rsr53

I would place your travels on hold until you get your WLS issues under control. Think about all you have went through to this point with plans and approvals to have this revision done--I know if you don't get your sleeve done on the date dr wants to do it, you may just kick yourself hard for not following through with it. Reschedule your travels later when you are feeling better post op; think of it as a special reward for the good work you will have done in losing your weight. My thinking is you won't want to forego your opportunity for getting your sleeve. Ronda So much has happened since my post. I had my band removed on April 13th. All of the pain I was having is just GONE!!! The day before surgery, my surgeon called to tell me that I was going to hopefully have surgery the next day as long as insurance approved. So on the morning of surgery, I headed to the hospital and while enroute I got the call from the insurance company that I had hoped for. I was approved to have my band removed and the sleeve done! I was dumbfounded and speechless. As my insurance was notified just two days prior. I arrived at the hospital and spoke with my surgeon. She said as long as there was not a ton of damage from my band she would do both surgeries. But everything hinged on the fact that the band needed to not cause to many issues. I agreed with the surgeon and told her I would rather be safe than sorry! So I went into surgery not knowing what I was going to end up with when I woke up. When I woke up, my Mom told me that the surgeon was only able to remove my band. My band had left an extreme amount of swelling and she felt it would be safer to wait so that the stitches for my sleeve could be placed exactly where she wanted them to go. I have to admit I was disappointed by not waking up to my sleeved stomach, but I also know that the relief I felt from the band be gone was amazing! No more pain!!! The only pain I had was surgical pain. I went to the surgeon for a follow up this week. She said everything is looking good. I go back on May 3rd for another Upper GI to determine if the swelling has decreased enough for her to perform my sleeve. So here is hoping that all goes well on May 3rd. I am suppose to go to the Czech Republic and Scotland in June and I am hoping that surgery will be able to work around this trip. I know this sounds crazy, but I am torn between going over seas first and then doing my sleeve when I come home. Any thoughts? Nichole

Had the same additional procedures when I had my RNY 10 yrs ago. Surgery was a lifesaving grace! No discomfort whatsoever. Actually walked with my IV pole about 6 hrs after I got back to my reg room from the Recovery area. Great news on your approved surgery--it will go well! Keep us posted! Ronda I also had my gall bladder removed and a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time I had my revision done. It was a piece of cake - sorry - I mean it went as smooth as a cup of low-fat yogurt - ha! It was really no worse at all than when I had my band done. I'm sure you'll do great. Congrats on your surgery date!

Do any of you know if they do low BMI's in the US for self-pay? I'm currently BMI 33 and I'm trying to decide if the US or Mexico would be a better option for me. I believe the lowest BMI for any WLS is 35. That ruling just came down through the FDA. Ronda

That seems to be a good price. I think it runs about the same cost here in Phoenix, AZ, too. Ronda Mine was $12,200 (the $200 was for the initial consult, which the insurance did pick up). That includes his fee, the anesthesia fee, the hospital fee, overnight in the hospital, access to the NUT, two years of follow-up visits, and support group meetings. I don't think you're going to find anything nearly as cheap as Mexico in the States.

I have Medicaid, so 6 months is mandatory. Had that when dr submitted paperwork, but still got denied. Mine is a revision surgery. I have appealed it, and was told my surgeon is going to personally consult the ins doctors to push my case through for the sleeve hopefully next month. I believe my ins co did not get all of the documentation completely the initial time it was sent via fax. You should confirm with ins that that all of your paperwork is submitted, then have your doctor appeal for a surg auth. Good luck! Ronda My insurance (Aetna) says 6 months and 3 have to be consecutive. I have some from 2009 so I'm hoping I'll only have to do 3-months now. I'm the same way as you. I'm unemployed right now and want to get this over with. I'm out of school so I should be looking for a job. But I really want to get this done and over with first.

Congrats to you, Irene! Goal will happen soon! Ronda

Hi! I am awaiting my surg auth. I am hoping to have my surgery next month. It will be a revision to my RNY I had done 10 yrs ago. I regained weight, which caused my high blood pressure to increase--cannot take the drugs for it due to severe allergies to them. Congrats on your pre op loss! I am trying to prep for my surgery, but so far have not been able to do any more than maintain at around 225 pounds. I was 260 preop 10 yrs ago when I had my RNY. Lost 85 pounds with it, but began a regain with comorbid probs coming back to haunt me. I am not a very good pill taker, either. I do try to take them first thing each day. It does make a huge difference! Looking forward to chatting here and following up with progress! Ronda Hello to everyone. Married with a daughter. I'm a full time mother, wife, student, and part-time employment. I love my family and going to church. My journey started in March. I have to do a 6 month weight management with my doctor for insurance purposes. I started out set on the RNY. I have family members and friends who had RNY. I started my research and joined different forums that dealt with RNY. Even had a consultation with a surgeon's office ( would not have met him until right before the surgery :-(..) After a lot of prayer and more and more research, I decided to go with the sleeve. All of the vitamins you have to take with having the RNY and then the possibility of vitamins not absorbing or what not. Plus I am forgetful with taking pills. I know I will have to take vitamins with the sleeve, but not 3-4 times a day. I truly think I just need the restriction and I pray that I do well. With my change, came a new surgeon at a different office. They are testing me for way more things then the previous office had sent me of to do. I actually like having all the test, just to make sure. Well tentatively, I hope to have my surgery end of August first of September. 6 months is a ways off from now, but I am about to have my third weigh in with my PCP. So it is moving. My second appt. I had lost 19 lbs. So I was happy about that and started thinking maybe I can do it on my own.....then I thought more and the question is would I be able to keep it off? I am thrilled to have found this site. I am ready for my tool to help me to reach my goal weight and to maintain it and stay healthy. Hope to talk to many of you! Take care

Ask for an EGD to stretch the scarred tissue a bit for an opening--they did this for a friend of mine for GERD. Then, after healing, maybe your revision with VSG would work. good luck! Thank you all for the well-wishes; this board is such a blessing! I'm so sore today; they spent an hour inside me cutting out adhesions and scar tissue so I guess I should expect to be sore. Tiffykins and I share the same surgeon, Dr Michel; I trust his decision, he said that I may still have quite a bit of restriction due to the very narrow scarring (picture an hour glass). It is that narrow scarring that didn't leave enough tissue to create a sleeve; I'm praying that it will eventually stretch just enough to get a sleeve in there. It was the perfect set-up for an RNY with the pouch on top all they would have to do is cut off the narrow scarring, hook up the intestines then Voila! another nutritional deficiency case walking out the door. It sounds like Swizzly lives in a place of good values and common sense; I wish all bariatric surgeons would ban the band! And I can say my quality of life is much improved without the horrible GERD!! I will still be scanning this board looking for people who are trying to decide whether to get the band or sleeve, you can bet I'll be chiming-in with my opinion. Whether you all know it or not, you are my friends that I turn to for a pick-me-up; I know I can always count on being inspired by someone or something said on here so Thank You! I hope to be telling an inspirational story of my own someday (soon I hope).

I am waiting for my sleeve surgery. Generally, tho, if you rev up the activity and drink more fluids, plus follow your diet 100%, you will break the stall. Look at it this way: your body is shrinking, so this stalling is the time needed for your body to get used to the smaller size. I bet if you measure, inches will have come off. Hang in there!

The vitamins are important to your health after surgery. I have a time remembering what to take, but do feel the need for keeping my health intact. I have high blood pressure, and begun deficiencies in Vit D and calcium. Also have osteopenia. I have had iron deficiency anemia before I had my RNY 10 yrs ago. It is not fun to not feel well! I would find a vitamin that you can absorb well--probably liquid is best, or softgel caps. If you carry them to work with you, you will remember to take them. Set up a schedule that you can take your vitamins and not forget them. They are a very important aspect of your weightloss treatment. Good Luck!

Many thanks for this list! Have it saved for future reference. Going to start my liquid diet. Way to go!

Just got my surgery date last week for 5/2/11. They short-scheduled it for me because I have a week then with no work obligations. The surgeon's office just submitted the paperwork to my insurance company last Friday, but I got the call today (4/20) that I have been approved. It seems very much more real now, as there are no obstacles left. I have been in the program since last September, and it seemed to take forever, but now it is full speed ahead. Woo hoo! My dr is having to appeal my medicaid ins plan for my surgical revision sleeve procedure. It has been one frustration after another, but I have some medical issues that need this intervention, so am hoping to get an auth soon to have surgery scheduled. Like you, I have been dring since Sept of last yr. Had a RNY 10 yrs ago, but that needs this revision. Good luck! Will be looking forward to your progress report.

Hi, Foxbins! You are doing swell! I am awaiting scheduling and ins auth for my sleeve revision. I have about 70-80 pounds to lose and maintain. Keep up the great work!

Your stats sound like mine, although I have a RNY that is almost 10 yrs old. The bypass stretched out. Dr recommends the sleeve to revise my old surgery and get back to weight loss again. I kept 85 pounds off for about 3 yrs, then it has been a slow regain and a host of symptoms postop that I need to take care of with weight management. Keep up the great work! I am 57, and am shooting for about 150 pounds to maintain. Ronda

Way to go! Keep up the great work! Ronda

I had RNY in 2001. They did Hiatal Hernia repair and Gall Bladder removal at the same time. In all, I lost 85 pounds. I kept my weight off about 3 yrs, but experienced regain the past 5 yrs. My surgeon today recommends the sleeve as revision to my bypass; surgery isn't scheduled yet, however the doctor is working on the authorization from the insurance. I have struggled with obesity my entire life--yoyo dieting to no avail. I teach school, so it is important that I get my health back on a healthier track. BTW, I have hypertension--my problem is I am allergic to ALL of the meds to treat it. This is all the reason to drop the weight and take care of myself!