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My journey has begun!!



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Well my journey has begun. I was banded on 12/18/09! I am a 33year old male. With 2 postponements because the Dr’s office did not inform me of their weight limit (300lbs). Yes, they have their own surgical suite in their building but you must weigh 300 lbs or less to have it done there. (That’s why it only cost $12,000, (I had to pay out of pocket) I lost 27lbs in 25 days. The worst part of all was I called a week after I made the surgery date to ask if I needed to diet prior to surgery. I was told no, just no big meals 3 days before surgery and eat lite the days leading up to the surgery date. So I said good-bye to all my favorite restaurants and my huge portions. The Friday before my scheduled surgery I got a call that there was an inner office problem and that the person who handles scheduling will call me Monday. I was wondering all weekend what could be wrong. I started reading and found out about shrinking your liver. When I got the call it was really a weight limit issue. I has allot of work to do! I was living off 3 Protein Shakes a day and maybe a salad to replace 1 drink and I made weight in 25 days. So I wasn’t sure if I was going to make weight so I didn’t have much time to be nervous about the surgery. Once I made weight, I only had 20 min till surgery so the nerves came on quick. Dr Wards staff was all very nice and comforting. During the procedure I began to lose more blood then they like so as a precaution I was rushed to Morristown hospital. Needless to say this put a good scare into my family and friends. With an 8-hour wait in the recovery room I finally got a room. I was in over night at the hospital for observation but was progressing fine. I was released Saturday morning just a few hours before that Nor’easter hit NJ. The biggest problem has been the GAS. I did not realize they pumped our inner cavity with gas during surgery. Well that has been the worst pain of all. I have been resting and walking as much as I can to get the gas out. Hoping that most of the pressure will subside by Christmas day. I did this for me first and foremost for me, but really wanted to enjoy the future years with my 3year old son and wonderful wife. I’m not a big poster but mainly read for support and knowledge. I posted tonight to share my story and say “Thank You “ for this site. Everyone needs some support one way or another. I feel this sight points you and helps you find your way with this life changing procedure.

Starting weight 327lbs 10/1/09

1st scheduled surgery date 326lbs 11/24/09

Day of surgery 300 lbs 12/18/09

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Congratulations on your new start to your journey.

I know that it will not be easy but it sounds like your motivated and with your son and your wife hopefully you will stay motivated.

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Congratulations and good luck on your journey.

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Congrats, we have a similar weight starting out. Keep us posted on your journey.

Edited by waynooo
Punctuation

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    • BlondePatriotInCDA

      I'm officially no longer "obese" and now classified as "overweight!" Years ago when I was 108 lbs (my old adult holding weight until the last 10 years) would I have ever thought there would come a day that I'd celebrate being "overweight!" 
      I hit my one year surgery anniversary next Wednesday (August 21st, 2023) and just so happen to have my final bariatric clinic check up on the same day. I'm looking forward to seeing my surgeon and being officially released into the wild! 😋
      I'm curious as to what my labs will say, especially since they told me to not take my vitamins a few days before the labs. To be honest, I find this confusing since the whole point of taking vitamins is to keep your stats within normal ranges - to assure they're working as intended, yet since I quit taking them it will show I need to take them..so I'll hear "make sure to take your vitamins!" A vicious circle. Who knows why?!
      Anyway, I have 40lbs to go to meet my goal and I'm really hoping I can do it in the next 6 months (for a total of 18 months post surgery). At my starting weight the charts show only 20% reach their goal within 18 months with a starting weight of 259 the day of surgery. I'd like to add that to achieved goals. Fingers crossed!
      I'm amazed and thankful for everyone here on these forums who've supported me, answered my questions and understood the plight! Thank you all, you know who you are.
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done!

    • BlondePatriotInCDA  »  Crayon

      Welcome to the bariatric forums!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • juliie

      Good morning all, how long did it take insurance to approve you?
      · 5 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Once it was submitted, not long at all. Just a few days, I think. But my surgeon's office didn't submit it until all my requirements were met, which included psych eval, dietician meetings, a certain number of visits, bloodwork, etc. As long as you've checked all the right "boxes" they require, the approval process should be very standard and easy. Your surgeon's office should know exactly what you need to get approved.

      2. juliie

        good morning , I just need one more clearance from the insurance requirements which is my basic nutrition class , and that's on the 26th of this month. I have BCBSMI insurance. my surgeon said it usually takes 4-6 weeks for them to approve but can be sooner

      3. BlondePatriotInCDA

        Once I completed all the insurance/program requirements - about a week. It seemed fairly quick, but I also contacted my insurance company several times to confirm all the requirements I needed to satisfy there paperwork machine and also nudge (nag squeaky wheel) them 😋 ! Also, my bariatric clinic is/was on top of it.

      4. juliie

        @BlondePatriotInCDA thanks, I have BCBSM hopefully it doesn't take them long to approve me, i just need one more clearance from their requirements. wow a week ? that was fast ,have you had yours yet?

      5. BlondePatriotInCDA

        Yes, my one year anniversary is this Wednesday. It will go quickly, it may not seem like it now..but trust me it will. I have BCBS as well. Good luck, you can do this!

    • rsmith2593

      I has my Ru &Y July 7, 2013.  I was 389 lbs on surgery day.  I am now 198.  I feel so much better ! I can keep up with my grand kids ages 3,3,4,8 and 13
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Long whine alert - I'm really disappointed! I saw my primary Dr last month and told her I wanted WLS and she was all for it. Said that I had to do the 6 month supervised diet for my insurance and a boatload of other tests. Ok. I understand. She started my 6 month diet last month and sent a referral to the bariatric surgeon. MY plan was to do the supervised diet, then at the end of the 6 months in January, do all the other tests...sleep study, endoscopy, ekg, psych, nutritionist, etc. because all of that would get my insurance deductible met, then have surgery in February or March. Since my deductible would be met, I'd only be paying my 20% coinsurance by then. Got the call from the bariatric surgeon's office on Friday and was told that THEY are the ones that will do my 6 month supervised diet. I explained that my primary Dr already had me on it for a month but they said everything will go thru them. Ok. I understand. So I explain about wanting to complete the diet first, then do all the other testing (because I don't want to have to pay my deductible twice by paying for all that stuff now, & then it starts over in January) but she tells me that they do the testing while I'm doing the diet. That means that I cannot even start their bariatric program until January! They made my first appt for Jan 9th & that's when the 6 month diet will start with them & they'll submit to insurance for approval in June & I would have surgery in July. Man!!! That's almost a year from now! All because I don't want to pay $4500 now, than have to pay it again in January. I don't understand why they won't let me diet now & do the other tests at the end.
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        Before you assume that the testing will take your full deductible, I would make some calls to your insurance. I have a 3k deductible and my portion of the bloodwork was nowhere close to that even though I assumed it would be. I think my copays ended up being around $1k or less for all the preliminary tests. And remember, you will have extensive bloodwork multiple times after surgery, so there may be no way to get it all into one calendar year. Also, you might look into financing options through your hospital. Mine allowed me to put the $3k I owed after the surgery (because yeah, that did max out my deductible for this year) on a 24-month no-interest payment plan. Depending on your options, it may be affordable enough that you can book your appointment sooner and get this whole thing going instead of having to wait almost a full year to have your surgery.

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