BeeCat

I wanted the sleeve when I first began this process, it is less invasive and seemed a safer choice for me. After a lot of research and talking to many experienced people I changed my mind and asked my surgeon for bypass. He was fine with either choice and agreed that a bypass will probably be better for me as I have a lot of mobility issues. The decision is entirely mine and insurance approved my surgery for the 24th of July!!!

Hi Beth, I got surgical approval from a psychologist after a 15 min discussion and a few jokes. Realizing that over eating is psychological as much as physical and NOT wanting to regain whatever weight I lose I arranged to meet a psychologist who has worked with bariatric patients for years. I felt the investment and insight I hope to gain in dealing with any issues related to my eating will be worth the financial cost. I'll have only met with her twice before my scheduled surgery but plan to continue as needed to gain mastery of this hard thing. I agree after readying so many posts that it seems like most people are not mentally prepared for the long term changes needed and a huge number of people regain the weight. I haven't heard one mention of psych support from my surgeon or hospital at all.

So my Dr's office called me yesterday, while I was in the middle of a nursing home tour for my mother, said I was approved for surgery!!! I was so excited to get the approval, the woman then started to tell me about lab work and diet and I asked her to email the details since I was sitting in the heat with my tour guide on hold. She agreed to send me the details and we hung up. After I got home I checked my email, no info from the surgeons office, I called and they were closed. Urggg I know I will call them on Monday for reaffirm everything and I have the preop diet info in a binder they gave me so its fine but if you say you're going to send someone information dang it then send it before you clock out!!! (rant over)

Glad you're doing well, I've seen others talk about the fatigue following surgery. Not surprised, you just had your plumbing totally rearranged! Thats bound to take a lot out of a person. Rest, give your self time to recover. Great job!

Just got the call that I need to start my pre-op diet tomorrow. Surgery in 10 days!!!!

Saw my surgeon again today, submitting my paperwork for bypass surgery to insurance this week, Tentative surgery date pending approval should be mid August!!! After approval I have to get blood work done and attend some kind of pre-surgical class then I get my actual date and start my pre op diet. I made an appointment for next week with a pyschologist to discuss my relationship with food and hopefully gain insight into my relationship with food, I want this to be successful long term and don't want any emotional surprises, So excited!

Frustur8, I am also on a forum on Facebook for survivors and loved ones of aortric dissections. Its possible for people to have dissections that do not have genetic disorders or family histories of connective tissue or heart problems. Sometimes it just happens, in my case probably from smoking and having undiagnosed HBP but it happens in athletes, pregnant women, young, old, etc. I'm sorry you lost Keven but you mustn't claim responsibility and your son is out of line with that attack!

😢

So sorry for your loss. It was certainly a shock to me and my family. I at Bible Study and felt like I was being impaled with a sword. I was fortunate that the EMT’s took me to the Az Heart Institute and I got into surgery within the hour. I am guessing the answer to your last question would be YES. ❤️

Had my EGD in Friday, got a call from my Patient Advocate after I got home. I'll have a second consult with my surgeon on Tue, and they'll submit everything to insurance. Hopefully I'll get approval within 2 weeks and get a surgery date. At 51 I am done being fat! I was an athlete when I was younger and although overweight I was still very active and working full time in the veterinary field until my mid 40's when I experienced an aortic dissection, I lost my job, lost strength in my legs, and ended up using a wheelchair or scooter to get around. I've gained 100 lbs since my dissection and although I've lost 50 lbs I'm still 100 lbs overweight. I've got sleep apnea, high cholesterol, HBP, and mobility issues! I've decided that I am not living my best life and after nearly dying 6 years ago I am ready to live again!

I’m new here so please bare with me. I got my pulmonary clearance yesterday, all looks great. Now just a few cardiac tests and my endoscopy next week before seeing my surgeon again and hopefully getting insurance approval and a surgery date. A few years ago i had a major medical issue, my aorta decided to dissect and nearly killed me. It was very serious and I ended up having a spinal cord trauma during surgery which means I now have to use a wheelchair to get around much of the time. I’ve doing great, hoping with WLS i can gain much of my mobility back and improve my life. Anyway, yesterday at the Dr office he was showing me my test results, we were laughing and all was fine until he pulled out my x-ray and said “Wow, that is a really long stent”. referring to the stent they used 6 years ago to repair my aorta. I was struck by such a huge, paralyzing, wave of dread and fear in that moment!!! As if i were made aware for the first time of how close I had come to death! It’s crazy, I know i nearly died 6 years ago, I’ve seen pictures of the stent, I know the results and I am not fearful of death so what the hell??? I managed to hold myself together brush it off with a joke and smile till I left the office but holy crap! I am just shocked by the intensity and irrational feeling of fear in that moment. I hope it was a freak thing. I don’t want to mention it to Dr for fear of screwing up my potential surgery. I already got my psych clearance, thank goodness. I dunno, it just freaked me out since normally i’m a very optimistic, outgoing, even keeled person. I am not accustomed to feelings of fear or being out of control like that. How weird huh? Thanks for letting me vent, hoping for surgery cleanse and date soon.

I love the quality of sleep i get since using my CPAP. I’ve had it for the last 18 months and i average 7 hours of good sleeps night. Yes there was a learning curve but it was absolutely worth it to me. I never need a nap, I wake refreshed and ready to face each day.

Scottsdale Az

I was wondering the same thing, What does your daughter say about what vitamins are best absorbed?

I was a pack a day smoker for 26 years before I got sick and tired of the cost, the smell, and the hassle. I used the patches, chewed on cinnamon toothpicks and sucked hard candy when i needed it. Also drinking a bottle of water everytime i got a craving helped. The first 3 days were really hard, then the first 3 weeks. Each time you DONT smoke gets you closer to success. Make a vow that you are now a NONSMOKER, get rid of all the smoking triggers and know that all the cravings WILL pass in time.

Hi, I'm new here. Just did my psych eval yesterday, got my pcp letter last week, and should finish my preop stuff this month. I hope I can get approved and scheduled before school starts in Aug.