kitkattulsa

Surgery went well

It's really dependent upon your insurance. The program wants you to learn and put to use the information they provide. You'll want to follow everything they say. This was the best decision I've ever made for myself and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.
I know all the appointments seem over kill, but you'll be glade you went to them. You need to develop the skills and discipline to maintain. WLS is not a permanent fix. You can gain your weight back. Try to start losing weight before your surgery. I wish I lost more prior.
At my first appointment with Dr Kirk on 1-18-16, I weighed in at 299.
My surgery was on May 11th, and surgery weight was 274.
Today, almost 4 months post op, I weigh 218.
Words can't describe how happy I am with this decision. Bailey has a great team and program. Just do everything they say, and watch your life change.
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No - it curbs your hunger (for a while - not permanently) but cravings are mental - more head hunger. That's why it's so important to get your emotional eating issues addressed before surgery. You can't just remove temptation - it'll always be around you. I encourage therapy to deal with these issues - this journey is more mental/emotional than physical. The surgery is just a tool to help you eat less - you have to do the work and change your eating habits in order to be successful.

I went to a seminar yesterday and the surgeon talked about that very thing and how our metabolism slows down and our bodies hang on to weight.
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I got prescription chewable and B12 nasal spray from Nutrition direct that my Dr recommends
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Dr David Kim did my WLS and he actually saved my life. I lost 100 lbs and am off all medicines, I am healthy. I can walk and do Zumba which I could not do before. Dr Kim is a good Dr, I totally trust him.
I do know he has specials for self pay, check it out, i dont think you will regret it. He also has many opportunities for support groups as support afterwards is very important in keeping the weight off, best of luck to you!!!

I really wanted to share this, because I feel very proud. And because I often see people posting about whether or not they should do it and how afraid they are, but I am one of these people who says: this is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my adult life!
The pic on the left was taken Aug. 31 2015 at around 320+ pounds. I had my surgery Nov 23, 2015. The photo on the right was taken a little over a week ago. 54 pounds until I reach my goal weight.

You will probably be pleasantly disappointed that no one is really paying attention to what you eat.

I'm finding out my patience has worn thin.... I had my last 6 month supervised diet check on July 29th, waiting on approval is driving me crazy!!! I am not to concerned about the surgery itself. I've worked hard to lose what I have lost during the 6 month diet. Just let me start my pre-op and cut me open. haha. I've had several surgeries over the years and know what to expect, but waiting to hear from the insurance company is tough!

I fell into this discussion backwards, if you will… I was not looking for any problems, been happy as a clam since my gastric bypass last October 2016… However, in the last month or two, I started feeling increased anxiety for no reason at all… I started to recognize the old signs, those overly anxious feelings that I had many, many years ago, before I went on antidepressants. I am on Pristiq (extended release) and have been for 5+ years. When the all-too-familiar feelings arouse out of nowhere, I chalked it up to the mental and physical changes that happen after weight loss surgery, but it just did not feel right. I started researching how medications are absorbed (or not) after gastric bypass and stumbled upon this post. I have contacted my doctor and will post updates. To summarize, I read learned that a non-ER (extended release) medicine may be the answer, but changing from an antidepressant that has always worked for me is scary. There definitely needs to be more research on this topic!

Try Gwinnie bee...rent clothes
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For this very reasons this is why I prefer to keep my choice to myself. If anyone has not been struggling a lifetime, they will not understand. It is a different struggle than someone who merely put on weight after being slim during their life. I have dealt with weight since I was 6 months old. Unfortunately overfed as a kid, poor genetics and how I was raised set me up for a major struggle. To that point I think WLS will be a tool but I anticipate I will still struggle. It will hopefully take away the hunger part which can make it more doable for me.

For this very reasons this is why I prefer to keep my choice to myself. If anyone has not been struggling a lifetime, they will not understand. It is a different struggle than someone who merely put on weight after being slim during their life. I have dealt with weight since I was 6 months old. Unfortunately overfed as a kid, poor genetics and how I was raised set me up for a major struggle. To that point I think WLS will be a tool but I anticipate I will still struggle. It will hopefully take away the hunger part which can make it more doable for me.

Thank you everyone for your replies! i just love this website. I love the support. I told one of my only friends that I was getting the surgery and she made me feel so stupid about it. I regret even telling her but that showed me that I should just keep this to myself.

@@her1981,
You wrote that out so nicely!
I think general ignorance may be largely to blame. At least, that’s what I prefer to think rather than that people are mean! People probably think that it’s dangerous, disruptive, and something to be avoided at nearly all costs.
I also suspect that many people who struggle with their weight but are not in a position to get WLS are wary of it or suspicious. They may wonder why they need to keep on struggling with their weight (even if it’s not as high as our pre-op weight) while we “get” to choose WLS. They may not realize that WLS isn’t an easy path to take.
The news may also have something to do with it. You tend to see news stories about WLS fatalities and patients who regret WLS; you don’t see stories about thousands of delighted WLS patients. I’m not blaming the media or saying they shouldn’t report such stories, but these tragic anomalies are what get publicized.
Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree with you. People should respect other people’s personal health decisions.

I would never recommend a product I did use
As u can see I think it works great

Kitkattulsa, if u go below 35 BMI will ur insurance not cover? I was approved over 35 but now i am below 35 and surgery is next week. I asked my dr office about that and they said I was already approved so it doesn't matter if I go below. It still worries me though.
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Great job!
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I'm finally seeing a difference in my body! I'm 3 months post-op as of today and I'm down 74 lbs. I'm staring to feel "normal" again and I'm loving it. I took a picture this weekend and was finally able to see some of my progress. We have to Celebrate all along the way!

I wanted to write about my experience with a lower bmi because while I am about 50 lbs overweight 182 5 ft 4 inches - I haven't seen too many posts that describe the surgery with this kind of weight loss. It took me a long time to decide to do this but I kept gaining and have a history of family members who get very very obese after their 40s. I am on the same track.
Anyway I am getting sleeve may 13. flyint to texas bc I actually have a friend who is a surgeon that does this. I feel good about that and I am staying with another friend.
I have 10 days and started the first day of a soft diet which is various soft Proteins, shakes, cottage cheese, eggs. I was basically good but ate too much. My goal today was just to get used to no carbs. I have had a splitting headache from giving up the caffiene but I am taking liquid tylenol and that helps a bit.
I was nervous about this but feeling better about it now and committed to doing this. Ill write about my experience so someone else in the future can decide if this makes sense for them. Ever since I decided to do this surgery I felt like I had control over my body for the first time in a long time. I also had smoked which I stopped. And started drinking tons of Water. Never could do that before.
So the surgery has instigated a number of great behaviors. all good. And this forum is key because people are so supportive. I really appreciate it.

Good for you in making a wise and sometimes tough decision. I look forward to hearing about your journey. You're right that this board could use some low BMI perspective. My BMI was 36.2 so higher than yours but on the lower side too. Sleeved last week and doing darned well so far!
Good luck!

Hi, all. I am going through Bailey too! I really feel GREAT about the program. Dr. Kirk (medical director) is precious and the "navigator" who organizes the schedule and all support is awesome. Timeline is like this so far:
Orientation April 14
First consult April 28
Required support group meeting on May 9
Required Primary Care appointment with formal referral on May 11
First round of appointments on May 18 (psychologist, nutritionist, exercise therapist)
Cardiologist on May 19
Second consult on May 23
I'm waiting on the hospital to call me and schedule a couple other things... hoping & praying that they fit in May too!
If I can get all these appointments and tests done in May, we will then submit it to BCBS for final approval. They DO cover the surgery (really well!) but they have to approve my claim.
Fingers crossed that June 28 will be my SLEEVE date.

I just started the process at Bailey and have my first appointments Friday. Insurance requires 6 months supervised diet. I'm concerned because my BMI is 36, if I drop below 35 I do not qualify. I have always gone up and down in weight over the years.
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Awesome job, man!! YOU GO!!!

I guess I dislike the mindset that this decision is the easy way out. I've lost 80 lb by diet pills, eating 1000 calories, then weight lifting 45 min a day and walking 4 to 8 miles a day in addition to my daily steps. Working out 2 hours a day 5 days a week is not sustainable. Over 10 years it crept up. I've been to many Dr's and am told my Hashimoto's and genetics makes weight stubborn. I don't think this is the easy way out by any means though.
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