M2G

WOW! Tremendous difference!! Congrats!

See this is where it gets SO confusing...my insurance (UHC) told me that my approval would be BASED on the very last WEIGH in of my 6 months of nutritional counseling. They said none of the other weigh-ins would be considered. So they told me if that last weigh in calculated me less than 40.0 I would be denied (again since I had no co-morbs.) SO you need to find out exactly what they require. Do you have a case manager or someone assigned to follow you through the hoops? That person would be an excellent resource for you for exactly this kind of reason. I didn't pre-op because my surgeon didn't require it AND my insurance also didn't require it. He felt it was mean to make us struggle to lose weight when we have obviously tried to lose in the past. I did do 24 hours of clears just before surgery but there was nothing said about having to 'shrink my liver' etc. My actual surgery was video taped and used by my surgeon so I got to watch it and later he said my liver was "beautiful" so I'm not sure...I think this varies from dr. to dr. on the whole liver shrinking thing. I think my surgeon actually has a tool that holds the liver out of his way so I guess maybe that is why he doesn't reqire a pre-op diet. Having said that, I wish I could go back and lose some before because that would put me that much further along, but oh well, what is done is done, I am happy with my loss so far, but of course still wanting to lose more. Good luck, I hope you get all your questions answered by the right person at your insurance co!

Only your insurance plan administrator or bariatric case manager or nurse can answer this question. My plan specified since I did NOT have any co-morbidities, that my BMI was NOT to slip any lower than 40. It was part of the reason that I didn't do a pre-op diet. My surgeon ALSO did NOT require me to lose weight for him to operate on me. Even though my BMI was 44.4 I didn't want to get anywhere close to 40. My bariatric case manager spelled it out specifically that my BMI was not to go lower than 40.0 I just calculated your BMI based on being 5'2" and 216...it came up with 39.5. Definitely time to find out exactly what the insurace company requires!!

Thanks Longer-Life, you are so sweet!

I have had a few days of higher carbs (like 70g or so) but I mostly do the low carb staying around 30-50. Aaack...the science is baffling to me. I don't understand it all. There are too many theories and what works for one doesn't always for another. I think your workout schedule is more intense than mine. lol. I know it has served you well. You rock, and are still losing even after the pastics...that is awesome little lady!

Ha Coops! Ya, let me know and we can do it together. I didn't notice any big difference between 800/1,000 cals a day vs. 1,200/1,400 a day, but I'm guessing my carbs were still around the 40-50 range. The only thing that makes me worry is that I feel like I'm eating to lose and yet I'm mostly maintaining. I just am NOT done yet!!! (I know you know what I mean!)

I wouldn't dissuade anyone from getting a medical ID bracelet, but I polled a few EMT's/paramedics that I know and all of them said the same thing. They don't think there would be a problem with the blind NG tube...RNY = YES, but VSG, they all said no. I also asked them about the fancy or pretty ID bracelets becuase I have heard that sometimes they are overlooked and viewed as jewlery instead of medical information. They said it's helpful to be clearly medical ID but they wouldn't discount it immediately if it looked more like jewelry. However, one paramedic mentioned that he relies mostly on instinct and is going through things on a mental checklist. The ID bracelet/jewelry is just part of that list.

So this is not new to me. I plateaued for months 8 and 9 and lost a bit in month 10, then I've been plateaued again for months 11 and 12. But I attend a support group and know a couple of RNY'ers and they have said "oh, go on a good old fashioned carb binge...it always works for me." LOL. I tried explaining to them that sleevers KEEP THEIR CALORIES, and therefore I don't know if it would work for me or just result in a gain. I haven't tried it yet, and as I said this is not new for me. I have tried plenty of things (more Water, more exercise, more intense exercise, less calories, more calories, etc.) and my body will drop when it's ready. Not my favorite time schedule, but hey at least the scale still moves down. I just wondered if anyone has heard this advice about having a carb day or a pig out day and if they have tried it since being sleeved. Thoughts and opinions welcome!

I *saw* your ticker but did NOT realize it was -4lbs in one week. YOU are a fricken rock star and I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy for you! :Banane08: Now you do mind sprinkling some of your magic fairy dust my way...I'm going on almost 2 months with zero loss. Sigh. :violin:

Congratulations on a new nephew (he's adorable!) reaching your mini goal (yay!) and I just have to say you look beautiful holding him! :wink_smile:

Wow! You are stunning! Beautiful before and after, but you look just radiant in the new dress!

Irene, is that the compression garment from the dr? Wow, your knees dont' look as bruised as I imagined. I'm sure they will keep looking better and better! Coops, I hear ya, going the slow route is sure a long process, but look how far we have come...we will get there someday, I SWEAR!!!

Wow, you look amazing!!!! What a transformation! How long did it take you to lose the 55lbs pre-op and what plan did you follow? I really wish I could hit the rewind button and lose pre-op...sigh! Cest la vie... Please keep us posted on maintenance and how it goes for you. To me maintenance still seems so far off and still so scary. I'm sure you will do GREAT with it!!!

Thank you for your honest opinion. Means a lot! Irene, that would be fantastic if you only have to have lipo and NOT skin removal...how incredible would that be???!!! If anyone can do it, I'm sure you can!!! Now on the 18th, more lipo, right...exactly what areas? And I guess you are just going to have to chalk up Nov. 2011 to being sore and a bit out of sorts. But man come May when you are rocking that swimsuit, all the pain will be a distant memory...

KELLY, that is so so so AMAZING!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!! I'm thrilled for you, congrats on this wonderful milestone. How about some before/after photos? :camera:

-11...WOW!!! That is soooooo awesome! I know it will take time to see the results, but I am so excited for you. How painful was it (this was lipo to the legs/knees right?)...inquiring minds want to know! Rest up, heal well my friend!

Aaargh, yes it IS frustrating! My hubby is sleeved as well, although he is 5 months after me (due to insurance hoop jumping) and as I was getting wheeled into the OR my sugeon joked, "it's good that you are going first" and I was like "yeah, I'm the guinea pig" and he said "no because it is hard for women when the men lose faster than they do"...OMG, do you think he has seen this before? lol Thankfully my hubby and I both seem to be pretty slow losers overall and he has not passed me up. His ultimate goal was to lose -90lbs and he's down about -65. I need to lose over -100 to get close to my goal. Vent away sista, I hear ya!!

I totally agree with Tiffany on this one...my personality didn't change. It has been more of an evolution that has made my outside match my inside. I notice that a LOT of people want to bring up my weight loss and discuss it and I just am very vague and change the subject. It's my own defense mechanism...I don't want to discuss the intimate details of my medical life with people in a casual way. If it is someone that I really know well and I feel that they are interested in hearing all the details, I will share in a one-on-one kind of setting. Otherwise I thank them for noticing, tell them it's a lot of hard work and change the subject. I think the fat is an insulator of sorts. People DO treat obese people differently, no matter how hard we try to overcome it. It's always right there in the front (and back and thighs, etc.) for everyone else to see and judge. Not everyone is equally judgemental but there is a lot of philosophy out there that obese individuals are lazy, and incompetent or they just don't care about themselves. I do think there is something to the self-sabotage that needs to be investigated further... Best of luck, you will find your way. :smile:

Um, WOW, is all I can say! Oh and while it is next to impossible NOT to do, please do not compare yourself to others. This is your journey and yours alone. Everyone starts at different weights, heights, body shapes, etc. so what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else. I have learned this along the way. I'm 12 months post-op and have basically lost the same amount as you. I realize we may have different BMI's, etc. so that is why it's impossible to compare. Keep doing the plan your surgeon gave you and keep putting one foot in front of the other, and eventually you will make your goal!

Oh my goodness I am just LOVING all the photos. They are so great, she is so precious and now your family is complete. I couldn't be happier for you! This has been one incredibly long road you have taken to get to this point in your life and I know you would do it all over again in a heartbeat to acheive these results. I am just thrilled for you and want to thank you for sharing your journey with us. Wishing you and your family all the best!!!

Great topic of discussion! I have a box on the lower right hand corner of my blog with all the work I've done pre- and post-op I started with a phone call to my insurance in April 2010. I had my surgery in Oct. 2010 because I had to complete 6 months of required weigh-ins with a dr., nurse or registered dietican. I did all my weigh-ins with the NUT at my surgeon's office so they could provide detailed notes to my insurance case and nurse case manager. Here is what my timeline looked like (hope this helps!): Call Insurance - Check! -April 2010 Case Manager's Call - Check! Nurse's Call - Check! Meet Nutritionist for every month for 6 consecutive months - Check! Attend Seminar - Check! Meet with Surgeon - Check! Meet with PCP - Check! Blood Work/Labs - Check! Pulmonary Test - Check! Psych. Eval. - Check! Attend Nutrition Class - Check! All paperwork submitted to insurance - Check! Pre-Op Surgeon Meeting - Check! Pre-Admission Testing - Check! Surgery - 10/22/10 - Check! 1 Week Post-Op Nutrition - Check! 1 Week Surgeon - Check! 3 Week Post-Op Nutrition - Check! 3 Week Surgeon - Check! 6 Week Post-Op Nutrition - Check! 6 Week Surgeon - Check! 3 Month Surgeon - Check! 6 Month PCP Visit & Labs - Check! 6 Month Surgeon - Check! 9 Month Surgeon - Check! 1 Year Post-Op with Surgeon & Labs - Check! 12 Physical Support Groups - Check! Too Many Hours to Count at Online Support Groups!!

Woo hoo! You are a hot mamma! Great job on the loss so far!!!

I'm one year post-op and I still eat between 4-5oz per meal or less. I tend to measure my dense meat at around 3oz and then fill in with an ounce of veggies or "other" stuff. My advice to everyone is to always underfill, no need to get in MORE as long as you are meeting your protein requirements!

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you!

Congrats on being SO close to goal, only 6 months out! WOW! You look fantastic, and it's wonderful about the diabetes being in remission!!! That is an awesome NSV!