DaronB

I can relate with you, Ginger Snaps. I constantly hear "you're not that big" or "you don't look big enough for surgery". That's interesting because a person my age and height should weigh anywhere from 100-140lbs less than what I do. I don't have a huge support group, but things are getting better and people are accepting my decision. I'm not turning back now, I met my deductible today LOL!

My family, mom and dad specifically, were not a huge fan of my decision. Me and my family are Christians, so we've all turned it over to God. I pray daily for Gods will. My parents are mostly skittish for 2 reasons, the main being my moms boss' daughter nearly died from major complications and to this day has many problems, but she's in the minority. Like 1 in 1,000. The second reason is that I'm on the lower end of surgery requirements. My BMI just is a 40 and they think I could "do it on my own". But I have at least 100lbs to lose and the fact that tried for 5+ years to lose it and can't is frustrating. Like I had to remind myself and my parents, we're (you, me, them, us) adults. It's our (mine and yours) decision. Diabetes, heart trouble/attacks, blood pressure etc all run in my family. I'm already on blood pressure medicine, have high cholesterol, and my A1C is elevated. It's either have this surgery and risk complications for better health, or do nothing, continue to struggle, and wait for something to happen. I basically educated my mom on the process, told her about the requirements for surgery, had her google search my surgeon, who is considered one of, if not the best surgeons in NC. Talk to your mom and tell her. I'm sure she'd much rather find out before the fact then after.

I'm on track for an October/November surgery. I've completed two PCP visits, had an upper GI and gallbladder ultrasound. I've got my sleep study, hida scan, chest X-ray, and EKG all scheduled for June 26-27th, which will only leave the psych appt, gastroenterologist visit, and nutritional visit. And of course 4 more PCP visits. I'm excited, nervous, but excited! Can someone tell me what exactly the psych eval is all about? Just curious!

Glad you got the answers you were looking! I'm fairly sure you'll have to have a sleep study, too. Sleep apnea is one of the comorbidities they look for in the pre surgery process and a sleep study is how they determine that. I'm excited about having mine......just another hurdle down. Only 4 more visits with my PCP!

Still on track! I go tomorrow for my 2nd PCP visit then go on the 26th for a sleep study (THAT should be interesting!) and go the 27th for a hidascan, chest X-ray, and EKG. I've also still got to schedule a psych visit, nutrition visit, and gastroenterologist visit. Definitely excited, but getting nervous too. Jeez! 1cute, you need to ask your surgeon those questions. I still say sleeve over band. Better results and and not as much trouble. The band required all those adjustments.

Yeah my BMI fluctuates between 39-42. Never consistent. But I've give up on trying to lose weight alone. It never lasts. And my personal opinion on your choice of band or sleeve is sleeve. I don't like the idea of the band.....seems like too much trouble!

Yeah.. Just make sure up I go to ALLLLL your appts .. Your insurance doesn't pay for all that stuff ?? That sucks I have copays on most stuff, but I have to meet my deductible before the insurance picks up its part, which is 80/20 until my total Out Of Pocket is met, then it picks up 100%. So I'm thinking my maximum OOP is $4500.

Yeah my primary fear is insurance approval. I've got a $2,500 deductible that I'll meet on all these pre-tests (UGI, Ultrasound, Hida Scan, Gastroenterology, sleep study, psych eval, nutrition visits, etc), but I'll be good and furious if I pay all this money for all these tests and then my insurance tries to give me a hard time. But I keep reminding myself that I meet the requirements......40 BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, borderline diabetes.....I'm so excited to be on the track toward this surgery to have a new me. I just wish my closest friends and family would be excited for me and not try to talk me out of it. They're concerned about complications and risks, etc.

Yeah, I keep thinking to myself the plans I have post surgery. I can't wait to see what I'll be like a year from now. I want to start working out, get active, have the self esteem go back to the pool or beach. Sucks that I pay all this money for insurance and they want to set stipulations to me having surgery.

Dr Enochs in Cary, NC briefly mentioned robotic surgery to me! He didn't really elaborate other than saying it's becoming common.

Well, had a little bit of a set back, but am definitely back on track now. Just had my first PCP visit on Friday and he's on board with it, but does want me to give a conscientious effort during of diet/exercise these 6 months. I go the 27th for my UGI and Gallbladder Ultrasound (it's about to get expensive!) I'm excited about the next few months, just a little nervous about small stuff (insurance rejection, post-surgery complications). I'm now on track for a November surgery which works out cause I'll have a week of vacation. I may be crazy, but I'm aiming to be back at work within 7-10 days of surgery.

Hopefully this the correct forum. I'm a 27 year old male and currently weigh 262lbs. I'm considering gastric bypass surgery but I'm on the fence about it because I don't know if it's right for me. Also, I don't have that great of a support system as many of the closest people to me think I'm silly for even considering it. But I have my reasoning: - I'm 100+ pounds overweight. - I take medicine for high blood pressure. - My cholesterol is high (has been for years, but no meds). - According to realize.com, my BMI is 40. - Major family history of diabetes and heart trouble. In the past 5 years, I've attempted several kinds of diets: Herbalife, Body By Vi, Advocare, Soloslim, HCG Injections, and traditional diet and exercise. All of which have seen little to no success. In fact, I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I want to put a stop to this before it gets too far out of hand. Again, I apologize if this isn't the right place for this topic, but I'm just looking for thoughts and opinions as to if gastric bypass would be right for me? I guess because my weight is only in the 260s (compared to where it could be), I'm a little uneasy as to if it would be or not.

Went today for my initial consultation. Now begins the multitude of doctors appointments. Looks like I'm on track for an August surgery as my wonderful insurance that I pay top dollar for wants 6 mos of PCP supervision. ????

Very excited to say that I've been in contact with Bariatric Specialists of North Carolina and am very excited about what possibly lies ahead!

DLCoggin, I thought I responded to your post. Evidently I didn't and I apologize! Thanks so much for your insight. Again, I'm really considering calling my PCP and scheduling a consult with him, but, I'm just nervous about it. Not sure why. I guess because, again, I don't have a great group of support around me. Family and friends keep giving me all kinds of reasons and scare tactics to keep me from doing it and I guess I'm scared my PCP will too. But at the end of the day, the thought still lingers in my mind. Especially when I lay in bed at night and give out just from rolling over from one side to the other. I hate the way I look...I hate the way I feel and it's frustrating when hunger gets in the way of my attempts at doing right lol.

Thanks so much for your informative response, DLCoggin. I also checked out your weight figures and it gives me hope that you and I are statistically similar.

Hopefully this in the right spot, if not, I certainly apologize in advance! I'm 27yrs old, male, and currently weigh 262lbs. I'm considering gastric bypass surgery, but don't really have a solid support group around me as some of the people closest to me are against the idea. But facts are facts. I'm 100+ pounds overweight. I take medicine for hypertension. My cholesterol is high (has been for years, but no meds). And according to realize.com, my BMI is 40. I also have a major family history of diabetes and heart trouble. In the past 5 years, I've attempted several kinds of diets: Herbalife, Body By Vi, Advocare, Soloslim, HCG Injections, and traditional diet and exercise. All of which have yielded failure. I'm the heaviest I've ever been and want to put a stop to this before it gets too far out of hand. Again, I apologize if this isn't the right place for this topic, but I'm just looking for thoughts and opinions as to if gastric bypass would be right for me?

Definitely not afraid of diet and exercise. My weakness is hunger and staying full longer, which is big reason I'm considering surgery.

Thanks, Janie and SugarFree! I most definitely want to talk to my doctor and get his opinion. I'm wondering, do doctors/surgeons tend to work with what you desire or more of what they recommend or a little of both? I mean, I want to have it done, especially for preventive measures, but, they may not see it that way? Make sense?

What I consider "right" is do I have reason to have the surgery. My desire is to get to the weight that is right for my age and height and get my overall health in check. I've been experiencing wheezing/shortness of breath, fatigue, knee and back pain, and just a "blah" physical feeling. I want to look/feel better and slimmer but also achieve better health.

I'm yet to talk to my PCP. I want to schedule to talk with him, but I'm a little nervous he'll try to talk me out of it and won't refer me. I've only been going to him for a year so I'm concerned he'll think I'm crazy.