New Member needing guidance

Hello!! I am a new member here, and have been researching WLS for a couple months now. I am determined to see this through! I am so tired of being trapped in this body. I have not had insurance for quite a long time, so I have not been to the doctor for several years other than one short visit in May. I have a binder full of research and info and stats, etc. How do i go about talking with my primary care dr? I have an appt with him next week, and don't know how to broach the subject. Do I just walk in and say "I am fat, I am tired of being fat, I am tired of hurting and not being able to live the life I want to. I am tired of not being able to SEE my shoes, much less tie them!"? My insurance will cover WLS. Since I don't need a referral first, should I just go ahead and make an appointment with a surgeon? (I am already researching those as well). I have no idea how to get the ball rolling on this...any help would be appreciated!! Jaze

Hi. I'm new too. I have my consult with my surgeon on Monday 1-16. I have diabetes and a strong family history of heart disease. I just asked my primary care doc if I was a candidate and because of my bmi (body mass index) and my health issues, he said I was. Good luck and don't be affraid to be honest with your doc!!! Tracy

Hi Jaze, Most insurance companies have a list of things they want you to do/follow before you are able to get WLS...Things such as 3-6 month supervised diets, exercise program, nutrition support, psychological evaluation, etc...Who is your insurance? Also, what surgery are you considering and what surgeon are you considering going to? I didn't have insurance that would pay for WLS. I had the Duodenal Switch on July 20th and have had a GREAT SUCCESS with it...Most people do. I am soooo happy that this is the surgery that I chose. I self-paid so I wanted to get the best of what I could...I had my surgery done in Brazil...That was QUITE the experience...Let me tell ya! My surgeon was PHONENOMINAL and the hospital there was 100 times better than ANYTHING I have ever been to here in the US. Very high tech and SUPER clean! My sister lives kind of close to you. She lives up in Blaine. I'm over here in Yakima on the other side of the mountains. BUT, IF there is ANYTHING I can help you with, PLEASE feel free to e-mail me anytime...Or if you want, e-mail me and I will give you my phone number and you can call me...OR I could call you. It's UP to you. Feel free to check out my profile. There are some helpful things on there. I can eat ANYTHING I want and don't have dumping syndrome or anything like that. Since July, I have lost 80 pounds! Some loose faster some loose slower...It just depends on the person. But, PLEASE let me know IF there is anything I can do to help. OH my e-mail address is darcy82199 @ yahoo. com. (without the spaces of course) and my yahoo messenger ID is darcy82199. I have it turned on pretty much all day long. Good luck to you on your journey and may God bless EVERY step you take. Hugs, ~Darcy

Hey Darcy! I just wanted to say that you are so dang cute! And you are doing awesome! I wish you could give my mom some advice on how to eat properly with the DS surgery. I am worried about her. Sure she has lost 156lbs but she looks terrible. What kinds of things do you eat? I know you said you eat what you want but can you give me some ideas so I can pass it along? My mom is a junk food junkie. I always see her eating chips and candy, etc. I have talked to her repeatedly but she just doesn't get it. Jaze, sorry for the hijack! Lori

Hey Lorlee (I LOVE your name...It's VERY pretty!), Okay, here is a link to a post I made just yesterday about the protein. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/postdetail/69195.html?vc=0 I don't know what your Mom's dr.s orders are, but, mine has me taking 2 Centrum SILVERS (off brands are all okay), 1 Vit A, 1 Vit E, 1500mg Calcuim. I on my OWN take Vit. C 2 times a day because it makes the calcium absorb better...I am also taking Folic Acid because my hubby and I are going to start trying for our THIRD and FINAL baby in a few months. Dr. Also wants me to get in at least 90 grams of protein (some surgeons say 70 though) and 64 ounces of water/fluids. When was the last time she had her blood work done? She sounds like she's stubborn...Just like my Mom...But, we are supposed to have bloodwork done at 3 and 6 months post op, then again at 1 year post op...And then once a year after that to make sure that all vitamin levels are where they should be. IF she's eating nothing but junk, then her body isn't getting the protein and vitamins it needs...If she's looking "gaunt" she may even be low in iron and may be or be becoming anemic? SHE NEEDS TO GET HER LABS DONE. If you want a list of what she needs to have looked at I can send that to you. Protein is ESSENTIAL to eat and have in our diets. Our muscles and tissues are made up of nothing but protein...Our hearts and brains are muscles. I am really concerned that IF she is not getting in at least 70 grams of protein in that she could be causing permenent damage to her vital organs. What use is a sexy bod if it's in coma? As for your uncle, yes, even with the DS, IF you don't maintain your diet properly, you CAN and WILL gain weight back. This also depends on the length of the common channel. Mine is 75. They vary in lengths from 150-55. Just depends on your surgeon and some other factors that they weigh in. You see, part of our stomachs are cut out...It's the part that produces gherlin which is the hormone that makes you hungry. But, over time, our stomach does stretch back out. At first, the average DS stomach can hold 4 ounces of food. But as time progresses, it can stretch to 12 ounces. But, we STILL have a COMPLETE stomach with a working and fully functioning duodenum and we don't have a "blind" stomach. As with any WLS, it is a tool. You can't use a hammer to put two pieces of wood together if you don't have nails. It is up to people on how well they take care of their NEW bodies and how responsible they are. It's been toooo stinkin cold and rainy here (Thanks a lot...we're getting your weather...LOL!) to get out and exercise outdoors...But, I am doing what I can as long as I'm indoors. $hopping for new clothes is always good exercise...LOL...Or at least a GOOD excuse! I hope that I have helped...At least a little as far as your mom is concerned. Tell her she HAS TO GET HER Protein in and MORE IMPORTANTLY than that, she NEEDS to get her LABS drawn! Feel free to e-mail me any time. Hugs, ~Darcy

P.S. I don't want you to think that I'm playing the "my surgery is better than your surgery" game that *SOME* people on OH play. I feel and BELIEVE that EVERYONE has the right to make their OWN decision as to which surgery they have. In the end, we all want the same thing, to be healthy and to have a good quailty of life...It's up to us how we get there. There are some people that put others down for their choice...I 100% dissagree with that...Except for one surgery and that is because the surgery is being performed here in Washington by a surgeon WITHOUT INSURANCE. He has been sue'd SEVERAL times because of the surgery he does. It is a surgery that he has "invented" himself and ONLY he does it. The ASBS has banned him from being a part of them because of his (I feel illegal) practices. The only place that will let him do the surgery in their facility is Kennewick General and that is only because he does this surgery under the terms of it being a "General" surgery. No, I am sorry, this is a MAJOR surgery...a Bariatric surgery. In MY opinion, this doctor...IF you want to call him that, is a QUACK!!! Uggh! But, THAT is the ONLY surgery I don't agree with and WILL FIRMLY stand my ground on. I feel like he is FEEDING off of the desperation so many of us that desire to have and obtain a healthy life without insurance face. Other than that, to each his own. What's always good for the Goose ISN'T always good for the Gander. That's my feeling. I just want people to be educated in ALL surgery types before they make their final decision on which surgery is best for them. Okay, I'm sure I have talked your eyes off...LOL! Sorry, as you can see, I'm LONNNNGGGGG winded. Hugs, ~Darcy

Hi Jaze! Welcome to the board! If you haven't already, I would check with your insurance company for a list of surgeons in their network that do WLS. That is a good place to start. Then just go down the list and figure out which surgeon best fits your needs. You will also need to find out which surgery is covered. My insurance would only cover the RNY. So that is what I had. The DS surgery is great as long as you eat right and TAKE YOUR VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS! Protein, Protein, Protein. And it's true that you can eat whatever you want. BUT... you have to eat right. My mom had it done and doesn't eat like she should. She looks grey and gaunt. Her hair is dull and lifeless. Not much of what she eats is absorbed by her body. She struggles with getting enough protein in. She isn't disciplined enough to eat like she should. My uncle also had the DS surgery. He did great the first 2 1/2 years but now has started to gain some weight back. I didn't think that was possible with the DS surgery. He has probably gained back at least 25lbs. BUT, weight gain is possible with all WLS. Sure with the DS you can eat whatever you want but that isn't always a good thing. I like being restricted as far as carbs, fat, and sugar. I really haven't dumped from anything other than real butter. I don't eat sugar or bread products. My body doesn't need them anyway. I do however, struggle with finding new things to eat. I have a hard time with some meats still. I eat mostly chicken. I eat alot of cheese which in turn causes some constipation. I struggle with that at least once a week. If I don't drink enough water, it's especially bad. I can't eat pasta unless it's whole wheat. I makes me feel ill. But it's not full-blown dumping. Just nauseous. Same thing with bread. But like I said, my body doesn't need it. And I miss being able to guzzle water. I have to take mouthfuls at a time which is kind of a pain but I can live with it. There are pros and cons for every surgery out there. Everyone has their own opinion. I think that my surgery was the best option for ME. I am not trying to sway you one way or another. But there are people out there who will. I have lost 66lbs since 8/24. There are people out there who have lost more at 5 months but ya know, I will take it. It's more weight than I ever lost on any diet. I hope that you find everything that you are looking for. If you need any help please don't hesitate to email or post a message. I live near Bellingham so I am a friendly neighbor! Good luck Jaze! Lori 281/215/140

Dr. Billing and Dr. Landerholm are starting a weight loss surgery program in Bellingham. I believe the program starts in February however you can start your appointments in Edmonds first. They are a great group and their patients do very well. Contact: 425-776-7132/ pssurgicalclinic.com