bakawaka

My surgeon advised me that I should not fly for approximately 6 weeks after surgery. Are you receiving similar advice? The reason for not flying is to reduce the risk of blood clots.

I checked again with the surgeon. My surgeon will not make exceptions. No flights for a minimum of four weeks and not to leave town for a minimum of four weeks to verify that the stomach is healing well. I wish I could travel but I do appreciate my surgeon's diligence. This means that my surgery will be delayed until the end of the year.

I go to other countries for medical procedures when they are not covered by insurance in the US. Medical tourism is clearly going to expand due to the increasing costs of healthcare in the US. It is sad that our insurance system works the way it does. We must address it through legislative changes.

I have been able lose weight. But I have never been able to keep it off. That is why I am choosing VSG - the restriction is an important tool for maintenance.

BCBS of IL stated that the VSG procedure is "not medically necessary" and thus denied my claim. I am self-pay. I have a BMI of 35.5 + high blood pressure + high cholesterol. My BMI falls into Class 1 Obesity, not morbid obesity. I view the procedure as medically necessary. That's why I am going to pay for the procedure myself. I am disappointed with BCBS' decision. I am not an insurance expert. It seems reasonable to me that your BMI would motivate BCBS to say that you procedure is medically necessary. Apparently, our employers set conditions for the insurers. I want better health and am hoping that VSG surgery will help me lower my blood pressure and lower my "bad" cholesterol. I wish you the greatest success!

I will also be self-injecting with Lovenox. Did you experience a lot of pain after your surgery? Did you find the self-injections easy? Is there any issues of bringing the syringes through security?

I am sorry about your grandmother. Thank you for sharing your experience with flying.

My surgeon stated that it was to reduce the risk of blood clots. I fly a lot for my work - at least 4-5 times per months - in long flights of 8-10 hours. It is always good practice in a flight to drink a lot of water as well as to walk up and down the aisles.

I have never had surgery and have never stayed in a hospital overnight. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery will be the first surgery in my life where I stay overnight in a hospital. This might sound like a strange question, but I really do not know. Where do you store your wallet, your cell phone, your laptop and other valuables? Is there a safe at the hospital? Family members will do their best to be with me, but it is a possibility that they cannot arrive exactly on the date of my surgery. Thanks to anyone who might have insights.

I simply must say "thank you" to this forum. i am new to weight-loss surgery. My surgery will occur in October or November of this year. I have many questions that I forget to ask the doctor. The perspectives that people on this forum can share have been very helpful to me and I simply want to say "thank you." I'll certainly share my experiences post-surgery. I find reading forum posts to be very helpful in identifying issues and concerns that I had not thought about. Another benefit of the forum is to understand the challenges that people have post-surgery. Those observations help me be more realistic. I truly appreciate the postings.

I am self-pay in Illinois. The total fees (hospital & surgeon's fee) come to $18,000. It seems a bit high, when I consider that Mexico could be less than $10,000.

I would not hesitate to go to Mexico for surgery. I am also a self-pay patient. I decided to stay in Illinois and pay the much higher price simply because of the availability of family members. But I have frequently used health services abroad to save money and have been very pleased. I have read frequent positive reviews of surgeons in Mexico. I would suggest taking someone with you for the surgery - for support during recovery. I wish you great success in your weight-loss journey (I am on the same journey and will have my surgery in the US in October or November).

I have several veneers and crowns. I asked my surgeon about the chance of damage to the dental veneers and crowns during the intubation process. Some sort of metal tool is used to open the mouth to insert the tube. My surgeon did state that there is a risk of damage to dental crowns and veneers during this procedure. I've asked the surgeon to note that for the anesthetist. I am wondering whether anyone has experienced damage to dental veneers & crowns (or even a chip to a natural tooth) during the intubation procedure. Here are some links: Anaesthesia and dental trauma and Tooth injuries during general anesthesia, oral endoscopy and - NCBI. The risk of damage to veneers and crowns does not affect my decision to have surgery - I am determined to have it. But is there any way to reduce the risk of damage to teeth and dental crowns & veneers? This is probably an esoteric topic, but I am concerned.

I understand that after surgery, I will have to take chewable/liquid vitamins, as well as liquid forms of medication (blood pressure medication, cholesterol, etc.). How long after surgery were you able to go back to "regular" medication and vitamins that you simply swallow? Or do you find that you stay on liquid/chewable forms forever after surgery?

Thank you mommymar for the insight. I had a feeling that it could be possible to take the "regular" version of medication rather than having to take everything in liquid/chewable form.

My self-pay surgery is $18,000, which includes 2 nights in the hospital. I considered going to Mexico to save money. I do trust the surgeons in Mexico. But I personally decided to have surgery locally in Illinois for easier aftercare. But again, I would have no problem with the quality of the surgery in Mexico. The challenge is that I could not locate a surgeon in Illinois who would provide follow-up care in case of complications. If there are complications, going back and forth to Mexico could prove burdensome. Plus, my surgeon advised me that I should not fly for six weeks after the surgery in order to prevent blood clots. Of course, after surgery in Mexico, I would have to fly to Chicago. Again, my decision to pay more in Illinois is not based on quality issues.

I am self-pay at the Kane Surgical Center in Illinois. It is certainly possible there.

I have to say that the catheter does not scarier than the actual surgery itself.

There are many types of tofu: firm, soft, super-soft. You can freeze tofu and then defrost it. That gives it a great texture for salads. You can use the soft and super-soft in smoothies (mixed with fruit and splenda/equal). It also is possible to find low-fat tofu. There is a brand of tofu that is freeze-packed and does not require refrigeration: Mori Nu Tofu. It can be helpful to take along to work. Tofu is an excellent source of protein and relatively low in calories. I am pre-surgery but am planning to take advantage of tofu as a protein source post-surgery because it is soft and easy to digest. Tofu was an essential part of my past weight-loss programs. I recommend it, assuming you are not allergic to it.

I was instructed that post-surgery (to occur later this year), I will have to inject myself with Lovanox for two weeks to prevent blood costs. The physician told me that this is routine practice for every WLS patient. It sounds like a good idea to me, given the fact that blood clots are so dangerous. I also was informed that I should not fly for approximately 6 weeks after surgery, again, to prevent formation of blood clots.

I have read sometimes in this forum and viewed several times on YouTube warnings about the "honeymoon period" for the sleeve ending after approximately two years. At this point, it sounds like some people regain some of their weight. Is this normal? Are there success stories with the sleeve where people have kept their weight off for 5, 7, and 10 years or more after the sleeve procedure? Would you share those stories? I will be having surgery in approximately 4-5 months and am concerned about keeping the weight off after losing it. Thanks

I have observed that weight loss by one person makes others insecure - it is the courage to change. It occurs with spouses, life partners, friends, co-workers, etc. Individuals who are not self-empowered can get discouraged by others who are self-empowered.

Does anyone find that taking B12 supplements helps increase energy levels post-surgery?

Thanks so much for the reply and the insight!