Looking for info on PE during/after surgery, and other strange questions...

My first post. I am having the sleeve done on July 11th. I went through all the hoops and circles 4 years ago, but I decided not to do the RYN surgery at the last minute.

Here is why; I was living in Deerfield Il and very nice surb of Chicago, and going to a wonderful hospital. I had recently a year before, had a horrible accident and hurt my back, resulting in surgery and being disabled. I was used to working 14 hours a day on my feet, and was always big at 6ft2 265. In the one year, plus a few months I gained over 100lbs. I had heart doctors, diabetes doctors, back doctors, and pain management doctors.all of them had different opinions on if I should do the surgery or not. It is a personal decision. I decided to do it and went to see the "expert" at the great hospital. He told me because of my weight and because of my diabetes, he would only do the RYN, and no other surgeon would either! I believed him, but I also got the used car salesman vibe from him. I had wanted the band, I was very afraid of the lack of absorption of vitimins and radical changing of the plumbing, so to speak. I will say at the time either doctors were not doing the sleeve, or he just was not doing that surgery.

What bothered me most was I felt pressured. I was told not to talk to people who have had the surgery and failed at losing weight! Really? I was told I had to do this and that for my insurance to approve me, and follow it exactly, and I got harassing phone calls from the office when doctors didn't report to them asap, mind you, these doctors all worked in the same building for the same hospital!

My doctor was in his early 50's or late 40's he also had a good 30lbs on me, and I would say was 5ft10 395! His nasty nurse was 5ft2 easily 270. I asked both them when I first went, and they were selling me, that is what it felt liked, the surgery; why either of them has not had the surgery. The doctor told me that was a personal question, but I wouldn't let up, and I said "get on the scale, and tell me, as a doctor, why you would not recommend the surgery to yourself". He didn't get on the scale, but he did tell me he is not a diabetic, and he doesn't have high blood pressure, and he doesn't have sleep apnea. I told him everyone over 50lbs over weight has sleep apnea, you have no neck, no way a sleep apnea test would say you don't, they never tell heavy people they don't! Needless to say, his responses left me feeling he was not as concerned about his health as I am about mine. The nurse acted like I had really insulted her by thinking she was a big ole fat person, hello!

After doing 6 months supervised diets and losing 30lbs, the nasty calls stopped one day, and on a Thursday, I was told I was coming up on 6 months of my approval, and after that 6 months, I would have to start all over, or they needed to operate on me the next Wednesday! I ws told I had no choice, and the insurance would make me start everything over! I agreed to set date, but I checked with my other doctors and told them I decided to try one more time to lose weight myself.

I later found out, from new doctor 3 months ago, Medicare will approve any of the weight lose surgeries as I have two conditions, weight, bmi, blood pressure, apnea, diabetes. He said any of them would be fine it was my choice! WOW! I also found out that the doctor who lied to me never tried to get me approved under my medicare insurance, but wanted to use my work insurance ( I was on workmans comp still) as it paid more! I had double coverage!

I couldn't lose by myself, and I was afraid I had waited to long, I am now 51, I had also been told insurance will not approve you past age 50! The lies I was told!

I made the decision because I just cannot afford insulin anymore, and I can't walk up steps easily, and at 51 I am letting life happen without me. I realize I am not afraid of the surgery I am afraid of losing my best friend, my oldest friend-food!

I will miss pizza, and going out to dinner, and bar hopping, and cooking and over eating, but I also know I need to cut that out, that isn't life that is a crutch.

I am excited for Monday for you from afar.  I wish you well on your recovery and journey.  Thanks for taking the time to share.

You first experience sounds horrid and I'm glad you passed on the first go around.  Luckily, I have not met with lies during my journey research.

About cooking -- I figured that I can still cook (I like to cook stuff), just that I would need a designated taster.  Plus it gives me more control of what exactly goes into the food I eat.

I enjoy cooking. When I was preparing for surgery, I spent time looking up recipes that would be healthy. Just because you have surgery doesn't mean you have to stop living. I changed the types of food I cooked, a bit, and now choose to cook smaller portions of very good quality food instead of large portions for the sake of having a full plate. Post surgery cooking can be a fun hooby. Just don't go back to the old ways. 

So, I've been poking around with insurance and some doctor options...

My PCP said that the work I've been doing with her will satisfy any pre-surgery diet requirements set forth by the surgeons or insurance (in most cases).

The wife and I have preemptively began to modify our diets so that I can ideally shed as much weight as possible (in a healthy manner) prior to surgery should I get it.

I, thankfully, have eased back on my freakout level when I think about it.  I am still concerned, but it isn't crippling anymore.  

Joshua