LRHillian

Down a total of 190 pounds, sometimes I still can't believe it!

My first stall started at the end of week 2. It lasted for almost 4 weeks but then I dropped 15 lbs. in a week and a half. Then another stall....and the story goes on and on....lol...I'm now almost 3 months out and am in my 3rd wicked stall. Ugh! But since pre op, I've lost 55 lbs. So, hang in there...it will come off!

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Lookin for a buddy who Is going down the same path as I for a gastric sleeve in Mexico. Still undecided I want Dr.

I notice that must sleeves are in the high 200's but is there anyone who started higher. My weight day off was 362 give or take a pound....my doctor told me the most common procedure for my weight was the bypass but the long term results are very much the same. Im 5'7" but I definitely strated off way bigger than some posts I see...just curious to know I'd I'm alone lol
Dstined4gr8tnes

I refused to be in pictures for the last few years but had a similar moment when I saw myself in a full sized mirror at the dog groomers. I think a lot of us are in some denial and at some point something just snaps you out of it. even when i saw the occasional photo of myself id think, "oh it's just a bad angle".
realizing there's a problem is always an important step in getting better. good luck at your WLS appt. you're on your way now!

I also had a terrific experience with Dr. Fernando Garcia and his staff. He performed the VSG on me in August of 2015, and I felt like I was taken care of very well. I spent more time with his staff than directly with him, but he was kind and attentive, and willing to answer questions. I had minimal actual pain - mainly just some discomfort. I slept most of the time I was in the clinic, but was well enough to take laps through the hallway. I had a private room so I brought my laptop with me loaded with movies and hooked it up to the TV via a HDMI cable so my parents (who were my support team since my husband was working) could watch them while I dozed.
I spent a total of four days in Mexico. I live in LA, so we drove down on a Monday morning and parked at the border parking lot for Tijuana where the driver met us and took us and his other passengers (a girl who was also having the VSG and her sister, who'd flown in) to the Marriott. That night I walked down to the shopping center a few blocks away with my dad, and then just relaxed in the hotel. On Tuesday morning I went to the clinic and had the tests for surgery, and then the surgery itself. I was in the clinic all day on Wednesday. On Thursday I had the leak test (and paid the small fee to get a copy of the results for my personal records), and then was brought back to the hotel. I felt well, so we played tourist, and then went for a walk, and lounged by the pool. On Friday a nurse came to the hotel to check on me, and then my family checked out of the hotel and were brought back to the parking lot. We breezed over the border because we were in the medical lane. There's an outlet mall a couple of blocks away, so we went there and shopped. I felt completely fine by that point. The only mild distress I felt was due to an allergic reaction to the tape used on the incisions. Once I replaced that, all was well.
On my last day at the clinic I met with a nutritionist who gave me a packet of information about the eating stages. Several leading bariatric centers, like one at the the mayo Clinic, have information on their websites about how to eat post-op, and I suggest reading through in advance when you're making your plans.
The total cost for me was $4200. That included the surgery and all tests and medications, two nights stay at the Marriott and bariatric meals there (popsicles and broth), and all ground transportation. The Marriott even shuttled my parents back and forth from the hotel to the clinic every day for free (though they generously tipped). I'd consulted with surgeons in LA who quoted me $29,000 to $35,000 for the same surgery. I believe the outcome would have been identical.
I lost weight slowly because I had a low starting BMI (31), but I did exceed my goals within a year. I've had no complications; my lab work is excellent; and I've had minimal hair loss and no loose skin. I am extremely glad I had the surgery. I reclaimed my life.

Highest weight : 337 lbs
Starting weight: 306.5 lbs
Surgery date : June 8, 2016
Current weight: 209 lbs
2.5 pounds away from 100 lbs since surgery! But I'm not frowning
Progress pics....so far
  
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I just fought BCBST for the past month. They really want to see an increase of weights throughout the five years. I was missing some years and had to have a few comorbidities like my thyroid and mom passing away from heart failure. Also, the psych evaluation. Make sure it's filled out by a psychiatrist or psychologist. Took a month to gather everything but I was APPROVED yesterday!
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After my surgeons office did some examining and reexamining, they realized I did not have to lose the 10% of my body weight to have the surgery. The requirement is failure to lose 10%.
I was approved for surgery quickly after I submitted my paperwork (after being denied for not doing my nutrition classes through my primary Doctor and then appealing). Just make sure you have proof of all other requirements. Good luck!!
Also, find out what your hospital will charge. If it's the same situation as me, BCBS-TN only covers half of that amount. I was covered with the highest insurance plan they offer.

This getting approved thing is so annoying... It hard to mentally prepare for surgery when you don't know if you will get approved...
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

Hoping I could offer some encouragement. I am 4 months post op today and I honestly have no regrets, except that I didn't get sleeved sooner. I'm down 73 lbs, and about 30 inches overall. I have so much more energy. I work out 3-5 times a week. I have had a really good experience overall. I did have some early issues with dehydration but it was my fault...not drinking enough. I have only thrown up a few times. I'm eating normal, but healthy foods. I don't even recognize myself in the mirror! Its such a great feeling and I'm loving the changes. I still have a long ways to go! The apprehension is normal, but trust me, its worth it.

(Beachbum) hello im in the same boat. I think we all get scared when the time come to really do it. I been thinking what if something goes wrong. But I have to keep telling myself I trust and have faith in God it will be fine. But on the other hand I keep thinking negative. We have to look at like if we dont make a postive step in our life the future may be bad for us and the doors has open for us to take bk contorl of our lifes. But wat ur doing is normal we all worry. Be bless

I'm very impressed that you got the whole Protein drink down! Seems like lots of people have trouble with that. So sorry that you had a horrible night - hospitals are really not good places to rest! Are you walking okay? Do you have someone with you to help you out? Do you need anything? I'm here and willing to help if you need anything - hang in there - much better days are in the near future! So jealous and can't wait to be where you are!

Surgery went perfectly fine. The pain I was having real bad last night wasn't gas pain as I thought. It's the awfull feeling from the repair of the hiatal hernia. Pain meds just barely takes the edge off it! I am getting down my first full Protein Drink. Yay! Tea seems to setting better in my stomach than plain Water. I got ZERO sleep last night. Horrible! But this afternoon, I'm feeling better and more in control. Realizing that the new way of eating and drinking begins NOW. Hope all others are doing well!

Dr. Antonetti is my surgeon too! Are you having your surgery at Lexington? Best of luck to you - I absolutely can't wait. Just chomping at the bit to get my surgery date (though I have already started packing!) I'm so excited to get this chance to change my life. Hearing all these good stories of success give me hope for a good outcome.

Hunny....let me tell you. I am a nurse and I don't care what people say...I will tell them until they walk in my shoes then they can talk.....you don't have to tell anyone. It's none of their business.
Weight loss surgery is not easy as people think it is.
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Denise, this is just one of the requirements that MANY carriers have. It's not a "no," it's a "we don't have enough information yet."
DON'T GIVE UP!!! Worst-case scenario, you start a six-month relationship with your PCP tomorrow. If you've been seeing doctors over the last few years for ANY reason, get their notes. It's possible/likely that their notes include comments on your weight.
I had Aetna too, and what I supplied was notes from my OB/GYN from the two deliveries of my children, which had happened within the prior five years. So there were lots of notes on my weight, even if they didn't involve attempts at weight loss. And in 18 months prior to banding, I'd been seeing my PCP regularly to talk about weight loss, surgery, my thyroid, etc., and all of those notes counted as well.
This is a minor hurdle. Historical records from any doctor will do to support the five-year-history requirement. And if you can't supply the six-month diet attempt, get started NOW. Six months will go by before you know it.

I talk too much, pretty much all the time, so I've told almost everyone I've spoken with in months, lol. However, most everyone that knows me know that I don't really hold back, so I haven't gotten any negative comments. They probably all know that if they say anything negative to me, I'll tell them to go fuck themselves.

Hunny....let me tell you. I am a nurse and I don't care what people say...I will tell them until they walk in my shoes then they can talk.....you don't have to tell anyone. It's none of their business.
Weight loss surgery is not easy as people think it is.
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Hunny....let me tell you. I am a nurse and I don't care what people say...I will tell them until they walk in my shoes then they can talk.....you don't have to tell anyone. It's none of their business.
Weight loss surgery is not easy as people think it is.
Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

Hunny....let me tell you. I am a nurse and I don't care what people say...I will tell them until they walk in my shoes then they can talk.....you don't have to tell anyone. It's none of their business.
Weight loss surgery is not easy as people think it is.
Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

I have BCBS TN my paperwork was sent out today but I haven't lost any weight and its frustrating that you spend so much time money and effort and that your insurance can deny you for not losing enough BEFORE surgery! But Im crossing my fingers that it gets approved!! Good luck! :-)

I was approved! Only took 5 work days to get the approval! #relief

Once I met the requirements (6 month weight program, three years weight history, etc) and my dr submitted the paperwork I was approved within a few days (like 5 I think it was). I had no other health issues just high bmi. I had also met my out of pocket for the year so my only costs were the psyc eval and then one office co pay.