Tell Me The Truth

I'm very nervous.  I was all set to go for my lap band surgery with Dr. Aranow in Connecticut, and I was prepared to be a self pay and at the prompting of the Doc, I had written a letter to my husbands employer (self insured), never thinking they would even consider changing their benefit policy and low and behold, they did! Yeah! But....that means waiting until after June 1 (beginning of new policy period).  Still yeah!  I can wait and my letter also helped others in his company to get the coverage they need too!  Again, but....the longer I wait the more apprehensive I become. I started watching the program on TV, not sure of the name of it, where they interview WLS patients and show all the extra skin and such they end up with and I haven't prepared myself for that possibility and the possibility for plastic surgery.  I keep wondering how is it that the people on "The Biggest Loser", who also lose a significant amount of weight in such a short time, don't seem to have the extra skin problem?  Or do they and we just aren't being shown that part?  Can anyone answer some of these questions, from personal experience.  I know the benefit outways this "side effect", but it is still something I need to address mentally and prepare for.  I'm finding myself "back peddling" on my decision to have the lap band.  Thanks in advance for your honest answers and opinions.

I had rny with Aranow 3 years ago and have lost 150lbs and below my goal of 138, I have had two rounds of plastics so far and this is by far the best thing I ever did for myself.  I had my plastics at Yale, its a teaching hospital and they have a residency program which makes the costs even better.  If you want to see my pics add me as a friend and you can see what the before and after skin looks like.  I am up for one more procedure on my thighs. Hugs Heidi

Your pre-op apprehension is completely normal. After a year of preparation I'm going to be banded in three weeks and everything suddenly is moving so fast that it makes me a little anxious. When I'm anxious, I tend to focus on things that can go wrong instead of all the positives. My advice is take all the time you need to get comfortable with your decision and then try to look at all the wonderful things this will make possible in the future. Best of luck to you in whatever you choose!

Hi Heidi, My surgeon has referred my for a tt two times and I always seem to chicken out on even going for the consult mostly because I don't think my insurance will pay.  My plan has always been to go back to Yale for plastics just because it's cheaper if you pay out of pocket.  Do you mind my asking how much your tt surgery cost and which surgeon did it???   Thanks, Sue

C L E A N S I N G   B R E A T H.....   Congrats on being the force behind a policy change at your hubby's workplace. BRAVO!     Your nervousness is perfectly natural. You are having feelings that will happen no matter when you have your surgery.   I had a few "waits" along my path to surgery (RNY).  I was fully on board to have surgery, knowing it was the right path for me. Yet.. I found myself doubting the closer I got... I thought it was doubt... but looking back, I believe it was facing the reality of so many years of being morbidly obese and finally finding a real answer. This all gave me the opportunity to settle whatever I need to within, while waiting for the extended date . I continued to go to seminars to further educate myself on the procedure I had chosen. I also went the the "foodie" therapist pre-op to help get ready mentally. The TRUTH ... YOUR TRUTH is there within... where your WISE WOMAN resides. Listen to that voice... address the fears... yes, of course. My mom has a saying about FEAR... False Evidence Appearing Real.   This waiting period is your time... YOUR TIME to be of clear and conscious intent about what you are doing.  If you can, try not to doubt yourself. But rather talk to the worries and fears.  Perfectly natural place to be in. I would say 99% of us have been there and continue to be there as we grow through this process of COMING HOME.   As for the Biggest Loser folks? They ALL get help on continually throughout the process behind the scenes until they hit their goals.   As for the shows showing post op folks? TV is all about sensationalism... getting the viewers to watch the show. Choosing the lapband, I am told, you will lose slower than with RNY and perhaps if you exercise regularly as well, you might have good luck with your extra skin. I hear skin elasticity is all in the gene cards one draws.     Hang in there... T.

I had to wait several months due to the fact that in order to have insurance coverage, my employer had to change our policy--which he did without a second thought!  I did not have any second thoughts while I was waiting--I was just nervous that my congestive heart failure would take me before Dr. Bell would be able to give me the tools I would need to change my life!  Almost nine months later--the hanging skin on my arms amuses my children!  My underbelly-as I have come to call it, can be an issue if I do not keep it clean and dry--I do plan on plastics as I have a hernia that needs to be repaired--I am hoping insurance will cover it, but if they don't, I will find a way, as the rash is not fun! it is still the best thing I have done!  my heart is healthier than it has been since my son's birth 15 years ago--I can now run on the treadmill! and going up and down the stairs is no longer a task that I fear!   best of luck in your journey!  And congratulations on taking the high road in getting your husband's insurance company to cover the surgery! Jennifer

Ya know, I watched those medical shows pre-op and it made me wonder what the hell was I thinking doing this. I had to step back and remember that if I didn't do it I would get worse with everything. It's perfectly normal to feel this way. Like T. said you are getting the lap band so your weight loss will be slower and you might not have the evil extra skin.

I knew coming into this that I was either going to stay obese and well over 300 lbs, or I was going to get thin with skin issues. I chose skin issues over being obese. I can hide everything in clothing, with it you can't even tell I was once ever fat, but without it, yeah i have a panni, upper arm major wings, and thigh issues, but it is still 100x better than dealing with obesity problems. People that can afford all the fixing, great for them, I would if I could too. But if you cannot, don't let them stop you as the sole reason is for not getting surgery, extra skin is 100x less dangerous than high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease, cardiovasculzf disease, diabetes, etc.