VSG, Worries, and Trich... Oh My!

[Scorch 1]

Hi there. I seriously been considering VSG - but I am totally scared! Especially since it is kind of not reversible. I also have ZERO support from my family. (I have no friends because I'm fat and shy)

I once lost around 80 lbs and was looking GOOD, but then I fell back into my old habits and over the course of 2 years, I gained all the weight back and then some. I am soooo miserable. I really am desperate at this point.

Work is terrible as well because no one wants to have lunch or make friends with the "fat" chick. ***sigh***

I have a meeting tomorrow with someone from HR because I am going to see if it would be at all possible to get unpaid time in the next couple of months to maybe get this procedure done. I know about FLMA, but I have only been there since February. Hopefully they will allow it - I was looking at early Summer. Wish me luck there!

Some questions.....

1. How is the recovery time? I work a desk job and am on the phone a lot, so I sit. Do you think it is feasible to go back to work after one week from the surgery? (Of course I would love longer, but this would be unpaid time, and a week might be PUSHING it to ask off for someone that hasn't been with my employer for a year)

2. Since I don't have several thousand dollars lying around, does anyone know of someone that will do a medical or personal loan at an acceptable interest rate for LONGER than 60 months? That is the longest amount of time I have seen so far... and I was hoping for 72 or 80 months. I have good credit (high 600's to low 700's range) but don't see much in terms of flexibility.

3. I suffer from a condition known as Trichotillomania. To be more specific, I pull the hair from my head. I am not so bad at it to the point where I have bald spots like some people, however my hair is kind of ... damaged, and I am ashamed of it. I have heard numerous times that Hair loss is an inevitible side effect, and I am wondering how bad the hair loss is? (If anyone else happens to suffer from Trich and has VSG, please respond especially here!)

Of course I am thinking of Mexico for this. I really like what I see from Dr. Alvarez, and I have considered Dr. Almanza because of the price, but... I don't know. :lol0: Thanks everyone!

[pnw218 14]

Hello!

It is a big step to take but I don't regret it. I will share my personal experience with you. Will send a private message.

1. I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. I did work shorter days because I could (self employed) but could have done longer than 4-6 hours if I needed to. I was back to regular full time hours after one week. Have you had surgery before? Any idea how you will do afterwards?

2. You might try a credit union to get a personal signature, unsecured loan. Or do you have a car or something you could use as collateral?

3. I'm not at this stage yet - I think most people have said it happened at about 3 months? Seems it also grows back. I have very thick hair but still don't want it to fall out. supplements might help?

Good luck with your research!!

[Garyb_58 1]

The only thing I can with help is the work. I had surgery on a Monday

and returned back to full days the next Monday. I too work at a desk

and mostly use the phone and computer.

I would just make sure and continue taking breaks and walking instead

sitting for an extended period of time.

Good luck with you journey.

I too traveled to MX to have surgery and I'm very happy with the results.

Gary

[Queendiva 0]

I haven't had the surgery yet but I have Lupus and my hair comes out and is thin. Wigs, baby girl is the answer. Everyone is wearing them. Looking around you. Probably the person with the prettiest head of hair has on a wig, extentions or tracks. We want our own hair for sure but living a longer life is superior to having longer or thicker hair. On the other hand Vitamins (zinc for one) and Protein will help preserve your tresses. Good luck and may God bless

[Lee 19]

Hi Scorch, Welcome to VST!

I work a desk job too. I had surgery on a Wednesday and started back to work at my home office the following Tuesday. I work around 6 hours a day that week, then returned to my office the following Monday. We all heal at a different rate. I'm 59 and I think that as we get older it takes a little longer to heal.

I don't have any answers to the credit as I had mine done at my Kaiser. Do you have health insurance at your job? Might they cover it? You may want to explore that option and see what you come up with.

hair loss? I'm only 6 weeks out. I bet others will come and throw in their opinions but you've already gotten good advice from QueenDiva, go find a wig! You may want to find a wig now and start wearing it so that it will be familiar to you once you have the surgery.

Good luck and please let us know how you're doing! :blushing:

[Scorch 1]

Thank you to everyone that's responded - and to those that sent PM's, I will respond tomorrow to them. (too tired tonight!)

The insurance with my employer is Aetna. I don't know if there is a WLS exclusion or not. If I could do it without the six month supervised diet they want, I would go through insurance. However I feel like I can't wait six months plus whatever additional time they need for the paperwork.

[Tiffykins 673]

Hi Scorch, and welcome. I really can't answer the medical loan part, or the time off from work as I didn't return to my job post-op.

As for the hair loss, it's pretty inevitable for most patients. I lost half of my hair. Luckily, I had super thick, coarse hair and no one really knew me before surgery so no one suspected anything. My Hair loss started around 3.5 months post-op and lasted for 3 solid months. There isn't anything you can really do or take that will stop the loss, but you can help regrowth even pre-op. I used Folicure Extra care Shampoo, and I had new growth coming in long before the loss stopped. I now look like a chia pet, but hey, at least it's growing back. Also, some patients take Biotin. I bought a bottle, but rarely took it. I just had to keep reminding myself that it is just temporary, and hair grows back.