Back~To~Amy

I'm June 5th. I'm excited but I'm dreading my two week preop diet!

I too worry about not being successful with this. I think most people do. Heck, I think our brains are conditioned to think this due to all the failed diets prior to taking the surgery route. I plan on getting into counseling to work on the issue behind why I eat. "Funny" thing is I have no idea why other than I just love food. However, they (whoever they is) say there are reasons. Best of luck to you in your journey!

Just an FYI for anyone who buys Premier Protein shakes from costco. They have a $5.00 off coupon in the add for the Protein. It's good for about a month, I think. There is a limit of 2 but my Costco let me keep my coupon so I can reuse it should I want more. Also, if you didn't get the coupons, go to Customer Service. They will give you another booklet with them all on there.
Also, there is a coupon in there for gummie Vitamins. I think it was for $2.50 or $3.00 off.

Just an FYI for anyone who buys Premier Protein shakes from costco. They have a $5.00 off coupon in the add for the Protein. It's good for about a month, I think. There is a limit of 2 but my Costco let me keep my coupon so I can reuse it should I want more. Also, if you didn't get the coupons, go to Customer Service. They will give you another booklet with them all on there.
Also, there is a coupon in there for gummie Vitamins. I think it was for $2.50 or $3.00 off.

Hey Moderators- Can we add a pin to this post so everyone on MFP can come to one central location to add their username and find the username of other VSG'ers? Thanks!
BTW, I'm BackToAmy on MFP

Here is a consolidated listing of everyone who has shared their login so far, so that it's easy to add w/o having to scan through all pages of responses.
VST name/MFP name
MzPecanBrown/MzPecanBrown
jenn298/jfull0828
isntsheclever/isntsheclever
LeLe/lelebug79
fell4falls/fell4falls
ToddG/Koolaid677
aaeactive_gm/aeactive_gm
NancyJerry/njerry
kayte819/Kayte819
wishes/wish3s
lessofme2010/soon2change
jeepgirlchase/Jeepgirlchase
Wonderwoman/kll72
AngieGO410/Bkmom77
spadesmcloven/Krystenmlee
FatGirlSlim/FatGirlSlim33
RMS/rsmotivated
Stacey Nicole/staceynicole82
Missmarbe/MissMarbe
newtonya2012/newtonya2012
Ramses/AhronR
rodswife/Rodswife12
Netgallegos/netgallegos
PrncsDebbie/DebbieB825
Bubbaloo10/Bubbaloo10
mrsflyboybs/mrsflyboybs
Dud2Stud/primo007
kcage/kcage1
Wheetsin/Wheetsin
DDFinn/ddfinn
Doreykn/Doreykn
hellonurse/ChargersForever
Saint_Sammie/saintsammie
LMJ/Imjlite
dnicewife/dnicewifeval
MomScholar/mygastricsleevelife

I got a case of 18 today at costco for right at $25.00. I just made a post about them a few ago you might want to read. In short, I'm EXTREMELY picky and tried these today and like them. It made me do incredibly happy!
~Amy

Premier RTD Protein from Sam's or costco.
~Amy

Oh, the post is "Do You Hate Protein Powder/Liquid?" or something very similar to that.
~Amy

I thought I'd pass this along for anyone it might help.
I was checking out Forest Park Medical Center because of an upcoming sinus surgery and got side tracked because of the bariatric surgery stuff on their site. Anyway, they offer band fills for $50.00. You can have surgery by any doctor and still use their services. All you have to do is make an appointment. They have several locations.

I think you can do either or a combination of both. I happen to do a combination. Some lowfat stuff is very good, some not. I pick and choose. mayo and cheese are definitely full fat. Hot dogs, bologna, pepperoni are low fat. Those are just a few examples, but you get the idea.

My nutritionist says fruit with any kinds of seed or any that is acidic is off limits for weeks (can't remember the exact amount right now). Acidic fruit may not be tolerated bu the tummy and the small seeds like most berries have can get caught in the suture line.

Congrats! That reminded me of a "funny" story. I had sinus surgery last week and the scale weighed me in kg. I weigh in kg. what I want to weigh in pounds. I also found it comical that the nurde weighing me really thought she needed to tell me my weight was in kg. and not pounds. Yeah, thanks. I know I don't weigh 135 pounds. :-)
~Amy

I tend to be a fast drinker....especially with a straw. However, postop, the straw might be an advantage. I have straw Water bottles so I think I'm gonna get one without so I have both options for whatever works best. Thanks!
~Amy

Phillip-
You need to call your insurance company. Speak to a supervisor if you have to. I have bariatric coverage on my policy. However, the benefits aren't very good so I too am doing cash pay. Because baratric surgery isn't an excluded condition, complications would be covered. If your policy has a bariatric exclusion, it could only exclude the surgery itself or it could exclude the surgery itself and and resulting complications.
Best of luck to you!

Band.....what band? I've 100% jumped ship over to the sleeve and cannot be more happy and confident with my decision. I'm at the beginning of the process but am moving along toward the ultimate goal.

Hi all. This is my first posting on these boards. I've been posting over on Lap Band Talks because I was 100% convinced I was going to do the lap band. Well, I went to the seminar tonight and now I'm leaning toward the sleeve. I still don't know for sure yet though.
Anyone care to share their experience with the sleeve and if you are happy with your decision? Also, if you thought about lap band and went sleeve, what are your reasons?
Thanks!
~Amy

I'm about as out of shape as they come. Continue what you are doing. You will get farther and better as you loose weight and build endurance.

Wow Modee. Your doctor gave you a lot better numbers than mine. My surgeon said 36% to 42% for lap band and 70% for the sleeve. From what I've seen on the lap band boards, I think their loss is somewhere in the middle of your doctor's statistics and mine. I've 100% decided now to go with the sleeve.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.
Emlefe--I won't have to pay 50% of the total bill and it sounds like the prices you are giving me that the providers gave you are total charges and not the approved amount by the insurance company. At least, I hope so. Anyway, I only pay 50% of the amount approved by my insurance company and they reduce the total amount of the bill quite significantly. Like I said they are only giving an approved amount of about $2000 for charges of over $11,000 by my ENT. They did the same huge cut back on the facility charges too. I just don't remember what they were to post here. I'm hoping I have the same luck. BTW, If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up paying the majority of $6,000 to your surgeon if you only had to pay 10%? That would mean your insurance company's approved amount would have been nearly $60,000 thus making his total actual charges probably over $100,000. Thanks for the things to consider though especially about the other charges such as anesthetist, lab, etc.
Lisa'sHope--yes, the facility is in network.
2bsmallagain-thanks for the advice. I will definitely have my i's dotted and t's crossed before I proceed with WLS.
Cookies--Your comment about having complications covered by insurance is on my list of questions to ask. I believe though they will be covered. However, I am checking on it.
fattymcfatterson--yes, 50% of approved amount is for bariatric surgery and yes, that is the amount for an in network provider. Other non-bariatric surgery is covered at 80% in network. I'm still waiting on the final word of my coverage from the "bariatric department" about my coverage. However, the manager at BCBS who is over our insurance company read right from our company's page about bariatric surgery and the information I've given is what I got from her. Also, I don't have an out of pocket maximum for bariatrics according to this supervisor. Here's hoping she was wrong and I have better coverage! However, I am prepared to pay the cash price if I have to. I AM GOING TO HAVE THIS SURERY....one way or another!
Amanda-My doctor is actually the Medical Director over the WLS at the hospital on the Center of Excellence list. He doesn't have any ownership in the surgery center he uses. It is inside a full-fledged hospital but just not a hospital on the list. He uses it when possible to save on costs. Thus, passing the savings onto the patients. The other thing I love about him is if you pay cash, it is the total amount for EVERYTHING. All preop, surgery, hospital charges, other provider charges and all post of visits for the rest of your life. I will have to take that into consideration when deciding if insurance or cash pay is the best option for me.

I thought I'd pass this along for anyone it might help.
I was checking out Forest Park Medical Center because of an upcoming sinus surgery and got side tracked because of the bariatric surgery stuff on their site. Anyway, they offer band fills for $50.00. You can have surgery by any doctor and still use their services. All you have to do is make an appointment. They have several locations.

Another thing I can't wait for is to not need an extension on the plane

I can't wait to not have to over think everything...from what am I gonna wear, what if I don't fit in the chair, what if I look like an idiot, where to shop, etc. I'm ready to not be the biggest person in the room! Just to be normal, relaxed and go with the follow because I'm not worrying.