omamilam

Hi, I have not heard of anyone going from band to sleeve that wished they hadn't changed. Everyone loves it and wishes they had done it sooner. Don't back out, you will be fine and wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Hang in there.

Try these for Protein. They are much better than the shakes. I can't drink shakes either. All you need to drink is one bottle a day. Each bottle has 40gms of protein. Get it good and cold. Sip on half in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. So what if it takes all day to finish it. At least you are getting in your require protein to stay healthy and they don't taste half bad.

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2612796&clickid=prod_cs

You didn't mention where your rash is, what you use could vary on the location.

For dry skin, I prefer a thin coat of petroleum jelly on my arms and shins. It cures those scaly looking skin cells for days. It works great on your heals too.

Who knew at 54 white chicks get ashy? LOL

You are both right. Usually each person has themselves as the primary on their own policy and the spouses insurance as secondary. In the case of whose birthday is first only applies if you both have "the same" insurance company.

I wouldn't put too much stress in figuring it out for yourself. The insurance companies will work it out between themselves if there is any question. Once the decision is made, one company will pay 80% and the other company will pick up the 20% if both companies pay for WLS.

If only one company pays for WLS it will be covered at 80% and the other will not pay any.

This is the norm in most cases. I would put yours as primary when you have the staff submit for a pre-determination of benefits.

I'm getting sleeved about the same time. My doc has a specific diet he wants me to follow post op. He says...if its not on the list, you don't eat it.

So with that said, I'd wait and see what your doctor recommends for a post op diet.

I have a magic bullet also and make smoothies with it. I love it more than my blender because you mix and drink from the same small cup. All you have is the cup you drank from to clean. LOVE IT !!!

My hubby got an electric throw blanket for his birthday. I plan on taking it to keep warm.

I think I will write my name in magic marker in big letters on my arm so I don't have to tell them who I am so many times. LOL

I'm jealous! LOL.....JK........Congrats!!!!

I can't wait to know the feeling of that experience.

Keep up the good work !

I'm 54 and hope to be sleeved soon. We are trying to be in the Vertical Sleeve chat between 7-9 PM on weekdays. We are all on different time zones so check in if you can. We have a couple of veterans and several newbies with questions. The Vets are happy and eager to help.

Try this website:

http://www.howmuchprotein.com/foods/

and this website

http://www.hungry-girl.com/show/show-recipes

1. It may have to do with shrinking your liver before surgery. I think it depends on you BMI also. If you have a higher BMI you may have to diet longer in order to shrink you liver size to make surgery safer. It will also introduce you to what the typical postoperative diet is like.
   

I have not heard of being denied life insurance, only personal medical policies. That's not to say it isn't a problem. I just haven't heard of it. Let us know the outcome. Good Luck.

Thanks Lissa. That answers most of my question. If it comes back up then it doesn't like it or if you slime it doesn't like it. I've heard of the slimes before but not really sure what that is in detail. Is it mucus that causes it to come back up?

What does it mean when you guys say, "My new stomach likes this but hates that?" I mean besides the obvious. example: my sleeve loves steak but hates hamburger.

How do you know? What symptoms do you get with it?

Thanks,

Vicki(Oma)

AMAZING!

They have to ask your name and birthday even though they know who you are. Its to avoid error in patient identification/medications/records etc. No law suits that way.

I too enjoyed your narrative. I haven't set my date yet but hope my experience is more like Rootman. My last surgery was like Disney. My husband was hitting the pump for me. I was glad he did. Every time I would groan he would zap the button and knock my ass out. LOL I was thankful and was OUT for most of the next day.

Your story was a bit scary for me. I almost was going to change my mind on having the surgery because I am such a weeny when it comes to pain. This surgery is like self inflicted pain on yourself because it is elective surgery. If it were not for others having it easier, I just might have.

I am thankful for everyone who posts their positive and not so positive experiences. It keeps people like me from wondering and gives us a realistic perspective of what to expect.

Wow, I know my hubby is concerned as well. I wish I could get him to go to the dr. with me. I haven't asked him, maybe I should. He may have questions that only the doctor could put him at ease about. Thanks guys for bringing up this topic. It really got me to thinking. I want my hubby to have a positive attitude and be comfortable with my decision. If talking to the dr. will do that for him, it may be a good idea to bring him along on an appointment. I've been so focused on me, that I didn't consider his feelings as much as I should have. He doesn't do the computer thing and has only seen a few pics I have shown him. Now that I think about it he is not educated on the subject of WLS. He only knows what I have told him.

Crystal Light TO-GO packets are AMAZING ! It helps me get the Water down too. Sometimes you just want a little flavor. Ya know? I am pre-op and trying to adapt to some things now so it won't be such a drastic change post-op.

I also bought jars of granulated beef and chicken broth. You can take it with you easily because it doesn't need refrigeration. You can order hot water like for a cup of tea but put in a spoonful of granules.

You can get Protein pills but you have to take something like a handful a day to get enough.

Don't panic over your boobs shrinking. Marilyn Monroe was the queen of sexy and many think she still is. She was 36 bust 23 waist and 34 hips. If I can achieve that, I will be so happy. Many think she had the perfect body. So I say let them shrink. I don't want to be a Pam Anderson and look top heavy. I like sleeping on my stomach too much. LOL.

I LOVE Malt O Meal hot Cereal (1 cup serving) with 5 Splenda packets and a little low fat margarine.

I make mine in the microwave.

1 cup Water & 3 Tablespoons of cereal

Cook for a full 2 minutes but stir it a couple of times so it doesn't boil over the edge of the bowl. I put a paper towel or paper plate under the bowl just in case. it can be messy if you aren't watching it and it boils over. LOL

Its warm hot and filling on these cold mornings.

You can use Cream of Wheat too but Malt O Meal has one extra gram of Protein than Malt O Meal and I think it tastes better too.

Ask your Doc. You may need to wait until mushy food stage.

That does sound good. Try slicing your 1/4 of banana in pieces and freezing them in small baggies. You will always have fresh banana on hand AND you will not need ice because the banana is cold enough to chill your drink.

It appears that I have upset some of you and I am sorry. My previous message was sincere and intended to be positive and encouraging. I do not feel I should be attacked for voicing "my opinion" in this forum. I was only trying to help and encourage research before commitment to ANY CHOICE made toward surgery.

Carrie,

I am 250 now and know how you feel with your knees. I can not support my weight anymore and my knees ache. I too have trouble exercising and I have back problems as well.

Are you sure your insurance will not pay for your dietician if it is required before surgery and is ordered by your doctor? You should ask if that makes a difference. They may not cover it if you are just going on your own. If your doctor refers you to one it may change the status of the claim. Its worth a shot.

I got online and emailed my insurance and asked them which dieticians are covered by my plan and they sent me the names. Maybe you could email yours.

In order for your insurance to pay the claim, they want certain things documented each month. You need to find out what they want and see that the doctors office is following their protocol. If they do not you will not get approved or they may not pay the claim. Again, try to email them under "contact us". You can also look under your "Policy Bulletin" online and get exactly what they expect.

Keep your chin up Carrie, you are almost there. Sounds like you are further along in the processes than you thought.

Maddy obviously didn't watch the Doctor video.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Endobariatric#p/c/DCC7DC6C03E9469B/14/5rTcnv40efE

Bottom line..........do the procedure that best suits you. Just be sure you do ALL your homework so you have no regrets later. A sincere Good Luck on your final decision. Keep us posted on your surgery and progress. Oma

Here is a prefect example of why it is so damn difficult to talk to people who choose a procedure different than the one you have chosen:

Which one of you are correct?

If anything I think that this illustrates that most of us aren't as informed as we think about the other procedures. We hear about these procedures and then there is the one that you know is right for you and then you start researching. For some you're just looking for all of the positives of what you want to do and reject anything negative. For others you see and hear what can go wrong and realize that you want to go with something with less "risk" and never look back. And for others you keep an open mind and acknowledge that you choice as both benefits and risks and work to come to peace with your decision.

I find it funny that I have not once questioned a person decision to get the sleeve yet nearly every post since mine and been to tell me why my choice is the wrong one. To me it seems like a classic case of cognitive dissonance in the sense that those with the sleeve have made a choice that cannot be reversed or fixed so there is nothing so in order to be at peace with your choice you have to believe that all other options are inferior. I AM NOT SAYING THAT SLEEVERS REGRET THEIR CHOICE.

For those of you who think I am making the wrong choice do you think that I should just not have surgery because I cannot afford to pay for the sleeve on my own, and my insurance will not cover the sleeve. If I should just get the bypass then why didn't you get it instead of the sleeve? Or should I just stay obese because I can't get the surgery that you have? For those of you who have an issue with having a foreign object inside your body, are you planning on telling your doctor no if she says that you need a pacemaker to help your heart or you need an artificial knee to help you walk? Oh and I thought those staples that were used to form your new stomach were permanent.

I already have my back up plan in place. I am having the band with plication. I will not be able eat around the band because of the plication, and initial studies have shown that this procedure results in a lower risk of band slippage, band erosion, and there are fewer fills needed and they don't need to start until much later than with a regular band patient or may not be needed at all. Also I have yet to hear of any banded plication patients that have needed to be revised, the closest I have seen was one person who said that banded plication was a planned first step in her weight journey.

I have honestly learned alot of great info from people on this board. I think that we have several things in common and can share our experiences. We will have the name nutritional needs since we don't have to deal with malabsorption. We should loose weight at similar rates (that is if we all follow our post surgery diets correctly, especially the banders) I think it is important to those of you who needed to revise to go the lapband board and give advice to those that are having problems and frankly there are some people who are on there who you can tell from jump are making the wrong choice but unless they go to the revision forum they won't have anyone to show them the error of their ways. I would be interested in hearing why you chose the band the first time? Was the sleeve not available? Did the reality of getting the fills or how you had to eat and what you could eat differ from what you expected how so? Looking back is there anything in the pre-op process that was a warning you ignored that could have saved you the grief of two procedures? Is there anything post-surgery that could have helped you not need to revise? I always feel like the people who post that their band it tight and think it is a good thing because they need to lose weight are going to be the ones that get in trouble down the line because they'll end up eating around the too tight band or their band will start to erode or slip.

I'm sorry if I tend to ramble but I'd like to hope that we can turn these boards into a place we help get the people who come here for advice to be best for them. I think it is a disservice to discourage someone with a lower BMI who's insurance is never going to approve them for the sleeve from having the band, bypass, or plication. I would rather have someone have a procedure that will help them as long as they put the right amount of work in and do it fully informed than decide to not have one at all or going into a another procedure expecting to eventually fail.

Here is a prefect example of why it is so damn difficult to talk to people who choose a procedure different than the one you have chosen:

Which one of you are correct?

If anything I think that this illustrates that most of us aren't as informed as we think about the other procedures. We hear about these procedures and then there is the one that you know is right for you and then you start researching. For some you're just looking for all of the positives of what you want to do and reject anything negative. For others you see and hear what can go wrong and realize that you want to go with something with less "risk" and never look back. And for others you keep an open mind and acknowledge that you choice as both benefits and risks and work to come to peace with your decision.

I find it funny that I have not once questioned a person decision to get the sleeve yet nearly every post since mine and been to tell me why my choice is the wrong one. To me it seems like a classic case of cognitive dissonance in the sense that those with the sleeve have made a choice that cannot be reversed or fixed so there is nothing so in order to be at peace with your choice you have to believe that all other options are inferior. I AM NOT SAYING THAT SLEEVERS REGRET THEIR CHOICE.

For those of you who think I am making the wrong choice do you think that I should just not have surgery because I cannot afford to pay for the sleeve on my own, and my insurance will not cover the sleeve. If I should just get the bypass then why didn't you get it instead of the sleeve? Or should I just stay obese because I can't get the surgery that you have? For those of you who have an issue with having a foreign object inside your body, are you planning on telling your doctor no if she says that you need a pacemaker to help your heart or you need an artificial knee to help you walk? Oh and I thought those staples that were used to form your new stomach were permanent.

I already have my back up plan in place. I am having the band with plication. I will not be able eat around the band because of the plication, and initial studies have shown that this procedure results in a lower risk of band slippage, band erosion, and there are fewer fills needed and they don't need to start until much later than with a regular band patient or may not be needed at all. Also I have yet to hear of any banded plication patients that have needed to be revised, the closest I have seen was one person who said that banded plication was a planned first step in her weight journey.

I have honestly learned alot of great info from people on this board. I think that we have several things in common and can share our experiences. We will have the name nutritional needs since we don't have to deal with malabsorption. We should loose weight at similar rates (that is if we all follow our post surgery diets correctly, especially the banders) I think it is important to those of you who needed to revise to go the lapband board and give advice to those that are having problems and frankly there are some people who are on there who you can tell from jump are making the wrong choice but unless they go to the revision forum they won't have anyone to show them the error of their ways. I would be interested in hearing why you chose the band the first time? Was the sleeve not available? Did the reality of getting the fills or how you had to eat and what you could eat differ from what you expected how so? Looking back is there anything in the pre-op process that was a warning you ignored that could have saved you the grief of two procedures? Is there anything post-surgery that could have helped you not need to revise? I always feel like the people who post that their band it tight and think it is a good thing because they need to lose weight are going to be the ones that get in trouble down the line because they'll end up eating around the too tight band or their band will start to erode or slip.

I'm sorry if I tend to ramble but I'd like to hope that we can turn these boards into a place we help get the people who come here for advice to be best for them. I think it is a disservice to discourage someone with a lower BMI who's insurance is never going to approve them for the sleeve from having the band, bypass, or plication. I would rather have someone have a procedure that will help them as long as they put the right amount of work in and do it fully informed than decide to not have one at all or going into a another procedure expecting to eventually fail.

Shelly, I'm very informed in both, because I've had both.

Oma is correct and for ME and my experience Maddy is not. I was never able to eat normally with my band. I was forced to eat slider foods because that was all I could eat. I never found my sweet spot, either I was too loose or too tight. This knowing because my Dr. would fill / unfill me (over 20+ times in the course of my band days) the minimum and I'd still be this way.

Also after having my revision, I learned it was not my fault because I totally rocked my sleeve and hit goal in almost 7 months. I am beyond goal now.

HTH - and remember, this was my personal experience only. Everyone is different.

Thanks LilMissDiva. Apparently Doctors agree with both of us.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Endobariatric#p/c/DCC7DC6C03E9469B/14/5rTcnv40efE

Oma