DanaInNewOrleans

Hi Juss, I need EVERYTHING done. Breasts, arms, thighs, stomach....I would consider going the Mexico route for the things my insurance will not cover. My only concern there is what if there are complications? What happens then -- do I come home to deal with the complications? Would my insurance cover complications due to a non covered plastic surgery? I have both Aetna (primary) and Federal Blue Cross. By time I get to the plastic surgery stage ( please God, let me get to that stage!) Federal Blue Cross will be primary. From what I read ( lots of bureaucratic mumbo jumbo) Fed Blue Cross seems more liberal than Aetna's coverage. I see you had to have multiple psych evaluations -- I only have to have one. Did Aetna require that?

Hi Karen! Count me in November. Hoping for late November. My 90 day requirement ends on Nov 13th but nurse said it takes about 10 days for approval from insurance.

I can DEFINITELY see a difference! And I like the dark hair too!

Hi, I have a question maybe somebody here knows the answer to. My goal is 160lbs. I'm 5'2 and 268. I realize that 160 is still overweight but I feel it is realistic (and my nutritionist feels the same way). Can I still have plastic surgery to get rid of all the extra skin everywhere? My insurance covers some plastic surgery for excess skin after weight loss -- will they cover it if I'm not at a normal BMI?

I wake up and go to bed thinking about this surgery too! It has taken over my life! Based on posts here, it seems like the first four months or so after surgery becomes almost a full time "job" of managing the commitment, attention, time and just day to day "operation" that is required to be successful.

Your story is MY story too! Except for the PCOS making it impossible to lose weight. My issue is a multitude of health issues (thyroid cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus....) I'm eating about 1200-1300 calories a day and cannot lose weight. I'm scared to death this surgery will be a failure and I will have gone through this for nothing. My surgeon told me not to worry -- that the body resets its "set points" after this surgery. I've tried to find more information about this but have only found short and vague references to the new set point theory. I just don't want to be a failure AGAIN. And of course I jump around from saying I wish I could have surgery in the morning to oh no, what if this doesn't work? What if I have serious complications like I've read a few of theVSTs here -- which are horror stories. What if my nausea ( I just know I will have nausea!!) lasts forever? I go from deep excitement to apprehension a hundred times a day. I think deep down I'm ready to take the risks because I realize it may be my only hope of finally being normal ( at age 49! I've been fat my whole life!)

Wow, his story is very sobering. I've seen just a couple posters here with serious complications like your friend. JASLEEVE had a very rough time with serious complications but I believe she is now doing well. I'm so sorry for your friend. ~Dana

Hi K, Thanks so much for the encouragement! I see you're also from Louisiana! ~Dana

Wishing you easy surgery and recovery! Wish I was going to surgery in the morning! I still have over 2 months and chomping at the bit!

Now Tabby, you must be joking right? 26 pounds in 4 weeks??? Please please explain how that could possibly be labeled as "slow"!!!??? I'm going to assume that maybe you're a little delirious because you did not have enough calories today!

Hi, I'm so worried about nausea after the surgery. Did they give you anything to help the nausea? I'm dreading it! ~Dana

I cannot imagine going into surgery without someone there- especially my husband. The only time I had surgery before this was when I had my thyroid removed. All my friends surprised me and came to the hospital that morning to be with me and I had about 10 friends waiting for me when I got back. It pissed the nurses off! But it was a comfort to me to have my friends ( a couple spent the night) because I was sick as a dog from nausea.

Hi, What is MR and DOG EARS?

I'm assuming you mean bare-naked pictures!! Oh my God, I avoid even looking in mirrors naked -- I don't know how I would stand for pictures! And then stand there naked as a jaybird while someone lifts rolls and folds and marks me up with a Sharpie. I think I might die of complete humiliation. Now, I did lose 160lbs about 10 years back ( not surgery- low carb) and had a consultation with a plastic surgeon. I did have to get naked ( it was the first time in my life since I was a little kid that I had been naked in front of ANYONE -- other than husband but that is ONLY with the lights OFF). The surgeon was a woman which made it easier but let me tell you, it was definitely humiliating for me. She quoted me around $35,000-40,000 for everything - arms, breasts ( I need implants) body lift and thighs. I couldn't swing that at the time. She actually called me back later twice and asked if I would consider going on Oprah with my story and the show would pay for most of it. Apparently the show had asked some plastic surgeons for candidates for a weight loss/plastic surgery show. I said as much as I would like to say yes, there was just no way I would consider exposing myself (physically and emotionally) for the world to see. She said she understood and had a feeling I would say that based on my visit with her but she just wanted to check just in case. I'm praying I lose enough weight with the sleeve to have plastic surgery. I just want to feel normal for once in my life.

I agree with Michelle. My "goal" weight is nowhere near the "normal" weight range for my height-- I'm 5'2. I'm have a small frame so the official "normal" for me would be somewhere around 110 -- not realistic as far as I'm concerned. My personal goal is about 160-170, which would be a little below my lowest since I was a teenager. The nutritionist told me that patients have about one year to lose the 90% of the weight they are going to lose (which I found a little odd since I see people here who have continued to lose weight after that "magic one year mark). I'm praying that this works for me-- I'm so afraid of being the odd person who does not lose weight with this surgery. My surgery is not until late November which just give me longer to feed that anxiety about failing. I wish it was tomorrow!

Yep, fat you can change, but ugly character and morals will follow you forever! Hang in there -- I've been through it too.

Hi Everyone, Are there any statistics about the risk factors for gastric sleeve complications? Any long term sleevers here notice any trends? Like say, does a super high BMI have more complications, or are there more complications over 50, or do people with diabetes have more (or less) complications. I'm just wondering if anyone has noticed any trends? One thing I've noticed in the short time I've been here (about 1 month) is that the guys seem to have less complications-- both serious and minor. I read a post here that said that the larger size bougie patients usually have less complications...Do I have a choice or say in the bougie size? Thanks! Dana

I have to chime in here as an Ambien Supporter! In fact, I think Ambien saved my life. I've been taking it for about 7 years. My insomnia reached a critical point -- I've always suffered from it but it got to the point where I was endangering my health from not sleeping. My doc rx'd Ambien and my life immediately changed. I actually slept and slept well. I wake up with no grogginess at all. When I first started taking it I would take it when getting ready for bed -- and I always tinkle before getting in bed. I would sit there tinkling and the carpet looked like it was moving...lol... I always thought it was funny! Then I would go to bed and feel great when I woke up. The only other side effect is something my husband still talks about to this day...and it only happened once...apparently I got a little, uh, lets say less inhibited one night...lol... Both my brothers take Ambien too with no issues. Obviously it affects everyone differently. As for being addicted -- like I told my doc-- who cares? I'm addicted to something that helps me sleep like a normal person. The alternative is to lose my mind and health from not sleeping... So whats worse? My doc said hey, I agree with you. For me, Ambien was a miracle.

Lisa, thank you so much for taking the time to put your experience down for us!! I LOVE reading everyone's stories---every little detail!!! It helps take the mystery and fear away. And yours was perfect!! I felt like I was there with you. Hell, by the time I finally get to surgery (late November) it will feel like deja vu after reading everyone's stories. Congratulations! Ok Pre-Surgery VSTers, we need to all promise to try and write our stories -- think of how much this helped US and when we write our story we will be helping each other and all the new VSTers after us. I promise!!

My heart sank when I read your first post and now I have a big smile on my face. Such great news. Congrats! Can't wait to hear all the details of your journey!! Dana

This is my suggestion as well. Maybe you make a deposit and then temporarily be assigned as a Self Pay and then let them file with the correct insurance?