Lookinupin2010

Best of luck...prayers are coming your way.

I haven't had my VSG yet, but a couple of months ago I started having terrible charley horses that would take sometimes as long as a 1/2 hour to work out, then for the next couple of days my muscles would feel like I had worked out really hard. I went to the Dr., and he ran a blood test on me. My potassium was fine, but I was low on Vit D, and he told me to NOT let myself get dehydrated. I almost always have a Water bottle beside me, but for about a week, I was just running around too much and didn't bother drinking enough water. One day, I realized that I had not had any water at all except in the morning when I had taken my pills. When i don't drink my minimum of 64 oz. a day, I start getting that tight feeling in my legs, and that always sends me back to the water bottle. I don't want to have to go through those awful cramps again. Since you are post op, have you talked to your Dr. about it? Hope you feel better, and will send healthy thoughts your way....Pat

I called Dr. Chiasson's office just this last week, because I had heard from others about the 6 month supervised diet plan also. I was not told anything about this in the beginning, so I wanted to call and make sure that I had my facts straight. Tracy (Dr. Chiasson's advocate that works with me) once again reassured me that UHC (for MY particular plan does NOT require the 6 month wait, as long as I have a letter from my PCP that I have had a 5 year documented history of morbid obesity. I have had my physicals every year, so I have no problem with that area. I (in the last 3 weeks) have gone through: 1. Labwork 2. Psychiatric visit and clearance 3. Endogastroscopy 4. 2 (yes 2 !!!) sleep studies (I was diagnosed with sleep apnea with the first visit and had to go back for another one...YUK) 5. a visit with my cardiologist (he also wants me to do a nuclear stress test next Wednesday before he will write my clearance letter. 6. a clearance letter from my PCP (with documented weight of the last 5 years) 7. and also on Wednesday, I will be meeting with the nutritionist. So Wednesday, hopefully will be all my appointments needed by UHC. I have just had to make and go to the appointments...the bariatric surgeons office has done the footwork with UHC (cause they know EXACTLY who to ask for and what to ask for). In the past years, (before I knew about VSG) I have tried on my own, and got nowhere and only frustrated to the point of giving up. I feel very fortunate that the 'digging for the criteria' has been done for me this time. I have never gotten this far before, and feel wonderfully excited. Hope this helps you, and hope that things can be easier for you...Prayers are with you.... Pat:001_rolleyes:

Ok, here we go. I struggled with this whole weight loss issue for years, because I felt like I was taking something that the Lord blessed me with (my body) and rearranging it as if to say, "God didn't give me a perfect body, so I have to fix His mistake." Well...God DID give me a perfect body, but over the course of years I abused His gift and made it into something that is not perfect. I am able to see that now, only by the grace of God, He is allowing me to get rid of this burden, 'let the "old man" die' and 'cast my burdens upon Him'. He has put scriptures into my heart that have cut deep into my soul. I Cor 6:19-20, I Cor 9:27, Matt 5:16. How am I supposed to give my testimony to others when all they do is look at me and see gluttony. These scriptures were still keeping me in bondage of guilt everytime I messed up. CAUSE ....(now I see) I was still trying to control it, rather than surrender this whole mess I made into Gods' hands. The insurance approval, which I haven't gotten yet either, is ALL in His hands. I will accept whatever His will is because HE IS God. But I've changed my attitude on WLS as knowing that He will take the mess I've made and 'fix' it if that is His will....and isn't that where we want to be..in His will for He is perfect.:001_unsure:

I also, am preop...and for the most part excited to get on with my new life...when the doubts start creeping in I have to remind myself that for most of my 57 years I have battled this weight, gotten frustrated with myself over and over again over the inability to not be able to control the hunger I have in the evening and spoiling the entire day of good choices and exercise, feeling like I'm not worth it, thinking about the money that this is going to cost and should I put my family in this position, how will I feel on Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the other celebrations that we have with food as the main part....blah blah blah The point is, I AM worth it, the financial strain is going to be there anyway if my health continues to fade because of the extra weight, and that is not an 'if' but a 'when'. I WILL be changing my entire relationship with food, and you know what ??? HALLELUIA, cause it sure is stinky right now. It control my thoughts, days and entertainment. IT IS JUST FOOD FOR PETE'S SAKE !!!! I need this tool to help control the appetite thing.....the head hunger I'm trying to prepare myself for right now. I'm am writing in a journal, thoughts that really stand out to me now, things that mean something to me personnally, so that when the 'head hunger' tries to rear its ugly little head at me, I have the surgery (and not wanting to cause unnecessary pain from not following my surgeons advice) and all these little messages that I can refer back to help me through all the depression, anxiety and all the other junk that I know I will be facing in the near future. But, in one year.....WOW !!! You know what 'they' say..."what a difference a year can make". and guess what else...for the first time ever for most of us, we will be able to walk into a room and NOT be noticed....hehe (unless of course it's because we look so darn good !!!!) :001_unsure:

This info is awesome....some I already knew but was reinforced, other info was excellent.....Thank you. (coming from one who is patiently awaiting my date for surgery.....):001_unsure:

48 lbs.....since your preop diet....YOU GO GIRL !!!! I think you are doing great.....Maybe you just didn't drink enough water...but STILL daily fluctuations are normal aren't they? You are my inspiration....

OK....now my question is....do they remove it, or does it stay in place...dissolve...what happens to it....

I have UHC EPO and am in Arizona. I went through my surgeons office (Dr. Chiasson) and they talked directly to the UHC representative and was told that they cover VSG and Lapband. I have started my criteria that was given to me by Dr. Chiasson's office: letter from PCP with 5 years documented weight, and all weight related health issues. Psychiatric evaluation Cardiac evaluation and release letter Nutritional counseling Labwork (blood draws) sleep evaluation (sleep study) Endogastroscopy Yes, I haven't been officially guaranteed that they will pay for MY procedure, but I wasn't led to believe from Dr. Chaisson's office that there would not be any other criteria to be met.... Hope this is true......prayerfully awaiting.....:thumbup1:

Thanks for the info...I don't have my surgery date yet....waiting for all paperwork to be submitted to UHC. But I love reading about all the experiences that I'm heading for...(prayerfully)

I agree with you....I would love to do this....BUT....not close....

I went for my first consultation yesterday, and was very excited to get started on this whole journey. By the time I got home, the sleep study receptionist had left a message to make an appointment for tonight. Psychiatrist is on Monday, Gastroscopy is on Wednesday, Cardiologist is on 3/3 and all I have left to do is find a bariatric nutritionist that United Healthcare will cover. I am so excited to get these things under way, so the paperwork can all be submitted to UHC. If they don't approve me I will probably hit this deep funk...so I'm trying to keep myself anticipating anything from them. The surgeons office has already got the criteria from them, so I hope this is all going to be good. Looking forward to being set free from this bondage of weight. Anyone had experience with UHC in Arizona? How long did it take you to hear anything, did they make you jump through hoops.... My surgeon will be Dr. Chiasson (hopefully......)

In my early 20's I lost 165 lbs in about 18 months in a healthy way (portion control and exercise AND prayer for strength to get through the next day without cheating) I kept it off for about 5 years, BUT...when my Mother got cancer and died, when life started rearing its ugly head...guess what I ran to !! You bet, my old 'friend' food. So, here I am, 30 years later with ALL of the previously lost PLUS an additional 35 lbs to get off. I think that showing America that healthy choices, portion control and exercise is great...I also think that showing America that is is NOT about laziness but about psychological issues that we have developed and that they have become DEMONS that we feel that we have lost control off is great. BUT...living to exercise 5-7 hours a day is not how we can function in a normal environment, we still live in a world (not just a culture) that uses food as our social and family enjoyment and we NEED a 'tool' that can help us that have these 'demons' to be rid of them. To make us physically sick when we give into them. Even though we have become physically sick with them WITH the weight, we need to FEEL to discomfort of overeating at the time it takes place. In general, if this show allows America to view as someone who has issues with food, then so be it. As for ME...I need this 'tool' of making me uncomfortable as a reinforcement.

I just don't get it....the nations 2nd leading cause of preventable death, and the very tool that we need to help us and they make you jump through hoops like this. I AM very concerned about what will happen with our healthcare in the future. I am hoping to have this done BEFORE the 'change' comes. Hang in there...I love your spirit....