WitchySar

I haven't even had my first appointment with my surgeon yet. That's not until July 21st. I did start a diet under my PCP's supervision so I'm HOPING that can count for the first month of my clinically supervised diet. I can't count on that though. Realistically I expect surgery to be February or March. IF my surgeon’s office will accept my weigh in with my primary that I did at the beginning of June I would finish my 6 month clinically diet at the beginning of December. IF my surgeon’s office puts through the authorization request right away, and IF medicaid approves it right away, and IF the surgery schedule has an opening, I MIGHT get the surgery in January. But those are a lot of ifs. If my husband has the choice to not work a lot of overtime for the month before recert then we'll do that, but it's not always an option.

One thing to remember is that no birth control is 100% effective. I say this as someone who has gotten pregnant 6 times while using various forms of birth control (3 of those were while on the pill). So whatever you choose I suggest using at least 2 different forms at all times.

I have medicaid and it's up for recertification in January. Currently what my husband makes is right on the line for continuing medicaid. If he gets a lot of overtime right before recertification then we'll be denied, but if he doesn't get a lot of overtime then we'll be approved. He currently works through an employment agency so there's no health insurance available for me. If he gets hired on we can get on his insurance but we know nothing about it. For all I know it might not cover WLS. So I need to prepare myself, just in case. When I checked the health exchange it looked like the cheapest we would qualify for would cost us over $700 a month and have a $5000 deductible. There's no chance at all that we could afford that.

Wow, that is an amazing price. Where did you find it? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

Tonight I learned there's a chance my medicaid will expire before I get my surgery. I have no other insurance. So leaving aside the host of other problems caused by not having insurance, this means there's a chance I may not be able to have WLS unless I pay for it myself. I honestly have no idea how to do that, we live paycheck to paycheck and have bad credit, so no loans for me. Which leaves me trying to pay for it out of pocket with my tax refund. Before I can even start to think about doing that though I need more info on how much surgery in Mexico cost, total. Surgery, hospital stay, plane tickets there, etc. If your spouse or significant other went with you did they stay at the hospital, or did they have to get a hotel room. All that stuff. So after all was said and done... how much did WLS in Mexico cost you?

...I'm getting worried. I've read so many threads of people having problems getting approved by insurance that now I'm getting a bit scared that I'll be denied. I found these requirements for Colorado Medicaid: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Bariatric.pdf It looks like I shouldn't have a problem getting approved. BMI over 40, have comorbidities. As long as I do the 6 month clinically supervised weight loss program, get medical and psych clearance, and show that I am committed to changing my lifestyle and have realistic expectations of the surgery, then I shouldn't have a problem getting approved, right? I'm so nervous right now.

Thank you for all your input.

I'm wondering what everyone thought was the hardest thing for them after their surgery. I haven't had mine yet but I expect not drinking while eating is going to be the hardest for me. I hate eating without first taking a sip of water before my meal. I don't like eating without refreshing my mouth first.

Sadly I threw out the box last week when I bought it. At least it was only $20 so I didn't waste a ton of money. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'd love to get one of the smart scales but I don't think I have it in my budget. Maybe I'll save up for one.

It's good to hear from someone in the same position that I am. It's so very true that love and sexual attraction aren't always the same. I hope for both of us that our spouses respond positively to our changing bodies.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I could deal with a scale that shows a difference between it and my PCP's office. I just want it to stay consistent. Like if my PCP says I weigh 350 and my scale says 355, that's fine. As long as the next time my PCP says 345 my scale says 350. Ya know? The same difference, nice and consistent. I just don't want a scale that is inconsistent from day to day. Like this morning it showed me being down 14 pounds from yesterday. Um, not possible. Then this afternoon it went up 16 pounds. Nope, not reliable.

Thanks for the recommendations. Keep 'em coming! I'm just so sad right now. I just bought this scale this week and already it's being wonky. Disappointing.

I recently bought a new scale (my previous one that I loved broke when moving) and I don't trust it. This morning it said I was down 14 lbs from yesterday and I know that's not right. This afternoon it showed a much different number. The scale is in the same spot on the floor, I'm standing the same way, etc. So I don't think I can trust this scale. What scale do you have that you like and trust?

Just started, so slow currently. I have my first appointment with a surgeon July 21st. I'm excited to get it started.

I have my first consultation on July 21st too! *high fives*

I don't know about GA but in CO Medicaid does cover bariatric surgery, as long as you meet their requirements.

You look amazing!

That sounds absolutely horrible and scary. I'm going to die. Agreed. I'm glad they didn't have to stitch the hole, but omg, they pulled out an 18" tube? I'm dying a little right now. REALLY hoping the surgeon I chose doesn't use a drain.

I know I've asked a few questions that you'd probably prefer I'd have asked my surgeon. Problem is, I don't have one yet. I get what you're saying, I really do, but if the only proper way for anyone to get answers is to ask their surgeon then what's the point in having this forum? I came here to get answers to questions I have while waiting for my first appointment with the surgeon. I'm here to research, but I can't do that without asking questions. Will I also ask the surgeon when I have my appointment? Of course, but there's nothing wrong with asking here for advice and opinions from others who are going through/have already gone through WLS. Seriously, this is one of the most UNfriendly forums I've ever frequented, and I used to be a member of a crunchy mothering board!

Back when I was 24 a good friend of mine got WLS. I thought about it, I've always been fat my whole life but my health wasn't bad so I decided it wasn't for me. When I was 26 another good friend got WLS. I thought about it, I was getting more tired of being fat but my health still wasn't bad so I decided it wasn't for me. When I was about 29 a couple more people I knew has WLS. I thought about it but decided I'd rather give weight loss another try on my own. I was strong enough to do it myself, I wasn't *weak*, I didn't need surgery. Fast forward to now. I'm 42 and several more friends, and my bio-mom have had the surgery. My health has been going downhill, fast, and I know now I need the surgery. None of my previous attempts to lose weight worked long term. I am now ready for this journey. Am I scared? Hell yeah, I'm scared. I'm terrified I'll die, or I'll have some horrible complications from the surgery (about half my friends had complications), or I'll lose too much weight and hate myself. I'm scared of flappy loose skin. My looks have always been super important to me, I'm so afraid I'll be ugly after surgery. But you know what? I'll get through it. I have a supportive husband, supportive friends (only told a couple, but it helps). I have a therapist I can talk to about my concerns. So despite being afraid I'm going to do it. I NEED to do it. I wish I had done it years ago when I first thought about it. Don't let your fears hold you back. Don't be like me and wait so long. Start your life now.

Sorry to piggy back on this thread, but I have a question for those who've had drains before. How did they remove it? Did they have to close up the hole it left? I'm terrified by the idea of having a drain after my WLS. I have a super LOW pain tolerance.

Before I had kids I wore a size 9 - 9 1/2. After having three I now wear a 10 1/2. I really hope I drop shoe sizes. Even down to a 9 1/2 would be amazing. So hard to find shoes in my size currently.

I gained a good amount of weight on hormonal birth control. One of the worst side effects in my opinion. Have you considered a diaphragm and spermicide?

I'll test it out after my surgery, but that's not for quite a while. Currently it sounds like perhaps the person I was talking to was just a fluke. Sadness.

Two of my worst allergies are peanuts and all seafood (not just shellfish). Do you know how hard it is to eat low carb when you're allergic to both of those?