slimjim41

Oh yeah, have to start diet tomorrow too but I don't even know if I'm getting the surgery... They just want me prepared...

I'm scheduled for the 19th but due to a "paper work" mix-up I was called and told it might not happen as it wasn't "officially" approved. I had all the testing done. Took the stress test today and about died... They told me it'll be read tomorrow and faxed in on Wed... THEN, they'll re submit for official approval... Please pray because after being told I was approved, then not approved, after everything, well, you know how I'm feeling. Will stay positive though... :-)

I have to do some research as my surgeon said he's found greater success and less leaks in the larger bougie???

????You look great!!! May you continue your fantastic success!!!

Looking for friends at the same stage to keep in touch with along the way. I'm attending my seminar Feb 2. :-)

Excited. I have a chance to get surgery approved without doing another diet due to non-specific diet requirement... I have a couple of diets documented but thought I had to do another... Please pray I get approved the 1st time! :-) Thank you!

Approved!!!! <3 <3 <3

I was approved! OMG! Fear has set in but I'm not gonna let it stop me. My date is March 19th at USC. :-)

Thank you, friends. :-) still haven't heard... Praying... :-)

Great news! Best of luck to you!

I'm tentatively scheduled for March 19th BUT I'm awaiting approval. I sure pray and hope I'm with all of you. :-) I'm a teacher and really want this before Spring Break, so I have time to recover or I'll have to wait until Summer...

It's been almost 2 months since I was referred to a bariatric program. Went to a seminar and had my 1st appointment. Now I have to prove a diet, which I did, weight watchers, but don't think they'll accept... In deflated... :-(

Did a lot of mental prep today and you are right. Going to just go with it... :-)

My insurance requires a 6 month... Hopefully they'll accept weight watchers... I'm deflated.. It's been 2 months since my pcp referred me to the program already... :-(

It's scary, for sure, but just keep reading the positive stories. Yes, there are horror stories. Try to use them to educate yourself to be prepared and investigate your doctor. Be proactive. I have been scared to the point that I've been putting it off but I'm ready now. It just took a lot of reading and research to get me back in the process. :-) going full throttle! Lol. Good luck!

Hi there. I only know that every ins is different. Ask the ins referral people where you are having surgery. They are the most familiar and can find that out. Many here, I've read, had to do a weight loss program with the doctor monitoring them like weight watchers but having the doctor do the weigh ins... ??? Best of luck to you as I'm not even sure what hurdles I need to jump through yet! :-/

Who is your doctor? Mine is Katkhouda at USC... :-)

It's daunting, I know, BUT I have 2 friends with the sleeve and they eat that stuff, just in moderation...a bite here or there. :-) I hear that after a year of healing, you can...

Hi. I'm going to my seminar on the 2nd of Feb but I don't need a 6 month diet. We can keep each other posted on progress and stuff we learn. :-) I'm 100 lbs over weight and will be happy to lose just 60! :-) for the past 10 years I've lost 10, gained 20 and I keep going up. Time for change!

Nancy, thank you. I'm so happy things are going well for you! :-) Leona, I hear you. I'm going to be 42 and want to enjoy this stage of my life. I've been saying, "I'll lose it by myself" for the past 10 years! Lets stay in touch. :-)

I'm in the Los Angeles area and I too have all kinds of mixed emotions but will go through the motions and continue the research until its a go or no go situation. :-) I've had weeks where I was excited and ready and times when stories scare me and I get physical pains in my stomach! anyway. Where are you from?

Stories like yours keep me ON my journey. I'm constantly going back and forth as to have or not to have this surgery. I dropped out before. This time, I promised myself to see it all the way through and leave the big decision to the end. I hope I keep reading stories like this because the negative ones scare me sick. Congratulations on your current and continuing success!

Hi there. This is my first post as I'm in the VERY beginning of my journey. Just got approved to see Dr.Katkhouda at USC and I am wondering if anyone on Vertical Sleeve had him do their surgery. Thank you.

Hi. Thanks for your reply. Please keep me posted and ill pray you have a fantastically smooth procedure without complications and an easy recovery. :-) I'm barely going to seminar in Feb 2. Can you tell me how long it took from seminar to surgery date? Thank you!