emmapat14

Hi everyone. I am new to this site. I am in the beginning stages of starting my weight loss surgery journey. I have my first appointment on the 12/29. I am 31 years old. 5'3 and have a bmi of 52 i qualify under all the areas for my insurance. I do have one big concern, and I haven't found much research or answers on this topic.. i am on a methadone maintenence program. I have been on 105mg/daily. I have been on methadone and clean from any illegal drugs for over a year now. Every aspect of my life has improved except for my weight. I feel like im in my 60s. I have horrible constant back pain, my knees are hurting. Im slow in walking, standing up, and I live in constant pain all due to my weight. Does anyone know or have any experience around weight loss surgery and being prescribed methadone? Will i be denied by the doctor when i go? Weight loss is the final piece to finally get myself feeling happy, healthy, and myself. But my biggest fear is i will get turned away because of the methadone. Ill just keep praying that it all works out. Thank you for your help and advice -Emma Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

I am July 5th also!! Its coming so close! How is your preop diet?

With the holiday the day before, i was surprised when she told me it was the next open day! I was honestly thinking they would schedule me more towards the end of July! But I also was expecting it to take 2 weeks for insurance approval, not 2 days!! July 5th is going to be the first day of our new lives!! Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

Yaay!!! Glad to have a surgery buddy!! And congrats on the approval! Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes!! [emoji30][emoji21] my surgeon does 2-3 weeks depending on the person. i have to lose around 30lbs in the 3 weeks! Im just happy to be approved and onto the final stretch! How long is/was yours? Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

Insurance just approved me this morning!! Surgery date is 7/5!!! Starting preop diet this Wednesday and preop appt on Thursday! Good luck everyone!! [emoji4] Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

I am going through bristol hospital and they've been great!! Dr Gedeon has been AMAZING. All of the specialists ive been seeing through Bristol have also been great. I had never used Bristol Hospital before this, usually always go to st. Francis, but now i love Bristol! I won't have my surgery until July, but the whole team is very on top og everything!!

I should be having surgery in July! Insurance requires 6 months nutrition appts, and my last one is the first week of June. They then will put in for insurance approval. And as long as all goes as planned i should have surgery July!! Ill be on the liquid, liver shrinking, pre-op diet for 3 weeks before surgery! Id love to find other supports!![emoji4][emoji4][emoji4]

That's great!! Im 3 months smoke free, after being a smoker for 15 years. My surgeon is very strict on being smoke free. He nicotine tests at 1, 3, and 6 months, as well as a random. He requires 6 months smoke free before surgery. I finally just set a date, and stopped! I did take chantix for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after. My fiance still smokes, and the smell of it now disgusts me!! Congrats on quitting, its a HUGE accomplishment, and really shows your dedication to your weight loss program! Hope your appointment went well!

They found the same inflammation during my gastroscopy, except i have had awful heartburn! What medication do they have you on? Ive been taking protonix(pantrapazole). Because of the reflux i am now going to have bypass instead of sleeve. Sleeve can make reflux worse, and there is a chance it will improve with bypass. But besides that, it is a medication i will continue to take daily even after surgery, and it is not preventing me from having surgery. I have 2 more nutrition appts(my insurance required 6 months!!) and should be scheduling surgery the end of June/ beginning of July depending on insurance.

I went to orientation meeting Dec 2016, and had my first appointment Jan 2017. As of now the plan is for surgery to be in July, 2017. Depending on insurances, they require a certain amount of monthly nutritional visits, mine was 6 months. Them you have all sorts of specialists, gastroscopy to look at your stomach and esophagas, sleep study, cardiology, psychiatrist. You need to get all sorts of medical clearance as well as treat any other issues you may have to ensure you'll be healthy for surgery. It is a long process, but its that way for a reason! Its a lifetime change! A lot of the times the biggest slowdown is insurance. I saw and was cleared by all the specialists in the beginning and now just finishing the monthly nutritional visits, good luck on your journey!!

My reflux has been awful, my doctor said that the sleeve can intensify or bring on reflux. That is the main reason that i am now considering bypass over sleeve. I don't want that to be a deciding factor, but id love to be rid of the reflux, or atleast not have it be worse! Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

Your reflux didn't get worse with the sleeve? My surgeon is recommending i get bypass not sleeve because of my reflux. He said one side effect of the sleeve is it can make reflux worse, but bypass can eliminate it.. just curious!! Im still about 5 months preop Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

Thank you very much. I do take the methadone daily, but it is in liquid form, not a pill. I also suffer from restless leg syndrome (not the reason I'm on methadone) but it has done wonders! I will of course be up front and honest with all Doctors, and hope that they will communicate with eachother, so I csn have the best, and healthiest, possible outcome! That's great that you've had your mom through the whole journey. My mom had gastric bypass in 2002. And it has changed and improved so much since then! Thank you for your response Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

Thank you very much for your reply! I am meeting the 23rd with my prescribing doctor, and first appointment with surgeon is the only 29th. So i should have some answers then. But you know how minds wander until you have answers! Lol, and i thought what better way to find out then going directly to the experienced! Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

I take the liquid form of methadone, so will that be a problem? It's not a medication I can just stop, that's why I'm concerned!Thank you for your reply!! Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App