Bootscraper

We are close in stats and surgery date!

VSG scheduled for April 11
Height : 5'4"
Sw: 249
Goal: 140 (lofty goal, not sure if it's attainable)

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VSG scheduled for April 11
Height : 5'4"
Sw: 249
Goal: 140 (lofty goal, not sure if it's attainable)

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

VSG scheduled for April 11
Height : 5'4"
Sw: 249
Goal: 140 (lofty goal, not sure if it's attainable)

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow that seems high. Mine was $70 for an hour in person interview. Can you choose another psych provider?? Your surgeon might have suggestions for providers they work with regularly.

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"Yes, my beard was quite heavy - I was ready for a change"

"Yes, my beard was quite heavy - I was ready for a change"

I had gastric bypass 1 yr ago. i was 232lbs now down to 135lbs 

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I live within 45 minutes of two large amusement parks in Virginia. I begin to get uncomfortable on rides around 240lbs. I am wide hip/small chested (size 18 pants). I have spent most of my life riding these same rides so sometimes I could turn my hip and sit a little sideways to fit just because I know which rides I can do it in. There are a couple of different ride types with different locking mechanisms. One will go just over your lap with no chest coverage and one with a shoulder restraint (mostly metal coasters that go upside down). Some rides also have specific lines for larger seats since I am bottom heavy/wide hips I usually try to get in those lines.
I love rollercoasters and this is also a goal of mine to fit more comfortably in them. Good luck!!

Personal anecdote, not saying you're heading for the same path:
I lost weight on my own once in the past, about 70lbs (I've gained it all back and more and now almost approved for surgery). I was married and my husband didn't like me losing weight. He often accused me of looking for other men. This was not about *me*, I was not being secretive, flirting with men or whatever he thought. His problems were about HIM - self consciousness, feeling of inadequacy, alcoholism, thinking I would leave him if I finally got the self confidence and decided that he was not right for me. He refused couples counseling and I finally did leave, not because I wanted someone else - but because I wanted to be treated with the respect that should be given in any relationship, but he was a toxic person.
If you cannot get your partner to participate in counseling - go on your own. You can learn a lot about boundaries, respect, why you accept or participate in unhealthy behaviors, etc.

thecbdistillery.com has been where I got a topical for pain as well as a sublingual for anxiety. The topical has an earthy maybe pine sol smell to it. My bf has severe joint pain issues in his knees and arm and it works pretty well. I don't use the sublingual too often because it smells and tastes more like what you would expect from a hemp derived plant (FYI if you use it at work!!). I have heard that the concentrations can build in your system over time and cause a positive urinalysis for thc if this is a concern for you. But it does help in the short term to get me back to normal when I am stressing like crazy.

I would say my experience was similar to everyone else's. 300 questions and an interview. Yada, yada. It went smoothly. Mostly because I told her what she wanted hear. yup. Sue me. Didn't work out that way for my friend. I guess she was more honest about herself because now the shrink is holding her back because of her "Anger issues". She's completed her 6-month requirements but the shrink won't ok the surgery. Pretty messed up. My friend is like "hell yeah I'm angry. I'm not even a quarter through my life expectancy, yet I feel like I'm 80, with aching limbs and a weak body" She feels her anger is what motivated her to begin this process in the first place. I feel so badly for her because she started this process months before me, yet I'll end up having the surgery before she does. Glad I didn't open my skull to that women. The only sleeve I'd see then is the sleeve of a straight jacket lol

Like others have said, you have to do the appointments before they submit for approval. I have a 12 month waiting period where I have a monthly call in appointment with a nurse from my "active health" department at my insurance, psych eval (which the surgeon said to do at least six months in to my year wait), nutritionist at least once and one support group meeting.
It is a lot of steps but if you ask the surgery group they are usually happy to explain requirements specific to your insurance since they know it better.
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I never got a clear answer from my doctor... I am on the pill and have been for a looong time. I don't want to get pregnant but my gyn will not do a permanent procedure. I have read that the pill can become less effective as the estrogen releases in to your blood during weight loss, but my Dr said it should not really be a problem. (like what does "shouldnt be a problem" mean?) I don't want any accidental babies!

I sought out the surgery locally before discussing it with my primary. I went to appointments and support meetings for two months before talking to my Dr. One of my insurance requirements is a letter of support from my primary doctor, which is not as much of a hassle as a referral. I went in to my primary, explained what I was doing and they reviewed my medical and weight history and signed off on the letter (it was a one page form from the surgery team).

You may not need to go out of country, you may just need to start looking at surgery groups locally and your insurance coverage to see what is needed. You can do Mexico if it fits your needs, but if a closer option is available if you just ask, that might be the way to go

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He was my rock when my mother passed away, three months in to our relationship. He has had struggles that I have supported him through, not as extreme as that but I agree that it could help to relate that support.

I asked my partner to attend a bariatric support group with me last night. I have been going since the beginning of the year (I have 4 months left before my insurance will review me for approval). The topic of last night's meeting was specifically support networks. He did not say or ask anything during the group but there was a heavy focus on the changes that will effect that the support person, especially spouses and people in the same household as the patient. He and I have been on a low carb diet for three months and I have lost about 12lbs through diet and exercise - I am very comfortable with this eating style. Mind you, I am still 100lbs overweight. At dinner, he asked why I could not just continue the diet and exercise regiment instead of getting surgery (DUH I HAVEN'T TRIED THAT IN THE LAST 20+ YEARS!) I was upset because the last nine months he has never once aired any concern about surgery until going to this group and hearing how this will affect him and now thinks that I may become "miserable" to deal with if I regret my choice to have surgery.
Does anyone have experience with overcoming the anxieties of the people you rely on the most? He does not have the ability to attend appointments that I have during the daytime hours like with the nutritionist or surgeon and I don't believe that he would take the time read articles that I might find to show that the long term ineffectiveness of weight loss without surgery for the morbidly obese.

And to state although mot bragging,since Mike#336 stated hi , I'll state mine
lifetime HW 355 pounds Oct 2017
CW and PROBABLE SW 307.5
SD September 5th 2018
First GW 299
Second GW199
Final GW 175 or 15 Junior
Surgeon WLW 160
BMI table,140. Height5ft8.5 in
Age 72 years. DOB December26 1945
duration here On Bariatric Pal Dec2017-???

Well, there's always the assumption that WLS is driven by vanity, not health. Whereas I've found for most people it's about long-term health and looking better is just a great perk.

I am 34 and hope to get the sleeve before my 35th birthday. I had been borderline high BP for a long time (lifelong obesity since childhood). My weight went up since 2012 by about 70lbs. I was previously on a clinical trial for an appetite suppressant. I returned to my pre-clinical trial weight after coming off the meds in 2012 and was devastated and ashamed. In September 2017 I had what I now recognize was a panic attack, went to the ER and my blood pressure was sky high. I was put on blood pressure medicine and I was so sad for my future. I was looking at my insurance handbook for updates in coverage for the upcoming year and saw that bariatric surgery was covered! I have been working since December 2017 to get approved. I have a 1 year waiting period and requirements to meet before I can be approved but the time is FLYING!

Something similar happened to me when I was at a new Dr's office. This was a couple of years ago and I was being seen for weight loss medication management (I was being put on a appetite suppressant). I was in the patient room waiting for the doctor to come in and I could hear the nurses in the main area (open work station, all patient room doors faced the nurse station). I could hear them talking about me and laughing about what I was coming in for and saying that I was about the same size as someone else they must have all mutually known. I was mortified that they were discussing why I was in the office and my body with each other and within earshot of other patients that were in their own rooms. I did not say anything, I wish I would have, just to hopefully prevent other patients from feeling as awful as I did in that moment. They are not ignorant of their behavior, they are apathetic of how it affects other people and should be called out on it.

Something similar happened to me when I was at a new Dr's office. This was a couple of years ago and I was being seen for weight loss medication management (I was being put on a appetite suppressant). I was in the patient room waiting for the doctor to come in and I could hear the nurses in the main area (open work station, all patient room doors faced the nurse station). I could hear them talking about me and laughing about what I was coming in for and saying that I was about the same size as someone else they must have all mutually known. I was mortified that they were discussing why I was in the office and my body with each other and within earshot of other patients that were in their own rooms. I did not say anything, I wish I would have, just to hopefully prevent other patients from feeling as awful as I did in that moment. They are not ignorant of their behavior, they are apathetic of how it affects other people and should be called out on it.

Something similar happened to me when I was at a new Dr's office. This was a couple of years ago and I was being seen for weight loss medication management (I was being put on a appetite suppressant). I was in the patient room waiting for the doctor to come in and I could hear the nurses in the main area (open work station, all patient room doors faced the nurse station). I could hear them talking about me and laughing about what I was coming in for and saying that I was about the same size as someone else they must have all mutually known. I was mortified that they were discussing why I was in the office and my body with each other and within earshot of other patients that were in their own rooms. I did not say anything, I wish I would have, just to hopefully prevent other patients from feeling as awful as I did in that moment. They are not ignorant of their behavior, they are apathetic of how it affects other people and should be called out on it.

I have about 4 months left before I am eligible for surgery (12-month insurance requirement, ugh!) and I have been reading about rewards for meeting certain weight loss milestones. Right now I have an idea of rewards I want for specific markers below. I gave myself a couple of options for each depending on money/availability at the time. For those who have visualized their goals this way, what are your rewards?
-15: Buy Fresh Flowers or a new perfume
-25: New Gym outfit or buy a premium app on my phone
-35: Massage, New hairstyle or buy a piece of artwork
-50: Hockey Game, Glass Blowing or Pottery class
-60: New Purse, flotation therapy or a new pair of nice headphones
-75: Burn my fat clothes and host a dinner
-85: Weekend out of town trip or Run a 10k
-104 (total goal): Get my 1st tattoo or a spin bike and getting a new license photo

I am 7 months in to my 1 year waiting period where I had to get all of my stuff straight. Patience now, payoff later. Just get with the mindset that delayed gratification is still gratification - stressing over making sure everything happens on your timeline doesn't accomplish anything.