makemyownluck

Near Chicago IL

I'm 32 and thinking about getting it now. But I talked to my PCP about it when I was 23, because that birthday I was bawling because I had a family dinner to Celebrate my bday to go to and NOTHING FIT. So I went to my PCP to talk about surgery and he said he didn't think it was a wise thing to do, saying the things the nurse told you about social risks and higher risk of failures, etc. Plus, at that time, I didn't have any other health problems, so being young and impressionable, I dropped the issue. Well, 9 years later, and I'm probably a good 100 lbs heavier (if not more!) than that 23 year old version of me. I still go to the PCP I saw way back then, and this time around, he was on board as soon as I mentioned it to him. He even submitted my paperwork early to get my referred for surgery! I also was recently diagnosed with HTN, so that may have been a contributing factor as well. I know you want to talk to people closer to your age, but let me just tell you, there is absolutely no sense in waiting. I waited, and I'm sad that I did!

There's no need to insult a dissenting opinion, dfw. I'm not ignorant, on this topic anyway. Private insurances do pay for WLS surgery. I work in individual health plans - most do cover it.I'm talking MAJOR carriers - BCBS, Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Kaiser - I can't (and won't) speak for smaller companies that aren't going to pay for much anyway. As far as small group coverage, they pay for it too, if you have a plan that includes it. Same for maternity. You have to purchase that coverage in addition to basic coverage. Maternity costs a lot of money! To a self-pay or to an insurance company - but you think they should include it for free?? How can they afford to? $420 a months is not much compared to the millions insurance companies pay out. I realize that many people won't take my side on this, because it's the touchy subject of health care. No business would survive if they just covered every surgery for every person who ever wanted any type of surgery done - people self-paying can't afford to just do whatever they want - but assume that because they are insured they are entitled to it. If you get in a car accident with a Toyota, are you supposed to get paid to buy a new Mercedes? Not unless you get some insurance that will pay 3x the worth of your car (which, btw doesn't exist because it couldn't). We are not "entitled" to WLS. Just like we're not "entitled" to own homes, cars, vacation in Europe - whatever else in your life that you'd prefer to have. I don't think people shouldn't have a right to basic care - but as a taxpayer, I will be the one responsible to pay for everyone to have insurance, and that doesn't seem fair to me! Especially if they want to go out and get expensive elective surgeries, or expensive infertility treatment or other types of medical care that are not a requirement for life. I feel like I "need" to have WLS - but that doesn't mean it's not still an entirely elective procedure to have.

insurance companies get discounts because they are basically guaranteeing the hospital business from the people they insure. typically, insurance companies pay anywhere from 50-80% less than what is billed. Considering this is an elective procedure, I would *think* hospitals would be less likely to offer a discount to a self-paying person. Where as, if you had surgery because your appendix burst or something, and you were in a hardship, then they'd be more likely to help you. Bottom line - get insurance.

I'm sure someone has posted something like this before - but I couldn't find it. Feel free to link me to it if you know of a good post on this subject. What do you need to have pre-op so that you are ready for the immediate post-op? I'm talking about what you take with you to the hospital and what you need on hand for when you first come home. I am a list making fanatic, so I've already got one going... The only things I've thought of so far are: TAKE TO THE HOSPITAL: My own pillow. My own toothpaste/toothbrush A hairbrush comfy clothes without elastic bands at the waist Gas-X strips. my phone (MAN I wish I had a tablet!) and charger Magazines or books IPOD TO HAVE ON HAND AT HOME: make sure my laundry is done before I go in for surgery, lol - don't need that chore waiting for post-op me! bottled Water Protein shakes Vitamins? IDK what kind for post op? broth tea? IDK if tea is okay? any kinds I shouldn't have? I don't have a surgery date, but this stuff is already on my mind!! Any help is appreciated!

OMG "I just keep thinking: You're not a dog, stop rewarding yourself with food." I think I just had an "a-ha!" moment!!

dfw, have you looked into the bariatric programs at major hospitals in your area? I'm not sure where you live, but my example is that I'm in the Chicago suburbs. There are about 5 hospitals that run HUGE (no pun intended) bariatric programs. They ALL offer free seminars. You don't have to be their patient, you can just go to get more info. You just have to register in advance - but they do several of these a month and they are several hours long. It goes over each type of surgery, the pros/cons, the pre- and post-surgery diet, what to expect from surgery, and there is either a doctor or nurse to answer questions as accurately as possible. Sometimes they have recent patients there as well to help. These hospitals also run support groups that their patients are required to join. I haven't looked into it, but I'm pretty sure they would let any recent surgical patient join their group! These hospitals are "Bariatric Centers for Excellence" programs. Try googling that with your nearest major city name and you might find hospitals with similar programs available. Good luck!

Morphine does make you constipated - all opiates do. Laudanum was sold through the early 1900s and was basically liquid opium that was used commonly for dysentery (severe, chronic diarrhea). It was widely abused by the public and sold without prescription (look it up on wiki, it's a fascinating article - people used it for EVERY AILMENT - even to put babies to sleep at night!!). But any opium derivative (liquid morphine included) will have a similar effect. The effect of taking these medications is profound. Even prn use can build up in your liver. I don't know what nerve damage you have, but it would be wiser to find an alternative than taking this type of medication for the rest of your life. You'd end up a drug addict. Prescription or not, doctor or not, these meds are NOT safe long term!

Vicki - I am so worried about my tastes changing after surgery, because I actually LIKE the RTD shakes and I really love greek yogurt!! Let's hope my lifelong love of sweets doesn't vanish forever! (altho maybe that would HELP not binge!)

I agree dfw! I don't know how the self pay people do it! However, I do have insurance and I'm not being sent to any classes at all, so I sort of feel like I'm on my own with this too! So strange... some people get referred to go to classes for months with insurance, and here I am, just getting approved and referred for surgery. Seems like it's happening so fast!

i worry about the same thing! overweight my whole life - and VERY overweight at that. if you already have a problem with a hanging stomach (there are some big people who have big stomachs, but they don't hang - mostly men!) then it's still gonna hang when you lose weight. The best thing you can do is work out to tone up your body, but considering how quickly you lose with rny, it's inevitable. You can't argue with gravity. However, skin is an organ and very elastic, and eventually it will tighten up SOME on its own. Again, working out will help this process along. Saunas or red light therapy could help and some spas offer wraps or massages targets to weight loss surgery patients that can help firm up the skin. There is no miracle cure to it, though. And a tummy tuck is a thousand times more painful than the rny itself with longer healing time. What I know is that my body is a mess as it is right now. Having surgery will slim me down, but I'm still gonna have flab, stretch marks, varicose veins, etc - those things will require more work after surgery. Even if I have to wear spanx with everything - if I can get into "normal size" clothes - that's a victory. If I can get off bp meds, that's a victory. If I can go hiking for miles and miles with my friends - that's a victory! There's options to get rid of skin, or you can learn to live with it. You're gonna be so much happier when you have your life back!! Good luck to us ALL!

you have to check they type of Protein they offer. the shots mostly use collagen protein which is not the same as whey or soy protein which is what we need. If you don't like milk base, then use a soy protein with Water instead of milk. unjury also has an unflavored Protein powder that you can put in anything (like broth) and a chicken flavored protein that's also good for Soup. Don't just look at the grams per serving of protein, find out what kind of protein is in there. and when in doubt, check with your NUT!

So, my PCP and I have been discussing WLS since July. He submitted to my insurance this week and I was approved - the catch being they only do RNY and lap band. From the beginning, I've been thinking that I wanted to have VSG. I've been planning this whole time for having VSG. I've been sort of averse to having rny because of the post-op dumping effect, but more importantly the malabsorbtion issues people face. I really wanted VSG because it seems like the most "normal" post op life. At this point, to get the VSG I was set on is going to require major effort and potentially a lot of time. Phone calls, appeals, waiting, waiting, waiting. Meanwhile, I got an appointment for 10/29 when I called the surgeons office this morning for a consult. I'd still have pre-op tests to do, but surgery COULD be right around the corner if I just went with the rny. I could also do a lap band, but I don't want a band inside me forever, or the post op fills, etc. At this point, it's fight for VSG or get RNY instead. So, any recent (like, w/i 5 yrs maybe) surgical patients out there that had to decide between VSG and RNY, I'd love to hear from you.Really, from anyone. What made YOU choose RNY? Also, if this makes any difference in anyone's response, I do have a significant amount of weight to lose. I'm well over 400lbs. The doctor can't weigh me, so I don't even know for sure how much. Probably like 420-440ish, and I'm 5'10 female, age 32. Any links you have that are helpful are appreciated. Thanks so much for the advice!

I'm pre op and very depressed and stressed - the way I look at it, I CAN'T FEEL ANY WORSE THAN I ALREADY DO! Anything would be an improvement at this point. And, I gotta say, this whole insurance process isn't helping!! I think getting over the insurance woes, the pre-op testing, the night-before-surgery-jitters - I'll be so exhausted that getting the dang operation over with will bring on a flood of relief and it will only get better from there! You have to have a positive attitude. You WILL get through this. You WILL feel better. You WILL succeed. You WILL be happy. "Trying" to be or do anything already implies failure. You have to have the will to see the bigger picture, to keep your eye on the prize, and KNOW IT WILL GET BETTER. I woulda thought an old hippie lady would know that a positive attitude gets you through anything. Stay strong! You've survived this long as a heavy person - that speaks volumes for your capacity to adapt already! Life isn't easy being heavy. But every movement you make will be easier when you lose weight. Just eliminating the depressing effects of pain, pain you may not even recognize because you've had it so long, will change your overall mood. I know I'll probably have body issues for my whole life. Things I'll want to change or whatever - like most women have. I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with being the biggest person I know. I'm not okay with struggling up my FOUR porch stairs. I'm not okay with cracking ankles and knees at age 32 because my poor legs were not made to sustain this weight. My body is a mess, I don't expect that to change completely by losing weight (if anything, things could get reallll ugly!). But being accepted by society is so important to me. I bully myself harder than anyone, but I'm so fragile to society because I've been ridiculed too many times. I recognize how I'm treated differently, and I know I'm a smart person! I know I have valid, thoughtful opinions. I know I'm a great, funny, talented person - but being severely overweight, no one sees that! Wow. This reply got really long. Sorry bout that. I need a therapist stat! LOL

oh, and the period for supervised diet is different for each insurance plan. the standard is around 6 months, but a lot of plans do 3 months and there are many that don't require the supervised diet at all - just a nutritionist consult to advise you how your pre and post-op diets go. make sure your doc noted you discussed surgery in your med recs, too. It will help if you do have a time frame requirement, so that the time starts NOW, not your next follow up visit.

Hi! I'm 32, my name is Andrea. I started my process in July and got a referral to a surgeon approved today. The process really depends on the type of insurance you have (I assume you're not self-financing, since that process is pretty much PAY MONEY - HAVE SURGERY). If you have H. M. O., then you need a referral to a surgeon. If you have PPO, you can choose the surgeon and then they will start the process for you. Either way, the process would be: supervised weight loss (diet), nutritionist consult (to give you guidelines for said diet), and a psych consult to see if you have any mental illness that would preclude you from being able to comply with your post-op care and that don't have any undiagnosed mental issues (I wanted to frame my psych consult - PROOF I'M NOT CRAZY? I should hold on to this! - is what I thought, lol). The biggest requirement is patience. and commitment! Good luck!

I called my md office and left a msg for the lady who does the referrals, so hopefully we can get this figured out quickly. I know January isnt that far away, but I really don't want to start this whole process over! I'm hoping my nut n psych consults don't expire before I can get this straightened out!

I love muscle milk, french vanilla rtd is great and i can add things for flavor. I like chai powder (found a sugar free mix at world market) or i also do coffee extract for a cappucino flavor. Ive also added sugar free raspberry syrup. World market has a huge selection of sugar free turano syrups. Also, muscle milk has a banana cream flavor that is very banana-y. Banana isnt my favorite bit i like it enough to have once in a while. They also make Peanut Butter extract if you really like that flavor combo. A couple drops of extract goes far and adds 0 calories or carbs!

Careless01 posted about going back to work after surgery but has a way more labor intensive job than I do. I work 8h a day/40h a week M-F - typical boring office job where I sit at my computer all day long. I very rarely have to get up ever. (sidenote: this probably one of the many reasons I'm fat!) I was planning on taking a week. Two AT THE MOST and only under the most trying circumstances. My STD benefits don't kick in for 10 days and I only get 60% of my pay, so I really don't want to take off more time than I need to, since I'm a single gal and it's my only income. My question is, do you think I can reasonably go back to work in a week after VSG? I had laparoscopic gall bladder surgery a few years ago and was back to work 6 days after surgery because I had the same "sit-at-my-desk" kind of job and the same financial situation. I did just fine with that. I know VSG is a much more significant procedure, but if my work agrees to let me eat when I need to and any other accommodation, do you think I'd be able to be back at work a week later?

Thank for the advice. I've tried calling EVERYONE. bcbs said I need to talk to my PCP. I called the medical group directly and they also referred me to the PCP. I looked up the BCBS med policy online and my PCP told me that's not the same criteria, that the H.M.O. has their own criteria (which means the medical group determines eligibility, and when I called them, they referred me to my PCP). I trust my MD, I hope he DOES know what he's talking about. I don't want this experience to ruin my relationship with this doc, I've been seeing him for 13 years. If I don't get the answers I want next visit, I'll start making some noise!

I got my psych eval today. A nice little letter to say I have no mental disorders... kinda want to have that framed. For reference. To remind myself I'm sane. To prove such to others who know me and doubt that. Went to my PCP yesterday for a routine visit and my bp is finally under control. Halleloo for that! Had a pap that wasn't as embarrassing or as torturous as I thought it might be. My PCP said my insurance will want 3 months of supervised diet. But because he doesn't have a scale that will weigh me, he's gonna see if we can get around that. Otherwise, I'm looking at end of November for referral to surgeon. Supposedly things move quickly from that point. My PCP didn't know anything about VSG. The NUT I went to sort of looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about when I said "vertical sleeve" as the answer to the surgery I wanted. The psychologist had no idea what VSG is. So, I'm kinda at the point where I don't know what's going to happen. I'm hoping for the best but sorta getting the sneaking suspicion that I'm going about this wrong, that I'm being misled and that I have no one who can tell me to do otherwise. *sigh* and I don't know anyone IRL who has had VSG or any wls on my type of insurance. I'm lost! I hope all these copays aren't all in vain! That said, I'm really trying to stay optimistic. I can't wait to get on the loser's bench already!

There is only one word for my mood lately: crankerpants. It's that "I'm super cranky, so if you talk to me, I'm probably gonna be a snarky b***h" type of feeling that I'm not so sure everyone experiences. I've made a bunch of changes to my diet, and been really terrible at sticking to it. Seems I can go pretty good for about 3 days and then BAM I find myself finishing off a bowl of pasta or rolling through McD's for a breakfast sandwich. But overall, I think I'm doing okay. I mean, for those 3 days I stick to it, that's an achievement, right? I'd really like to limit myself from 2 crappy/cheat meals per week down to one. Trying to do baby steps so post-op isn't so drastic. Been trying to get my follow up with my PCP scheduled F O R E V E R, it feels like. But I need an appointment for a Sat 10/6 and for WHATEVER REASON, they don't have their Saturday schedules posted for October yet. UGHHH. So frustrating. Got a tiny bit crankerpants at the scheduling girl but turned it down a notch before I snapped. I just want to see if my PCP talked to my medical group about getting a referral before the 3 month diet period. I'd love to be referred in October and scheduled for November!! Hope that's not just wishful thinking! Progress: I joined a gym today. There's a Planet Fitness like 5 minutes from my house and they happen to be running a start-up special right now, so I signed up. I feel so grown up and responsible! I went with my BFF and she's a member already, so she showed me around. Lots of the machines I remembered from being in high school gym class. And I loved how you could watch TV or ipod on the treadmills and bikes and stuff. Walk a mile AND watch Judge Judy? YES PLEASE! I'm also happy to report that this friend that took me to the gym is also the first person I told I was considering surgery and I thought she judged me for it. She really had a lot on her plate (her mom passed away ) but a few days ago she asked me how my surgery plan was going and we talked about it for a while. She asked a lot of questions and was really supportive. Makes me wonder if she'd consider surgery if she saw me lose a bunch of weight? IDK. I won't bring it up. It's too big of a decision for me to try talking her into it. My mom already said she's contemplated some type of surgery before... I think it would be interesting if all the heavy people in my life started having surgery! haha. all the more reason for me to BE THE FIRST! I think my mood improved since starting this post. Yay! Have a happy hump day tomorrow, everyone!!

I'm so sorry you're having trouble getting the Protein in! I understand about the shakes being too sweet - maybe if you cut them with skim milk they might be easier to take? Also, talk to your NUT and ask if those protein shots are suitable. They might be! I'm not an expert! The only other suggestion I have is unjury makes an "unflavored" Protein powder. I think it's more intended to mix with other things as "unflavored" doesn't mean "flavorless". I haven't tried Unjury, but lots of people have written about it being very good. They also have a chicken flavored powder you can mix with broth... I hope this gets easier for you! Good luck!!

I've read on the boards that the Protein shots aren't suitable because they are collagen protein and not whey protein. Maybe you've already discussed this with your NUT, but you might want to consider a shake as a protein source.