WitchySar

I'm not in Springs but I'm not too far away in Pueblo. I haven't had the sleeve yet but I'm starting the process. I have my initial visit with the surgeon on July 21st.

Thank you all for your answers. I personally like how I look at this size, and looks are super important to me, so it's going to take a lot of work to get prepared for my post-surgery body. No, it isn't going to stop me from doing this, but I envision lots of time in my therapist's office working through these issues. Good thing I see her tomorrow. I know my husband loves me but I feel like he's not being realistic about the changes that are coming. He keeps saying things like, "oh it won't be that bad", but what if it IS that bad and it takes him by surprise? I just wish I could get him to stop being so blasted optimistic and start being realistic, at least about this. I do sincerely hope he still finds me just as sexy after the weight loss as he does now, but I'm worried the reality will be too much of a shock to him. In middle school and high school I was a DD cup, and right now I'm a G cup. Almost as big as I'd personally like (yes, I like BIG boobs). I've always been fat though my entire life so I don't know how much of that was ever breast tissue vs fat. I hate admitting it but I'm shallow too. My looks have always been super crazy important to me. Unfortunately, realistically, I'm not going to have a way to fix my appearance after surgery. I don't work (haven't been able to because of a disability, not one that WLS will fix either) and my husband makes only about $30000 a year to support a family of 5. There is zero extra money in there to save for plastics later on. I think that's what has me the most nervous. If I could afford to fix it later on then it wouldn't be a concern for me. But I can't.

I saw my primary today and she confirmed there are no bariatric surgery centers in Pueblo. And no place she can technically refer me. I did find a center on my own though. Getting to the appointments will prove to be a challenge but my husband said we'll rent a car every month if needed. So I have my initial appointment at The Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado in Parker Colorado. My first appointment is July 21st. I wish it was closer! In the meantime though my primary took note of my desire for surgery, documented my weight, and made a diet recommendation. She suggested vegetarian and lower fat, but also said I could try South Beach. I think that's the route I'll go for now. I had great luck on Atkins in the past (about 13 years ago) so I know low carb can work for me (though thanks for aging it doesn't work AS good now as it used too). And then on 7/21 I meet with the dietitian at the surgical center and will begin working with her instead. But this should be a nice boost to show the insurance that I'm starting it now instead of waiting.

Thanks all. I'm hoping my insurance only requires me to not gain during the medically supervised period. I talked to my primary today and she didn't know. I also called 4 different centers around Denver. One said it was their policy that I had to lose weight on the diet or they wouldn't even submit to insurance. When I explained that I don't lose weight well on diets and exercise alone she said I just wasn't doing it right. Guess I'll pass that along to the doctors I've worked with in the past. They were telling me the wrong way to do it I guess. I didn't like the attitude she gave me so I'm not going to that center. I did find one that I think I like though and I have my initial consultation on July 21st.

Thanks for the info. It's really frustrating how different it can be from insurance to insurance and surgeon to surgeon. My insurance doesn't seem to list a requirement to gain or lose, just have to be on the medically supervised diet for 6 months. If they have a preference beyond that they don't make that info available. Hopefully my doctor will know.

Hmm, I can't find an edit button. I meant 11 hours and 50 minutes, not 23. Lol

Sorry for the double post. I'm really excited and nervous about my appointment tomorrow with my primary. I don't know what she'll say, I'm not sure what the next step is, can she even help me with this at all since there are no bariatric surgeons in my town... My weight has been well documented over the years so I know I have that part covered. I need a 6 month supervised diet but will my primary refer me for that or do I need to find a surgeon first and he refers me to one? So many questions and I don't like waiting for answers! 23 hours and 50 minutes until my appointment... but who's counting? Hehehe

Would your surgery have been denied if you weren't able to lose that much weight? At my weight a 10% loss is significant. I'm worried what will happen if I don't lose. I'm on Medicaid and the requirements just say a supervised weight loss program is required for 6 months, it doesn't say what will happen if you don't lose.

OMG thank you for recommending Clusie. She's hilarious! I haven't checked out the others yet, been too caught up watching Clusie. LOL

Ah, gotcha. Here's a small excerpt from one site: "Vertical gastrectomy offers more benefits than gastric bypass, including the following: It is a safer and less complex operation It limits ingestion of food and hunger by getting rid of ghrelin, the hunger hormone It leads to natural digestion that doesn’t cause nutritional deficiencies typically associated with gastric bypass It keeps the small intestine and pyloric valve intact It is an option for high-risk patients with high BMI and/or medical issues such as Crohn’s disease, prior surgery, anemia, or anti-inflammatory medication" One other big factor for me is that the bypass is a longer surgery. The longer someone is under anesthesia the more risks increase. Plus my BMI is above 50, which other research shows is the preferred cutoff for the bypass (it can still be done but higher risks), and I have chronic pain and need to be able to take anti-inflammatory meds, which you can't do after the bypass. Those are some of my reasons.

That's a good idea to try YouTube. I hadn't considered that.

So far I have no insulin resistance. My doctor says I'm not even prediabetic. I'm only concerned about that because it's possible for hashimoto's to trigger diabetes. No amount of weight loss will get rid of that risk, so it's not so much a concern for me. As for their side effects I forget all the specifics now, it's been a while since I've talked to each of them. But each friend that had the bypass nearly died, either during surgery or within the couple months following it. It's great that it works for a lot of people, but I'm not willing to go into a surgery that has greater risks associated with it.

There is no way I will agree to a bypass. No offense to anyone who chose that option for themselves but I've researched the differences a lot and I'm not willing to take those surgical risks. Hell it took me a long time to agree to the risks of the VSG. Plus every person I know personally who has had the bypass had severe side effects, not so with the sleeve. My risk of diabetes will never be taken away since I have a thyroid disorder, it's always a chance. Simply being a lower weight will help with limiting the risk though.

Perhaps that's true for your journey, maybe it's just not as important to you as it is to me. I think the fact that I identified this as a concern for myself this early is good... gives me a longer time to work on coming to terms with the fact. Why should I push it to the back burner just because I'm early on in my journey? Seems mentally irresponsible to me.

Well I can tell you you're wrong about that. Where on earth did I say I wasn't ready to make changes? You're reading a LOT into this. It's a good thing you aren't the one who needs to approve my surgery. lol Just because I'm freaking about having hanging skin is not the same thing as not being prepared to do what it takes to get healthy again. At least I recognize the issues I have and am taking steps to fix them (such as this thread to talk to others who have gone through this, and my admission that I should talk to my therapist about this). You are so negative.

Yeah, I'm not worried about getting the WLS paid for, it's covered bly medicaid. It's the plastic surgery afterward that I won't be able to afford. I've heard conflicting things on whether or not medicaid in Colorado covers panniculectomy, even with documented rashes, but I know they do NOT cover tummy tucks, wing reductions, or breast lifts/implants. And honestly it's my boobs I'm most worried about. My husband is a huge boob man, and so am I (well, woman, but you know what I mean lol). I wear a G cup bra right now and I've been wanting implants already to make them bigger. So going the opposite direction makes my anxiety flare up like crazy. And I already divorced one husband who didn't find me attractive apparently (not due to weight, just in general) so the thought of doing something to risk the awesome marriage I have right now. Well I'm starting to hyperventilate right now typing it out. I think I need to talk to my therapist on Thursday.

Well I don't want to be *thin* either. 225 is plenty thin for me. I actually LIKE being a big woman, I just need to be a little bit LESS of a big woman. lol I'm glad to hear the skin changes haven't been too bad for you (minus the arms). It helps set my mind at ease a little bit. I never said I wasn't focused on getting healthy, but part of health is mental health. And right now that's all I can work on, so here I am asking this question. And no, money can't always be found someplace to afford surgery. Not everyone has any disposable income. We live paycheck to paycheck. Nothing extra anywhere.

Hehehe, well if they sex gets any better I might just break him in half. Trust me, that's one area that we don't have any problems in. lol I guess one part of my concern is he likes my fat. Heck, so do I. I'm not doing the surgery hoping to LOOK better, I just need to have better health. I like being a fat woman, I like how I look. I'm scared to lose my plushiness for floppiness. LOL That's funny, but makes me think perhaps I should start finding a way to save money for a boob job later on. My looks have always been super crazy important to me. And I'm still making plans for the surgery, I'm just super scared too. Like legit terrified at becoming ugly and floppy. It makes me happy to hear your cup size hasn't changed. Maybe it's not as inevitable as I think.

I've already been approved for medical transport through medicaid. Unfortunately the limitation is that they will only pick up in my county. But since the closest center to me is in Colorado Springs, which is a different county, could get a ride TO the appointment but not home.

I'm not in Springs but in Pueblo. Colorado Springs seems the closest I can find though. I'd love to connect with others going through the WLS surgery adventure. I speak with my primary on Wednesday to start my journey.

Well I have an appointment with my primary on Wednesday. Maybe I'll be able to do the nutritionist and psych eval here in my town. My husband said we'll do whatever it takes to get me to appointments out of town, including renting a car, but financially it'll be too expensive if I have to go more than once a month.

Thank you for the tip to look for a Center of Excellence in Colorado for Bariatric Surgery. Sadly that shows there are NONE in Pueblo. I don't have reliable transportation to take me over an hour away every month (or possibly more, it sounds like). Now I'm honestly not quite sure what to do. I have hated this stupid town ever since moving here and now I hate it more. As for the hashimoto's, I've been treated for my thyroid for about 18 years now. Is that still going to cause a problem? Is there even a point in calling my primary now? If I end up finding a way out of town I'll have to do my appointments up there too, right? Like the nutritionist, psych, etc... or can I do the nutritionist and psych here in my town?

Thank you. When you looked for surgeons that took your insurance did you look for bariatric surgeons or is it listed as something else?

I think I've found the medicaid list of requirements and it looks like I shouldn't have a problem. I'd still love to hear from anyone in Colorado that has used medicaid for the surgery. Is getting the approval a long process or, as long as you follow the requirements, is it easy?

Thanks. I will see if I can find a clinic in this area. I'm worried I might not. I have medicaid and I definitely meet the listed requirements so as long as I do the appointments right there shouldn't be a problem getting approved. Unfortunately everyone I know that has had the surgery live in different states, so sadly not much help in finding providers that way.