MeMeMEEE

I do have to do the 6 months for my insurance. I am really impatient but at the same time, there is so much more to it than the "diet" - I have met with a physical therapist to talk about exercise routines before and after, social worker to talk about any issues in general, nutritionist to talk about changing habits before surgery and several nutrition classes. That is above and beyond meeting with my primary Dr each month just as a check in on my weight and weight loss. I can't wait but am thankful at the same time that there is so much learning involved!!

I think it would be an easy choice - everything cubed smallish, dip as much as you want, good choices of fruits, meats and cheeses - just stay away from the dessert-ish cake/bread things. I guess when I went we ordered a cheese one, a chocolate one and a meal one and 3 of us shared it...

My program gave us the following sample schedule - Sample Vitamin/Mineral Schedule With Breakfast (i.e. 8 am): 1 Bariatric Advantage Tropical Chewable Multivitamin 1 Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenge With lunch (i.e. 12 pm): 1 Bariatric Advantage Tropical Chewable Multivitamin 1 Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate Lozenge 2 hours after Lunch (i.e. 2pm) 29 mg Chewable Iron Supplement (ferrous fumarate)With dinner (i.e. 5 pm): 1 Bariatric Advantage Tropical Chewable Multivitamin 1 Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenge Before Bed: 1 Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenge Sundays (or 1 day/week): 1 (1000 mcg) sublingual B12 tablet

Good luck on a quick approval and date! I think alot of it is being proactive and calling your insurance yourself to be sure you understand all the guidelines they require. It breaks my heart when someone has been working toward the sleeve only to find out their insurance doesn't cover it.

congratulations! you look GREAT!

Congrats on taking back your life )))) I have seen a few others on the board mention they are June 27 as well! Should have a nice peer group! Ticker how to is here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13516-ticker-tutorial-for-vst-lbt-with-pictures/

Congratulations! What an awesome loss!!

Great question! I was wondering the same - I am planning on having my daughter or husband drop me off - an additional question I would have is can someone under 18 take you home? My daughter is 16.

I have NEVER considered RNY - ever! And as I get closer to being submitted for insurance I am so worried about making goal! I want to lose the most weight possible! And it freaks me out that there is no long term stats on VSG! I mean there are some big flops out there as far as WLS goes and I am sooo afraid I am picking the wrong one! But really I know I'm not, that it's the best for me and any weight I get off is better than none....ugh I am sure this has to do with not knowing but one person in real life that has had it done and she isn't even a year out....she made goal but what about in 5 years? 10 years? I know it's a tool and I should be able to use it anytime I need to, any time I feel the pounds getting out of control....

If you are drinking juice all day you may be drinking all of the calories you need. There are 130 calories in one cup!

I should be August as well! I don't have a date but my last MSWL visit is July 11th then they submit to insurance and I should have my Sleeve within a month of that!

I have just one (!!!!) MSWL visit left before submission - I emailed my insurance person for the program just trying to see when I can hope to get in once submitted and here is her response : If all of the information is in place they will send through an approval, but to be honest Blue Cross hasn’t been very easy to work with in the last few months. They have been sending through denials for unfounded reasons, and we have had no problem overturning them, but it does take a little longer to get an approval when that happens. It would not be unheard of to get you on the surgery schedule in around 1 month’s time from the time that we submit you, but that depends on Blue Cross. YAY!!! I am so excited and nervous!! Possibly will have surgery in less than 2 months!!

congrats on wining! I voted for you as well!

I found a MULTI liquid vitamin and took it in to my NUT and she had issue with the herbals in it so it was a no go.

YAY YAY YAY!! Congrats!! I just have a few more months of my MSWL!!

There are smaller bottles available - I have seen them at Gordmans.

Make sure to look at the complications section - I know there are a few who have had some problems in Mexico, gives you an idea how it was handled, what to expect if the worst happens, etc. Those people definitely aren't getting paid!!

Doesn't medicare/medicaid cover the surgery completely here in the US? Also, I know some who have had severe complications had trouble finding a Dr that would treat them here. A good place to ask would be the complications forum.

Sunny - anxious to hear if you were approved? I was told that it had to be MD not Nut visits...

Hi Crystal - I am pre-sleeve here but am 40 this year, 4'11 and started at mt heaviest 242. So we are close in size and age and amount to loose! I am hoping to be sleeved in July/August

Hi Meg - didn't get an invoice in my paypal for shipping and left for vacation yesterday so not sure if it arrived or not! Please let me know what I owe you! Thanks )

This is great info in or out of the US - I wasn't sure if this was what I needed to do but I will definitely be applying!

This seems to be pretty normal, the few things I have heard are - number one make sure your insurance covers the sleeve - a few have been disappointed when they submitted and found out they didn't. And number two, make sire you discuss everything you are doing weight loss wise at your meetings, in detail. I am just passed my 4th visit, next one is June 13th. Mine I have to see my primary care Doctor.

I second thrift stores - you can easily pick up nice stuff very cheap. I love Goodwill and Salvation Army!

I have made tofu chili and tofu stuffed shells before and my husband and kids loved it - I haven't tried it. As for the stuffed shells I mixed it with ricotta and covered with spaghetti sauce - you could easily leave it out of the shells. My understanding is tofu takes on the flavor of what it is cooked with.