Hello To All!

[brol1k 50]

Hello guys and gals, my name is Alexander, my age is 26 male from the Bronx, NYC. I was born here but am of Dominican Republic/Cuban heritage. My WLS journey began back in 2002 at St Lukes hospital which I spent almost two years doing all the pre op tests to actually be denied of surgery b/c I was to heavy. From there I contacted beth israel hospital and after a few months of going on seminars and such I got denied b/c i was to heavy. After both of those denials I decided to put the WLS on hold for the time being as that is totally discouraging. Maybe after about two years later maybe 2006-2007 I went to Montefiore medical center with Dr Gibb to seek RNY and to be denied yet again was baffling to me. I then said to myself after that im no longer seeking WLS b/c Im going to accept me being a "big guy". To no surprise almost two years after that I noticed my weight had reached a high of almost 600lbsand noticed my health in serious decline. after watching tv shows like biggest loser and people getting WLS on TLC I got motivated to research a facility that would operate on me (a person almost 600lbs at 6-2) on google Columbia presbyterian hospital showed up and contacted the surgeons assistant (Dr Ude at that time), she was on vacation and would return back about a month after that call, during that time I saw my PCP for a full exam and referral to see the surgeon, When october came I had seen the surgeon for the first time and she did the check up and sat me down in her office and I heard the greatest news ever!!!!!

"She said yes we can do the surgery on you!!!" those words were the best thing I heard in years hahaha, so after that she said I have to do a 6 month supervised weigh ins by a nutritionist and several other pre op exams required by my insurance. SOOOOOOO im into my 4 month weigh in then to find outthat the surgeon had switched hospitals. That was the worst news to hear, i literally balled up and teared my eye away, right there the phone rang and Ude had told the assistant, that she left a file there with a hospital and surgeon thatll do the procedure on me.

With that I got switched to lawrence hospital which is joined with CPH and the surgeon is called Dr Ahmed. Bad thing was Dr Ahmed didnt accept my insurance so I had to switch to H.I.P which is one he accepts. Then after switching insurances I got to meet the nutritionist there for the first time to give me the bad news that the nutritionist at CPH wasnt doing it correctly so I had to restart the 6 month weigh in with her and thus far doing the rest of my pre op requirements. so into my 5th month weigh in, I learned the surgeon Dr Ahmed was leaving lawrence to go to harlem hospital!!!!! also the NP was switched, which all felt chaotic and I didnt know what else to do. I told the new NP my story (one im telling you guys now) and she was FURIOUS! She said to me dont worry your new surgeon is Dr Aaron Roth and he'll be the one doing the procedure on you, and he's really anxious to meet you.

SO after meeting with him a couple times and finishing the pre op requirements i was scheduled for surgery june 6th.

But wait........ during the month of may I get a call from lawrence telling me the insurance people are about to deny me b/c theres not enough proof that the surgery isnt cosmetic. insurance asked me to go to my old PCP and get weigh ins from up to 10 years ago. instead of doing that, I called my primary and told him the story of what insurance wanted me to do and he was outraged....put it like this, half hour later insurance called me telling me they approved!!!!!!! then the desk lady for lawrence called me and said "you should thank your PCP, I heard he gave them an ear full" lmaoooo that was so funny but thanks to me being on top and persistent I got sleeved (VSG) June 7th 2011 and since have lost 161lbs!!!!

I know have a youtube Vlog that I update frequently, I would love if you all would watch them and subscribe and comment also...www.youtube.com/brol1k

[Doreykn 113]

Wow! That was something else that you had to go through! So glad to hear everything finally worked out! Keep up the good work! I'm pretty new to this site myself. I was lucky that my insurance didn't require me to have weigh ins, just a medical necessity. I am Diabetic(pills only), high blood pressure & I have knee & back problems.

[Lillypad68 2]

HEY ALEX........ WHAT AN AMAZING STORY! I'm happy for u it finally worked out! I just got sleeved Nov 8 in Santa Rosa Ca...was in the hospital for 72 hrs, went home and am now back for dehydration.. Feeling confused about the whole thing! I'll ck out ur utube videos....good luck to u . Michele

[augustkiwi 18]

congrats on your weight loss!!! i know the multiple denials was really tough but im glad you hung in there and toughed it out!!!! im happy for you!! i myself am on the 6 month supervised diet w/ nutritionist..etc so continue the great work and i, along with many others, will be right behind ya!

[Sushe 1]

Wow what a journey. I had a lot if probs w my dr office dealing w insurance. She never turned in the stuff an they denied my sleeve. They paid for my band removal though. I'm glad I did it. I'm only a few days out so I have a lot of pain still. Keep in touch I like to hear your story.

[Becca 108]

Welcome to the sleeve family! We are so happy you are here. I am going to watch your vlogs now. : )

[brol1k 50]

Wow! That was something else that you had to go through! So glad to hear everything finally worked out! Keep up the good work! I'm pretty new to this site myself. I was lucky that my insurance didn't require me to have weigh ins, just a medical necessity. I am Diabetic(pills only), high blood pressure & I have knee & back problems.

Yes my persistence finally paid off in the most positive way, my GF says im too persistent but I put it to good use this time hahaha

HEY ALEX........ WHAT AN AMAZING STORY! I'm happy for u it finally worked out! I just got sleeved Nov 8 in Santa Rosa Ca...was in the hospital for 72 hrs, went home and am now back for dehydration.. Feeling confused about the whole thing! I'll ck out ur utube videos....good luck to u . Michele

thank you so much, I got somewhat dehydrated two months after my surgery, here in NYC we had a heat wave in august that killed me but thank god the NP let me on gatorade for the time being, and now im off it again lol. good luck with everything and please do watch my youtube videos, hit the box under my AVI.

congrats on your weight loss!!! i know the multiple denials was really tough but im glad you hung in there and toughed it out!!!! im happy for you!! i myself am on the 6 month supervised diet w/ nutritionist..etc so continue the great work and i, along with many others, will be right behind ya! :smile1:

tough isnt the word, they were let downs! thanks for the kind words, if you need help I got your back also

Wow what a journey. I had a lot if probs w my dr office dealing w insurance. She never turned in the stuff an they denied my sleeve. They paid for my band removal though. I'm glad I did it. I'm only a few days out so I have a lot of pain still. Keep in touch I like to hear your story.

yes the journey sure was looong and tough, i heard the denial from insurance sucks being you have too wait a few months or so to resubmit again, am I right?

Welcome to the sleeve family! We are so happy you are here. I am going to watch your vlogs now. : )

thank you for greeting me, and yes please watch and subscribe, i pour my heart into those videos

[Lillypad68 2]

Hey fellow sleevers,..... N I can say that now with positivness for sure! Doing much better then I was last wk, find myself wanting or should i say drooling over things I shouldnt eat. I'll be ok though I know in due time .....I will b starting some Protein today not sure how or what to mix it in, I have vanilla powder can I thin it w/ notfat milk? Would love some ideas..... I'm sooo glad evryone is on there way! We can do it....I'm screamin from the rooftop..... ; ) Take good care of urselfs like no one else can! Always....Michele

[brol1k 50]

Hey fellow sleevers,..... N I can say that now with positivness for sure! Doing much better then I was last wk, find myself wanting or should i say drooling over things I shouldnt eat. I'll be ok though I know in due time .....I will b starting some Protein today not sure how or what to mix it in, I have vanilla powder can I thin it w/ notfat milk? Would love some ideas..... I'm sooo glad evryone is on there way! We can do it....I'm screamin from the rooftop..... ; ) Take good care of urselfs like no one else can! Always....Michele

Hey and welcome, you sure can, I mix my Protein Shakes with skim plus milk and they Tate delicious.

[jasleeve 440]

im so glad youve joined us and glad you finally posted your story! i was waiting to see if i would see you on here!

sleevers, alex is one of the nicest guys you will meet and you will see it through his posts and youtube vlog! meeting him in person was a pleasure & him & i happen to be seeing the same team of doctors at the same hospital. hes the go to guy!

[MsLadyKanKan 6]

OMG....you went through soooooooo much but you are doing fabulous! You really had the patience of Job. I am so glad it worked out for you. Checked you out on youtube great vids. Hope you got a chance to check me out on youtube as well under MsLadyKanKan. I am here in San Diego now having surgery on tues November 22 in Mexico. I can't wait. Much continued success on your journey!.

[brol1k 50]

im so glad youve joined us and glad you finally posted your story! i was waiting to see if i would see you on here!

sleevers, alex is one of the nicest guys you will meet and you will see it through his posts and youtube vlog! meeting him in person was a pleasure & him & i happen to be seeing the same team of doctors at the same hospital. hes the go to guy!

Thanks jaz always a pleasure of course, an yes I joined b/c you mentioned it at the seminar do I figured I give it a go. So far great site.

[brol1k 50]

OMG....you went through soooooooo much but you are doing fabulous! You really had the patience of Job. I am so glad it worked out for you. Checked you out on youtube great vids. Hope you got a chance to check me out on youtube as well under MsLadyKanKan. I am here in San Diego now having surgery on tues November 22 in Mexico. I can't wait. Much continued success on your journey!.

So much isn't even the correct word for it lol, but yes I did and I had to keep trying or else who knows where I wouldve been a few years from now. And I saw you subscribed also, so I'll be checking out your videos.

[mnbsleeve 87]

Alexander! WOW! What incredible perserverance!!!! My hat off to you for going after something you knew was right for you!!!! Congratulations on everything you have accomplished, including the amazing weightloss so far. I will check out your youtube videos. Looking forward to following your progress!!!!!

[brol1k 50]

Alexander! WOW! What incredible perserverance!!!! My hat off to you for going after something you knew was right for you!!!! Congratulations on everything you have accomplished, including the amazing weightloss so far. I will check out your youtube videos. Looking forward to following your progress!!!!!

So sorry for not commenting sooner, was just busy with life and this great weight loss but all is back to normal thank god.

UPDATE 12/26:

To all I have now lost 180 pounds, my weigh in was beginning of December. My goal before surgery was to lose 200 by New Years Eve and I hope I have reached that goal but if im a few pounds short ill be happy regardless.

I have updated my youtube channel with two new videos please subscribe, like, and comment with questions or anything present in your minds. HEre is the channel www.youtube.com/brol1k