meggiep

My insurance requires only that I satisfy my doctor's requirements. I need to go two two seminars- which I have done, and be signed off by a psychiatrist and a nutritionist. My nutritionist agreed to try to help me have the surgery in April as I am a self emplyed wedding photographer and need to be ready to work at least partly in May. I have logged food going way back and will see her twice in the next month to show I know the principlesI have a psych appointments, had a sleep study for apnea last night, am having a treadmill test tomorrow, an upper GI on Thursday with a chest xray, and will have a colonoscopy next week since I am due for one (I hoped they would not notice but they did....). I am crossing my fingers April will be my month! I have Blue Shield of California. I will also do a liquid diet for two weeks before the surgery.

I both giggled and cried with joy watching you dance.You look so alive and beautiful. And I subscribed to your vlog too- as I go through my pre tests and keep my eyes on the prize you inspire me so much. I was jealous of that sunshine- is it warm there? We seem to be having the winter that wont end here in No CA. Anyway- you go girl! I thought of you today when I ate a cookie- one- and found it did not taste that good now that I am indoctrinating myself against carbs. I think you are lucky to be changing that long love affair you had with food to one of mutual respect.

That sounds odd to me. I have not had my surgery, but I had back surgery, as well as several others. I was intubated (tube in throat) during my back surgery because my oxygen level fell. They monitor that while you are out , often with a clip on your finger that measures oxygen in your blood . If it falls they put the tube down to open the airway. They do that to get more oxygen to you and that is a good thing! If you have apnea, that could definitely be a problem that happens. However, I did not wake up with a tube, it was pulled out as the surgery ended and though I had a sore throat and needed oxygen for a couple of days based on what had happened, I can't imagine waking up with a tube in my throat.But I am by no means a total expert!

I learned something at the most recent presentation my doctor gave (I am required to go to two and this was my second.) He said that you have to see that the recommended weight for most people, based on those insurance tables, is usually 10-20 pounds heavier than their real ideal. So that when you calculate 65% of excess it is really a lot closr to your gola than you may think. Based on the tables, I should lose 150 pounds. The reality is, my goal, and the weight I was very happy with for all the years before all my accidents precipitated a huge weight gain, is to lose 115. Well, the 65% I am projected to lose is of the weight table goal, so is 65% of 150 = 98 pounds- a lot closer to my actual goal than you might think when you think of 65%. Also, that is an AVERAGE. And that includes the people who don't comply with the recommendations and eat around their sleeve as soon as they can. Know that we all have a great tool right here on VST that will put us all in the higher percentage...for sure!

I feel like I have made so much progress working towards that golden moment of getting a surgery date- I have been to the nutritionist and she is seeing me in two weeks instead of a month in order to help me try to get the surgery in April- I have so many different appointments I have put them on my phone to keep them straight- a sleep study Monday night from which I head to an Upper GI the next morning, , followed by a treadmill test the next day.... and the psych eval the following week. Even a colonoscopy as I am due for that and my dr. wants me to have it done before the surgery. None of it phases me with my wonderful goal of getting my sleeve. Then- kaboom- my lower back went out. I am already bedeviled with back and knee issues along with fibromyalgia that are a huge reason why I am bound for the surgery. I need to lose weight to ease things for my body but the injuries keep me from being able to lose - you know the vicious cycle! I am on pain medication, even a patch, and am use to living with pain, and relying on the magical Water aerobics to keep me moving and ease my pain. But this is different- it feels like a disc problem and I am bedridden and in agony. So now I have an MRI in the middle of all these other tests to see if I have something that needs surgery. Something is wrong, I know it. And my doctor thinks so too. I am terrified- for one thing the back surgery I had eight years ago precipitated a 120 pound weight gain when I went from being active and alive to being incapactated and eating for comfort. My inactivity is already an issue in my ability to lose but the thought I might need surgery again when I am working so hard to get my sleeve and go for life is completely freaking me out. I told my husband last night that I am thinking of insisting on having my sleeve first even if I do have surgery. Then at least I would have a limited capacity for food and would have my sleeve eating habits . I will try to get it moved forward based on this urgent situation of needing back surgery- so that I can recover for two or three weeks and then once I am moving well and able to have surgery again THEN I would do the back surgery. Just think good thoughts for me everyone! I just can't stand getting so close to getting all my ducks in a row only to have something take the rug out from under me. Sigh.

I so cheer you on! Hooray for you to take this step. And Used2b575lbs- I am stunned at your success305 pounds lost in 19 months? WOW!

Thank you both! I am heartened to think it could be better later- and it is just as I thought that my body will enforce it by letting me know not to guzzle. Even though my nutritionist wants me to do all of it now, I will relax a but knowing my sleeve will let me know if I do it wrong!

I am trying to get all the practices that will be needed into routine now, hoping to have the surgery in April or May. I have found it fairly easy to chew the heck out of everything, and actually find it has me eating less since I feel full sooner. But sipping liquid slowly all day and never while eating is proving more challenging . I forget to do it, then find I am way behind on my fluids, and also have trouble keeping it to a small amount of Fluid. I am thinking that the fact drinking a lot will cause me to likely vomit may be the best enforcer of this habit! But I would love to hear of any tips or ways you have managed to do this.

I can tell you the requirements, as far as Dr. Feng is concerned- you have psych eval, a couple of nutritionist appointments, and other health screenings depending on what you have done lately. I am in the middle of a whirlwind of tests- including an all night sleep study this coming Monday night, an upper gi, chest xray, treadmill test- I am trying to get as much done as fat as possible. Every single person I encounter loves Dr. Feng. He is extremely skilled, kind , and caring- yet of course firm and holds you accountable.

Wow- 10k Sterling? OUCH!!!! That is so expensive- but well worth it, I think you will find out! Congratulations on being on the other side of your surgery and full speed ahead!

I wonder if the sleeves in the UK are done to give a larger size sleeve in the end than we do here in the states? That will probably slow the weight loss a bit. In the end we will all get ther! I think a bit slower results in less droopy skin so look on the bright side!

My doctor is wonderful- he has been doing lap surgeries for 9 or 10 years, and worked with the originator of the sleeve in New York. He works with Palo Alto Medical Foundation doing surgeries at Sequoia and Stanford, PAMF takes all kinds of insurance.. His web page: Dr. John Feng

It may differr for your company but my doctor said that the weight you record on first visit is what will determine it. Surely they should not penalize you for doing what they asked!

I am not a man but I want to give you a big hug for everything you have been through. Honestly from what I have seen at the two seminars I have attended given by my doctor (two require- check!) and my first appointment with him, I feel the band will eventually lose favor. Not only does it not give the best results in terms of percentage of excess weight lost, but the problems with slippage, hernias,ease with which you can increase your intake, ...well, I just don't see it as optimal. I think you will find the sleeve a whole different matter- and the aid it gives you will last a long time. YOu wont have to worry about erosion or slippage or anything like that. I am happy to join your support team and root you on! BTW I took my husband to the seminar tonight and he really came out of it with great respect for anyone who does this.

I am almost exactly your height and weight - and I too do not have a pattern of eating a great deal. I have always had a low low metabolism but could keep my weight down with activity and that went south when I hurt my back. The post about carbs also resonates and therefore I feel with the extreme cut back in calories as well as the focus on Protein the sleeve will be great for me. You may lose a bit more slowly than some but you will lose. Go for it!

HI everyone, I am on the search for this as I think having stuff you like can make a huge difference! My doctor has an e-sales area on his site and I would love to know if this seems like a good deal or not I am just starting out looking around but if his stuff is good and if it's reasonably priced I would love to get it through him. It actually is the Bariatric Advantage stuff- I would love feedback about it. If anyone in Northern CA is looking for a great doctor - Dr. John Feng Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Post Op Kit Contains: 2 - Bariatric Advantage High Protein Meal Replacements (35 servings each) (21 days/3 meals per day = 3 TUBs) 1 - Bariatric Advantage® Multi-Form Chew Orange (180 count bottle) (2 tablets per day= 1 bottle) 1 - Bariatric Advantage® Chewable Iron (60mg) - Passion Fruit (90 count bottle) (1 tablet per day= 1 bottle) 1 - Bariatric Advantage® Calcium Citrate Lozenges w/ Vit. D. - 500mg (270 count bottle) (3 tablets per day= 1 bottle) $ 215.25

( do not have to do that before my surgery (liquid Protein for three weeks before though) but I DO have to have a colonoscopy in two weeks to get that taken care of before the surgery as I am due for one. Same prep- DISGUSTING! As mentioned- chill it to be very very cold- i keep the next glass full in the freezer each time and use a straw to drink it down fast- ice cold is the best. For me it is the thick feeling more than the taste. Know that you will b starting this new chapter in your life with a squeaky clean colon- probably a good way to start so that your system is not taxed digesting anything as you recover.

Does she still cut the stomach or does she fold it (plication)?

From what I have read, a lot of it is about letting the staple line heal well- and I will err on the side of conservative to hep that happen. I figure giving that time without stressing the incision area is worth it for a short while in prep for a long life of healthy (tiny) stomach!

Today was the big day- and I am thrilled to finally be on my way- with a huge list of appointments to make for lab work, heart tests, sleep study, upper GI, and even the colonoscopy that is due this year in order to not have to do it after the surgery. My wonderful Dr., Doctor John Feng of PAMF, thinks I could be having the surgery within three months- and I am motivated to have it be sooner! With his process, once the psych eval clears me and the nutrition department does the same, my surgery is scheduled. So of course those were the two I could not speak with personally today! It figures... I hope to be able to do both immediately so I am researching the niutrition on my own so I can dazzle them with my knowledge when we meet. I am just so excited to be in the program and on my way. HOORAY!!!

You have all made my heart glad! I have already planned to wean off the caffeine if I can before surgery but my husband and I love to drink mugs of coffee together while we work on our weddings (we're photogs) and it is something I do not want to lose. I add lots of 1 percent milk- I am post menopausal and want to add the calcium. I swear this was my only really big concern in looking at the surgery.

OMG you all made my day! I of course planned to ask my doctor at my first appointment this Wednesday but the presentation said something about it being bad for blood sugar levels. Seriously- I can face my new eating lifestye happily if I can have my coffee! I drink it with a lot of milk. OH HOORAY!

Honestly of all the things that are required post-op this is the one thing I am struggling with. Is it true I can never have coffee again? I don't see any mention of coffee but I have been to one seminar that listed it s something that as to go. I have always considered it one of the few vices I would take to the grave with me and it is truly harder to separate from than any kind of food. Waaaaah!

Once you are eating solids again I have a suggestion that has been really effective for me (I am not sleeved yet but am on medication for chronic pain with a huge problem of constipation)- dried unsulpher apricots work every time. I imagine for chewing to mush they should be soaked in water first or stewed. Recently I had a new injury meaning more medication and started to have the problem and had stopped the apricots- started again- voila- problem gone. They offer a lot of other vitamins and minerals as well. Hope this helps! Obviously not during the non solid phases.

I like that you posted this so there can be some reality checks for what comes to seem like a panacea. I know that with my pain issues and near invalid status outside the Water I will probably still have a fairluy slow time of it. I Know I can lose weight if I eat very very little and the sleeve will help me do that. That said- yep- water it most likely is. Remember with water and weight- a pints a pound the world around!