Tina4heath4ever

Hi everyone! My name is Tina, and all I have at this moment is an initial consultation with a surgeon June 1st. This is honestly a huge step for me. I've considered the surgery for over 13 years, but have always been to scared. Scared to tell my family, my husband, my friends. Of surgery in general, of not waking up... But I finally had a talk with my husband a few weeks ago, scared out of my mind at how he would take it, and he was very supportive. I called my insurance the next day, found a surgeon, and made my first appoint.
After hours and hours of research, I feel like the sleeve is where I feel most comfortable. I'm worried about some Vitamin deficiencies I've heard are more common with the gastric bypass, and that is my main reason for wanting the sleeve. I'm sure this could all change once I see my surgeon.
At this point, I don't know who all I will tell. I've been judged my whole life because of my weight, and I don't want to be judged for the rest of it because I chose to get help in the form of surgery. I know I will tell a select few. My mom, my sister, but I'm not sure who else. I don't even know if I'll tell my kids. I have 3 of them, and they are the cause of most of my fears. I want to be with them as long as I can, and surgery just scares the crap out of me.
My stats: I'm 37, almost 38, 5'10", and 329lbs. I've started watching my weight again, have cut out sugar, started increasing Protein, cutting down fat, and watching carbs. I'm sure like most of you, I know exactly what to do. I've been doing it my whole life. I'm just hoping this extra tool will help keep me on track and help me get to a normal weight for the first time in my life.
If anyone has been through this journey already, or is in the same boat as me and just at the beginning, I'd love to get to know you. To support you, and have you support me in return.
My next step is to talk to my mom about it. She's very anti doctor, and I know she wont like the idea. I hope she can see my struggle and support me, because walking this road without her support would be extremely difficult.

Hi Diana,
Good point! Yes, there are some people I know who wont be supportive, and I think in those cases it's better not to tell at all. Such as my inlaws-- I will not tell them. I will not tell many friends, only ones I know will support me and not speak negatively about it. My mom on the other hand is a tough one. I will need her help. I have three kids, 11, 8, and 4, and I will likely leave them with her during surgery.
How did your consultation go? Have they given you an estimate of how long it will get your surgery date? I've known two people to use the surgeon I have a consult with. Both say it takes about six months to get things going. I wish it could happen sooner, as it would be great to have the summer to heal, but I'll take whatever I can get.
Good luck to you as well!

Hi everyone! My name is Tina, and all I have at this moment is an initial consultation with a surgeon June 1st. This is honestly a huge step for me. I've considered the surgery for over 13 years, but have always been to scared. Scared to tell my family, my husband, my friends. Of surgery in general, of not waking up... But I finally had a talk with my husband a few weeks ago, scared out of my mind at how he would take it, and he was very supportive. I called my insurance the next day, found a surgeon, and made my first appoint.
After hours and hours of research, I feel like the sleeve is where I feel most comfortable. I'm worried about some Vitamin deficiencies I've heard are more common with the gastric bypass, and that is my main reason for wanting the sleeve. I'm sure this could all change once I see my surgeon.
At this point, I don't know who all I will tell. I've been judged my whole life because of my weight, and I don't want to be judged for the rest of it because I chose to get help in the form of surgery. I know I will tell a select few. My mom, my sister, but I'm not sure who else. I don't even know if I'll tell my kids. I have 3 of them, and they are the cause of most of my fears. I want to be with them as long as I can, and surgery just scares the crap out of me.
My stats: I'm 37, almost 38, 5'10", and 329lbs. I've started watching my weight again, have cut out sugar, started increasing Protein, cutting down fat, and watching carbs. I'm sure like most of you, I know exactly what to do. I've been doing it my whole life. I'm just hoping this extra tool will help keep me on track and help me get to a normal weight for the first time in my life.
If anyone has been through this journey already, or is in the same boat as me and just at the beginning, I'd love to get to know you. To support you, and have you support me in return.
My next step is to talk to my mom about it. She's very anti doctor, and I know she wont like the idea. I hope she can see my struggle and support me, because walking this road without her support would be extremely difficult.

I'm at the beginning as well. I haven't even had my consult yet!

Hi everyone! My name is Tina, and all I have at this moment is an initial consultation with a surgeon June 1st. This is honestly a huge step for me. I've considered the surgery for over 13 years, but have always been to scared. Scared to tell my family, my husband, my friends. Of surgery in general, of not waking up... But I finally had a talk with my husband a few weeks ago, scared out of my mind at how he would take it, and he was very supportive. I called my insurance the next day, found a surgeon, and made my first appoint.
After hours and hours of research, I feel like the sleeve is where I feel most comfortable. I'm worried about some Vitamin deficiencies I've heard are more common with the gastric bypass, and that is my main reason for wanting the sleeve. I'm sure this could all change once I see my surgeon.
At this point, I don't know who all I will tell. I've been judged my whole life because of my weight, and I don't want to be judged for the rest of it because I chose to get help in the form of surgery. I know I will tell a select few. My mom, my sister, but I'm not sure who else. I don't even know if I'll tell my kids. I have 3 of them, and they are the cause of most of my fears. I want to be with them as long as I can, and surgery just scares the crap out of me.
My stats: I'm 37, almost 38, 5'10", and 329lbs. I've started watching my weight again, have cut out sugar, started increasing Protein, cutting down fat, and watching carbs. I'm sure like most of you, I know exactly what to do. I've been doing it my whole life. I'm just hoping this extra tool will help keep me on track and help me get to a normal weight for the first time in my life.
If anyone has been through this journey already, or is in the same boat as me and just at the beginning, I'd love to get to know you. To support you, and have you support me in return.
My next step is to talk to my mom about it. She's very anti doctor, and I know she wont like the idea. I hope she can see my struggle and support me, because walking this road without her support would be extremely difficult.

I have Anthem Blue cross insurance. They cover 80% of the costs, and I have a consult with a preferred provider. How much would you expect my costs to be? Is there in house financing for this?
Thank you!

My thoughts exactly! Thanks guys!

@@Qwalla I was thinking it would go by fast, so I'm glad to hear it was the case for you! Good luck to you!

@@SilentBotts So a little over 6 months?
@@marylu Thanks for sharing your story and good luck with your surgery! <3
I guess I'm just impatient. I've thought about this surgery for 13 years, and now that I've decided to do it, I just want to hurry up and be on the other side of it. I must learn patience.

Honestly, this is a big fear of mine. My best friend hardly talks to her own sister after her sister had weight loss surgery. Mostly because it brings up insecurities about herself. I have resolved not to tell my best friend, but am still worried about how she will react once I loose weight. I would never make the decision NOT to do it because of how she feels, but at the same time, it's heavy on my mind.
I have my initial consult on June first, so I am a long way off from this, but I've read this is a common thing. That friends will be lost in the process, and it just saddens me so much. I would never be friends with a person because of their size. Small or large. It's the person inside that matters to me.

@@Inner Surfer Girl LOL Gotta love Michael Phelps!

I have not had surgery as of yet, nor do I even have a date, but I've pushed myself farther than I felt comfortable with (at the urging of others) and ended up hurting myself. Taking myself completely out of the game where I couldn't even WALK because of it. I think your Water aerobics sounds perfect.
Have he seen what a swimmers body looks like? Are you kidding me? Laps are a perfect exercise. Don't listen to this guy. (are you too far in to go to someone else?)

I have not had surgery as of yet, nor do I even have a date, but I've pushed myself farther than I felt comfortable with (at the urging of others) and ended up hurting myself. Taking myself completely out of the game where I couldn't even WALK because of it. I think your Water aerobics sounds perfect.
Have he seen what a swimmers body looks like? Are you kidding me? Laps are a perfect exercise. Don't listen to this guy. (are you too far in to go to someone else?)

Honestly, this is a big fear of mine. My best friend hardly talks to her own sister after her sister had weight loss surgery. Mostly because it brings up insecurities about herself. I have resolved not to tell my best friend, but am still worried about how she will react once I loose weight. I would never make the decision NOT to do it because of how she feels, but at the same time, it's heavy on my mind.
I have my initial consult on June first, so I am a long way off from this, but I've read this is a common thing. That friends will be lost in the process, and it just saddens me so much. I would never be friends with a person because of their size. Small or large. It's the person inside that matters to me.

First and foremost.

If you had SLEEVE surgery, you do not have a pouch. Gastric Bypass patients have pouches.
Second.

If you had SLEEVE surgery, neither liquid nor air will stretch your remaining stomach. In fact, you should have so little fundus left, there really is nothing left to stretch unless your surgeon left a lot of fundus behind when he did the surgery. Even if you are a bypass patient, I can't imagine liquid (or air) would stretch it, but I know very little about bypass.

Most likely, you kicked up your carb cravings by consuming sugar. When I indulge in carbs, I am much more hungry later in the day and the next day. When I stick to my Protein and lay off the carbs, it's easier to control my hunger.

So no, an icee won't stretch whatever you have, but it does wreak havoc on your blood levels.

@@Inner Surfer Girl LOL Gotta love Michael Phelps!

@@Dub Dub, you crack me up! LOL I would feel the same way.

It really depends on how much the hospital/surgeon you are going to charges. I have seen a huge variance of how much places charge. Everything from 5k (Mexico) all the way up to 50k+. At 80% coverage, if your surgery is 10k, your share would be 2k, but if they charge 50k, your share would be 10k.
My hospital charged my insurance $45,000 for my surgery (with an additional $2,300 for the anesthesiologist who billed separately). Thankfully my insurance paid for it and I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket.

I gave it up briefly during my initial post op timeframe.
Then......during a post-op follow up appointment I asked my surgeon if, when and how I could have coffee.
He smiled and said, "Sure, I have two cups a day why can't you?".
I had man-love for that dude at that moment (no homo). Seriously....I damn near broke his hand when we shook hands.
coffee and have been friends for a long, long time.......and will remain so.

I gave it up briefly during my initial post op timeframe.
Then......during a post-op follow up appointment I asked my surgeon if, when and how I could have coffee.
He smiled and said, "Sure, I have two cups a day why can't you?".
I had man-love for that dude at that moment (no homo). Seriously....I damn near broke his hand when we shook hands.
Coffee and have been friends for a long, long time.......and will remain so.

Tonight is the night. It's my first step (for the 3rd time). I found out some good info already and I'm a little nervous.
Let's just say, I'm not the best patient. I never have been one to see a Dr. annually. I don't have any health issues (other than obese). So my Dr visits were for serious issues or when I was trying to lose weight. I was told they need the past 3 years of medical records, I don't have a full 3 years. I'm very worried. I didn't go to the Dr. unless I was dying (sarcasm), depressed, or wanting weight loss meds.
I also moved a bit, I can recall the name of my last doctor, but I've been without a Dr. for a year and a half now.
I want this so bad, I can't self pay. I have to get approved and I'm worried my past will bite me in the butt!
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I have not personally - but I am still in early days.
I don't really expect to, as many of my friends loved me when I was thin, loved and were concerned through the years of obesity and why would they not be friends now? We're all old now anyway and not trying to be anything we're not.
I have made a bunch of new friends who I value very highly and hope to make even more!

I had a group of loud boisterous friends... we were as close as a family.... all of our social activities revolved around food and everyone in the group was overweight.
When i had my band and lost my weight, they started isolating me, treating me different and to be honest i wasn't enjoying their company as much because my own mindset had changed.
My friendship with this grouo became very toxic and i stopped hanging out with them.
In hindsight, they were never truly friends, they didn't like change and were never supportive. It hurt quite a bit back then, but now... I'm like thank god! Good riddance.
Basically if they are truly friends.... they will support you regardless of your size or eating habits.

Now the waiting is on. I submitted all the paperwork to get a conversion from lap-band to sleeve. I did everything they required and I pray that everything goes well! My only concern is my BMI. It is 35.5 BMI but they need only 1 commorbities (I have GERD, PCOS, Diabetes type 2, depression, anxiety, and high cholesterol). I hope this is enough for them
Prayers are super appreciated! I will keep you posted.
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I had to give up coffee for 30 days post-op, due to the acid being so harsh on my healing stomach. I actually gave it up at the start of my pre-op diet just so i wouldn't be going through withdrawal post-op.

I think most doctors do it because the acidity is tough on the healing, tiny stomach. Don't let anyone tell you it has to do with dehydration, that's a myth (at least for people who are used to coffee, it doesn't have any sort of a dehydrating effect). I think it can also be a big source of liquid calories (terrible idea) unless you drink it black.
It is hard, ngl! I went three months post-op without coffee and then reintegrated it back into my diet. I always drink my coffee black so it doesn't harm my calorie or carb counts for the day. I drink more black coffee than anything else -- I rarely drink just plain Water -- and I am happy and healthy and hydrated