Just starting out..

Hello, my name is Heather and Ive just started the journey towards WLS. Id probably say Im teetering still on even whether its for me. But I have to do something. Right now Im sitting at about 340 lbs give or take 20 since I havent weighed in a long time but I definitely feel a bit larger. Now that Im 31, I think every year I feel a little more lethargic, and tired. I dont want to feel like its all down hill from here. Im newly married, and have toddler boy and two teen girls...and I would like to have one more if its in the cards. I need to be healthy for them, and myself.

I would be self pay, because my husband and I are self employed and have not found a good source that is affordable for us. Mainly due to preexisting conditions. Depending upon how much it ends up being, we would be paying for it either in full, or payments (not exactly sure what the options are for that) Is it an all inclusive package? Do I pay for each visit? And then the actual surgery...Im kind of at a loss there.

Some of my first goals for taking the stop forward is to attend some seminars put out by the local hospitals. Would you think this is a good place to start? Or are they going to tell me pretty much everything I can learn some place like here?

I have a friend who under went RYN ( it hink is the name) last year. I was mainly interested in the lap band, but after reading so many of the advancements it looks like the sleeve might be the best.

My needs i would think are..

Weight loss. ;P
Quick recovery because of young kids and running own business]
Lower end of financial need, even though I know it all costs a bazillion $

Is the sleeve going to be the one I should look into further.

Sorry for the extra long post....

Welcome to the board! I am 4.5 yrs out started out at 330 lbs and now stay between 130-138. I had the RNY. Going to seminars is a great way to start. Avoid anyone who wants you to pay for the seminar. that is a purely personal opinion , they should be open and up front.  Many will have insurance and financial people to also talk to, some offer an all inclusive package including some of the after care, ask what the hospital fees are and if there is a discount for cash or if they have payment plans. Many are willing to do what they can for people who are truly dedicated to their weight loss.

One thing I did was start attending support groups before surgery and starting eating as if I had already had the surgery. Get the book "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies"...fabulous research and info on all surgeries from preop, op to post op all stages of the way. Also has pros and cons of each surgery and recipes and eating plans.

Please chime in any time with any questions. The rules I live by are:

protein first...60-80 grams of protein
60-80 ounces of water a day(sodas and caffeinated bevs do not count)
no liquids 30 minutes before or after eating
take all vitamins and supplements
no alcohol, carbonated beverages, caffeine (doc reccomended, all docs are different on this)
no straws used
no chewing gum
limit sugar to no more that 8-9 grams at an eating session
eat 5 small meals a day
take 10,000 steps or more a day

Now that said, all docs rules are different. There is research for and against many of the rules. I choose to follow the rules because this is a black and white issue for me, you do it or don't!! There are many who have been very successful patient who do not follow these. Again, I chose to follow them, my choice!! To me the fewer temptations I have the better I do, that is just me!!

Please feel free to ask me anything, I am an open book and have had an unusual journey with lots of problems. I would do it all over again in a heart beat!!! No regrets!! I am still me and all problems in life do not just disappear because you are thin but physically life is easier, I feell so much more confident about myself and I will live so much longer!!
Good luck and keep in touch,
Meggie

PS cant help about the money issue, I had great insurance but had to jump through their hoops to get approved!!

Heather-first off-WELCOME to the TMB (Tx Message Board) and THANK YOU for sharing so much about yourself in your first post. It's so much easier to "tell" a person "stuff" when we already know "where you're coming from"...

I, too, was 340 pounds-bt I was alot older than you-I was 44-and my boys were 10 and 12, at the time time. What I would give to turn back the clock, and have had WLS at age 31. I saw THAT to encourage you, to get on your life, as a HEALTHY person. Everyday you weigh 340 lbs is a day your body is set up to have something go wrong. I was always 300+ all my adult life-miraclously had 2 healthy babies-but after age 40, it all went *kaput*..insulin..gout..all the "old lady" stuff just went nuts...I know you want to be healthy to feel good for your family, and for YOU...

I totally agree with everything MEGGIE said (she is very, very wise!!!!). I have not been to Lubbock in a long time, and don't know the medical resources there, but obviously you have the internet, so put that Google to work,  girl! I'd attend every seminar, in a 100 mile radius. There are companies like Care Credit, who help finance medical procedures, but I have not personally used them, not cannot have a valid opinion. My cash pay peeps always tell other peeps to purchase a "surgery insurance", It's a small side pkg to get, when you have a cash pay surgery, for JUST IN CASE you have any expensive complications. as you get further down the road, I can get some of our cash pay peeps to chime in to you.

Your "chioce" of surgery HAS to be between you and your surgeon. Each of can have an opinion, but we don't know your medical conditions, your inside anatomy, your lifestyle, etc. Yes, we probably ALL think our our own surgery type is "best"-esp if we are successful, but what's best for YOU, is what YOU and YOUR surgeon decide on, after you have done your research.

Best of luck to you, and PLEASE continue to post, and allow us to be part of your journey!

Gina AKA Nurse Diva

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. Lots of info to absord. The first closest seminar is the 28/29th. Im excited about finding out more. Ive kinda always been interested but have never been in a place in my life where it would really be a feasible life choice. With a supportive husband, or who definitely tries to be. I find it sweet in the fact that he doesnt really know how exactly to approach it...if he says YES! Im totally behind you 100% is he saying Oh man, yeah I would definitely like you better thinner...this is not what he wants to put accross (or at least Im sure I will pound that into my head) I totally dont have self esteem issues wrapped up in my weight as you can tell. *note sarcasm. Its also a huge financial responsibility for us to take on..but I do feel like the hopeful longevity, quality of life I will add on, will out weigh the problems I will face by using the money in other ways.

The more I read about the differeing stories on different surgeries, I can definitely see how its a person to person thing. I have no known medical complications as of yet.....other than a complicated pregnancy that shot my BP to the roof, and is still probably too high. But I do definitely have eating issues. I eat when Im bored, eat till IM past full and uncomfortable. I eat when Im stressed, and do have a sugar/junk food problem. So...Im sure more in depth processing of why I am where I am, will help decide what route is best for me.

Again, thanks for the welcome, and information. Ill wander my way around and try to stay active along the way.

HEATHER-a couple of more things that may help you:

My husband was/is the kind of guy who doesn't know how to SAY what he FEELS. The nicest/most romantic he ever said to me was on 8-25-01, sitting in Taco Bell, after my first wt loss seminar. He said "Don't do it for me. I don't care if you weigh 600 pounds-we'll get a bigger car.". Involve your DH to the extent he can handle/is interested, but try to remember-HIS life does not have to revolve around YOUR surgery/wt loss, and sometimes he MIGHT want to talk about something else...

Secondly-about the $$..How much would you pay for a car? Even for a good, used car? What would the monthly payments be? AREN'T YOU, AND YOUR HEALTH, WORTH AS MUCH AS THE COST OF A USED CAR??

Just something else to confuse you..lol..Nah..just trying to help you put things in perspective..and to put in your "pros and cons" lists!

I find it really amusing that you use the equivalant of a car. Thats exactly what he said when we talked about it. I told him it could be anywhere frmo 10-15,000 and we may or may not be able to finance it. So we figured it would be like buying a car haha.

Im just a better investment;)

 Welcome to the TMB Heather. 

Meggie and Gina are both VERY WISE ladies who are very precious to us all here on the TMB.    I would also check out the WL surgeons in your area.    You can go to the solid black line above and click on Find a Surgeon and find one or more than one in your area.    IMHO....lap band is not that great a surgery for someone who needs to lose lots of weight although there are the exceptions who lose over 200 llbs with the band.    Most of the time that is NOT the case.   Also since you like sweets....I was told that was NOT a surgery for one who loves sweets ( I originally wanted lapband ) and choose RNY instead due to that reason.    Good luck....do lots of research on ALL the surgeries.....I know that most surgeons have a cash price and insurance price ( shame if you have insurance you are charged SO much MORE ).   We are pretty active M - F but some of us are not on here on the weekend that much anyway.   LOL  Good luck and please ask any questions you want and we will be honest with you.    

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

Heather:
I do know there are some very good surgeons in Lubbock. (My in-laws live there.) I agree that you need to attend seminars. I had a RNY and have had some health problems due to it. You need to be aware of the pros AND cons of weight lose surgery. (I have been anemic since I was 10 and this has caused my to have very low iron counts and have to deal with that on a regular basis.) 
I am in no way trying to scare you. Just learn all you can before you have the surgery.

Anne

Hi Heather -  Welcome to the TMB (((((((((Huggs)))))))))

Congrats on your decision to have WLS.
I'm a little over 4 yrs out.  STruggle everyday..........GET INTO THOSE GOOD HABITS OR BETTER HABITS NOW..............Thats my advice to you.

May I suggest you get Dr. Connie STapleton's book  "Eat it Up" !!  I wished I'd had this resource also to delve into lifes events and balancing prior to WLS.. I may not be struggling to much as I am....but everyday - my life does revolve around WLS and the do's and don'ts....
Even though I've gained quite a bit of my weight back  - NO - I'm not perfect and it doesn't matter I do NOT regret for 1 minute my decision to have WLS.....I still have that tool to work for me - I just need to put it back to use and listen to it when I need to............

Good Luck.. 

6 years later and I finally have the opportunity to get it.

I'm going through panhandle weightloss center. With Dr Bleu. I just had my first consultation. My next appt with dietitian on the 30th.

My insurance will fully cover other than my preop appts. But my copay goes towards my deductible.

My dr recommends the duedonal switch, but said I could also choose gastric sleeve. I aim to go towards what my dr recommends.

I'm stunned after researching and waiting so long....its finally happening. They said it's as quickly as I get my appts checked off. As soon as 6 weeks. I'm still in shock. But so ready. Scared but so ready.

It's happening!

HW 366 (documented)

CW 362

GW 170