocket for me. and I think I'm about $400 into the process so far including my surgery down payment. I budgeted $3500 for the entire process

I had my last appointment two Thursday's ago and I called insurance last Wednesday and they said they received the info that day (6 days) then I got a call last Friday saying I was approved (3 days after submission) so it was 8 days after my last apt that I got the good news! Good luck!

Im planning on October for surgery and I just told my boss this week. It went way better then I thought it would! He just said I hope everything is ok with you and if I ever need anything just to ask, and he told me not to use any of my PTO and just classify it as sick time and tack short term disability on afterwards. I was so relieved I did not need to use any vacation time and my boss was super understanding!

Pickles are one of the top foods I miss! But because 1 pickle has more sodium then we should eat in a day I have said my goodbyes to them

I started my journey exactly 3 months ago at 6'4" 385# (paperwork submitted today). And I too still have reservations about surgery, but mine stems from the feeling that I failed myself. But I know how my weight loss has gone in the past and its always lose a bunch to gain even more back. I have worked hard the last 3 weeks and lost 13lbs during them (first 2 months I wasn't committed but still lost a few lbs each month) and have dropped to 367#am getting way more active, which makes me question do I need to go through with surgery? I mean look at me, im doing it on my own! I can sit here and say "this time im committed, this time I really will stick with it and lose the weight" but realistically that's the same story I have been telling myself for 10 years. That story is the reason I decided to go to a consult. I know that this is the best option for me and I know my life will be so much better after surgery. I have had 3 knee surgery's as a result of football injury's and they still hurt to this day. Even tho im second guessing myself I know if I want to make up in the mornings pain free, energetic, happy with what I see in the mirror, and ready to take on the world the sleeve is the tool I need to get me started! So, stick with it! Your almost there! it's only 4 more pounds! I mean lets be real lol, at our weight a 1300 cal day with a 45 min walk and a good BM can result in 1-2# off the scale! Keep up the swimming and fight for those last 4 pounds, you will be grateful for the rest of your (extended because you will be healthier) life! Send me a PM if you want to talk more!

I was diagnosed with it but I have a very mild case. During the sleep study I hated the machine, I felt like a couldn't breath and I kept getting light headed. I decided not to purchase the machine because I felt like it was suffocating me :-(

Lean heavy on support systems, they are fantastic! Unfortunately for me it ment 3 weeks of not going out on weekends with my friends. Get me in a bar with whiskey and a bunch of chain smoking friends and it's game over! Lol. My doc said you need to shrink you liver prior to surgery. If its too large when they get in there they will stop and not complete the surgery. I have to take a nicotine test prior to going under. I stopped all fried foods, alcohol, and cigaretts.

I know exactly how you feel! I always go to the gym and do the elliptical and lately I haven't been going because it gets boring! So, I started thinking about what I want to complete after I have my sleeve. (I'm in my last week of 3 mo program) I decided on a sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run). I did a ton of research about them and I am super pumped! I joined a triathlon website and report all my workouts and the people on the boards hold me accountable and really support me it's great! So I caught the bug :-) I'm doing the couch to 5k program and I run along the river (3 days a week) then I swim and bike (machine at gym) 3 days per week. I feel it keeps me from getting bored and I don't use a scale. I try to focus on training for the event vs. working out for weight loss because I know I'm losing weight! The darn scale has haunted me my whole life so I just tucked it away and am focusing on eating right and improving my workouts! I have been doing this for a month now and am excited to get home from work and see if I can jog further ect.

I'm right there with ya! I'm 6'4" and played football all the way through college. I spoke to my surgeon about it and we agreed that I should set a goal in the area of 220.

I quit three weeks ago and had one "relapse" day last weekend at the bar. It was my birthday and my friends were on a shots mission. I woke up the next day and had the scratchy throat and that was enough to give me the extra push to quit Then it was smooth sailing until yesterday. I was working with my boss who smokes 2 packs a day (while driving around and sitting in the car most of the day) and by the end of the day I asked if I could have one and he laughed and said no. I'm glad I have support and it hasn't been too bad of a process.

I too am working with Dr. Kim and I have Aetna! My last visit of the 3 month plan is next week! I have done the sleep study but no psych eval yet. I really hope everything goes smooth and I get approved! But now y'all got me nervous about out of network! ..... Im nervous after reading all of the horror stories about "I had my surgery then insurance..... and now I owe a pile of $$$$"

Hello all, As stated this is the first time I am having to deal with insurance companies, as I am 25 years old and have never needed to prior. Im severely freaking out because my surgery coordinator told me I had to do a sleep study and she reassured me after looking at my explanation of benefits that it would be covered under insurance. Well today I got the claim alert from Aetna saying for the two nights it cost $14,000 and the portion I owe is $11,000. I have a $500 deductible and $2000 out of pocket max. For $14,000 I would have gone to Mexico! Because I am young and naive I was hoping anybody with education or experience in the area could help me proceed to fight this claim. I am super scared right now because I have no idea how to come up with this kind of money. Thanks

Oh, and im going to take a wild guess and say you went to Mid Cities Sleep Center also. So no worries they rock!

Yeah, I got way too worked up! For me they accepted whatever the insurance company paid them and never billed me for anything! My total out-of-pocket expenses for the sleep study was just the gas to get there!!! Don't worry about it and just call the sleep center and ask them how they do their billing after they are paid from insurance.

Yeah, I'm into my last month before we submit everything and it's starting to get real. Which is hitting me hard, I'm starting to feel extreamly disappointed that I couldn't do it on my own... I feel as a 26 year old guy that played college football I should be disciplined enough to lose 130lbs. But after careful consideration and so many failed attempts and yo-yoing I know this is what I want/need!

Probably a dumb question, but here it goes! I have been looking around and got some info but was looking for a little more long term, as this is the biggest thing standing in my way right now. What are some of the long term things that will never be the same (aside from food, I get that) :-) Will life always require a pill box of Vitamins? Will I ever be able to take the refreshing gulp of Water? Will energy always be low (B12) Will I ever be able to get strength back again with such low intake of essential nutrients? Can I ever do a tough mudder without a supply of protien bars ? Ect. What are some of the "life will never be the same's". I'm ok with all the food changes because that's what got me here in the first place, but I'm scared of the stuff the Dr.'s don't really talk about or brush off. I want the brutal honesty of what little things I can expect the rest of my life Thanks!

Just bring a microwave anyways! Your the RA, you can't write yourself up! Haha. But in all seriousness I microwave isn't a huge fire hazard like a hot plate is. I'm sure with a dr. Note the rules can be bent

It's a 10 mile insane obstacle course that will test every part of you. It was designed by special forces and has freezing water, mud, electricity, you name it! Check out the website! Toughmudder.com

How long do you have to wait before you can drive? I'm finding it difficult to get a ride from friends lined up mid day.

I am going to call the sleep center tomorrow and ask them how they justify that much. Im hoping since insurance paid them 1500 both times and I paid 500 deductible both times they decide to be nice and waive it lol.