lovealways

Okay so I just got home' date=' My Doctor talked to my insurance company already, and everything is good, I just need to see the nut and the psych and I'll be ready for surgery! My insurance doesn't require six months pre op weigh in's which is FANTASTIC and my doctor said that if everything checks out then I can have surgery by mid August! I'm so freaking excited, and so happy.

Also at the same time part of me is a little disappointed that I didn't have to wait 6 months, now it feels like it went from walking at a snails pace to that of a Jamaican Olympian, it feels real now, not some made up hope for the distant future.

I did my blood work right after the consultation, and I have an EAG(?) on Thursday, and my dietitian on Friday. And now I'm just waiting on the Shrink appointment to be scheduled and then I'll be ready to take the pre op classes, and then It'll be surgery time![/quote']

Very lucky you didn't have to do the 6 months! Yay! Good luck to you

Thanks you guys!!! I think what scares me the most is that people die and have strokes from having the surgery. I too' date=' like Vanna, want to be around to raise my daughter and play without getting exhausted. It is not totally cosmetic for me because even though I am a full figured woman, I have the confidence of a woman half my size I just want that sense of well being, and to be an example for my daughter when she is older. How can I teach her to eat right and be healthy, when I am not doing the same. Please just guide me through this. I have far exceeded my 6 month monitored weight loss. Just gotta take the next steps...

I do have a few ?'s

1. How long is the recovery after the surgery? How long is the hospital stay?

2. When can I go back to work?

3. Will I still be able to play with my baby or will I be out of it for a few months???[/quote']

Did you set up an initial consult with a bariatric surgeon yet?

I'll be honest with you...I seem to hear nothing but horror stories from the band. Just my personal opinion, but I think they're eventually going to do away with the band. It seems people are unhappy over not losing enough, having complications, etc. etc. More and more people are getting their band revised to the sleeve or bypass. I think as technology and weight management studies advance in the future, the band will no longer be an option. Just my opinion! Bypass has been around the longest. Good luck.

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. It's going to be a tough ride trying to convince my family that the gastric bypass surgery is safe in the long run. Initially, I was going to have the sleeve surgery, but it turns out my insurance only covers the gastric bypass. My younger sister is actually having the sleeve surgery done July 25th this month, and it was a long journey for her, so she and my mother had plenty of time to research the sleeve and my mom is not familiar with the bypass. My uncle had the bypass, and has lost well over 100 pounds, and his diabetes is gone, and he works out 5x a week, but he ended up in the hospital a few times due to Vitamin deficiency and not wanting to eat (no appetite). He is also 67 though. Not saying that's a bad thing, but I feel since I am in my late 20's, hopefully the surgery will be a little easier on my body. I hope. I keep trying to tell my mother there's complications even with the sleeve surgery, but she seems to think the sleeve is a safer route. She literally keeps telling me, "don't do it, you don't want to be going to the hospital for Iron infusions for the rest of your life". LOL. Ok, so she's a little dramatic, right? At least I hope?

I'm ready for weight loss surgery. I'd take the sleeve or the bypass, but def not the lapband. My only concern with the bypass is Vitamin deficiency, especially if I plan on having a baby in the next 5-6 years. Is vitamin deficiency something everyone experiences?

Regardless of what anyone says, I'm going to do what I feel is right for ME

The same thing happened to me. I started my journey around Feb but couldn't have my surgery until the summer (now). But as soon as I had most of my requirements done in April' date=' I had my surgery scheduled for July even though they had openings available starting May. But since I work in a school I had to wait until July. The office was very compliant and understood. Had my pre op testing this past Friday and go for surgery on Tuesday.

Just get whatever your insurance needs first, as they are the ones that can make or break the surgery (I've been denies twice before but with a diff surgeon)

Good luck on your journey![/quote']

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I need to have my surgery during winterbreak because I'm doing a veryyy intensive graduate school program and wouldn't want to miss more than a week of school!

Headed out for the 2 hour drive to Bismarck for my final pre op apt. Couldn't sleep last night

Good luck!

This is a great thread! I too wanted to only be off 2 ish weeks after release so I can get back to my patients!

What type of work do you do?

Love' date=' what part of Long Island?[/quote']

Nassau County

I agree...no testing too far in advance. My issue is opposite of yours...needing surgery asap. I have waited a long time and taken off 10%of body weight. I am pretty sure your group will work around your schedule...mine is good except case manager needs prodding constantly.

My surgeon is only requiring a sleep study, endoscopy, bloodwork, etc., not my insurance....so I made a lot of initial consults in the next few weeks and next month. I made them early because usually they end up being a consult, then 1 or 2 additional appointments....I hope I can get it done in late dec or early jan

Thank you! The testing that I need like the bloodwork, endoscopy, sleep study, etc. is only required by my surgeon, not by my insurance...so will that matter? I scheduled most of my appts now and hope to be operated on in dec/jan

I've been a smoker for 12 years, and I'm on day 5 of no smoking! It's been rough, but getting easier. I am taking Chantix, and it does wonders. If it's an option for you, look into it!

A question for either pre-op pr post-op. Once approved by insurance, can we pretty much pick any surgery month/date we like? For example, if I'm done with requirements and approved in October, can I choose to wait till December or January to have my surgery? My biggest thing is NEEDING to have the surgery done between semesters of grad school, so winter break would be perfect. Thanks guys

I'm hoping I can go back to work at about two weeks time at the most. I'm a social worker, and realllly want to be able to give my clients the attention they need without focusing on myself and how tired I am, etc. Is two weeks off reasonable? I'm afraid I wouldn't be allowed to take off any more time than that.

Oh wow. I'm hoping I could go back to work/school after a week or two, otherwise, any longer would not be good lol.

How long did it take to go back to work? How long did it take to be able to drive again? I have a desk job, so not much moving, but I was hoping it would take a week to two weeks at most to return to "normal" daily living.

Good luck!!

A lot of New Yorkers! I'm from Long Island, NY. Not too far from the city

Hi guys! I'm new here. I was very much acclimated and a part of the vertical sleeve talk forum and was considering getting that surgery for some time now. Well, today I found out that only gastric bypass surgery is covered. I'm going to go ahead with the gastric bypass, but I have some concerns!

I keep hearing that post-op gastric bypass patients usually suffer from inadequate nutrients and absorption and often can't even get themselves to eat. I also hear the healing time is longer. What I liked about the VSG surgery was less healing time and less invasive.

In your opinion, what was the deciding factor for you in terms of choosing the bypass rather than the sleeve or the lapband?