Bufflehead

agree, switch doctors. Ask your surgeon's office for a recommendation for a good, supportive doctor within your insurance network (if applicable). But you never know, your doctor just might surprise you!

I read too many horror stories about bands slipped, eroding, stomach damage, etc. But even if those are not so common, it does seem to be common that people can't eat a wide variety of foods because they get stuck, that they have to regularly go get their bands adjusted (big investment of time and money), that the ports cause problems, etc. So I had pretty much made up my mind against the band even before I went for my consult. My surgeon told me he basically isn't recommending the band for anyone any more because of all the problems, and definitely not for people who have as much weight to lose as I do -- that people like me are typically not successful with the band. He recommend gastric bypass or the sleeve for me, and based on my preference as well as my personal and family medical history, we agreed that the sleeve would be the better option.

My surgeon told me it "feel weird - kind of like a snake swimming around in your belly" but that it doesn't hurt and only lasts a few seconds.

Buy My Love - Wynter Gordon VIP - Ke$ha Pop That Lock - Adam Lambert Push The Button - Sugababes Sexy as Hell - Sarah Connor U & Ur Hand - Pink Flashback - Calvin Harris Kiss the Stars - Pixie Lott Domino - Jessie J Part of Me - Katy Perry Wild One - Flo Rida & Sia S & M - Rihanna Mirrors - Natalia Kills Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) - Mika Sour Cherry - The Kills Brave - Kelis I U She - Peaches The Falcons - Patrick Wolf Daft Punk Is Playing at My House - LCD Soundsystem Dance to Cash - Coco Electric Do Your Thang - Basement Jaxx Barbie Girl - Aqua

I like salad dressing -- just about any kind -- stirred in to cottage cheese to make it taste more interesting.

What the psych evals include varies a lot. There are many different tests but the most common one is the MMPI. It's what I had to take for my evaluation. Here's some info about it: http://psychcentral....ory-mmpi/all/1/ Here is a website with some of the questions: https://antipolygrap...?num=1109032158 The questions listed didn't match up 100% with the questions on the MMPI that I took but they were very close. Some of them are funny. Some are basically impossible to answer. Just don't overthink, go with your gut and move on to the next question. I also had a nice long talk with the psychologist, which was not intimidating -- just going over potential issues, what is my support system going to be, and so on.

I really love the Leslie Sansone walking program dvd's. Some people find them too easy but I'm big enough and have lived long enough as a couch potato that they are challenging for me! She has tons of different ones -- my favorites right now are the ones she did with the American Heart Association. I've heard that a lot of people also like the Biggest Loser workout dvd's and I've been meaning to try them. Back to the gym -- I would not let the skinny people deter you. But I totally understand the logistical hassles, that's why I'm working out at home and not at the gym!

I'm probably not the right person for menu suggestions. I'm just cooking for me and I am perfectly happy to eat a lot of the same stuff every day, as long as it is easy for me to cook. My usual routine: breakfast: hot cereal with fruit and skim milk (approx. 200 calories total) lunch: nonfat yogurt with a couple tablespoons of Grape Nuts mixed in, raw baby carrots snack pack, apple (225 - 250 calories) dinner: 4 oz. lean meat (sirloin filet, skinless chicken breast, fish such as halibut or cod, etc.), 2 green veggies, one starchy veggie (1/2 sweet potato, 1/2 baked potato, 100 grams Trader Joe's teeny tiny potatoes, 100 grams butternut squash, something like that). Approx. 350 calories. Snacks: light string cheese, no salt added deli turkey slices, low sodium roasted almonds, fruit, dried fruit, skim milk with no sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast. I have a kitchen scale and I weigh virtually everything I eat. Cooking: for butter or oil I usually use Smart Balance Light Spreadable Butter - 50 calories per tablespoon. I roast some veggies in the oven, or bake fish with a little low sodium chicken broth. Stuff that is sauteed in a pan, I use either a little of the Smart Balance or a couple of sprays of cooking spray and always use a non-stick pan.

I have lost 45 lbs since the middle of June, and I am also pre-op looking to get my BMi down and health better before surgery. My plan: eat between 1200 - 1350 calories per day eat high: protein, fiber, calcium, potassium eat low: fat, cholesterol 30 - 60 minutes of aerobic exercise six days per week. track everything I eat on myfitnesspal, no exceptions drink at least 6 cups of water per day other than water, drink only black coffee and one cup of skim milk per day. My nutritionist has had me bump up both calories (to 1400-1500) and exercise (extra 15 minutes a day) going forwards toward surgery. I haven't weighed in yet so I've been doing that the last ten days and am not sure of the results. That's another part of my plan -- I do not weigh myself except once about every three weeks at my doctor's office. Oh and I do not count carbs or sugars right now although I am advised that will change at least while I am in weight loss phase after surgery.

Thank you so much for posting about your experience and sharing your pictures! I may very well end up in Mexico and am very interested in learning about all the details. I also have to say I am doubly appreciative when someone who is a truly active member of this forum posts like this. There are a fair number of posts from people who show up without an avatar and participate in NO discussions except to say "wow, I had a great experience with Dr. X and coordinator Y who works for medical coordinator company Z! They are so wonderful! You should check them out!" and then vanishes into the ether. Maybe it's just me but I disregard that kind of post completely. Yours on the other hand is clearly from a real person, not a paid imposter shilling for a company or doctor. If I do go to Mexico I might well end up with Dr. Ponce so this is really great for me to read. Also considering Dr. Garcia and Drs. Lopez & Osana, but I'm not making any decisions until I know about insurance coverage here.

Hi, I am pre-op, but I can tell you just from doing my research here that YES, hair loss is very common, most people experience it after wls. However, for the vast majority of people, it stops about 3 - 6 months after it starts and your hair grows back. A lot of people have different theories about vitamins or minerals that can be used to help with hair loss: protein, zinc (be very careful with zinc supplementing as too much zinc is very dangerous), B-12, iron, etc. If you want something to help cover up any thinning spots temporarily, look into products like Nanogen, Toppik, or Sally Jessy's Great Hair Day. They are powders that you shake into your hair and thicken it and cover up any scalp that might show through. This part I am experienced with b/c I have pretty bad hair loss even before surgery and I use these products myself already. You can Google them and find places to buy them. My personal favorite is Nanogen but they are all good. Good luck!

With your primary care doc? I was really nervous to talk to mine about bariatric surgery too, but she was super-supportive and very helpful. I hope yours is the same!

I second, third, fourth, fifth the recommendation for adblock plus. I never even knew there were ads on this site!

I used to have plantar fascitis but my sister (she's a doctor) taught me an exercise that made it go away in about two weeks. She says most of her patients get excellent results with it. I'll outline the steps assuming you have p.f. in your left foot, just as a sample. 1. Cross your left leg so that your left foot/ankle is resting on top of your right knee/thigh. 2. Point the toes of your left foot back towards your left shin and hold for ten seconds. 3. Repeat for a total of ten stretches. You should do this for each foot that you have p.f. in first thing in the morning, a couple times during the day (especially right after you have been sitting a long time) and right before you go to sleep. You can also modify this exercise and do it lying down, it works just as well. I used to do it every day before even getting out of bed and it worked great. Good luck!

That whole attitude is just ridiculous. It's like saying that taking birth control pills is the "easy way out" -- people should just rely on the rhythm method! God forbid you take advantage of advances in modern medicine when you could stick to old-fashioned, more difficult ways of preventing unwanting pregnancies! Women who take the pill are lazy! They should take their cervical temperature, carefully graph their potentially fertile days, and practice appropriate abstinence on those days just like our grandmothers did! Who cares if birth control pills are statistically more successful? They're too easy! Why do some people get so riled up about other people actually using modern medicine? Isn't what's important that we ALL get healthy with the help and guidance of medical professionals, whether that is with surgery and diet and exercise, with drugs and diet and exercise, or diet and exercise alone? Why do some people feel it appropriate to denigrate other people's decisions about what is medically best for them. And we all know that there is nothing easy about the surgery. Surgery is statistically more successful but I would never call it the easy way out.

Hi all, I may end up in Mexico as a self-pay (long story with possibilities of insurance coverage etc. omitted here). My preference is to go to Tijuana because if I do, my sister might be able to come with me as my support person. She's a physician and speaks fluent Spanish so I figure she'd be good to have around. So I am doing a little preliminary looking around. So far I am considering: Dr. Kelly, Dr. Ponce de Leon, Dr. Fernando Garcia, and Drs. Alejandro Lopez & Jacqueline Osuna (they work as a team). Obviously I want someone who is an excellent surgeon. I'm also looking for: a smooth running experience (people who are on time to pick you up at the airport etc.), a real hospital with a blood bank onsite, access to surgeon or associates for follow-up questions and advice via email/skype etc. If you have any input, either good or bad, on any of these surgeons I would love to hear about it. Also if there are any other Tijuana-based surgeons who you think I should consider I would love to know about them too. Thanks! I have gone back and read several different topics about different Mexico surgeons but just wanted to see if anyone wanted to chime in (or chime in again).

I second the recommendation for the Quest bars. I only use them for emergency meal replacements, not a normal thing. But they are really good and the numbers are great. My favorites are the vanilla almond cruch and strawberry cheesecake flavors.

I was afraid my doctor would not be supportive, and was nervous before my appointment. I could not have been more wrong! So first let me say, don't borrow trouble However, I have seen other people posting here about their doctors who didn't support wls. All of them found other primary care doctors. Your surgeon's office should be able to refer you to a supportive primary care doctor who is within your insurance plan, if that is an issue. Your doctor doesn't own you -- move on if he or she is not providing the care you need!

It really depends on the policy. There should be a member handbook that explains what is covered and isn't. Typically complications from wls are only excluded if there is a blanket exclusion on wls. The clause will say specifically something like "weight loss or bariatric surgery and any complications arising therefrom." If weight loss surgery IS covered, but you just didn't meet all their requirements and went self-pay, usually complications ARE covered as well no matter how you got the surgery. But again, read your member handbook carefully. Another clause to watch out for is if complications from elective surgery are excluded. Self-pay weight loss surgery would be considered elective surgery so complications would not be covered. The lesson I have learned through my whole insurance ordeal: rely only on what is in your current member handbook. Don't rely on what the insurance people tell you over the phone -- they are quite capable of being wrong.

Thanks everyone for your input! Is it crazy that I am starting to not really care if the insurance company approves me or not? The cost difference won't be that great with all the deductibles, co-pays, surgeon plan etc., and I am really sick of jumping through their hoops. Taking matters into my own hands and telling Cigna to kiss off is sounding more and more appealing.

I've seen people call it Twunderland. I'm so close it's driving me crazy!

I had to do protein shakes for a couple of weeks once after an ugly accident involving my mouth. The ones I liked best that I thought were relatively low-cal were EAS Advantage Carb Control. They have five flavors -- my favorite was Cafe Caramel. I know a lot of other people like their two chocolate flavors but I don't really like chocolate very much, so I'm not the right person to comment on those!

My favorites are Fage and Brown Cow.

thanks everyone for the kind words and good tips. Hopefully all this worrying will be for nothing!

So, I'm going to use this forum a bit to vent about my anxiety regarding coverage. I have Cigna coverage, but the plan is managed by APS Health. It's one of those "partnership" plans where you get a discount on your coverage for participating in health coaching, getting regular health screenings, etc. I only started considering bariatric surgery when my APS health coach said I should. She told me to call Cigna and ask for their policy and information on bariatric surgery to learn about coverage. So I did. When I talked to Cigna, they had my account number and member number and said they were sending me all the relevant information on bariatric surgery under my coverage. Cigna sent me their policy, which was changed in May of this year. It requires 3 months supervised diet (supervised by any physician or RD), PCP clearance and recommendation, typical BMI stuff, and a psychologist screening. So I get to work on these requirements. I am 2/3 of the way through my supervised diet (run through my surgeon's office), have done the psych eval, and have an appointment to meet with my PCP next week. BUT last week I was looking around on the APS website for something else and stumbled on a separate document of their own on bariatric surgery. It says that they require: 6 months supervised diet and not supervised by a bariatric surgeon, and 5 years of documented history of obesity. So I panic and call Cigna and the rep there assured me that APS was wrong, and I just need to follow the current Cigna plan. Relief. Then I got a call back this morning from a higher level manager at Cigna who tells me that in fact the APS document might be right and Cigna is researching it for me. I'll hear back from Cigna later this week or early next week. I'm really terrified. Forget the fact that I've wasted my time and money on the weight loss program that will no longer count, and paid for psychological testing that my insurance doesn't even cover. I can't meet the five year requirement. For about three years I did not see any doctor at all. I did not go to Weight Watchers or anything else that documented my weight. I definitely was super-morbidly obese or whatever they call it, but I can't prove it unless they'll accept photographs and copies of receipts for ordering clothes in gigantic sizes. Believe me I am very grateful to have insurance at all in this country, and hope that mine will end up covering this surgery. I can't afford Mexico or any other self-pay option. I really hope that I am panicking over nothing. I don't think I realized how much I want this surgery until this came up and I understood that I might not be able to get it.