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These are ALL excellent points, Julie. You took the words right outta my mouth. By the way, I just went out to your VBLOG and watched every episode. I LOVE IT!!!! It is fantastic, thank you so much for sharing your experiences, you have NO IDEA how much you are helping me and how calming it is. But anyway... back to the question at hand, about one's chance of dying as a result of VGS. I totally agree about looking at how high the BMIs of those folks were, as well as their other co-morbidities. But, overall, if you look at it purely from a "gambler's" point of view, which is all about ODDS... -- The chance that a Major League Baseball game will be a no-hitter is 1 in 775... which means, that happens even more often than somebody dies of VGS surgery (which has 1 in 1000 odds, I believe). Relax your mind!

Dear Angela, you are SO FUNNY, thank you for the laugh, I needed that. Keep your stomach in a jar, indeed. Congratulations on your upcoming surgery, and the fact that you have a skilled and trusted surgeon. I thnk that is half the battle, and I have a wonderful surgeon too, here in the good old US of A, in New York. Mine is Dr. Pomp, and he also has a ton of experience and I feel totally confident with him doing the surgery... but nobody else! My date is now December 2. Like you say though, I also have my moments of OMG WHAT AM I FRIGGING DOING TO MYSELF? HAVE I LOST MY MIND? But I read this GREAT book by Dr. Garth Davis, MD, of the show BIG MEDICINE, and like he says... they realize that for everyone, diet's just don't work, and I come back to the fact that this is my last chance to save my life. Gotta work through this opportunity. Not so sure that your hair has to fall out... I'll ask my doc about that but I haven't heard so much about that.... BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY, and a speedy recovery. Tally ho! Rainy

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Gosh, I hope that I do as well as you do, you look sooo good, and soooo happy. My date is December 2, pray for me!

Yes, I have heard, and read, a LOT about Gastric Plication surgery, and know people who have had it. The two best doctors that I know of who are currently doing this surgery are: Dr. Brad Watkins, in Cleveland Ohio, for $9,500, and Dr. Cotter, in Salt Lake City, Utah, for around $8,000. Supposedly, it does the same thing as a vertical sleeve but without any cutting, however, the recovery is not that much less than real Sleeve immediatley after surgery. You are still in the hospital for about a day afterwards, maybe two, and still go through the st stomach swelling, pain, etc. But I bet it's less. I was seriously considering it, but it is not covered by insurance, and with the travel costs, it would be over $10,000 for me, and I jusst really can't afford it. I had to go with a solution that is covered by insurance. The other reason that I backed away from it is that, although they "claim" it is reversible, even Dr. Watkins will tell you that after a few months pass, the scarring of the stiches in your stomach will kind of "grow together," and it's not really unreversible, at least not without a nother surgery, and maybe not at all, nobody's sure. Good luck to you if you can afford it, though,

Hello, December sisters and brothers!!! I got my official date, and insurance OK, today. My date will be December 2, and I am so excited!!! Nervous, but excited. Still have to do to the Cardiac Stress test (I'm over 50), and the Laproscopy, but then I'm home free! I wish everyone a bunch of luck and success.

WOW!!! You look fabulous, keep it up, Don't let the turkeys get you down, they're just jealous!

WOW! 22 Pounds, that's amazing. Congratulations. And really, congratulations big time on doing so well after surgery. It is reassuring to hear that every surgery is not horrible. Can't wait to hear how you like your bullet!!! Rainy

I would try tthree things here: (1) CLINICAL TRIAL. There are a lot of them going on now, often at some of the top hospitals. It is a lot of work, you have to look on the main government clinical trials web site. Go here and type in several different phrases, like try "bariatric surgery" or "surgical weight loss" or VSG... keep trying to see what is out there. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search Often, they pay YOU to be in these trials. I was in one for a year and a half for weight loss drugs, but they do have surgery ones. Look on the web sites of local hospitals, as well, some of them post their ongoing clinical trials on their web site. Weight loss is a HOT HOT HOT topic right now, and they might have something. (2) Try a different hospital. Any hospital that is a Center for Excellence will be approved by Aetna, if they are in their network. All you have to do is have that doctor switch the insurer. (3) APPEAL your case to Aetna... you say it is "elective surgery," but not if it is a medical necessity, which is what you have to prove through your BMI and/or co-moridities. Then, I think they might pay 90%... check your policy... and APPEAL. Don't give you your dream, fight for it! And, if worse comes to worse, get a part-time job on the side and start saving money. If you haven't lost weight in the next year or so, you can still have that surgery, and by then, who knows.. the cost may even be less!! Look at how the price of lap bands fell over the years. Good luck to you....

Your post is very near and dear to my heart, because I, too, am a GRAZER. Just love to nibble this and taste that, and then go munch some popcorn... but I have been working on that, and here is what helps, and what I intend to devote myself too wholeheartedly once I finally get my surgery... have you considered this? It sounds to me like you may be mourning for food, and of course it is always easier to do what's comfortable than to change familiar patterns. Have you tried BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION? It is a sort of therapy that focuses on replacing a bad habit with a good one,... I think that people like us will ALWAYS need something there to fill that void that we used to eat to fill. I agree, that to give up your old "food crutch" would leave you with nothing, but you can substitute! For me, I took up CROCHET. I love it now... and always have yarn and a hook in my hands. It took me about a year to start to get good, and now I really find pleaure in making beautiful things. It keeps your hands busy, and distracts you from food. Any hobby, really, whether it's gardening or whatever. Another think that might help is YOGA. In Yoga, you work at focusing your attention on the present moment, and gently stretching into different poses. It can quite active, and challenging, and you feel so proud of yourself when you have completed a set of poses. BREATHING... the breath is like your lifeblood, and learning to breathe deeply and fully can calm you down, and concentrate your your body, and it's circulation and other health. Here's a behavior modificaiton link on You Tube: I think you are doing GREAT.. you have come a long way, and lost a ton of weight, now all you have to do is dump your old habits like a cheap suit so you can be there for that baby. I do hope things improve for you, just concentrate on your amazing accomplishments... you've come far!

TOTAL sense... maybe the real problem is the husbands' insecurity about themselves. Mine is heavy too, not nearly as heavy as I am, but a big man who is always calling himself "fat." He eats very healthy though, and works out like a Spartan. I should be in such good cardiac shape! Maybe by becoming healthy and better looking, we'll also make our husbands more confident.

OK, everybody, the power of the community is undeniable. Last night I posted messages saying that I was AFRAID to tell my husband that I was planning the VSG, and asking for advice how I could hide or disguise my surgery, so he wouldn't get mad and think I'd lost my mind. But, after all of your encouraging and uplifting messages, today I talked to my General Practitioner, and got HIS buy-in and support for the sugery, and then tonight I just drank a glass of wine before dinner and then I TOLD THE HUSBAND!!! It worked out OK, everybody, and I am not hiding behind a lie any more!! At first he did get very upset and start yelling that he KNEW, all these years, I've been "jealous" fhose girls who have a big surgery and then run around showing off (guess we know where his fears lie), I calmly told him that our doctor was totally in support of me doing this, and that my health was the key issue here, not "running around." I explained that I was reseraching the surgery carefuly, and taking all the medicallyl necessary steps to make sure I had the best doctor and care, and that if he felt better about it, I would NOT involve him in the surgery event at all... but that my health was MY business, and I was NOT going to die of a heart attack, or develop diabetes for him, just because he was afraid of surgery. It worked!! He calmed down and said that, although he doesn't think I'm fat.. (HA!! I'm nearly 90 pounds overweight), if that is what I want to do, and our doctor supports it, then he will not be the one to disagree. So, ladies, if any of YOU have squeamish husbands who are big babies about surgery, and terrified of change, BEGIN with getting your doctor's support, and then even the most churlish husband cannot deny that you deserve to do whatever is needed to save your health. Now.. just crossing my fingers that all the final tests and details work out Thank you all for your support and encouragement. Rainyh

Chiming in here... the statistic of "1 in 200" equals a very low percentage of 0.5%. I wonder how OLD that statistic is... if it is from even 2003, it is outdated. Procedrues get safer and safer. To put that in perspective, 2009, 7,600 people the U.S. died from DENTAL SURGERY. All surgery is risky... you never know what is going to happen. Look at Andy Warhol, he died after an Appendectomy in one of the best hospitals in New York... I do think it is important to be very cautious, and have every test they tell you to have, and follow doctor's instructions EXACTLY. No cheating. Obviously, the doctor and clinic or hospital you have the surgery at is also important. While I don't expect to DIE from VSG surgery, it worries more more that what if my body can't adapt to the missing stomach, and what if my staples set off the metal detectors at the airport, or what if I got an ulcer later on... woudl there be enough stomach left for them to operate on? I worry more about stuff like that than directly dying. I have also had a couple of very major surgeries that took weeks of recovery, and they didn't kill me, so I think this wone will be OK too. If you don't feel ready, then put off the surgery. Mental preparedness is EVERYTHING!!! Good luck to you.

Hello, Cheechtrish: Thanks for the post. But I have to say... GIRL, you will be unrecognizable, losing that much weight. Somewhere out there, somebody has made software that you can scan your face in and it "reduces" you, or expands you... but, just look at the before/after photos in here... the women and men look like totally different people. So, no, you are NOT alone. My husband's insecurity is probably not uncommon... but I also think that in the back of his mind he may be worred that if I was at my "fighting weight," and more confident and more social, then I would DEMAND more from our relationship, and no longer "feel lucky to have a husband" because I am a fat girl. I do have to say.. and I by no means mean that I am an abused wife... but there are times when I bite my tounge, or don't demand things, or "settle" for things less than what my heart truly wants in our relationship because I guess that I don't feel that I DESERVE to be treated like a queen, have what I want, and get MY WAY.... So look out, boys... if I can just work out these final details, and get through the horrible part of the journey of pain and vomiting.. I'll be a high flying, and HEALTHY bird. Rainy

Hey, doeboy, CONGRATULATIONS!! You rock, and I agree with you about Tiajuana being a pretty fascinating place to be, in spite of all the sad poverty you see there. I hope to be where you are in one month from today, have a tentative Dec. 2 surgery date, but still have to get through a couple of last hurdles. My question is: HOW DO YOU LIKE THE MAJIC BULLET? I am shopping food processors and want to get the best one for my money. Good luck to you, and please keep posting, YOU INSPIRE ME! Rainy

Yes, I think that is the point EXACTLY. This actually did happen to someone I know, it happens, I guess. But my real and true goal here is to get myself healthy. Of COURSE, I woudn't mind being "hot" for once in my life, and no longer being thought of as the girl who "could be so beautiful if you just lost weight..." but actually BECOMING beautiful. I also KNOW FOR A FACT that I have been discriminated against in job after job because I am fat. They give all the "customer facing" assignments to the cute girls, and hide the fat girl in the back office, even though I am WAY better at my job. Enough ranting... thanks for the support.

Thank you, Becca, you are the BEST!! Big virtual hug going out your way. Read and watched so many people's stories today on YOU TUBE that I feel totally ready now, and just hope all of the "logistics" keep working out. Good luck to you too! Rainy

Congratulations, Sasha, your story is very inspriing to me. It is so scary to read all of these horrible stories about endless vomiting and horrible pain and "buyer's remorse," it is very reassuring to know that the surgery can sometimes go well, and that everything will be OK.

I am still waiting for my final approvals, but hoping for a date of Dec 2, so am thinking about what you are, too. Although I am having my surgery in the US (Dr. Pomp, New York Presbyterian, if everything works out right), and found this new BLOG that describes Tammy's experience having surgery in Mexico. It's great to read, and she put lots of pictures.. check it out... http://tamboo.tumblr.com/ I'm thinking that I'll take an IPOD and a magazine... want to travel light, and imagine that I'll be sleeping a lot and watch some TV... but this is all in my imagination at this point, of course.

Right ON, BZButterfly, as they say in the little rascals.. YOU SAID A MOUTHFUL. I just made a similar post to the end of TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL about my fear of telling my husband, and how I am thinking of what story I can tell him... since he is so disapproving of my freeing my body from this fat suit I've worn all my life. You totally DO deserve a new life, and so do I. Let's make a deal, if you don't give up on this dream, I won't either.

This topic is SO ON TIME for me.. but my problem is a bit different. Has anybody out there had THIS problem??? I can't tell my HUSBAND. He is very terrified of doctors and surgeries, and already considers me a hypochondriac (which I am not). He will be totally against this, and think I have gone insane, having my stomach cut out. But, as some of you point out, you have to let somebody know something, and it's pretty hard to hide this from someone that you live with... so I DO think that I can tell him I have decided to have a Lap 'Band. He knows what they are, he's heard me talk about them, and we have discussed other people who have had them. He hates that idea too, but he could live with it, although he won't like it. My question is: Do you think I can pass off a VSG as being "only a lap band?" Are the recoveries fairly similar? He has a major ICK factor going, so won't ask to see my port or anything like that... but if he has this idea that I can have this surgery reversed, and that it is safe and minor, it is going to be much easier for me to deal with than trying to tell him the truth. I feel terrible about excluding him from what's really going on, but honestly.. .it's MY body, MY health, and MY decision. I would love to hear how any of you may have handled having a spouse who is dead set against weight loss surgery, and what your coping strategy was. Thank you, all!

Hi everyone, I am nervously awaiting the results of my inusrance company's review of my surgeon's request for me to be covered for a Veritcal Sleeve. I have an Aetna PPO coverage. My documentation is perfect, I have the nutritiionist, doc letters, comorbidities, pshychology letter, etc.... and my doctor and his assitant feel confident that I will be approved. More confident than I feel, anyway!!! My doctor participates in the Aetna PPO insurance plan, so we're all on the same team. But, in looking through the boards here. I noticed that somebody posted a message saying that "covered" with Aetna means that they will pay 80%. Not sure if this person meant "in network," or "out of network.." but the cost of a VSG in one of the better hosptials of the US, with a top surgeon has to be HUGE... like $25-30,000, I'm guessing. EEEK.. that could leave me stil owing thousands, and I don't have much money at all. Has anyone here have any idea what COVERED means, money wise??? I was assuming it mean 100%, that they pay for everything but now I am getting nevous that even WITH insurance approval, I couldn't afford the 20% leftover. Anybody have any experience with this? It's a real emotional roller coaster... as you all know, I've been through so much to get to this point with all they put you through.... Thanks!

Thanks, ladies, for your information. I will look up what the policy covers. If it is like $5,000 I could probably borrow the money from one of those surgical loan places... I think it's worth it. Buying myself a new life and all... Much appreciated... Rain

Thank you, Becca, for your very kind post. Your encouragement is helping me... I suspected that getting the Band would be a mistake, as everything I read is that nobody keeps them more than a few years, as they are a big pain in the stomach. I guess my big bad fear is... what if I get the Vertical Sleeve but somehow my bod can't tolerate it? What happens then... it's not reversible, I wonder if anybody has ever died from it, or if everybody eventiually adjusts to it. It really seems like the ONLY solution.... thank you again, for your encouragement.

Thank you, Becca, for your very kind post. Your encouragement is helping me... I suspected that getting the Band would be a mistake, as everything I read is that nobody keeps them more than a few years, as they are a big pain in the stomach. I guess my big bad fear is... what if I get the Vertical Sleeve but somehow my bod can't tolerate it? What happens then... it's not reversible, I wonder if anybody has ever died from it, or if everybody eventiually adjusts to it. It really seems like the ONLY solution.... thank you again, for your encouragement.