Second Consultation - Feeling Defeated...

To start with, sorry if this post is a downer, but nobody ever said this whole surgery thing was all fun and games, right? So, after the first seminar, you are required to attend a second consultation. My husband and I were told to plan on 2-3 hours in the office for this consultation, which I was fine with because I knew I'd get to finally meet with the surgeon one-on-one. It ended up being closer to 5 hours, and 4 of those hours were just waiting! Needless to say my husband and I were not happy campers at the end of this whole thing. There were three of us (patients) in the seminar, which was basically a recap of everything we heard at the first seminar except for the cups. The woman giving the seminar brought out two, tiny 1 ounce plastic cups and told us that is all we got to eat! 2 ounces of food, 3 times a day! Think 2 sacrament cups, if that means anything to you. My husband and I were joking that for me, church would now be serving lunch! After the group seminar, our surgeon met with each of us individually. I was the last one. Waiting...waiting...waiting. It was an hour before we saw the surgeon, and he was only with us for 15 minutes max, so what he was doing with the other people, I have no idea. Just to show you how bad my attitude was, I actually said that the people in front of me needed 3 times the amount of time because they were 3 times the person! Not kidding though, these people were HUGE. They actually made me feel skinny - I guess that's a bonus! :P 

The consultation went fine with the actual surgeon, Dr. Sherman Smith. It was quick and fast, but I didn't really have a lot of questions. He said my stomach was a surgeon's dream workspace - whatever the heck that means! He said he couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be any complications, but he also said that he doubted with my current physical condition that I would have any problems at all. Needless to say, I was still feeling pretty good about the surgery when he left.

After waiting forever, again, we finally met with the woman who does the surgery scheduling, and right off the bat she said that we would have to pay for an upper GI and an ultrasound for my gall bladder. What? The $20 K doesn't cover this? Talk about bursting my bubble! I whined enough she said she'd talk to the surgeon and see if he'd sign off on the upper GI, and the gall bladder ultrasound turned out to be optional (although strongly recommended). Turns out that if the gall bladder is healthy anyway, they can't legally take it out.

So, here is the post-mortem... I did not set a surgery date - yet. I'm waiting to see if the surgeon will forgo the upper GI. If I do the surgery, I've decided to NOT get an ultrasound of my gall bladder; or in other words, I'm hanging on to it! Another concern that was brought up because of this consultation was the fact that my health insurance may try to deny claims down the road, citing that the problem resulted because of my Gastric Bypass surgery. I'm checking into this. I'm also checking to see whether or not a Gastric Bypass may prevent me from being covered by an individual health plan in the future, or see if the rates would be astronomical. And finally, checking to see how the Gastric Bypass would affect our Life Insurance, as my husband and I are looking to extend or policies.

Whew! So, let me reiterate again...research, research, research! I do not want to be broadsided by something that I did not think about. I think that's why the upper GI and gall bladder thing threw me so much because I wasn't expecting it. If I am able to get positive answers to all my concerns listed above, I'm still down for the surgery. The benefits of the surgery for me still can't be denied. Oh, and the doctor also said I probably have sleep apnea, and I just don't know about it... that's because my husband brought up my snoring, which to this day I'm still denying!!!

Some people think my rolls are cute!!! :D

First Seminar - First Step

The good news is that the seminar wasn't as painful as I thought it would be, and it was extremely helpful and informative. The seminar lasted only an hour and half, but all my questions were still answered. The seminar I attended was for the Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians. This particular center has been practicing since 1979. They offer six types of Weight Loss Surgeries: Gastric Bypass, Gastric Banding, Gastric Bypass Revision, Lap Band Revision, Gastric Sleeve, and the Duodenal Switch. The two I was investigating was the Gastric Bypass and the Gastric Banding.

The Gastric Banding, or Lap Band, was covered first. The surgeon said it is always recommended first because it is by far the least invasive surgery. The recovery time is usually much quicker and there are less risks of complications. But the surgeon also said right out of the gate that this is not a good choice if you're a bad snacker or have a sweet tooth because there is no malobsortive part in this procedure, and you can eat whatever "types" of food you want, good or bad. He said a good portion of their patients who receive the Lap Band will get a Gastric Bypass done within a few years because the Lap Band has not given them the results they would like. The Lap Band runs $12,980 and is an outpatient procedure. Adjustments need to be made to the band every 6-8 weeks, which are covered in the first 12 months and cost $300 each thereafter.

The Gastric Bypass, although a much more complicated surgery, quickly won me over though. Complications are fairly common, but still less likely than actually getting an ACL repaired, which surprised me. The Gastric Bypass runs a hefty price of $20,000. This particular center has a contract with St. Mark's Hospital where that amount will cover any additional complications up to $100,000. This procedure requires an overnight stay in the hospital and 2-3 weeks to make a full recovery. There are several reasons why the Gastric Bypass appealed to me. Weight loss is much quicker with the GB than with the LB. It lowers blood sugar levels and physically prevents you from overeating, or eating poorly. It forces you to eat small portions (your stomach is the size of an egg) and it takes away the feeling of being hungry. Downside? A lifetime of having to take supplements - iron, calcium, and vitamin B, but at the same time, shouldn't everybody be taking a multi-vitamin everyday anyway? :)

One concern I had was the ability and effect of the procedure on pregnancy as I still want to have another child. Good news is that being overweight is not good for pregnancy, so loosing any amount of weight is great. Also, there haven't been any problems with the fetus getting the correct amount of nutrition. It is recommended that you wait at least a year to get pregnant after the surgery, but the surgeon said he's actually had women deliver children nine months after the surgery without any complications. Another concern of mine was gall bladder infections. I have had people who have had the GB tell me that they had to have their gall bladder removed after the surgery. Dr. Smith said that he gives all his patients medication that brings the percentage of getting gall bladder disease down to 15%. He said that the gall bladder does serve a purpose so he doesn't want to remove it if it isn't necessary.

There was also a women there with her sister who had Gastric Bypass done four years ago (I don't think she was planted...) She had a leak after her procedure and had to spend a week in the hospital, but she said she wouldn't have changed her experience for the world. Of course, this office also works with insurances. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover any portion of WLS, so I won't be going into that part because I don't know anything about it. I do know that using insurance can put your surgery date out several months at least, but I would also say it would be worth it to save some money! After this seminar I have two more classes I have to attend before I can schedule my surgery date. It is required that all patients meet with a Registered Dietitian and a Social Worker, which at first I was kind of bummed about, but then I realized that I would need all the help I can get! I would also recommend that your significant other, or your support system at home, go with you to this seminar. WLS has a huge impact not only on you, but your family as well. I would guess your success rate goes way down if your family isn't on board and backing you 110% through your journey! I am looking forward to my next class, and can't wait to get started! Sorry if this post is a little scatter-brained. It's 2 AM and I have to start work... :P

Do Your Research, and then Do it Again!!!

When I finally made the decision to get weight loss surgery (WLS), it was so important to me to find the right surgeon for me. I spent literally hours and hours on the Internet researching surgeons, hospitals and WLS centers. I hated the idea of having to attend a seminar, but I didn't find one office where attending a seminar was not a requirement. After weeks of searching, I still didn't feel good about any one office, and I was feeling pretty defeated. Then I realized I needed to start talking to people to who had the surgery done. Luckily I knew several people who had either the Lap Band or Gastric Bypass, so I started making phone calls.

I finally ended up calling one of my husband's cousins who had a Gastric Bypass. She had successfully lost all of her weight, but had complication after complication. Her surgeon was no longer practicing (for obvious reasons) but she had worked in a general surgeon's office and had heard really good reviews about a Dr. Sherman Smith. She didn't know where he was practicing, but I was able to find him fairly easy. He practiced out of an office called Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians, and for some reason that office never came up in any of my research. I spent a few days sifting through reviews of the office and Dr. Smith and was very pleased with what I had read. The office did half a dozen types of WLS, and had been practicing since 1979. I liked the idea of having several WLS options to choose from because the centers that only did Lap Band for example, pushed it so hard I didn't really feel like I was being lead to the surgery that would work best for me.

Needless to say, I decided to attend the seminar at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians. It was a week before I could attend the seminar, and the whole time I didn't stop researching. Before I even set foot in the office, I knew exactly what price range was reasonable, what red flags to look for, and I had a list a page long of questions that I needed answered. Let's face it - WLS is not cheap! And even though WLS is considered relatively safe, it IS still surgery, and I was not going to put my life into the hands of just anybody! Besides, what I had gleaned from talking to all the people I did was that the surgeon really was a huge factor in WLS being either a success or a failure. So, if you learn anything from this post, I hope it is research, research, research!!!

3 Strikes is Enough!!!

My weight didn't start becoming a problem for me until I was a teenager. When I was sixteen years old I was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance which required me to start taking medication. I also found out I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which required me to start taking birth control. Both these medications cause weight gain, and I truly believe these medications were the catalysts that set my weight gain in motion, although I have no medical backing to confirm that, of course. 

My weight gain was slow, so it didn't really trigger any red flags for me. I am also 5 feet 9 inches tall, so I was able to hide my weight very well (and at first my weight gain went straight to my boobs - not necessarily a bad thing!!!). I lived what I would call a normal, average life. I was active and happy in high school. I was a Madrigal and Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper. I had lots of friends and a boyfriend (who I later married). After high school graduation I went to college on an academic scholarship. I got my Bachelors degree in English, and then married my high school sweetheart. Everything was going great. My life was perfect (but always in the background, the weight just kept slowing coming).

Attempts were made at weight loss. I'd loose some; I'd gain some. It was always a vicious, vicious cycle. But then in the fall of 2009, I had a beautiful, perfect little girl, and something changed inside of me. I immediately had this mantel of responsibility for her and her well-being. I made a pact with myself to be the best mom I could possibly be for her, and that I would always be there for her no matter what. That is why my experience in the fall of 2010 was Strike 1.

In the big scheme of things it was very minor, and yet it had a huge impact on me. My husband and I had taken our little girl to a corn maze during Halloween time. The maze was on a farm and there was a petting zoo, corn cannons, and a big alluminum slide that you slid down in an old potato sack. To get to the top of the slide; however, you had to hike up a tall, steep, dirt hill. My husband went to take our little girl down the slide and asked me if I was coming, but all I could do was stare at that hill. I knew I couldn't physically do it. I was afraid I would make it half way up and then have to come down, which would be embarrassing. So, I didn't do it. No. I couldn't do it. I couldn't take my little girl down the slide. I couldn't be there for her. Strike 1.

Fast forward a few months. I'm on a family vacation in Florida. We go to Busch Gardens where they have some really fun roller coasters, and I LOVE roller coasters!!! The first roller coaster my husband and I go on. I sit down on the seat next to my husband as he pulls the latch down over his head and secures the belt. I go to pull the latch down, but it won't close. I'm too big. My husband tried to push it down from his seat, but it's a no go. Then a worker comes and tries to push it into place. Then another one comes, and then another. Finally, the three workers were able to get the latch to click into place. Whew! That was a close one. I laugh it off. Then my husband, sister, and I go to get on the second roller coaster. This time the workers couldn't get the seat locked, and one of the workers said, politely as he could, "I'm sorry, Miss, you're not going to be able to go". So, with my face red with pure humiliation and embarrassment, I had to get off and walk out of the ride alone. Not being able to go on rides with my little girl at an amusement park. Strike 2.

Strike 3 happened in the spring of 2011. I went to my OBGYN to get my IUD taken out. The appointment was uneventful until the doctor simply asked if I was getting the IUD taken out in order to have another child. To which I innocently responded with a "Yes". He then cleared his throat and very slowly said, "Oh course it is your decision in the end, but I would strongly, no adamantly, suggest that you do not get pregnant until you lose at least 50 pounds. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. This doctor had practically saved my daughter's life during delivery. I trusted him and respected his opinion. At that point I knew I couldn't knowingly get pregnant and endanger the health or life of my future child. Not being able to give my little girl a sibling. Strike 3.

So, there it is. How I struck out and let my weight win. But never again. Never again will I let my weight make my decisions for me, or prevent me from doing something I love. This is where my FINAL weight loss journey begins!!!