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I have. I’ve discussed it with my husband and the rest of my family and they are so staunchly opposed to it, I just can’t. Not an option...

Well, I can’t get insurance coverage for surgery. My BMI is 35 and I have no comorbidities. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to be healthy, but I don’t have the cash to pay out of pocket. I’ve steadily gained weight over the last few years. The scale keeps climbing no matter what I do. I cant tell you how frustrated I am....

Hi. My psychiatrist is also a psychotherapist, so therapy is part of the relationship. i seperately have to pass the psych evaluation with the bariatric psych recommended by the clinic. My question is whether the bariatric psych would require my psychiatrist’s sign off. Thanks!

Hi thanks for writing back. It sounds like caloric intake varies by person post surgery. I don’t lose any weight at all on 1200 cals...

Hi LittleLizzie, And do you also stick with about 700 cals?

Thanks Orionburn. How many calories a day donyoubeat and eat and how do you control yourself from grazing? Was the impulse control different pre-surgery? Is it that you fill up more easily? How do you handle nervous and night eating (my issue)? How many calories do you consume daily? sorry for all the questions. I’m just nervous about doing this if I’m just going to screw it up!

Yeah. I’m not hopeful. My results came back mild.

Definitely!!!

I’m looking at gastric sleeve and have been reading about regaining weight. How easy is it to regain the weight and stretch your stomach?

I’m at 35 BMI and my only co-morbidity is sleep apnea. All of my blood work is fine. My liver scan was fine. I’m not sure I’ll be approved....thoughts?

I will likely be self-pay so it may be a shorter wait for me. How would you recommend preparing for the lifestyle change, both practically and emotionally?

I think that’s fine too. I probably sound like a complete jerk whining about this. Sorry guys. I’m just so sick of living my life this way. I avoid all sorts of social settings because of my weight. It hinders me professionally. I’ve been going to dietitians since grade school. I don’t want my young girls to one day realize just how heavy their mommy is. I want to set a good example for them. It doesn’t make sense to me that I have to wait until I’m really sick before I can do something about this situation. Sorry. I’m just really frustrated.

Thanks, no, though. Sleep apnea appears to be the only option. My glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol are all fine. Same with my liver. Already had it scanned for fat.

I have a BMI aid 35 and have struggled with weight since I was a child. I can’t drop weight on my own at this point, no matter what I do. I gain and lose the same two pounds. Anyway, Unless the sleep study shows sleep apnea, I have no co-morbidities. I’m grateful to be in such good health, but it does mean I probably won’t be covered and will have to pay out of pocket. No real question here, just putting it out there.

Hi. Does anyone have any affordable US self-pay programs to recommend? Thanks!

Where do you go for post-op care if you get surgery away from home?

Hi all. Here’s a question I haven’t been able to get a clear answer to...does surgery only restrict calories? If so, would I get the same result by cutting my calories to 750 and no carbs? Or...is it that set point and metabolism are also reduced, making it easier to lose weight? I’m already at about 1200 calories per day and the scale won’t drop beyond 194. I’m 5’ 2”. Thanks.

Gassy Girl, that brings me to another question I haven’t been able to get a clear answer to...does surgery only restrict calories? If so, would I get the same result by cutting my calories to 750 and no carbs? Or...is it that set point is also reduced, making it easier to lose weight? I’m already at about 1200 calories per day and the scale won’t drop beyond 194. I’m 5’ 2”. Thanks.

Thanks, Julie!

How many cals do you eat each day?

I’m right at 35.

It’s unlikely my insurance will pay. Given my BMI, I would need at least one co-morbidity. I (thankfully) have none, although the results of the sleep apnea test aren’t in yet (fingers crossed?). Weight has been a life long issue for me. I’ve been going to dietitians since I was in grade school. Other than my weight, I’m thankfully healthy. The way I see it, why wait until I’m not? so my question is, would you have paid out of pocket if insurance denied you (and you could scrape up the cash)? i live on the east coast, so Mexico would be too long of a haul for me. I also just feel more comfortable being close to home. Thanks.

It’s unlikely my insurance will pay. Given my BMI, I would need at least one co-morbidity. I (thankfully) have none, although the results of the sleep apnea test aren’t in yet (fingers crossed?). Weight has been a life long issue for me. I’ve been going to dietitians since I was in grade school. Other than my weight, I’m thankfully healthy. The way I see it, why wait until I’m not? so my question is, would you have paid out of pocket if insurance denied you (and you could scrape up the cash)?

Thank you. Yes, even though I’m going to a psych recommended by the surgeon, I know I will need to partner closely with my psych. I’ve asked each surgeon I’ve met with about the risks for BP patients and med absorption. The only one who took it at all seriously recommended the sleeve and said I would probably need to decrease dosages after losing weight. That said the literature I’ve seen suggests greater risks than that. I’d honestly rather be obese than have a relapse. It isn’t something I play with. I’m meeting with my private psych in a couple of weeks to discuss this in particular. She has seen me through some rough patches so I trust her. I just don’t think she understands obesity and weight loss terribly well. She seems to think diet, exercise and appetite suppressants will do the trick. Perhaps for some, but not for me. I track calories religiously, and I can only lose at 900-1000 and I gain at 1300. Appetite isn’t my issue. Anyway- could you tell me more about the challenges that you faced Post-surgery? thanks again.

James, Congrats on hitting the five year mark! What have been some of the greatest challenges post-op? What has been most difficult? Thanks.