OhSusannah

The Third Time's a Charm! 
 
My WLS journey begins in 2010 when after years of dieting, losing, and gaining, I finally decided to have WLS.  When I went to the mandatory seminar, I thought the lapband was the route I wanted to take, but after talking so several people, I decided that it was definitely NOT what I wanted to subject myself too.  Since I tended to be a volume eater, I pursued the VSG.  I had all my testing done: endoscopy, psychological evaluation, sleep apnea testing (found I had severe sleep apnea), bloodwork, plus I lost the required 5% body weight required by my insurance company, plus I lost an additional 15 lbs.  I get all the way through the process and it's time to make the surgery date.  I was devastated to find out that my insurance, a very BIG insurance company, declined to cover VSG as they deemed it was an 'experimental' surgery.  Experimental, my foot!  It was my insurance company digging their heels in and not approving surgery.  I appealed their decision, and was denied again. I was Totally bummed.  So much so, that I quit following the program. 
 
Now it's 2011 and VSG was being approved by BCBS--finally!  So, I went gung-ho back into the program and had to have another psych eval, mammogram, bloodwork, pap, etc.  I was shocked to find the ob/gyn report indicated that I had uterine cancer.  To make matters worse, a month later the results from my mammogram indicated that I had very suspicious breast cells.  Needless to say, VSG was on hold and I had a radical hysterectory...and a month later I had a lumpectomy.  Talk about being bummed, yet again, and didn't want to think about any surgery for a longgg time.
 
Fast forward to 2014....I am mentally ready to do it this time, come hell or high water!  By this time I had to start the program ALL OVER AGAIN....that meant, going to another seminar, yet another psych eval, endoscopy, all the blood works, clearances from both of my oncologists and I actually make it to make the surgery date and of course I am wondering what obstacle will be next.  I had regained the weight from before and had to lose 5% yet again and I did it.  Long story short, I had my VSG surgery and hiatal hernia repair on December 22, 2014. I felt a sense of peace about the surgery--my surgeon is chief bariatric surgeon at the hospital, plus I had developed a great confidence in him and the entire bariatric team.  I knew I was in good hands.  Surgery went as expected with no complications or worries.  If I had pain after surgery, I certainly don't remember it because I was on pain meds for the time I was in the hospital.  I didn't want to take any chances with pain lol ...no need to suffer is my attitude.  I was able to get up later that day, walk the halls a couple times.  Oh, I do remember having some discomfort in my shoulders--of all places!  I was very thirsty, too, I recall.  I would have to say that If I had it to do all over again, I would DEFINITELY have VSG many, MANY years ago!  I am about 3.5 months post op, but haven't been weighed since mid-February.  I have been taking my vitamins, calcium, and trying to get in my 60 grams of protein and 64 oz of water, but it is hard to do because I get full so fast.  I have been eating a few carbs here and there, but definitely not overeating. I don't like the feeling in my stomach when it is full.  I am paying attention though and so far, so good!!!! 
 
I feel sooo very fortunate that, so far, my experience had fit into the VSG statistical results of many patients.  In fact, pre-op I was Type-2, had high cholesterol, lower back pain, knee pain, and severe sleep apnea.  I went off all meds for Type-2, no water pills, pains have diminished sooo much, and I will need to have my cpap machine reset soon because I know I have improved!  This surgery has been such a blessing for me and I am a firm believer that this was the right time for me because this whole last experience (2014) happened almost effortlessly.
 
There may be peaks and valleys down the road, but I am ready to do what it takes to have a positive experience on my new life's  journey :-) 
 
In closing, based on my experience, I would highly recommend VSG surgery!!!   :)
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Dr. Aaron Hoffman, chief surgeon, from Buffalo General Hospital's Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery performed my surgery on 12/22/2015.  
 
This fully accredited bariatric program at Buffalo General is a Center of Excellence, meaning all aspects of the program’s surgical processes are closely examined and data on health outcomes are collected. Their statistics are outstanding!!! 
 
It was understood from the very beginning that I had to do MY part of this process...surgery alone would not solve my lifelong weight problem!   I was ready to make the commitment.  I was completely confident in Dr. Hoffman's experience and statistics, the Center's exemplary standards, and the entire team at BGH.