animallover1247

I haven't had surgery yet but I have started exercising. It takes every Fiber of my being to get up and go to the gym! I come a hair of doing anything and everything but exercising. However, what motivates me knowing I always feel better afterwards.

i have been researching this issue (if you should have bypass or sleeve if you have GERD/heartburn) and have found contradictions on the information. There's been people on Bariatric Pal who could not get sleeved because of GERD. However,I personally know several people who had GERD and still were sleeved. One was on GERD medication before surgery and no longer need to take it and the other two had GERD before surgery and now they don't have it at all and they are on no medication. I am really confused about this. My consultation is very soon and would like to know any information so it will help me to know what questions to ask.

I had the EXACT same experience as you did. My doctor has never followed a bariaric patient and he was giving me a hard time, telling me the insurance required me to write every single thing I ate for six months and that was not true. I even sent the portion of the policy of what is required of me from the insurance. After that, he stated he would not provide a letter of support until the six months was up. However, the bariatric surgeon required a letter of support BEFORE I could even get a consultation! So with the nurses attitude about the entire situation and their obvious inexperience and ignorance about the situation, I told them the nurse if they were not willing to do it, I would find someone who would. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID. I had no problems with the next doctor and she didn't question me and she had only followed one bariaric patient. I don't understand the reluctance. I have three comorbid conditions. I'm an adult and if I have problems after the surgery, I'm the one who will have to deal with them, not the doctor!!! So....I agree with the others who have posted, find someone who will help you! This is YOUR life!

You would assume they know what they are talking about but there's no guarantee. I called my insurance and had them to email me the actually policy regarding the surgery and what the requirements are. If there's a discrepancy in what they say and what the policy says,you can further research it. Good Luck

Just wanted to know if anyone had fibromyalgia before surgery. If so, did the pain stay the same, get better, or get worse? I have extreme muscular/joint pain and I don't know if I can handle the pain worsening. Also worried I wont be able to exercise if the pain doesn't get better.

Don't feel bad, we all have setbacks. I called today to get my consultation and was told I had to take the class FIRST. The next class is over a little month away,plus the 6 month period for the insurance and then waiting for the doctor to schedule! Hang in there!

Yes, I would advise you to do everything you can to prevent it from spreading. Mine stated out that small too and now it is a large spot on the right side of my head and then it started on the left side and it getting worse. They are clean bald spots! Good Luck!

I too have scalp scarring alopecia... I've lost 70% of my hair. Sometimes the hair loss threads aggravate me so I don't bother to respond. I've embraced my hair loss though, totally comfortable in our out of a wig... I think my hair loss overshadows my weight loss though. You should see the looks I get... Oh and I "LOVE" the unsolicited, have you tried this product advice. Nope... Never would have crossed my mind to try something to avoid this! Quick let me get a pen and write that down!! You are the first person I have known of having scarring alopecia! Please tell me how you have come to the point where you embrace it because i am no where near it! I read it is common in African Americans but I am Caucasian. Did you lose 70% of your hair BEFORE the surgery or did the surgery make it worse? Did you have hair lose from the surgery and it grew back? Thanks.

I'm so glad you posted this Sharon! This is EXACTLY why I'm not telling anyone at work..because I don't want their opinions on something I didn't even ask them about! My office is a place of gossip anyway. I'm not telling my boss unless I have to, hoping I have enough leave to cover the surgery! Good Luck!

Thank you Miss Mac. I'm new to this so I didn't know this could happen. So glad you didn't lose any hair!

I posted a question about hair loss a few days ago and only received one response. Hair loss is very common, I've only talked to one person it didn't happen to. I have the same concern, my hair is the only thing I liked about myself and then I developed scarring alopecia which is permanent hair loss so i am VERY concerned about it. I already have large bald spots on my head! You need to make sure you are doing EVERYTHING as you should; getting in all of your Protein, taking your Vitamins, etc. Even if you do everything you should doesn't mean you won't lose it, everyone is different. Talking with others made me realize you wont die from having beautiful hair but you might with medical weight related conditions. So..I completely and fully understand your concerns. Hopefully this won't happen with you!

I understand your frustrations and I used to have the same attitude but the bottom line is don't worry about or try to analyze things you cannot change and have no control over. It is ridiculous that people devalue obese people and think they are less than but as they say it is what it is. My friend had the surgery in September and told me it's not only men but women treat her differently and SHE IS STILL THE SAME PERSON. They are more respectful of her, they listen to her, etc. We don't have to like it, but in my opinion, we have almost no choice but to accept it.

I know how you feel. I had a consultation with a surgeon and go figure he decided to leave the area. They told me they were interviewing another experienced surgeon and to call back in a few weeks. Needless to say six weeks later he still had not been interviewed. Finally he was interviewed on 7.10 and now i am waiting to see if he even accepted the position. After that I'm going to have to research him. I'm not waiting much longer, I will just have to travel further away. This point is you are not the only one with frustrations! Good Luck!

Could I please get some feedback on hair loss post op? When did the hair loss start? How much hair was lost? Did you have a lot of hair before the surgery? Did you have to cover the hair loss through wigs, hair pieces, etc. How long did it take for your hair to grow back? Did it grow back as thick as it was before? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, I just wanted to ask if anyone had any regrets of having the sleeve surgery due to MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS ONLY they have to live with everyday and have not resolved over time such as chronic nausea, pain, etc. Or even if you know someone who regrets having surgery due to medical complications? Thanks

I just started doing research so I didn't know memory loss was an issue? What is the reasoning behind this? Too little food and nutrients? How long did that last?

Hi, I am new to the forum. I am thinking about the sleeve surgery but I have not had a consultation yet. I have several concerns. I have scarring alopecia which is basically permanent and irreversible hair loss. I have large bald spots all over my head and the condition is worsening. I know it is possible to lose hair after the surgery as I know of three people who had the surgery and all three have lost a lot of hair. With scarring alopecia, there is the potential to lose hair ANYWHERE on the body. I am scared I may lose my eyelashes and eyebrows. I have multiple medical issues: diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, Vitamin D deficiency, sleep apnea, interstitial cystitis, fibromyalgia and a history of recurrent shingles (two episodes in the past year). I obviously have a weakened immune system so I don't even know if my body can handle the surgery I suffer from severe depression as well, mainly due to my medical problems. I would like to know if there is anyone who has the scarring alopecia who had the surgery and lost hair,including facial hair. Also, if anyone would like to comment on any of the other medical conditions I listed. Thanks.

When you have periods where your hair falls out, how do you deal with it? I mean do you have to wear wigs, hairpieces or anything like that? With alopecia areata, the hair grows back, is that correct? Mine never will. Luckily i have long hair and no one can tell unless I wear it up but if more falls out, I would have to do something. Please let me know how your hair journey goes after surgery.

So how common is it to have a leak? Being hospitalized for that long of a time is NOT an option for me. How is your friend now medically?

Were you diabetic before the surgery? How does one deal with low blood surgars after the surgery since you cant have sugar? I am diabetic so I was just curious. What do you eat to raise the level?

Yes, you are right, its not just an alcohol addition that can develop, any addiction can develop. Thankfully the only addiction I've ever had is food and I sure don't want another one! Ever! Thank you for the comment because this is something I will be talking to my therapist about, even though the psych evaluation may address this.

i haven't had the surgery, haven't even had a consultation by my friend had the surgery on Sept 10, 2014 and has lost 70 lbs. She decided she was going to drink alcohol last weekend. I don't know how much she drank but it was very little and she ended up soused. Also, if you have any underlying unresolved issues from your past (e.g. trauma)that made you eat, I would not even think of trying alcohol. This is specific to gastric bypass surgery but A new study reports that one in 10 gastric bypass patients struggles with alcoholism within two years of the surgery. This statistic is actually from CNN.com-transcripts. There is an entire conversation about it, just type in Dr. Drew and weight loss surgery. I don't know if this would pertain to you or not, just giving some information,

You loo You look like a different person! You look great...and very healthy.

I was really annoyed by my psych visit. I have a history of depression so I had to get letters from my previous and current therapist stating that I am stable enough to get through the surgery. I did not like the psych they sent me to but I put up with her because I had to. She asked me a lot about my weight history and how I saw myself physically. She also asked me a lot about how I felt regarding giving up certain foods and making lifestyle changes. I am on depression medication and currently in therapy with a LPC-Licensed Professional Counselor - If I am currently suffering from depression, is it possible the insurance will deny me? Most of my depression is related to my multiple medical problems, some weight related and some are not. animallover1247: I have been under the care of a therapist for a few years but I had to see the Kaiser Psych. They told me that in order to go forward I needed my therapist to send a letter to Kaiser stating that she felt I was stable enough to undergo the surgery and healing process, etc. Lucky for me, my therapist and I had been discussing it for months and she really did think I am stable (of course so do I). I also take medication for depression and anxiety. With the letter, they still approved me. So you may just need a letter from your current therapist. It was a bit harder than I thought to actually get the letter so maybe start working on it now? Thanks for the info. I have mentioned it to my therapist, even as early as last week. I told her I decided I was going to go for a consultation. My concern (and hers) is my body being able to handle the surgery as I have medical conditions not related to my weight that are auto immune. Losing the weight will help me with the depression but I don't expect it will be the cure all for the issues in my life. Luckily I have an awesome therapist and I don't think it would be hard to get the letter

Can anyone tell me about their experience when they went for their psych eval? Does it have to be done by a psychologist? Has anyone had it done by a LPC? Thanks.