Caroline G

I have this same fear. Did you end up having the surgery, or will you have it?

My surgeon's office told me it usually takes one week but they have noticed it has taken longer lately. It took a week and five days for me to find out I was approved, but I also called my surgeon's office and so they looked it up online, saying it sometimes shows up there before they get the phone call. I have been told in the past by United that it can take up to 30 days but that's probably for cases where it is not a "quick approval" for whatever reason. Good luck! I think it is a good idea to call Monday.

The sleeve was actually first used as a safer first step procedure for people who had two much to lose to go right for gastric bypass. And then when they lost some of the weight, they would do bypass as step two.

I don't know. That's what I hear but I'm not sure how it works out in reality. I have heard about leaking and twisting in some people (though its not a high rate of it) with the sleeve.But I also have done more research into the sleeve so I think I know a little more about it than I do about bypass.

Congratulations! I can't wait to cross my legs again too.

I have some of the same concerns. I don't want to fail and I don't want to just lose 50 or 60 pounds either. And I almost went for the band. I'm glad I didn't make that mistake and I want to make sure I don't make a mistake in choosing a surgery.

That is very much like me. I am 33 also, 5'4.5" (I used to be 5'6, then 5'5" and I just keep shrinking in height), 230 (started off at 240), size 18. I just got insurance approval for the sleeve (so I should be able to get approved for bypass too but I have been doing this for the past year and really want to move along with this because I am getting closer. I am concerned about certain things with the sleeve (like stretching and long term results) and concerned about certain things with bypass (like dumping and higher risks). After talking to your doctor, do you feel like you yourself are leaning more toward bypass also or still not sure what to do? I am hoping I will have a clearer mind about it when I see my doctor again.

Good luck to both of you!

You look amazing! And I thank you so much for posting after being 14 months out from surgery because I do have questions for people who are a year or more out from surgery and can't find much past 6 months. Caroline

I would also be interested in hearing about this. I've read so many success stories at 6 months but haven't seen nearly as much about weight loss afterward. I don't know that I can lose 90 pounds in 6 months if weight loss after may not be very likely. Caroline

And do they consider you high risk for having had weight loss surgery (although I will be 35 by the time I can get pregnant so I guess I will be high risk anyways)? Did your OB/GYN have any concerns about your having had the sleeve and then going through pregnancy? (I will change doctors if I have to but I am just wondering if I will get any strange reactions)

Thanks! I appreciate everyone's responses!

Hi, I am still going through insurance approval, and have mostly decided on the sleeve. Has anyone who has been pregnant after getting the sleeve done had trouble losing the baby weight after the baby was born? How much weight did you gain during pregnancy? I am perfectly fine with the pregnancy weight gain but don't want to end up back where I am now. Thanks! Caroline

Hi, everyone. I am pre-op, waiting for insurance approval. The official word from my surgeon's office is to wait 18 months, but when I met with her individually, she told me a year would be enough or 6 months if I have lost all my weight by then (which I won't. I am hoping for a year) Cheri, when did you have the Mirena taken out? I have had the Mirena for four years and I love it. I was thinking it would be great with the sleeve because it is so effective and I hopefully wouldn't get pregnant before I should with it. But I think you mentioned you had trouble losing with it? Once you had it out, did you have an easier time losing? Caroline

Great! You deserve it! And especially after everything you've been through, it is awesome to hear that you are happy with how you look (and feel) now. Congratulations! This is also keeping me excited and motivated for surgery.

Thank you both!

Hi everyone, I am just finishing up getting my pre-op paperwork in. Initially, I thought I wanted the band and was completely against bypass. I then heard more and more about the problems with the band and heard good things about the sleeve so for the past few months, I have been planning to do the sleeve. But lately, I have been considering gastric bypass and questioning whether this would be a better option. I know I should still be able to lose weight with the sleeve but I don't know if I will still lose as much. I also don't know about long term results. I am concerned about malabsorption while pregnant (which I want to do once I lose the weight and am cleared). I am also concerned about dumping syndrome. I know it is supposed to be a useful tool but how sensitive are people with dumping? Also, how bad was everyone's recovery? I have a four year old and work two jobs. I plan to take a few weeks or a month off and my husband and my mom will be helping out a lot but I want to get back to normal and function when I can. Regardless, I am having surgery one way or the other and will make it work, but want to be prepared. Thanks!

The cauliflower crust pizza is awesome! I don't even like cauliflower but it doesn't even seem like you are eating cauliflower.