What is stopping you?
What is stopping you?
What are the reasons that are stopping you from having WLS? So many of us contemplate what our lives would be like if only we could only lose the weight and keep it off. That is the KEY—KEEP IT OFF.
I would say the fear of having the surgery is the biggest factors that stop so many of us. There is always a risk with ANY kind of surgery. So how do you overcome that fear? I think the best thing you can do is to educate yourself and figure out what type of weight loss surgery is best for you. For me it was the sleeve (VSG). I rules out the Lapland right away after talking to my PCP. And I knew very little about the sleeve until I did a lot of research and I knew it was best for me.
I had my surgery done 2 years and 8 months ago. I had hoped that my insurance would pay for it. That was NEVER going to happen. So I figured out that I was going to have to pay for it all on my own. So, I think that is the next obstacle the most of us have to deal with—insurance our self-pay.
Since mine was self-pay and I had a very close friend who had WLS and she was self-pay, I started to ask questions. She is a Nurse Practitioner and I trusted her judgment implicitly. But she encouraged me to check out all the possibilities of what Doctor I was going to pick to do my WLS. We picked the same doctor by the way.
I think the next obstacle is telling our family and friends that we want to have WLS. So many of them have horror stories about people who have had WLS and died or had complications, and honestly this is mostly gossip that they are repeating. It used to be looked on as that you were weak and this was something everyone kept quiet about and didn’t talk about having WLS. It just was a NO, NO. Honestly; I think our families love us and are scared and they get on the Internet and get all the wrong information.
We have the fear of “what if I am the ONE person this isn’t going to work on?" WLS is your tool and you have to learn how to make your tool work for you.
So if you are sitting out there on the fence or lurking and reading everyone’s post, I wanted to share with you that about 99% of us have had to deal with most of these feelings and obstacles. I want you to know that you can overcome these fears and feeling. We are here to support you. Answer questions for you and just help in any way we can.
I was lucky enough to have the top of the line team of doctors and support staff that was there to answer all my questions before and after the surgery. I had Dr. Aceves and Dr. Compos in Mexicali, Mexico. Now there was another thing that was an obstacle too—the thought of going to Mexico to have this surgery done. Well, I will tell you that this was the best choice I could have made. Their facility was incredible along with their staff. The hospital cleaner than any US hospital I have ever seen in. I can only speak about my experience, because that is all I know about.
Hugs, and I am here if you want to talk or have any questions.
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
I don't feel as if she was encouraging anyone to make a bad decision...She was giving her opinion and options about having weight loss surgery...Everyone makes THEIR OWN decision when it comes right down to it...I don't think she would encourage anyone to do something that would be harmful to them...
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only TRUE FRIENDS will leave footprints in your heart...And may that friendship have such a ONENESS that when one weeps the other will taste salt...Friends are like balloons ; once you let them go you can't get them back....So I'm going to tie you to my heart so I never lose you.
Hi,
Thanks for you input. I believe they are ALL adults and good information is better than NO or BAD information. I do NOT have the power to make anyone have weight loss surgery. This has to be their choice. You are giving me way too much credit if you think I can convince someone into having weight loss surgery by just my words alone.
I can only speak about what I have done and my benefits, and I think that is what I said in this post. They have to use their own judgment and make their own choice.
I appreciate you words and thoughts.
Hugs,
Suzanne
Thanks for you input. I believe they are ALL adults and good information is better than NO or BAD information. I do NOT have the power to make anyone have weight loss surgery. This has to be their choice. You are giving me way too much credit if you think I can convince someone into having weight loss surgery by just my words alone.
I can only speak about what I have done and my benefits, and I think that is what I said in this post. They have to use their own judgment and make their own choice.
I appreciate you words and thoughts.
Hugs,
Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
There are people who are afraid. But, I would be willing to bet that with most people it has as less to do with fear and more to do with finances. I would have had the surgery long ago, but it wasn't covered by my insurance and there is no way I could self pay.
I have three friends who want and NEED the surgery so badly but one has no insurance, one has insurance but it doesn't cover bariatric and the third has insurance that covers the bariatric, but her out of pocket expenses would be about $4,000 over the next year and she was just widowed so that is out of the question.
I am glad you made the decision to have the surgery and that you were blessed to be able to pay. Best wishes.
I have three friends who want and NEED the surgery so badly but one has no insurance, one has insurance but it doesn't cover bariatric and the third has insurance that covers the bariatric, but her out of pocket expenses would be about $4,000 over the next year and she was just widowed so that is out of the question.
I am glad you made the decision to have the surgery and that you were blessed to be able to pay. Best wishes.
Hey,
WOW you are 200% correct on this fact. This is the BIGGEST factor for soooooooo many people. And I was very blessed to have had the money to pay for this myself. I used a little of my extra retirement money that I had coming, it was the best thing I ever did for myself. I had insurance that wouldn't pay for a dime.
I wished there was better financing available with affordable interests rates for people who would have to self pay. My heart goes out to them believe me.
Hugs,
Suzanne
WOW you are 200% correct on this fact. This is the BIGGEST factor for soooooooo many people. And I was very blessed to have had the money to pay for this myself. I used a little of my extra retirement money that I had coming, it was the best thing I ever did for myself. I had insurance that wouldn't pay for a dime.
I wished there was better financing available with affordable interests rates for people who would have to self pay. My heart goes out to them believe me.
Hugs,
Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
Hi,
She told me they are medically unsafe--she felt and there wer much better WLS to think about. You want something that is going to be a permanent restriction. So many people spend the money to have the lapband and then end up having to have it removed.
They are unable to eat the right way, they have trouble swallowing their own saliva. They need to have them filled and unfilled at the cost of $200.00 to $300.00 each time. That adds up over time to a lot of $$$$$ I know that some people loves their lapband--I am glad they do. The weight loss is much slower with a lapband also. And honestly my doctor said they don't know what is going to happen in 20 or 30 years with this band around your stomach? I have had two friends who ended up having a revision--they had to have the lapband removed and then they had the sleeve WLS. They both told me that if they had known about the sleeve they would have NEVER had a lapband. They love thier new sleeve now and feel so much better since they had their lapband removed.
With a sleeve you are able to eat much healthier and the restriction works because your stomach now only holds 6 to 8 oz. You have to put work and effort into eating healthy. NO WLS is a miracle cure for weight loss. It does require you to make good food choices and add some exercise into your life.
I hope that helps you. Just read about the number of people who have ended up having a revision to a sleeve after having a lapband. They will ALL tell you that they wished they would have had the sleeve to start with.
Hug,
Suzanne
She told me they are medically unsafe--she felt and there wer much better WLS to think about. You want something that is going to be a permanent restriction. So many people spend the money to have the lapband and then end up having to have it removed.
They are unable to eat the right way, they have trouble swallowing their own saliva. They need to have them filled and unfilled at the cost of $200.00 to $300.00 each time. That adds up over time to a lot of $$$$$ I know that some people loves their lapband--I am glad they do. The weight loss is much slower with a lapband also. And honestly my doctor said they don't know what is going to happen in 20 or 30 years with this band around your stomach? I have had two friends who ended up having a revision--they had to have the lapband removed and then they had the sleeve WLS. They both told me that if they had known about the sleeve they would have NEVER had a lapband. They love thier new sleeve now and feel so much better since they had their lapband removed.
With a sleeve you are able to eat much healthier and the restriction works because your stomach now only holds 6 to 8 oz. You have to put work and effort into eating healthy. NO WLS is a miracle cure for weight loss. It does require you to make good food choices and add some exercise into your life.
I hope that helps you. Just read about the number of people who have ended up having a revision to a sleeve after having a lapband. They will ALL tell you that they wished they would have had the sleeve to start with.
Hug,
Suzanne
Suzanne B
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120
Eugene, OR
Dr. Aceves
10/21/2008
Start lbs 225
Now 120