LaylaJ

MegaBob, you presented 2 very good points. The surgery definitely will pay for itself when I think about it the way you have shown me. Second good point was right on target. I unfortunately have a lot of self worth issues which stemmed from my childhood. Even now surrounded by love and acceptance from my daughters and my husband I still don't think I deserve them. That has always been a struggle for me. I am anyone else's biggest cheerleader but struggle to be my own. It's amazing that you picked up on that having never met me. It is a issue I am working on but have made very little progress with.

Thank y'all so much for responding to my post and for all your uplifting words. It means a great deal to me that all of you would take time to reach out to me. I have decided to go through with the surgery. I still have my psych eval. to get done then I will be ready to submit my official approval papers. I keep trying to remember that this in an investment in my life and that I need this surgery to live life to its fullest. I'm gonna try very hard to put all the other feelings out of my mind. Once again thank y'all and much love from this Louisiana girl.

I'm just starting this journey. I just had my nutritional visit today and I have been compiling all info for my insurance. Today was a roller coaster ride for me. I was down then up and now at almost 1 a.m. down again. I just felt that I needed to vent amongst my peers who may understand how I am feeling. I'm 28 years old 374lbs with BMI of 59.5. My health is poor it has been for years. I have a devoted husband who was my high school sweetheart that has loved me at any weight. I have two beautiful children that are my life. So given so many reasons to live and live better, I made the decision this was my year to change my life by having the sleeve. I didn't anticipate the emotional aspect because all I could see was how healthy I would feel and that excited me. Everything has been going relatively well until today. Today I spoke with my insurance and I can't use the surgeon I chose because my out of pocket expense would be $8,000. I just don't have that type of money to spend. Therefore I will have to use a in network surgeon so my out of pocket will be 4,000 total. That's with my 1,000 deductible included. I am so grateful that I have insurance. I have read about so many people who desperately need this surgery and can't have it due to no insurance. However when I think about even the $4,000 out of pocket expense I feel so guilty. I feel like this is money I will have to take away from my family because I am overweight. I feel like they are having to pay for my problem. We are not wealthy by any means but my husband ever the supportive good man he is says he wants me to have this surgery no matter what because my happiness means everything. I just feel so selfish. I know it's for my health and I should just grasp this chance any way I can if I can afford to but I can't help feeling like a burden. I debated on whether or not to attend my nutritional visit but I went anyway. She put me on a machine that weighed everything out muscle mass, water weight, etc. Afterwards she told me I was gonna lose weight great because of my muscle mass and body build. Which made me feel so good then I got home and watched the t.v. Show my 600lb life and wept like a baby. I know I am not currently at that weight but I can see myself getting to that weight or above in a matter of years if I don't get a handle on this now or even worse I may die. I can identify with these people on the show because in many ways I see myself in some of their struggles. I just feel stuck right now between the guilt of spending the money and the hope that reaching out for that lifeline will give me. Has anyone else felt this way? I need advice please.

It was a great visit. My nutritionist Andi Holyfield was awesome. She was so sweet and took time to answer all my questions. Thank y'all for responding to my post.

I'm having my first nutritional visit today and was just wondering what I should expect?

Thank you so much. I have to see the nutritionist on Tuesday and then have my psych eval. Then I will be ready to submit.

DizNeeGirl, congrats on your approval! I hope I am approved. From what I have read everyone is getting approved even if it takes awhile.

Wow Catherine707 that's awful! I hope I don't have to wait so long. However just as you said it will be worth the wait. Congrats on your weight loss success!!!

I hope mine goes through quickly too but I'm starting to get nervous. I know the time to be nervous is after I submit my paperwork for approval but I feel like if its this hard to just get a explanation of benefits then I may be in for quite the waiting game. I'm not a very patient person. LOL!

Okay so my bariatric coordinator has been trying for 2 weeks to reach my insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to confirm that my plan covers the sleeve. However she can't get through to them. BCBSTX is saying they are still updating their policies. My coordinator said it wasn't only BCBSTX but also Illinois and Alabama as well as other insurance providers. Anyone else being stalled for policy updates?

Ms. Kathie, I am so glad you found a way to have the sleeve without the insurance's help. I will looking at a alternate route if I am denied myself. I will be praying that your surgery goes great. Contact me any time. We live too close not to be weight loss buddies and support each other in this journey. Best Wishes!!!

KathieMae52, I live in Caldwell Parish just about 30 miles from you. I'm wanting to have the sleeve done in West Monroe and plan to use Dr. Zizzi. I am currently gathering info for my insurance company so they will cover my cost. Which surgeon have you chose?

Thank you so much for posting your story. It is so uplifting to hear about your struggles and success. I'm hoping to have my sleeve soon. I'm 380lbs and just reading about your weight loss has given me so much hope. I pray your success continues and you continue to write about your experience.

I'm hoping my out of pocket isn't too outrageous. My patient coordinator is still trying to contact BCBSTX to find out what I will have to pay but they still haven't set their policies for the new year! Ugh!!! I'm so ready to have this done. I know the waiting is the hard part but once I have made my mind up to do something it drives me crazy until I do it. LOL! Thank y'all for sharing your info with me

So I'm gathering all my info for my surgery. I am so nervous that once I submit I won't be approved. I know my plan covers the surgery I am just hoping they approve me. I just wanted to know has anyone had to try a couple times before being approved with BCBSTX or have you been approved on the 1st try? Also could you tell me how much you paid out of pocket? Any info greatly appreciated.

You look awesome Ms. Rhonda!!!! I can't wait to have to my surgery!!!

I considered the duodenal switch gastric bypass but I was too afraid of re-routing everything. In the past I haven't had the best luck healing from surgeries and I was so afraid to re-route. I have been back and forth though between bypass and the sleeve. I want the most success possible from either surgery. I know most of the battle is making good choices, staying motivated, and following the diet. So I hope that even with the sleeve I can achieve my goal if I am determined. Congrats on your weight loss and I hope your revision to bypass goes great!!!!

Wow aaronmadeit you look awesome!!! What an awesome amount to lose!!! What exactly did you do to aid the surgery? Like exercise etc?

Wow!!! Y'all are giving me such hope!!! I am from a small town in Louisiana and there aren't that many people who have had WLS to get info from let alone people who have lost as much as I need to lose. Thank you so much for sharing your success. I am so ready to jump through all these hoops for my insurance and be able to start my journey

I just checked Less Of Sarah out on youtube. Awesome videos!!! Thank you for suggesting those!!!

Thank you so much for posting!!! Congrats on your success!!! That is an awesome story and it gives me so much hope

My current weight is 380 or so and I want to get below 200. Is that feasible with the VSG?

Hi, I had pretty well made my mind up to have the sleeve. I'm starting my process in order to be approved by my insurance now. However I am concerned with whether or not the sleeve is the best option for all the weight I need to lose. I'm beginning to wonder if gastric bypass would be a better solution. So I was just wondering are there many of you out there that have lost over 150lbs or more with VSG? If so how long did it take you to achieve your goal weight?

Thank you Kbee for posting. I have been over weight my entire life but now 380lbs I feel like I have to do something to survive. I am only 28 years old and I feel twice that. I have to nearly sit up to breathe so I can sleep at night with a fan blowing in my face. My knees and back kill me. Just walking to the top row of the movie theatre has me out if breath. I have high blood pressure which landed me in the E.R. Last year when it reached stroke level. I have tried for years on my own to achieve weight loss. It seems like every diet there is. The most I ever lost was 50lbs and that was working out 7 days a week and a very low calorie diet. I am most miserable now. My daughters are 5 years old and 3 years old. They are so active and there is so much that I would love to do with them but can't. My husband and I grew up together and were highschool sweethearts. He is very active and always on the go. He has also always been very attractive and people always make rude comments about Sam(my husband) just always having been into "big girls" or even smaller women hitting on him in public always assuming I am just the fat friend or relative. There are so many factors that convinced me to have surgery but the main reason is my quality of life. Being this overweight makes me feel that I am in a prison of my own making of which there is no escape. I have such a positive support at home with my husband, my family, friends, and co-workers. I know I can achieve my goal if I get the approval. Thank y'all for posting on my thread and y'all pray for me!!!

Wow! That's not too terribly long. I am hoping to have it ASAP. My weight has been a life long struggle for me and I read that their criteria is a BMI of 40. I have a BMI of 60 with high blood pressure and secondary diabetes with arthritis so I am hoping that will push all of it through. Thank you so much for responding to my post.