sr910

Queenlylocs, I'm not sure that anyone really *knows* what kind of shapewear is best, or how effective it will be. Just like everyone loses weight differently, people's skin may shrink back (or not shrink back) differently. For me personally, I am looking for something that will have firm enough support to really suck everything in (after the tenderness of the incisions has subsided), and I plan to wear it as much as possible. I probably won't wear spanx because I don't like how they feel on and mine always tend to roll down at the top. I'm sure there isn't really any comfortable shapewear, but there's got to be something I can stand better than spanx... Good luck, all. I'll let you know if I find anything great. I'm going to check out the Gabrialla Breathable Elastic Abdominal Binder for Women that scubadottie found on Amazon...

Pantyhose -- that's smart thinkin'! I tend to wear 3/4 and long sleeves, so my wings should be hidden, but I'm kind of thinking I might be able to "train" the skin to not droop all willy-nilly when I start shrinking.

I have been looking at shapewear to hold everything in while I shrink -- hoping this will help with the impending saggy skin problem. Has anyone used any sort of shapewear for the upper arm area? I found these... http://www.mytights.com/us/shapewear/arm-shapers/mary-portas-charnos-plain-armery.html ...but I'm hoping someone can make a recommendation or speak from experience.

Do you have a recliner? Or a comfy couch and ottoman where you can put your feet up?

While researching this a while back, I came across this on a site... "Gently brush the skin with a soft boar bristle brush prior to bathing or showering. This will not only feel great and help to exfoliate your skin, but it will increase the circulation in your skin. This increased circulation will help bring vital nutrients to the skin and improve the quality of collagen and elastin, which will improve the skins ability to bounce back following weight loss" Good luck!! Keep me posted. I haven't even started my approval process, so hopefully you'll have found some good tricks by the time my surgery rolls around

Maybe I'm being special here, but I cannot figure out how to get to this checklist. Help!

I am not sleeved yet, but this is also a big concern of mine. Besides muscle-building exercise (building up the muscle gives the skin something to hold on to), look for a skin-firming moisturizer that contains CoEnzyme Q10 Complex. If you've got a few extra bucks to spend, I'm a big fan of Caudalie skin products and recently came across this stuff -- and the reviews say it works! http://www.dermstore.com/product_Firming+Concentrate_8569.htm

Biotene is the mouth spray -- hadn't heard any specific lip balm recommendations, though. Good luck, Patrick!!

In case anyone is wondering, I figured out that the Anthem H M O that covers the Sharp Community Medical Group is the "California Care H M O"

Yeah I've got Monique's number. How dare she take a vacation :-P lol

Alright so Dr. Mueller has a lady that handles all the insurance. I need to talk to her, but she's on vacation =( Last night, Dr. Mueller mentioned that Sharp Rees-Steely only covers bypass so I thought no problem I'll just switch to Sharp Community Medical Group. Well, my "Select H M O" doesn't cover Sharp Comm... My employer offered Kaiser and three different Anthem plans (2 hmos and a ppo). The difference between the two hmos was not clear at all, but I can't do anything about it until open enrollment in November, which wouldn't be usable until January 2013. Lame. I really hope I don't have to wait that long! I'm sure other medical groups within Sharp cover the sleeve... I just need to figure out which one(s)! Insurance lady is on vacation until the middle of next week, btw. Blahhhh. Today was supposed to be productive, dammit!

I just recommended a postpartum shaper -- http://www.bellefit.com/

I've been looking at girdles and shapewear for after I'm sleeved and for the stomach area, I've been looking at postpartum girdles. It's worth a look... http://www.bellefit.com/

I have the Anthem Blue Cross Classic Select H M O. The sleeve is covered by the insurance, but not with my current medical group. I got assigned to Sharp Rees-Steely (I think because that's the closest to my house?) and that medical group only covers the gastric bypass procedure. Sharp Community Medical Group covers all 3 procedures (lapband, sleeve, bypass), so I'm going to call and see if I can switch over tomorrow, and it should be effective next month... or maybe September... not sure. I'm really hoping I don't have to do the 6-month supervised diet because I've tried and failed so much already -- I just want to get movin' with something that actually works!

Thanks for the warm welcome! And thanks to vst, I've already talked to a couple folks who had my same insurance or surgeon -- so far it looks like my insurance approves pretty quickly and I won't have to do 6 months of supervised dieting, and my surgeon sounds good. I have 150+ to lose, so I'm definitely hoping for a quick approval! Although, I just read a post where a woman's surgeon may have made her sleeve too small/narrow -- I'd never even thought of that! How terrifying!

Hi all. I'm new -- 25 years old from San Diego, CA -- and just wanted to say hi! I am attending a seminar at Sharp Grossmont in a couple days and, although the seminar will be the first formal presentation of wls information, I've already decided that I want the VSG. I'm sure I'll be posting more after I attend this seminar and jump through the inevitable insurance hoops, but I at least wanted to say hi. SR

Not sleeve related, but my sister has Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and Hashimoto's -- it seems odd that so many people would have more than one in common. Makes me think some more study and clinical research needs to go into these diseases!

I'm only 25, but I could write a book on my dieting history! Thanks for the info, Lianne =)

Does it always *** out H M O?

I also have Anthem Blue Cross (***, California) -- did either of you have to do 6 months of supervised dieting? If no, did you have to submit any kind of proof that you had had unsuccessful dieting in the past? Hoping I won't have a difficult, lengthy process...

Hi all. I am going a seminar with Sharp in San Diego this coming Wednesday (which is one of the surgery pre-approval requirements). If I end up having the surgery, it will be with Dr. George Mueller. I have heard great things about him so far, and his VST profile says he accepts my insurance. I was wondering if anyone else has gotten approved with Anthem Blue Cross of California -- I have an ***, but there is surprisingly very little information on my insurance card. Also, if you went through Anthem, did you have to do the six months of supervised dieting? Wondering if my weight watchers tracker will count or if I have to start 6 months over again...