camille01

hello...Luck.. thanks for your post,I think you are so incurraging to the rest of us but of course I can only speek for me.what was your starting weight if you lost 75lbs...and what is your weight now....did you have any regrets?and how do you feel being at a normal size? not that you weren't before, but how do you feel....I work at a stadium and have some lifting to do,what do you recommend and what time did you take off work,how long did you have off so I will know how long to ask for?...please keep us posted..thank you

I heard Isopure Is good as well and you can get the gold card from GNC and save 20% to 25%.on all purchases...in store its only $10 dollard ol line its $15,but it does save a lot.....they have isopure in 5 different flavors,,,or go to UNJURY I heard theres is always good...I drink muscle milk,its pretty good a lil strong...you get it muscle milk-strong...lol...just kidding but it is really good...you should give it a try...

hi Stacy, When I went to my siminar that was one of the insurances that was brought up in decussion and yes they do pay for the surgery....the best way to fine out forsure is to call the insurance co and ask personally but you must call the hospital where you plan to have the surgery and find out the surgery code(i think it is called a CPT-CODE)the hospital where Im getting my surgery ,The cpt code for the Sleeve. Gastrectomy is 43775. If it is approved procedure that is for BCBS, I have GHI and BCBS ,but bcbs is my hospitalization....I hope everything works out in your favor and good luck...

HI Doug,thanks for explaining the procedure that I will face soon,you really helped,so you are about 3 weeks or so out,how is the pain now? have you recouped from everything?how long did it take for you to ge to work?I have an intense job as well,I work at Yankee Statium in NY and I am courious as too how long did it take you to go back to work?I am gonna have to take time but done know how much....I am so glad that everything is going well for you andbesides the pain would you do it over again?....just enjoy your journey and have fun with it... camille01

Hi Butrcupz,I dont know if this will help or not but I went to a support group 2/1/2011 and It opened up a few things that I wanted to know,(do you attend your support groups after your surgery)and If not Why and what keeps you from going?,,,,first its where you havn't been taking your (all of your vitimans)you have multi vitimans centrum with Iron or another 100% of what you need,vitiman d3,vit B6,B12,calcium,and most of all your PROTEIN....do you drink your protein? call your nutritionist and see what kind and how how much protein do you need to take per sitting,this is something you have to do for the rest of your life and we have to get used to it in order to be as beautiful as you are and keep that long curly hair that you got.....I dont want to seen hard or anything but those people that did your surgery are there to help you....and when you need them make sure that you use them to benifit you .thats what your insurance paid them $20.000 for. I havnt had my surgery yet but I have been to several siminars and support group meeting,,,and I did learn a little....I hope everything gets better for you....by the way we have to pay a price to be beautiful...and the price of a wig is not too much...do you feel me?.....thanks for hearing me out .....camille01

Hello Apw.I get what you are saying,I have a 11 yr old as well but she is my youngest,I told har about the surgery,I'm not forsure when I an up for it yet,I live in NYC-Bronx,but my lil girl is over weight and when I told her about the surgery she told me Mom when you start dieting I want to diet,ans when tyou start to go walking I want to walk too,I told her OK that would be nice she has asthma and it would be good for her to.. you were talking about a CAT SUIT(meow)...do your thing girl...strut you stuff like you never have before,I am waiting on my turn,...only 1 thing Make sure you have your party before you go for your instructions because it will lay on your mind and you will be mad at your self,,but really let your hair down and have fun.....then you have to get serious...congradulation on getting your dates and everything Just go with the flow,,,,I still have a few things to complete,I have my 2nd support meeting this evening,I'm gonna try to go before the snow/Ice storm hit,I want my hubby to go with me but you know how that goes.....so I am gonna try to make that tomight at 6pm...I have the nutritionist and 2 more months of wt management left them I have to go back to the surgeon I will be complete,my surgery will probley be over the summer,,,pain in the butt because I wanted it a lil earlier so I can go to the beach,,,,but thats the way the ball bounces....hey keep in touch ,let me know how you are.....I need some one to get skinny with....camille01

Hello,I am not to sure about splenda but I have been using the pink stuff-sweet-low for many -many yrs I mean about 15 yrs and Nothing has gone wrong or I have never experiance and side affects such as it making me hungrier,I watch Dr Oz all the time and he said if you are going to use any type is sweetner he said that it is best to use sugar because you are tricking your body into thinking that you are using sugar and there is nothing to burn(calories)so it is best to use sugar so your body can burn it off.....I have been using the pink stuff for so long I cant change back because sugar taste sooo sweet to me now....

Thanks Everyone for the input,I know now I have to wait for all of the appointments to be completed for all the info to be submitted at the same time for approvel,I still have 2 more months for wt management,a nutritionist visit,and another visit with the surgeon,I guess this is the one to make sure that you know what you want(surgerys),I am glad that they are taking the precousions because this is something that shouldnt be taking litely....I appericate the staff that I will have when I do have the surgery.....I have the biggest part over,now its the little things that are holding me up....I guess it takes paitents and lots of them...I have a drawer full of it...lol........keep us posted...

Comgradulation on your weight lost,getting away from the weight lost for a moment,How do you feel physically?,..I am up for the surgery in a few months and my job is pretty physical,I am just wondering how long will it take me to get back in stride....I am a concession manager at Yankee statium I have some physical lifting and wondering how long would I have to wait till I can go back to work and how long I have to put my work off on another emp..lol.......I love my Job but I love me more....I dont want to do anything to pull any thing loose....any I dea or should I put this one on my surgeon?.....thanks for any Idea....camille

you got mine....I am glad that everything is working out for you Sheila...please let me know how everything goes with the doctor and your wt management program,,,if you start now when you have to tdo ityou will have some of it done already...tell you daughter hello and I said thanks for helping mom....we will talk soon......Netta

Hi Sunny,I was constantly doing research on the band,I was even looking it up about 2 yrs ago and I never thought I would have the guts to go through with it so once I started going to the siminars, at the hospital I had the chance to talk to the doctor about both procedures and she said that she prefered the sleeve over the band and I asked why ,she said that there is so many failed lapbands,so I asked her which one and she said both have had erosions and slipping,a was always been one to ask questions ans I wanted to know why was there so many failed bands she told me that once people lost the weight the band would slipp because they went back to there old eating habbits and for the erosions can in when they would get there fills they wouldnt know when to stop eating and would throw up and the stomach acid would erode the band but it would take a while for this to take place ,,,I am not to excited about having a second surgery...I want it done and done right the first time,,,with the sleeve you get your stomach cut down to a bananna size and it will streach it you do overeat...but you have to be commited to any of the procedures in order for them to work.....if you get a chance go to verticalsleevetalk.com and look around and read before you go through with the surgery ,,,I would rather you read and make up your mind than to have the surgery and be sorry if you feel that you have made a mistake....just read it so you can really say that you looket at it....camille01

do your thing my friend,prayers are with you and best of luck with your new journey...

Hi Sunny,I have checked around for a few friend and the best place I have found out to get lapband cookbooks are Barnes and Nobels and they also have books on just Bariatric surgery,I havnt ordered any of them,I am looking into the sleeve surgery and I know that there is no books out for this surgery because it is realitivly a new procedure,so I wish you well on your hunt but please keep in touch with me and if there's anything I can help with please feel free to ask,,,if I dont know the answer I will find out ,....good juck on your journey....keep in touch because I am still on that trip to get to the journey too...

some doctors require it and some dont,the main reason for the liquid it to shrink the liver, I hope I dont have to diet first but it is also where you get it done at.hope your journey goes well and is a happy one and Im sure thet what ever your parents do while they are there ,they will be right by your side to will you well..that is what parents do keep us puzzled it the big show down...just pray and leave it it gods hands and every thing will be ok...

Do you take Iron? I am 3 months before the surgery and my doctors assistance called me and told me that I needed to take an Iron suppliment,do you thing that this is your case,vitiman d3 plays a big part in your complexion and also there is several vitimans that is required after surgery,I know Calcium,Multivitamins,b6 for hormonal change and b12,please check with your nutritionist and see if there is something you are lacking...maybe you are not getting your Protein,,,camille01

Hi Barb,Just look it like this...How long did it talk you to gain the weight?....then look at how long it will take you to loose it...you are retaining water....just give your self time because you just got out of the hospital and it will take time....like the friend said.put the scale away...just concentrate on healing and feeling better..when you get a chance to get out side and walk you wil see the weight falling off and wonder if you are loosing too much...and always remember this is a tool....and you have to use it as such...I know you have heard it before..but give your self some time..please start taking plenty of pictures and make your own brag book,,,I am 3 months or so from having my surgery and I got starting taking pictures when I started doing research.....have fun on your journey....camille01

Thanks Rosey,thanks for the incurraging words....I guess I got what I needed from that doctor,I got the report.and It was good...I even stayed there till the recept. faxed it over...Yeah...camille01

congradulations,I live in Nyc as well,In the Bronx,but I am having the sleeve,I was considering the band and got a lil scared,,,I tell you about it later...but I had my consult with the surgeon and I am gonna have the sleeve done in about 3 months or so....I wanta wish you the best with your surgery,...form 1 NYorker to another...keep in touch and let me know how you are and your journey is going......tell your sister she has done a very thoughtfull thing and she will be blessed,...keep posting and ill keep reading...camille01

Diego is cute,I've heard lots of people say that walkimg helps but to each it own,what is good for 1 may not be good for the next....you know you are not suppose to have anything but water,protein,and jellos,and broths right,,,you are still very swolled,,,kinda like squeezing water through a tied balloon its just not happening....be good to your self,walk through the house,take meds & gas x..get plenty of rest.....recovery first then eating and exercise will come after the first week.....get well and enjoy your journey,,,make sure that you take plenty of pictures and make your own Brag book....it helps later to reflect back.....camille01

hello,I am so sorry you had to go through so much of a dramatic situation.hopefully everything will go well from now on,,,may god bless you,and keep up the good work.keep us posted to your success...camille01

Hello my friends,I made my psyc visit todayand everything went so well I feel like I made a new friend even though I will never see this Doctor again...lol.the visit went reallty well ,I was nervous at first but when I got in the office I was the 2nd visit for that day,I was really suprized when the doc.said that i was his 2nd visit for some needing an evaluation for bariatric surgery even though he's not on the list of doctors to do evals..for that kind of surgery ,,,,he just wanted me to tell him the reasons why I wanted to have the surgery and about my family life,He really wanted to see if I had any trouble in my home life such as being put in a depress state or if my home life is upsetting to me ,if I have ever been on antidepressants,I told him when I lost my dad in death a few yrs ago or with any other death in a family will put anyone in a depress state,YES I was taking an anti depressant, before I left he said (even though I am against baritaric surgery) you are very normal and I don't see anything that would hold you from having the surgery if that is what you want.. he also said I really beleave in loosing weight the old fashion way-walking and doing the adkins diet, all I could do is laugh............YEAH........I am haft way through........I'll be on the other side before long.......camille01

Hello chicadee,I live in NYC,in the Bronx and for teachers there Primary insurance is GHI,and there secondary is BCBS so I am hoping that I dont have to choose between bypass or the band I want the sleeve...I was wondering how long does it take them to accept or do the hospital even send in for approval before all the appiontments are complete or do they wait until everything is complete.I just have a few appointments left,(my neutritionist,3 more wt mgt visits,and my second visit with the surgeon,and i'll be ready for my new journey...thanks for the imput....camille01

hello,I have only heard of the monthly liquid diet was for people that weight almost 500lbs or some where around there when the doctors are trying to get the liver to shrink,because with out the liquid diet the liver is swollen and it has to shrink. bet with someone smaller it only takes about 1 week on a liquid diet,I hope that ,that is my case...I may be able to do a week or 2 before hunger strikes with its pangs,they feel like being pregnate and being hungry....I tried the week diet on liquids and boy its no fun unless you have the Protein shakes or something thick to drink that will stick....

Hello,I recently started going through the procedure,I went to my siminar on Dec 2,2010 and I had my first doctors visit on Janurary 10,2011 I was given my list of doctors visits I had to complete before scheduling a 2nd visit with my surgeon and yes we still have to be evaluated by the psyc. as a matter of fact I have my evaluation tomarrow Jan 25,2011 and I also have to complete a 6 months of weight management with my pcp.or the neutritionist.I chose to go to my regular doctor(pcp). there are some insurances that dont require different and some that do,so hopefully you have one that doesn't.I kinda glad that mine does so I will know that I'm ready when I do have my surgery,it makes me feel like I've earned it and I have someone else to answer to besides myself...hope your journey is a good one...keep us updated....camille01

hello,from my understanding,If you have 3 comorbidties you dont need any other excuse,you will quilify anyway.,,once you go to your siminar you can ask the surgeon who conducts the program,she or he will let you know..and your BMI fits the chart....you can go to www.lapband.com and there is a BMI chart there for baritaric surgery,..because the BMI charts are the same...hope everything goes good for you...camille01