I got insurance approval today, but I had already decided not to have the surgery. What now?

I second the poster who suggested speaking with your surgeon; s/he may be able to clarify some concerns you may have regarding nausea, hormones, and the like.

You might also want to see if you can get in for a session or two with a counselor of some sort who can help you talk through your fears and concerns. Maybe there's some other root cause of your fears that could be clarified, and a qualified mental health professional could help you figure things out. Your surgeon's office may be able to refer you to someone who has experience working with WLS patients.

Hi. I was terrified about nausea. I imagined that first trimester pregnancy feeling. I have vomited but it isn't at all like sick vomiting. I don't feel bad, just a sense that there is too much in there and I kind of spit up. I am a huge huge wimp and it hasn't bothered me. And it only happened a few times when I ate too much. It is something you could talk to surgeon about. Mine said that he had more patients with gerd, vomiting, discomfort using a really small bougie. Now he uses a 38 (still small) and doesn't have as many of those problems.  

Good luck with your decisions. I know it is hard!!! I felt like I needed to take the risk. No matter what, surgery is a risk for everyone. It just depends on whether we want to deal with the risks of not having it or the risks of having it. 

Get the surgery.  It is normal to be nervous.  It will change your life!

only you can decide but I just wanted to say I never had any nausea or vomiting. 

Only you know if it's the right choice at the right time.  I guess if you want to approach it logically, I would weigh the real issues of being overweight against the potential (and temporary) issues of nausea and vomiting after surgery.  I had the dry heaves for the first day in the hospital, but I've done that with every surgery I've ever had; I'm just susceptible.  Once they discontinued the narcotics, I was fine, and continue to be fine almost a year out.

I think that the steps you've taken with the personal trainer and OA are great whether you have the surgery or not.  You might want to consider adding a therapist to the mix to see if you can find the root cause of your fears of getting sick.  Life is too short to be scared of anything!

I think the vast majority put off surgery, because in the back of our minds we want, or believe we can, lose the weight without surgery. It almost never works out. Then we get surgery anyway, and afterwards say we wish we had done it sooner.

No one should do this unless they are certain it is what they want. If you were ready, none of these concerns would dissuade you.

I went through all the insurance steps as well and was denied at first--part of me was devastated and another part of me was somewhat relieved.  However, it was once I was denied that it hit me that I WANT this surgery.  I went back and forth with my insurance company and it has now been approved.  My surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday.

Going through this whole full liquid diet isn't fun right now and there are still moments when I think "do I really want to do this?", "can I eat this way for the rest of my life?", etc.  And fleeting moments when I think I can try again on my own (especially when I am trying to down the protein drink-ha!), but really I have tried this on my own for years now and have not been successful long term.  For me, I had to ask myself how many more times am I going to try on my own and let yet a few more years go by still being in the same situation.  I am 37 now and don't want to hit 40 stuck in this same familiar eating pattern. 

No one can tell you if you should or shouldn't do this surgery--it has to be your decision because you will be the only that has to live with the consequences whether you have the surgery or not.  Think about your motivations for wanting it, make a pro/con list but don't rush into a decision either way.

Surgery is scheduled for May 13th. Pre op dr visit and nutrition class scheduled for April 28th. It's what I need to do. I'm scared to death, but my desire to be healthy is stronger than my fear of throwing up. I just need to be on Xanax 24/7 until then. 

Thanks for your replies, I appreciate it. 

Renee

I am very glad to read that you have a date!  I have been through several major surgeries at this point and learned that nauseua is avoidable when you first wake up from surgery.  I eventually had a nurse figure out that it was morphine that was doing it, so on subsequent surgeries I had a naseua patch prior to surgery and no morphine... no nauseau at all... and I am very high risk for it!  I just had a double mastectomy a few days ago and the anesthesiologiest explained that depending on the surgery nausea is more of an issue... with the mastectomy one being a higher risk.  No issues at all.  Just ask for anti nauseau medicine prior to surgery... it helps a ton!  Side effect is cotton mouth- totally worth it. 

I wasn't going to respond because I mainly just troll the boards these days but I wanted to share some of my experience. Everyone here is right, only you can make this choice for you. I decided too many times to do it own my own and I never could do enough and I never could keep it off.

I was 305lbs before VSG. I was diagnosed with daily headaches and chronic migraines. I was diagnosed with PCOS. My headaches/migraines are very far and in between now and my cycles are regular (they have never been in my entire life).

I had surgery on 12/7/12. I have yet to have any complications. I was nauseous right after surgery because I was very warm...my nurse got me a fan...I was perfect. I have NEVER vomited and I am 16 months post op. You measure foods, you don't over eat, you don't vomit. You relearn how to eat the right way.

I lost the majority of my weight in 7 months, talk about a life changer. I have maintaned that weight loss for the last 9 months. Not that I haven't had some slips off the wagon, but it is because of VSG that I am able to get back on and stay on track. If I had my entire stomach I would have gained and gained big. I have maintained my loss.

I would do VSG again in a second and then tomorrow and the next day. I could be the poster child for VSG. Well, actually Nikkie on here probably could be because she is just fn amazing...but that is my opinion. I can run and play with my son, I can crawl into jungle gyms with him, I can sit whereever I want and shop whereever I want....and best of all...I am healthy! Healthy enough to be on earth longer...longer to drive everyone around me crazyyyyyyyyyyyy- perfect!

Best of luck with whatever you decide!