As you can probably tell by how long I’ve been a member here, I’ve been considering VSG for a long time. My husband has never exactly been on-board with it; he’s naturally very thin, and can eat whatever he wants without gaining any substantial weight. Since he’s never really been willing to hear me out on VSG, I’ve tried everything else under the sun to try and get my weight under control. In 2011 I did Medifast. Over the year, I managed to lose 100 pounds. Over the next year and a half, I managed to gain back every last pound.

I talked to my husband last night again about VSG, and he was not terribly supportive of the idea (as usual). He doesn’t like the idea of me having surgery, and he is also of the opinion this is somehow taking the easy way out and I should be able to just do this on my own. He feels like I “quit” on Medifast, and that we wasted money because I gained it all back. I tried to explain to him that it’s not losing weight that’s the problem…it’s keeping it off. I’ve tried and tried, and I *can’t* stay a normal weight. I am just not able.

I’m not a snacker, and I don’t eat a bunch of junk food. I’m a vegetarian (15 years), don’t have high cholesterol, etc. My problem is the speed and quantity at which I eat. If my husband and I are having pizza, I will be on my 4^th slice by the time he’s finishing his first. I literally inhale my food. I don’t chew, I don’t wait for it to cool, and I eat so quickly and so voluminously that I feel ill. I’ve tried to consciously slow down, but even my “slow” is fast to most people. And I don’t know the meaning of the word “full.”

Through all my research, it seems like VSG would be the best option for me because it would force me to slow down (lest I get sick!), and I physically won’t be able to hold as much food. I know you can “eat around” the sleeve, but like I said I’m not a big snacker or junk food eater so I don’t worry about that so much. I feel like the sleeve would be a good tool to help me control my portions and give me that sense of when to stop that I’m *supposed* to have.

Since my husband feels like I “quit” at Medifast, he thinks I’m going to “quit” on the sleeve. He thinks I’ll just gain it all back, and we’ll have “wasted” all that money. I know he wants to be supportive and he wants me to have something that works, but he just doesn’t know what it’s like to have a problem with food. It’s impossible to understand if you haven’t been there. But he raises a good point, and one I feel is fair to ask—how IS this different from Medifast or anything else I’ve tried? Will it just end up being another “waste of money”? How will this help me succeed where other plans haven’t?

Please, any insight you can provide would be so appreciated. I just want to be healthy again.

Hathery,

My insurance excluded all wls as well. I have previously been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and it's repair is covered. I called a surgeon here in Dallas TX...Dr. David Kim, and his office verified my benefits and said that since the hernia repair is covered, my portion to pay for ths sleeve will only be $5800. It is very possible that you need hernia repair as well. I have a consult Friday! I know you will find a way to do this for YOU!

Lori

~ L Nor in TX

This is a great idea. My surgeon repairs hernias in about 90 percent of his patients who receive VSG, because they are so common in people with obesity.

I think we all share similar experiences with food. I would eat everything on my plate and then help my wife finish her meal as well. I was also not a big snicker, I ate high calorie, high fat food and because of chronic pain did not move much because of it. I have had several surgery and still have pain but at least I am moving more now.

I had just opposite experience with my wife, she was the one who was onboard from the beginning. When I kept saying I can do this without surgery she supported me on my decision. When I lost 60, 70, 90,105lbs and gained it all back, she supported me. When I was ready to have surgery and fought my insurance company she was right there with me.

My wife told me she was happy that I had the surgery because she was tired of my struggles with my weight and she has known me for much of my life. Have a heart to heart with your husband and let him know that you and he can never be truly happy until you are happy with yourself. Trust me I have spent most of my life hating myself because I was of a normal weight like so many others. I too did not like my wife being viewed as a chubby chaser and we avoided, certain vacation places and activities because of my weight, she didn't want us to be uncomfortable. Tell him about all the things you and he will be able to do once you are lighter and will be able to stay that way for life.

Hathery,

I knew that I had a hernia because I started having really bad heartburn and went to a GI doc and he did an endoscopy. This was about 18 mos ago. I have to take ppi's daily. Many people have no symptoms from the hernia. Odds are good that you have one. I visited another surgeon yesterday. He is repairing my hernia and doing the sleeve for less than $3000.

Don't give up!!!!!

Lori

~ L Nor in TX

Great news this morning--MY FINANCING WAS APPROVED!!!

I am so happy for you!!!!!

~ L Nor in TX

That is fantastic! Get the hubby on board and you will be set!

He's on board, and even helping me find hotels ! We just gotta figure out how we're going to pay for the plane tickets and hotel. (this is all assuming I'm a candidate for the surgery, of course!)

Yay! Where did you decide to have your surgery?

Yay! Where did you decide to have your surgery?

Right now I'm thinking Dr. Borland in Louisiana. Since I'm self-pay, he has a really good price and he has lots of happy customers.

Just fyi...I was referred to Dr. Chris Cottrell here in Dallas by another VST member. I had my consult yesterday. I really like him, I know the surgeon that will assist & love the hospital where he will operate. I am only self pay for the sleeve part, ins will cover hernia. He is only charging me $2500. I don't know where you live, but thought I would throw that out there in case it helps anyone!

~ L Nor in TX

Just fyi...I was referred to Dr. Chris Cottrell here in Dallas by another VST member. I had my consult yesterday. I really like him, I know the surgeon that will assist & love the hospital where he will operate. I am only self pay for the sleeve part, ins will cover hernia. He is only charging me $2500. I don't know where you live, but thought I would throw that out there in case it helps anyone!

~ L Nor in TX

Just fyi...I was referred to Dr. Chris Cottrell here in Dallas by another VST member. I had my consult yesterday. I really like him, I know the surgeon that will assist & love the hospital where he will operate. I am only self pay for the sleeve part, ins will cover hernia. He is only charging me $2500. I don't know where you live, but thought I would throw that out there in case it helps anyone!

~ L Nor in TX

We are so lucky here in North Texas to have so many top bariatric surgeons. I was very happy with my surgeon and experience as well.

Sorry, y'all! Idk why my phone posted that multiple times.

~ L Nor in TX

Yeah, Texas seems to be the hot-spot for bariatric surgery!

Yeah, Texas seems to be the hot-spot for bariatric surgery!

Don't you know, everything's bigger in Texas? Especially the people?