WL WARRIOR

What happens if you gain a large amount of weight AFTER excess skin removal surgery? What if you get pregnant after you are nipped and tucked?Does the skin even have enough elastic power to stretch back out? I've read about quite a few people getting their excess skin removed from ththeir stomach and was just curious if this has ever been a problem.

I was one of those that mentioned a past problem and was required to not only change to a different kind of surgery, but also meet with the bariatric therapist a couple times. Yes, its aggravating when they add on more requirements, but I understand now why it is vital. I didn't become overweight until my husband died. I also have PTSD and its important to understand how symptoms of that lead to overeating. I think working through all that will help me be more successful after surgery. Life is unpredictable and you need to be prepared in case something happens that may cause you to want to overeat. Just be honest because sometimes they can read through your file and figure out your real story pretty easy. It never hurts to gain some insight into why you became so overweight in the first place and that is what mental health professionals are there to do.

My file was sent to the insurance company Sept. 5th. I actually just called my insurance company this morning and was on hold for 30 min. I got tired of waiting and hung up. I'll probably try again this afternoon. The bariatric nurse said that my file goes to the hospital before the insurance company and I should expect to wait 4-6 weeks. I purposely put myself in a lower income bracket so that I could obtain insurance that would cover this surgery. Not only is the pre-op process hard, but so is learning to live on such a low income now. I even have to wait another 4-6 weeks after insurance approval for something called "chart review". They have had the past 8 months to review my chart, so I have no idea what this last phase in the waiting game is all about. Like you, I'm getting anxious with all this waiting around. I decided last week that maybe this is a good time as any to put my weight loss efforts in triple gear (without surgery). Good luck on your mission!

I know this is off the topic a little bit; but how exactly does the vagus nerve suppress hunger? I was interested in geting vagus nerve stimulation for depression. If what you said is true, then it would also help with my appetite? I'll have to look that up.

I'm not getting surgery until next month but I am dead set on muscle training as I lose weight after surgery. I don't want to bulk up by any means. I just want to avoid that "skinny fat" look I've seen on people that lose 100+ pounds without exercise. I've been exploring options, like getting a trainer. When I was thin (8 years back), I did Pilate's. I wonder if that would give me the muscle definition I'm seeking without getting bulky. I've thought about home fitness equipment, but it would be too expensive and I have no idea what equip. would target all areas. You are right, there should be more talk about fitness/weight training. I think it would be important to do weight training short after surgery. Not sure how long you have to wait, however.

I just found out that patients have to wait 1-2 years before surgery at the clinic I attend. I've been waiting 10 months now and have all my requirements done. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm ready and all the prep is almost to the point of overkill. I think someone would be less anxious if they have had any other type of major surgery before. There are relaxation techniques that are quite useful during high anxiety moments, such as major surgery. I had a major surgery where there were numerous unexpected complications. I had brought my favorite painting and had it placed in view so that I could concentrate on it and drown out voices, sounds of surgical tools, and pain. I also thought about the young children at St. Jude that had to go through so much more than I was temporarily enduring. Everyone is different, but I think a little mental preparation will keep you from backing out at the last moment. The newer requirements that make bariatric patients wait so long before surgery are put in place so that we are more than ready and less likely to fail.

I really know what you are going through. I've finally just decided not to get my heart set on a certain date because I end up getting terribly discouraged. My first bariatric appointment was the first week of January. The bariatrician gave me a list of five requirements to complete before surgery could be done. He said I was a great candidate and I wouldn't have to wait too long. The worst requirement was dental. I've skimmed through the forums on this site quite a bit and have yet to read about anyone else required to get a clean bill of dental health before surgery. My dentist would not give me a clean bill of dental health until I got some broken teeth fixed way in the back. This took 6 visits and cost $1000. However, I did get it done by the end of June. Another hurdle that elongated my process was the psych evaluation and therapy requirement. I already had my own psychiatrist that I've seen on a monthly basis. So, it was only logical to get him to do the psych evaluation. It took weeks of bugging him to do it until I realized that he had no idea how to do it. He decided to just write a letter saying I was mentally prepared for surgery and knowledgeable about the process. Weeks later, the office called to say that it wasn't enough. I eventually had to pay an independent company to do it and it took another six weeks before they faxed the office the results. By then it was the end of July. Once the office got my psych eval. results, I was permitted to make the appointment with the bariatric therapist. By Aug 25, I completed those visits and was finally at the last step: insurance approval. I called the office Sept. 5 to ask if my chart was sent to my insurance company. They said they had not yet because the surgeon decided to change my surgery from bypass to a sleeve and was awaiting approval from me (they said they were planning to call me on the same day). I gave my approval and the nurse said the chart was ready now to send to the insurance company and that it could take 4-6 weeks. I called a week later and found out that OOPS! THEY FORGOT TO SEND OFF MY CHART LAST WEEK. What's another week when you have been waiting since Jan. 5th (I'm being sarcastic). I've recently found out that it takes another 4-6 weeks for chart review after insurance approval. So yeah, I can understand how you feel like pulling your hair out. I haven't heard of many others waiting this long. My general physician told me yesterday that most bariatric patients have to wait 1-2 years before surgery at the clinic I'm at. Anyone else a patient at University of Missouri Bariatric in Columbia, Missouri? I would love to hear your experience.

I was signed up to get gastric bypass next month and was waiting for insurance approval. My surgeon encouraged me to switch to the sleeve while reviewing my chart. I rely on 2 meds to keep clinical depression under control. I have tried quitting the meds and failed because my depression returned full force. The surgeon strongly thinks that I should not get gastric bypass because it will interfere with absorption of my meds. I really didn't want to switch because it meant I would have to wait another 4-6 weeks for approval from my insurance co. However, I decided to go with the sleeve because I really could understand how full absorption was important. The sleeve is not nearly as invasive (surgery only takes 45 min.) and chance of complications are lower. Do people lose more weight with gastric bypass? I've read research articles with conflicting results. Every person is different and I think your results will depend on how much work you put into it. I know of four woman in my community who have gotten gastric bypass 2-3 years ago and three of the four put most of the weight back on. I use to think your stomach would not stretch much with gastric bypass, but it seems like I was wrong.

I'm in a similar situation. Is there anyway that I can drive myself home after surgery? It is an hour drive and an easy route I have driven many times.

My info. was sent to the insurance company Sept. 6 and the clinic said it would take 3-4 weeks. I guess it takes so long because the hospital had to approve before it was sent to the insurance company.

I don't get to see the surgeon until a week before surgery. I started this whole process in January and am in the last phase of waiting for insurance approval. I guess every place is different.

Have you had your thyroid checked recently? You have to have all three thyroid panels of blood work drawn or it might be overlooked. Actually, it would probably be good to get a thorough blood test so that you can be sure its not a vitamin defencieny like others have mentioned.

Have you tried Suboxone for pain. Maybe a good choice seeing as how you have had past addiction issues. Good luck!

It seems as though the requirements for bariatric surgery approval has tightened up the past two years. There was no psychiatric evaluation required. That requirement was added on because the occurance of addiction (alcoholism) and depression was observed to be more frequent among people who have had weight loss surgery. People after weight loss surgery are more susectible due to such a large change in tolerance. The psych evaluation is mostly used to see what patients have preexisting or past addiction or mental problems. I get so discouraged when I see those that had bariatric surgery gain their weight back. I didn't think the stomach could stretch so much after surgery. I am glad that all the requirements were added on (even though getting it all done is quite a pain) because it weeds out those that weren't that serious to begin with or may suffer consequences during or after surgery. I had to attend a bariatric seminar and pass a bariatric surgery knowledge test before I could make my first appointment at the bariatric clinic.

I meant regret having 'surgery' in the first place. I will be having a gastric sleeve done next month. I have passed my last three EKG and echocardiograms, but I am still nervous about having heart failure during surgery. Being morbidly obese really sucks, but having a major organ fail could be worse. I wish you lu!

Have you quit smoking in the past six months? If that is the case, then it may just be a matter of time before your lungs return to a more regular state. I had heart failure during a surgery (non weight loss) nine years ago. You don't want to do a major surgery until your body is ready. Otherwise, you could suffer irreversible damage and regret having the damage in the first place.

I would fight this with all you got. Try to get a letter from your bariatritian, nutritional consultant, or even the nurse you were speaking about. The letters should mention their professional opinion concerning whether losing 2 pounds would actually, in any way, foretell your future failure after surgery. If anything, the fact that you lost weight during pre-op should help you get approved. It shows that you are more likely to be successful losing weight after surgery. Successful weight loss after surgery will save your insurance company money in the long run. Your chances for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol will lesson or diminish. That means less trips to the doctor and less medication. This will help insurance companies make more money. Am I wrong about this? After you send in the letters to your insurance company, keep up on the status of your case. I mean really nag and call 1-2 times a week. Document when you called, who you talked to, and what was said. Don't give up. Talk to someone else that was approved for surgery through your same insurance company and get some advice on the best tactics that will work.

Is it ridiculous to think that I can still take care of my 9 year old son (I'm a single mom) after I get home from the hospital? My surgery will be next month and I'm not telling anyone about it. I just want to do the surgery and get on with my life. I don't want to be taken care of nor do I want to give others something to worry about. I've been very independent all my life and have been through a lot. I just see this surgery as a time to toughen up and carry on.

Did you get turned down for not completing the nutritional.visits? Getting turned down for gaining two pounds back in March makes absolutely no sense. I gain 5 pounds of water weight each month when I get my period.