I have a lot of questions and I am sorry if these questions have already been asked but I have been unable to find these answers anywhere on the forums as I have been reading them for the past month. I have done enough research on the forums and have determined that I would rather have VSG over the other types of WLS. My insurance will cover WLS as I have read through my insurance book, no referral is needed from by PCP thankfully.

What should my first step be?

What kind of specialty should I be looking up on my insurance website to see what doctor to go to as I have tried looking up “Bariatric” “Gastric” and a few others but have been unable to find any doctors as all results returned nothing?

What does a typical immediate post-surgery diet look like (I know it is liquids, but is it broth, Protein shakes, etc…)? How long does it last? Any tips, tricks, hints to switching it up and giving variety with the diet?

Does anyone from the Kansas City area have recommendations or horror stories about Doctors in my area?

What is the best way to help hide the loose skin and does it shrink down after some time?

When is the best time of the day to schedule surgery for to minimize risk of doctor being fatigued or not fully awake?

What's the best season of the year to get the surgery in?

Even though your insurance may not require a referral, I would recommend discuss this with your PCP and getting their recommendation, mostly because I assume that your PCP is in your insurance network, and therefore they would be able to direct you to a bariatric specialist who is also in-network.

Your other questions are really jumping the gun; don't worry about the details until you have a surgeon and have done an orientation, spoken with the surgeon directly, seen their nutritionist, etc., etc., etc.

"When all is said and done, usually more has been said than done. "

@@KCNielsen

I would start by calling your insurance and asking them to recommend a Bariatric center of excellence in your network.

They will provide some recommendations that will get you started on the process.

I would also warn you not to select "your" surgical approach until after meeting with as surgeon and going over your health history. If you get a good surgeon, they will provide a recommendation based on your health.

For example, if you currently suffer from Gerd/reflux, the right surgery for you may be RNY as it cures this disease and the sleeve can make it much worse. The type of surgery you have really depends on your medical history.

The good news about all of this is that both surgeries are top notch and can deliver incredible life changing results. It has certainly done so for me!

If you have other questions, feel free to message me and I will be happy to help.

@@KCNielsen - How old are you? That would help with the skin question. The younger you are the better. If you waited as long as I did, thank goodness for compression stuff. Which will hold me in place until plastics. :-)

Have you tried Isopure (http://www.gnc.com/Natures-Best-Isopure-Zero-Carb-Blue-Raspberry/product.jsp?productId=2715479&KPID=3690813&mr:trackingCode=712BA28D-1D3C-E311-89F9-BC305BF923E4&mr:referralID=NA&mr:filter=172553627354&mr:tid=pla-172553627354&c3ch=PLA&mr:ploc=9026283&mr:ad=104095794314&mr:iloc=&mr:store=&mr:device=c&mr:match=&CAWELAID=2715479&mr:adType=plaonline&mr:keyword=&c3nid=3690813&pla=pla_3690813&gclid=CjwKEAjw_LG8BRDb1JTxm8uP_UwSJADu_8pWm2LVlkKUtK8WChjjPpwETUdAZ0y-AdsNkCs_nhO_-BoCkEbw_wcB&eesource=CAPLA_DF:2715479:GNC)? I liked this stuff though I am in the minority. It gave me 40g of Protein and it was clear liquid for the first week. Clear liquids for a week so you help heal the staple line and then you keep getting thicker for a month.

OMG I TOOK ONE SIP OF ISOPURE AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO THROW UP, IT TASTED LIKE ROTTON MILLK

I have a lot of questions and I am sorry if these questions have already been asked but I have been unable to find these answers anywhere on the forums as I have been reading them for the past month. I have done enough research on the forums and have determined that I would rather have VSG over the other types of WLS. My insurance will cover WLS as I have read through my insurance book, no referral is needed from by PCP thankfully.

What should my first step be?

What kind of specialty should I be looking up on my insurance website to see what doctor to go to as I have tried looking up “Bariatric” “Gastric” and a few others but have been unable to find any doctors as all results returned nothing?

What does a typical immediate post-surgery diet look like (I know it is liquids, but is it broth, Protein shakes, etc…)? How long does it last? Any tips, tricks, hints to switching it up and giving variety with the diet?

Does anyone from the Kansas City area have recommendations or horror stories about Doctors in my area?

What is the best way to help hide the loose skin and does it shrink down after some time?

When is the best time of the day to schedule surgery for to minimize risk of doctor being fatigued or not fully awake?

What's the best season of the year to get the surgery in?

I am not an expert. I haven't had surgery yet, but I've been pursing and researching WLS since last November. I've been seeing the surgeon since January for my insurance required 6 month diet. My surgery is next week. I know it is hard searching through the topics trying to find answers to your specific questions and it feels like a big step to make a post, so I'll try to answer what I can.

In my area (Upstate NY) I actually hear WLS advertised on the radio. A few different hospitals advertise their weight loss options and they have a free seminar you can go to. I ended up doing my seminar online. So you might want to contact your area hospital and ask if they have or know of any free seminars in the area on WLS options. Or if they can refer you to a bariatric surgeon. Many general surgeons can do the surgery, however I think it's nice to go to a practice where that is their specialty. The doctor I chose has a big practice catering just to that. It is listed in their hospital's online directory under "weight loss." I would make my first step be finding one of these centers or surgeons who specialize in WLS and then making the initial consult. They discuss SO much in that appointment and can answer so many questions.

Having worked much for surgeons in the past, I don't think you'll get many options in picking the time of day of your surgery. You can request a morning surgery, but that usually doesn't mean you're guaranteed that. I think in an ideal world, being the second surgery of the day would be perfect though. They are warmed up and awake, but not exhausted.

I can't speak from experience about the loose skin. I do know genetics and age have a lot to do with it. I've lost a lot of weight on diets in the past and my skin caught up each time. It was slower weight loss, so the skin shrunk along with me. I know that with WLS, it's the rapid weight loss that makes the skin appear extra saggy at times. Then it will shrink some more with time. Will it shrink totally back to tight skin? Everyone is different. If you're young, with good genetics and hydrate well, maybe it will. I think it's likely you'll have some areas you don't like though. With my weight loss in the past, my stomach always kept it's saggy pouch, even though it did get smaller and wasn't noticeable under clothes.

As for diet, my surgeon is requiring a 2 week pre-op liquid "stage 2" diet and then I will do this same diet for two weeks post op. I'm on day 7 of it right now. You focus on high protein liquid. I'm supposed to be trying to get at least 80 grams of protein per day. I am not supposed to be having any sugars either. I can have skim or whole milk, black tea or coffee (but need to switch to decaf a couple days before surgery too), sugar free puddings, sugar free jellos, Protein Shakes, high protein/low fat/no or low sugar yogurts, protein soups/broths (without chunks). It kind of sucks. I am doing mainly yogurt and protein shakes through the day.

2 weeks after surgery, I'll be evaluated and switched to pureed foods. You still aim for the protein, but can eat pureed things in the mix. And then I believe it is 1 month post op, I switch to soft foods.

This is a pretty typical WLS diet around surgery time, but surgeons are varying it now. Some don't require the 2 weeks pre-op. They say they do those 2 weeks to shrink the liver so that the surgeon has better access to the stomach, which makes sense. Some keep you on clear liquids for a few days after surgery. It can vary a bit, but this is my protocol.

I'm not sure there is a best season. I want to be free of this weight NOW. So, NOW is the best season for me. LOL.

Good luck on your journey. I think once you can get in for a consult or go to one of the free seminars that a lot of places offer, you'll get a lot of questions answered.

Ha and I see after I just posted above, that this was posted in "The Guy's Room". Sorry to invade guys. I can't figure out how to delete a post, but I think the information I posted is still the same for guys or gals.

OMG I TOOK ONE SIP OF ISOPURE AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO THROW UP, IT TASTED LIKE ROTTON MILLK

I said I was in the minority. There is a reason they are still in business, some of us can put up with it.

I'm not a guy but I am in Kansas City so I will answer about doctors. The KC Bariatric team has been wonderful through my process. I will be having my VSG in November with Dr. Aragon and would highly recommend his office.

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Yep check out KC Bariatric. I'm using dr Hamilton. 3 people I work with have went there and have had great results.

I first went to my PCP together advice. She knows me well and was instrumental in getting me on the righttrack..

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