LUCYCAT

Mine was a joke. I came in prepared to answer the hard questions. The question I got "what are your hobbies?" Seriously, that was the first question. She asked if I had someone to help take care of me after the surgery and how they felt about the idea. She gave me an IQ test where she mispronounced words and asked me to define them. That was fun. She asked if I had a drinking problem. She asked if I had ever been arrested. She asked if I physically fight with anyone in my life. Then she gave me a test with 500 true false questions.

Things like true or false. I would have liked to have been a park ranger. I love my mother. I believe someone is trying to poison me. I like reading books. I love my father. Sometimes I hear voices no one else hears. Sometimes the back of my head feels like it is on fire.

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. It is a shame I needed this so bad or it would have been fun to screw with them.

I am so sorry. I will send a prayer for you. I have been waiting for what feels like forever for approval myself. They are still thinking about it. I know it is frustrating. It does appear that your surgeon's office is trying to help you though. That is really a plus. They have gone through this with several patients and insurance companies. I wish you the best of luck- hang in there!

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thanks for the info! This may not be as bad as I expected.

wow that is awesome!

I have been told after VSG surgery I will not be able to take medication in pill form. Does anyone know how long that lasts? Is the rule really no medication at all? Not even birth control?

I realize each surgeon is different. I am just looking for an average here. How long after your insurance company approved your surgery were you scheduled for your surgery?

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I MAY TRY THEM ALL AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS....CANT HURT

Hi there. I could use some advice. I have been doing a lot of research online but I am getting conflicting information. I am trying to avoid having loose skin after losing a large amount of weight quickly. I will mention a few things that I have read, and if anyone out there has tried them please let me know- and let me know if it has helped.

1. Wear Spanx and Ch’arms as you are losing weight to make your skin stay firm.

2. Use Vitamin E and skin firming lotion.

3. Lift weights and do situps to tone the muscle under the skin

4. Wait 2 years, it will take 2 years for skin to catch up to your weight loss.

Anyone tried any of these? Or if you know of something else that works please let me know. I am tempted to try them all.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING TIME TO RESPOND TO ME. I AM SO EXCITED I CAN HARDLY SIT STIL. MEDMGR CONGRATS ON YOU APROVAL!

Just got my approval letter last night - took about 10 days (Memorial Day Holiday may have slowed it down a little).

I knew I was approved last week because Aetna has a nurse called me to answer any questions I had about the surgery. She was really nice and supportive and gave me her phone number if I have any other questions and also asked that I please call her when the real date has been set. She also wanted to re-assure that even though the letter states one day in the hospital, I am approved for whatever I need and not worry about it.

Now if the surgeon's office would just call to set up a date, I am so ready to get started...

Good Luck!

I AM SO EXCITED. I HAVE FINALLY JUMPED THROUGH ALL OF THE HOOPS TO QUALIFY FOR MY VSG! I HAVE AETNA INSURANCE. MY SURGEONS OFFICE PLANS TO SUBMIT MY CLAIM FOR PRE-CERTIFICATION BY NEXT TUESDAY. ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES AETNA TO APPROVE SOMEONE?

Awesome! I am very happy for you. I also suffer from anxiety. I have not been approved for my surgery as of yet. I am still a couple of months out. I thought I would comment though because when I was 20 yrs old I lost from 300 pounds down to 180. I had issues with anxiety back then too. I've been told that when a person loses a lot of weight it releases hormones- which can sometimes maginify existing conditions. I ended up having some problems with body image issues. I still SAW myself as being 300 pounds. It took me a long time to get used to guys hitting on me. People treated me so radically different it actually caused me to slip into depression. Be mindful of how you feel and talk to your doctor if you notice any changes. The depression didn't last for very long. I am happy to say that in the end I wats much happier and much LESS anxious after I lost the weight. Alas, many years passed- and I have gained back up to 235. I hope to have my VSG the end of July- I am just waiting on approval. I wish I had been able to have this done when I was your age. I think it is wonderful you and your mother will take this journey together. You will be fine- you will be better. Just remember your doctor is there to help you-

awesome! Good for you!

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD VSG SURGERY. I REALIZE THAT IT MAY BE EASY TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THE SURGERY DURING THE FIRST YERA WHEN YOU ARE LOSING A LOT OF WEIGHT AND LIFE IS ALL GOOD. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP LOSING WEIGHT? DO YOU REGRET HAVING THE SURGERY?

Hi There- I have not had VSG surgery yet but I have been seriously considering it. I am starting to jump through the hoops to get my surgery set up. My family and friends are trying to be supportive but I am getting these negative comments every now and then. I am not sure how to handle them. I am typically very good at making my own choices and having a devil may care attitude about them. This decisions however, has been different. The tiny shots of negitivity have me doubting myself.

EXAMPLE; After attending the seminar with my boyfriend we were having dinner. I asked him what he thought. He said he thought the surgery was very risky and that it was really just a matter of will power.

I am not sure what to say to people when they are supportive- but in a kinda negative way.

Hi There. I have been considering vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery for a very long time. I am starting to take the steps toward having the surgery and I have some questions. Anyone out there that has already had VSG if you could give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

1. What is a good way to talk about this decision with my boyfriend? I have tip toed around the subject a couple of times he seems to have a very negative view on bariatric surgery in general. Anyone else had to deal with this?

2. Do you lose a lot of hair? I have done some reasearch and Hair loss seems to be pretty common. Is there anything that can be done to keep this from happening?

3. Is excess skin a common problem? I am 36- no spring chicken and I have been overweight my entire life- so my skin is used to being big!

4. Can you stop? I know that is a bit of an odd question, but I am not so very sure that I want to be ultra skinny. I would love to make it down to around 150- 160. But I am not sure that I would want to weigh less than that. I have watched Video Journals of people that have the surgery and they get down to the 150's and say that they plan to stay there and the next video they are 132....what happened? Makes me a little nervous.

5. How do you handle prying coworkers? I am a very private person, I do not want the entire office to know that I have had surgery- but obviously they will notice when I start to lose weight. What is the best way to handle this? i know them well enought to know that even though we are not close they will feel it is their right and duty to A. Talk trash about my decision and B. think it is an open door for them to tell me what I should and should not be doing.

6. Do you regret it? Are there days when you regret it. I know it isn't a magic cure. It has to be something that is both difficult and rewarding to go through. Are there days when the reward is not worth the struggle?

THIS IS ALL I CAN THINK OF FOR NOW- ANY ADVICE YOU COULD THROW MY DIRECTION I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE.