pushforth

I'm looking into VSG Surgeons in the Houston TX area and was hoping to find some forum users who can recommend a good surgeon as well has provide information on cost... I have Blue Cross / Blue Shield of TX insurance and it does cover the VSG. However the one office I called came back with an out of pocket cost that damn near the cash-pay cost!!! So I'm thinking I need to shop around and would love input from other Houstonian VSGers. Thanks! Mike

I'm looking for input from those who are of similar age and circumstance who have gone through with the Gastric Sleeve... I'm not seeking specific medical advice or information. Just looking for a friendly conversation. I am a 31 year old man who weights 405lbs. I've been overweight since childhood and morbidly obese for the last 8 years. At my heaviest I weight around 430lbs. When I realized that, I put forth a great effort and was able to get down to 360lbs. Over the last couple years, I slowly crept back up to 400. I've scoffed at WLS for years. I thought of it as an unnecessary risk to my body when all I really needed was the drive and a stronger will to eat less and move more. Well, now I'm finally admitting that I'm really terrible at maintaining the drive/will to lose weight. I'm starting to consider WLS to use what will I have left to force myself into the restrictions created by the surgery. It's like I know I need to do something, but no matter how hard I try, I just cant bring myself to do it enough for it to matter... so I want to make the decision to take the control of the situation out of my hands and force myself to do it. I've read up on the various procedures and spent time in the forums here at BP and the Gastric Sleeve seems like the best option. I've read the success and horror stories. While I understand that serious complications only occur in about 5% of patients who undergo the surgery, it still freaks me out. Anyone out there who is around my age and weight that went through with the surgery? I'm not just simply asking if it's worth it, because I know most here will trumpet a resounding YES! I'm asking for a "here is what I wish I had known before getting the surgery" and "here are things I didn't expect". I greatly appreciate your time and responses.

Thanks for your replies... y'all make it seem worthwhile. Let me ask a direct question - How difficult is the first month post-op? Recovery is, I'm sure, uncomfortable but to have to follow a strict liquid diet for the first couple weeks and then slowly work in puree and mushy food... Is it as difficult as it sounds or does the reduced stomach size make it more tolerable as you feel full sooner without the hunger pangs?