ZetaStar

I'm going to Rex Bariatric in Raleigh also!!!! I finished all my pre-opscreening Dec. 28th and am now waiting for insurance approval & a surgery date. Right now, it feels unreal. Maybe when i get the approval & date, it'll become real for me. In the meantime, I'm watching what I eat, drinking my required water, I've started exercising, too. I'm enjoying the journey because I know I'm gonna see some major changes in my life.

AllthingsApple, I finished all the pre-op screenings and am now waiting on insurance approval/authorization. I'll be having the Duodenal Switch (DS) surgery. I originally wanted the sleeve, but because of all the co-morbidities that I have (mainly being a Type II Diabetic for over 15 yrs. & it being so out of control), My Dr. recommended that particular surgery. I asked him about SIPS and he said the DS would be more beneficial in my case. Besides Diabetes, I also have High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, arthritis in my knees, & during the pre-op screenings, I learned that I have mild sleep apnea. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I KNOW this surgery will mean a whole new lifestyle for me. I look forward to the changes (mainly being under 200 lbs. cause I have been there in 31 yrs.!). I've already started with some of the changes that I need to make before surgery.

Best Wishes!!!

Hi AllthingsApple! Glad to hear your surgery went well and you are feeling great! I'm curious as to what surgery you had and how life has changed for you since surgery? Zetastar

Congratulations!!! I pray that everything goes well with your surgery and that your recovery is speedy and blessed.

Nurse_Lenora, I'm kinda in the same boat: finished all the pre-op screenings and nutrition classes last month (Dec.2015). Now I'm waiting on insurance approval. My concern is that since it is a new year, I have to start all over again with the deductible & our-of-pocket cost before my insurance will pay 100%. Once I get approval, I'm afraid I won't be able to pay all that before I can get the surgery, & I'll have to do all the pre-op screenings again. I wish I would've started the process earlier so that I could've had surgery before Dec. 31st.

Thanks, James Marusek!!!! ❤️ ????????????????

Well... my consultation with the surgeon went well. He recommended DS as I thought he would. I told him I thought I'd rather have the sleeve and he explained that with my A1c being 13.1, that my diabetes was way out-of-control and that it needed to be brought in control and the DS surgery has proven to be the best for that. Plus with me having been diabetic for over 15 yrs. and insulin dependent as well as pills for about 10 yrs. DS was best for resolving diabetes. Then when you add in my other co-morbidities, and he really took time to explain to me the effects and how the DS surgery can help resolve/improve these issues,I felt better. I also expressed my concerns and his explanations helped calm those to the point where I felt a lot better about the DS surgery. I also went to a support group of Protein Tasting at the Center and the Mentors (those who've had the WLS) were there to talk to and answer questions. There was a lady there that I had talked to before who'd had the DS surgery. Of course, I talked to her again tonight and she was very supportive and told me more about how she's being 2 yrs. post-op. So, I guess I said all that to say I'm ok, even though a lil nervous about surgery, but I'm listening to my Dr. and ready to commit. I'm sure I'll be calling on y'all's advice, & prayers,and I'll be devouring everything I can find on DS surgery. Again, Thanks so much!!!! Love to you all!!!!!! MUAH!!

I love this!! As a beginner in the WLS process, I'm planning to refer to this quite often. Thank you!!

Thank you all for your advice! I appreciate it so much. Cowgirl Jane: In the information seminar, the Dr. did say that the DS surgery is the one that is best for resolving/curing diabetes and the one they usually use for insulin dependent diabetics. That's me... animallover1247: I like that you told your surgeon what you preferred and he didn't have a problem with it. I may try it and see what happens. James Marusek: You are ab-so-lute-ly right!!! I do not want to go under the knife twice when once will suffice! I will be listening to reason. There's a reason why they are Drs. DivaSoBlessed: I forgot to mention that I have acid reflux and take Walmart OTC meds for that. Since you said that, I now remember that they did say that Gastric Sleeve could possibly/will make acid reflux worse. I know that I am leaning more to the Sleeve because that's the one my Son had 1&1/2 yr. ago. He and his girlfriend had the sleeve. He looks wonderful and lost quite a lot of weight (over 100 lbs), but he still has to take insulin for his diabetes. Personally, I don't want to have to take insulin or have the complications that come with diabetes. I'm already experiencing neuropathy and diabetic nerve pain in my feet and hands. I am so glad that I happened to stumble across this website!!! I <3 it!! Again, thank you all so much!! Smooches