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A woman I know on-line still goes to her weight watchers meetings. She did not tell them she had gastric by-pass. She suggested I consider it now that I am pretty far out. She said it helps her keep structure to her eating. So I went for my free weigh in. It was sort of funny. The one thing I have really appreciated in my program is that they do a real test for body fat (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) if you are willing to pay for it and I did. With the excess skin I'm hauling around and my being far more muscular than I appear I wanted a reasonable goal weight. So mine was set at 185. My surgeon said that if I get a Tummy Tuck or an arm lift (which I have a saving account set for and building) that he would rachet me down to 170ish. But as my body stands right now, 185 would be good. And I would be very happy there.

In my weight watchers consultation I was told that at 185 I would be obese and that I need a more realistic body view. What a hoot. I'm in my mid-50's,and my highest weight was 364. (I told them that part) Believe me I have a very clear body view. I know I do because I usually have to lift my boobs up to see it! lol

Here's where I get seriously concerned tho. The woman and I chatted a bit and she said the chart she was using was the chart insurance companies use to determine insurance coverage. I had so hoped that getting my weight down to what would be acceptable to me (and frankly, thinner than most folks I see out and about these days) I could get some reasonably priced insurance next year when my job ends. Maybe not. Or else I have to really speed up on that arm lift and get a tummy tuck whether I want it or not to fit in right on their charts.

---oh, and as a side bar, I met with my friend last week who had her arms done. She's 4 weeks out from surgery, doing great, her arms look amazing!!! The surgeon did a fantastic job. Not only the arms but the side fat and skin that's there in the bra band is gone! She said it was tender but not at all what she would have considered painful and she was back to work -- office job -- in 2 weeks. He took 9 inches off one arm and 8 off the other. She is very similar to me in terms of pre-situation. With the fat and skin and probably a bit of lesser eating, she was down 12.5 pounds the first time she weighed 10 days later. I am sooo going to do this for myself. I am a big chicken surgery wise, but now that I've seem what a huge difference it makes in her appearance, my plan is for next year this time! I'll save and save and then....yea, for decent credit! And Kimmy, I know you lurk here and read so if you see this ---YOU LOOK AMAZING! Great job for doing this for yourself and thanks for leading the way! --

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    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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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

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
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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.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
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