Garifab_VSG

I just got back from my first visit/consultation with the surgeon. Soooooooo much information, but I'm more relieved after each step of this process is done. Step 1 - meet with PCP and get referral Step 2 - consultation with bariatric surgeon I can't wait until that list of completed steps gets longer. For anyone else just getting started, here is what my first visit was like. Filled out paperwork (does it ever freaking end?!) with medical history, symptoms, diseases, etc. Then the nurse took my BP (which was high, since I was nervous for some reason. It's usually not high at all.) Then an associate member of the bariatric staff came in with a deeper dive into the questions I filled out in the beginning. Questions about past attempts at formal diets, depression, eating habits, activity levels. Then the surgeon came in. What a nice guy he was. Never once made me feel rushed as some docs do, and was adorable to boot. LOL. He said for my weight and age (263 and 39 yrs old) and lack of any comorbidities, he thinks I chose the right type of weight loss surgery (VSG.) That was comforting to hear. My practice has a $600 out of pocket, non-refundable fee for things that insurance doesn't cover - which is psych, dietitian, and support groups. The nice thing is that covers the dietitian and support groups for life. The bariatric staff handles everything else, including interacting with the insurance company for me, from start to finish. That, too, was a relief. They will tell me exactly what they need, and I get it, and they do all the interfacing. Next steps: they call and verify this is a procedure my plan covers (which I already know it does) and then they mail me a packet which includes a list of appointment dates/times that they will have made for me for all of my tests. I'm loving the fact that they make all those appointments for me!! So this train has officially left the station. Chooo choooo! On my way, now.

I've seen many go for a leak test first thing the day after surgery (24 hours).

The bariatric surgeon I just met with reviewed the three types of weight loss surgery with me to decide which would be best, even though I knew I already wanted the sleeve. He said these things regarding how much you need to lose, and the rate at which you'd like to lose it. Gastric Bypass - for people needing to lose 80% of their weight in a 1-1.5 year timeframe Gastric Sleeve - for people needing to lose 60-70% of their weight in a 2-year timeframe (slower loss) LAP-band - for people needing to lose 50% of their weight over an extended period of time (slowest loss) He also said that despite those percentages and timing, it's really about what you feel most comfortable doing. He said the people he's performed lap band on generally prefer a slower loss where they are in control (with the fills and such) and it's not permanent, in that it can be removed at any time. Whereas, sleeve and bypass are more permanent.

I am loving this terminology. That's exactly what it is. I am very, very early on in this process (I've only just met with the bariatric surgeon for the first time yesterday) but I feel like ever since I decided to go forth with VSG, I've been having mini food funerals every time I eat!

Awesome post! I am married, however, I honestly don't think that matters in wanting to feel desired by your spouse AND others. If a cashier or gas station attendant or someone I pass in the street happens to look twice, or wink, or whatever -- that's the stuff that natural highs are made of, and I want 'em!!!

How exciting, bobby'swife! Keep us posted!!!!! Good luck today!

That's amazing! Congrats!

This thread is making me incredibly nosy about what the public people here do for a living, and who you all are

From what I've heard, the most pain people have had to tolerate is the gas pains post-surgery, and the discomfort (but not pain) of waking up with a dry mouth and not being able to drink anything until the next day. These are the things I'm trying to wrap my mind around to prepare myself.

I see everything you are saying. But I stand by the pretty basic belief that just because someone decides to ask you a very personal question does NOT mean that they are entitled to that information. If someone asks you how much you weigh, do you give them the real number, just because they were rude enough to ask? So it may be some people's belief that not mentioning having surgery is lying by omission. OK. So what! So you are sort of lying, or you are omitting, or whatever. The bottom line is - it is no one's business but ours. Someone asking does NOT MEAN that we have to tell, because it's not THEIR right to know! It's OUR right to privacy! So if someone says "diet and exercise" just to end the conversation? So be it!

Every single person here feels differently about their personal struggle with food, which is ultimately how most of us got to a point where we sought out a pretty hard-core tool to assist us in losing the weight that has come as a byproduct of our addiction/lack of control/whatever you have. For me, personally, I am humiliated by the fact that I have gotten to this point with my weight. There are an awful lot of people out there who lose 100 pounds or more by JUST diet and exercise. But, I'm not strong enough for that. I need this extra tool of having 80% of my stomach removed. I feel embarrassed by that fact - by my lack of self-control and discipline to do it WITHOUT major surgery for assistance, so I DO NOT feel the need to be open to ANYONE about what I'm doing to lose weight. This "invisible" tool will be the #1 driving factor to why I will be eating significantly less, and gaining motivation by that to work out more, and I certainly don't think it's being dishonest by just telling people I'm watching what I eat and working out. Being overweight is an extremely personal, and embarrassing, situation for me. I barely want to even discuss it, much less tell the world just what I needed to do to get it under control. Please be reminded that I am not saying that people should feel embarrassed by needing this extra tool for weight loss. I'm just saying that is how I, PERSONALLY, feel about it, and why I'm not going to broadcast it to anyone who asks. At least not at this point in time.

There are so many posts in here that I agree with, even though they give advice on all different ends of the spectrum. The reality of the matter is, people who make such a drastic lifestyle change will lose a few friends along the way. Your "fat" friends will most likely be a casualty of your surgery. But the comparison was made about if you quit drinking, you can't keep hanging out with drinkers for your own good. I follow that logic for this as well. You're not forcing your decision on them to do the same thing, but the premise is the same - if they want to keep perpetuating an unhealthy lifestyle rather than trying to better themselves, then it might be best for you guys to put some time/distance between you until they work it out. The piece I really feel bad for you about is your friend with the blabber mouth. I can see being willing to, and wanting, to share this news with your close friends, but knowing that the blabber mouth friend is going to tell everyone? that would put me off telling her. I'm sorry you have to deal with this decision. You have enough to deal with!

Hello, everyone In all my reading on here, I can't quite put my finger on one thing, and I'm sure each person's insurance works differently, however - who actually gathers and submits the information for this surgery request to the insurance company? Is it the bariatric team performing your surgery? Or do (did) you do it yourself? My first appt. (consultation) with the bariatric surgeon is two weeks from today, but in making the appointment, the nurse who answered the phone said that my insurance is one of the easiest to deal with, so that made me think she is familiar with the entire submission process and obtaining of approval. So I got to wondering if they will be handling all that for me (with help from me on gathering the info, of course.)

silvertaurus, I noticed you're in Pennsylvania. Would you mind sharing which doctor you used? If you aren't comfortable sharing publicly, you can private message me. I'm just starting this process, and I'm in Pennsylvania as well.

I wasn't really sure where to put this, so this is it. My scale died, and I need a new one. All I know is I want it to give me a digital readout, and I prefer it be in .1 increments rather than .2, but I know the standard is .2. So what kind of scale do you have, and do you like it or not?

Thanks, everyone! Alex, I had no idea such an awesome scale like the fitbit one even existed. I may have to look into that entire system.

I had read that a side effect of WLS surgery which is pretty common, but that people don't realize there is a name for, is body dysmorphia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder Basically it's about seeing bad things on the body which may not even really be there. Sometimes heavy people are so accustomed to being heavy that even when they reach their goal weights, they still see themselves as fat. I wouldn't be surprised if, at the end of all this, I end up with that as well.

I'm so happy to find good reviews on Dr. O'Connell. I'm meeting with him for my first consultation (referred by my PCP) two weeks from today. I am from South Jersey all my life, but have been living in Philadelphia for the past nine years due to my husband's job.

I like to make people feel stupid for saying stupid things, so I'd probably respond with something like, "Oh! OK. I'll just keep stacking on the lbs until I reach your appropriate level of 'big enough' to get help." Although, I also believe people think they are complimenting others when they say that. Also, I will not be telling anyone outside of immediate family and 1-2 friends that I am pursuing it. It's like when you're pregnant and you tell people - EVERYONE has unsolicited advice/comments, and I just don't want to hear it. So no thank you!!

I am from South Jersey, but have lived in Philadelphia for the past nine years. I'm pursuing VSG at Cooper Hospital. I've had my PCP visit and she will provide the surgery referral for me, so my first meeting/consultation is on 11/24 (two weeks from today.)

Thanks for the responses! I also read a few situations where it looked like the patient him/herself was actually doing the submission themselves, and then getting the call directly from insurance with the "approved or declined" update. I definitely do not want to deal with that! LOL.

Good luck to you! Can't wait to hear all about your experience!

I'm glad you posted this, because the fear that I, myself, feel, is what has held me back for so long. I'm still dealing with it. I just keep thinking, we have a stomach the size we do for a reason, and do I really want to mess with that and permanently remove most of it? But the answer is, yes, my quality of life, and duration of life, depends on it. I know we tell ourselves whatever we need to to get by, but that's how it is for this particular moment in time, and I need to just go with it. I hope you have a successful surgery and easy recovery!

Congratulations, that is WONDERFUL!!!!

This is my straw. Pain. That was my #1. #2 - I want to play with my kids without feeling tired or limited. #3 - I'd like to live long enough to see my kids get as old as possible! #4 - I'd like to stop hating my own reflection. #5 - I'd like the motivation to actually get dressed and leave the house, or go to special occasion events, without just thinking I will look fat and ridiculous in anything I put on. #6 - I can't even imagine what it's like to shop in a normal store, and not a specialty/plus-sized store. I want to do that. #7 - I'd like to feel happy, and stay happy, without being reminded that there is always one thing in my life that makes me feel sad and depressed.