I underwent vertical sleeve gastrectomy (weight loss surgery) on 2/14. A good friend of mine had this surgery a year and a half ago, with dramatic results. It’s early yet, but it looks like I’m on track for the same I’m down 25 pounds since beginning the pre-surgery liquid diet. The first thing I noticed was an immediate reduction in ankle size, and the rest of the weight has begun falling off my waist first. I’m very happy with the results so far, although recovery (as with any surgical procedure) has not been a walk in the park. I still can’t sleep on my side. I’m still controlling daily pain with acetaminophen. But I can drive now, and I’ll be back at work (desk job) on Tuesday.
Long time, no post, I know. Just thought I would pop in and say hello
What made you pick that over gastric plication? I am under the impression that plication has fewer complications and is reversible. However plication is a newer surgery and is not covered by insurance. However if I did a gastric surgery, I think I’d go for plication.
Never heard of it. But even if I had, my surgeon has a lot of bypasses and sleeves under his belt. Plication was not mentioned as an option, so presumably it’s not something in which he is experienced. I would likely have had to travel significantly for that procedure. But more importantly, I don’t have the kind of cash needed to fund any sort of surgery that isn’t covered by insurance. I won’t be able to afford skin removal down the road (if needed), either. It was important to me to get surgery now, so that I can safely get pregnant within the next 2 years.
Heah - my medical memory tops yours with no contest.
My all your openings be accompied by appropriate anesthia.
And: For MY 21st birthday, I had an emergency appendictomy (at least I can’t spell it).
I did have the prescene of mind to request local anstheita and the overhead mirror used for childbirth.
For that, I take great pride.
the med schoold kid who gets my body will have a record of life on the flesh AND bones.
If skin removal is needed, it should be covered by insurance. They will generally pay for it if a certain amount in weight has to be taken off, and if you get a hernia (not uncommon), they definitely would. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to do that before you have your children, however.
My understanding is that currently it looks like the plication doesn’t lead to as much weight loss and it can cause some major problems with scarring that make trying to reverse it a mess. I would be very skeptical of weight loss surgeries that claim to be the latest greatest thing. The RNY and sleeve aren’t perfect but they’ve been around long enough to have a pretty good idea of what to expect from them at least.
I was very interested in the DS procedure, but my surgeon only does them in 2 stages (the first part being the sleeve). I can’t imagine voluntarily undergoing more surgery, so a sleeve it shall remain.
Interesting - I would have thought insurance would consider it cosmetic - unless you have health issues (e.g. ongoing infections under the flap) as a result.
But good advice on waiting until childbearing (if planned) is done.
Aaaaand, congrats on the procedure!
What kind of pre-op counselling did you go through? How long did you have to be on the liquid diet?
I occasionally consider surgery but I have serious worries about the psychological effects, as I’m pretty food-obsessed.
If you do decide to go down this road, the journey depends on 1-the requirements of your insurer, and 2-upon those of your surgeon. Some people can just set up an appointment with a surgeon and go from there. I was not so lucky.
In the end, it was about 7 months of monthly visits to a dietitian (6 months were required, then my surgery was scheduled further out than anticipated). I visited the surgeon’s office 3 times. And a psychological evaluation (2 visits to that office). Had to track all of my food intake over that time. Had to lose 20 pounds prior to surgery, requiring a 4-week modified liquid diet (my surgeon allows coffee, and while on the liquid diet I was permitted to eat non-starchy vegetables). Had to get a sleep study (I was already on CPAP, so that requirement was satisfied). Lots of bloodwork to rule out metabolic dysfunction and vitamin deficiencies. Endoscopy and ultrasound and xrays.
I would consider myself a food addict, I do still struggle. Surgery forces you to moderate what you eat, at risk of feeling severely ill/overstuffed/actually vomiting. I have been careful (and fortunate) to avoid that last, so far. And there are other potential complications. Overeating can lead to a leak. Failing to walk enough can lead to blood clots. It’s not a decision to make lightly.
A competent bariatric surgeon would not just allow people to walk into his or her office with a suitcase full of cash and do the procedure. I used to work at a hospital that had a bariatric surgeon on staff and have known quite a few people who have had it done, and Rachelellogram’s story sounds a lot like theirs.
The most common reason for insurance and the surgeon to refuse it? The psychiatric evaluation. :eek: And the surgeon I mentioned in the last paragraph would sometimes turn away people who had otherwise been fully approved because he didn’t think they were good candidates, for any number of reasons.
Haven’t been back to this thread for a bit - but I’d argue with “was not so lucky”, as it sounds to me like they were ensuring that you would be a good candidate for a safe and successful procedure. Like the liquid diet, as I assume you had to follow one for a while after the surgery; if you couldn’t comply before, you’d have trouble after. The endoscopy to make sure there were no structural surprises lurking, and the sleep study / CPAP, as people with apnea may need support immediately after surgery (plus to monitor whether the weight loss afterward helped that issue).
Over a month out, how are you feeling? Have you seen changes in anything like blood sugar tests or your need for CPAP? (I use an APAP so if something improved my apnea, the machine’s display would show it needed less pressure).
I’m down 25 pounds since beginning the pre-surgery liquid diet. The first thing I noticed was an immediate reduction in ankle size, and the rest of the weight has begun falling off my waist first. I’m very happy with the results so far, although recovery (as with any surgical procedure) has not been a walk in the park. I still can’t sleep on my side. I’m still controlling daily pain with acetaminophen. But I can drive now, and I’ll be back at work (desk job) on Tuesday.
And the surgeon I mentioned in the last paragraph would sometimes turn away people who had otherwise been fully approved because he didn’t think they were good candidates, for any number of reasons.