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POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery REVIEWS

38 Year Old, Single Mother of 2 - Needs Weight Loss Help - Margate, FL

ORIGINAL POST

I have had a rough couple of years. Starting in...

pamar30
$9,000
I have had a rough couple of years. Starting in December 2011, I was three months pregnant and lost job. My eldest son was 15 at the time so my pregnancies with really spaced apart. I had 1 C-section in 1996, a myomectomy (fibroid removal) in 2009 and a C-section and tubal ligation in 6/2012.

The day before I had the C-section in 2012, I was weighing in at 271lbs. I am 5’8 and have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, just not this badly. I breast feed for a year for 1.5 years, and tried to eat very healthy, without obsessing about food. However I was really depressed and ate to feel better even when I wasn't hungry.

While pregnant and nursing, I was off of my antidepressants. This was huge for me since when lost my job in 12/2011, I lost my “boyfriend” as well; when the money went, so did he. I don’t take picture, I don’t look at myself in the mirror, in short I am disgusted with myself that I allowed myself to become who I see in the mirror. My eldest son graduated from HS in June of this year and I was too embarrassed to post any of the pictures we took together.

I started taking Qsymia, and lost minimal weight, I've done the green smoothie challenge. In the past I've eaten raw, taken phentermine and Xenical (that is another crazy story), joined LA Weight Loss and Weight Watchers. I hired a personal trainer, did 5:00 am boot camp sessions, and the list goes on; yet the end result is always the same, I lose some weight, gain back even more. Today, I am 263 lbs (dangerously close to my weight at the time of delivery in 2012). I need help, and was convinced that Lap Band would be a great tool for me.

My quest for knowledge had begun and thus I embarked on what I have dubbed as my Lap Band research project. I went to an informational seminar with Dr. Paul Wizman and instantly liked him. I started researching him and lurking on this site :-D. I have found the experiences of everyone to be so informative and helpful, but now I am confused. I am now unsure if the Lap Band is the best option for me of if I should “go big” and get the sleeve. My insurance covers either procedure and tonight is my psychological evaluation. I am nervous but excited as well!

I would appreciate the feedback that any of you would like to share. By friends and family are all supportive in a sense. The consensus is that whatever I decide, they will support. However most just tell me to work out more or harder, etc. They don’t understand the personal hell that life is when you have a love/hate relationship with something you need for sustenance and life. It probably don’t help that I am big in stature and in the past have been able to hide my weight pretty well (now I just hide a lot of my fluff in a faja aka a really really tight corset).

Anyway, I think a have rambled along long enough. Thanks for reading my post.

Stay encouraged, I know I am try to do the same.

pamar30's provider

Paul B. Wizman, MD

Paul B. Wizman, MD

Bariatric Surgeon, Board Certified in General Surgery

Replies (16)

September 17, 2014
I went to an information seminar given by one of our hospitals.Their practice no longer does the lap band. They said they've only done 2 bypasses in the last year, everything else has been sleeves. I meet with the surgeon tmw for my first consultation. Hope your psych evaluation went well!
September 17, 2014
I am trying not to obsess, but really feel like I am leaning more and more to the sleeve. Yesterday's psych eval went really well, he advised that I should have the report by this weekend. I am now waiting for my 9/24 Nutritional Evaluation and then should be able to schedule to consult with my surgeon. Good luck with your consult tomorrow, I hope you post your experience. :-D
September 17, 2014
I am reading your story and my heart goes out to you. do not be ashamed , you are a very pretty woman. don't let anyone tell you any different. I am 65 years old and I am scheduled to get the sleeve on October 9th. be strong and always think positive of yourself if you don't no one else will.
September 17, 2014
Thank you for your words encouragement. I really appreciate it and am trying to sincerely work on changing my self-talk, but it is hard. I am happy to hear that you have a surgery date. If you don't mind me asking, how long did you to receive a date from the point of your 1st consult?
September 17, 2014
I went to first meeting may 30th and October 9th is surgery date. what took all of the time was getting all of the testing and nutritional classes. I was bullied by a former friend from 7th to the end of 8th grade and over the summer I made up my mind that if someone didn't like me it was their problem and that's the way I still feel. as the psychologist said " I can tell by your answers on the questionnaire that you are very strong willed" and said yes I am. hang in there!
September 18, 2014
just wanted to clarify that was over the summer going into 9tn grade
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September 18, 2014
I had originally thought about the lap band. Once I attended the information session, and spoke with my doctor he suggested the sleeve, the lap band is not that successful and has called complications. I would just ask as many questions as you can to help you make the choice.'Good luck!
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September 18, 2014
Hi there, I went the band route some 10 years ago with yet another temporary only weight loss, like all the other times, much like your history. My review tells the details, but enough to say band removal has become big business and I'm waiting for my sleeve on October 23rd! I'm 216 lbs at 5' 8" (173 cm) and doing this now before I get right back up to my pre band weight, much like your current weight. Research then research some more!
September 18, 2014
Thanks for sharing Zen lady... I am committed to keep researching. I am so happy that I've found this site and get to keep reading the stories of peoples' experiences rather than ads and biased information. Congrats on getting a surgery date... hope you continue to chronicle your experience here.
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May 13, 2015
Good morning I understand you feeling I hid from pics for 10 years looked in mirror one day had cry!!! I also almost got band then sleeve went to a LMGB seminar in Davenport Florida that was it Dr.Peraglie has changed my lie with a quick and yes painless recovery ! I had surgery 2013 have lost 106 # my life is great! You will feel so much better it is like being reborn!! So go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still need to take another 20 off I have been at a stand still but love this new way!! Almost never hungry!Good luck with your journey beautiful lady!!
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May 13, 2015
Life not lie hehehe
UPDATED FROM pamar30
2 months pre

Two out of Three Done!

pamar30
Since my last post, I have successfully completed my psychological evaluation and nutritional counseling appointment. My only holdout is the letter of medical necessity from my PCP. In July, my insurance changed and my new carrier does not cover my old PCP. In an effort to expedite the process, I contacted my old PCP and advised that I would pay for the appointment out-of-pocket in order to get the necessary letter, however when I showed up the office, the doctor had already left for the day; very annoying.

I hope that my new PCP will be willing to write the letter for me. Their office has all my prior medical records and has seen me recently. I also have an appointment with them set for next Monday morning, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be successful in this current hurdle.

Dr. Wizman (prospective bariatric surgeon) will not see me for a surgery consultation until I have all three of these documents submitted to his office. My hope is to have the consult ASAP. My oldest son is leaving for Army Basic Training on 11/17 and I would like to do the surgery before he leaves. Speaking surgery, if everything goes well, I feel like I am now pretty set on having the Sleeve rather than the LapBand.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to email me as well as post encouraging messages. I am so happy to know that I am not embarking on this journey alone; RealSelf has become such a wonderful support system for me as I embark on this journey. I am grateful for each of you.

Stay encouraged! :-D

Replies (6)

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September 26, 2014
Hi there, Pamar30! Wow, your photo is gorgeous! I think you're awesome and brave to tell your story here, and kudos to you, for taking the bull by the horns and striving to get healthy! I have my VSG surgery set for Oct. 17th. I, too, did a lot of research about all the various options, including reading a ton online and talking to 2 associates who used to work in different bariatric clinics. The consensus is: the lap bands are seriously going out of favor in the bariatric world, and the sleeve is the most popular procedure nowadays. The reasons are many (primarily, no foreign body inmplanted, no ports to monitor and constantly adjust). Good luck on your journey, and please keep us posted!
September 26, 2014
herringbone what do your associates say about the mini gastric? I would like to find out about it because it can be reversed if you have health issues with vitamins and keeping your body healthy.
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September 27, 2014
herringbones, in addition to the things about the band you noted, for me, and I've had the band years ago, it's more important to be able to enjoy most types of food with the sleeve, just smaller amounts of them. Banded, most food types purged immediately, even a teaspoon of it, so apart from the impact on my health, I felt so deprived of meat, fish, chicken, all fruits and vegetables, and sipped high calorie fat laden foods because they stayed down. It's no way to live at all! The only notable deprivation with the sleeve is the amount I will eat, and since volume eating is my cause, it may just be my key.
September 27, 2014
Wow, thanks for the compliment Herringbones, it is something that I am definitely not accustomed to receiving. Anyway, I think you have further confirmed some of my hesitations regarding the LapBand. Clearly, I am not seeking such drastic measures with WLS to turn around and eat with reckless abandon, however I am a Jamaican woman and the thought of life without ever having rice and peas makes me quiver. :-D My goal is to have a healthy relationship with food, and ultimately consume a balanced diet that excludes a lot of food groups. I was hoping that I was not completely off base and am starting to feel like my hesitations have merit. Thanks for taking your time to read my story AND for giving your unbiased feedback. Much appreciated. Be well, PW
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September 30, 2014
Oh wow, Zen! I hadn't known about that deprivation on the band. That's definately a hard, hard way to live. I don't know if I could do it! Thanks for that added info. I'm sure it'll help the OP and others make an informed decision.
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September 30, 2014
Please keep us posted, Pamar! This site is a wonderful place for support, and just to vent, when need be!
UPDATED FROM pamar30
2 months pre

Feeling excited...

pamar30
Well after the debacle with trying to have my former PCP write the letter of medical necessity, my new PCP has agreed to write it for me! Yeah!!! What's even better is that I did not have to pay out-of-pocket for the visit. Double Yeah!!!!

On a whim, I called Dr. Wizman’s office yesterday to inquire about scheduling my consult with him. They advised that he would not have an appointment available until early November and that they couldn’t give me that appointment until they received the letter of medical necessity. I advised her of my goal to have surgery in November and that was going to pick up the letter today from my PCP. After putting me hold, she came back and advised that it was my lucky day and that they had just received a cancellation for the next day! She reiterated that they are usually never able to get a patient in so quickly; now I am off to see them in an hour.

For the first time in forever, I feel like everything thing is starting to fall into place and I am so excited about the prospect of new beginnings. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and wish me good luck!

Until next time! :-D

Replies (7)

September 30, 2014
woohoo!! how exciting... the ball is ROLLING! hope your visit with the surgeon goes great!
October 1, 2014
I'm really glad you decided to go with the sleeve! I had the Lapband placed in 2001. For the first 3 years it worked great and I lost 120 pounds going from 265 to 145. Then for the next 10 years I had nothing but problems from severe Acid reflux, flipped port, slipped band, insurance not covering adjustments, and the list goes on! I now weigh 225 at 5'3". I just received approval to have the band removed and the sleeve done with Dr. Rosenthal at Cleveland clinic in Weston, Fl. My family has said the same thing that yours have said, " just eat better and exercise more!" I know that hell you live in and the hurt you feel that no one around you, especially your family, understands. I do! Keep going and do what feels right for you and your future! By the way, I work with 2 girls at Broward General who had surgery with Dr. Wizman and the absolutely love him and his office and are very happy!
October 1, 2014
Thanks for the feedback. It feels so good to receive reaffirmation of my decision, especially from people who have first-hand knowledge of the challenges. Congrats on your approval for revision surgery. Do you have a date yet for surgery? I hope you will keep us updated and post your experiences. PS thanks for the insider validation on Dr. Wizman. :-D
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October 1, 2014
All the in the world wished coming your way! Hope you get a date in November as you plan?
October 2, 2014
how did your apt go?
October 2, 2014
It went pretty good... just waiting for the insurance approval to happen. Hopefully that can happy quickly. I called Humana and asked how long their insurance authorization process takes. They told me that by law they have 45-days to review and respond but right now things are slow and they are averaging about a week from submission for Bariatric surgery approval. I hope that I can be one of the individuals that falls within that week approval window. Thanks for checking in and I will continue to post updates.
October 2, 2014
Happy everything went so well for you. Sound's like it's going to fall in place really quick. I started my liquid diet today, not too bad yet.