HalloweenBaby24

Are you taking any Biotin pills and all your vitamins?

I'm also going through Dr.Abkin. My first appointment was May 17th, The "Insurance Specialist" told me with my insurance I had no Pre-surgery diet to follow through with (BCBS ppo of MA) but I had to get a letter of medical necessity, Clearance from Gastro Dr, Physiological Eval, Nutritional counseling, Lab test and the Online Patient course. So far I've blown through most of them, Have the Gastro appointments left and that's it. My Tentative Surgery Date is September 8th.

I was a normal size Baby at 7lbs. When I was 31/2 I suffered my first seizure, After that I was put on medication that cause me to be hungry all the time therefore gaining a good amount of weight. By the time I was 7 I grew out my seizures but not the weight, They took me off the medication by my 8th Birthday. By the time I was 11 I was 166lbs with high cholesterol, I dieted throughout my childhood and on into my teen years where I continued to gain despite my efforts.

I worry when I read about insurance denying other people because they have no "Documented" weight loss attempts. Of course like everyone else I've been on numerous diets, But none of them were documented other then Weight Watchers but when I called to get them to sign over papers that I attended meeting's they told me they couldn't find me in their system anywhere (Figures). So I'm relying upon a few medical records I found, Some from childhood documenting my weight gain, Another from when I was 11 (I was 166lbs then) and I was sent to a Dietician for my high cholesterol and the last from 2008 (188lbs) when I had my gall bladder removed, In the hospital records it says "Patient states she's on a diet" (Weight watchers at the time). I'm hoping for approval, wish me luck!

I have BCBS ppo of MA and was told I don't have to do the 6month diet, I have a BMI of 41 with no other comorbilitys.

I need to learn how to slow down and take everything one day at a time. Still in the post-op stage with one 1 or 2 more appointments to go before I submit to my insurance company and I find myself questioning whether or not I'm on the right track.. My daughter's 5th birthday is quickly approaching, the closer it gets the Stronger my want is for another baby. My husband wants me to wait and try again before the surgery, But I know that's not the right thing to do. I don't want to gain on top of my HW of 246lbs. So, I just need to suck it up and wait it out. BABY FEVER!! ;P

When I asked WW for records of mine they claimed they looked through each state in which I had "Supposedly" been a member and couldn't find anything. Said if it was past 3 years most likely the records were erased. Every insurance is different (I have BCBS ppo of Mass), thankfully I found past weights of mind from 2000 when I first visited a dieticain at 12 due to high cholesterol, till 2008 when I had my gallbladder removed. So I'm hoping that's enough for the insurance company.

I think as a new comer and in the process of Pre-Op (As myself) it's natural to have many fears and concerns going into a major surgery. This fourm is a very useful tool when it come's to connecting with others and learning, But it can also be overwhelming and filled with honest opinions some of us don't want to hear or face in the future. With that being said, I to found myself feeling like maybe this isn't the path I want to pursue because of the many post's about complications. But after watching this video a few day's ago I've calmed my fears and realized that I'm ready. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/e_central_new_york_teen_loses.html If a young man such as that in the video can make such a drastic change in their life and survive, So can I. No path traveled is ever easy, Especially those worth traveling.

I'm pre-op still and have not sent in my papers to the insurance yet, But I read through their policy and was given the paper work by the surgeon of things I need to get done, Not anywhere do I have to agree/sign to anything like that. But all insurances are different.

I'm not 100% sure of the answer, But I've read plenty of stories online regarding other woman who went through with the sleeve then 3-7months (some earlier) later got pregnant and did just fine, other then having to see a nutritionist and really paying attention to their bodies during the pregnancy. I have a friend who had gastric a few years back, 4 months in she got pregnant. She obviously didn't lose a lot of weight or nearly as much as she would have after the surgery due to the pregnancy, but that's the risk she took and her choice. For me, I'm pretty much in the same boat I have a daughter from a previous pregnancy who will be 5 this November and needless to say I feel as though time is running out to have another one. I really didn't want to have two kid's so far apart in age but it's the hand I was given. So weather were suppose to or not I'm giving myself 6 months past my surgery date which is September 8th till we try again, I look at it like this I'd rather lose 60lbs and become pregnant then gain the 60lbs on top of where I am now.

I think I may do a pre-clean out of bigger thing's ive kept over the year's. But a lot of what I own is from year's back that fit at one point and now no longer, I still have jeans from High School! (Graduated 2008) But the day I start fitting back into those suckers is the day I'm going to lose it!..Most are 15/16s, But still last time I fit those numbers was 2008.

I had something this past week. It started Sunday night I started getting the sore throat along with stuffy nose and sneezing, But by Wednesday thing's started clearing up. The kids had it too, I think it's just the "Pre-Summer" Cold going around. Hope you feel better and that surgery goes well, Good Luck!

I plan on asking the surgeon about it when I see him next. From what I've read online it seems to affect band and sleeve patients most. Was just wondering how many people had an issue with this post-op.

So right now I'm post-op, But I've been reading a lot online here and other sources about the onset of acid reflux and GERD after Bariatric surgery. My concern is that my family (on my father's side) has a history of horrible heart burn and GERD, but they also have a history of bad eating habits and smoking/drinking too excess (lots of alcoholics), My grandfather also died of throat cancer and my father followed a year later due to lung cancer. Though I've never suffered any sort of acid reflux or heart burn related issue outside of "once in a great while" if I eat something specific. Is GERD as big of a problem for post-op patients as I hear it is?, or is the Internet just trying to scare me out of getting the sugery? Do any of you suffer horribly from GERD? Is it something you had before surgery or is it something that came with it?

@@Denise73 If interested here's my Pintrest Page: http://www.pinterest.com/dawson1738/wls-vsg/ (That applies to everyone else as well, Feel free to follow)

YES!!!... Try Pintrest, OMG! I've been spending a lot of time on Pintrest, Pinning recipes,products and inspiration.

@@Dulce_jtrivera Just an update. Went to the OB today and she was more then happy to fill out my letter of medical necessity.

That's a horrible thing for a "friend" to do. I know what you're going through though, I too was a big part of the "Fat Acceptance" movement and have many friends who are as well. As soon as I mentioned my plans for WLS due to my health and well being there went all my FA friends!, As much as it sucks and it hurts because I was real close to some people I have to let them go and understand that they were no good for me in the long run. As far as I'm concerned now, Their loss. I'm awesome and anyone would be lucky to have me as a friend Fat or Not.

I know she's scared and everything, Her feeling's are valid one's. I just wish she would talk about it with me instead of getting defensive. That being said, I'm glad I can always count on the people here who are supportive and a great group of people to talk to @@Pugmadkate I was in therapy from age 12-16 being a "Tween/Teen" of just then divorced parents. After going through with my Psych Eval last week I've decided now would be a great time to go back and I plan on making another appointment with the Physiologist sometime in the near future.

Anyone else dealing with an unsupportive family member? For me it's my mother. Even though I've been obese almost my whole 24 year's on this earth and she's watched me struggle with weight, and to lose it she is the most unsupportive member of my family. Little background about my mom: She's a recovering drug addict and through the grace of god, her own will and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) has been clean for 13 year's. She's the mother of 4 Adult children (2 of which are active drug addicts). She started going off about how I never apply myself to anything, I haven't tried hard enough to lose weight on my own (we haven't lived together or near each other for the past 6 years), And I should go into "Over Eaters Anonymous" before I decide to get such a "dangerous" surgery. She also went on to tell me about someone from 13 year's ago she knew who had gastric and died 6 months later, How I won't lose weight after the surgery because I won't stop eating the way I do now afterwords. It's frustrating, and no matter what I say I can't get through to her. I get it, she's a mom...But all these year's she's been unsupportive about my marriage, my pregnancy, my education, the way I live, even the death of my father (Her Ex). Even though the marriage, pregnancy and education were successful and I'm happy with my life today, she constantly sees something wrong. I know I shouldn't care, But it makes me feel sad and discouraged. But it won't change my decision to get the sleeve. Just needed to get that off my chest.

@@shahada A fan of TheMilitantbaker!, I love her!. Thanks for the positive feedback. I will take everyone's experiences, words of wisdom and reminders on this journey with me. I have not yet reached the struggles of many, but it's good to hear they exist and knowing what I know about myself I know if action isn't taken soon I someday will be in the same situation. Thank you all for your input!

@ Dulce_jtrivera Yup one step closer! I have my OB appointment next Tuesday, I'll keep updated and let you know how it goes!

So just an update. Just got out of my pcp office and she was super cool about everything and told me she would do the letter for me no problem. She said she would include childhood obesity to it and the list of diets/meds and gyms I had for her.

@@Pugmadkate Good luck to you! It's never too late, I hope to see more updates for you in the future!