Skepford

You need to be asking both your doctor and insurance these questions.

My surgery is tomorrow morning and I am crazy nervous and excited at the same time! I am 5'5 214lbs so in the low bmi range with high cholesterol and mild sleep apnea. I was really afraid that my insurance would deny me because my bmi was at the lower end but I made it!!!!

I know you'll do great! I've had two major surgeries in the last 4 years, plus I've worked in surgery (I'm an xray tech). This surgery is a piece of cake.
You need to do this for you. I had PCOS (I've had a hysterectomy) and have been diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome. I know what you're going through. Losing weight is hard (when you can actually get it to come off).
Tell people that WLS is a very important tool that you need to help you to continue to lose the weight. I know it's hard to deal with people and their opinions. My Mom will say that overweight people are disgusting, but doesn't think about the fact that I fall into that category and how it hurts when she says that. I am not telling my family about my journey because of comments like this.
Read up all you can about the surgery. If you can stand to watch it, there is a video on YouTube that shows a sleeve operation. Then you'll know what you'll be going through. There isn't much pain from the operation when they can use the scope to do it. There is some discomfort afterwards in your ribcage that makes it hard to breathe. The reason for this is that they inflate your abdomen with Carbon Dioxide so there is room to work in there. The soreness goes away after a few days.
Instead of being scared, try to be informed! You'll be amazed at the difference it will make. I can't wait to hear how you do!

I just got approval from ins and surgery scheduled March 29, 2016. My current weight is 203 and I'm 5 3. I am so nervous! I have been loosing weight the past 5 weeks I've buckled down and lost 20 lbs, I feel better and ppl are noticing my weight loss and do not think I should get it. As an emotional eater/ bored eater/ the list goes on, I feel like this is the best tool for me. I've never had any surgery, so that alone scares me to death. The recovery, and Hair loss are really beginning to mess with my head. I have pcos so it is extremely difficult for me to lose weight and actually maintain it... One slip up makes me gain 5 lbs it feels I would really love to hear some words of comfort, I am still in shock that I was approved, and now that I have a date set I am already so anxious and freaked out. My biggest fear is making this huge life changing decision / life style change, and it not really being "worth" what all I am about to give up. Help!!!!!

Today i started my liquid diet & i must say it was hard but i did it. 2 Weeks from 2day a new me will b born ????????????

I have the procedure on Tuesday and pre-op testing tomorrow so they have you arrive at the hospital today. It's happening!

I went to True results and they took care of every detail!! My insurance covered but the copay was around $3900.00 and True Results financed that portion with not interest!! I had my surgery yesterday and I am looking forward to the end results!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a CPAP machine. I can tell I'm less tired than I use to be but it can be a challenge to use the machine every night. I go to my first Dr consult for my WLS on 2/12/16.

Congrats on the start of your journey.

Hi yall. I have sleep apnea too, but for a long long time now. I'm sooooo tired of sleeping with a mask (believe me I'm happy it help) breaking my hair, having the bad headache if I don't sleep right, having a cold is awful when dealing with this problem. I've had enough. Lol I can't wait till I'm smaller to sleep on my own.

Sharon, do you wake yourself up snoring? If you do, chances are you have at least mild sleep apnea.
I have sleep apnea, a very bad back, have just been diagnosed as diabetic, plus few other issues. I go to the seminar this Thursday, then get to see the program director to see what is next.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond. It helps to ease some of the anxiety!

I'm with you on all of that! I'm going next Tuesday to see my surgeon for the first time, and we will begin the process! I'm hearing different things about what I will have to do for my insurance to cover, 3 month or 6 month supervised diet, so until I know more, I'm in limbo! It's nerve-wracking and exciting. I just want to get started so I can get living again. And the part I dread? The excess skin! Ugh

@skepford. I'm about 2 weeks out and the months I spent doing all of the above went by so fast. Keep your eye on the prize and you'll do great!

I can't wait!!! I'm half way there and yes I'm very nervous but I'm so excited to see what the future holds for me! All my health issues and body pains hopefully coming to an end! I'll take a little (maybe a lot) pain for a very short time to feel wonderful for the rest of my life! I'm 49! Time to finally feel good! Better yet, time to find out what feeling good feels like again! Good luck to you!!! You can do this!

It's starting to look like the end of the tunnel! Called my doctors office yesterday afternoon to check progress of my pre determination and was told it would be an additional 30 days for review (which completely bummed me out). I call my insurance later that night and they tell me 'oh, we sent a letter out to your doctors office today that states it is a medical necessity and you are approved' WHOOP WHOOP!! So now I'm waiting to call the doctor 1st thing Tuesday morning to see when they can schedule me... I'm nervous now but so excited

I am having surgery on 2/1 as well. I am 53 5'5" and 244 lbs. I started the liquid diet today that is required by my doctor. They are very regimented for this but that is good I like the structure.
I am taking off per the doctor for 2 weeks after my surgery. I keep trying to imagine what I will look like thin so excited I can't wait

I'm scheduled for the seminar on the 28th of this month. My insurance requires 6 months of medically supervised weight loss, but I'm hoping with all the issues, I won't have to do that. I will see.
If I have to do the 6 months, I will be right at the two year anniversary of my last major surgery, and 4 years from the first major surgery. I have sworn up and down I'm not on the two year surgery plan. This time though, it will be because I want it not because it's a life threatening condition.
I can't wait to get started! I was getting prescriptions earlier today for taxes, and I've spent a lot of money on drugs for my different obesity related conditions. Hopefully that will change by the end of this year!

I've had so many mixed feelings and so many questions now that surgery is just a few days away. There are times when I'm alone and find myself thinking heavily about what I'm about to do and if I should move forward with it. Then, I look at the bigger picture and get emotional because this is not about myself alone, it's about my boys. They mean the world to me and I will do anything that I can to live to see them grow up, be successful and have a family. Then, I think about how i lost my father when I was 14 and he was only 43 year young, from health issues. I was devastated and I refuse to give up knowing that I giving up means that my children could be faced with the same thing. I encouraging myself and everyone else who is here, making a choice to have a healthier life. Best of luck to everyone!

I'm starting the steps also and have all of my pre-authorization appointments scheduled for this month and the beginning of February. I'm hoping to schedule for March also! Good Luck!

I am so excited/nervous only 4 days away from WLS that took 15 years to commit to. 1/11/16 will be the day that I can always remember that I changed my life for good! I would love to keep in touch with anybody who is having surgery around the same time I am. Other than my Mom & of course my wife of 16 years, I have not told anybody! It would be nice to message with someone who knows what you're going through and having the same LIFE CHANGING journey around the same time. I would love to have some sleeve buddies, whom I can trust, support and help along the way and vice versa! Of course this journey won't be easy for any of us, However with this tool that is getting done to us (VSG), if we all stick to it...there is no doubt we can all accomplish our own personal weight loss goals!!
There are many advantages to not telling everybody in your life about getting a VSG, however the biggest negative is the lack of a support system I won't be getting. I have lost over 50 pounds over last 18 months to prepare for this surgery however I find most people whom have not been overweight their entire lives (LIKE I HAVE) really are judgmental about WLS and overweight people in general. It makes me sick and really question what the hell is wrong with these people! So personally speaking I choose to keep it private since I think this will be hard enough journey to accomplish without these negative nellies, making the situation even harder. I envy the many people on here that have such a great support system of friends and family but unfortunately I don't! I am not on Facebook so would prefer private messages/conversations. If interested, send me a message or post in this thread. I wish everybody good luck with their upcoming VSG and WE WILL SUCEED! Sorry for the long rant

Well guys, the Powerball is going to be 600+ million on Saturday, so if I win, massages for all!!

Hi everyone!
I am new to the forum/blog. I just wanted to introduce myself to you all and hopefully become an awesome asset to this forum.
my name is Keri I am 22 and I am just now starting my WLS journey. I am in the process of getting my referral from my PCP *fingers crossed* will happen Friday! I am starting off in between 330 and 340 so I always round up. I am most interested in the VGS based off of the research I've been doing for the past year or so. I am ready to take these steps to become a healthy individual and I am hoping you will be a great support system.
FYI: I had to introduce myself so I didn't look like a creep on all the post!

I feel you, my surgery is scheduled for the 14th as well and I am struggling on my pre-op diet. Everyone kept saying it gets easier after day 3, I'm still waiting for the easy part to kick in lol Good luck, we can do this ! I just keep telling myself get thru it one day at a time!

I really love my morning coffee and on weekends may have 3 cups. I decided to start weening off caffeine or tryinng to go cold turkey now and not post surgery. Walked into Dunkin Donuts this morning, ordered a small Decaf and that was it. No donuts either. I didn't feel too bad. I'm also doing one Protein shake replacing one meal.
all my documentation is in, just waiting. Hoping for an early Feb. date.
I will say this, I'm not sleeping well at all. I think I just have too much on my mind. I'm so preoccupied with this whole process.
UPDATE: As of Jan. 6 10:30 a.m. APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!