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Matt Z

Gastric Bypass Patients
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Status Updates posted by Matt Z

  1. So I had my first nutrition appointment.  And it went exactly as I had expected.  "You are already doing everything we suggest"  That was really it.  Literally everything that I am supposed to be "learning" over the next 6 months.  I already do.  Not really happy about being forced to wait 6 months and waste $240 in office visit fees for seeing the nutritionist... for nothing other than checking boxes of the insurance company.

    1. TaRena

      TaRena

      True..true..true. But you still have to jump through their hoops in hopes of having it done. It's all for a great reason...just keep that in mind.

  2. Stuck being forced into a 6 month medically supervised diet program.  Not happy about this.  It means that I won't get my surgery until 2018.  Upper GI coming up next week.  First dietitian visit the following week.  I just really wish I didn't have to do this stupid 6 month program.  Having the band for over 5 and a half years should be diet enough.  I'm just hoping all plays out so that I'm close to my weight when I was 20, by my 40th birthday.  

    1. Show previous comments  2 more
    2. chrystine

      chrystine

      Hi Matt,

      I know the waiting is inconvenient but the WLS is a tremendous life changing experience. You can read all the books, participate in discussion boards, etc but there is a reason why insurance companies want this. The most successful patients long term are the ones who went with a surgical center of excellence, and a supervised program ahead of time. I am 2 1/2 years out, maintaining my doctor's goal weight for me but it isn't easy. You will find 1000s of success stories from people who did private pay surgery but think about the lifetime commitment to a new way of life. I do not regret all the "hoops" I jumped through. Best wishes on whatever you decide.

    3. Matt Z

      Matt Z

      Chrystine, the reason I'm not fond of being forced to not only wait, but to go through 6 months of more mandatory check-ins, is because I have already had my band more than 5 years. I've been following all the recommend diet and exercise programs, so being forced to just check boxes over the next 6 months is nothing more than an inconvenience. I fully understand that people that are properly educated have higher success rates. But at this point, I'm no where near new to this process, it's been my life for coming up on 6 years now. So, I still feel like I shouldn't be held to the same requirement as someone that doesn't have an already established, medically approved diet and exercise standing. In fact, I had my first nutrition appointment already, and it went exactly as expected. "you are already doing everything we are going to tell you to" that's what I was told... yet, insurance is forcing me to waste 6 months and $240 just to meet their generic guidelines rather than actually look at my medical history and waive this requirement.

    4. Matt Z

      Matt Z

      NYCGAL000, since I already have the band, I'm going to stick with the same doctor that installed it to do my bypass. I'm aware of all the ways to go around and outside of the US medical system, but I just don't feel like risking it.

  3. Found out I might have to do a 6 month medically supervised diet and exercise program before I'm cleared for revision.  Which really sucks, because I've had the band for 5 years, 6 months now... how is that not enough to cover 6 months of dieting... I've had over 5 years of forced dieting. sigh.  Made my upper GI appointment, gotta wait 3 weeks for that one now too.  I just want this band out, I'm sick of getting stuck on stupid **** that I should be eating.  I got stuck on steamed green beans yesterday.... GREEN BEANS! Like... COME ON!

  4. Officially started the process to revise from the Lap-Band to Bypass.  Now I need to wait on insurance approval.  Fingers crossed.

  5. Well, it's been quite a while it seems.  I'm stuck around 300 - 310 ish lbs right now.  Just spoke with my surgeon yesterday about getting the band removed and updating to another surgery.  Leaning towards the bypass at this point.  Fingers crossed.  It's not that I'm unhappy with the band, I've just gone as far as it will take me at this point.  Onward and Downwards! 

  6. Fill went great, WAY easier than I could have ever thought. Got me 4cc's now and plenty of restriction! YAY

  7. First Fill today. YAY! Finally going to start climbing out of Bandster Hell!

  8. First Fill today. YAY! Finally going to start climbing out of Bandster Hell!

  9. 314 today for week 5, not bad considering I've been in Bandster Hell since week 3. Fill next week CANNOT WAIT!

  10. Feeling Great today! Now if only work was done...

  11. Feeling Great today! Now if only work was done...

  12. End of week 3, 316. Nice!

  13. Liquid meds are so much worse than crushed meds.. yuck!

  14. I'm actually looking forwards to going back to work next week!

  15. Good luck today BRD! Just take it easy, make sure you do your incentive spirometer breathing when you are out of recovery! If they don't give you one, ask! they are amazing little devices!

  16. 321 today! Damn I love this!

  17. Happy Thanksgiving all! Walked to my parents again today, felt much better, weighed in at 324!!! That's 5 more lbs since monday, 11 since surgery and 26 since I started. LOVE IT!!!

  18. So I walked to my parents house today, just 4 blocks, but it was taxing. I went and weighted myself, even though I know I shouldn't have, being only 4 days post op. But I did and I was shocked to be down to 329. That's 6 lbs since friday!

  19. Feeling much better today, more gas production, swelling is decreasing, but my IV hand is still swollen like a boxing glove. Fevers have tapered off, still above "normal" but not in the 100's like yesterday. The Breathing exerciser is working wonders for the gas pains.

  20. Thanks everyone, Just got home a few moments ago. The pain is odd, on the inside it's like a mix between gas pain and hunger, without the hunger growls. In the incision sites, I've got 5 of them with the largest being a little over 2 inches long right in the center of my chest below the sterum. Time to heal up so I'll talk to you guys later! Stay Strong!

  21. It's my birthday today... 33 years old. Took photos shirtless yesterday and I'm amazed at how big I really am. I never see myself like that, it was a needed wake up call, so ready for Friday!

  22. So I'm down to 4 days until surgery and the funky dreams have started already lol!

  23. Pre-op class was "interesting" I was the ONLY one in the class, my official pre-op weight is 336.8, down from 343 on the 31st, down from the 350 peak. 1 week left!

  24. Pre-op class tomorrow morning and my (final?) pre-op weigh-in. E X C I T E D !

  25. 10 days (9 really) between me and my band... still not scared at all, VERY EXCITED, I feel like a kid counting down to Christmas!

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