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Oakleygirl, I am now in your shoes. I opened my mail today and received my approval letter. For so many months I have been working toward this but now that I am here. I too ask myself, is this really what I want. As I read your thread, I reminded myself to pull up my list. I wrote a list of reasons I wanted to lose weight at the outset of this process. I know there is no way without some type of serious intervention; e.g. surgery, magically getting selected for the Biggest Loser that I will lose the weight. Since I don't expect Bob or Gillian to come knocking on my door, I think I have to do this. Of course, I'm scared of the what ifs and the possiblity of complications and I'm also sad. Sad that when it comes to food, I'm not in control. Sad for the woman who wrote that list. If surgery allows me to make food my b*tch instead of the other way around, I think I have to do this. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Dance lessons

Jack in the Box serves grilled chicken strip. They are high in salt but otherwise a good choice.

Sleeve of Steel, I've read some of your prior posts where you talk about eating higher calories to stay curvy. I think you can make your sleeve still work for you by reducing calories and carbs. Have you tried the famous Lil Miss Diva's boot camp? That might jump start your losing again. Good luck.

I like it. I am still pre-op though. I would caution you depending how far out you are. Hot yoga is incredibly dehydrating. If you can't gulp/chug water you may suffer from dehydration or worse. Classes are 90 minutes long and water breaks are regulated. The are warm yoga classes as well, you might want to start there.

I had my consult yesterday and was deflated by my surgeon's goal. I weight 242 and am hoping to get down to a normal BMI of 130-135. So I want to lose about 110 lbs. At my consult yesterday my surgeon's goal for me is 160-170. I am dissappointed. Is he saying I won't be successful? I'm 5' 3 1/2" (yes we shorties count the 1/2) at 160-170 I would still be overweight/obese. I worry now that if I get to 160, I won't be able to go any lower. Granted I haven't been 160 since I was a teen but still- I want to be skinny!

I agree, I think is it weird. So many others get a hernia repair or gallbladder out at the same time. I've never had surgery and I want this to be my only one!

I met with my current surgeon yesterday. I asked about hernia repair and gallbladdder. He said that in taking out the stomach is not a "clean" surgery. So he does not do hernia repair during VSG. Anyone heard that before? Same thing with gallbladder, he said not everyone has problems so he doesn't remove it during VSG.

I may NurseGrace, though, I feel like I have so much time and co-pays invested at the moment that I'm stuck. I did inquire about switching to Sutter, but my insurance said it would set me back even longer and I'd have repeat a bunch of the tests. We have open enrollment in June and I will definately be weighing all of my options.

I have read the horrors other have had with their insurance. I am lucky, my insurance doesn't require a six month diet or anything else. In fact, you just have to have a two year weight history and a BMI of over 40. Great right?! No because my stupid medical group, Mercy medical has created their own made up rules!! I've been to two different nutritionists four separate times and I have more visits to go. One nutritionist assigned by my PCP, one required by my surgeon. In addition, I was required to attend a dietician class last night. I have to have a "family" visit appointment with my surgeon's office still. Literally, they require my family to attend- I'm single and own my own home but apparently need my parent's approval!! I've explained that they live in another state and the surgeon started talking like I need to fly them out. Uh, no! We agreed that they can attend by phone. Same with the guy I'm with, he lives two hours away and he needs to be on the phone too. WTF? I'm 40 not 14! I've had 3 months of physical testing, really dumb stuff like how many sit up can you do in two minutes, how fast can you walk a mile kind of tests. The psych. eval is ok- sounds like everyone has to do that. Same with the EKG and chest xray. Everyone has to do that and I've completed mine. My surgeon requires an endoscopy. So I called my PCP and they ordered an upper GI. After a couple of weeks delay over that confusion, they ordered the endoscopy but now I must first have a consult with the gastroenterologist before I can get the EGD. So this intermediary step creates another delay. My surgeon's office is ready to schedule me in Feb and the earliest I can even got the consult for the EGD is mid-January and they don't know how soon they can book the EGD after the consult, that's up to the dr! I am So Annoyed!! Now I know why people hop on a plane to Mexico!! If this drags out past February without a surgery date, Adios Mercy medical group (middle fingers up) and Hola Dr. Aceves!!!!

I had no idea Dr. Jossart would do that. He and Dr. Cirangle are my first choice if I have to self pay in the US. Can anyone elaborate on how to get hernia repair covered in the first place?

I have the same problem. My weight has steadily crept up to now where I have a BMI of 41-42. However, my PCP of 5 yrs left my medical group last yr, so I was without a Dr.for a year and my insurance requires a two yr history. There is a blank spot in my records but the trajectory of my weight history makes it obvious that I hit a 40 bmi last year. Any thoughts/advice?

There is a forum topic specifically for complications. There you can hear from VSGers who have had leaks and other post-op complications

I think I'm in the homestretch of the pre authorization process with my insurance but sometimes I just want to say F it and hop on a plane to Mexico! I started this process back in July and have my surgical consult and endoscopy left to do. Consult is next week, endoscopy still waiting for pre-auth. Of course after all of this, I still may get denied. Anyone else have the option to self pay but go through insurance anyway? I'm feeling so frustrated/impatient.

My surgical consult is next week too, so I started this list last week. It's crazy long but I figure that's why it is called, "informed consent." Hope some of these help. What makes me a good WLS candidate? What makes me abad WLS candidate? How do you protect the gall bladder from the side effects of rapid WL? Will you prescribe preventative meds like Actigall? What is your day of surgery and post surgical protocols to prevent clots/pulmonary embolism? What do you do to prevent leaks? What paperwork is submitted to my employer for FLMA and leave time? How long do you write a patient put for recovery? What restrictions, if any, are there upon return to work? How many VSGs have you performed? Do you offer single incision surgery? Do you prescribe a PPI for reflux? How long will the hospital stay be? Do you use drains for VSG patients? What is your complication rate? What are your most common complications? Do you check for hernias or gallstones before or during surgery? How many strictures had you had? How do you prevent them? What is your hospital readmit rate? What kind of post-op follow up is required?

I just turned 39 a few weeks ago. I did not go to my reunion because of my weight. I think that definitely helped spark my decision to pursue WLS. I missed out on the flirty 30s so I'm ready to be 40 and fabulous! I hope to be approved and scheduled for January 2013.

I too have limited who I'm telling. I told my parents who simply listened but kept their personal feelings to themselves. I've told one coworker/friend and she's already told another person so I'm not telling anyone else. I'm simply amazed at how other people think it is okay to share someone else's medical info. I also told my DH but he's not listening. Said I just need to diet and exercise. So rather than argue, I'm just continuing my pre-op testing. I imagine when I get a surgery date or approved by insurance he'll be more open to taking me seriously.

Do a search. I've seen various threads on this topic and post from several vegetarian sleevers. I'm pre-op but I've read there are vegetarian protein supplements like Vega. I've read that most eat tofu and beans for protein. I think it can be done, just maybe not as low carb as so many sleevers on here follow.

I am in Sac and pre-op. I have researched several surgeons. If my insurance covered it, I would go to Dr. Cirangle in SF or Dr. Jossart in Novato. My insurance originally sent me to a surgeon who has never performed a sleeve- if I wanted RnY, he's the man. So now I have switched to Dr. Eslami. He's in S. Sac and very enthusiastic that sleeve will become the new standard in WLS vs. RnY in a few years. Good luck.

I think it is unprofessional on her part. You have a right to unbiased information. She should be providing facts, both to the benefits and risks of WLS. That said before you are completely discouraged, I recommend that you attend a WLS orientation put on by one of your insurance's WL surgeons. They are usually open to the public and free. There they will offer a Q&A session where you can get your general questions answered and discuss the benefits and risks. While a dietician has a degree, they are not doctors.

To not have to try and shift my weight to my legs when my SO wants me to sit on his lap for fear of crushing him. Can't wait see the impact weight loss can have on my career success Can't wait to not have to strategically place pillows all around me in order to support my weight while sleeping Can't wait to not have those burning red bumps on my inner thighs after wearing a dress for a day. Can't wait to sit on a plane and have room on each side of my seat cushion Can't wait to stop avoiding people, social situations, photos. Can't wait to feel able to be more physically active. Can't wait to not have fat sex anymore

Thank you for the update. Glad you are making progress to recover your health. My thoughts are with you. Keep us posted.

Was initially referred to dr. Waldrep who is apparently a great surgeon but had never performed VSG. As a result he made some arrogant/ignorant statements when I asked him about VSG at his orientation seminar. Ultimately, I think I need to change surgeons. I will not be simeone's test case. Dr. Eslami is now who I am considering but so far I can't find any posts here on him and on Obesity Help all the posts about him are for RnY. He has perfprmed VSG but I haven't found much info on him. His orientation isn't for another week. Anyone know either doctor or have any advice?

I have a manager at my workplace who says "kindigarden" instead of kindergarten. She also misuses words, e.g. exterminating circumstances instead of extenuating circumstances. It makes it impossible to respect her.