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Just getting my toes wet



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Hello everyone! I'm new to the site and WLS all together. After researching all the options I am liking VSG the most. I spoke with my insurance company today and was told that this procedure is covered (does that tell you just how new I am to this game? lol :ohmy:). I was super excited JUST to hear that.

So now I'm off to start my journey to a new and possibly chub-free me (or at least a healthier me that's comfortable in the skin she's in)! I have the support of my doctor, now I just need to find a program/surgeon I like and get started. I've read horror stories about people not being approved, but according to my PCP I am a good candidate. I've been reading a lot of your posts and I feel extra encouraged right now :thumbup:. I'm sure I'll have some questions, and if you want feel free to send me any suggestions/advice you have that might be helpful. Wish me luck - and I look forward to chatting with you all :001_tongue:

Talk to you soon!

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Hi! Welcome to VST. And congrats on starting your WLS journey! There is loads of good information (and people) :001_tongue: here.

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Welcome to VST! You've found a great place to learn most anything you'd ever want to know about this procedure both pre-op and post-op. If you let us know a little more about yourself (location, insurance requirements, etc.), people might be able to offer information/advice. Or just feel free to ask any questions you have.

Good luck with this research part of your journey!

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Hello everyone! I'm new to the site and WLS all together. After researching all the options I am liking VSG the most. I spoke with my insurance company today and was told that this procedure is covered (does that tell you just how new I am to this game? lol :ohmy:). I was super excited JUST to hear that.

So now I'm off to start my journey to a new and possibly chub-free me (or at least a healthier me that's comfortable in the skin she's in)! I have the support of my doctor, now I just need to find a program/surgeon I like and get started. I've read horror stories about people not being approved, but according to my PCP I am a good candidate. I've been reading a lot of your posts and I feel extra encouraged right now :thumbup:. I'm sure I'll have some questions, and if you want feel free to send me any suggestions/advice you have that might be helpful. Wish me luck - and I look forward to chatting with you all :001_tongue:

Talk to you soon!

Welcome to the site. . your really going to like us. . .I was just sleeved about 15 days ago and am still getting acustomed to all this . . . but am liking it pretty well. . . i'm going to the doctor again on february 15th for my 1 month out checkup. . .i'll weigh in at that time. . .i don't like being a prisoner of the scale and only want to weigh in every month or so. . . but your going to do well when your time comes and good luck to you too.

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As you can see I'm right around the corner from you. What surgeon are you looking at using. My insurance only covers VSG if MI is 50 or over mine is only 42 but certain problems don't allow me to have bypass so I'm hoping that the insurance will make an exception and allow me to get VSG. So I'm sort of looking at all the surgeons in our area.

Thanks

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Hi there, and welcome to VST. Congrats on the insurance giving you approval, and best wishes in finding a surgeon that has the experience, and bedside manner you are happy with.

My suggestion on researching any surgeon is find one that has performed at least 300 sleeves, and one with low complication/leak stats. Low leak stats meaning around 1%.

Find a good nutritionist, and if you have food issues, compulsive eating/emotional ties to food/a history of depression/anxiety, I highly recommend finding a therapist/psych that specializes in bariatric patients and their recovery.

They operate on our stomachs, not our brains, and this journey is full of ups and downs. Grant it, the victories/successes outweigh the bad for most.

If you have any questions, ask away. We'll all be here for you.

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Hi and welcome to VST!!!

There are lots of generous and caring people on here that have lots of great information and wonderful support. Feel free to ask any questions you have. I love my sleeve and love my life with my sleeve. Good luck on your journey!

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Thanks for the warm welcome!

For now I just know that the insurance covers the procedure, so I'm PRAYING that the requirements aren't extremely complicated (which I'm sure they are). I've talked to them several times and they keep reassuring me that the procedure (based on the code) is covered 100% with no stipulations - and for the most part all I need is the surgeon's approval. Whatever the case may be, I'm trying to be as informed as possible going in.

As for a surgeon, I'm looking around. There aren't many who seem to do it in the area. I've found Temple, uPenn, and Abington Memorial.

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What type of insurance do you have? (You don't have to answer if you don't want to) My insurance is covering mine and if we have the same one, perhaps I can help you out with the experiences I have had. :thumbup1: Just let me know!

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Hello and welcome to VST here you will surely find all the information you are looking for and some really nice people.

Best of luck to you on your journey keep us all posted.

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I have the same insurance and on their web site under policy it is not covered because it is expermental or your BMI has to be 50 or more and it is done as the first part of a 2 step plan. The code is 43775. Just letting you know what I found.

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Welcome and good luck on this journey. I am so very happy to have my sleeve "tool". I love my life now. I have so much energy and my poor knees are so much better. I do not have to use the "riding cart" at the stores any more. I can walk.

Take Tiffy's advice she is just the best.

(((((hugs))))))

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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