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My Journey - So glad I found VST!!



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Hi, my name is Susan. I am so glad to have found this website. I had already decided on the sleeve but was having second (third, fourth, etc) thoughts well into the insurance approval process. The support you provide is awesome. I know I have my the right decision now. My doctor's office and support group is a good hour away so I will definitely be looking to you all for support.

My journey so far....I attended my first seminar on 01/19/2011. I had pulled an 18 hour day at work the day before and almost didn't go, but so glad I did. I was committed and decided to start "dieting and working out" as well. I had my first appointment with the dr. on 02/09 and the nutrionist the following day. Well, four weeks later after many tests, pysc eval, etc., hoops for insurance company, we will finally ready to file. Took about 2 1/2 weeks and finally recieved a call on 03/21. My surgery date is 04/25/2011. It seems like forever away.

My surgeon is Dr. Cywes in Jacksonville, FL. I haven't seen many posts from people in this area yet.

Well, back to the "diet" part. I have lost 32 lbs so far. I have been doing the low carb diet for 6 weeks now. Although, some of my family members are saying "see, you can do it without surgery". My husband is very supportive (he would have preferred the band) but my teenage son has said several times "I really wish you wouldn't do this", he thinks it's too much risk. I understand his feelings but told him that I have to do this for me. My mom has been the most surprising. She is very excited for me and asks me all the time how things are going. So funny, I really never expected her to be so supportive.

I am a little worried that since I have lost some already that my initial weight loss after surgery won't be as great as some of the success stories I have seen here. I still have 110 to go to my goal weight though. Hopefully, it will help that I won't be going through carb withdrawal during my post-op period.

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Susan, I did a doctor-supervised program (part of the criteria to have VSG) for over a year, lost 90 pounds and kept thinking I was really glad that I didn't have to go to the length of having any WLS. WRONG: 20 crept back on and after a stresser, put another 45 back on in 3 months. I was out-of-control! ~ That's when I went to Mexico to have it done. I'm a "guzzler 'n a shoveler" on top of being an emotional eater. My sleeve is just a tool to help me get & stay healthy and in control. Good luck on your journey!

Hi, my name is Susan. I am so glad to have found this website. I had already decided on the sleeve but was having second (third, fourth, etc) thoughts well into the insurance approval process. The support you provide is awesome. I know I have my the right decision now. My doctor's office and support group is a good hour away so I will definitely be looking to you all for support.

My journey so far....I attended my first seminar on 01/19/2011. I had pulled an 18 hour day at work the day before and almost didn't go, but so glad I did. I was committed and decided to start "dieting and working out" as well. I had my first appointment with the dr. on 02/09 and the nutrionist the following day. Well, four weeks later after many tests, pysc eval, etc., hoops for insurance company, we will finally ready to file. Took about 2 1/2 weeks and finally recieved a call on 03/21. My surgery date is 04/25/2011. It seems like forever away.

My surgeon is Dr. Cywes in Jacksonville, FL. I haven't seen many posts from people in this area yet.

Well, back to the "diet" part. I have lost 32 lbs so far. I have been doing the low carb diet for 6 weeks now. Although, some of my family members are saying "see, you can do it without surgery". My husband is very supportive (he would have preferred the band) but my teenage son has said several times "I really wish you wouldn't do this", he thinks it's too much risk. I understand his feelings but told him that I have to do this for me. My mom has been the most surprising. She is very excited for me and asks me all the time how things are going. So funny, I really never expected her to be so supportive.

I am a little worried that since I have lost some already that my initial weight loss after surgery won't be as great as some of the success stories I have seen here. I still have 110 to go to my goal weight though. Hopefully, it will help that I won't be going through carb withdrawal during my post-op period.

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:rolleyes:Hi Susan! congrats to you on your surgery date-I am being sleeved on the 27th!!! We are 2 days apart-like you, I had some non supporters but ultimately it is a decision we need to make for ourselves and our well being. I am happy to hear you were able to lose some on your own-I haven't and have 126 to lose. This forum has been such an amazing support for me as I know it will be for you. Good Luck! We are two days apart-keep in touch! Vanessa

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:rolleyes:Hi Susan! congrats to you on your surgery date-I am being sleeved on the 27th!!! We are 2 days apart-like you, I had some non supporters but ultimately it is a decision we need to make for ourselves and our well being. I am happy to hear you were able to lose some on your own-I haven't and have 126 to lose. This forum has been such an amazing support for me as I know it will be for you. Good Luck! We are two days apart-keep in touch! Vanessa

Thanks Vanessa. It will be great to have someone who is at the same point in process.

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Good thoughts from a fellow Jacksonvillian! Congrats on getting your surgery date.

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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
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    • BeanitoDiego

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    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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