SAD HATTER

So yesterday I met with the surgeon. Here are my requirements (and what I have completed) 6 diet visits (#4 is tomorrow) lose 10 pounds by July see a therapist and get clearance see a hematologist for clearance (since I have APS - antiphospholipid syndrome) have an ultrasound of the gall bladder NO sleep study needed NO endo needed I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... It is slowly getting closer and closer. I am using Dana Reiss in San Antonio, TX. I went in wanting the sleeve, and came out completely happy with her wanting to do the RNY. My main concern was 40 years from now, how WLS would affect my quality of life, especially if MS takes over. If I ever need a feeding tube, the RNY offers a better outlook for my quality of life. To me, this was far more important than my attachment to my pyloric valve. I am 100% happy with the decision to do RNY, and I can't wait to get all these appointments done and get on with this show.

My surgeon said that if old age nursing care was a concern that she recommended rny over sleeve. Because its easier to just throw a feeding tube in the blind stomach. My main concerns about surgery is how it will impact me in 40 yrs. I feel confident in my decision after talking with her. She said she does a LOT of sleeve to rny revisions. I only want ONE surgery.

I gained weight. Insurance (UHC) said they didn't care. My surgeon does. I have to lose 10 lbs in 2.5 months.

Today is my #4 of 6. I am so ready.

In my half-hour lunch, I managed to let the dog go pee, run to the hospital and make the ultrasound appointment, call the specialty center to make the hematologist appointment, and schedule my first therapy session... Now if my laundry would cooperate.

I went in wanting the sleeve. My surgeon asked me what my expectations were, and what my main concerns were. Each of my smaller concerns she would stop me and say... either will do that. Then I asked the big one... When I am old, which one would be better. When I am 70-80, or in a nursing home, or if I am in a horrible accident, if I needed a full time feeding tube to help keep me alive, which one would work, and which one would be a huge problem, and she said.. Get the bypass if you are concerned with 50 years from today. Feeding tubes are easy to insert in the stomach that is left inside. With a sleeve, theres nothing to put it in other than the sleeve or intestine, and quality of life would dimish. Diabetes runs in the family. I don't have it now, but I don't want it later. RNY can do that for me. She also said that in HER practice, 20% of the RNY she performs, are a revision from sleeve. She said that in her patients with sleeve, many show that after 3 years, they no longer feel ANY restriction at all... and that they are regaining weight. Long-term, she has seen much better maintenance with the bypass. Ultimately, I am very happy with my final decision of RNY. I will get it in August.

At least you people have boobs... I have surgery in August. I am 6ft tall, and 350 lbs. I am a 40 B.... a freaking B... I am going to have to buy some fakies.

I am just an observer...but maybe all the testing, and regulations, and visits, and psych consults manage to weed out the crazies, the qiuck fix seekers, and the mentally ill-prepared...and obviously, on occasion, an internet troll. .... 2¢

My caseworker called today. The conversation took more like 30 minutes instead of the 10 I was told. BUT, I was able to find out that they will use the very first weight that is turned in. It doesn't matter how much I lose on the 6 month* diet. Also, it really isn't a 6 month diet. It is 6 consecutive appointments, at least 30 days apart, to log weight and discuss eating and exercise. So Feb, mar, April, May, June, July... 6 appointments, even though the duration is only 5 months from the first to the last appointment. My insurance was very vague in the description and Martha said that question is asked by every single bariatric patient she talks to on this plan. I am a week in. I have not had any soda. I am cutting back on my sweet tea. I am having a hard time taking small sips of Water all day long. I know that after surgery I will have to literally SIP all day long, and I am trying to start that habit now, and it is hard when normally I drink like a camel just a few times a day. I am also trying to eat MUCH slower, chew my food way more than I am used to, and make better food decisions (especially with carbs), but mostly I am focusing on starting these habits first, because I think they will be hardest to get used to. What did you focus on first?

I had a serome after a different surgery. Mine stayed a while. It finally went away when I limited movement and was basically lazy at home after work. I also had to have antibiotics. Seroma. I cannot spell. Ugh

@@Jerr_Bear Dr Dana Reiss.

I am also using Dr Reiss. I am in month 2 of my 6 month diet. My first appointment with her is in May. How is she? I did a lot of research but haven't talked to anyone that actually used her. I just emailed her and a few other doctors for over a year asking questions.

I am about 5 months away from surgery. I will be having it in San Antonio. I live in Central Texas, about 2 hours away from SA.

I have not had surgery yet but my foot is a 13. It was that when I was skinny. However now I am a wide. I am hoping I can go back to normal width.

I mean in general. Some people just ignore fat people like the plague. If those people all of a sudden change then I do consider that fake friendliness. I want people in my daily life that are genuine and true. Is it being fake or is that they are just attracted to to a thinner, healthier individual? Because they didnt notice you or hit on you when you were big that makes them "fake"? If I am not attracted to someone, I do not send signals that I am. Now if a man or woman made it known to you that they were not attracted to you or you because of your size than you would definitely have a reason to feel that way you do, but again, if they are not attracted to a overweight individual that is their own right and most people are not. Even if it is a co-worker they have the right to be attracted to whatever they are attracted to. As long as they showed you respect and acknowledge you when you were big, you can't really be mad at them for being attracted to a more thinner, fitter you. We might not like it so much, but should we really be mad at them for them not having an attraction to us a unhealthy size if that is not what they are not attracted to? Most people you get hit on, will not even know you were big before surgery till you tell them and that should not fault those individuals either. Now if these people called you disgusting, fat, ugly or every name in the book and then all of a sudden found you attractive after wls...well then Id tell em to eat sh*t

The drinking is really hard. I am finding it harder than the low carb

I am pretty certain, that my personality type is rather harsh...and that anyone that all of a sudden pays attention to me will be on my $#!+ list. If they ignored me fat, but don't mind talking to me thin, then that's their problem. I don't want more attention. Especially when it means that NOW they notice you. To me that just cements the fact that they thought you were chopped liver before. So remember... all of the new compliments from people you haven't gotten any from before, are ONLY complimenting because you are thinner. If you had accomplished something else, not weight related, would they be so eager to make positive comments about that? If not, screw them. I don't need that kind of fake friendliness in my life.

I am not a coffee drinker. But tea... that will be rough. I stopped ordering drinks at restaurants last year because it was cheaper to just drink Water. And my husband started making unsweet tea (and I hate sweeteners that aren't sugar) so at home, water is easy. I just have to keep myself from driving through the beverage barn and getting a tea in the mornings.

What size sleeve does he/she use? What is the complication rate that HE/SHE has had? Which surgery, rny or vsg, have they done more of? How many bariatric patients of theirs have died? What is the most common complication in that practice?

So, I sat down and printed all the forms that the insurance requires to be filled out for my file. I printed all the forms that the Optum nurse requires. I printed all the forms that the surgeon requires. I have a binder filled with crap. I faxed off 10 pages today alone. I have 5 pages that have to be filled out and signed by my pcp at each visit, and then places those have to be faxed. My insurance advocate from Optum told me it was much faster and easier to get approval if the papers were filled out that the insurance provides. Luckily Scott & White now has a patient portal, so I can print my chart from each visit and put it in my awesome old lady binder. I put tabs for all my monthly paperwork, and tabs for all my craptastical forms, and tabs for all my informational research and bathroom reading.... I feel sorry for people that might not understand insurance or technology enough to take advantage of all these neato things that can facilitate the approval process. I actually feel good about this today, and more in control than I did. United Healthcare has been wonderful....now... to save for that 10% that I will have to pay... lol