Food_vs_Life

I will be financing plastic surgery eventually also. I know for me when I had to finance my sleeve we were only about to get about $3,200 from Care Credit so we went to our bank and requested for a personal loan. We did not qualify for enough with a personal loan so we then were able to basically use my husband's truck as collateral. It was well worth it! Talk to your credit union or bank and let them know your needs... someone should be able to show you your options.

I also used Dr. Shillingford in Boca Raton, Florida! $10,500 and it covers the first year of follow up. I traveled about 5 hours to use him. His office staff and himself made for an outstanding experience! I felt very comfortable every step of the way. I am now 7 months out with no complications and down 95 lbs.

You picked a great surgeon! I wanted to use him but I his cost was too much for me since I was self pay : ( I live in Green Cove Springs just outside of Orange Park and travel your way sometimes since I have family out there.

Congratulations! You will love your sleeve : ) What area do you live in and who is your doctor?

My doctor allowed me to eat mushies after leaving the hospital! I never had any problems eating or drinking and worried just like you. I worried because everyone else that was sleeved around the same time as me was required to be on liquids for atleast two week after surgery. Everyone told me I was risking getting a leak etc. I listened to my body and my doctor (Dr. Shillingford) and my body had no problem processing the foods at all! I never had any problems in the bathroom either and I think that is because I was eating a normal diet. When I asked my doctor about the possibility of a leak he told me that the only way a leak will happen is if he the surgeon did not do his job properly. He said there is nothing I can do as the patient to cause a leak. I feel like he would not put his neck out there and put all the blame on himself if it were not true. Just a thought. I am just over 3 months out now and have lost 67 lbs. I have been eating solids since 1 week post op.

I just wanted to add that Dr. Shillingford was my surgeon also. He is and was awesome! I was a little weary because there was no mention of him at all on the boards before I had my surgery but after researching I verified and found out the he is a fabulous surgeon. I have not had one problem with eating or drinking either. I have not even puked once since surgery. I was sleeved 03/29/2013 and I have lost 67 lbs. I traveled from North Florida to use him due to his excellence and his price for self pay!

I ended up going with a doctor out of town. I traveled to Boca Raton, FL and had my surgery performed by Dr. Kahlil Shillingford. He was wonderful and his office staff is amazing! I can call Dr. Shillingford's cell at anytime also and EVERY TIME I have ever called his office the same person (Nancy) answers. She coordinates everything and will talk with you for as long as you need her. She goes out of her way to help and educate you in any way she can. I ended up choosing the sleeve over the band and I am SOOOooo completely happy. I am only 5 days post op and I can already eat and drink with no problems. I have had no problems with getting stuck or throwing up etc. I feel so normal that it is crazy. The greatest and wierdest thing is how I have yet to experience hunger at all even after 4 days of only liquid (no Protein shakes) and even crazier is that all of my food cravings no longer exist. I read that a lot of people report that once they have the surgery they no longer crave sweets and foods they loved the way they used to but I never thought that would actually happen to me. I am sooo shocked that cutting that hunger hormone out of your stomach could so such an amazing thing. I am just excited to continue on my journey and see where things go from here. Dr. Baptista is still a wonderful doctor for sure!

I am in Jacksonville too!! Well technically I am in Green Cove. I am down in Coral Springs now and will be having my surgery tomorrow morning. I pray all goes well for you and the rest of us! Who is your doctor?

I am now on day 9 of my liquid diet and I can say that it is much easier then I thought it would be. The Protein drinks really do keep you satisfied. I don't really struggle too much with wanting food unless someone is eating something really yummy (like pizza) in front of me. I did cheat and eat a slice of pizza on day 3. I can tell you that as of Day 7 I was down 14 lbs! I would recommend making a good broth. It taste like real food so you get that satisfaction since everything else is sweet. I recommend This Hibachi Broth Soup... very good. http://cookingwithcarrie.blogspot.com/2009/06/hibachi-soup.html?m=1

OOOOPPPppps I mean Jello not pudding : ) @Christie - I am still going to check with my Dr. when they open because your right, it is possibly I understood it all correctly to begin with : ( @Jay- YES!!! broth is a BIG help with getting that "food" taste. I made a really good Hibachi broth that has helped and is less sodium.

I am now on day 7 of my liquid pre op diet and I did not know that I could have sugar free Jello and popsicles. I am excited and mad at myself at the same time!!! My pre op diet instructions state that I can have: "Sugar free clear liquds (like Crystal Light or sugar free Kool-Aid) and water" That is it... that is all it says. However, tonight I was reading another paper that was for post op and it described Clear liquids as being a, "Fluid or food that can almost be seen through" and they actually list the jello and popsicles! I have a feeling that they are allowed for the pre op diet also and they just did not list them as an example. Going to call the doctor's office in the morning to verify. It would be soooooo much easier to bear the next 5 days if I could eat Jello and sugar free pudding!

Ohh and I am on Facebook if you want to add me. https://www.facebook.com/Food.vs.Life

I just subscribed to your channel. We are twins... definitely will follow your progress alongside mine : )

Hey! I am in Green Cove Springs, Florida but I am always in Jacksonville doing things. I would really love to find a support group around me so please pass on any information you have! I am having my VSG surgery this Friday the 29th. I am traveling 5 hours away to Coral Springs to have the surgery done and that is why I would REALLY love to find a local group!

Congratulations! I will be sleeved this Friday and also have a You Tube channel. I will be following you and if you are interested in my channel it is FoodvsLife.

Yes, Ma'am!! I agree completely. I am already tired of people telling me how happy I will be. I am like... the one thing that scares me is not being happy after. I am completely happy in my life and though I do not LOVE LOVE my body I have grown to be okay with it and love parts of it... accept the rest. I am scared that if I have complications that I may be miserable and that may in return make it hard to be happy with my life after surgery. THAT is my biggest fear going into this. I also worry about how bad the lose skin will be. Again, I am completely okay with my body now and I feel attractive... I know my husband finds me attractive and that is what matters to me. I worry about him being attracted to me with tons of loose skin. I have to keep reminding myself that it is for my health and that I can have plastic surgery done to take care of some of the skin I end up with. I really deeply feel that it will all come out okay though and I will learn to love my new body just as the one I have now : )

Yeah, it is hard and that Is why I am not sure if I will keep the video's up or not.

I am a sleeve sister! You are the first person I have seen on here with my date. I will be sleeved on the 29th down in Coral Springs, FL. I am traveling also but only 5 hours out. I hope this time before surgery passes by quickly and that we both recover well. We will ROCK the sleeve for sure. If you are Facebook you should ad me https://www.facebook.com/Food.vs.Life I also started a YouTube Vlog. I may end up stopping or taking that down I am not sure. Either way this is my account on YouTUbe http://www.youtube.com/user/FoodvsLife/videos

Thank you for the link. I will definitely subscribe and watch! I am scheduled for my VSG on the 29th! I actually started a YouTube vlog also. I love watching other's experience. Thanks for sharing. You look great!

My surgery is on the 29th and I am on day 4 of my liquid diet. It really has not been too bad so far. Definitely not hungry since the protein shakes do seem to keep me satisfied.