New too this -- and a bit concerned....

Hi All,

Although I have been a member of this website for a few years, this is the first time I have actually really used it.

I am 30 years old and very overweight and I recently decided that surgery might be good for me. I have considered doing this in the past, but I was under the impression that it was something you had to pay for out of pocket, so I never really did much research on it. Instead I would try diet after diet, workouts after workouts. I would lose a good amount but then would gain it back plus some. If I was on a diet and I would slip up, I would completely give up instead of just pushing myself to move forward.

I recently saw an endocrinologist because I wanted to get my weight under control and I was concerned that I may develop diabetes. When talking with her she was telling me about some medications I could try to help jump start losing weight again, but then she brought up the idea of bariatric surgery. When she first said it, I was kind of shocked...I started to wonder if I pushed myself too far to be able to do this on my own and I wasn't sure what to do. She sent me on my way with some samples of some medication and I went on my way. This one medication she gave me really helped me in a big way, but then I found out how much it was to stay on it and because I currently have no benefits at work, there was no way I could afford to be on it. I was really unhappy about this because this was finally something really working for me and I can't continue it. That is when I started to do some research on the surgery and found out it was covered under my medical. I then started talking about it with friends and family and to my surprise, they were all very supportive so I just decided that I was going to ask about doing it the next time I would see my Dr.

At first I was a bit worried that I was just trying to take the easy way out....I felt like I was still young enough to do this on my own, but since the Dr is the one who suggested it, I felt like it was the right thing to do.

I did tell my Dr. about my decision and she said she would put a referral into a specialist in it and that would get the ball rolling. I did some research on the surgeon when I got home and I saw a lot of bad reviews on him which made me really worry about it. Some said that they waited hours in the office for an appointment. Some said that he would push them to do other things instead of the surgery. Plus there were more. Now, I understand why he would want people to try to do things on their own....and I am sure that there are people out there who choose the surgery instead of trying because they don't want to put the effort in making a lifestyle change. But now I am worried that I am going to get to his office and have him make me feel bad about choosing surgery over trying it myself. I didn't come to this decision on my own.....I had a Dr. tell me it might be the right thing for me. If she hadn't of, I probably would have never considered it. 

Anyway, it will probably be at least a year before I get in to see him but I still like to have other people to talk to about this who have an understanding of what I am going through.

For those of you who have had the surgery, how long did it take after the first appointment that you got your surgery? And what did the surgeon want you to do before being approved for the surgery?

I'm so glad you are considering surgery as a method of dealing with your obesity.  I waited until I was in my 60's to do it, and I so wish I had done it decades earlier.  I had that same experience of dieting and losing a lot of weight and then gaining it back rapidly when the diet was over. 

I'm sure it is tough to have to wait a year to get started, but you can start the weight loss process on your own.  I had to do a three-month pre-op supervised diet, and I lost 50 pounds before surgery.  Any weight lost before surgery makes the surgery safer and easier.  So consider it an opportunity.  I wonder if you could arrange to start working with a nutritionist now, rather than waiting a year.  That might help.

It was three and a half months after my first appointment until I got the surgery.  That was fairly standard in my program. 

I think you will be so happy that you chose weight loss surgery.  It really works.  You have to commit to following the rules and be diligent in keeping to plan.  But the surgery makes it possible - not easy, but possible.

Best wishes,

Carol

Good For you making the decision to take control of your life and health. I have recently done the same thing. My cousin introduced the idea to me because she has made the decision as well. I did not have a Dr tell me I should consider this operation. I made the decision on my own simply because for 20 years I have battled my weight. lose, gain, lose gain and gain some more. I really wish I knew how much I have lost and gained over the years, but I would feel confident saying it's a few hundred pounds. Along with thousands of dollars. I believe even though we aren't Drs, we are all somewhat in tune with our body enough to know when you need help. So, regardless if a Dr recommended this to you or not, you made the decision and you should be proud of yourself. Proud that you love yourself enough to live. As for waiting a year, this one kind of surprised me. I called my Dr to set my initial consultation last Wednesday and was able to schedule my appointment for this Wednesday. I did my research on my Dr as well and saw nothing but positive, excellent reviews from patients all over the country. I know I have only just begun my journey but, I would say if you aren't comfortable with the reviews and that year long wait I would speak to your primary Dr again about a referral to a different Dr or at least see what options you have to chose another Dr.. It's quite possible your Dr doesn't know about the negative reviews or timeframe. My first appointment is this Wednesday. My understanding is that if your BMI is over 40 you likely won't have to wait for 6 months of monitored weight plans or having to prove additional comorbidities (although all insurances aren't the same). I'm really excited for you! I hope this might help:)

Was in the same boat and now I am in day 5 pre op and ready to go!  I just saw all these people around me shrinking and thought why not me!  Also, I have 8 year old twins that I needed more energy.  I used to think and told my wife that I will lose weight before thier born, NOT - Then I said ok they are born I must do something - NOT - Then our work schedules changed and job and things just got tougher and I never lost the weight.   Then I got the job I always wanted and though good I can workout with the team - gues what NOT!!!!!!    I just am sick and tired or being sick and tired!   I lost 82lbs once and some small chunks - 30 here 20 there etc.    82 lbs and I was 1 lb away from cracking the 300lb mark....and could not do it....life changed and all hell broke loose.   So why now - well I am 46 with 8 year old twins and I need more energy in my home life and job......I need this regardless if I think I can do it on my own - obviosuly that did not happen! I went in October - was covered insurance wise and by Feb got the call and April 21 I go in - it is alot of preparation and yes you will be scared as I am still today - but you know what - I am done with going back and forth...plus I need to be healthier for my family and myself!  My Dr said this to me ooh about 10 years ago and everytime - every year ever since...so I guess I was hard headed....but now is my time and you will have yours.....you move forward and face your fears and know that you will see yourself the way you want in the end.  I will be pulling for you!

Every insurance requires different hoops you need to jump ... Try calling yours and see what you need to do pre approval and maybe you can start checking the requirements off your list now .. 

I had to be under my primary dr care of 6 mths going to get weight in once a month .. 

I needed a endoscopy and to see a shrink one appointment specializing in weight loss..

some insurances make u go for sleep test 

Find out then call the surgeon and see if you can start the process b4 your appointment a year from now ..

"At first I was a bit worried that I was just trying to take the easy way out....I felt like I was still young enough to do this on my own, but since the Dr is the one who suggested it, I felt like it was the right thing to do."

The first thing you need to know is this: WLS is NOT the easy way out. It's actually very difficult. Every day is a battle with your mind and body to keep yourself on track and to keep pushing yourself to do the right thing. The surgery merely provides you with a tool to help. It definitely doesn't do the work for you. You still have to decide not to eat that ice cream, or those chips, or whatever else your trigger foods happen to be. You still have to push yourself to exercise to get your muscles toned and working at their best capacity. And you still have to live with the choices you've made along the way - good or bad. I applaud your decision to have the surgery. If you're like me, you'll be wishing you'd done it sooner, so you could actually start living the life you were meant to have. 

Good luck to you.

Best wishes! Let me tell you that this surgery is the best thing I could of ever done for myself. I've tried every diet you can think of before having surgery. I would always lose about 50 lbs only to gain 80 lbs back. It was a struggle. It still is a struggle. WLS is not the easy way out by any means. It helps you control your portions yes, but it doesn't control what you actually eat. You have to do that. It's up to you to make those choices. 

As for time frame.. My insurance required me to do 6 months supervised diet with a nutritionist. I lost 53 lbs before surgery. My program also required me to go to 4 group therapy meetings. Also my insurance required that my 6 months be consecutive. If I missed a month I had to start over. So I never missed! After my last nutrition appointment my surgery was about 2 weeks out. My doctor didn't require a pre-op diet, only 24 hours clear liquids. The only reason it was 2 weeks out from my last appointment was because I picked the date. I needed to make sure my short term was approved and my time off of work was granted. 

Best of luck to you on your journey!!

Time from appointment to surgery varies depending on your insurance plan. There's generally a fair bit of testing to be done, and a three- or six-month pre-op diet is often a part of it. I had a three-month diet (just checked in with my GP each month to note my progress), and the process took about four months.

My list of requirements included:

• Sleep study
• Cardiac clearance (stress test and EKG)
• Supervised diet
• Visits with a nutritionist
• Gathering 5 years' worth of medical records
• Approval from a psychiatrist

I too made my final decision when another doctor suggested surgery-- in my case, it was my psychiatrist who'd seen me battle with my weight as a side-effect of my medications (though mostly my own crappy eating). That was my moment of, "hey, somebody who knows their stuff thinks this is worth considering" that finally did it for me.

omg Sparkle, they made you get 5 years!!??  I am surprised they didn't make you sign over your first born. Insurance companies/medical feed greed irritate the heck out of me!

Yup, I needed a medical record from each of the 5 years prior to surgery with documented weight to prove BMI >40 or >35 with comorbidity. I ended up getting records from 2 GP's, one from a cardiologist visit, and one from my gyno in order to cover every calendar year. Such a hassle!