Just Getting Started--Hi Everyone!!!

 Hi Y'all!

My name is Denise and I live in Nashville.  I've just started the arduous paperwork trail for insurance approval for WLS.  I will most likely get the Realize Band, though if insurance covered the VSG, I'd likely go that route.  I'm still doing my research, so I have plenty of time to make an informed decision.

I have been lurking around OH since my bariatric nurse Mona told me about it.  I love the TN forum because it is filled with some really fantastic and supportive people right in my backyard.  You guys have some great posts (was reading one earlier from Sept about Is WLS the "easy" way out)!!  It's more helpful than you know to those of us just getting started.  I have a glimpse of understanding of the sacrifices and effort it will take, though I won't truly get it until post-op.

My first question for everyone is:  what has been the most challenging part of your journey so far? Making the choice to do it, choosing the surgery type, dealing with post op diet, surgical pain, dealing with peoples' questions, etc?

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us newbies!

Hugs,
Denise

Hey Denise! Welcome to the board!
I am 1 year post op and the only time that has been the hardest for me was the first month...I was really tired and the liquid diet was tough.
Wishing you many well wishes as you begin this journey!
Betsy

 Thanks, Betsy!

I think the liquid diet is going to be very challenging.  I've never actually been on one before. Hopefully during recovery, I won't feel much like eating so maybe that will help (wishful thinking??).

I have only had one surgery before . . . sinus surgery last October in hopes that if my sinuses were more open I would be able to use my cpap machine.  Seems like I wasn't much interested in eating for a few days after that.  I'm always tired because I never have luck with my machine and the sinus surgery helped somewhat, but not much.  So tired, I'm used to! 

Anything worth having is worth work and sacrifice.  Knowing others, like you, have been strong enough to get through it will give me more courage too!

Thanks again, Betsy!
Denise

Hi Denise and congratulations on getting started with the losing team.  I just had RNY on Monday the 6th and the hardest was the waiting game for insurance as mine took 8 months to complete jumping through the hoops and getting approved.  The surgery went great, not much pain, my biggest struggle during the hospital stay was no fluids for 24 hours after surgery.  I take in a lot of fluids and that was a challenge. 

Good luck on your journey.

 Thanks, Karen!  And congratulations on your surgery!!!!  

The insurance thing (I have BC/BS TN) should be the fun part, ha ha!  The patient insurance gal at the hospital seems quite helpful and aside from some support group meetings, the letter of medical necessity and dietician meetings, etc., I don't have to do much.  The biggie the lose 10% of your weight up front.  

I wish I could test out of that part, having so many co-morbidities, but I'll get through it.  Now that the weather is not unbearably hot, I've gotten back in the routine of walking.

Hopefully I can get through the insurance phase relatively unscathed, but I expect it'll take me probably 6 months to wade through it.

Congrats again on your recent surgery--I hope you continue to have smooth sailing!
Denise

Hello Denise,

congratulations on the first step of your journey, the decision to have weight loss surgery.  Its an important first step.  Im one yr post op of having adustable lap band surgery.  I am so glad that I did.  Although there are ups and downs, but I have no regrets whatsoever.  The hardest part for me has been dealing with head hunger.  That is deciding if my body is really hungry or does my mind think my body is hungry. and this is because I was and still am an emotional eater.  But the trick is to eat healthy even if i eat due to emotions, and learning when its my body and not my mind calling out to me. 

good luck in your journey, and keep us posted on your progress.  please dont hesitate to ask any questions you may have.  This site is a great source of info and support.

 Thank you so much, Kim!

Head hungry versus actual hungry makes a lot of sense.  I'm lucky when I'm at work it doesn't bug me much.  At home, especially on the weekend, is a whole 'nuther story!   I think my head hunger is more boredom motivated.  I'll have to come up with alternate things to do besides standing in front of the fridge . . . like coming to the boards!  Great thing is I can easily get distracted (I call it Oh, Shiny!) for an hour or more and hopefully by then the head hunger will have quieted down.

I'm glad to hear that you have no regrets.  I know that there is always the likelihood of complications, even with the band, but it seems even on the revisions and regrets boards that many people would still do it again in spite of problems.  My milage may vary, and we'll see how things go.  

I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired.  And I don't want to waste any more time.  Seems like a lot of people say they just wish they'd done it sooner.  

I'm very grateful for people like you and the rest of the boards to help make sure my expectations are realistic.  It's not gonna be a cakewalk, but in the end I think it'll be worth it.

Thanks again!
Denise

Denise welcome aboard!
I have BC/BS TN. also I felt they where pretty quick I did get disallowed at first for a typo, fixed it a week later approved.
 
One word of advise be very much a part of your insurance filing get signed up with BC/BS so you can go on line and access your file, this way you can see before the hospital ever gets contacted.
 
I have no regrets, finding this board educated me beyond any other source! I can't think of one hard part I'm still challenged to slow my eating and chew, chew, chew!
 
I will encourage you to keep up the routine exercise, journal everything you do, eat, drink and take as far medicine, learn as much as you can about the surgery chose you made how it effects your co-morbidities and attend as many support groups either here or in person.

Good Luck everyone here wants you to succeed as much as you do!!!
C'ya Bob

 Oh my goodness, Bob, I am SO grateful for you guys!!!

Do you ever attend any of the bypass support groups at Vanderbilt?  I work there and am having my surgery there.  I've been to one lap band support group which was really informative (in spite of the fact there were no post op people there!) and think I will go to one of the bypass meetings as well to see how the RNY people feel about their surgery.

I have my log on info for BC/BS, but I didn't realize you could see the information they've compiled.  Cool--I love the internet! 

Journaling is key.  The time I lost about 45 pounds (uh, gained that back and then some), I was extremely dedicated about journaling.  I'll make sure to print some journal pages and start doing that TODAY!   You and the other TN board gang are such a motivation!

Thank you for your support and I look forward to hanging with you guys here for a long time to come!!
Denise

Hi Denise,
  I don't have much insight to offer, I am pretty new to this myself with lots of challenges ahead also. I just wanted to say hi and welcome. This is a great place for us new comers to be. There are so many wonderful folks here that have already been where we are now. It's a great resource. Plus everyone here is  really nice and if you have questions, you stand a good chance of finding answers here.