erikh

I have been approved for surgery but I am still not 100% I want to do it. After I was approved they e-mailed me and asked what day I wanted to have the surgery. They did not even mention a pre op appointment. This made me even more nervous than I as before about the surgery. I told them there was no way I was scheduling the surgery without talking with the doctor again. I have read many good things about the surgeon, and a few things that concern me. I have some questions that I want to ask, but I am looking for others that I may not of thought of. Thank you all in advance.

I posted this in the pre op section as well, but figured that some post op people could add additional input. I have been approved for surgery but I am still not 100% sure that I want to do it. After I was approved they e-mailed me and asked what day I wanted to have the surgery. They did not even mention a pre op appointment. This made me even more nervous than I was before about the surgery. I told them there was no way I was scheduling the surgery without talking with the doctor again. I have read many good things about the surgeon, and a few things that concern me. I have some questions that I want to ask, but I am looking for others that I may not of thought of. Thank you all in advance.

Wow, I am in hampton roads and have been approved for surgery with the same doctor. I am still on the fence if I want to go through with it or not. Your story really scares me. Your story is the first negative thing I have read about her. Can you provide any more info about her and your hospital stay?

I am considering VSG surgery. I have actually done all of the pre op tests, and all but the final nutritionist consult. I have been overweight most of my life, and have always been very active. I ran cross country in high school even though I was considerably heavier than anyone elso on the team. I can still run 5k's but not as easily as it was in the past. I have lost 50+ pounds in the past only to regain most of it. In the last 10 years my heaviest was around 280, and my lowest was around 225, and I am 6ft. I now have sleep apnea, arthritis in both knees, and other joints, high cholesterol, a borderline high AIC and I am only 29. I mentioned that I was considering a WLS seminar to my wife and she said she was interested. We both attended a seminar and went to follow up consult appointments. The doctor suggested gastric bypass for her (her BMI is in the upper 40's) and a band or sleeve for my, but strongly suggested the sleeve over the band. Now that my wife has lost some weight by diet and exercise, she is not sure she wants the surgery. I have also lost weight with diet and exercise in the past and I always seem to regain all or most of it. Now with all the issues I am having it is harder and more painful to exercise much. The nutritionist keeps asking if this is the path I want to take, and she thinks I can loose the weight without surgery. She said that I should let my wife have the surgery and with changed eating habits in the house I would loose my weight. She said they had a woman with a BMI of 35 had gastric bypass at their practice and now she has trouble staying above a BMI of 20. I want my wifes decision to be her's and I try not to push her in any direction. I am not sure if I should go ahead and have the surgery even if she does not, or try the diet and exercise route again and see if I can keep it off this time even though I have not really been a healthy weight in 10+ years.

I got insurance approval on my birthday. I really would like to do it, but I am nervious at the same time. The surgery scheduler asked me what date I wanted to have surgery. I told them I would not schedule surgery until I had another visit with the doc. I have alot of questions for her. Any suggestions on things you wished you had asked the doc before surgery. I think I am going to try the 10 day liquid diet and see if I can even do that without cheating. If I can do that I think I could make the surgery a sucess. If not, I think it would be pointless because I will then know that I will not have the self discipline needed post op. I was a heavy soda drinker and have not had a single soda in over 6 months now. I feel pretty good about that.

I think I am going to finish everything for the insurance company and go from there. If they say no, I will take that as my sign and go from there. If they say yes I will go from there too. A big part of me wants to take the leap, but I just do not know. I was really hoping my wife and I could do this together, but I think her family has all but completly talked her out of it.

My BMI is 35. I have been the same weight for over a year now, and have been overweight my whole life. I have just recently started have more health issues. I believe I have had the sleep apnea for a long time but I just did not want to be tested and be on a machine. I only decided to go after it was affecting my relationship with my wife, and I was falling asleep while driving home. I have a young daughter and want to be able to do things with her as she grows up.

Standard ends up costing you alot more. I learned the hard way. The only advantage to standard is if you have to regularly use out of network doctors. I seriously injured my shoulder a few years back while on standard. I ended up with an emergency room visit, several sets of X rays, months of physical therapy, a nerve test, and a MRI with die injected into the joint. The nerve test was barely covered because I had to pay a 300 deductable, and the MRI cost me around 700 I believe. With standard you pay a percentage of what is billed, so you really do not know what you will pay until you get the bill. It all depends on who codes the bill and how it is billed. My wife had to have a cat scan on basic and we paid a flat fee of 75 bucks no copay. With standard it would of been at least 500 bucks. What is even worse is that standard costs more. With all the tests required from most docs for VSG, you will pay alot more on standard. I now pay for basic and put the difference between basic and standard in a FSA. That way I still pay the same, but the FSA covers the copays and any other expenses not covered. I would go basic when open season opens and put a good amount into a FSA and you will come out paying less out of pocket.

Anyone else? I am really considering going for it, but alot of people keep tying to talk me out of it.