Finally Admitted to Myself the reality of my life

Hi Jim, Just thought I would respond to give a male perspective. I went to my surgeon first and he (Robert Bell, M.D. Yale) gave me a some info that I gave to my PCP (Robert Taddeo, M.D. New Britian) and he was able to incorporate that into his letter supporting me in having WLS. Every person has to make their own decision on the risks and benefits. For me I was becoming so sedantary that I was only going to get bigger and bigger and with that all the other bad health issues. Now I feel great and am getting better all the time. Congratulations on taking the first important step. Information from all sources will be your biggest friend. Let me know if I can help you answer any questions. Dave

WOW! Thank you all so much for the overwhelming response. You have all answered some questions here and there. I'm amazed at how you all responded with the answers I need. Thank You!!!! I do have more questions... Did you all set appointments with your Bariatric Surgeons without seeing your PCP or doctor first? I thought I had to get the blessing from him before I could talk to a surgeon. I thought Connecticare required a referral. In the past, I thought I was "just fine" and didn't see my PCP but once in the past couple years and that was the only time I visited a doctor in probably the past 7 or 8 years. (Outside of a walk in visit here or there for injury or severe cold or flu) Of course now I realize that I probably avoided the doctor because deep down I knew I was heading down the wrong path and was afraid of what I would hear. Hopefully, he will understand the medical necessity and urgency of this for me and give his blessings to make insurance easier to deal with. I have an appointment Friday... Any advice? OK, the other worry I have is my Smoking. Have any of you had to work through that? I am trying to quit as we speak. By the way, I started reading through your journey's and they are all very helpful. I'm so happy for all of you who are post-op and I wish the absolute best for those who are pre-op. Goss bless Y'all! Jim

Jim -- I don't have ConnectiCare so I don't know what their requirements are. If you have a plan that requires referral for specialist doctors, then you probably need to go to your PCP. It seems they're generally supportive if you've made the decision. Just be really upfront with the PCP and explain clearly why you want to have the surgery, and don't take no for an answer! As for smoking, I know my dr. (Mitchell Roslin at Lenox Hill Hosp. in NYC) required that any smoking patients stop smoking for at least a month before they can have the surgery -- if someone doesn't stop, they don't get the surgery until they DO stop. I don't understand all of it, but it has to do with lung capacity/breathing issues, and you heal faster if you're not smoking. You sound like a great guy, and one who wants a new, healthier life for himself. Who wouldn't want that? Take good care! Kathy F.

Two posts in a row to you! I was on the "Complications" community of this website, and one of the questions of the day was about smoking, and a nurse had the following reply. I thought you might find it helpful. I am a surgical nurse, and smoking greatly increases your risk of developing a DVT (deep vein thrombosis or blood clot), if you have a blood clot it will migrate to the lungs and most likely you will die. This is one of the more common and serious complications with this surgery. That is why they make you walk the night after your surgery (most of the time depending on your condition), and they make you wear TED hose and use scds on your feet (support stockings with an apparatus on your feet that inflates and deflates constantly to encourage return blood flow). Smoking cessation is your best chance to keep from having a life threatening clot when you go to surgery. Never starting up is preferred, but most importantly listen to the doc and don't smoke for 30 days before your surgery. Nobody that has this surgery wants to die from it; decrease your chance of complications. Good luck!

Hey Jim, You don't have to see your PCP first unless you need a referal. Re: your smoking. If you go to Dr. Aranow he requires you to quit at least a month before surgery (that's what he told my hubby anyway) besides, that will improve your health that much more!! Good luck! Christine

Hi Jim, I would find out which surgeon's are on Connecticare's list , and contact them to have them send you out the information packets - forms, etc. Then, you will be ready to roll when you see your PCP on Friday. Even if the surgeon doesn't mandate that you quit smoking , you should. Besides all the obvious reasons, it is a significant risk factor during surgery. My daughter just went through some "female" surgery, and she smokes. She had so much mucus in her lungs that they kept her in the hospital an additional day to be sure she would be ok. The anesthesiologist was very concerned during the surgery - it makes it very difficult for them. So, my advice would be to quit now - get it all out of your lungs before your surgery. The surgery already has risks, being obese has risks - no need to add another serious risk factor to the equation. God Bless as you continue on your journey. Kathy Bilodeau

Hey there, Jim! I have Connecticare and they approved me without any problem at all. I did have several comorbidities, though, so that helped. They DO, however, have a $500 surgical copay, but my secondary insurance picked that up. On the downside, my surgeon has decided to stop taking CTcare because they were approving the procedures and then opting not to reimburse the drs what they were due. Nice, huh?

Well then. I guess I'll be quitting smoking right away then. I think I'm going to give Dr. Aranow a call tomorrow to have them send me all the info I need to get rolling. My sister-in-law works at Middlesex Hospital and know Dr. Aranow. I think I'll see what he can do. Thanks again everyone! Jim

HI JIM, I WILL GO TO DR. ARANOW'S SEMINAR ON MAY 12 AND HOPE TO MEET YOU THERE KATHY K OF WATERFORD

Jim- Hi! I read all the posts to you and you must be feeling the wonderful warmth of our little CT family by now!! I grew up in NB myself! Give UConn a call too, Dr. David Giles, it is close to home and he is also a wonderful surgeon and has a great track record with men also. Come to our support group next month, it is April 12th and if you'd like directions I'll give them to you and introduce you to Dr. G and a man named Jim Brooks who had this surgery I think almost 2 years ago and was about your size and also at that time smoked. The next meeting will be one of our own members from here navigating us on the net she is a whiz at finding the free samples of protein!! But at least you can feel a connection with some others in your exact position. Email me and I'll give you directions if you are interested! Even if you decide on Dr. A, you can still come and just experience what it's all about! hugs from another New Bri--ain ite!! You know a true New Britainite if they don't use the T right Deb??? Cheryl