How things can change in a week! A week ago on Friday I learned that my chosen doctor was not a participating provider with my insurance company, even though my first phone calls told me he was. I felt that I was back at square one, and all the poking and prodding that I went through for the pre testing would be wasted. I called the surgeon's office, and they told me they would "look into it" and get back to me. I never heard from them. I decided to call the case management department of my insurance company. The nurse they put me in touch with was wonderful. She listened to me and researched who exactly was covered and participating. She gave me phone numbers and contact names. I was put in touch with Orange Regional Hospital in MIddletown, NY. They have been nothing short of amazing and wonderful.

The care coordinators have worked closely with me to get all of the information transferred, and to set up the remainder of the appointments. I actually have a tentative surgery date set for July 18! I can't believe it!

Right now I am going back and forth trying to decide between the sleeve or the bypass. I thought I was ok with my decision to do the sleeve, but the new surgeon made some good points, and I have started doing more research. My support group feels that the sleeve is the best, but I'm not sure anymore.

I'm hearing people are hungry all the time after surgery. I'm thinking that this may be more psychological....my body is so used to eating (and in my case eating too much!), is it just craving what it can't have? I know the sleeve removes the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, does that really make a huge difference?

One of my most favorite things to do is to go out to dinner, especially at the end of the week. I guess this can still happen, the shrimp cocktail will become the meal, not the appetizer.

I can't stand the way I look, and I don't believe I'm making a hasty decision. I have researched and soul searched. This is the right thing to do. I worry I'm not emotionally strong enough to stick to all the life changes I need to make.

I want to be healthy. I want to look better. I want to have energy. I want to be able to shop at Victoria's Secret, instead of being told "we don't carry larger sizes here". I want to find outfits I love, not just things that "will do".

I want to develop a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food. It sounds easy enough. I guess it's like smoking though. I used that as a crutch for years. The cigarettes were there for me during stressful times. I will have to learn a new way of thinking, and new ways of socializing and relaxing.

The good thing about VSG is that you can revise to the Duodenal Switch if necessary (or you can just go with DS straight of the bat - it depends on how heavy you are, but if you're eligible for RNY then you're eligible for DS). You may find this thread of interest http://www.obesityhe...ers-and-the-DS/

The preceding link talks about DS helping people with prader-willi (wikipedia describe 1 symptom of p-w as being "extreme and insatiable appetite". Dietwise DS is easiest to comply with, but you have to be VERY diligent taking your Vitamins and getting 100grams of Protein.

BTW RNY is a lot less successful than DS and revising from RNY is difficult - see here for details http://www.obesityhe...-DS-you-should/ With RNY you get things like dumping (check it out on Youtube - people look like they're dying when they dump) plus you can't take Non Steroidal Anti Inflamatory Drugs and you never know if you're going to need them in the future.

Good luck with whatever you go with and research, research, research. As the saying goes 'think twice, cut once'.

TJP

As a 5 month out sleever I am quite biased, however I think that the sleeve is the perfect mid ground in terms of wls.

I was afraid to go for the full bypass because of the possible problems with absorbing Vitamins, however if I change my mind later, I know that my sleeve can be converted.

I thought I was hungry post surgery for weeks, and then it suddenly dawned on me - my mind hadn't caught up! My stomach does not tell me I am hungry, my mind struggles sometimes with what else to do because until surgery food was the solution for every problem, or emotion I encountered. Things have eased massively since I worked that out, and yes, sometimes I pshychologically want to eat all the wrong things, but my stomach soon tells me what a massive mistake I'm making if I try.

I have found a few evil "SLIDER" foods and alcohol will go down very easily, so my stomach is not fool proof, but it is a damn sight more effective than my willpower ever was.

Good luck in your decision.

That is great news about switching doctors! I'm glad you didn't give up.

You have to do your research and make the decision that is best for you as far as which surgery you want to have. Of course on this board you will have pro-sleevers.

As far as hunger goes, I had my surgery on May 24th, I still have hunger but it is head hunger. I have stomach hunger once in a while if I get busy and need to eat. There is a big difference between the two. I am an emotional eater so it is a struggle for me but it is getting better. I couldn't even eat the food I really want if I tried, I would get sick, it won't fit in my tiny sleeve. I know this will get better for me and it's one thing I needed to get over before my surgery so now I have to deal with it. I would think that this would be the case no matter which surgery I would have had.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

How things can change in a week! A week ago on Friday I learned that my chosen doctor was not a participating provider with my insurance company, even though my first phone calls told me he was. I felt that I was back at square one, and all the poking and prodding that I went through for the pre testing would be wasted. I called the surgeon's office, and they told me they would "look into it" and get back to me. I never heard from them. I decided to call the case management department of my insurance company. The nurse they put me in touch with was wonderful. She listened to me and researched who exactly was covered and participating. She gave me phone numbers and contact names. I was put in touch with Orange Regional Hospital in MIddletown, NY. They have been nothing short of amazing and wonderful.

The care coordinators have worked closely with me to get all of the information transferred, and to set up the remainder of the appointments. I actually have a tentative surgery date set for July 18! I can't believe it!

Right now I am going back and forth trying to decide between the sleeve or the bypass. I thought I was ok with my decision to do the sleeve, but the new surgeon made some good points, and I have started doing more research. My support group feels that the sleeve is the best, but I'm not sure anymore.

I'm hearing people are hungry all the time after surgery. I'm thinking that this may be more psychological....my body is so used to eating (and in my case eating too much!), is it just craving what it can't have? I know the sleeve removes the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, does that really make a huge difference?

One of my most favorite things to do is to go out to dinner, especially at the end of the week. I guess this can still happen, the shrimp cocktail will become the meal, not the appetizer.

I can't stand the way I look, and I don't believe I'm making a hasty decision. I have researched and soul searched. This is the right thing to do. I worry I'm not emotionally strong enough to stick to all the life changes I need to make.

I want to be healthy. I want to look better. I want to have energy. I want to be able to shop at Victoria's Secret, instead of being told "we don't carry larger sizes here". I want to find outfits I love, not just things that "will do".

I want to develop a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food. It sounds easy enough. I guess it's like smoking though. I used that as a crutch for years. The cigarettes were there for me during stressful times. I will have to learn a new way of thinking, and new ways of socializing and relaxing.

Hi Melinda,

I had my sleeve done 2 years ago and am at goal and maintaining easily. I don't feel hungry much now, as soon as I got onto solids after the operation the hunger was gone mostly. I am very happy I chose the sleeve.

Jane x