Very frustrating. Finally made up my mind to move forward with weight loss surgery. Jumped through all of the hoops.Date set for December. Then the hospital canceled all elective surgeries through the end of the year because they need all available beds for Covid patients. The doctors office can't tell me when they will be allowed to start up again. This was devastating news. Like most, I have struggled with my weight all my life. I finally thought I was going to take back control and now it feels hopeless again. I am trying to remain positive and remember that it will happen at some point... Anyone else get postponed or have to wait a significant amount of time before your operation? What did you do during that time?

From the time I was starting the process to finally getting the surgery I timed in at 23 months. ?

My best advice is start losing weight NOW. I lost the max amount of weight I could before surgery (eventually) without dropping my BMI below what insurance would approve, and I am so thankful I did. If you have a lot to lose, you’re only going to have so long on your surgery “honeymoon”, so whatever you can lose now is weight you don’t need to lose later. Also, I feel like it made it easier to deal with things like the pre op diet, post op diet, eating smaller amounts, etc.

1 hour ago, blackcatsandbaddecisions said:

From the time I was starting the process to finally getting the surgery I timed in at 23 months. ?

My best advice is start losing weight NOW. I lost the max amount of weight I could before surgery (eventually) without dropping my BMI below what insurance would approve, and I am so thankful I did. If you have a lot to lose, you’re only going to have so long on your surgery “honeymoon”, so whatever you can lose now is weight you don’t need to lose later. Also, I feel like it made it easier to deal with things like the pre op diet, post op diet, eating smaller amounts, etc.

Wow! Way to go! Sounds like excellent advice to me. I can I ask you- with your BMI lower before surgery, after surgery did your remaining weight loss slow down? My BMI WAS 37 pre-surgery, and my weight loss seems slower than a lot of others. I wondered if having less to lose takes longer? And why did it take 23 mos.,?

Edited November 26, 20205 yr by Grammie2

Oh yeah, I absolutely am losing slower as a result of previous weight loss. I’m at 16 days post op and I’m down 11.8 lbs from surgery, most of which was lost in the first week or so. I am fine with it, because overall I’m down 70 lbs. I just hit 38 BMI, from a high of 45 or so. This isn’t a race, it’s a marathon.

It took me so long because I started the process, couldn’t afford out of pocket, waited to get my husband a job with bariatric coverage, got through the insurance waiting period, then the 6 month diet, then finally surgery!

19 hours ago, blackcatsandbaddecisions said:

Oh yeah, I absolutely am losing slower as a result of previous weight loss. I’m at 16 days post op and I’m down 11.8 lbs from surgery, most of which was lost in the first week or so. I am fine with it, because overall I’m down 70 lbs. I just hit 38 BMI, from a high of 45 or so. This isn’t a race, it’s a marathon.

It took me so long because I started the process, couldn’t afford out of pocket, waited to get my husband a job with bariatric coverage, got through the insurance waiting period, then the 6 month diet, then finally surgery!

You wanted this for a long time then. I had thought about it for a long time, but my sister had stomach stapling 30+ years ago, and she gained all her weight back, plus throws up to this day. But the years have perfected some of these surgeries, and I’m on Social Security, and Medicare, and Medicare pays for this surgery if your BMI is 35 or more with other problems. My BMI was 37, so I was able to get it done. I was 209 at the beginning of March when I started the process. I was 206 on surgery day, and now I’m 191. This week tho I don’t think it will be as much as the other two weeks. That’s why I asked if it was going slower since your weight has dropped. Today was a terrible day for me protein wise. I made salmon for supper but had some leftover sweet potato casserole earlier, and making the salmon about made me throw up just smelling it. Shouldn’t have had the casserole. It wasn’t much, but it was too soon I guess. Yukkkydo! Have you had any of those days?

All my days are about the same, since I’m still on the 4 week post op liquid diet right now. My current biggest treat is to add some PB2 into my chocolate protein shake. Now that’s excitement!

I think with waiting for surgery, waiting to lose weight before/after surgery, and a lot of things in life, patience is the virtue it was always said to be. I used to play chess competitively and I remember the coach telling people so often that the only thing that lost them the game was impatience. Look to your end goals and work backwards to figure out your steps to get there. If you can’t do anything to advance right now, then look for an action that at least won’t hurt your progress. And when you get an opening to move forward with your goals, be ready and go!

On 11/21/2020 at 12:47, Chelle1007 said:

I was scheduled the 25th of November for bypass and it was cancelled yesterday. With the way things are going I can’t imagine it will happen this year and I can’t afford to pay my max out of pocket again, so this may be the end of the road for me. I wish you serious luck!!!

If you have met all of your insurance pre-op requirements can you check with other surgeons who may still be performing surgeries? I totally understand the out of pocket max thing. We took a more expensive bi-weekly premium plan this year to get the lower out of pocket max, but I still paid 5500 out of pocket, and I wouldn’t want to do it again for the same procedure unless it was a revision etc. Right now my surgeon is still performing surgeries, at least as of last week, but I’m in Georgia, but I would be one that definitely would be calling around all my neighboring states programs and seeing if there was a surgeon who could get me in. They know it’s expensive, so I’d tell any one of them who would listen about your situation and see if they could get you in. My center had a 4 week fast track program, and that was for people just starting the journey, so I bet there is some place that could get you in!! Good luck!!!!!

I’m sorry to hear about this. I can only imagine your frustration. I would say take the time to do things you enjoy that you won’t be able to do after surgery.

On 11/28/2020 at 12:07 AM, blackcatsandbaddecisions said:

All my days are about the same, since I’m still on the 4 week post op liquid diet right now. My current biggest treat is to add some PB2 into my chocolate Protein Shake. Now that’s excitement!

I think with waiting for surgery, waiting to lose weight before/after surgery, and a lot of things in life, patience is the virtue it was always said to be. I used to play chess competitively and I remember the coach telling people so often that the only thing that lost them the game was impatience. Look to your end goals and work backwards to figure out your steps to get there. If you can’t do anything to advance right now, then look for an action that at least won’t hurt your progress. And when you get an opening to move forward with your goals, be ready and go!

Great advice! I’ll try to keep that in the front of my mind!?

On 11/21/2020 at 7:01 AM, shannels said:

Very frustrating. Finally made up my mind to move forward with weight loss surgery. Jumped through all of the hoops.Date set for December. Then the hospital canceled all elective surgeries through the end of the year because they need all available beds for Covid patients. The doctors office can't tell me when they will be allowed to start up again. This was devastating news. Like most, I have struggled with my weight all my life. I finally thought I was going to take back control and now it feels hopeless again. I am trying to remain positive and remember that it will happen at some point... Anyone else get postponed or have to wait a significant amount of time before your operation? What did you do during that time?

I am right there with you. I have wanted surgery since 2008 and at the beginning of 2020 finally got insurance that would cover it. Jan 2 I called the doctors office about starting up the process, and I have spent the last 11 months jumping through all the hoops. I was approved the weekend before Thanksgiving. I stopped the medicines she told me I'd need to stop for 2 weeks before surgery (including my pain management meds for my joints) and started on my pre-op liver shrinking diet. I had been told that once insurance approves, you should be ready as fast as you can because surgery is generally 2 weeks max 1 month out after that. I eagerly awaited my phone call to schedule surgery, and planned on having a last Thanksgiving meal with stuffing (my favorite! just lower portion sizes). Thanksgiving came and went and the phone call never came. After checking in with the surgeon's office, apparently due to COVID, there will be no surgeries scheduled for at least 30 days. This puts my surgery date into next year. This screwed up the time off I've been saving for this all year, my finances because I'll be dealing with a brand new out of pocket amount starting Jan 1. I'm angry at all the people who are traveling for the holidays, who don't wear masks, and who aren't taking this seriously. I'm angry at my doctor for delaying me 3 months in the summer because my A1C was 7.1 instead of 7.0 (!!!!!) I'm just angry and sad. Right now, mostly angry and feeling hopeless, which is a new combo for me.

I've stopped caring what I'm eating and logging my food. I'm eating maybe one meal a day of junk and binging on diet soda. I'm not exercising. I'm really wondering what the hell is the point here. I feel like I've been waiting forever and like I'm never going to get this tool and maybe I should just do like a teenager and just get an eating disorder like normal people.

Yes. I started this journey in February. I went through the required steps, then had the insurance tell me I had to have 6 mandatory sessions over a 6 month period with a nutritionist. Well, right after I started my sessions COVID hit. So even though I completed all of my requirements in September, I was not able to get a date for my surgery until 2 days ago, I am now scheduled for surgery in January. Hang in there, at least we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Since my insurance is covering my surgery, I deliberately scheduled it for Jan. This way I only pay the deductible once in the case of needing to have a second surgery down the road to remove excess skin.

I'm eating fairly healthy and just trying to keep in good spirits till January arrives.

Spitfireash, your insurance will pay for skin surgery? Lucky!!

minimamaz00m, Right now they are saying that they will. The surgeon said it should be easy to get it covered as a scenario where the skin surgery is needed as a result of the sleeve surgery. Let's hope they really do cover it when it comes down to it. Worst case scenario, I have a relative overseas who is a general surgeon so if they wont cover it I'll have to take a trip overseas and get it done there which will be way cheaper and I know I'll still be in good hands!

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by Spitfireash

So sorry, you’ve had such a long delay. I know how frustrating it is, as mine had been delayed too, but now I’m on the other side, and soon you will be too.
with the holidays the day will be here before you know it. All the sudden —- it’s here!!!
Happy for you that the excess skin surgery will also be cared for! Wow- that’s terrific! You are very fortunate! Wish you all the best in your new journey!

I’m delayed too. It’s officially been a year since I started the program....It does feel very overwhelming and hopeless. Like it’s never going to happen. I completed 6 months went through all the hoops and loops and I tried to stay on top of it all and In November I got a phone call for Dec 23. I have a 7 yr old and I’m a single mom there’s no way I could do that to her. So I called to check on it today and I was informed that they may be shut down again and there’s forty ppl ahead of me between all of there doctors. So it probably won’t happen in January. I have insurance through January I will have to do a Redetermination mid January which shouldnt change insurance but there’s always that chance. Also the surgery center told me that if they shut down it could be months again and then all the people already scheduled will be rescheduled first. ??‍♀️ Sucks.

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by Notwhatyousee

3 hours ago, Notwhatyousee said:

I’m delayed too. It’s officially been a year since I started the program....It does feel very overwhelming and hopeless. Like it’s never going to happen. I completed 6 months went through all the hoops and loops and I tried to stay on top of it all and In November I got a phone call for Dec 23. I have a 7 yr old and I’m a single mom there’s no way I could do that to her. So I called to check on it today and I was informed that they may be shut down again and there’s forty ppl ahead of me between all of there doctors. So it probably won’t happen in January. I have insurance through January I will have to do a Redetermination mid January which shouldnt change insurance but there’s always that chance. Also the surgery center told me that if they shut down it could be months again and then all the people already scheduled will be rescheduled first. ??‍♀️ Sucks.

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through that. That really does suck. Just hang in there and stick with the healthy eating. Hopefully Jan will be here before we know it. It took 6 phone calls and numerous messages to the surgeon's office for me to get the date finalized. They finally admitted that my file was lost in the process of COVID and a scheduler change in their office!? Sometimes it wears me out and gives me serious anxiety all these hoops to jump through to try to get healthier.