So, four years ago I went through the whole six months of required doctor and nutritionist visits hoping to be approved for WLS.  After the six months, i was denied and really wasn't too confident in the particular practice I had chose to go with locally, plus, I met my future husband, so I didn't have the time to appeal because we started planning for our wedding.

Now, here we are in 2012-I thought I would try this again.  We had a baby 16 months ago, (at 42 yrs. of age) and everything is going as planned.  I found a surgeon in Denver who I trust completely and researched thoroughly, I also have confidence in his team and office staff.  I am on my fourth month of required visits with my PCP and NUT, collecting all the necessary documentation, etc.

I am currently around 130 lbs over weight and will be turning 44 this Saturday.  Well, about a week ago, I started feeling sick.  I was positive I needed to increase my omeprazole to twice a day.  I tried it for a few days and I didn't feel better.  So, this morning I took a pregnancy test and it was positive!!!!!  What?!!!!!

I was sure it wasn't correct-so i took two more and they both were positive.  I talked to my NUT and insurance advisor at my surgeon's office and they both said my 6 month required visits were only good for a yr.  So, by the time I have the baby and get done breast feeding, we won't be able to use any of the documentation already reported.

I feel like God is sending me a message that he doesn't want me to have this surgery.  As someone who has been overweight my entire life, I was so looking forward to having this.
I am overjoyed and bummed out at the same time.

Any advice on this?  Should I continue the fight for sugery after having the baby?  Thoughts and prayers are most welcome as, I am scared to death about this pregnancy.

I know what you're going through.  I am on my 4th month of supervised nutrition for insurance purposes and I know the day will come when they give me the go ahead and schedule my date for RNY also.

For me, the preparation that my ins. company is making me go through is helping me practice the way I will need to eat/drink after surgery.  So, I put notes on the fridge to take smaller bites, chew my food slower, don't drink with meals, eat protein first, etc.  I have been trying my best to get used to this for the  last two months.  Also, I have been trying to eat healthier now, cutting out a lot of carbs and dairy.  I know this will help me in the long run.

I don't think about the people this will affect honestly, that may sound selfish, but it is what it is.  I am doing this to live a healthier, longer life.  If the people around me don't like it-well, I guess they really don't love me.  You may just find yourself with a new group of friends???  I read a book about addiction and one of the gals in the book said that addicts hang around addicts, I suppose people that like to eat all the time, like to hang around people that eat all the time.  You may also find a lot of new activities to be more interesting than going out to dinner-like going bike riding or long walks??

I also, worry about failure-too much pressure to keep the weight off once everyone in the whole wide world knows you had WLS.  For me, it is my own personal goal to maintain a healthy weight because I have a baby now at almost 44 yrs. old.  I need to be healthy for him.  I have never paid too much attention to what other people say behind my back.  For me I think of it as a personal life long challenge with myself.  That's a long time I know Ha!!!!!  But, I am very competitive that way.

The only advice I could give you, is to take this time to get healthy, period.  Don't think of the weight in terms of numbers.  Think of it as you GETTING HEALTHY and that's it.  Don't put any pressure on yourself to please anyone, friends, doctors, etc.  I lost 50 lbs once in 5 months.  I did it by cutting out processed foods like lunch meats, I cut out milk and I didn't eat bread or any white starches.  I kept track of everything that went in my mouth.  AND I WORKED OUT 5 DAYS A WEEK-RELIGIOUSLY.  Sometimes not in a row.  I knew if I ate one whole grain tortilla and it was 50 calories, I would have to burn 50 calories extra that day on the treadmill or however you track your  burn-some people wear the arm bands.  Then I got pregnant and now I can't get the weight off.  My surgeon asked me how many times I have lost over 30 lbs and gained it right back.  Too many times to keep track of!!!  But, I have always been 50-100 lbs overweight my entire life, so I need a more permanant solution-RNY.  People have told me on here and I have talked to my nut and surgeon and they both said you will always have the benefit of restriction.  For me that is a good thing, because I am not someone that grazes all day-I just eat too much at each meal.

I hope I don't come off as being too harsh.  I think a lot of over weight people are so worried about other people that sometimes we don't worry about ourselves.  When I did decide to lose the weight, I made some very "Selfish" decisions, that people didn't expect of me.  I quit staying late at work if there was work to be done because I knew I had to be home and on  the treadmill by 6pm.  I stopped eating out.  My husband's family eats out, I swear, once a week!!  I told my husband to go and have fun and i told my inlaws, "I don't eat at restaraunts", if you guys want to come over, I got some scrumpshie turkey burgers!!!!  LOL, they always refused, but do you see how that is being selfish????  To me, I looked it as I eat healthy, I don't eat crap, if you don't like it-oh well.  People kept asking me-how are you losing all this weight.  I told exactly what I told you.

It's ok to be a little selfish to be healthy.  I am so scared of dying also, or something going wrong, but going into this surgery I chose a surgeon with over 20yrs experience and he has the lowest complication rate in our state.  I told him-I chose you because if I die-I will come back and get you. LOL!!!!!  I think he thought I was serious for a second even LOL!!!!!  I started working out now-doing what I can anyway and it has helped me mentally-I want to FIGHT to lose this weight!!!!  I'm pissed off and I don't want it to control me physically or mentally anymore.  I know I will also probably need PS, but I can't worry about it now.  I will have to cross that bridge when it comes.  I know I said a lot, but I hoped it helped some.  My 6 months will also be up in Oct. this yr., so I am thinking my surgery will be very close to yours.  If you ever want to talk, just send me a message!!!!!

Very beautiful.  Thank you for posting this.

Amen!  We are all here for a short while.  Enjoy life NOW!!!!!  It is so hard sometimes to put ourselves first, but we can always chose to be happy.  Excellent read.  I always thank God every day I wake up for giving me this awesome life I have.  I am so grateful to him that I am here.

First, i want to congratulate you on being so strong to have chosen to have this surgery done to save your life.  You are a true inspiration to me, as I haven't had my surgery as of yet.  I am also having the same feelings though myself, why can't I lose the weight on my own.  There is a reason, some say genetics, environment, etc.  My personal choice to have the surgery has come due only due to my deteriorating health issues.  I am not sure what your age is, but, many many people, especially women over 35 find it almost impossible to lose 5-10 lbs.  Your friend that can eat and eat, must be young.  I have found out that my skinny friends actually need to work out almost every day for at least 30 min. to an hour just to maintain their weight.  If they actually ate like I ate, they wouldn't be so small either.  Maybe they wouldn't be as big, but I know they wouldn't be as skinny.  You are so fortunate to have been given this gift-good luck with your oncoming success!!!

Your insurance didn't require a 6 month supervised diet from your PCP and nutritionist?  You are lucky you only needed the last three yrs. of documentation, that wouldn't have gotten me approval.  I had to see a nutritionist through my surgeon's office, along with 6 months of supervised diet from the NUT and my PCP, along with a psychiatric evaluation. 

I think for the medical documentation, my insurance co. required 2 yrs. of medical records whi*****lude HT/WT and all weight related health issues, such as diabetes, HBP,etc.  I called my PCP and told her I needed all medical records and they had another number for me to call-I got the last 5 yrs. just incase, and picked the documents up at their medical records office.

Can you tell me, how you know that you are high risk for blood clots?  I am just curious as I have just begun my 6 month diet/exercise program for insurance.

Is this a job transfer?  Can you find out who your insurance carrier would be?  If you can, I would find out if there is a bariatric surgeon that would be in network that would be able to take care of you if you had any complications.

Thank you all for helping me!  You all inspire me and you are so courageous.  I don't have much support, other than my husband, with having this WLS.  I am told by my family members that it's all in my head and I should be able to lose this weight without surgery.    When I told the psychologist this during my evaluation for insurance purposes, he asked if they  were over weight, which made me stop and think-none of them were.

I was always the little chubby cousin/sister/daughter, etc., while the rest of my family was avg. in size.  It's nice to know you're all here to lend a helping hand.  Thanks again for taking the time to share your knowledge and personal stories-I sincerely appreciate it!!!

I am currently researching RNY and have been told by my nutritionist that works for my surgeon, among other bariatric surgeons also in the area, that restriction will always be with you after having RNY.

Then I read that someone on here had RNY and she said that restriction doesn't last forever.
I am confused....does the restriction part of the surgery go away?  Isn't that one of the critical points as to why we choose this type of surgery is because it always will offer restriction?

Please help, I thought this was one of the things that stays with you in order to have long term success with RNY????

I currently have begun my 6 month diet/exercise program, hoping to be approved for WLS this October.  I was wondering if anyone has any information on WLS as far as depression goes?
I have read a lot of blogs from patients that talk about medications for depression, how to deal with certain situations they're having problems with, etc., on this web site, so I want to learn more about it.  For example, do patients become depressed after WLS or are they usually diagnosed prior?  Are there any links anyone can direct me to that would show the statistics?

Also, I have read that suicide is something that does happen to people after having gone through WLS.  I have also read that people experience anxiety-does this go along with depression?  I don't mean to pry into people's personal lives, I am just trying to find out if  there are any studies done to show the statistics on this.

I personally, never have had depression or anxiety, what are the signs, etc.?  Those are things I would like to know about, so after surgery, both my husband and I will know what to look for.  Also, I have heard there are hormone issues to deal with.  I know I am moody a week before my cycle starts-so will that be worse around that time of month?

Any feedback/help, I can get from anyone on here would be much appreciated!  You are all an inspiration to me, I know that much!  To have gone through such a major surgery is a big deal to me-and it is a very hard choice for me to have to make, but the older I get and the harder it is to get this weight off, AND having a 14 month old at almost 44 yrs. old, I need to do something so I can live a long time for him.  That might be too much information, but I just wanted to thank you all for all your help, encouragement and guidance in this journey.

Hi,
I just read your posting and wondered if your surgeon or nutritionist told you that you have a more likely chance of maintaining your goal weight, (once reached), because you were able to skip meals or not eat for long periods of time?

I was told by both my NUT and surgeon that patients that are NOT binge eaters or snackers have a better long term success rate after having RNY because we don't graze all day, #1 and #2, the pouch will offer restriction for the rest of our lives.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but it was encouraging to hear.  I wondered if you had ever heard anything on this topic?  I told my NUT that I would go 4-6 hours without eating and by the time I got home from work, I would be starved and would eat everything I could!!  I know now that this is not appropriate behavior for someone that wants to maintain a healthy body weight, but I just wanted to let you know what I was told and see if you had ever heard anything similar?