AlwaysCruising

My surgery is slotted for June 18th! I didn’t see any other posts for that date (but several for the 17th). I have a total of 4 weeks notice on my date so it was like 😮 !
Everything is looking good except one thing - because of covid-19 my husband can only see me in the recovery room but cannot be with me in the room at all at any point. 😢 Not going to lie, I am so seriously bummed about that. We live more than an hour’s drive from the hospital so he will have to guess when to return. I have an issue with my left leg and right hand (just the luck huh?) snd I would feel so much better walking with him after surgery than someone else.
But just feeling so rotten after surgery (as I did 48 hours after my hyster due to the gas) I would like someone there who can help as well as someone for just love and support. We are both super bummed. Maybe a miracle happens and that gets corrected over the next 2 weeks - here’s to hope!

I’m back and alive guys! But man, not smooth sailing!
I had my sleeve done at 730am yesterday. Got to my room and felt great. Got some Fluid and Protein in with no problem, and walked walked walked.
Around 5pm I started feeling terrible. Sharp pain in my shoulder an left side, straight down from my armpit. Pain meds wouldn’t touch it. Everyone kept saying it was just gas pains, but I was dubious. I couldn’t even breathe without these stabbing pains through my chest.
At midnight my nurse came in to help me go to the bathroom, and I straight up blacked out and fell. Didn’t get hurt at all thankfully, but was told to take it very easy. This morning my nurses tried to help again, first by having me sit on the edge of the bed. Blacked out, hearing went, totally weird and scary.
My labs were all over the place, super low blood pressure, and my heart was racing even laying down, so my surgeon suspected a GI bleed. CT confirmed it, but didn’t show where the bleed was.
Back under the knife just a few hours ago, Wherever the GI bleed was, it had stopped on its own, but they suctioned 1500 cc’s (almost 50 ounces) of blood out of my abdominal cavity. I also got a blood transfusion. I feel brand new. Labs are coming back good, heart has slowed down. Whew! What a wild ride.
But I tell ya I’ve been living off of ice chips and Water for 2 days, and I haven’t had one single hunger pain. Looking forward to getting out of here.
Don’t let my story freak you out! My surgeon has done 6000 surgeries and said about .025% of his patients have complications. I’d still do it again even knowing what was lying ahead for me.

@havethree((This is MEOW sending energy to those who are in surgery or recovery or waiting anxiously to go TODAY. May your surgeon say you were quick, easy and perfect. May the gasssss be a stranger. May the nausea be a myth. Walk walk walk, sleep and sip. Check in when you can and know we're thinking about youuuuuu))) @colormehappy

After being canceled three times I am now scheduled for July 7. This has been longer than it should have taken (71/2 Months) but hopefully it happens this time now that we are open for elective surgery. I don’t think that I fully believe that it will happen. I think that after my final visit with surgeon at the end of June then maybe I’ll believe because I start 2 week diet the day before I see him. Congratulations to everyone who got new dates.

Finally,
June 18, I’ve been waiting for it and it is so close.

I don't see it as unethical. $1,200 is her fee but if the insurance company doesn't cover it then she gives the patient a break. My surgeon gives a discount to self-pay patients too.

I paid 20,000 Canadian dollars for my surgery. This did not include flights or accommodations. Luckily I work for an airline and my flights were next to nothing. I expect to get back aprox $8000 through our government medical plan but that’s probably it, private insurance doesn’t cover it. So it will be 14,000 out of pocket. I’m sad/ disappointed I had to spend that money on WLS BUT if it helps me get my life back then it’s worth it.

Just way better not to judge people I think, you can't know their reasons 🙂 And sometimes surgeons aren't clear with people that there are things they have to get on with booking and then when they do it's months beyond what is workable. Just because you don't understand it doesn't make it an invalid or wrong choice. The question had zero to do with patience or people not being willing to wait, it was just a question. Please don't read things into it that weren't there and create unnecessary negativity where there was none.

I’ve been an addict for years. I can only cruise during expensive times, but I always try to get one in every year. This year it’ll be 14 months between cruises since my last one was in July last year. I’ve been on 27 cruises. 🛳

Maybe $300 out of pocket for both but only if both were favorable otherwise i would save that money for the after expenses

I've been going through the pre-surgical process and have everything now done except the release for surgery. As I have scheduled the various appointments required before surgery, I have found myself wondering how much people would be willing pay to just get these done faster with less hassle! It's my mini survey of the day (I guess I have more time on my hands than I thought 😁)]. These are my most recent, so...
How much would you pay out of pocket for the psychological assessment if it could be done soon and without you having to drive to get there? How much would you pay to get a doctor's clearance letter for surgery?
Happy Mother's Day to you and yours and stay safe!

Medicare covered everything prior and the $4000 covered everything surgery related and 7 days in private hospital private room; multiple tests in Hospital; television, food.
no motel just petrol and had to buy my own Vitamins and medication after I left hospital all surgeon consultation now covered as well it was an all inclusive package for the $4000-
No actual psych clearance needed just a referral and a good discussion with the surgeon and of course all my labs and medical history sent to him it was a very simple process here in Australia...
Oh I've had to buy my own Protein Shakes I know some hospitals give out protein...
$4000 is a small price to pay for a new life 😛 & a fast track program!
It's 8.5 months since I started my own pre-op diet and I've lost a total of 152lbs and been maintaining now a few weeks at 170lbs...

I had to switch insurance plans for a couple of years because the one I had didn't cover WLS. The one that DID cover it was much more expensive - both the monthly premiums and the deductible. I didn't calculate what how much more it cost me over those two years, but probably a few thousand dollars. I originally thought I'd wait 'til I was eligible for Medicare since they cover, but then it occurred to me I might not even live until age 65 if I didn't do something about my weight. So that made my decision for me...

I’m paying $15,500 to have Consult to surgery done in 5 days. Everything included.

I was a cash payment for all and you know what!

BEST DAMM MONEY I EVERY SPENT! PRICELESS

I just hit 29.9 BMI, which means I've crossed over from obese to overweight!!!
I'm loving life, and just had to share!!

Update- blossom aside (nothing against it, but it and similar clinics are not the norm and so just updating for those dealing with the customary fast track version 🙂
I got approval 4 days ago April 24, although she emailed Monday. My first visit with the surgeon was in mid Feb. I had the 1st nutritionist visit that first day, the second mid March and the 3rd mid April. They submitted the fast track request within 1-2 days and so my approval happened in around a week’s time. I have BCBS of IL and they are one of the insurers that allow for this “fast track.” I had made sure to get a move on with it and so had my psychological assessment, group meeting, and nutritionist’s requirements (e.g., purchasing vitamins) done by the end of March.
Now I just have to wait on the elective surgeries to begin and them to get through the backlog (they stopped doing procedures in ATL about March 17th. At least the approval is done and now it’s just a waiting game. Good luck everyone!

I am so sorry about Ginger. I have no idea why people don’t realize how much we humans can love an animal and how much they can love us. If you ask me, things with fur make life worthwhile. And how lucky she was to have you ❤️

That happened to me, well the hands part, when I had a thyroid disorder (which I think got far worse after my weight loss/calorie restriction). I see posts all the time where someone thinks they are cold due to weight loss and I constantly think to myself “more likely it’s about being hypothyroid via Hashimoto’s or other cause!” I was freezing all the time when I lost a lot of weight (not Bariatric surgery loss, but still a lot of weight) - I was cold when it was hot, I wore long sleeves in bed and socks, I was extra irritable, and even my nose was cold! Asked your doctor to run a thyroid antibodies test (not just thyroid). Mine is better now with meds.
@S@ssen@ch your pcp may not be that Knowledgeable on this issue - I had to fight mine and until we did an ultra sound for another reason and he saw I had a goiter he didn’t order the antibodies test and it was in the 1,000s. Mine kept saying mr thyroid was low but normal (which is what it likely would be even if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

That happened to me, well the hands part, when I had a thyroid disorder (which I think got far worse after my weight loss/calorie restriction). I see posts all the time where someone thinks they are cold due to weight loss and I constantly think to myself “more likely it’s about being hypothyroid via Hashimoto’s or other cause!” I was freezing all the time when I lost a lot of weight (not Bariatric surgery loss, but still a lot of weight) - I was cold when it was hot, I wore long sleeves in bed and socks, I was extra irritable, and even my nose was cold! Asked your doctor to run a thyroid antibodies test (not just thyroid). Mine is better now with meds.
@S@ssen@ch your pcp may not be that Knowledgeable on this issue - I had to fight mine and until we did an ultra sound for another reason and he saw I had a goiter he didn’t order the antibodies test and it was in the 1,000s. Mine kept saying mr thyroid was low but normal (which is what it likely would be even if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

In my view if you weren’t having any thoughts like you are then you would not be taking it all seriously enough. It’s normal.

Not really. That is the truth. Moisture is always good advice but nothing will stop your skin from sagging. Who would be a lot better I think if people could just except that is what it’s going to be and either resign themselves to it or understand they will need surgery. I lost 100 lb by eating super healthy and working out a LOT and I did it slowly (as that is the only way it comes off after 50 when you have PCOS and thyroiditis!) - and I had skin of my stomach, arms and upper thighs that was bad and it was very crepe-like most everywhere else. I decided to do my stomach (11 lbs of skin) and my arms O6 lbs) and as for my thighs I don’t wear pants that show it if at all possible.

this is a before and after of my arms - the plastic surgeon said “well you got all the fat out of there!’ 😂

I encourage you to walk because you got no choice, if you try to lay down it’s like the Jolly green giant sit on you 😥 the nutritionist was super nice. Trying to decide who to do my psych (let’s just say bc of what I do for a living I may have to go out of state or something (those details for a PM 😆). My scope (and colonoscopy) is a Friday.

I’m rooting for you! Keep me posted, you will do great! 🤗😊

I actually was shocked with the insurance, it’s not through our regular health plan, its like an add-on that my husbands company has. Every procedure they cover is based on The Dr’s recommendation and not insurance guidelines. The only requirement is our deductible has to be met. It’s really a nice benefit.

I was supposed to see Dr. Gorjala but he only sees patients on certain days. I was nervous about Dr. Lytle but ended up completely at ease. A little back story, I did not want the surgery, but all of my local doctors said I needed it. My BMI was only 32 I weighed 188 and am 5’0” and had been on weight watchers after a botched hysterectomy. I had gotten up to 201. I developed a large incisional hernia and no one would fix it until I was down to my ideal weight and weight watchers and gym was not doing it fast enough. My regular insurance would not cover it because my BMI was to low, I was only borderline diabetic, and no cardiac issues or high blood pressure. I was going to file a complaint with the health insurance and our insurance advocate told me about the program. Dr. Lytle reviewed my medical records and had to convince me that my local Drs were right and that I needed to have this surgery to get the hernia fixed. I just met with a local surgeon for the hernia, through the same program and found out how bad things really are, but because I had the surgery I can be fixed. All of my large and small intestines are outside of where they are supposed to be and I have no stomach wall so they need to rebuild it. I will lose my belly button.

I live in Central Florida half way between Daytona and Orlando. My next surgery will be in Orlando at ORMC. Atlanta is huge and I do not miss driving around there. Thankfully we were staying in Sandy Springs around the corner from the hospital. We did travel to Centennial Park when we were there for consult. The traffic is horrible there so I can understand your concern. Lol. I want to wish you luck with everything. It sounds like you have been through a lot yourself. I know everyone at Bariatric Innovations will take great care of you! The trip was well worth it. I wanted Dr. Lytle to fix my hernia also and he agreed to do it, but I needed to consult with a local surgeon first. If it wasn’t so far I would have gone with Dr Lytle but because of the seriousness of the hernia I decided to go with a local surgeon to avoid all the traveling.