Jen35

It isn't a requirement for my surgery but I decided to start seeing a therapist anyway. When I told my coordinator and the nut and they both thought it could be really helpful. I'm pre-op and regardless of whether I'm approved for the sleeve or not, I need to work on my mental reasons I overeat. I have some of the same isssues you do and I'm sure that has contributed to my weight issues.

Congrats! Let us know how it goes

I have almost the opposite. I love all the staff, but the surgeon doesn't have the best bedside manor. He's supposed to be a great doctor and has done over 1600 laproscopic barriatric surgeries. My second appointment is this week with a surgery date sometime in January (hopefully). I don't think I want to start all over with another surgeon.

Thanks:)

I agree. I'm pre-op but I'm making some changes now. I plan to use this tool to the fullest to permanently change my bad habits once and for all.

That is AWESOME!! I can't wait to be in a large. I can't remember when I wore something that didn't have an X in the size:)

Thank you all for you're support and words of wisdom. I've decided to go ahead with the surgery. I'm still going to see a therapist because that can only help me be successful in the long run. As much as I would love to lose the weight without surgery, I don't think that's going to happen. I would have done it already. Now I just have to wait and see if the insurance approves it. I'm just letting my nerves get the best of me as far as being afraid of the surgery. I've done all the research, I've talked to others who've been sleeved and I know in my heart this is the right decision. I just want to blink and be post-op and on my way to being healthy already. I know I will be on here a lot along the way. You all are the best. Thanks again!!

Yay:) I have my 2nd appointment with my surgeon next week. One more appointment in December and then it's up to the insurance. I will probably be right behind you in early January if all goes according to plan.

What part? I'm in Illinois, but really clost to St. Louis.

I live close to Belleville. Collinsville, IL

Me too! I'm on the Illinois side near Collinsville. Really close to St. Louis

I'm pre-op and I don't know of anyone who has had surgery with Dr. Richardson in St. Louis. I feel good abou him, but it would be nice to find out others experiences. Thanks:)

Cowgirl - that makes a lot of sense. I've been on a journey of self discovery (what I like to call it - lol) over the last year or so, trying to figure out what is "wrong" with me that I just can't lose weight. I know that the emotional eating is a big component for me. I've had so much trama in my life and I've always turned to food for comfort. But I am realizing that there is the physical aspect too because I really am never full. Or I get full and an hour later I'm looking to eat something again. And then I wonder Can I even tell the difference between head hunger and physical hunger anymore?

I'm in Collinsville, IL. Closer to St. Louis than Carbondale. I'm pre-op going to Dr. Richardson at the St. Alexius New Start program in St. Louis. My brother went there with Dr. Folwell and really liked him, but Folwell is moving to Florida so I went with the other dr. Hope I made a good choice.

Thanks for the info. I will look into it.

Thanks all:) @DianaE - My brother and I joke that our family has a disorder where we produce too much ghrelin. I swear, we can EAT and never feel full. My oldest brother had bipass, other brother had the sleeve. I and my sister are both obese. I feel that there is definitely a genetic component. My mother was obese and died from breast cancer when she was 39 - no history of cancer and the only risk factor was weight. Diabetes also runs in my family. That really scares me about not getting the surgery. All the health problems that I could get in the near future if I don't get my weight under control.

My regular doctor said that any weight loss will reduce the stress on my joints (hips and knees are an issue) from the RA. The surgeon did mention that the GERD could get worse. It is pretty well controlled with medicaiton now, so I'm not as worried about that. I also didn't really mention that I have tried many diets and failed them all: weight watchers, atkins, slim fast, pills, etc. I know a lot of my hunger is mental, but I was always physically hungry on the diets. My brother mentioned that he feels way less hungry than he did before. I like that the sleeve reduces the ghrelin that the body produces. I was working out 3x per week with a personal trainer before I was diagnosed with RA. The RA and fibro make it difficult for me to work out like I used to adding to my steady weight gain. I still work out, but I can't really kill it the gym like I want to.

Thank you for your encouragement:) I have done A LOT of research about VSG up to this point and it is definitely a lifestyle change and committment. That is one of the things that I love about it - I feel I could actually be successful at weight loss using the sleeve as a tool. I don't know that I can do it on my own. But I'm really scared of the risks, even though they are not common. I'm also worried about getting my hopes up that I can get the sleeve and then being denied. Then what? I'll have to do it on my own anyway:( I really love this site. You all are so brave to take this step to make your lives better and to share your experiences with everyone. It really helps to know that I have support and encouragement when I need it.

So true!!

I decided I just need to put my story out there and see what advice anyone can offer. I am pre-op and I'm going back and forth trying to decide if surgery is the right decision for me. My brother had the sleeve done 2 years ago and he loves it, no complications, etc. I'm really worried that I will have complications (or worse - die from surgery) and I have 2 small children to think about. My story: I am 35 years old and I weigh between 235 and 237 depending on the day. I have steadily gained weight since I was 18 and never have lost more than 10 pounds with any diet. Part of that is mental, I think. Of course I know what to do to lose, but after much soul searching, I think I'm scared to lose weight after being overweight for so long. I think the weight is a protection, if that makes sense. Not to get too far into it, but I am a victim of abuse (as a child and teenager) and part of me likes the "invisibility" of being big. I don't have to worry about unwanted attention. There is a downside to that - the negative attention, name-calling, and discrimination of being overweight. Soooo, back to WLS. I want the sleeve for the reasons everyone else does: I want to lose weight and be healthy, especially for my kids sake. I know it is a tool, and I will have do the work involved. I am researching therapists because with or without surgery, I need to deal with the reasons I eat. The surgery will keep me from overeating, while I work on the emotional/mental side of why I do it. But part of me wonders if I could do this without surgery. Go to therapy, nutritionist and go on a healthy diet without the added risk of surgery. The other side of the coin is that I don't know if I qualify for the surgery yet. I went for my 1st appointment and my BMI is 39,7 (they measured me 1/2 inch taller than I thought I was). The only health issues I have are rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyasia and GERD, and I don't know that they count as comorbidities for insurance. So, I'm in limbo. I can gain a couple pounds to ensure that I qualify for the surgery (counter productive) or I can see if they approve me as is, or I can ditch the surgery. I don't know what to do!!!

My surgeon said the same thing - bypass or lap band are not options for RA. He said tha I would not be able to take NSAIDs or Prednisone with those procedures (ever). This is fine with me as I really want VGS anyway and this isn't a problem with RA. Yeah, I don't really love Mobic. I was having a lot of stomach pain with it (possible ulcer) and my general doctor thinks it was the cause. I avoid taking it regularly unless the pain is really bad. Unfortunately, my Rheumatologist is extremely hard to get into see. So I haven't seen her in almost 6 months. I like her a lot, but I think it's time to find a more accessable doctor. If I have to reschedule an appointment due to work, etc. it takes 2-3 months to get a new appointment.

I really feel for you:( I have flare ups but the pain isn't constant. Hopefully you will have your surgery soon and can get back on the meds. I saw the surgeon for the first time and he didn't say anything about stopping the plaquenil or the mobic. I have to do a 3 month diet so he may take me off of it at my next appointment. I'm going to make a point to ask him next month. I was so nervous I forgot half of my questions by the time I saw him. But the patient advocate and the nutritionist answered a lot of my questions prior to that. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Thanks:) It would be nice to have a St. Louis forum but I don't know that there are enough of us, lol.

Hey there, I'm new to the forum and have my first appointment with my doctor in 2 days. Just wondering if anyone on the forums are in the St. Louis area? I'm going through the St. Alexius New Start program and my surgeon is Dr. Richardson. If anyone has had him for their surgery, please let me know your thoughts and experiences. All the info on this forum is wonderful. It's really helping me as I start this journey to the best version of me I can be:) Thanks!

My heart goes out to you! I have really low self esteem and so many things that happened to me in my life that cause me to be angry. I took a lot of it out on my husband and we were separated for a while. We were in counseling for a year and it was an amazing experience. I learned so much about myself and we both learned how to interact with eachother. It really saved our marriage. I can truly say that at 16 years our marriage is better now than ever. Don't give up because anything is possible. It doesn't always seem that way, but you are worth the effort to change. I still need to work on my emotional eating that got me to where I am. I plan to go to counseling again on my own before, during and after my VSG surgery to work on my mental issues with food so that I never get back to where I am now. Hang in there and I wish you the best:)