ISleevedIt

I've been approved by my insurance, but don't expect to be sleeved til early next year. Like you I'm tired of the yo-yoing. In the last year I lost 60 lbs just to gain it all back and then some. I never lost all the weight I needed to but now I need to lose about 90-100 lbs. Because all this happened in a short span of time, I feel embarrassed to go out walking like I was doing when I was losing the weight. I've been wishing for something that would reduce my food consumption before the sleeve or lapband was around, but then I was never heavy enough to qualify. I definitely do now since I have some health risks also. If my insurance wasn't going to cover the sleeve, I was going to go to Mexico to have the surgery. Luckily they do and I save myself lots of money. I've heard many of the surgeons are great. I already had picked out Dr. Garcia if I had to go that route. Good luck with your journey...you'll probably be sleeved before I am.

So sorry to hear that you got blood clots. Best wishes to you and a speedy recovery!

I haven't been sleeved yet, but I have yo-yoed with my weight all my life. I can just say from experience that the skin does shrink back some and I've noticed the older I get and the more weight I lose, the slower the skin goes back and then not all the way. Now, I need to lose at least 90 lbs..so close to where you are. I'm 49 and last year I lost 60 pounds and my skin did not hang lose too much. I think it's because of all the Protein I ate. I did walk from 1 - 2 hours a day about 5-6 times a week. Since then, I've gained all the weight back and then some within a years time This is why I'm looking forward to getting sleeved so that it will be easier to lose the weight and to maintain it since I will have a physical barrier (smaller stomach)...I won't be able to pig out as I can now...hehehe I guess there is always spanx or plastic surgery to help with any lose skin, but my understanding is that you should give it a year to a year and a half once you lose all the weight to see how much loose skin you may have.....Good luck!

Stay positive! Sometimes doctors can't come straight out and agree with you, but must document and go through a series of tests to come to the conclusion of what you would like done, in this case sleeved. I don't necessarily blame the doctors since they are pretty much dictated by insurance companies on what is covered and when requirements have been met for certain procedures. Good luck to you! I'm still in the pre-op phase for getting sleeved...just glad my insurance company has approved me.

Doctors have to be careful of malpractice law suits. But as long as she is documenting it to prove you need the band removed and to be sleeved then you're on the right road. I remember my doctor had to go through a series of testing before she could "recommend" that a hysterectomy was the best for me when it was what I wanted all along. She heard me, but could not come right out and agree and book the surgery. I think insurance requires them to follow certain guidelines. Isn't it a hoot that insurance companies dictate your health care and not your doctor? <sarcasm here>

Yes, glad to hear you are ok. It's ashame that we cannot stop and help others for fear of harm coming to ourselves.

I don't think the doctor can give you a "yes" or "no" answer. Each individual is different. I've read where some people can no longer tolerate certain foods and others that can eat as they please as kimmy*custis can. I hope you can have your bulgogi....shoot for that matter I hope I can have it after I get sleeved....love bulgogi!

Wow...what a difference! You look great!

I'm on the east coast and have Kaiser. It's a 6 month program here and I just had my orientation at the beginning of August.

I have Kaiser insurance and there is a statement that says "Removal of skin folds resulting from weight loss surgery is not covered by your insurance". I'm just going on my second month of a 6 month program so who knows, by the time I lose the weight, their policy may change.....keeping fingers crossed, but not holding my breath.

Wow that's fantastic! Congrats!

Wow! I looked at your blog and saw your picture from 2010 and the one from 2012. You look so much younger! Great job! I hope it'll be the same for me after I get sleeved.

When I get sleeved, I hope I do as well. Congrats!

Congrats! WTG!

Hi. I'm 49 years old and have been a human yo-yo practically all my life. My BMI is 40 and I have high blood pressure and borderline high cholesterol. I also have depression and am hoping the weight loss can help it. I wold love to be able to stop taking high blood pressure medication and antidepressants. I've been married to my husband for 21 years and I have a 18 (19 next month) year old son that is a sophomore in college and I have a 17 year old daughter that is a senior in high school. Two great kids! Through the years, I've been able to lose weight doing various diets, but usually end up gaining the weight back along with some extra pounds. I am hoping and praying that the sleeve will be the last diet tool I need. I want to be skinny and sexy when I turn 50 in July, instead of being embarrassed around the people that have seen my weight go down last year to where I was a size 8/10 to just have it jump back up to a 20/22 within a year. I enjoy walking, but not now because I am embarrassed with my neighbors seeing how fat i am when I was skinny just last summer. I want to get back to walking and joining a yoga class...just don't want to be the chunky monkey in the class. Hopefully I can get sleeved in Dec/Jan timeframe and my husband will be encouraged to do the same since he is overweight and have life threatening health issues. My dream is to be able to travel the continent and visit all 48 states and visit Alaska (already been to Hawaii) and have my health to do enjoy it and want my husband healthy beside me....and of course to have the energy to help take care of my future grandkids.

I hope to get sleeve in Dec/Jan timeframe...with Kaiser I have to go through a six month program. I've always wished there was a way to keep me from eating. I use to wish I had my jaw wired shut so I couldn't eat...don't need to wish for that anymore....just waiting to be sleeved

Hi, I am going through the process to be sleeved through Kaiser here in Northern Virginia. I was wondering if there is anyone out there that can tell me about the doctors that Kaiser uses. And here are some questions I have: Do they turn you away if you don't lose the required amount of weight and make you wait til you do? Do they require a liquid diet prior to surgery? How long does it take to get a surgery date after finishing the last visit? How flexible are they with "speeding" up the process? Currently, I would finish my last session with the NUT in Jan. I already have 2 weeks vacation scheduled for Dec which would give me plenty of time to recover before going back to work. Thanks!

Hi, I have Kaiser Insurance also in Virginia. You only have a 12 week process? Lucky! I have to do a 6 month program. I've had my initial orientation and I will have my first NUT appointment on Sept 3rd. At this rate, I won't get sleeved til Jan/Feb time frame. When I see my NUT, I'm going to see if there's anyway I can speed it up a bit. I'm scheduled for two weeks vacation in Dec and would love to get sleeved during that time. I want to lose the weight and am willing to forego the Christmas dinner feast! Good luck to you both and lets keep in touch!

Congrats! I love reading success stories...one day I hope to have one to share!

congrats to you all with dates! I am just in the beginning process of the 6 month. I hope I can get sleeved Jan/Feb timeframe.

I can totally relate to you all. Only my husband knows that I am having the surgery. I am so grateful that he is so supportive. He congratulated me when I told him I was approved for the WL program with Kaiser. My two kids know that I am considering it. That is all the people I plan on telling because I know I will get criticism or am afraid of criticism from my side of the family and probably from my friends. I'm not sure if I have any friends that would support my decision. I just want to feel good about myself and be able to fit into the same size clothes for two years straight......hopefully this will happen after I get the sleeve probably in Jan/Feb 2013 time frame....I hope time flies by...I'm an impatient person...I told my husband that I kind of wish Kaiser would reject me so I could go to Mexico and get sleeved much quicker, but I know this is a PERMANENT lifestyle change so 6 months is nothing compared to the rest of my life AND saving lots of money helps too...lol

Wow! Congrats!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Fantastic and congrats!

Kaiser has approved me for the Weight Loss Program! Now my VSG journey is official. So far, I've had my first nutrition class and had the Weight Loss Control class and I'm scheduled for my first individual appointment with the nutritionist the beginning of Sept. If all goes well, then I hope to get sleeved in Jan/Feb timeframe.....I hope to lose a lot of my weight (need to lose approx. 86 lbs) before I turn 50 in July. Yayyyyy!