Sansa

Self-medicating is an interesting term to use for describing our relationship with food. If you don't mind sharing with us, what new ways other than food have you found to soothe your feelings since the surgery? I wouldn't have thought that caring less about other people's drama would be a consequence of the surgery...that's interesting. Is that because you feel more self confident now? how liberating that must be...

What is it about head hunger that bothers so many people? Is it the fact that it just can't be satisfied or is it something else? How have some of you learned to deal with mental and emotional hunger?

I haven't had my surgery yet but am wondering what psychological issues those of you who have had the surgery experience? I understand that a lot of people struggle with learning how to tell the difference between real, mental, and emotional hunger. What other issues does the surgery force you to deal with? What is it about the surgery that causes some insurance companies to require psych tests?

The anesthesiologist told me to start counting down from 100. I can remember counting down to maybe 97 and then I was out. The worst part was waking up groggy and cranky which lasted a couple of days for me but the pain medication in the iv was pretty wonderful! I got some of the best sleep that I have probably ever had. The anticipation of giving up control can be nerve-racking but the experience itself isn't so bad.

I have never heard of Pro Care before but would like to check it out, do you mind sharing a link with me? I searched but didn't see anything.

I have been wondering about how sugar will affect me after my surgery. Do you find that the sugars in fruits and vegetables bother you too now?

That's really encouraging that you don't have to take any meds! That right there is reason enough for me to have the surgery. How is your energy levels now that you don't take medicine and are on the liquid diet? are you able to have yogurt yet? or maybe pureed oatmeal? I suspect that the dry mouth and bad breath are due to ketosis which is a good sign that you are burning off a lot of weight. I experienced ketosis on the Atkins diet quite a bit and found that gargling moisturizing mouth wash helped.

I've been waiting to hear from you, Luwanna! I remember that we talked about blood sugar, how is your blood sugar doing? I just keep thinking about not having to take any medications anymore and about all of the pretty clothes that I will be able to wear! What kind of things are you looking forward to? Congratulations on the 20 lbs that you have lost! How long has it taken you to lose that? Why do you feel duped?

I was in the military and defended my own right to tell the truth whether anyone likes the way it sounds or not. Furthermore, I understand that most people join the military for honorable reasons, as did I, but the military doesn't honor its people or their sacrifices the way that it should or used to. The military mission has changed from defending Americans to defending corporate interests and, quite frankly, your husband's life is worth more than corporate interests. I think that it's terrific though that he has you to encourage him. I also think that its terrific that people in the military are still adamant about defending Americans.By the way, it is not illegal for soldiers to sign temporary custody over to strangers since installations have families on stand by for the sole purpose of accepting children whose parent(s) have to deploy. Some single soldiers don't otherwise have families that they can leave their kids with when they have to deploy.

From what I understand, single parents are denied enlistment unless they agree to give up custody altogether in the first place. However, if you become a single parent after joining the military then, yes, you would have to give up custody to someone else while you deploy. I hear heartbreaking stories about people that have had to give up custody of their children to strangers just because they have to deploy. I just can't imagine how awful it is for the little ones who don't understand what is going on but are nevertheless left to live with complete strangers when their parent just disappears for months or even years. How sad it must be for those poor babies when their parent(s) never does come home...I understand that the military spends millions if not billions of dollars every year trying to convince you to sacrifice your life defending oil and poppy fields on the other side of the world but, unfortunately, I don't have that kind of money to try to show you what a blessing it is for you and your family that you are unable to join the military.

The military didn't accept single parents when I joined because you would have had to deploy which would mean leaving your baby behind. Even if you didn't have the operation then I'm not sure that it would have been a good thing for you and your baby to be separated for weeks, months, or even years at a time.

Have you considered being a civilian nurse that works for the Navy? Contractors and civilians make more money than active duty anyways. Active duty isn't all its cracked up to be when you consider that you give up all your freedoms. The current political situation is also creating a very bad environment within the military no matter which branch of service you're talking about. I don't believe that you are missing out on anything good by not being able to join the military. I have been associated with the military since the day that I was born and I just don't recommend it to anyone anymore. Today's military isn't the same kind of military that our parents and grandparents supported. Surrendering your life to organizations that are controlled by immoral and devious people isn't in anyone's best interest especially when those people care more about money than human life. Why do 25 soldiers commit suicide for every one killed in combat? It's certainly not because they are proud of what they have been forced to do in the military or what has been done to them: http://www.nytimes.c...?pagewanted=all

pre-digested boiled cow hides...I wonder how they go about 'pre-digesting' it...

pre-digested protein?

Were any of you self pay? If so, would you mind sharing with us how much you paid for your sleeve surgery and your doctor's name?

I intend to follow kcage's advice below before my surgery... I plan to pray about it before the surgery and ask Jesus to be with me during it and ask him to help the surgery to be a blessing to me. I'm going to repent of anything that I believe that I need to repent of so that I can know that I'm going to heaven in case God decides that it is my time and then I am just going to try and let God handle everything else. I believe turning the situation over to the higher power will help in this situation ecspecially when we are vulnerable and have no control over our lives during the surgery. Just putting the situation into the hands of an ultimately good and loving being that has the ability to control the surgeon and the surgery while I am unconscious makes me feel better about the situation. I'll probably still be anxious but at least I'll know that the situation and my life are in good hands. After thinking more about it though, I am also going to ask God to alleviate my anxiety and give me peace about the situation.

Thank you for the suggestions but I'm really not brave enough for Mexico. I may have to expand my search outside of my area though. I've read that a surgeon in SC offers the surgery for $8k and that supposedly includes everything. I don't like the idea of staying in a hotel or traveling long distances after the surgery though. Does anyone know of any surgeons in VA that offer the surgery for less than 10K?

Hi Ssilian! We must have gone to the same seminar because I was told the same thing although the 'downpayment' is $1100 now. I was also told that the prices on their pricing sheets weren't what they would charge the insurance and weren't what we would ultimately be responsible for paying...that made me think that maybe that center overcharges their patients, moreso than just the $1100, and that maybe I should look elsewhere. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though Dr. Terracina accepts my insurance. I contacted his center though and was told that self pay would run around $16k. I really had no idea how expensive this surgery can be!

I went to a wls seminar during which I learned that the doctor that performs the sleeve surgery charges $14k for self pay. I am going to try to use my insurance but was just curious about what other good, safe, competent doctors charge for the sleeve in the VA area?

I have had a ProForm 690 LT for a couple of years now and like it a lot. I seem to remember ordering mine from hsn, however, I see that Walmart.com sells it for $669 at the moment...I think that is actually cheaper than what I paid. I bought the 690 particularly because the belt is cushioned and wider at 20" than others. The treadmill also inclines and comes with several embedded programs as well as the ability to use iFit programs. The treadmill comes with speakers and I can also hook up my mp3 player to it. It's actually a nice package of features for the price. The only thing that I would add to it is a fan but I'm otherwise pleased. Good luck shopping.

I wonder if you would see more weight loss if you cut out the cheese? I know that I don't lose weight as long as I eat cheese...or any other dairy products...or wheat products...or soy products...ugh, which really only leaves protein and vegies for me. I also don't lose weight when I eat citrus or really sweet fruits. Your system may not be as sensitive as mine but I'm just trying to think about what could be slowing your weight loss down.

I'm looking forward to wearing shorts, sleeveless tops, and swimming suits without feeling fat.

Wonderslim mocha and strawberry protein shakes are pretty good with 15 grams of protein per shake. The cheesecake pudding is really good too, just add more water to make it a shake. I prefer Wonderslim more than most protein drinks since it can be purchased without soy, wheat, or aspartame. I am also lactose intolerant but the calcium caseinate in wonderslim doesn't aggravate my system.

I haven't had my surgery yet so I'm not sure what kind of supplements that you are able to take yet. However, I just want to mention that SAM-e, St. John's Wort, chromium, and a really good multivitamin tend to help me feel better when I get moody, all of which are available at Walmart.

I like the saying that it's not what happens to us that matters but how we react to what happens to us that matters. I rarely have anyone that supports or approves of me either but I eventually realized that I'm not the problem. It's not my fault that others are irresponsible and insecure. That's their problems. It's not my fault that others often choose to mistreat me and, in the process, lose out on the opportunity to have a healthy relationship with me. I can't control the bad decisions that others make but I can control the decisions that I make. Sounds to me like you are trying your best to take care of yourself and improve your situation even in the presence of adversity. That is very difficult to do, trust me because I know, but yet you are doing it. This surgery can change our lives as long as we keep putting one foot in front of the other. I don't know if I can have the surgery yet but I'm so thankful that I have people like you that I can follow in your footsteps. I look forward to hearing about all your successes. Please keep us posted on your progress.