COsleeveDude

What I find most interesting about this thread is how many have this idea that lying is a black and white issue: that lying is somehow bad and telling the truth is somehow good. If someone asks how you lost the weight and you don't admit to the surgery, are you lying? Yes. You chose to answer with a lie. If I won the lottery and someone asked how I got rich, and I said hard work and investing...you get the point. But so what? Own your lie. Be proud of it, lying is a skill that everyone should practice. Our whole culture is predicated on dishonesty as a tool for good. Marketing drives the whole economy. Sell the pros, only admit to the cons if you're required by law. People who ask personal questions deserve whatever answer you choose to give them. It would be like if someone asks your age, or salary, or your sexual orientation, or YOUR WEIGHT. It's none of their business, but you're trapped into pleading the fizifth OR defending yourself with a lie of omission. Go ahead, youre not under oath. No one is sending you to hell or bed without supper. That's the point I feel a few of people were trying to make earlier. Don't lie to yourself about the fact that youre lying. But don't feel bad about lying, it's your right as an American.

If you haven't been approved by insurance you shouldn't drop below 40 BMI until you weigh in over 40 BMI and they give you the go ahead to drop pre-surgery weight. After approval just make sure to ask the surgeon if they will still do the surgery if you lose weight and go below 40 before the surgery. I haven't heard of any ever saying no, but I would ask just to be safe, as I don't know how crazy some insurance companies may get.

My theory is that they tell you to avoid carbonation because so many carbonated drinks have tons of calories and/or stimulate appetite with artificial sweeteners, and can obviously also cause gas. And carbonated drinks can help leech Calcium from bones. There really isn't any evidence of carbonation causing stretching. All that having been said, it's probably a good idea to avoid carbonation except for occasionally. I doubt a couple of beers a week is going to kill anyone, just keep 'em small and light.

The end of the drain tube started to stab my damn liver or something the last couple of days, so I know how you feel. I would still suggest taking some pain meds (if you need them) and getting out, even if it's just for a walk to the corner store to grab a Water or a video or a lotto ticket. Take a bus or cab to the mall or a movie or whatever you can tolerate. It shouldn't stop you from getting out. Even just walking around the mall and having a small decaf coffee made me feel more normal in the first week or two after surgery.

I took three weeks off including the surgery week, and surgery was on a Tuesday. Some people go back in one or two weeks. I would recommend a minimum of two, but three was perfect for me. That way you are probably back into eating soft and moist foods before you go back to work, which is nice because that's when you start to get some energy back and feel human again. Good luck.

Worth doing some research to understand why one might be denied: http://www.springerlink.com/content/b735m070p3510g76/ Psychological tests are very accurate if you're honest. They want to make sure you have the coping skills to deal with post-surgery issues. I agree that different mental health professionals may have different opinions, but the tests don't lie. It would make more sense to delay the surgery and make sure you are set with counseling and meds before having a surgery that you can only do once in your life. If your mental health issues derail the surgery then you'll be right back where you were with no other options. Good luck.

I started using Scarguard once the scabs fell off: http://www.scarguard.com/scarguard.html. It's pricey, but I think the bottle will last for awhile. You apply twice per day, pretty simple. Until then I don't think you need to put anything on them, just wash them and dress them if they are still oozing at all.

McDonald's doesn't tempt me at all, but everyone knows their potential weaknesses. The way I look at it, I can buy or get crap food that I can immediately jam in my mouth anywhere: fast food, grocery store, Target, Walgreens, gas station, vending machines at work, pot lucks, work lunches, morning donuts, on and on. Gotta get used to having access and not partaking. I went out to eat the other night and had a nice, lean cut of bison. Finished about half of it, the sides and other things on the menu didn't even tempt me. Maybe that will be different down the road, but facing those situations is important to change your habits and give you confidence that you can live a "normal" life (e.g. going out to eat) while making better choices. So, if I ever have to stop at McDonald's with someone in the future, I'm not worried about it. Maybe I would even have a chicken breast or a small salad or something if I had no other options. Point being because it's there and I'm there doesn't mean I have to eat a Big Mac or two. Maybe I will want to in the future, but I don't have to. That's the difference between pre and post-surgery, to me.

If you know of another way to rent new release HD movies for USD1.50-ish I'd love to hear about it.

What he said. Anywhere with a Redbox is fine, just walk to and from there to pick up and/or drop off your movie.

I walk to Redbox to drop off my movies at least once a week. Since McDonald's are everywhere you can usually find one or two that make a nice, long walk with a destination and purpose. I don't always pick my movies up that way, because different locations have different selections, but it's a good way to use McDonald's in a positive way.

No, although women generally don't need as much as men. You should consume more the more lean body mass and the more you workout. Typically you can shoot for 0.5 gram per pound of lean body mass. If you are working out a lot, especially weight training and you want to gain lean mass, you can go up to 1.0+ gram per pound of lean body mass.

I love milk. I could probably drink a half-gallon per day. So, even if you drink skim, which is what I like, that can add up to a lot of calories. It is tempting for me to have liquid milk sitting in the fridge. My solution? I started buying powdered milk. That way I can add some spoons to Protein shakes, sugar free hot cocoa, coffee, tea, etc. This solves my problem because I won't make a pitcher of powdered milk, I think it tastes terrible. Too watery. But, mixed into other things or used for cooking, it works well. It makes things a little creamier and more tolerable. I like it as a coffee creamer, especially because regular creamer, real or fake, it suppose to be terrible for you.

Try and get some counseling. Like most of us a lot of the problem is in your head. There are resources for people with financial challenges, do some Googling and other research to locate options in your area. Good luck

My program had no requirement. However, if you managed to lose on your own you were more likely (but not guaranteed) to be on a pre-op 3-day liquid diet vs. a 14-day liver shrinking diet. I lost 30ish on my own, and another 10ish on the pre-op.

Just watch out for red, hot, increasing pain, pus, fever, nausea, etc. If you don't have any of those along with it some soreness is normal.

I think he is doing his best to educate while entertaining. This isn't PBS or NPR, the demographic is soccer moms.

LuckyVitamin.com online has the best prices, hands down for the Ready-To-Drink (RTD). It's good product also, not expired: http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-232400-natures-best-isopure-zero-carb-rtd-variety-pack-12-bottles?redirect=1 Buy the variety pack so you can try all of the flavors and see what you like. I agree that it does not always taste the best, but it is far from the worst. Cut it with Water, sugar-free sports drink or Crystal Light to improve the taste. I haven't tried the powder. I will in the future, as the RTDs are too expensive to keep drinking forever, but I heard the powder is pretty bad. We shall see.

They don't remove it automatically because most people don't need it removed and won't need it removed. If I remember correctly the surgeon said 10%, and they're not in the business of taking 9 of 10 that won't need to be removed.

You'll be fine as long as you chewed it up real well. Surgeon told me the stomach is fully healed after four weeks, I think they just err on the side of caution when phasing you back into solid foods. Also, the longer you are on the liquid/soft stuff the more weight you will lose up front, which to me seems like a motivating factor in showing significant progress right away.

Check your insurance policy. It will say whether weight loss/bariatric surgery is covered or not, and if it is what it will cost you out of pocket. For example, in my policy is it listed under Surgical Procedures in Section 5b. You can also call customer service at the number on the back of your card and ask them what your policy says about weight loss surgery. Schedule an appointment with your Primary Care Physician (PCP). Ask them to please refer you to Nutrition Services to be considered for for weight loss surgery. They will probably mail you some forms to fill out and return. Then they will send you a letter. If you qualify you will be on the program waitlist. Unless they pick up the pace you will wait 6+ months to get into the pre-surgery program. You will have 8 weeks of classes plus blood work, program specialist and psych visits, etc. If you pass the classes you will be scheduled to meet for final checkoffs with psych, pre-op bloodwork/physical, and finally to meet with your surgeon of choice. You'll also have to do either a 3-day or 14-day pre-surgery diet. I'd recommend the 3-day, so lose some weight before and/or during the 8-week program, that way you're more likely, but not guaranteed, to get the 3-day diet vs. the 14-day diet. You will get to choose from one of two surgeons: Dr. Husain or Dr. Chae. I chose Dr. Chae, but I have heard good things about both surgeons. The differences: one is female, the other male. One is younger, the other a little older and probably has more bariatric surgeries under his belt. One doesn't use a post-surgery drain tube (from what I've heard), the other does (from what I experienced). Ask for details so you can make an informed decision that you are comfortable with. Maybe you feel comfortable with a surgeon of the same gender as you. The choice is yours. My surgery was at Saint Joseph Hosptial in Denver. Yours probably will be as well. NOTE: When they discharge you, make sure they send you home with prescriptions for pain (probably liquid Lortab), nausea, acid reduction (acid reducer/PPI), and blood thinners (if you need them after you are discharged, I didn't. This seems to vary based on your condition, medical history, etc.). Have your family or friend fill them before you are discharged so you don't have to stop on the way home. You might not need the pain meds to mask unbearable pain, but they are great for a couple/few days after discharge if for nothing else than to ween off the morphine drip and to help you get some sleep. If all goes well, you'll get your surgery. My plan covers sleeve. Apparently some don't, but most people I was in groups with had the option. Depends on what your policy covers, I guess. The bottom line is, the wait and process is long but well worth it. It took me almost a year to get through the entire waitlist and pre-surgery stuff. Be patient, but if four or five months passes on the waitlist and you don't get a call, be proactive and call Nutrition Services to ask where you are on the waitlist. If you need to contact Nutrition Services directly: Kaiser Permanente offers gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding (also know as the Lap Band) procedures. Not all benefit plans cover weight loss surgery. Please call 303-788-1154 for more information. http://www.kphealthy...for-adults.aspx

It is interesting when people criticize or feel superior, yet they themselves can't lose weight and keep it off, exercise regularly, eat healthy, etc. People are just naturally wired up to be shallow when it comes to criticizing physical issues.

Fake. But post the link to the video anyway, please, I want to see the fakieness.

I used to run for football and tennis when I was younger. If you can't breathe you're just not in running shape. It's also not worth running if you're heavy, especially if you're out of shape. You'll just end up hurting yourself and set back your efforts to get into shape. Start with walking, power walking, and then add intervals once you can do an extended power/fast walk without getting out of breath. Intervals are basically alternating period of walking and jogging/running/sprinting. Then you can phase into full running as you get in shape and drop the rest of the weight.

Get the ultrasound if you can before surgery. Then if it is your gallbladder they can pull it when you get your sleeve. Otherwise you will be in for potentially two surgeries instead of one.