ObesityHelp

2/21/01 -- I'm 50 years old, femal, and have a good education and a good job. My weight has consistently caused more and more disruption to the flow of my living, as I have gained more and more over the years. My pattern has always been to feel fat, loose some weight, and after a while, gain back what I lost plus 25 or 30 lbs. I have gone from a size 7 in college to a size 26 now, and from 120 lbs in college, to 310 lbs now.
I made a decision in November, 2000, to begin researching WLS as a solution to my weight problem. Optifast, Fen-Phen, Slimfast, counting calories, counting carbs, counting fat grams, grapefruit diets, working out, and on and on, never were solutions, but rather, just stopping off places for me. I have "listened to my body," and the problem is that my body is miswired somewhere. I feel hungry, even when I have been properly nourished. I hold onto weight, not only during acutal "famine" (diets), but also during emotional, professional, and relational "famine." My body grabs right onto the fat and holds it.
I requested, from my Primary Care Physician, a referral to the surgeon of our group, who could then refer me to a bariatric surgeon. I requested a referral to Dr. Fobi's Clinic, because I think his type of gastric with the stomach detached, and sewn, rather than the staples being left in, there are fewer complications over the long run. I also like the construction of the Fobi Pouch better because it allows slower passage of the food into the small intestine. The only concern that I had was that the ring could become problematical.
My insurance, however, referred me to Dr. Sanderfer in Corona, and I have a consultation with him on March 9, 2001. If there is anyone who has any experience getting approval for this surger through PacificCare HMO, PLEASE let me know how you did it. I would like to schedule my surgery for the first of May, 2001, which means that I probably have a lot of work to do toward that goal between now and then. Will continue to post.