Good morning! Glad you haven't given up on your surgery. I am really leaning toward By Pass surgery. I'm a big girl and have a lot f weight to loose (BMI 65.4). I have had my consultation with Dr. Schweitzer back in August. I have started my Nutritionist appointment which is required Priority Partners ( 6 months consecutively). If I miss one I have to start all over. Dr. Schweitzer is extremely well know for Laparoscopic bariatric surgery. He was the first to introduce it into the bariatric field. So I am confident that he knows what he's doing. Some reviews I have read say that he's a very straight forth type of person. Gets right to the point! He's not got a warm personality. Which is ok with me. What he lacks in personality he makes up for in experience!

As far as driving to Baltimore goes, I most likely will drive myself. My friends all work and I don't really want to bother them.  However that may change over time. Right now I'm focusing on these Nutrition appointments.

Good Luck, I hope your able to get your surgery soon. Research your surgeon. Find out everything you can about them. Read reviews and talk or text or message people who have been prior patients. Gather as much information as you can. Be prepared!

I know you posted this about a year ago. I live on the eastern shore and have Priority Partners through Md Medical assistance.  I am just starting my weight loss surgery journey. I have 6 months of nutritional classes, logging all my food, loosing five percent of my weight. I also have to have a psyche evaluation, sleep study, and cardiac check up. So far I have not had to pay for any of it. One thing though.... the only hospital they will let me have the surgery at is Johns Hopkins Bariatric Center.   So I will have to travel over 100 miles to do this!

Hope this helped if you haven't changed insurance's yet!

Hi there.  I am in Maryland.  I am not seeling a lot in the way of online support groups or even in person groups here in my area.   The lights are on, and I'm at home...   (taking that from part of your post.) 

I see you posted in January and that you had not had your surgery.  Have you had it yet?   

You mentioned that you know that plenty of people here are having the surgery.   Do you know anyone who has had surgery or do you just know that lots of people have had the surgery?   

I know a lot of people have had it too, but have not met any of them.   I knew a couple people personally who had it but they are former coworkers and they moved away and we did not continue to stay in touch.   I know friends of friends of friends.   I wish I knew someone in person who had the surgery.   

Forgive my ignorance, but what does the last part of your post mean?   Some of the print looks like it is part of the international phonetic alphabet, but I am not familiar with the rest of it...

Well, perhaps the Marylanders will become more active one here, or I might just have to pretend like I am from Texas  or somewhere else,where they seem to post alot..

Smiles.

I will put in my two cents on why your not loosing weight, to much empty calories with little nutritional value.  Fruit a no no for me.  When I had my RNY I asked myself "what is it that made you fat" "what was it that made you gain your weight back after every successful diet" for me it was carbs and sugar.  Soooooo, I eliminated carbs and sugar pretty much since surgery.  I typically eat: protein shake for breakfast mid morning snack I have quest bar, lunch I eat rotisserie chicken usually, afternoon iced coffee with sugar free creamer, dinner more chicken sometimes a bite or two of broccoli well done or spinach.  I really have only touched fruit once and it made me gain!  I drink 80oz water a day sweetened with no carb sugar free flavors.  I am almost 11 months out now and I'd say I've been successful thus far!  So my advice is to think about what your "trigger" foods are then eliminate them completely and rework your brain for the next 8 months or so, once you've reached your goal start incorporating fruit and other low carb/low cal things back into your diet.  Remember protein first, always no exceptions.  This is just my two cents.

Laura,

I can not express to you the difference has been in my life in just 6 months post-operatively.   I understand completely about being concerned about what you can or can not eat etc., I still struggle - because - food addiction wasn't cured by surgery.   Yes, trial and error was a big learning curve - but - trust me, a few times feeling ILL and/or wanting to vomit, or the pain that food caused you - you learn real fast about what you want to put into your body going forward.   This is my new positive.   I couldn't walk but, 1 block without struggling to breathe, and the weight on my legs was like walking in quick sand  - I had to FORCE myself to walk again; NO - it was not easy at first!  I just wanted to sit down and do nothing, cuz, after all, I couldn't EAT !!  My love, my lover, my friend - FOOD - was not nice to me anymore.  But, the more I started concentrating on what to eat; protein; vitamins, trying different things at first; before I knew it 25 lbs was off of me.  I could walk alittle more.   I had alittle more willpower.   Little by little - everyday was easier and easier.   YEP, I still had those days of thinking I could eat a BigMac = tried and failed.   There are days were my old habits sneak in, but, I get right back on track and I've never been able to eat more than 1/4 or a half of something bad.   So, the quantity is way different than 1 -2 BigMacs in one sitting.    

I totally understand the mental struggles.   Am I hungry? Nope.  Am I head hungry, feelings hungry, YEP.  But, I reward myself w/something good.   A nice piece of Godiva!   Or Bacon.  Depending on the time of day.   :)   

Good luck to you and whatever you decide!   I am very thankful for my life now; and I can walk w/out gasping for breathe; I don't get heartburn, ever; and mostly - I hope to be able to wear a pair of jeans soon without having elastic in them.  

Cheers to being positive about looking into living a longer, healthier life~