....so about me. I've been overweight as long as I can remember, and I'm 41 years old. I work for a major airline, and my hubby of 21 years works for Mary Kay. No kids but tons of travel and we have furry babies too!

I always said no to surgery even as I watched others at work go through the process. I am very interested now that I've read about the sleeve, and I'm scheduled for Dr. Nicholson's seminar on Wednesday, October 28. I'm one to investigate things to death, but when I decide on something, I'm ready to move.

I've spent the last week really checking this out as best I can, and I'm excited for the seminar. I have United Healthcare Choice Plus, and all I know so far is that they do cover the surgery. I forgot to ask if they require the six month diet. I was doing WW from January through August, so maybe that will qualify.

Anyone use Dr. Nicholson and have advise, suggestions, etc? I'm so ready for a difference in my already blessed life. I want weight to stop being a source of limitation.

I'd like to invite myself to the Dallas lunch or dinner in December. I am about 60 miles from Big D. I have surgery scheduled in Monterrey in Nov. but am hoping to get into Dr. Nick's seminar this week to check out options closer to home.:thumbup1:

We are going to have a great time ! ! ! I'm so excited. . .

Wow! Such speedy replies, ladies!

Thanks so much for your offer of help, Linda. It's great to know that you used Dr. Nicholson too. From your ticker, it looks like you are doing great! Awesome!! I will definitely check back in with you after the seminar.

Barbannn--look forward to meeting you on Wednesday! We should plan to "meet" there.

I'm really getting excited/terrified/nervous about all of this. I'm calling the insurance company back tomorrow to find out more about the presurgery requirements. But, if they stall, I am prepared to pay out of pocket too. Lord knows I've spent that sort of money on far less important things over the years!

That's exactly what I did...my insurance does not cover VSG and rather than spend 6-12 months sending in petitions for them to reconsider, I just researched surgeons and facilities extensively, scheduled the surgery, and had it done in Mexicali by Dr Aceves a month ago. I have lost 40 lbs since starting a "pre surgery" diet and I feel great. My knees don't hurt any more. My BP is down to normal. I was able to work all day in my yard without getting fatigued this weekend. I have a new lease on life. Best money I ever spent! 99 lbs to go, and If my guess is right, it will be "outta here" in 6-7 months! Once I set a goal...I go for it with gusto!

I'm going to be there tomorrow (Wednesday) night, too. I hope to meet y'all.

Anna :frown1:

Yah! I'll be arriving around 5:45 with my husband (big bald guy with an arm sling from recent surgery).

Hope to be inspired. I got all my records from my current doctor and my old ob/gyn all the way back to 2002. Sad that I was sorta excited to see language about my weight and the ups and downs.

I told my father tonight about my possible plan. He was quiet. His first question was whether I've talked to anyone who "isn't glad that they did it." I didn't know how to respond, because there isn't much out there. But, on the other hand, there is a lot of data on folks unhappy with lap band and, while it's got a longer history here in US, I would think that with the internet, we'd be able to find more negatives for sleeve if they were out there.

Any feedback?

TwoBlueCats & Anna,

It was so good to see you both and to hear the information at the Nicholson seminar. I hope it was helpful for both of you. I feel much more at ease, and hope insurance picks up any of the cost! I am hoping to have the sleeve 12/28. I really would love to hear about both of your decisions and keep in touch.

It was indeed a pleasure. I really enjoyed the seminar and Dr. Nicholson. I, too, felt much more at peace with this journey. I believe my insurance will pay, thankfully, but even if they didn't I know that the sleeve is the option for me. I can't wait to hear back to find out what requirements the insurance company will impose. I turned in 9 years worth of physicians notes indicating my struggle with weight, and I also gave them a copy of my Weight Watchers card showing my attendance from January through July. Hopefully, this will be enough to get the ball rolling.

In the meantime, I'll keep reading to lean more, work on wrapping my mind around the new way of eating, and I wish you all the very best. Keep in touch with your progress!

Theresa

I enjoyed meeting both of you as well. It's nice to put real faces with names. My husband feels so much better about the whole process and surgery after attending with me last night. Since I am self-pay and a revision, I have a consult with Dr. Nick tomorrow afternoon. I will let you know how it goes. He said last night he thinks I should do this in 2 surgeries, one to remove the band and let the stomach heal and then do the sleeve later. That makes the most since, but of course will not happen as fast as I want it to.

Anna

Anna, you may want to contact my surgeon. He's in the Dallas area, has reasonable rates and works in a very nice new small hospital. Weight Loss Surgery Specialists of North Texas | Bariatric Surgery | Denton | Dallas | Fort Worth | Carrollton | South Oklahoma

Dr Stewart was able to pull out my band and do the VSG in one surgery, and I'm feeling great only a week out. He's pretty matter-of-fact, but a great doc.

Hey Texans! I live in the DFW area and had lapband surgery 03/2006 with Dr. Wade Barker. He's going to do my revision surgery to VSG in January. I would fully recommend him as a surgeon, and everyone in his office is super nice. I haven't had any band problems due to his efforts, I need my gallbladder out and decided to have the band out at the same time. I'm afraid it will be a problem SOMEDAY, so I'm just going to have one surgery and be done with it.

Dr. Barker removes the lapband and does the VSG at the same time. He's an excellent laproscropic surgeon in all areas, but does mostly bariatric surgeries of all kinds now. I think he also has some type of seminar if you want to talk to more than one doc.

Manatee and Texas T - Thanks for the info. My original plan was to do both procedures at once and Dr. Nick said he could do it all at the same time but that would not probably be the best for me because of the concentric dilation (strech) of my stomach (pouch). The stretched part will be very thin, like an inflated balloon wall, and if it will heal and go down some after the band is removed, then I will have less risk for complications down the road. Although I am SO ready to have this done and over with, I need to do what is best for me medically.

Again, thanks so much for the info!:confused1:

I live in Plano and am scheduled to have the band to sleeve revision on 11-8-09. I'm excited to get the band out as I never lost any weight with it. Dr. Jayaseelan is doing my surgery. He did the original band surgery along with gall stone & hiatel hernia repair.

Edited October 31, 200916 yr by AKBarnes1

I never really know when I post - "who" sees it. Sorry - a little techy-challenged. Just thought I would post an update. I am seeing Dr. Nicholson on Thurs., 11/12 for a pre-evaluation and am hoping to be sleeved on 12/29. I decided to wait until after Christmas. I just thought the first weeks would be the hardest and that is such a crazy time of the year with shopping, travel.... I will only have a week to recover before going back to work, but if I need to I can take another week off school. I am excited! Who knows, I may go swim suit shopping in 2010 - dare I dream such big dreams?

The two stage procedure is what I have seen recommended in the literature, to be safer. It allows time for tissue to heal so you have less chance of a leak after the sleeve. I agree with following your surgeon's recommendation on that, even though it will take you more time to reach your goal.

For those that were interested in getting together in December, we've decided we'll be there the Monday, December 28th through Jan 3rd. We'll all have to get together once it gets closer and try to plan a little get together. We can just do lunch or coffee, but I would love to meet y'all ! ! !