leliwhoaoh

Good for you! Professionally, she should not have asked. Everywhere I have worked, it would have meant a trip to the Principal's office (or HR)

how awkward! and unprofessional. she should not have even asked.

When I made my consultation with my surgeon, I was convinced that I wanted the band. However, after doing some research and really thinking about it, I decided against the band and went for the sleeve instead. Here's why: I don't feel comfortable having a foreign object in my body, it kind of freaks me out. I also don't want to have to get a saline injection through a port every time I need an adjustment, that means extra doctor's visits, more commuting to his office (which isn't terribly close to me to begin with, plus I don't drive). I'm also not a fan of the complications of the band (slipping, erosion, etc). Like you, I've also seen the revision from band to sleeve stories too, and that also played a factor in my decision process.
The sleeve has it's complications too, but given my personal weight loss story and overall journey, I feel I would personally benefit more from the sleeve, you see, I'm always hungry lol. And with the part of the stomach that is being removed (where the hunger hormone is), my constant hunger (physical hunger, not the retched head hunger) shouldn't be a problem. Also, given my history with what I eat, my doctors office recommended the sleeve. Although they would of done the band had I chosen too.
I've never had surgery and never been put to sleep for any procedure, and I am a bit scared but I feel good about my decision to sleeve and not band. I've thought about it for months and have done my research and feel like I understand the pro's and con's of both procedures. The sleeve just seemed like a better choice for ME. This is not to say that there's anything wrong with the band though!
I think that you just really need to read up on both procedures some more, read success stories and some not so successful ones, read about the pro's and con's to both, and be realistic about how each one can personally benefit you and what you are comfortable with. At the end of the day, it'll be your choice, and I'm sure you'll make the best choice for YOU!
Hope this helped

Lucky you!! Congrats! I haven't gotten a surgery date as of yet, but I'm hoping for the end of August/beginning of September. I still have like 3 more visits with my doctors office. I am hoping that I can get a date by the end of this month or sometime in July as I have completed all the requirements for surgery except the 6 months of visits and a chest xray and ekg ( I'd have to wait until close to surgery to get those last two).

You had me at, "I hate cats".

When I made my consultation with my surgeon, I was convinced that I wanted the band. However, after doing some research and really thinking about it, I decided against the band and went for the sleeve instead. Here's why: I don't feel comfortable having a foreign object in my body, it kind of freaks me out. I also don't want to have to get a saline injection through a port every time I need an adjustment, that means extra doctor's visits, more commuting to his office (which isn't terribly close to me to begin with, plus I don't drive). I'm also not a fan of the complications of the band (slipping, erosion, etc). Like you, I've also seen the revision from band to sleeve stories too, and that also played a factor in my decision process.
The sleeve has it's complications too, but given my personal weight loss story and overall journey, I feel I would personally benefit more from the sleeve, you see, I'm always hungry lol. And with the part of the stomach that is being removed (where the hunger hormone is), my constant hunger (physical hunger, not the retched head hunger) shouldn't be a problem. Also, given my history with what I eat, my doctors office recommended the sleeve. Although they would of done the band had I chosen too.
I've never had surgery and never been put to sleep for any procedure, and I am a bit scared but I feel good about my decision to sleeve and not band. I've thought about it for months and have done my research and feel like I understand the pro's and con's of both procedures. The sleeve just seemed like a better choice for ME. This is not to say that there's anything wrong with the band though!
I think that you just really need to read up on both procedures some more, read success stories and some not so successful ones, read about the pro's and con's to both, and be realistic about how each one can personally benefit you and what you are comfortable with. At the end of the day, it'll be your choice, and I'm sure you'll make the best choice for YOU!
Hope this helped

Oh my goodness! Yesterday, my August 24th surgery is now set in stone! I'm so excited!

I'm so sorry that your having an unnecessarily difficult time getting a straight answer. I was fortunate that the answers i got from mu surgeons office, correlated with what my insurance was verbally telling me. Still i took no chances, since my policy info is not available anywhere online, an insurance rep was kind enough to email me the portion of my policy as it pertains to bariatric surgery. That way I am as sure as I can possibly be. The best suggestion i can give you is the same as most everyone, get your policy specifics in writing. And if you have to, call your insurance company while you're in the surgeon's office and have their coordinator speak to someone.
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Hey! I'm in Hyattsville, I'm getting sleeved (fingers crossed) at Shady Grove Medical Center with Dr.Greene, the director of bariatric surgery. How far along are you in your journey?

VSGAnn2014 you are such an inspiration to me and I'm so glad you are here. My date gets closer and I'm more nervous, I guess because this is my first surgery that I have chosen, that I have elected to have, more used to having the doctor say I should do it and then it's their decision in my best interests. I do feel this one is too but I feel sort of like I'm out on my own, EXCEPT for this community. Were it not for Bariatric Pal I wouldn't be doing this that's for sure.

You want to do it "the easy way"?
Do what I did: I didn't tell anyone but my hubby about my WLS -- not my family, workmates, friends, acquaintances, or random strangers.
Consequently, nobody has ever discouraged me or irritated me or infuriated me by sharing their ignorance about WLS with me.
And I haven't been charged with physical assault.

I have yet had someone tell me horror stories, but I've had plenty of those "you're not fat/big enough"... or the whole "i know someone who did it and gained all the weight and more" comments...thank you! That's what i want to hear, smh. As cindy mentioned, some people have no filter and don't think before they speak
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Im thinking of my food funeral and I'm still 3 months from even submitting my paperwork to my insurances.. ???? its like i need to eat all the things now cause it's going to be a definite no no later on. I haven't quite acted out on those feelings, but they are there
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Im so sorry that you're going through that, that sounds tough...to be honest, to me, this chick just sounds like a hater! She's probably upset/jealous that you made the decision to get healthy. 73 lbs lost is awesome! Please don't let someone else's negativity darken your bright moment. I have to wonder what it is that she is doing to better herself...sorry it's just people like that get me so mad

You know, it's a shame, I have a food scale hiding in my spice drawer and I haven't utilized in FOREVER! I think its time to break that bad boy out and download some apps on my phone, thanks everyone!

You know, it's a shame, I have a food scale hiding in my spice drawer and I haven't utilized in FOREVER! I think its time to break that bad boy out and download some apps on my phone, thanks everyone!

You know, it's a shame, I have a food scale hiding in my spice drawer and I haven't utilized in FOREVER! I think its time to break that bad boy out and download some apps on my phone, thanks everyone!

I'll be attending my first support group meeting next week and hoping to make connections with others, looking forward to it! Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

I'll be attending my first support group meeting next week and hoping to make connections with others, looking forward to it! Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

I'll be attending my first support group meeting next week and hoping to make connections with others, looking forward to it! Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

Whatever your boyfriend does, the thing I would be most concerned about is the fact that he is the only person you know.
Whether or not your relationship survives the stress of this change, I would highly recommend that you build your own support network.
Feeling like you are trapped is no way to have a healthy relationship. Wouldn't you rather be in a relationship because you choose to be together rather than because you feel like you have no other choice.
As was mentioned above, attend support group meetings and see if he will go with you.
In the meantime, see if you can broaden your circle of acquaintances...that is the only way to discover some good friends.
You could also:
Attend church
Take a class
Volunteer
Attend community events
Join a YMCA or fitness center
Hang out at the public library, a park, or other community venue
As I mentioned in a recent thread, social isolation can have a negative impact on our health, even more so than obesity and immobility.

This thread might be good reading for you:
http://bariatricpal.com/index.php?/topic/368606-I-feel-like-my-partner-isn%27t-even-trying-to-eat-better
I will say basically what I said there...
You can only control yourself. You can't change him. He has to want the change.
Dating is a time to assess whether someone is a match.
If he's not a match, move along. If he's a match but you don't see eye to eye on this one thing keep him but don't complain or try to change him.
This is your journey not his. Find support other places if it's not him.
But I do think you can support w choice without agreeing with it. My husband (of 22 years) and I do it all the time. We agree more than we disagree, but we disagree too. All humans do.

Hi @@leliwhoaoh, If you're midway through your pre-op journey, you should be attending support group and/or nutrition classes once a month, right? How about making some connections there? Start conversations with people who are going through the same journey and exchange contact info with them. And by all means invite your boyfriend to the support group meetings. Tell him it's important to you that he attend at least one so he can see that lots of people are going through this just like you are. And search the web or ask your bariatric coordinator for statistics that support your decision by comparing success rates after surgery vs. "the old-fashioned way". It's not "the easy way out", it's a commitment to a new way of living where you will have to make good decisions every single day about what goes into your mouth. The surgery helps, but it doesn't do it all. Good luck with your guy! And go make some new girlfriends in Maryland to help you not feel so alone.

I am also just starting out, but I have insurance directly with the hospital I work for. My insurance required a 6 month medically supervised weight management program, sleep study, labs, various radiology tests, 2 visits with a cardiac/ exercise physiologist, one visit with a nutritionist, and a mental eval...and although my doctors office did tell me that I needed to have all these things done before they would even consider approving me, I took it upon myself to call my insurance and have them email me the requirements (so that I can have it in writing). My point in all this, I would still make a call to Aetna just to make sure the your doctors office hasn't missed anything :]

I am also just starting out, but I have insurance directly with the hospital I work for. My insurance required a 6 month medically supervised weight management program, sleep study, labs, various radiology tests, 2 visits with a cardiac/ exercise physiologist, one visit with a nutritionist, and a mental eval...and although my doctors office did tell me that I needed to have all these things done before they would even consider approving me, I took it upon myself to call my insurance and have them email me the requirements (so that I can have it in writing). My point in all this, I would still make a call to Aetna just to make sure the your doctors office hasn't missed anything :]