Bariatric Surgery: Lindsey G's Story - CECity

ut water exercises at the YMCA are thebest for my back. It may not sound likemuch, but now we park as far away fromthe store as we can just to get the extra stepsin. I do everything I can to keep my bodymoving, because there were so many thingsthat I could not do, but now I can. Nothingis going to stop me now!Lindsey explained the reactions she hasreceived from people since her weight-losssurgery:People tell me every time they see me that Ilook like I have lost weight since they sawme last. They are motivated by me andwant to lose weight too. I tell them to startinside their home, and then change outsidetheir home. You cannot eat whatever youwant and think that you can walk it offafterward—that isn’t how it works. Youhave to change how you eat first. Portionsize it so important, and also exercise. Youhave to continually push yourself.When asked to describe her currentmedical problems, she said, “The onlyproblem I still have is back pain. Myphysicians want me to have back surgery,but I am going to continue to lose myweight first. I do not want anything to getin the way of my goal. I am 294 poundsnow, but my goal weight is 150 pounds.”Lindsey stated that she has had noadverse effects from her bariatric surgery.She summarized the impact that thesurgery has had on her life as follows:I can do so much more. I am so muchhappier. I can jump rope now and shootbaskets with my son and nephew. LAGBhas done so much for me. But really, it wasjust the beginning, because you still have toexercise and eat right. For it to be a success,a combination of things has to happen.LAGB will work for anyone who does whatthey are supposed to do. I know people whogot the Lap-band and you just want tosmack them, because they were not ready totake it seriously. It isn’t what they did, it iswhat they didn’t do. They didn’t eat right,didn’t exercise, and didn’t do their part.They are heavier than they were before thesurgery. What a waste of money!“The only problem I stillhave is back pain. Myphysicians want me to haveback surgery, but I amgoing to continue to losemy weight first.—Lindsey G.Lindsey paid $2500 for her bariatricsurgery, while insurance covered theremaining $14,000. She explained thestruggle of paying for the surgery:It was a long process. I have Medicaid andMedicare, but a secondary insurance wasrequired and I had Blue Cross/BlueShield. So I thought I was completelycovered, but 2 weeks before the surgery,they [Blue Cross/Blue Shield] said Iwasn’t. They said they were sorry andthere was nothing they could do. Theywould cover gastric bypass, but not Lap-Band, but I didn’t want that [gastricbypass] surgery. At one point, I called thehospital to cancel my surgery, because Idid not have the 10% that was notcovered, but the surgeons let me do apromissory note, and now I just pay $100each month until it is paid for.Photos in this article include models who do not representactual patients.24 AOA Health Watch DOs Against DIABETES May 2012