Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

I just called the tricare lady who approves all the surgeries overseas, and she said that at the time, they are not covering the VSG. however, she did say that she had someone else call recently and ask about them, and sent an e:mail up to find out about them (the answer was still not at the time). now i'm just feeling a little bit discouraged, because it's going to be a bit harder to find out information. i know of a hospital where my friend got surgery, so i am going to contact them to find out if they perform (and have done it before) the procedure. Still it's a little discouraging when you are dealing with a language barrier and don't want to put all of your buisness …

Hello..new here and scheduled for lapband to sleeve next month. I would like to know if anyone has had any regrets, mostly long term, in converting or in just having the sleeve at all? And if so, can you share the reasons? Thank you

I still feel like I had this surgery for the wrong reasons, like I was pushed into it due to having to move cross country w/o a support system there, hubby already took the time off, we already got the loan, didn't know if we would get the $5k we had already paid back, etc... I've kept a happy face as long as I can. Today I feel like shit and I'm deeply depressed. I've been in bed all day. They apparently used betadine which I am allergic to to prep me and I have a rash all over my stomach (I told them and had it on my bracelet I was allergic) that is driving me nuts, along with a husband asking what's the matter? I'm really mad at myself for being pushed into somethi…

I'm not a big drinker (maybe one beer/mo)...after VSG, are you able to drink any type of alcohol again? And i mean like 6mos down the road kind of deal? Thanks!

Ok, so my surgery is scheduled for November 23. My plans were to not tell my mom but I did anyway. She talked down about it and was totally against it! OR SO IT APPEARED TO BE THAT WAY!! she tried to make me feel bad by saying the money could be spent on my son. I do everything for my 3 year old. I'm a single parent and I have him enrolled in private school. So she later asked why is insurance not paying for it. I explained to her that they just recently starting covering it. Her response REALLY!!! WILL I QUALIFY? WHAT THE HELL! SHE TRIED TO TALK ME OUT OF IT AND SAID SHE'S GONNA DO IT ON HER OWN BUT THEN ASKS THAT!!!!! I FEEL SHE DOESN'T WANT ME TO LOOSE WEIGHT

I just got a call a few minutes ago that I will have the funds to get my surgery which is great! I plan on calling and scheduling with Dr. Aceves tomorrow. I was so excited and then all the sudden I just got a bad feeling like this is real. I could die. I could leave my babies. Did any of you have these feelings?

AhhhH!!!! I check my insurance company webpage 20 times a day to see if there are any new authorizations or pending approvals! My surgeon's office said she COULD know by Friday. That's tomorrow?!?!? I'm going to force myself to go out so I don't just sit by the phone the entire day. I just want to know for sure. Ahhhh.... :thumbup1: :eek:

I was supposed to go to a dance tonight but my daughter's babysitter canceled out on her at the last minute and she has somewhere important to go. So, I guess I will be stuck at her house babysitting. If you're around, I'll be looking for someone to talk to! This will be around 7:30 Pacific time!

I've been noticing something kind of sad lately. I have several friends online at non-diet-related forums who have been posting about how they have gained weight, or regained weight they've previously lost, asking for tips about how to lose weight and keep it off. And you know what? It just makes me sad, sad, sad. I've known most of these people online for years, and all of us have been dieting unsuccessfully, or losing and regaining, all that time. I feel so freakin' lucky that I was able to have this surgery and that my weight is finally coming off for good (and I've been open about it with these friends and they have been very supportive), but I honestly have no …

Just curious if everyone gets a little card that says they had WLS to show at restaurants? Do you use it? Who gave it to you? Seems like a good idea for the future...

Hi Everybody, I'm out (gaywise) with my colleagues at work but not in all places. For example, I'm not out with my adult students. Many are from other countries and I just don't want my sexuality to be the issue. I want them to be focused on the subject matter I am teaching. This caused a lot of friction with my ex-wife. She was out to everyone everywhere all the time and wanted me to acknowledge her as my partner to everyone in all circumstances. Another problem with being out with people I don't know well is that I identify as bisexual not lesbian. Some straight people think I'll @#$% anything that moves. Many lesbians view me with suspicion because they think I …

Hi, I've been at a 5 week stall that has lasted going on 2 weeks now. But I have faith. Anyways, I have experimenting with food since I got my sleeve and have found my taste has really changed. I used to be a potato chip, steak, anything breaded or deep fried junkie before. But now everything is different. I was craving a taco really bad so my partner made a batch of my favorite ones. I bit into mine and found the shell was like eating bathroom tile and ruined the whole thing for me. I spit it out and fed the rest to the dog (when my partner wasn't looking). I had some breaded and baked chicken strips last night and wound up scraping all the coating off of mine…

Hi guys... I have been doing really good the last 3 months but I have really had a hard time lately. My energy is down and my labs look ok (not great but ok). I am getting my protein in, I could do a little better on water but I am getting the min. I haven't been exercising as much as I was before which is showing in how much I am NOT losing right now. I am still losing but not at the rate I was. I think I am losing maybe 1 to 1.5 pounds a week for the last 3 weeks. The most upsetting thing for me is that I don't have the endurance or energy I did. Can anyone help and give some advise?

Hello, all! I'm new here, so please forgive me if I'm asking a question that has already been asked. I'm curious to know how much time you guys took off for your surgery. Also, does anyone in CA know if leave is covered under FML (Family Medical Leave)? A co-worker who recently underwent LapBand used FML but said most companies require a doctor's note (she submitted hers to the HR dept. but had a CA doctor). So if I were to go to Mexico for WLS, would I need a note from the Mexican surgeon? Has anyone been through this? Thanks for any info you can provide! I'm new to all of this. Good luck to everyone on your journey!

Ex co-worker of mine died at the age of 50 from a heart attack while sitting at work (he now works at a different company). We all knew him, and he was an awesome person. Yet his life ended while in a chair in an office building. And he wasn't even that old... They're blaming weight and lack of exercise. Makes me feel good about going through the VSG approval process. I DO NOT WANT TO DIE AT 50 YEARS OLD, especially while sitting at work doing overtime on some important project.

Has anyone gotten their hands on the September issue of "Allure" yet? I just got it in the mail yesterday and was reading an article in there titled "Model Weight." It's about this woman who, at the age of 47, claims to have lost 130 lbs in UNDER 4 months with diet and exercise. I am EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL. If anyone else has seen this article, what's your opinion? Do you believe that a middle-aged individual who's been overweight and then obese for decades can lose more than 30 lbs a month consistently for 4 months to get down to a sample size - with just diet and exercise? Especially someone who confesses to multiple failed attempts to lose weight before?

I am 8 days out and becoming more and more incorporated with my family than before. I believe my problem was the fact that I avoided meals in order to avoid food, which made me miss dinner outings with my kids. The last two nights we have made sure to get out of the house for as long as I can stand it. Last night I thought I could make it through dinner at the food court with my family. Hubby and 5 year old get Chinese food. I admit it looked tasty for about 3 seconds then suddenly the idea of getting my eye brows done sounded like a much better and successful idea. Did I mention that the eye strings hurt? No where near as bad as last time when they burned me with wa…

Hi all, been looking and contributing to this thread on the BBC web site. Some of the people posting are the most horrible fascists. Do feel free to join in and put the boot in. BBC - Have Your Say: Should obesity surgery be offered more widely on the NHS? Enjoy. Jane x

Help! I want to make sure I ask my surgeon about everything. I know he won't volunteer info unless I ask. He has been confident and reassuring so far, but I have a month to go and am getting nervous. Has anyone wished they had an answer or wish they would've asked a specific question prior to surgery but didn't? My Mom is recovering from breast cancer surgery and wished she asked more questions. Need help in Texas!!! pamela

After months of research and doubts I finally got a date: SEP 10 with Dr. Cure in Barranquilla (Colombia). I am going alone since hubby has to stay with the kids. I fly back 4th day post-op so that is a little scary. Leaving my two babies behind for a whole 5 days is even scarier (silly me). Now....................try explaining your 130lb boss that you need a week off for WLS :thumbup1:. I have lost 7 lbs in the last two weeks which has been hard..............I've been hungry most of the time but at least my body will be better prepared for surgery. I still plan on having a BIG piece of cake at some point before surgery. Overall I'm exited. I will probally miss eating…

Actually its the 30th now but Sunday was all about preparing for our 5 yr old's first day of school. I cried like a baby when the bus pulled away taking her with it! Hubby video taped it and is threatening you tube, lol. This week, I thought I would share my "anthem" so to speak. This is the song that reminds me... no matter what trials and tribulations that come my way, I will not be moved. I will stumble, I will fall, I will face heartaches, I will feel alone, I will feel confused, I will feel helpless.... BUT I WILL NOT BE MOVED! I listen to this song when I'm exercising or when I feel like the enemy is attacking me or if I feel like I'm close to blowing it…

well I probably wont think so at the time. but today I get sleeved! and that makes tonight one of the best! Im so ready.

Hi All, I'm new here, banded in Jan 2010 and am considering a revision. Dr Ortiz in TJ did my band earlier this year. I've lost 20 lbs so far - 10 probably within the first week and the other 10 over the last 5 months. I also PB often, have had several fills, am up to 10.2 cc in my 11 cc band, feel wide open many days, have chest pain occasionally when I eat, etc, etc. But more than anything, I'm frustrated that I'm not losing!!!!! I follow the band rules, but still nothing. I'm going back to the OCC this week to get everything checked out to make sure I don't have an enlarged pouch or erosion or leaking or any of the other band issues. Maybe I'm just not at my swe…

I went back to work this week and I'm exhausted by 3pm. Luckily I can come home early, but is there a cure for this? I'm doing the eating and drinking stuff I'm supposed to.

If I have my druthers, I'd get the surgery on Dec 9th, 2 days after I'm out of finals. I return to school on Jan 3rd, and was wondering if you think that's adequate time to heal, granted it's an uncomplicated procedure (VSG). It's nursing school, so pretty stressful. What do you think? :lol0:

I love reading WLS blogs. Especially some of them that you gals/guys have. Post your own blog and your favorites here.

The day has finally arrived. I feel like I have been in some sort of denial that it wouldn't happen for some reason. Tomorrow is the day. I am scheduled for 12:30. My doctor says that I am going to be in the hospital for 2-3 days since I am a revision from the band so I will try to post an update in a few days. I really feel a lot of support from this site so I will be back on as soon as I am able to get to a computer. Thanks for all the info.

I couldn't seem to find it anywhere... what happens to the staples left in your stomach? Do they go away at some time? Stay forever? :thumbup:

You know how when you tell people you are going to have bariatric surgery, they say, "You don't need that! It's so drastic. Why don't you just try a diet?" Well my situation with my DS was different. I WAS thinking about surgery but I hadn't told anyone. My sister sends me an email out of the blue, offering to give me her old shoes (she has over 100 pairs), if I lose weight. I hadn't told her I was trying to lose weight, nor had I asked for her shoe cast offs (though they are pretty nice and expensive). Specifically she offers to send me her top quality boots (many pairs) from the 1980's. Gee thanks, DS, hard to pass up. Then she suggests that I might find a bariatri…

I know it varies based upon how you do, but curious what your personal experiences were. thanks!

I've recently seen a few episodes of Man Vs food..... where a guy goes round doing some of these food challenges - Eating a 72oz steak plus multiple trimmings/side dishes in less than an hour..... and Its really made me think about all my fellow sleevers out in the US. Here in Spain we go out to eat at least once a week, and I'll have a starter and maybe I'll finish it over the course or an hour or so, maybe 'll take some home with me. But all the portions of 'normal' food I saw served up in the US restaurants seems HUGE by comparison..... Now I even look at my husbands dinner and feel quite queasy at just looking at the size of it....before I could happily sit down a…

I was sleeved last week (8/16/2010) and today I feel pretty much the same as I did before, with the exception of the staples. It feels like to me that the surgeon did not take out enough stomach when he did my surgery. I don't have the problems with drinking and eating like others do, it may just be that I have been overeating my whole life and I just feel as though I am overeating now as compared to others. I do not know I've never known what it is like to be normal and honestly I am wondering know if this will even work for me.

Hey all you twenty-somethings! I thought I'd let you know how I'm going to give you a bit of encouragement if any of you are yet to be sleeved. I got out of hospital a little over a week ago and I'm doing absolutely terrific! After all the reading I've done on this site of other people's issues post-surgery with getting food down I was a bit spooked by it all. So far so good - I've been able to eat absolutely everything I need to with no hassles what-so-ever. Milk is fine, fibrous food is fine and even Protein is fine (though it doesn't take much protein to get me full). I thought I'd share it with you because I personally was really worried about how much dis…

Ever had a God song? You know, a song that God uses that speaks to you, your life, your circumstances. The lyrics of the song seem to b written for you and only you. Your spirit man leaps when you hear this song and you feel so close to the Father. It can be God ministering to you, like your anthem song to get you through what you are going to through. Or it can be you worshiping the one and only true God. My heart jumps at praise and worship. Through song, I feel like I can be real. The wall come down and there is not pretense. I thought I would share my God song with you for this week. It is Revelation Song, sung by Kari Jobe. I hope it ministers to…

Yay!!! Super excited, and very nervous of course. It's gonna happen though.. Sept. 14th with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. Revision here we come! I really can't wait, I've been wanting to start over again for a very long time. So, out with the old and in with the new. Instead of a Bandiversary, I'll now have a Sleeversary. I hope I will celebrate this day now instead of cursing it. :scared0: YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

is anyone going to dr almanza last week of august? my surgery is aug 25th!:cursing::lol0:

Hi Everyone, I was just curious about something...I have seen a few posts about individuals with complications from a hiatal hernia and was just wondering if that is something that people know they have before they get the sleeve or is it a total surprise to the patient and doctor when they find that during the vsg surgery? If it's something you might have and not know about, are there any symptoms? Thank you for shedding light on this for me!

Hello hello Hello!!! So, I knew I wanted to start a journal at some point, and I didn?t quite know when or where to begin. When I began to think about it, I figured I?d start my story at the beginning. That?s a lot of typing, so if you are interested I have pasted a link. ~*~ LilMissDiva's Journey Journal ~*~ - LAP-BAND? Surgery and LAP-BAND? Discussion Forum Read my story if you like, and it?s a long read. I have been banded for nearly 3 years and I?m topping where I was on banding day. How is that, especially with as much as I weigh? It is what it is, that?s all I know. I also know that I?m a fighter. I?m not going to ever give up until my goal is rea…

Hi everyone! I am so wanting to meet all of you from my area. I live in Lavon (outside of Wylie), and I work in Plano. I am looking for those who are interested in a monthly Meet-up or even just a one time face-to-face "Hello". I would love some suggestions on locations as well. I don't mind organizing it, but I need a little help. Nothing special, just a "Howdy meeting". No, I am not an Aggie in case you were wondering... I am looking at a mid July date. Tell me you thoughts!

I am 5 months out and have lost 62 pounds.. I feel great, but the last 2 pounds took about a month to lose. I am getting concerned that I am not going to lose anymore. What can I do to jump start my loss. I still need to lose 25 pounds.. Any advice would be great i need to stay motivated.

So I feel like I have stalled out-spent the last three weeks around the same weight. I have tried mixing it up with more exercise, etc but no luck. It has been 6 months since my surgery and I am worried that going so long eating too few calories has wrecked my metabolism. I have lost of lot of weight but I am afraid in the long run doing it on so few cals has slowed down my weight loss as my body thinks it is in the dreaded starvation mode. Is it possible to have a psychological block to further weight loss? It seems far more complicated than "calories in vs. calories out" when I review my history. I have tried increasing cals for a few days and that didn't w…

I got this book referral from a medical site in which they highly recommended. I checked ebay and amazon they have it for sale starting at about $15~ Amazon lets you look inside. It seems like a lot of ppl here have a problem with the emotional part of baratric surgery. hope this helps, I ordered a copy of the book myself and I'm not sleeved yet! The Emotional First + Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery, Second Edition [Paperback] Cynthia L. Alexander[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1#][/ame] Author

Please tell me how bad your scars are. I see some people post that they have scars that make them look like they have a second belly button. Is this common? :confused1:

Hi :wave: I am new to this site and thought I would introduce myself and tell my story, I hope you don't mind? A bit of background I had an appointment about 2 years ago at the obesity clinic where the thought of surgery scared me half to death, and since the only thing that they were offering at the time was either Reductil (When it was still on the market) or Orlistat (Neither one worked for me) I decided that I would try and loose weight myself......Again..... with no luck :thumbup: . Now I decided this year that since I was still the same (Probably a bit more in fact) that I would actually go for the surgery I went back to my GP who referred me and to the obe…

Hi all who were sleeved or revised from Dr. Aceves. Quick question: When you decided to go with Aceves, how long were you scheduled for? 4 weeks? 2 Months? Longer? I'm mostly curious of those who liked to get in as soon as possible, and rather not if you purposely scheduled months in advance. Thanks in advance!! You all have been a blessing.

Okay guys... I really tried not freak out this time, but its gone on too long. 3 weeks now... up a lb, down a lb, up 2 down 1. I'm going nuts. I keep thinking that this is it.. this is as much as I can loose. Can that be possible? I'm not even "Normal" yet (BMI speaking). I'm so discouraged. I get teary when I think I'm not going to make it. I'm so thankful for the weight I've lost... but I really really want to be thin... not just a "little"overweight I don't know what to do. I eat about 1000-1200 calories a day... mostly Protein. I do eat some complex carbs as I can't function on the traditional low carb thing. I work out for an hour at lunch at curves an…

I've had this stupid band for almost 5 years. The past 2 years have primarily been mushy and liquids with ZERO Fluid in my band. I'm on my third surgeon, the first had all his patients taken away from him, the second was just an extention of the first and refused to tell anyone how bad the first surgeon had messed up our bodies, covering for him. I went to a doctor who specializes in band to sleeve conversions recommended by a lady on here. She has the exact same insurance and criteria and apparently she will be getting a huge bill in the mail as I've tried to get in touch with her privatly but her insurance refused to pay her claim based on the codes they used to get t…

Who are all our August Sleevers? I am August 4th :001_wub:

Hi all, I don't know if any of this is appropriate but I am struggling with the whole death subject. My Mum died badly from cancer in '89, and my best friend died from cancer in '91 and another friend has has died badly. Basically I cannot see any rational reason to struggle on to the end apart from family/religious pressure. Our friend had requested a one way trip to Switzerland (Dignatas) but his wife said no. She is now having to deal with the reality of his death which was really bad, I cannot do the details but it was as bad as it gets. She feels like shit and did not expect what actually happened. Basically I feel now after a small scare that there is no way I wou…

So nice to have others that have as much weight to lose as me. I'm getting sleeved this Friday by Dr. Aceves and even now, I keep thinking that this will work for everyone...but me. I will be the ONLY person in the history of sleeve-dom that GAINS weight. lol I'm sure it's because nothing has worked for me in the past seven years. Weight Watchers helped me lose about 35 lbs...once. But that's when I weighed 210 and went down to 175. Looking back, I can't even begin to guess how I allowed all this additional weight on my body. I feel crummy. I'm doing this for me, then my kids. I am 42 years old. I'm not the same person anymore. I look way different, I don't l…