My surgery is set for Thursday, January 21. I have been doing all the required work by my insurance company since May 2, 2015. I was finally approved for surgery on December 1. I had the 6 months supervised diet/counseling, psych, blood work, x-rays, ultrasounds, EDG, sleep study and follow-up with being fitted for a cpap machine to use post-op.

I began all this by contacting West Medical - you probably see their billboards and commercials - they advertise all over the place. But I researched VSG for months before I even went in for a consultation. I was worried that since I had lost weight before and gained it back (twice) that I would be disqualified. The doctors and staff assured me this would give me another tool to help me lose the weight and keep it off.

I have had so many instances where it looked like the surgery was not going to happen that I never posted anywhere about this. Now, with two days two go before the op, I find myself not knowing where to begin without making a huge post.

Congratulations on getting this far! Good luck with your surgery on Thursday!

Good luck!

Congrats and Good Luck to you!!! We will be cheering for you!

Good luck

I see your surgery is today, hope everything is going great

Surgery went off on time this morning. Took about an hour and a half from lights out to waking up in recovery. Dealing with the bloating and gas is quite an ordeal, walking helps. Can't wait to be released.

So glad to hear! Hope you are still doing well!

I was released the next day after my delicious barium cocktail. They didn't let me go until I could keep down an 8oz bottle of Water and a Protein shake. Doing okay, but having difficulty lying in bed, some tightness there and the gas is really uncomfortable. But it feels like it is getting better all the way around.

So will my liver shrink on 8 days of the liquid diet

Oh wow, I had to drink the barium for an upper gi couple days ago. Yuck! I threw up afterwards. How are u feeling now?

Feeling good, now. I haven't taken pain meds in days, and only twice overall. I am currently back at work.

The barium was a treat - it tasted like orange-chalk flavored Vaseline.

Hi Siege I'm going through the process with Dr. Paya now, getting anxious with the process of them getting the paperwork together to send to my insurance. Any advice on Dr. Paya?

That's good to hear, Britney! They did a good job with my paperwork, so that wasn't an issue for me. Dr Paya is a very busy man but he is also easy to talk to and you might forget what you wanted to ask after 15 minutes of discussing exercise and eating plans. I suggest writing down all your questions and concerns on an index card to bring with you when you see him. I know I forgot to ask a lot of questions when we talked and ended up making several phone calls after each visit.

Awesome thank you so much, I've completed my Psych evaluation and dietician appointment last week so now just playing the waiting game hoping I can get sleeved asap I do know that my surgery is gonna be at Marina Del Rey Hospital when everything is ready but this time spent has helped me to keep looking up information and try to be as prepared as possible!

I had my surgery at Marina Del Rey Hospital as well. The staff is great, super friendly. I packed an overnight bag with much more than I actually needed. I was too uncomfortable to read so I just watched whatever was on the television. I did not sleep much the first night, mostly after I was out of surgery. Walk a lot afterward.

One of the things I wished I had done prior to surgery is weight training. Building muscle before surgery, if you can, will help you so much. Even if you just have a few weeks, you should start building muscle if you are able to exercise.