SmokyMtnGal2011

Maddie Thank you so much. I knew about the bad breath and mouth taste but not the other signs. This is very helpful, I thought being dizziness :dizzy: was from lower calorie intake. Thank you for being a great "Sleeved Neighbor". 'Ppreciate Ya!!!!!! :cheer2:

I am pre-op going through my 3 month supervised diet for insurance. Hopefully in October i will be "sleeved". The posts have been wonderful getting me ready for my surgery and I want to thank you for your information and honesty. I have been trying to eat as I will after the surgery as far as high protein, low carbs, exercise, portions and I have currently lost 42 lbs. I believe I am in keotsis as I have the bad breath and taste in my mouth. My question is can keotsis also cause a change in your underarm odor??? I have notice in the last few days a stronger than usual odor that the strongest of deodorants are not masking. I wash, powder, apply and I can still detect the odor. I was curious if any one else experiences this before or after their surgery. Thanks in advance for you help and honesty. YOU ARE THE GREATEST NEIGHBORS IN THE WORLD!!!!

Since the gastric sleeve is the first part of the Gastic Bypass, most insurance companies will cover the procedure as it is less expensive that the Bypass. I too, did not want my colon re-routed and not have to deal with the malabsorbtion or high Vitamin regime required after the Bypass. It is your decision - research, research and ask lots of questions from your surgeon and your insurance company. You will make the right decision for you. Best of luck!!!!!

Thank you for being normal as I thought the same thing. HOW FUNNY. Thanks for the smile today!!!

Cigna is being great with my pre-op surgery requirements. Just as the others stated, have all your paperwork in order and submitted. My surgeon has been great as well as my PCP. Cigna is one of the best insurance companies my surgeon to work with. Good Luck.

WOW can you ship some of your energy to me right away. I am in pre-op too so you will have to wait for the guru's of sleeve to type in for you answers. If you have your approval letter, it is all up to the doctor's office to schedule what ever steps you have left. My "TEAM" gave me a check off list so i will know exactly where i am in the process. Perhaps, your team can do the same for you. Best of luck too you and I hope you didn't take a full schedule at school...with 7 kids at home I am not sure how you will take care of you, kids and school and husband. Glad he is very supportive. We are here for you.

July 24, 2011 for some reason today I am thinking I am not sure about this surgery. I don't even have a date yet or finished the 3 months more I have to do the medically supervised diet for the insurance and I am wondering - WHAT - WHY AM I DOING THIS!!!!! I have been reading the reasons I NEED to have this done but am I being totally honest in the reasons i WANT to have this life style change done. Will it be like somethings I have started in the past and not finished. There will be no going back once I have the surgery, no undoing or replacing the stomach back once removed. I know the LAP BAND is NOT for me at all but why now am I wondering what i am doing. I am already tired of watching everything I put in my mouth, writing it down, checking the calories, proteins, carbs and fibers for the pre-op weight loss. I have lost 40 pounds since I started this journey and feel better - not as many aches or pains - I move better, can stand longer and I am not hungery once...my blood sugar has been great. I am just feeling a little down today I suppose, perhaps not enough rest last night. I will get a pep talk from myself and start anew. This is important and I must not faulter or give in...I CAN DO THIS AND I AM WORTH THE EFFORT. Ramblings finished for the day. Toodles Barb

Beth thank you so much for the details of your surgery. I am still in the qualifing process but you answered alot of my questions. Thanks bunches for your post and keep the information coming.

try the Atkins shakes the have 17 - 19 g in them. work hard to stay on track make sure you are drinking your water every 15 minutes i know your eyes will float out of your head but keep sipping all of this hardship is for a better you and YOU ARE WORTH EVERY STUGGLE!!! You are not alone, we are will you!!!!!!!

Rene what about dancing, wearing a special pair of pants or special dress???? what about not having little kids point at you and say something to their parents (kids are so honest)? what about people no longer thinking you are lazy or an over-eater because of being overweight? What about being able to step on your boat and not having people grab on because the boat moves so much due to your weight??? What about being able to walk past people you know and they NOT recognize you (i love this one). What about being able to wear shorts and not get "leg chap"? What about not having to get "wide" shoes or DDDD or EEE bras. How about not having to take a truckload of pills every morning or evening for aliments. How about being in control of yourself and what you put in your mouth because your are hungry and not because you are emotional or stressed or lonely. It is a good idea to make a list and keep it close (I have mind in a plastic sleeve and I add to it when i think of something). This is a life time journey and we are both at the beginning of our "YELLOW BRICK ROAD" to a healthier life and healthier future. WE CAN DO IT AND WE DESERVE IT!!!! I look forward to your journey enteries good and bad in the future.

TAMZ RELAX your body has gone through a major operation and your WBC should be elevated as you are fighting off infection inside. DEEP BREATH...you are going to have pains here and there, it will be ok. You have done the right thing by talking to your PCP and calling your surgeon. TRUST WHAT THEY TELL YOU, that is what you are paying them to do. You are going to be find and do great!!!!!!!!

Ask the stewardess to help you find the seat with moveable armrest. possibly near the back close to the bathroom may only have 2 seaters. Or call the airline and see if they can't help you with the location of a moveable armrest. they are bound to have one on the plane somewhere or be able to make reasonable accomadations for you. If not, try another air line if you won't lose your money. I hate skinny people butted airplanes...wait one day i will hate myself cause i will be a skinny people butted person...yeah let me know how it turns out.

I fly often and have no problem asking for an extender from the stewardess when i first come onto the plane. Better safe than embrassed but i am certain your "skinny" little butt will surprise you and you will not have to worry about either. Happy Birthday and safe flying. DON'T GIVE UP, YOU ARE WORTH IT!!

I too am jealous of those that can get it done without the supervised weight lose. Somehow that seems funny to me that you go on a WL program to have WLS, seems like the INS is proponing the inevitable. I guess that is why the INS companies make the big bucks. I am grateful for them counting the 3 months I have been seeing my PCP as superivsed weigth lose otherwise, I too would be doing the 6 months and not having surgery till Christmas. That would be a great Christmas Gift to me, a new life, a new healthy life. Please lets keep tabs on each other and be supportive of each other since we are close on the same surgery path.

what a great testomony and inspiration you have given me. thank you so much for your response and so quickly. I too am an emotional eater and am trying very hard to change the unhealthy habits i am accustom to. The idea of being able to go out to eat again is enlighting and a special treat i look forward too. I know my mind will be the worst part of this journey and you have given me some insight on how to start now to overcome those challenges. I look forward to more coorspondence and I too congratulate you on your remarkable progress. keep going you are worth it!!!!!

I thought I had it bad but Cigna has been a breeze compared to the ones I have read here. I am so grateful for my insurance and for doing this now, if I wait for "Obamacare-2014" I would not be able to get healthy with this type of surgery and committment.

Howdy I live in East TN and am going through the last 3 months of an insurance required medically supervised diet before I will have approval for my surgery. Hopefully, I will have it in October (just before the big eating holidays-what am I thinking). I would love to know if each of you have any regrets about your surgeries and if you had any complications you would like to share. I started out weighing 324 and have been trying to eat like I will have to after surgery and have gotten down to 287 today. Any information would be greatly appreciated from you both. thank you so much for letting me join and be a part of this healthy lifestyle change for us all.