luvhermitcrabs

I don't think it will rule out surgery for you. I have also been labeled a binge eater at times, and I was concerned as I have been on a med for some OCD-type behaviors along with anxiety. I think the surgeons just want to make sure you will be successful through surgery., so they want to take every precaution necessary. For me, I met with the psychologist and explained that I am aware of my behaviors and that I will get help if I think things are getting out of control. After talking for a bit, she gave me clearance. As for your PCP, unless s/he is a trained expert in eating disorders, they had no right to add that to your file. I would just take a breath, find out what additional testing is necessary for approval, and go from there. Ask a lot of questions. Best of luck to you!

C-pap. Long extension cord (only outlet close was about five feet from bed) for chargers, slippers, shower shoes, brush/comb, moisturizing lip balm, stretchy clothes for ride home. I wish I had a travel pillow for the ride home - great idea! My surgery center gave out a pack that contained deodorant, disposable bath cloths, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc... Good luck with surgery - we're all rooting for you! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I had RNY on 10/20, and I was hoping my belly swelling would have been better by now. I'm passing gas okay, but I look like I'm 6 months pregnant. LOL. I have my 2-week follow up next Weds. Is it common to still look bloated? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I got through surgery just fine and have been taking walks around the nurses station on a regular basis. If I pass the swallow test this am, I upgrade to broth and jello - whoohoo!

My phone just told me its 2 days, 9 hrs and 10 minutes until I report for surgery on Tues! Getting nervous but excited! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Wow - excited but feeling a tad bit overwhelmed with everything I need to do at home and work for my date LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY! My pre-op testing is Mon 10/12. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Oct 20th here - just got my date! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have approval and am finalizing the NUT and psych evals before meeting with the program director next month, then setting a date with the surgeon. Today changed my path... I've been processing a lot of information, and there are some things that don't sit well with me. I went for the first of two psych appointments, and he starts telling me I'm getting the sleeve. When I mentioned that all of my support people have had long-term success with RNY, he demanded that I explain in detail why the RNY was better than the sleeve. If that wasn't enough, he called my husband in later. When my husband expressed that he has some apprehensions because he's worried about complications (I'm sure that's normal, especially expressing this to a psych doc - right?) the doc said my husband was ignorant and didn't know what he was talking about. One of my Bari friends who went to another doc was told that the clinic I was attending (Sparrow Hospital in Lansing MI) has been pushing the sleeve on everyone because; a) it's easier on the surgeons; and allows surgeons to perform more surgeries in a day. I was processing that info and didn't put too much thought into it until today's visit. I was headed down the homestretch as far as testing and approvals, even getting told I may have surgery as early as next month. Now I'm looking at a different program on the east side of the state. I am just very discouraged right now... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hoping you hear soon on a date! I meet with the surgeon Thursday, and I hope he will be able to provide some details on the timeline! Good luck :-) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Crabbylady66@yahoo.com Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You look absolutely stunning!! Thanks for sharing your photo

I am leaving Sparrow's program - the final straw was Richard Lieske the so-called psychologist. My husband mentioned he had reservations about surgery as he worries about me, and Richard called him ignorant and told me I MUST bring another support person or else the surgeon would never clear me with that attitude. Um... this was supposed to be a visit to also help the support person understand. Richard was so full of himself, even going to the extent of telling me I am getting the sleeve. He is NOT the surgeon. He nagged his 400+ pound brother in Texas to do surgery, and even though the man has lost 80 lbs without WLS, Richard said he is still demanding he have the surgery because it's "his right to tell him what to do." I asked Richard why he can't support his brother on his awesome success, and he replied that he knows his "brother will fail." The man is on a power trip. Also since they changed office locations, the staff is even more rushed. Twice I've been ushered back to a room with an exam table, and I have a rickety chair to pull up to the table on which to take notes. Not professional at all. Sparrow's program is an assembly line of people getting the sleeve, no matter what their personal history and beliefs are...

THANKS for the feedback and words of support - all of you are so awesome! I mis-typed some information - the psych asked my permission to bring my husband in, and I was asked to bring my support person to this visit for that reason. I sent a complaint through the hospital and am going to review him on Healthgrades and other medical sites. As discouraged as I am - I was planning to have surgery by year's end to ring in the new year and a new me - I know that things happen for a reason. The last month I have crossed paths with others who went to a surgery center in Ypsilanti MI, and the surgeon's and staff's reviews are phenomenal. I hope I won't have to start with square one, but this is MY life. I also want to make sure my husband receives all the information possible to help him understand my reasons for wanting WLS. He has heard nothing but negative aspects of surgery and I want him to get the big picture (of a smaller me, of course)... Also - HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

This is truly inspiring!! MSU fan - are you near Lansing? I'm in Sparrow's bariatric program! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for sharing your story! I am still undergoing the required appointments but should know in another month or so if I'm cleared to set a date. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hi everyone, I am fairly new here and should complete my requirements within the next two months for surgery. I want gastric bypass for several reasons, most of which is the fact that four of my friends had it years ago and are still doing great. I also work well with “aversion therapy” – if any type of unhealthy “junk” food will give me dumping syndrome, I will stay away from it a long time. My mom has GERD, and my father had it as well. Genetically I am concerned about it. I attended a nutrition class last week with ten people, and we went around the room to state our name and the type of surgery we were having. The other nine said they have been cleared for the sleeve. I was shocked. I heard from a friend yesterday when speaking to her doctor in another city that the hospital I’m working through is pushing the sleeve procedure on everyone. I am trying not to get discouraged, but I have put a year into the hospital program and am going to be really upset if they try pulling that on me. If I have to start the whole process over through another clinic… I try not to think about it. Do you have any regrets of having the bypass versus sleeve? What facts/argument can you make for me to state my case for RNY vs. Sleeve to the doctor? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

I have completed most of my clearances, and I just attended the first of two pre-surgery visits with the nutritionist. There were eleven people in the group, and every single one said they are getting the sleeve. I am leaning towards bypass, as I have several friends who had bypass several years ago, and they are doing great. For me, I believe I will stick to the program through a lot of the negative side effects like dumping syndrome. As odd as it seems, I do best with "aversion therapy"... If I get sick from something, I will generally stay away from it for a long time! I was really surprised that everyone in that meeting stated that they will be sleeved. I haven't met with the psychologist yet, and I still need to meet with the program's medical director. That appointment is on October 12th. If approved, I will then meet with the surgeon and schedule a date. I have done a lot of research and really believe the bypass is best for me. I have a bad habit of getting anxious over things like this. If I am told that I must have the sleeve, I don't want to start the process all over through another hospital program. Anyway, I am really ready to get things moving along with the process, and trying not to get caught up in the "what if". I would love to have my surgery before the end of the year. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for posting this - I started a very similar thread earlier today. I am in the process of final clearances until I meet with the surgeon, but I am concerned that everyone in an earlier group with the nutritionist state that they were getting sleeves. Good luck with the process! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I meet with the doctor on Oct 12. The next six weeks will drive me crazy with waiting to talk to him :-) Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I went for a bariatric physical yesterday. I previously completed a six month supervised weight loss program, and I am back to where I started. I met with the insurance person, and since I already have most of the physical exams complete, she said I had just a few more requirements to do. Aside from the chest X-ray and blood work taken this morning, I just meet with the dietician twice, psychologist twice and fitness instructor once. From there it's a doctors visit, a pre- and post- op class, and surgeon consult. I may be cleared as early as - BAM - the end of October. YIKES I am still in shock. I thought for sure there would be many months of additional hoops to get through. I guess I will believe it when I have the final approval in place. We are going to take a vacation to see family over Thanksgiving, so I don't want my recovery to interfere with that. Since I have an office job, Time off may be as little as one week. Everything is done laparoscopically. I don't know if I will do RNY or sleeve yet, but the surgeon will be able to provide insight after reviewing all test results, etc. Crossing my fingers, my toes, my eyes, my legs -- wait -- can't cross my legs just yet -- that I am cleared. I anticipate looking somewhat svelte for my 50th in May!

Hi! I'm in Jackson. I'm still looking at options and figuring out what I want to do. I've satisfied the supervised weight loss program requirement for insurance, so I still have some requirements to do along with meetings for diet, psych and exercise. I'm going through Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks, John - and congrats on your wonderful progress! I will wait to hear from the surgeon before taking the word of the physicians assistant on time off from work. I am gravitating towards RNY as I know several people who have had it several years ago. I don't know anyone in person who was sleeved. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hi everyone, I just joined this forum to see what options are out there. My husband and I struggle so much with weight and for me it is been a lifelong battle. We went through a six-month OPTi fast program at our local hospital, and we are both back to our starting weight. The good thing about that is that my insurance requires a six-month program as part of the conditional approval; however, I am not sure what else has to be done yet. I have an appointment in a week and a half to discuss options available to me. The only people I know in "real life" have all had the RNY surgery. I have not talked to anyone who has the sleeve. So many questions come to mind... Differences in nutrient absorption, recovery time, long-term outlook, etc... I am sure all of these things have already been addressed, so I will get to looking around the site! It is good to be here, and I look forward to reading of your journeys as well. ~Laurie