Need-a-Sleeve

Hi, my apologies, I started this forum & went AWOL! Let me share a bit about my journey. I lost 60 pounds with my sleeve & have kept off between 50-55 pounds since then. Really pleased with the surgery but 3 years later it is just a tool. Your mind has to be ready to change & the fight is the same every day. Will check in more often, as it helps to encourage me as well! Thanks, Jana

He was 255' date=' now 160 n still dropping! He' s kinda worried because he doesnt want to loose anymore!!![/quote']

Guys always lose faster than us! You will do great!

I was taking the gummy vitamins when I remember to but I just checked the bottle and mine don't contain any Iron do that is part of the problem lol...What kind of Gummy Vitamins do you take?

I am taking the Gummy-Vites from costco or Sam's. I get enough iron from meat & veggies. If I added it in the vitamins, I would never go to the bathroom!

186 this morning. Moving slow' date=' but in the right direction.[/quote']

You are doing awesome!

I have been a bad nurse/girl . I have been neglecting to take my supplements and my Iron level was 24 the PA for my surgeon just called to lecture me about how they want it at 46 and not taking my multivitamin is not helping...My Vitamin D was at 27 and they want to see at least 30. I don't know why but I can't seem to get a good rhythm for pill popping/ chewing. I take synthroid and Allegra in addition to the supplements but the only one I take really regular is the synthroid.Now I know why they say we make the worse patients

I hear you! I take the gummy vitamins, Fiber, Probiotics & Calcium. They taste like "candy" but get my counts all on track.

Hi Jana' date='

I have been an RN for 23 years, last 10 have been in Endoscopy in large hospital in Beaumont, Tx. I was sleeved Jan 24th of this year. Down 33 lbs so far! I feel so much better and am glad I had it done. I need to lose another 35 lbs to get to the 140's. wish you the best![/quote']

Fantastic Barbie! Keep it up, this is such a great tool!

I'm not saying they ALL have to approve you. On the first call I made' date=' mine said they don't cover it. Case closed. But when I pressed further, it turns out they DO cover it if:

1. 100+ lbs. overweight, OR

2. Less than 100 lbs. overweight, but have at least two medical conditions that will be improved or eliminated (in my case, Diabetes and PBC/NASH).

If they had said it doesn't matter how sick you are or how heavy you are, we NEVER cover it, then, I would completely agree with you.

Once they admit they DO cover it under certain circumstances, and the patient meets the criteria, AND the patient fulfills all the terms according to don't you - in your profession - believe they SHOULD honor the terms THEY set?[/quote']

Yes & that is where your advice is very relevant. If the benefit is covered in the plan & they deny or "stall", the member can always file a formal complaint with their State's Department of Insurance.

I have found the biggest gap is in each member / patient not knowing their policy coverage. Here I am in the business & I would go and ask my nurses if they knew what (if any) limit we had on our own home health coverage. 95% of them did not have a clue--until they needed it!

NEVER NEVER NEVER let anyone with your insurance company sense that you think denial is even an option to consider. If they DONT APPROVE' date=' you call the insurance company and ask for the Medical Director in charge of your procedure approval. You'll probably get a nurse who works with the MD. Ask them what is needed to get this through. Present it like, "I understand your rules for approval are 1. xxxx. I did that. 2. xxx. I did that too. ..." Confirm they see the docs to support each line item. Find out EXACTLY what is missing and tell them you'll make sure it is in their hands by xxxx date.

When you are playing by THEIR RULES and you meet each task as required, they HAVE to approve. Keep that in mind with every contact you make with them.

And, try to keep it in a business tone, non-emotional. If they sense that you already KNOW you are going to get the approval, they know you aren't messing around, you'll be surprised how quickly you'll get your approval just to get you off their backs.

[/quote']

I have to comment on this. You are incorrect. Not ALL insurance plans are the same & they absolutely, positively do NOT have to approve you. I am a senior manager in one of the largest health plans in the U.S. & can tell you that some plans absolutely exclude any type of weight loss surgery for any reason--no exceptions. Do I agree with that? Absolutely not, but too often people look upon medical insurance as a right & even in 2014 with healthcare reform a reality, an employer group can STILL deny weight loss surgery coverage. Those are the facts. The fact that you were tenacious & got yours approved is wonderful but it is not the norm for policies that exclude the benefit. Sorry....

Will someone tell me what has to be sent in with BCBS TX? I would love to see what that have sent you guys too.

IF you have the benefit, the medical policy requires a psych eval & if your BMI is below 40, documentation of two recognized co-morbidities (like sleep apnea & diabetes for example). Your plan (as ALL BCBSTX plans) may differ according to what your employer chose to purchase so best to call customer service for details. Good luck!

I felt the same way. I didn't want to be the source of anhyone's conversation' date=' so I only told a handful of people, and my boss. I now know that they each told other people! One day the VP of HR asked me about my surgery in the elevator - and I never told anyone in HR. So, the moral of the story is tell NO ONE, unless you want everyone to know. And I think you hit the nail on the head, people start talking once you start losing anyway, so I'm not sure there is any way to avoid it. I wonder if hospitals are worse places for gossip than others?? You'd think people would get the whole concept of privacy, lol. So, I'm not mad at the people who told, because I am absolutely certain they didn't do it in malace...they are just human.[/quote']

I told everyone from the very beginning & figured I could not control what anyone else thought or said. Letting them get to me was part of what fueled over-eating for part of my life & I was done with it. Now, 6 months & 60 pounds down, I get stopped & congratulated & compliments every day. That too is great but doesn't validate my worth as much as my new found respect for my dedication & commitment to ME!

There are lots of threads on here about BCBSTX & the process. First thing to do is call customer service number on the back of your ID card and ask if you even have the benefit. (Not all plans are the same even though they have the same carrier.)

If your plan covers it, pick your surgeon, go be evaluated and they submit all the paperwork, simple as that. Good luck!

Stalled for the 3rd week in a row at 175 but at least I know why! (Not enough Water & not enough gym!) Hopefully will be able to get back to a routine schedule after the first of the year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my fellow sleeve buddies!

Hi

I was 200lb on day of surgery, that was 6 weeks ago. I am 175 now x

P.S I don't know how to change my ticker, can anyone tell me?

Go to your patient profile (under your name) and change the numbers there, it will update the ticker.

Have had asthma for 56 years, the only problem I had was the acid reflux would start me coughing and then go into an attack. After the sleeve, Dr. Nick puts you on IPPB (intermittant positive pressure breathing) treatments and I had no problems whatsoever.

During the late fall with ragweed out, I started having problems but got back on the Singulair and all is good again. Good luck!

Down another pound and very happy with that! Have a great week everyone!

Down a pound this week and feeling great! Hope everyone has a good week in their new walk on the healthy side!

I have told everyone that asks and quite a few before that I had the surgery. People that think this is the 'easy way out' or cheating are the same idiots that think the mentally ill can make themselves well by just changing the way they think.

The most common comment that I get is that I didn't look like I needed 'that kind of surgery'. I tell them I was 100 pounds over my recommended weight and now at 43 pounds down they are shocked.

I guess my don't give a darn attitude is a bonus of reaching almost 60! Wait till you get there, it is VERY freeing!

Hi, I am a Dr. Nicholson patient in Dallas and my cousin lives in Odessa, Texas. Just checking to see if anyone has had any experience with Dr. Don Davenport in Odessa?

Thanks!

I am losing too, but not horrible yet (crossed fingers). I even looked at Sally's Beauty Supply, they carry a product called Toppik, that camoflauges the thinner areas. Costs about $30 for a small can and another $ for the spray to fix it to the hair and scalp. My other option is to go to a small hair piece since it seems to just affect the top and crown.

You look fantastic, congratulations!!

I am 3 months out and getting in between 700-800 a day. When I was below that, I would stall and not lose. Now I am trying to get most of my Protein in by food but still have to supplement with one shake. I am a nurse but met with the nut once and not sure that I agree with the "Atkins" diet approach to this. I am taking it slow and trying to eat a balanced diet and concentrating on building habits I can live with and sustain.

You might search the thread "My Fitness Pal" and sign up, there you can see other's food diaries and you will see lots of variety in how people appoach all of this. Not necessarily wrong or right, but quite a varied approach!

The bad breath is with you as long as you keep your carbs really low and the Protein intake high. I TRY and drink a lot of Water but still having problems with that and I do chew gum. I don't chew it with my mouth open and swallow air, but do have to keep some on hand since I do a lot of teaching.

One word: Genie (as seen on TV). I have seen them in Walgreens, Wal-Mart and you can get similar ones at costco. They are really comfortable with the incision site being fresh and they "shrink" with you! And last, they are CHEAP!

Was out of town yesterday, so weighed this morning. Down 2 pounds, haven't worked out since Wednesday and drank a few glasses of wine, will discontinue that and get back on track.

Now that the holidays have begun, this will really get fun! Have a great week everybody!

When you say Fluid stage, I am assuming you mean full liquids, which means you can have things that aren't clear.

My surgeon only allowed us to have things at that stage that could pass through a strainer. I love Soup so it was good for me.

As for something that would taste more like a meal, that is going to be hard. I had a friend that drained all the liquid out of Bean & Bacon soup and heated that up to drink. I did that as well and even added some HIckory Bacon flavored salt. It was ok but not ideal. I stuck more to yogurts, puddings, Jello and SF popsicles in addition to my Protein drinks.