Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

My anniversary surgery!!♥♥♥



Recommended Posts

:001_wub:Okay so here's my story...I'm a mother of 2 girls ages 12 and 2. Both are very active!! I have been an athlete for most of my life but after my second child my body can't keep up with my weight! The day I found out that I was preggers with my first child I weighed in at 199. That was the last day I ever saw the 100's.:( 10 years later I got pregnant with my second child and weight 242. I gained 40 lbs during that pregnancy and my heaviest post pregnancy weight was 272. With all that said, I started my weight loss surgery journey in June of 2009. I called my insurance and they covered WLS! I was so excited! I chose a dr. at Stanford medical hospital since there were no centers of excellence in Oregon and had my first consultation with him on Sept 9. I wanted the lap band because every single one of my clients that have had RNY have had major complications! One actually died and was brought back to life!!! They all told me to do the band instead so I listened! I started vigilantly doing all of my pre op testing and on my upper GI it showed that I had a hiatal hernia and acid reflux! NO BUENO!! Stanford then made me do a upper endoscopy to see the severity of both and apparently it was bad enough for them to tell me that it was a no go on the band! There was no way they were talking me into the bypass though! I cried!!! Then one of the doctors called me to tell me about VSG. He told me that my insurance didn't cover it but he would write a very convincing letter and then see what happens. After completing all of my pre op testing and my 6 month diet/excersice with my PCP I found out that Stanford and Dr. Morton were no longer covered by my Aetna:cursing: SO..... I then called around to other places like lapSF and the hospital is covered but the doctors are out of network so they are not! I called my bariatric nurse at Aetna and she said that Aetna is not changing there policy about covering VSG and that even if I appealed it they would deny me!! I'm ready to fight for my life and not waste anymore time fighting my insurance! I'm worth more than that! So...I decided to follow suit of all of the successful VSG patients that I see on the site and also on OH.com and go with Dr. Aceves. The wait is over and I am over the weight!!:tongue_smilie: My surgery is scheduled for 3/18/2010 and I am elated!!!! I will be arriving on my 3rd wedding anniverary, the 17th with my husband in tow. Just one month away to start shedding my fat suit and becoming the authentic me. The woman I am supposed to be! Good luck to all and come be my friend on this journey...we could all use 1 or 100:wink1: Jules

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jules,

I will be sleeved by the time you get to Mx. I am getting a revision (this band just is not for me!) Keep in touch. Happy you made the decision. I got 'most" of my fat suit off with the band but I am slowing gaining weight....30 lbs from my goal weight. (was 25lbs away last month!-20lbs the month before-Yikes :scared0:I keep getting food stuck so I eat crappy...)

Let your journey begin:party4:

D.

(been to Medford quite a few times, my roomate grew up in Eagle Point)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Jules,

Welcome to VST!! This is a great website and you'll make many wonderful friends here. This is the site that had me realize that the Band just wasn't for me, which my doctor confirmed. He said he would only do the

Sleeve on me, so I was very lucky.

You're going to do great. I think it's so exciting that you're doing this on your 3rd anniversary!

I got my Sleeve last Wednesday and already think it's the best decision I've ever made. 50 years of dieting and I earned the right to have a tool that will finally work for me. :001_tongue:

Keep posting to let us know how you're doing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome. Can't wait to hear your progress.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congrats on your your decision! I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves In January and I cannot speak highly enough about him or his staff. I don't think you will be disappointed. Best wishes to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome Jules. I am getting my sleeve on March 10 so we will be very close! Congrats on making the decision. Like you I went for a band too and the doctor told me about the sleeve and it seemed like the perfect tool for me!

Thanks for sharing your story.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome and congrats on your surgery date! I am a newbie here and just had surgery last Thursday. I flew home on Sunday and even went to work for a few hours today.

Hopefully you will meet up with a couple of others having surgery the same day at the same location. That really made the experience better for me.

Happy planning!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congrats on getting your date, and choosing an amazing surgical team. You'll have to keep us posted on your progress, and if you have any questions, post away.

We'll be saving you a seat on the loser's bench ! ! !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Jules. I just started my "official" journey. Been looking into it for a couple of years. Good luck to you. You are just on the other side of the state from me!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just talked to a lady from aetna that said they were starting to see sleeves get approved! Of course... Now that I decided to pay cash They could possibly approve it! Just my luck! Thanks for all the well wishes and I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for saving me a seat on the bench Tiff!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Jules,

Maybe you can get approved by you insurance but if not you will

be in great hands with Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos. I never could

get approved so I went to MX in Jan and everything went great.

Dr. Aceves meet us at the Hospital on Sunday afternoon even though

we got in late. During my stay there I was kept well informed and

saw both Doctors three times a day after surgery. I feel like I was well

taken care of and would go back again in a heart beat.

Good luck with the surgery and keep us posted.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good Luck Jules...I went to Mexico also...twice, once for the band, then for the revision when my band crapped out. Glad to have you here. Aetna, I have them, don't get me started, I didn't even bother trying. I'm 3 months out and lost 46 pounds with little to no effort....you'll LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jules - Congratulations, I'm very happy for you. My surgery date is 3/3/2009. We will have to keep tabs on each other.:thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • 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.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×