HuneComz

You look fantastic! Keep it up!

Wishing you wonderful things!

The same reason they assume all PLUS-sized women are also big-busted or enjoy embroidered anchors and seahorses on their clothes! Lol.

@sgc - Thanks. I am hoping my change will result in positive changes for my whole family. With 3 boys, I can't afford to eat out often so we don't. I will have to get a more expansive wardrobe due to my job, however I plan on looking for some elastic waist pants so they may fit a little longer as I transition. I bought a couple pieces of clothing this summer before vacation but I have resolved not to buy anything else in my current size. @KristenLe - I have already tried getting myself excited by thinking of selling clothes in lots to earn some money to in turn purchase clothes as I need them. My surgeon's office said they do a taste-testing of the Protein shakes, broths, etc at a pre-op appointment so that will help me decide what I like so I can find the best deal and purchase before the surgery. And I have also had numerous health issues this past year that I can't help but attribute to my increasing weight.

This is a big worry for me, too. In my first contact with my surgeon's office I advised them that my insurance's website states they don't cover it unless pre-approved and that a coworker who needs the surgery much more than I do claims he was denied. My surgeon and his staff advised that they called and confirmed my insurance covers it, I have the insurance requirements to follow (only a 3 month physician/dietician supervised diet), I have taken all my tests, done all my blood work, etc. The surgeon stated that if you follow the insurance's requirements, they can't deny it. They either cover it or they don't. A month or two into the process, I had to self-pay for the sleep apnea test and I simultaneously received a notification from my insurance about a portion of the bloodwork not being covered. I contacted my surgeon's office again and said I am not in the position to pay out for these things if I will be denied in the end. I still had to self-pay for the sleep apnea test but they straightened out the rest and I have only paid my normal co-pays otherwise, but I am still worried. It took me a long time to decide I can't lose the weight all on my own and I will be very disappointed if my insurance denies me once I am to that point (which I anticipate being next month). I think we just have to have faith and trust in our surgeons. Good luck to you.

Reassurance

For whatever reason, this is a HUGE concern for me. Maybe because I consider my hair my best physical feature. I have seen two people get sleeved and they both noticeably suffered from hair loss. I looked it up and found this: The hair loss associated with bariatric surgery is called telogen effluvium and has to do with the normal hair growth cycle. It usually starts abruptly and very seldom lasts longer than 6 months. Human hair has a two stage growth cycle. (https://www.drdkim.net/ask-the-dietitian/understanding-hair-loss-after-bariatric-surgery/) It seems it is allegedly temporary and if you eat your Protein and take a Vitamin, it can help. As my best friend who was sleeved says, what is some hair loss compared to all-around better health? I guess I have to agree. With the birth of each of my children, I lost LOTS of hair and still had lots to spare, so that is my hope with WLS.

My surgeon has monthly pre-op and post-op meetings. I attended my first pre-op meeting last week. I found it uncomfortable and there was a lot of information being spewed that I hadn't yet heard, so it also kind of scared me. I did find it informative so I may go again next month, but I can't say I "enjoyed" it. My surgeon didn't require it, but strongly recommended it.

I am going through the pre-op process now and have elected the sleeve from the beginning. I have no health complications, just overweight and I think the actual bypass seems much more extreme. I don't want my intestines being cut, the dumping, or the absorption problems for medications. Ideally, I would like to lose 120#. My surgeon agreed with my decision. Just do a lot of research on both and make your choice based on your needs and recommendations from the professionals.

I am half-way through my requirements in order to be sleeved before the end of the year. But in my mind, removing 85% of my stomach is very invasive. Just curious as to why you refer to it as non-invasive? Because it's done laproscopically? Thanks.

Thanks @KiaC. I have actually had two appointments so far with the internist (whom I am assuming is the med doctor), I met the surgeon once so far at the initial consultation, had 2 appointments with the dietician and 1 appointment with the psych. I have taken the psych test, EKG, all my blood work and did the sleep study. Like @@dragonjen78 I am also going to Lake Health.

Best of luck to you and looking forward to hearing about your experience!

Way to go and best of luck on the new job!

Good Evening Folks. First post on this site, but I have certainly read MANY and I appreciate everyone's candid experiences and posts. I have been overweight since puberty. Since the birth of my children and, well, due to life...I have gained way more than I am proud of. I have tried so many diets and work outs and see little success and darnit...I LOVE TO EAT. But my mother died at 63. She had heart disease, diabetes, Hashimotos, high blood pressure, and cancer of an unknown origin. She was a completely different person for the last 7 years of her life and no medical professional could give us any reason. Her personality did a 180, she could barely walk, her speech was greatly impacted and her self-hygiene was terrible. When they found the cancer, it was in her liver and in many of her bones and it was too late to do anything for her. She died four months later. I didn't see it when I was younger...but now that I am older and maybe heavier..I see that I look just like her. This also makes me fear that I am pre-dispositioned to everything she had - that I am just like her on the inside, too. I want to live long into retirement. I want to be a Grandmother. I don't want to be a burden on my children. I began my journey in May with my consultation. I was told my insurance requirements and began my appointments in June. I was told approximately 3 appointments with physician, dietician and psychological testing over approximately 4 months. I have my 3rd appointment on 9/21 and I will receive the results from my psychological testing then. I had my EKG, blood work and sleep apnea test, which was negative. I think I get nervous at the appointments and don't think of questions - but I certainly have lots as I read these posts. 1. What do I expect? If my next appointment is presumably my last to meet the insurance requirements - what comes next? I am reading so many things on this forum! 2. I have Aetna and my doctor's office keeps assuring me that the insurance companies have requirements and you meet them or you don't. Other than a higher BMI...I am one healthy big girl (now). Blood pressure is great, cholestorol is in ok-range, not diabetic, etc. I am very anxious that I will have gone through all of this only for insurance to say no. 3. I have a friend who was sleeved a couple years ago and was not required to do a liquid diet two weeks prior to surgery but that seems to be the standard now - is that the new normal? 4. Maybe not a question - but I am very nervous about losing my hair and having hanging skin. I feel my long, thick, naturally curly hair is my only good physical feature, so I feel some anxiety about possibly losing gobs of it. And I need to lose about 120# to be around where I was years ago when I thought I was "fat" and where as I have no expectation of wearing tube tops or anything, I also want to feel good about myself so I am worried about having skin issues. My aforementioned friend claims to have zero skin issues. Anyone else so lucky? 5. Any advice for expectations? I see the posts about two week liquid diets pre-op and up to 4 weeks liquid diet post-op. I have seen posts about no vegetables post-op and issues with bowel movements and all sorts of stuff that makes me question what I am about to do. 6. My husband is supportive in the fact that he wants me to be happy but he is not happy that I am willing to go to this extreme. He partially feels like he has let me down in not trying harder himself to diet with me or work out with me or help to motivate me with any of my 100 diet attempts over the years. He is scared because he doesn't know the long term effects a greatly reduced stomach may have, he is scared because of the normal surgery risks, he is scared because I run the show here at the house for him and our 3 boys. Anyone have any input they can relay from their spouses? 7. I am worried about missing too much work. I hope to have 3 weeks of vacation time saved by the time I anticipate having the surgery. I heard 2 weeks off is a reasonable expectation. My only surgical experience is robotic gall bladder surgery a few years ago. I couldn't believe how sore I was and missed an entire week of work. Are my expectations for missed time for a sleeve reasonable? I know I have a lot of random questions, but any input anyone can provide is greatly appreciated and being absorbed. This is such a big decision, I want to make sure I am making the right one.

Thanks for the reply Djmohr - I feel like you are a super star on this page - I have read a lot of your posts. I am so excited at the idea of not being so heavy, of not being so uncomfortable in social situations, of sitting in a plane seat comfortably, of not having to shop in the plus section of the store and obviously improving my long term health and happiness! I will certainly update as my journey progresses.

Thanks KristenLe. The surgeon reviewed the options he offers at my consultation. I have made so many attempts at losing weight and I don't see the success I feel I should or I "fall off the wagon" and lose all my progress and feel defeated. I feel I need something that will stop me from eating too much. I need to feel fuller with less food. A year ago I would have never considered this surgery. But after a few more attempts over the past year with almost no success...I have had it. I need to take control of my life. I have decided to be very honesty with myself - I don't want to work really really really hard to lose all this weight with diet and exercise and then have to work really really really hard the rest of my life to keep it off. I like the fact that I will still be able to (eventually) take a bite of something I really enjoy post-op, but I will have a tool to prevent me from taking 20 bites.

Thank you for the response James. My insurance requirements are similar, with the exception of a 90 day physician/dietician supervised diet. As I stated, I meet the other requirements simply by having a BMI of ~44. I hope to be able to meet the post-op requirements of liquids and Protein so that I can have equally successful results! I rarely drink anything carbonated. I do drink coffee and iced tea daily, so I will work on eliminating those. Quite honestly...the coffee is more out of habit than anything else. I enjoyed it much more when I was smoking but I quit a year ago. (Best health decision #1 - so far!) I do need to get more mobile. I have terrible plantars fasciitis but I have to stop making excuses and get walking. Thanks again!

I am also in NE Ohio but not with Cleveland Clinic. I am about half-way through the insurance required appointments with physician, dietician and psychologist. I am not really sure what to expect. I was told 3 appointments over approximately 4 months. My third appointment will be 9/21 and I will receive the results of my psychological testing and presumably be done with the appointments? I was told at the original consultation that the goal would be to have the surgery before the end of the year, but I now have my doubts after reading so many posts about waiting for insurance approval. I have heard to expect a 2 night hospital stay though.