KatieOkieDokie

Have you thought about trying to get on disability, or is that Medicare who you're fighting with? Or do you not live in a state that has approved the Sleeve for Medicare? I know Ohio has. Also is it possible that your doctor will allow you to make payments towards the surgery? And then if your insurance does decide to approve the surgery they can just apply what you had already paid toward the surgery. Also I don't know how much self pay in your area is (here it is between 16,000 - 30,000 depending on where you go). But maybe looking into getting a loan. If you own your house you can refinance, or if you have a 401K you can take a loan out from there (then you'll be paying yourself back).. Or you could hold off until after your married, and if your husband adds you to his plan maybe they will approve you. I know being told to wait for something you want so bad..to make you feel better is hard. You want it now, because you just want to feel better (at least I do). I hope this works out for you.

Does he do a leak test after surgery?

I'm north of Dayton but I have my consult with Curry on the 7th! I already know I will have to lose weight before surgery because of my BMI which sucks (I really really hate this rule but I also understand..it just sucks to be told you have to lose weight to have weight loss surgery). So I know my process won't be as fast as the rest of yours, which is fine.. I'm shooting for the new year anyway!! I am starting to lose some weight before hand in hopes that the more I do now, the less I'll have to do with them for money reasons! I have been wanting to get WLS since the start of the year and was told to start to prepare before hand and try to drop all the bad habits before surgery (pop, sugar foods, sweets etc.) I've done all but bread! I haven't given up bread yet.. I haven't had pasta, or pancakes in months..lol. And I've started protein shakes already hoping to get kind of use to those.

I am going for my consult on Nov. 7 with Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati Ohio!! YAY this is a long time coming for me! Anyway I was wondering what are some of the pre-opt test they do before surgery? I know that every dr. is different, and have different requirements, but I just want to get an idea of what's to come and how much poking and pricking I'm going to have to endure..lol. It would be awesome to hear from some of Curry's patients also! If there are any! Thanks!

I am so sorry that you had to go through so much I am happy though that you are on the mending side, but still what you had to endure was awful. My cousin was banded about year and half ago and she is starting to have problems. Throwing up all the time, and she has started to lose her hair and having really bad skin issues. I'm starting to worry that there might be something wrong with her band.

Funny you should mention this I just bought some in vanilla and was wondering what it would taste like with my orange crystal light.. good eh?

Instead of asking these questions in the form..as I'm sure many of people have asked the same questions over and over. I thought I would ask them in a blog. So if you read this and know the answer please feel free to respond! My first question is about hunger. They say you don't feel hunger (actual hunger..not head hunger I understand that's something we may have to deal with for the rest of our lives). But actual hunger pain. Is that true? Do any of you whose had the surgery ever feel hunger pain? Actual hunger pain. Second how long after surgery did most of you start to feel more energetic? I don't mean from the surgery, or recovery, but from being big. When did you feel like you've lost that magic amount when you realized that hey I can breath more openly when I walk, and my heart doesn't feel like it's jumping out of my chest..I feel comfortable! I guess I imagine that it will feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my chest..because I walk around feeling like I have one on my chest. At least that's what I'm hoping for. Third.. what did it feel like the first time you put on a shirt, or pair pants you couldn't fit into before WLS? Did you cry? Did you jump up and down and get all excited! Something else I look forward to doing. Where did you first notice you had lost weight? Was it your face, hips, fingers? Ok enough questions.. lol Thanks to anyone who answers.

Hello Ohioians! I was wondering if anyone had surgery with Dr. Fegelman from out of Cincinnati? He works at both the Jewish, and Journey Lite centers. And how is he with working with those who are self pay? Because I will be self pay!!

Do you know if he does surgery at Journey Lite also? Dr. Fegelman that is? I'm sorry for all the questions.

Hello!! I am another one looking into Trace Curry.. and they just opened an office in Dayton!! Which makes things really easy for me! I'm just starting and self pay. If all things go well I will be getting things going.. fingers crossed.. pray real hard things go through!!

Congrats! Sounds like you are doing good, and I hear that getting Water in gets easier as time goes by..I don't know yet..but I hope to soon! I believe the meaning of DH depends on how you feel about your DH at the time.. either "Dear Husband", "Darling Husband" or "Damn Husband" are you happy with him, or mad..haha

He is partnered with Curry. Did you like Fegelman? What was his prices like? I don't know if they would be the same as Curry or not? And was they more worried about your weight or your height when it came to the table? And congrats on the weight loss!!

I have heard many many stories of those who have gone to Mexico for surgery through companies like Belite Weight, and the like. Has anyone used Belite Weight in the US? I am looking into using them, and there is NO WAY I can go to Mexico, so I am looking into the states. I know the cost will be much more, but the website mentions in house financing so I was wondering if anyone has done this? What was the down payment (I could have sworn I read on the website last night it was 3500 for the sleeve and then 200 a month but now I can't find it)? Are there any other sites like Belite Weight that offers something similar? My parents said that they can help, but it will be a year before they can, and I'm the one living int he body and I'm really not happy, and or healthy! I want to have it done as soon as I possibly can. This might be doable if they are willing to help a little sooner. I'm just trying to find a way to make myself health!

I hope you guys/girls don't mind me posting this question here, I figured since I don't belong to any lap band forms ,and this form is for those who have had or has the lap band and struggled maybe you can help. I'm sorry if this is the wrong place. So my cousin had the lap band surgery over a year ago. She has lost over a 100lbs and seemed to be doing great! However, she has recently told me that she is indeed having problems. She is unable to eat or drink anything other than her Protein shakes, and I guess she is really having issues with her hair falling out, and breaking out. She throws up everything. She seems to think she may have some Vitamin deficiency. I fear that there may be something wrong with the band itself. Has anyone of you ever had this problem? If so what was it? Thanks.

It has been awhile since I have updated! I am still working toward getting money for the sleeve, but sometimes life throws you situations that you feel are a little more important. Like a friend with a sick child! Which I talk more about in my blog! Which is the link below! I hope everyone takes time to read it! And remember her in your prayers and thoughts. http://chasingmydream2012.blogspot.com/2012/09/ewings-sarcoma.html

Well it seems that I have already started to loose some of this weight.. and I had no clue I was even losing! I found myself with no clean pants the other day and found a clean pair that I had put up to give away because they were too small on me. I figured eh why not try them on? I was shocked that not only did they fit they were kind of loose on me! So I thought hey I'll weigh myself..lo and behold lost 31 lbs! I was shocked! I have changed my eating habits a lot because I was told to do this before I go into surgery so I get use to it now. So I've cut out sugar, pop, eating late at night. I drink more water etc. I don't really work out due to physical issues (which have become increasingly easier I've noticed..but still I struggle). I'm so excited!

I too am looking into Dr. Curry, I haven't met with him yet though. I am self pay so I am trying to get my monies together before I do anything. My cousin went to him for her lap band and loved him, and I have yet to hear anything negative about him. He may push the band because he's is known as the Lap Band Dr. It's sort of his specialty lol (I heard he even did his own wives lap band surgery, and of course he's lap band himself). So he knows a lot about it!

The one and only reason I am not sleeved yet is because I do not have the funds to do so! I do not have insurance, so I am self pay, and while I would jump at the chance to go to Mexico I know that just isn't doable.

I'm am sorry to hear this But like the others have said you're better off without him (even though it may not feel like that now). Just focus on you, and getting your life healthy! Someday he'll look back and regret what he has done, not just because you've lost the weight but because of WHO you are and what a wonderful person he gave up! You on the other hand will probably be looking back and thanking God for this bf leaving you. Who knows you may meet the perfect guy for you and be with him instead!

Ok short girl jumping in here (5'4) but I'm not going to talk about me because well that would make no sense whatsoever. However, my best friend Cat had the sleeve about 3.5 months ago, she is 6 foot, and started out at I believe 385, and was down to around 360 day of surgery. Since then she has lost probably around 65lbs and looks AMAZING!! I wish I could put her before and after photos on here, but I wouldn't do that without her permission. I'll ask her though! I don't remember what her goal weight is though. I need to get her to join this site!

Yay!! Congrats! While I am happy to hear that you are losing weight..I'm sorry to hear that you're still 5'6"! Please let me know if you start gaining height though, that means there might be hope for me too!! I'm 5'4 and was aiming for 5'9 but I don't think this surgery will help with that..haha.. I loved how you added you're still 5'6

I'm late on this topic.. by like a week.. but let me tell you when I am hungry, and craving food I get mean! MEAN MEAN MEAN! And if I asked my co-workers to eat someplace else because it tempted me (esp. during a pre-opt diet) and they didn't I would be as mad as a little red hen! I'm also temperamental! So yeah I can put myself right in your shoes and say I know how you was feeling girl! lol.. lack of food, nerves, etc. It all adds up! But I would be in the wrong! Because like others said I'm choosing to have this surgery, and I have to be the one to adapt and change to my new life style. But I PROMISE you that I would have reacted the same way you did even though I know I should be the one to leave! lol.. Everyone has stressful moments and that was one of yours! Hopefully you are recovering well!

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life. I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on. I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

You are welcome! I followed you faithfully, everyday hoping to get good news that you was starting to feel better.. even a little better! It's awesome to see where you are now! You are an inspiration to many!

Yes I agree 100% you're hot!! Be proud of yourself.. and brag all you want!