former_vbg

Wow, no caffeine for 3 to 6 mths post-op? I have been a die hard Mt. Dew drinker myself. I did manage to cut any regular soda out of my life for good a year ago, but only because I found Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry. I normally do not like diet sodas, they don't usually taste good. But the Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry doesn't take like diet at all. Did your surgeon say why caffeine wasn't allowed post-op for that amount of time? Just curious.

Ok, kick me out for being in the "guys" room, but I have an answer to your question. Spanx sells both men AND women compression clothing. www.spanx.com Good luck! and Congrats on your weight loss!

I have an Aetna PPO plan, my work offers two different versions of the Aetna insurance policies. I chose the one that would limit my out of pocket expense. In my case I have a $200 deductible for outpatient services, and I think $500 for inpatient. Once I meet my deductible, they pay at 100%. So, provided I qualify (think I should), I will only have to pay my inpatient deductible. Some surgeons cover follow up office visits with the surgery costs for a short period (normally 90 days), some do not- that will be up to the surgeon. I would suggest calling Aetna and asking them about your specific plan, they should be able to tell you exactly what your responsibility will be for the surgery. Don't forget to ask about your responsibility for the charges above the negotiated rate. For example, if your surgeon/ hospital bill the insurance company for $20,000 for that procedure (assuming no complications), and they have a negotiated contract rate of $12,000- you shouldn't be responsible for the difference because that is what the surgeon agreed to be paid for that procedure. You should also confirm this with the billing staff and/or surgeon you are working with. Hope that helps some.

I just found this site about a week ago and have found it SOOOO helpful. Not only in reading so many people's experiences, challenges and even some of the negative. Reading about the statistics available which appear to be limited since the Sleeve is still considered fairly new for historical data, but when I did the VBG so long ago, the internet wasn't really a tool to do research like this and I just went with what the surgeon suggested. The other issue is there wasn't any post-op support outside of clinical surgery follow ups from his office. I did manage to loose probably 70% of the weight I had hoped, it has come back over the years. I'm not blaming the surgeon, just wish that there had been support groups and a referral to a nutritionist back then because I think if I had access to someone to help me learn a better lifestyle choices, I may have had a better long term outcome. I never even thought about being able to go through another WLS because my surgeon told me back then, this was a "one shot deal". I believed him. Then, a friend who had the lap band a couple years ago said I should look into it and see what my options might be. Since then, I contacted her surgeon and started the process a couple months ago. They told me first I would need to get my medical records from that surgery which took FOREVER... Finally got them last week. I called this morning and now they are mailing me out a packet to fill out and send in for the surgeon to review to see if he thinks I am a surgical candidate. I had hoped I could just bring the medical records in for him to look at with a office consult, but unfortunately not. I also called my insurance company this morning (Aetna PPO) and they cover ALL of the WLS procedures (Sleeve, Lapband, RnY, DS, and something else she called Pancreatic something). I was a bit shocked. What's kind of weird though is even though it was just a phone conversation, I was nervous about calling. Not just because I was afraid of being said it wasn't covered, but just having to ask the question to a stranger wondering what that person would think. Oh well... I would like to loose about 100 to 120#, think my BMI is 35. I'm really starting to get excited about getting things back on track!! This website is awesome!

Thank you, those are good suggestions. I do know my only expense would be $200 (annual deductible) but that will actually be met by something else before then- and so the rest would be covered at 100%. I had knee surgery earlier this year and so it should be similar to that in terms of a surgical/ hospital visit. I will check though just to be sure. I HATE surprise bills... You know something interesting and although it didn't affect me directly, when I had my knee surgery, the surgeon/ hospital sent in bills for nearly $10,000 and you know what was paid? Just a little more than $2,500 in approved expenses. I wasn't responsible for the other because it fell under what was the negotiated rate between the hospital/ doctor and my insurance company. It does bother me though that they bill for this amount because they turn around and claim it as a loss on their taxes. Inflated bills only drive the cost of healthcare up more. I know there are MANY other reasons for this, but if healthcare was more affordable people wouldn't feel they have to travel to another country to get healthcare.... Ok, off my band wagon. I will call them tomorrow, things will be slow at work with people out on vacation- so I should be able to take care of that.

I think this is a great thread! I'm still a little ways off from scheduling my surgery yet, have a few more hurdles to go through, but here is my list. As someone who has been chubby starting in late grade school and then it got really bad my first couple years in undergrad school. * Not shying away from photos with friends or family * Feeling more confident to date and socialize more * Slipping on a skinny pair of jeans and looking good in them (not having to lie on the bed to zip them up) * Opening up more career opportunities at work (some might be my lack of my own confidence but I also feel that overweight people are not always given the same opportunities as their thinner colleagues) * I own and show Arabian horses, and like the occasional trail riding- but am tired of being the "fat lady" in the show ring and so I look forward to wearing the skinny show clothes * Being able to buy clothes in the normal department * Once and for all getting rid of the 10 different sizes in clothes * Like others have said, having room to spare on the airplane * Crossing my legs * Oh, so many more....

Thank you! I might just do that! And, yes I have already had a few exchanges with Tiffkins- she is a GREAT asset to this board. In some of my reading/ research, I read an article that talked about people who conceal weights in their clothes for the "weigh in" just to make sure they meet the BMI requirements. I'm kind of tempted to do that myself, although I think I might be in the range. I probably should have asked the lady this morning at Aetna what their requirements were but really just wanted to get off the phone. I should probably call them back and find that out. I haven't been able to find any of that info on their website. Plus, it might vary by plan...

I'm curious about something. I have read an awful lot where people are asked to go on the liquid diets 10 days or 2 wks before their surgery. What is the reasoning for this? Is it to help you get in the mode for post-surgery life or is there a medical reason for it?

I've never heard of the sizing being referred to in this way "32 bougie". What does that mean? I have seen other posts refer to the stomach sizing of the sleeve to be under 100ml or I think I saw 50 or 60 grams (?)....

I know this is an old thread, but new to this site- I felt compelled to respond. As a VBG in 1998, and did initially loose a large amount of weight and I will say I did start to develop a bit of a judgmental attitude towards people heavier than me. In part, I think it was due to my age and lack of maturity (was 28 at the time). Of course then, as the weight started to come back, its amazing how a person reverts their way of thinking. As Tiffkins said though, I do hate to see people wearing clothes too small for them and they are spilling out of their clothes. I feel now though with a little more age comes with maturity that if I am fortunate enough to get the VSG that I will not forget the compassion people need for something that is a serious and difficult medical issue. I have a friend (not close) who had the lapband a couple years ago, and then just earlier this year she had surgery to remove excess skin on her tummy and legs. She's a little bit of a diva. I have noticed in the months following her having the cosmetic surgery she will make snide remarks about other overweight people or looks. That makes me me wonder what she says or thinks of me when I'm out of ear shot. My concern for her is with all that I've been reading about the low success rates w/the lapband that she may be in for a tough awakening in the next few years because has refused to do any exercise throughout the process. Time will only tell on her long term success.

Sorry if I missed this somewhere, but is Imbrecation the same as Plication? I looked at Tiffykin's post, and understand what the Plication procedure is- just wanted to know if they were the same terms just used synonymous. Also, I saw a couple of posts talk about the "Super Sleeve". Is that different that the "regular" sleeve so to speek? Just trying to learn, planning to schedule a consult w/a WLS next week and am trying to do my homework as much as possible beforehand so I can go with my list of questions for him.

I am calling Monday to make an appt with Dr. Hoehn. I had VBG back in 1998 and had fairly good success the first year, but there was very little after support and the weight never really stayed off. I had to get a copy of my surgical report so he could see if I would be a surgical candidate or not and I just got that this past week. It would seem from others on this board that I should be able to have the sleeve, but then that will depend on if insurance will pay for it. Did any of you who used Dr. Hoehn do a self pay? If so, do you mind sharing what he charged?

Yeah, his name was Dr. Timothy Sifers. I don't believe I received a different surgery- all the things I was finding on this seemed to all be a few years after I had my surgery. I'll report back what the new surgeon says after he reviews my surgery report. It will also depend on insurance approval. I don't have the funds to self-pay.

Ok, I just found this site today doing some google searching on the Vertical Sleeve and Dr. Stanley Hoehn from Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas City. I had Vertical Banded Gastroplasty back in 1998. The surgery went well, had no recovery issues, and lost a lot of weight in the first year, never quite reached my goal weight- but I was feeling much better than where I started out. I think I lost a little more than #100 and would like to have lost another 30# or so. What went wrong? Researching this stuff on the internet wasn't there yet. I researched the surgeon, and did as much research the old fashioned way as possible. The challenge was that I didn't really have much for a post-surgery support network. I don't blame the surgeon, and I didn't realize how important this would be. There was no recommendation to work with a nutritionist or even a counselor and so basically, I have started to put the weight back on over the years. Sometimes loosing doing Atkins, and I have a very physically active lifestyle- but the weight usually still comes back. Soooo.... a friend of mine had I think the gastric banding done a few years ago and she seemed happy with it. It took her awhile to loose it - but did reach her goal weight. My question is if anyone has ever had the gastric bypass surgery and then had the sleeve done. I just finally got a copy of my surgery report from 1998 to take to the new surgeon so he can determine surgically if I am even a candidate. He does the banding, sleeve and RnY. Any thoughts any cares to share would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ok, I'm going to have to ask you to explain a few things to me. I'm not completely up to speed on all the acronyms. DS is ? and VSG, is that vertical sleeve gastroplasty? What's also interesting is when I was doing research earlier today, I learned that the Dr. who did my surgery back then has since died (5 yrs ago and he was only 53 when he died). Also, that he had several lawsuits against him and even post death regarding doing different procedures than what he told the patients. He must have switched to doing Dudenal Switch or something.