AnneGG

Hi, all, I'm back in the land of the living! I was in Montana (beautiful country) for two weeks without internet access, and after coming home, went right into surgery prep and then RNY surgery Thursday the 15th. I did read the shout-outs for me (thanks so much!), but honestly felt so crappy I couldn't do anything about it. I was in surgery 6 1/2 hours to get a hiatal hernia repaired, multiple adhesions taken care of, and of course the RNY itself. I could only have pain meds for a short time because I get badly nauseated with narcotics, and Tylenol doesn't do much for me, so I didn't bother. I'm only now beginning to function somewhat normally. I lost 16 pounds in 2 weeks! Yikes! What a way to do it! Anyhow, please not to worry about me. Mission accomplished!

I don't think this thread should be deleted- it would be useful to use it as grist for the mill, and to help a person make choices about how they want to be in this new life style of ours. Just changing the way we eat isn't going to help the underlying issues of hurt and the other reasons we turned to food in the first place. So the thread within the thread just makes me sad. And there are a lot of constructive posts here, too. It just makes me aware of the power of the negative. I like debate and different opinions. I don't like attacking; I don't think it's at all useful to make something be about the person. I also know there is no perfect places of perfect safety and comfort. I can learn from this, and then make my own choices. We're all works in progress.

Lordy, if I were SavvyCat, I sure wouldn't post here! The water is a little too snarky for my tastes. High school indeed. Makes me sad and not feel safe.

I agree, and my strong request is that there be space for opinions and disagreements without personal attack. Just doesn't contribute much to forward movement... I think the field of bariatric surgery is too young to know all of what actually works yet. There are many paths to the same goal, and I will always consider outcome the most important aspect. What actually works. Tickers are a good indication of that, and hopefully people are losing weight in a healthy manner.

What I'm hearing throughout this thread (other than the attacks) is people working at being responsible for their choices, whether they agree with each other or not. I suspect that's what all this uproar comes down to- I am responsible for my choices and their results whether I follow recommendations or not. Doctors are human, so are coaches, so am I. I'm still stuck on what are the best outcomes, what and who creates them, and what specifically am I responsible for to support that process, considering it is my body.

Good docs and their staffs work with the individual within guidelines. I know what I should do with my body, but haven't always. I like having good coaches that hold me accountable.

Because of a huge hiatal hernia that ruled out the lap-band for me- I even went into the OR for band placement- I researched, and then decided I would try for the sleeve. The sleeve actually has fewer long term complications than the band; its complications are mostly short term like leaks. But then my insurance denied the sleeve, which leaves me with the option of RNY unless I want to go self-pay. I've done more research, and am pretty OK with the RNY now. It helps to have a top notch experienced surgeon doing it- I had to switch doctors along the way. Lisa Kay, I'm sorry for all your complications, and I'm glad you're seeking at least another opinion. All of the surgeries have their advantages and their complications. In my case, I think my excess weight is riskier than surgery.

Wow, this is a great thread (except where people get into attacking each other instead of dealing with the issues)! Brings out some basic personality traits, it has! I kind of liken this surgery game to any kind of sports game- things work much better with rules and good coaches have to go by the basic rules but there is a lot of individuality of styles. Now, I go by my doctor and what he says pretty much 100% (and I'm a rebel since birth) because a) he is in the top four surgeons in the country in terms of outcome results so he knows a lot more about this game than me. He also is one of the stricter doctors out there. If I was so accurate about knowing my body, I wouldn't be fat in the first place! I suggest you ask your doctor about his results and which kinds of qualities ensure those results before flouting the rules, IMnotsoHO.

Thanks for thinking of me, but I've got a month to wait! It will be fun being the odd duck on the thread- I can tell you all what it's like in a foreign land! Actually, I don't think it's going to be all that different- I'll have a teeny little pouch, too. Leigha, thanks again for starting this thread! I don't have time to respond individually right now, but just know I'm cheering you each and all on! !!!

Yep- that's me! Thanks for noticing!

Lordy, do I have news! Guess who's having an RNY done July 15th! Insurance turned down the request for approval for a sleeve, which left one option- the RNY. At first my reaction was one of big disappointment, and then, of course, I started researching. Then today I saw the doctor for an hour, and I feel like I have just emerged from a cram session on the pros and cons of the different types of weight loss surgery. By the end of it I was reassured about the RNY. I need to do something, and this is it, the option available to me. I was also reassured when he said his outcomes are in the top four of the nation! Not bad! He publishes them on the center's website. Surgery date was changed to after my vacation in July. I'm going to be on another week of Optifast starting the middle of vacation. It's either that, or wait until the end of August for surgery. No brainer- I've already been almost a year at this process, and I guess I just want to get on with it. I'm compliant, I'll have no problems doing the supplements and other requirements. I figure that my weight is more of a risk and liability than the surgery at this point. So that's where I am now! I sure hope things don't change again! Thanks, all of you best supporters! You can't get me to leave this thread!

Dottie, way to go!!! Good for you- truly, you must be proud of yourself! My news- I'm scheduled for a vertical sleeve June 22 pending insurance approval! Yikes! That's 2 weeks from today! I see the doctor Thursday- it will be my first time meeting him- he is the senior doctor in the practice, and the only one who does sleeves. He saw my hiatal hernia when I was in the OR 2 weeks ago, so he knows what he's up against. From what I hear, he's a real taskmaster, which I think is a good thing. From what I can tell, living with the sleeve is similar to living with the band, minus the fills. Please send good vibes out for the insurance approval for me!

And me, I'm so proud of you, too. This will be one of the times you're proudest of yourself in your life! It's your turn now! You go, girl!!!!

Betterbytheday and ziggie, thanks for your extensive and thoughtful responses. After consideration, research, and consultation, I'm going to go for the sleeve, pending doctor and insurance approval. It just makes the most sense- hunger is by for the hardest thing for me to deal with. I am regularly exercising and I do discipline myself in terms of what and when I eat, but the hunger pangs when I'm dieting are awful. I'm not talking about head hunger, I'm talking about the real thing. I have done many diets and have been dieting the last 3 months, and I know if I continue on my own, the hunger will as always sabotage me. I have a 35.4 bmi with comorbidities. That's just too low for a bypass. Plus, I want to keep all my structures, just less of one. My insurance did already approve a lap-band, which as I described above, couldn't be placed. I will find out this coming week whether my new doctor and my insurance agree with me. My case has been turned over to the senior doctor in the practice, and I see him Thursday June 10. I'm lucky enough to have insurance that does cover the sleeve; I don't know if they will consider it a medical necessity. If all goes well, my surgery date will be June 22. Please, all, send good vibes my way and keep your fingers crossed for me! Plus any other feedback positive or negative would be much appreciated!

Hi, I'm new on this forum. My story: I went into surgery day before yesterday to get a lap-band placed. However, when my doctor got inside, he found a huge hiatal hernia that has misshapen my stomach. After consultation with another doc, he put me together again. He says lap-band is not an option at this point, and that I should consider gastric bypass. I really don't want the full surgery. The more I read about the different types, the more VSG seems like the most reasonable option. I would very much appreciate any feedback you could give me on what works and what doesn't with VSG. Thanks!

Thanks for this clarification! I'm going for the sleeve June 22, and they have me lumped in with bypass patients in my group, too. You can bet I'll be asking questions!

bariatriceating.com also has a good sample packet.

Tiffykins, I haven't been reading this board long, but I can certainly say I already know you are one of the most inspirational and informational members on it. Thank you so much! I love your story, and you look simply stunning!

Now that's a funny and useful way of thinking about the stomach! Tiffykins on another thread was saying that for centuries people have lost their stomachs to cancer and other things, and gone on to live long, productive lives. That was also a helpful point of view.

Thanks for your post, chica. I don't have feedback for you as I haven't gotten the sleeve yet, but what you say makes me glad that the band didn't work out for me- I went into surgery last week and came out with no band because of a large hiatal hernia. I'm left with the options of sleeve or bypass, and I don't want bypass. Which leaves me with the sleeve. Questions I have- can you drink carbonated beverages with the sleeve? Are there problem foods?

This has been a very helpful thread. I'm in the same boat, trying to make a decision. I'm pretty certain I'm going ahead with the sleeve if I'm approved for it both by my insurance and by my doctors. I won't know for another week, and I suspect the time waiting is going to go excruciatingly slowly. It is a major step- it's hard to get my head around what I'm actually contemplating doing. But I have to think of my long term health. Losing weight on my own is so hard, and the thought of that struggle the rest of my life is awful. The sleeve is also the only option I'm considering. I can't get a lap-band because of a huge hiatal hernia, and a bypass is just too much. I wish both of us courage and clearheadedness!

June 22 for me, pending insurance approval!

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I will be able to get the sleeve! I was going to get a lap-band but couldn't because of the size of my hiatal hernia, so at this point I consider the sleeve my only other option- I really don't want a by-pass.

Well, now, I have had to change course. I went into surgery May 26 to get the band, and came out of surgery with no band because of a huge hiatal hernia that had misshapen my stomach and made the band impossible. After being big time disappointed, I did a lot of research and have decided to have the vertical sleeve done instead. So my new surgery date is June 22, and now I have to switch forums. I will miss it here!

Congratulations! You must be so proud of yourself!!!