monty

Hi. Well the big day is Monday10-2-11. I was so confident, but when I went to the grocery store to get the foods for level 2 I started to panic about scheduling and fitting everything in. It now seems so overwelming!! Did anyone make a chart and/or diary. If so how did you set it up? Any feed back and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I have also read on here:, a small plate (like salad size) cocktail fork and demitasse spoon, sippy cup (no straw).

Thanks for the helpful ways to perk up yogurt without the sugar!!!

Hi, I am dreading dumping! I have experienced that because I had my sigmoid colon out. Sometimes if I eat salad or something I shouldn't I feel like I am going to die and sometimes wish at that moment I would, beacause of the symptoms you describe. It pisses me off even now so I am sure I will be double pissed if that happens! I had my preop ed class yesterday. They said in the 2nd stage to eat yogurt. But when I went to the store today (surgery is Monday) all of the yougurts I looked at had sugar. I looked for Greek-same thing and I didn't find any no sugar or splenda yogurt.. How did you handle that? Thanks for responding .

Wow! Your progress is awesome! I am at a similar start weight. Did you lose some of it before the sleeve or is your start weight just before the sleeve. I will be so happy if I even get close to where you are. Did you find anything special that seemed to help you on your journey? Would love to hear fromyou again!

Hi everyone. Thanks for the replies about the gallbladder. Thank makes me feel better, but still am concerned I will have to have another surgery down the road. I guess it's allpart of the package!

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had their gallbladder out at the same time as their sleeve surgery? I am very worried about this issue. I have done some research on this and many times it seems when one loses weight rapidly that the gallbladder no longer functions properly. When I asked my Dr. if he takes it out during the sleeve surgery, he said no and doesn't think it necessary. If you didn't have it taken out, did it have to be taken out later? Would appreciate feedback on this as I am concerned. Thanks!

Hi, I am on day 5 of this 2 week diet (surgery on 10-2-11 with Doctor Marema of Flagler, St Augustine hospital. He has done over 5000 bariatric surgeries and helped develop the "spider". His diet is as follows: Breakfast: 8oz skim or 1%milk, 1/2 Protein shake, 4oz fruit Mid-morning: 1 Protein Drink Lunch" 6-8oz low fat, light yogurt, 4oz vegetable or fruit Afternoon: 1oz nuts or 2 tbsp Peanut Butter, or 1/2 cup Beans or hummus, and 4oz vegetable or fruit Dinner: 4oz lean protine (meat), 4oz vegetable with1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 whole grain starch or 1 slice whole grain bread Evening: 8oz skim or 1% milk, 1/2 protein drink, 4oz fruit 100 oz of free liquid (chicken broth, Water, crystal light etc.) Fiber and protein supplements count toward your 100 oz of liquids. Also several different Vitamins as well as 5 grains of fiber supplement are required. His nurse said I didn't have to follow the order eactly. I could adjust it to my lifestyle. I'm not saying you should do this,as your Dr knows you best. But I trust my doctor and his diet seems to be less restrictive, (I don't know what else is on your diet). Anyway, I hope this helps. Keep in touch as I am not that far ahead of you. God Bless

Has anyone here tried lately to get medicare coverage of the sleeve? They authorized payment for the by-pass but now after much research I want the sleeve and they won't approve it. Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience like this. Thanks!

I would love to hear back from you about your take on the treat. I will be sure to check out The Pathway. Thanks!

I can soooo relate to what you said. I am very concerned about emotional eating and I don't know yet how I am going to handle that issue. I have started reading Breaking free from emotional eating by Geneen Roth[quote. I don't have a lot of reasons they suggest. Main emotion is stress from years of being a perfectionis. I hope exercise will become my new friend! Thanks for replying. name=Escape_Pod' timestamp='1316315043' post='209062] I really thought about RNY for the same reason - I've always had a huge sweet tooth, and I thought dumping might be good reinforcement for me. However, as many have pointed out, you can't count on dumping with RNY - many people don't, and some sleevers do. The other problem is, I've known myself before surgery to eat so many sweets that it made me sick and that still didn't stop me. Even assuming dumping is MUCH worse, I could see the possibility of it not being enough of a deterrent. On the flip side, I really hated the thought of a high likelihood of becoming lactose intolerant with RNY. And now that I've had the sleeve, I've noticed on other forums how bypassers have to be so much more careful about things that would never have crossed my mind - Peanut Butter, tomato sauce, etc. UGH!! I will admit to a couple of bad incidents with sweets post-op. Bottom line is, if I'm eating sweets now, it's most likely for emotional reasons. 99% of the time I really don't crave them, and I've gotten used to artificial sweeteners, so I'm really ok with sugar free pudding and Atkins PB cups if I really need a treat. Emotional eating is a demon I'm going to have to battle regardless of which surgery I've had. It's definitely something I'm actively working on - if I don't, I'll end up being one of those people who regains down the road, and I am NOT GOING THERE!!

I am starting that liquid diet on Monday so i am right behind you! You sure have a lot on your plate (no pun intended) with 4 kids and school and finals coming up. I went back to school full when my 2 kids were 6 and 7 and became a teacher. So I know how stressed you must be. Keep in touch and you will be in my prayers. The good news is you are covered by insurance. I am self-pay to the tune of $18,000. I received total coverage for the gbp thru medicare but they won't cover the sleeve which I think this is the best for me. Good luck. It will all finally come together!

I recently sent this letter to Kathleen Sebelius to get the Sleeve covered. Perhaps if all of us sent her a email (see below) than we will get some action on this. United health Care, Atena and others cover the sleeve. See below what for entire letter Medicare Savings, Age descrimination to get insurance, Medicare code 43775 approval Thursday, September 15, 2011 12:20 PMFrom: To: kathleen.sebelius@hhs.govDear Miss Sebelius, My wife is on AARP Medicare Complete by United Health Care and wants to do something for her health and improve her quality of life. She is morbidly obese and has tried numerous methods to reduce her weight but finally decided the only option is Bariatric Surgery. This surgery will stop the sleep apnea, eliminate her prediabetic condition, improve her heart function, lower her blood pressure, take her off expensive medications, etc. She was approved by AARP Medicare Complete to have Gastric bypass surgery . The total cost of this operation is $24,110. My wife has had 13 surgeries and several lower bowel surgeries for diverticulitis, hernia, and bowel obstruction. Because of this we decided not to have the Gastric bypass surgery but to go with the Gastric sleeve surgery which does not operate on the bowels like the Gastric bypass surgery and does not have the problems of Vitamin absorptions.It is a less complication surgery in general with nearly the same overall health benifits. This Gastric Sleeve surgery is only $17,685 or $6,425 less than Gastric by pass surgery and is the wave of the future . Medicare could save a considerable amount of money if this procedure was approved. It has been used for many years here in the states and around the world and the doctors tell us it is a proven procedure. My Medicare Advantage plan will not cover the Gastric Sleeve surgery because Medicare doesn't even though there is a medicare code 43775 for the procedure.United Health Careis the company that provides my Advantage program and if I could buy a plan directly from them the Gastric sleeve operation would be covered completely. Because she is on Medicare they will not sell me a policy that will cover this procedure. If she were under 65 she could buy a plan to cover this. This is descrimination agaisnt her because of her age. United Health Care says they can only sell us Medicare plans. This is plane wrong!! I am asking you to review this and have Medicare consider covering this procedure for my wife because of her prior bowel operations and problems and for me since I will have to pay $17,695 if it is not approved. I am certain approval of this surgery procedure would lower Medicare's total cost for all patients who have Bariatric surgery as well as get my wife off some very expensive drugs and will help her have a better quality of life. There are many others who are waiting for this to be cover as the days are slipping from their life Thank you in advance for any help you can provide us

Thanks so much everyone. I am so thankful I found this site. Based on what you allsay I am standing my ground for the sleeve! I see him in 10 days and my surgery is 10-3. But since I am self-pay if he won't do it, I will find someone else who will. I really like my surgeon other than this, and once he sees I am determined I think he will do it.

Hi everyone. When I initally went to see my surgeon he recommended the gastric by-pass since my weight gain came not from eating large quantities but rather snacking on carbs and sweets, especially chocolate. He said the "dumping" would keep me "sraight" I should mention I have been on anti-depression meds for years and my family doctor feels my cravings for chocolate and carbs is from the low sertonin levels associated with depression. After doing much research I decided, given my medical history of many surgeries and the depression, I would be much better off with the sleeve. Now I am being discouraged from this procedure because of the sweet tooth. Did anyone who has gotten the sleeve have a sweet tooth as their main problem and if so how is the sleeve working for you? I really want the sleeve and surgery is in 2 weeks. Could really use your help. Thanks

Thank you so much I need that pat on the back! I feel like a chicken!!! But I have come this far and plan to grit my teeth and bear it! I have the same two fears plus a third one-complications. Please keep me in your thoughts. I wasn't sure I had posted correctly. Now I don't see where to go to post to the main thread. Still searching LOL!