I am fat, but not a chick, I'll get that out right now (LOL)

I am considering WLS strongly.

My story. I am 35, weight 400lbs depending on which way the wind is blowing. I have SEVERE sleep apnea (2700 apnea's in 7 hours which was a new record when I was tested),

I also have high blood pressure, and bad knees.

I have been on every diet coming and going. from JC, WW, medifast doctor supervised 500 calorie liquid diet, you name it I've done it. I have also taken phen-phen and redux until it was taken off the market.

I also have one other thing working against me.

When I was 25 I weighted 180lbs, in one year I gained over 100lbs, I went to the DR and found I had an inactive thyroid. So they took it out with radiation and put me on thyroid replacement, and it made me SICK. I had to be hospitalized for 6 weeks. So I have no thyroid to regulate metabalism.

I know if I don't do something I will eat myself to an early grave.

I know several people who had surgery that have had very good results. I use to be a very active person, and I miss riding my bike, riding roller coasters and generally having fun. Now all I do is, work, eat, sleep and sleep between working and eating or eat between sleeping and working. I have zero energy and get winded just going up the steps.

So I signed up for an info seminar in dec, so we'll see what happens. I just worry about getting my insurance approved. Although when I did the liquid diet they said they would pay for surgery so I ended up paying out of pocket for that diet.

I have United Healthcare FWIW.

So I have been searching on the net for research that's how I found 3fc.

Hi Saber and

Ohhh december is a blink of an eye away cooool !!! I don't blame you for looking into surgery, sounds like your gonna be a good candidate (like so many of us ). I agree with you, regain your health now before it does any more damage, your still very young. What kind of surgery are you looking into?

.

I am probably go with whatever the doc recomends. I am not sure if the band will work for me.

Good luck with what ever you decide. If you have any questions about either procedure please do not hesitate to ask.

Hugs

Hi Saber and welcome.

I have United Healthcare and they were pretty great about approving me for surgery. From what I've read, they're one of the better insurance companies for WLS (of course it depends on your individual plan). Sounds to me like you're on the right track. Keep researching!

Chickadee

hey there, saber - it's nice to meet you!! December is, like, THIS WEEK! you realize you have to tell us all about the seminar, don't you? inquiring minds and all that.

ok. we're nosy. i'll admit it.

now, the band vs the bypass. there are excellent reasons to do one or the other. A lot depends on your general health - which means, do you need to get the weight off FAST [bypass] or can you take it slower [lap band].

Listen carefully, and be sure to talk with everyone you can get hold of - here or at the doctor's seminar. you need to know EVERYTHING - good and bad - and especially look at life after the surgery - and i'm not talking about the first few months. i'm talking about the LONG HAUL. there are horror stories with both procedures - read about USAWIFE, Hubs, and debkay. but thankfully, most people do well.

we at 3fc are not about pushing one surgery over another, or about pushing people into surgery at all. but we are here to help each other live with whatever decisions we make.

keep us posted!

Welcome Saber. I have United HeathCare and the only delay I had with them was they lost my paper work for a month. But it was approved with no requirements. And I didn't have any medical probems other than a backache. They didn't require a psychological evaluation or anything. Good luck.

the seminar is december 13th. Will keep you posted.

I know I would like the weight to come off fast. My goal is 225-250. So I think the bypass would be a better option for me.

My only setback is I only have a week vacation from work+short term disability. I work in a call center, so I pretty much just sit at my desk all day taking calls. So I hope the recovery time is shorter than 16 weeks. There is a woman who had the bypass at work and she was back to work in 3 weeks

saber - it varies from person to person. i've known people to be back at work on a reduced schedule in a week, right after their stitches were out. others take 3-4 weeks. i was not cleared for 6 weeks, but that was because i was so sick going in.

you'll be fine, with a window of 16 weeks.

Well went to the info meeting tonight, and after asking several questions, I am seriously leaning for the lapband.

I think mainly because it is safer, and shorter recovery time.

Hi Saber,

Thats why I went with it. Do you have a date?

I applaud you for taking your health into your own hands. I know that this is not an easy step for anyone, and I am glad you plugged into this website for support. Way to GO!!!!!

No I don't have a date yet. I am not sure I can do it this year or not. I only have a week vacation.

The surgeon said, spend one night in the hospital, then should be able to go back to work in about 2 weeks.

Now I work in a call center, so it's not like I'm lugging bricks, or unloading trucks. So I just wonder if I would be able to go back to work sooner, if not I can't go a week without pay.

any chance you could work from home?

Hello Magi and Chickadee:

I read your posts and saw that you both have United Healthcare. What plan/employer do you have? I am wanting lap band or gastric bypass surgery. I called the insurance company and they informed that it was a covered procedure. However, they were a little cagey about what I would need to do/prove before the surgery was approved. Any info you can give me would be helpful.