della street

I was 59 when I had bypass surgery; this was a little over 4 years ago. I'm down approx 150-160 lbs from a high of 390. Staying steady -- :O)

Oh Annie, I'm so sorry that happened to you :O( I feel your pain in that I was once denied a bone density test because their MRI machine (or whatever it was...) only would take up to 300 lbs -- I had to weigh in and was way more than that, so the tech pulled me aside and very nicely told me... I was so humiliated (some multi-hundred-thousand-dollar machine wouldn't "fit" me???) that it was years before I went back -- I'm two years out from bypass now and down 180 lbs, truly a life-changer - hang in there!

I had a personal trainer tell me that if you can only do 10-lb weights (instead of the 30-40 lb weights she was using...), then it really isn't worth your time. Really?? Don't we all have to start somewhere? Needless to say, not working w/her any more --

I live in AZ and for many years, hubby's employer-based policy (that also covered me) specifically excluded WLS surgery "even in cases of imminent death" (exact quote I will never forget from insurance company representative, ugh...) I am self-employed, and in Oct of 2014, I purchased a BCBS plan on the ACA Marketplace ("Obamacare") for just myself to cover me in 2015. We make too much $$ for a subsidy, but between the savings in not being on hubby's plan and what this plan cost, the difference was about $300/month - not insubstantial, but do-able, considering the policy covered WLS. I carried that policy all through 2015, going back on hubby's policy in Jan. 2016. I had gastric bypass surgery in January 2015 and have since lost approx 130 lbs (plus 50 lbs on doctor-supervised too-strict-to-follow-forever diet prior to that) for a total loss of approx 180 lbs over the last three years - 130 of which is directly attributable to WLS surgery. Since then, I no longer have sleep apnea, not pre-diabetic, all blood-work tests are good, and my quality of life is immeasurably improved! I feel incredibly fortunate that AZ, which is a state that is very backwards (IMHO) on many legislative-type issues, actually covers this - I was pretty shocked as a matter of fact. So while there are good/bad things about everything, to me, "Obamacare" and the ability to purchase my own insurance plan without regard to prior conditions (ie, obesity), literally saved my life. PS - these types of state-sponsored restrictions cover several other medical area such as infertility treatments and much more, as well - there are state-by-state coverage-mandates...

My only suggestion is to go slowly on the "spicier" cheeses, ie w/chives/onions, etc. I used to LOVE anything spicy - jalapenos, onions (in moderation), etc., but since surgery, no-can-handle them -- (

I used Dr Swain at Scottsdale Healthcare, now HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea (?) -- not for a revision, but for gastric bypass - he was terrific for me --

My story: Have wanted/needed WLS for at least the last ten years. I'm self-employed, so on hubby's employer-based insurance plan which expressly, 100% EXCLUDES/PROHIBITS any kind of WLS from coverage "even in cases of imminent death" -- exact quote I got from insurance company. Finally, the ACA (Obamacare) happened - I'm in AZ and we are one of the 23 states that must cover WLS if you purchase a plan on the Exchange. Last year, I went off hubby's plan, purchased my own plan - we make too much $$ for any subsidies, but that was fine because between the $$ we saved from me not being on hubby's plan versus what my plan cost, it was about $300/month difference - yes, a lot, but fortunately, was do-able for us. I had bypass surgery last January (2015) and have lost nearly 130 lbs (plus, I'd lost 50 the previous two years on a medically-supervised program; well, actually, I'd lost 100 but as soon as I went off the STUPIDLY STRICT, IMPOSSIBLE TO DO FOR VERY LONG medically-supervised program, I gained 50 of the 100 lbs I'd lost back, but at least I kept 50 of those off before I had surgery. So in the last 3 years, I've lost approx 180 lbs - well, 230 if you count the "other" 50 of the 100 I lost and then regained before surgery. Anyway, not to make this too complicated, but WLS saved my life! And if I hadn't had access to the ACA, we could never have afforded the $50K or so surgery and hospitalization costs. So, all I can say for me, is thank God for Pres. Obama and all the legislators who supported the ACA!!

@@Josey Quinn Oh Josey, do I feel for you and totally understand -- I was touring a home with a real estate agent and missed a step and fell down - HARD. In addition to being scared from a very bad fall, I also had to tell the very slender, wispy real estate agent to "please don't try to help me up because I don't want you to hurt yourself trying to lift me". Which was completely true, if she could have even helped me, which I doubt - but if she could have, I would have felt horrible if I hurt her because she tried to help someone up who probably weighed three times what she did. She was very gracious, but it was not only super-painful physically, but way more painful emotionally and in terms of the humiliation. I managed to paste an okay look on my face and hobble out of there, but once in my car, started sobbing from the pain - and embarrassment and humiliation. My knee swelled to twice its size by the time I got home - yada yada yada - orthopedic doctor's first words were 'you need to lose weight' - as if I didn't know that -- Anyway, there is hope--I had bypass surgery nearly a year ago - and I'm down 120 lbs!! Hang in there! Life is SOOOOOO much better at a somewhat normal weight!!

Love the Qwest choc chip cookie dough bars! Keep one/two in my purse at all times - order them on Amazon, get delivered right to my door. Yes, if you look at it like "$2 for a granola bar!" it sounds pricey, but -- it can be a meal or a very filling, healthy -- and tasty -- snack. How many of us wouldn't have batted an eyelash at shelling over $2 for large order of fries at McD's?

Wow DJ re your m-in-l -- mine was similar, ie, upon seeing my husband (her son) and me after a long absence, her first words to him were: "wow, you're some size!" -- ugh Anyway, that was years ago, but your comments reminded me of how stressful her visits were -- But back to the show - I totally agree, I think the shower/toilet scenes are humiliating and unnecessary to get the point across of the difficulties of everyday life at that size. I saw a rerun of Penny last night and literally could not watch for more than 5 minutes, she was/is such a prima donna a-hole, excuse my language -- I didn't know new shows were on, will have to set my DVR -

Try Vega One (I think that's the name?) -- I found it at Sprout's, but I'm sure it's plenty of other places as well - and the choc was very tasty!

Oh no, no, no, no, no -- hubby does NOT get a pass on this one -- First, and this is certainly in no way meant to make you feel bad, but I have to agree with a bunch of comments that there might be something 'fishy' going on between them - or at the very least, she's flirting with him with the whole straw thing - really? What is this, tenth grade??? And hubby, worrying more about her comfort than yours? No, no, no - time for a major sit-down, come-to-jeezus meeting with him. Next time, if there is a next time, call ahead yourself and reserve a table -- this really busts me up for you because it is so disrespectful on your husband's part, just MHO -- again, not saying to make you feel worse than you already do, but just to let you know you're not crazy - it definitely was disrespectful to you -- major hugs your way!

How did everyone do? I've got my first colonoscopy post-bypass scheduled soon and am worried about it

Any updates on this thread? I'll be scheduling my colonoscopy soon - first time after bypass -- thanks!

Following this thread - any other news about this? I've been diagnosed with both as well, thx!