300PoundsDown

My surgery is on the 28th. My surgeon has not really given me a pre op diet with the exception of 2 days before surgery. My brother, however, was required to go on a pre op diet before hand and his weight loss has been phenomenal. Even though, I'm not required to do it I think I will anyway. So I was wondering if I could get on board with you? Would you tell me what your pre op diet consists of? Maybe we can get through these 3 weeks together!

I will be having my surgery with Dr. Cavazos in San Antonio, TX on June 28th. As of right now, I have no official pre-op diet except for right before surgery. Does this seem right?

This makes me feel better b/c I was beginning to wonder!

Sorry your husband is being a jerk. Reminds me of my ex husband making me carry the carseat in the house (with the baby in it) when we got back from the hospital after I had a Csection. I actually ripped open my incision doing that. I know what it's like to live with someone who is totally insensitive. The lying is no fun either. However, I have learned that getting upset over what they do is pointless. Don't let him allow your focus to be pulled away from YOU. This is your window of opportunity to get the weight off and he knows it. Statistically people who don't take advantage of that will not be as successful. My mother always says "success is the best revenge" lol...so I say ignore his behavior and focus on YOU. Whatever happens will happen. Give it to God and let Him lead you in the right direction but don't let an insensitive person steal this opportunity from you.

I have been to 2 consultations with different surgeons. The first one said they take out 85% of your stomach. The second surgeon is the one I like better but he said they take out 75-80%. To be honest, my main concern is that they will not take out enough of my stomach. This may seem like a dumb question but I am self pay and I don't want to go through all of this just for them to not take out enough to matter. I know that I will be working at this but I want the biggest advantage. Anyone have an opinion on this?

Well I finally have the go ahead to get surgery. The problem for me now is choosing which one . My question is this....I have heard that for some super obese people certain surgeries are not as effective. Does anyone know about this? Please be honest. I need to pick the right procedure for me. Thtanks

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I am a big sweets eater. However, I've been doing research on DS and RNY malabsorption component and neither looks like a good deal to me. With the RNY it appears to wear off after awhile and for some it never seems to take effect. With the DS I've been reading that a lot of people have severe issues and nutritional deficiencies. Almost like trading one evil for another. I think the sleeve is going to be what I choose . I went yesterday and found out i weigh 395. Close to 400 as I had guessed. Thankfully I have not actually seen 400 yet. He wants me to lose 30 lbs and so my goal is going to be to get serious about losing some of this weight on my own before surgery. I think the more i can get off on my own prior to it, the more successful I will be. In hte past, I always felt hopeless but now that I know I can get this surgery whenever I want to for hte most part...I think I have the hope that I need to get serious about it. We shall see!

I know how you feel. I've been given the insurmountable task of losing 30 lbs before they will schedule me a date. I was sent home with a large bag of protein powder and told to drink 2 shakes a day plus a lean meat/veggie at night. If I could do that, I would not weigh 395 lbs right now. However, I realize at this point that i have to find some inner strength and do it. I know that even the surgery is just a "tool" as everyone says and I think I have to prove to myself that I do indeed have it in me to do this. If I can prove to myself that I can fight off 30 lbs wihtout surgery then by the time I have it, I will be on my way. This was my first day which ended in defeat and a big cheat. Tomorrow I will just go at it again. I'm not even scheduling surgery until I've got 30 lbs off of me. So for me this is war! lol...

congratulations!!

My brother got the lapband 1.5 years ago and has lost 200 lbs. He loves it and is a huge advocate of it. So I guess it works for some people. Good luck with whatever you choose.

I am looking for info on self pay in San Antonio. I would greatly appreciate any info!!

Is anyone familiar with this surgeon in Denton, TX. He is doing the sleeve for 10950 according to the website. Cost of Weight Loss Surgery in Dallas and Ft Worth | Weight Loss Surgery Specialists of North Texas

I was told by my insurance (Aetna) that there was an employer exclusion . I emailed my employer to ask why. He got more info and forwarded me the response he was given. Here it is.. This is the answer from our insurance broker about your inquiry. You may pass on my answer to your employee. On fully insured plans in texas none of the carriers cover lap band or gastric bypass. This change happened about 5-6 years ago. It is not an option you could have elected. It simply is not covered. You can refer to your actual policy to find the exclusion. Some years past this benefit became widely abused and as your employee pointed out- it is very expensive. So the carriers stopped covering it. All the carriers. It is unfortunate because some people really would benefit from it. It is considered elective and in many cases-if the person does not change their habits-short term or even worse life threatening. So please assure your people that this was not a decision trinity made or even could have made. Does this sound right to you guys?? Doesn't this seem to say that IN TEXAS there are NO carriers that cover lap band or gastric bypass?? As if some state law was passed across TX that no carriers are allowed to carry it. Something sounds wrong. Please give me feedback. Thanks!!!!

Those of you flying, did anyone purchase 2 seats? I am pretty big and have not flown b/c of my size. I am 360 pounds. wondering if I need to buy 2 seats.

Good luck!! I am probably right behind you on this. I can't find anything comparable. My question is whether you had to buy two seats for the plane. I have not flown in years due to my size. I am 360 pounds and I am pretty sure I will have to buy two plane seats. I don't want to risk it and then get tossed off the plane b/c I don't fit or something horrible. The idea of being on a plane at my size with their small spaces really is upsetting to me. It causes me anxiety I don't fly for a reason . I have not flown back to see my hometown family in 8 years b.c of my size and the plane so I really feel that this is going to be a drawback for me.

I called the health insurance broker myself and she was quite helpful. Told me that Aetna told me it was employer exclusion b/c they probably that that was the case. Apparently Texas mandates some kind of across the board denial for the first time (and this seems to be more for small employers than large companies she said) She said that I should appeal it and keep at it and see what happens. Apparently my employer has no interest in trying to exclude me from it and neither did the health insurance broker .It's some Texas hoop I need to jump through. So here I go. JUMP!!

You do have to cover the flight right?

I am trying to determine what the overall cost would be to go to Dr. Aceves. On top of the surgery cost, there will also be the flight etc. that you mentioned which we must pay for too. I am not sure that would be any cheaper for me considering that. I have two doctors here in Texas who will do the sleeve. One is around 10,000 and one 12,000. I can drive there as it is about 5 hours away. I wonder if it is better for me to do that once I figure in flight etc. info

I don't know you but I could hear the fear through your post. You are brave to do what you did and keep hanging in there b/c you are halfway there. Like others have said, everyone is different. Do your best to remain calm and let the doctors just analyze what is happening. I truly believe that you are going to be ok. I will pray for you and for peace of mind. I know I can get so anxious sometimes and start to panic. One day I will be where you are and I hope that I can remember to tell myself this same advice!! I know it will be ok. You are going to do great!! Just rest and believe that with every second that goes by you are getting closer to total healing!

Just remember that all of their conern is from being completely uninformed. People like us have researched and researched and researched. They have not. Everything they are telling you I have heard from my own Mom. In fact we might have the same MOM!!! I am serious!!! This is why I no longer tell my Mom things I know she cannot handle hearing .I love her but the truth is she does not know 1% of what I know about the surgery b/c she refuses to research it for herself. They probably are genuinely concerned BUT I have to say telling you taht you could not handle the pouch and would bust it open...sounds like they might not be giving you enough credit. You aren't 400 or 500 pounds yet so you clearly have some level of self control. I am 360 pounds so clearly you have more self control than I do. Don't let them tell you that you don't have the ability to do something. Just do what is right FOR YOU.

If you have your surgery done in Mexico, you can still claim it on your taxes in the US? Also did you all have to get a passport and what is involved in that?