I've been meaning to post about this since I had my first surgeon consult on 6/11, but, well, life got in the way.
First, let me say this: I'm not exaggerating when I say anyone in the Greater Kansas City area who is considering WLS should go see Dr. Hoehn or Dr. Kowalski at KC Bariatric . I can't say enough things about what a good experience I've had there so far. I started out attending their free informational seminar, where I was fully impressed by Dr. Hoehn's extensive knowledge and professionalism. It doesn't hurt that they're the only bariatric surgery provider in the area covered by my insurance, so I went ahead and booked myself through his office. My opinion hasn't changed. Dr. Hoehn and his staff are very knowledgeable, but no one there comes off like they're in any way better than you. It's clear that his staff love their job, and they honestly want to make this whole process as easy as possible for every patient. Give them a call. You won't be sorry!
So I went to see Dr. Hoehn last week, and I might have mentioned I loved him to death. I feel very comfortable putting my surgery in his hands, even after I was told...here's the kick in the teeth...VSG surgery is not a covered benefit on my insurance plan.
Wait...what?
I find it incredibly amusing (in a totally sarcastic way, of course) that no one...not one single soul...that I have spoken with on the multiple calls leading up to this appointment has seen fit to mention this little tidbit of information. Let's just say I'm about as NOT thrilled with my insurance carrier (who shall remain nameless at least until I have actual gold-star approval for my surgery) as I am thrilled with Dr. Hoehn and KC Bariatric. It took me 5, count 'em 5 phone calls, and a total of 3 hours, to finally get a straight answer from a customer service representative. Turns out they DO actually cover VSG, but only in VERY rare instances, and only after a more thorough review than they give the other two surgeries. Hell with all that! And they don't pay for Lap Band fills or revisions, should they become necessary. So, it looks like Roux En Y (RNY) bypass for me. Certainly not my first choice, but I know I can live with it.
So here's a bit about RNY, courtesy of Obesity Help:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/gastric-bypass-about-roux-en-y-gastric-bypass.html
Not much really changes, except the type of procedure. The biggest differences are that I will need to take daily nutritional supplements for the rest of my life, and I'll be wearing a MedAlert bracelet all the time because I won't be able to take certain medications (mainly NSAID pain meds), and if I need an NG tube for any reason, it will have to be placed using a scope, so as not to perforate my shallow stomach. But it's either that, or live with diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and a whole host of other social and medical issues, hanging over my head for the rest of my life. So the choice seems pretty simple to me. At least SOMETHING is covered.
In related news, I also saw my PCP last week. She's very pleased with my progress so far on the pre-op diet. I'm down just shy of 23 lbs, walking daily, continuing to eat vegetarian, and I've totally kicked my soda addiction. My blood pressure is starting to come down, and I'm generally feeling tons better, pardon the pun.
Next steps: I go to get my psych eval in the next month or so, and then after that, it's on to the EGD. Can't say I'm a fan of this last one. I'm just counting my lucky stars that I get to have a little nap while it's being done.
After that, it'll be 3 more months of dieting (2 months after the EGD), and then my petition for approval will be submitted to my insurance company. No one sees any reason to believe at this point that I'll be denied, but only time will tell. Meanwhile, I'm just going to keep doing what I do, and work towards the best results possible!
A lot of my friends have been curious about my diet and exercise habits pre-op, and how life will look for me post-op. I promise I'll touch on those in my next blog post, so look for that soon!
Love,
ME
Monday, June 18, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Wait...now what is this you want to do to yourself?
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid this blog is going to be a bit dull at first.
I'm just trying to get all the facts in first, so I have something to which I can refer people when they ask all the detailed questions. I promise to be more fun once I have the basics covered!
So, the big question: exactly what is VSG? Well, in short, it's the removal of a portion of the patient's stomach, while keeping the remaining anatomy intact. Gross, huh? Here's a more clinical explanation:
obesityhelp.com's explanation of VSG
P.S. For those of you considering weight loss surgery of any kind, I highly recommend obesityhelp.com. It's an amazing site full of information and support!
And precisely why do you think this is a good idea?
Another short story: like many people in America, I'm fat and only getting fatter. I can sugar-coat it and dance around the issue all I want, but it's just not a healthy thing. My joints suffer a crazy amount of stress daily, and I'm complaining of a whole range of generalized aches and pains. So far, I've been lucky that none of it has become serious, but let's face it. I'm pushing 40 way harder than I care to admit, and right now, I'm a ticking time bomb. Am I scared? Sure, more than a bit. Who wouldn't be? But I'm even more scared of what happens if I DON'T take drastic measures to reduce my weight, and quickly.
But isn't it taking the easy way out?
BAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!! You are a seriously funny one, aren't you?
If you could see the piles of paperwork I've had to fill out already, and view the diet plan I follow, you wouldn't think of this as easy at all. If you could sit in on one of my myriad doctor's appointments, you wouldn't even dream of calling this easy. I have to complete a whole battery of tests and diets and lab work, etc. I've never trained harder for anything in my life. And that's just before I get on the table. Once my surgery is complete, this will be a battle I'm fighting for the rest of my life. It doesn't end when I hit my goal weight. Every day, I will be counting every bite that goes into my mouth, just to be sure I can stay "normal". This isn't by any means a quick fix. Nor is it the only weapon for winning this battle. A popular phrase on many support forums is "they're operating on your stomach, not your head". All the reasons I gained all this weight in the beginning will still be there...all the temptations, all the reasons to celebrate with food, all the emotions that led me to eat for comfort. This just takes some...the operative word is SOME...of the struggle out of it. It's a tool, not a cure-all. This is still very hard work. But if I didn't think it was worth it, I certainly wouldn't be doing it.
What happens if you have complications? What if you die?
Well, that'll sure suck...for me and for my surgeon, since he hasn't lost a patient yet. I'm sure he doesn't want me to be the first any more than I want to be it! But if it happens, it happens. Nothing in life is a guarantee. And I know where I'm going when this life is over, so while I'm aware of it, it's not something on which I choose to dwell.
Well, what happens if you're 80 years old and you're in a nursing home and you need a feeding tube?
Ummmm...I'll be 80 years old, in a nursing home, with a feeding tube. At least I'll have lived to be 80. The longer I stay fat, the less likely it is that I'll reach that point.
From an anatomy standpoint, nothing much will have changed. My stomach will simply be narrower and a bit less flexible. Its depth will remain as always, and all the valves and whatnot will still be there. That's why I chose this surgery over RNY gastric bypass or the Lap Band. I like to oversimplify it by saying that basically, the surgery removes the old, stretched-out part of my stomach that never should have been there anyway, and restores it to the size it should have been.
Sooooo...yeah. That's just the tip of the iceberg. There will be lots more questions for me to answer before this is all said and done, I'm sure. But I'm trying to stay open about the process, and I don't consider any questions stupid. So if you have one, please, by all means, fire away with it! Just don't be shocked if you find it on my blog. :)
Love,
ME
I'm just trying to get all the facts in first, so I have something to which I can refer people when they ask all the detailed questions. I promise to be more fun once I have the basics covered!
So, the big question: exactly what is VSG? Well, in short, it's the removal of a portion of the patient's stomach, while keeping the remaining anatomy intact. Gross, huh? Here's a more clinical explanation:
obesityhelp.com's explanation of VSG
P.S. For those of you considering weight loss surgery of any kind, I highly recommend obesityhelp.com. It's an amazing site full of information and support!
And precisely why do you think this is a good idea?
Another short story: like many people in America, I'm fat and only getting fatter. I can sugar-coat it and dance around the issue all I want, but it's just not a healthy thing. My joints suffer a crazy amount of stress daily, and I'm complaining of a whole range of generalized aches and pains. So far, I've been lucky that none of it has become serious, but let's face it. I'm pushing 40 way harder than I care to admit, and right now, I'm a ticking time bomb. Am I scared? Sure, more than a bit. Who wouldn't be? But I'm even more scared of what happens if I DON'T take drastic measures to reduce my weight, and quickly.
But isn't it taking the easy way out?
BAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!! You are a seriously funny one, aren't you?
If you could see the piles of paperwork I've had to fill out already, and view the diet plan I follow, you wouldn't think of this as easy at all. If you could sit in on one of my myriad doctor's appointments, you wouldn't even dream of calling this easy. I have to complete a whole battery of tests and diets and lab work, etc. I've never trained harder for anything in my life. And that's just before I get on the table. Once my surgery is complete, this will be a battle I'm fighting for the rest of my life. It doesn't end when I hit my goal weight. Every day, I will be counting every bite that goes into my mouth, just to be sure I can stay "normal". This isn't by any means a quick fix. Nor is it the only weapon for winning this battle. A popular phrase on many support forums is "they're operating on your stomach, not your head". All the reasons I gained all this weight in the beginning will still be there...all the temptations, all the reasons to celebrate with food, all the emotions that led me to eat for comfort. This just takes some...the operative word is SOME...of the struggle out of it. It's a tool, not a cure-all. This is still very hard work. But if I didn't think it was worth it, I certainly wouldn't be doing it.
What happens if you have complications? What if you die?
Well, that'll sure suck...for me and for my surgeon, since he hasn't lost a patient yet. I'm sure he doesn't want me to be the first any more than I want to be it! But if it happens, it happens. Nothing in life is a guarantee. And I know where I'm going when this life is over, so while I'm aware of it, it's not something on which I choose to dwell.
Well, what happens if you're 80 years old and you're in a nursing home and you need a feeding tube?
Ummmm...I'll be 80 years old, in a nursing home, with a feeding tube. At least I'll have lived to be 80. The longer I stay fat, the less likely it is that I'll reach that point.
From an anatomy standpoint, nothing much will have changed. My stomach will simply be narrower and a bit less flexible. Its depth will remain as always, and all the valves and whatnot will still be there. That's why I chose this surgery over RNY gastric bypass or the Lap Band. I like to oversimplify it by saying that basically, the surgery removes the old, stretched-out part of my stomach that never should have been there anyway, and restores it to the size it should have been.
Sooooo...yeah. That's just the tip of the iceberg. There will be lots more questions for me to answer before this is all said and done, I'm sure. But I'm trying to stay open about the process, and I don't consider any questions stupid. So if you have one, please, by all means, fire away with it! Just don't be shocked if you find it on my blog. :)
Love,
ME
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