Bob_350lbs

By the 3rd mo, I was drinking over 64 oz of water and really missed that caffeine high, but didn't want to drink the coffee..so I take one NoDoz in the am and it gets me going for and lasts the whole morning. My surgeon and NUT said it was ok, as long as you get in 64 oz of fluids per day.

I don't remember one person saying they regretted having the revision.

My doc said it was ok to drink coffee/tea as long as you are getting in 64 oz of fluids per day. I love the caffeine buzz, I drink a cup in the am w/my choc calcium chews, and sometimes have SlimQuick too. I am not perfect and do sometimes drink too much..I also bought No-Doze caplets..I am a bad girl.

Reminds me of my dad's old Navy buddy..he had a huge tattoo of a ship across his belly and after he got older and gained a lot of weight, it all stretched out..too funny.

I drank champagne and forgot that it would be included in the no-nos, same as soda. Nothing bad happened, but I only had 4 oz. So, of course, knowing me, I had to push the envelope and have 1/2 a diet 7up yesterday. Well, it's not something I want to get back into, cause just like Chancie, I could drink a 6 pack of diet Pepsi before the surgery. And, it made my stomach uncomfortable anyway.

Alena, you just gave me a great idea for breakfast. Spinach, onion, or zucchini fritatta. Could make enough for the week. Yum..

Believe me, I have already switched to another doctor who gets it. I didn't mean you risked your life for medical treatment, I meant it the other way around, people from MX take great risks to get treatment in our ERs because we don't turn people away who cannot pay. That is why my ex-mother-inlaw came here, not for the ER, but because her son had polio, in 1955, and March of Dimes paid for everything, he spent a month in SF at the Children's Hospital. They came here legally, but left a country they loved, because if you aren't rich, you don't get the same care. Anyway, if I would have come to this message board before I had the VG, I would have chose Dr. Aceves..but my *old* PCP (in more ways than one) really scared me and was so unsupportive..and I didn't really have anyone to tell me otherwise. I do believe that Dr. Aceves and his hospital is a blessing, and I am happy that others are finding this information out before making their decision. I am sorry, did not mean to offend anyone. My post came out all wrong.

When I told my PCP, I was thinking of going to MX for WLS, he backed away and shooked his head, and said, don't come to me if you have problems related to what they did to you, it was almost like a *pre-existing* condition..too much liability. But, if you walk into an emergency room, they cannot turn anyone away, if it is a true emergency. That is why people risk their lives to cross the border, they are desperate to get medical treatment.

I am glad to hear that the insurance co are finally turning around and authorizing the VSG..it's about time!

Lisa, I am fairly new to the boards, but I can so relate to your story. I am about 3 mos post op and deal with the *head* hunger thing daily..and a lot of times, I fail and self-sabotage myself. It is a constant struggle..and some days it is difficult to think you are the only one going through this, because your not. I am going through it too. There must be an underlying reason why we are doing this to ourselves..I do have a history some molestation as a child, not extreme, but after it happened, I put on a winter coat and couldn't take it off, it was my *protection* and as soon as I was forced to give it up (it smelled..if you can imagine that) I gained 30 lbs.. I have also done the counseling thing and I know psychologically why I do it, but it is still something that I struggle with. Later in life, every time I lost weight and guys found me attractive, and started hitting on me, I would cave in and think they really liked me, only to find it just physical, my heart broken after it was over. But, now I am 52, that part of my life is over, and I have grown much wiser and stronger..but still, old ways of dealing with pain are hard to let go of. Everybody has demons to fight..we all got to our highest weight due to something other than just overeating..I believe..it was our drug, our way of dealing with problems. And, I agree, drug addicts seem to have it easier, because they can be completely abstinent..And the media gives a lot of attention to celebrities with drug problems in our society..it seem glamorized in a way. While obesity is very much a terrible stimga. I believe that obese people suffer the most discrimination and get the least amount of real help for their disorder. We have to practically pay for everything out of pocket..I have yet to find a bariatric coach. I have had counselors tell me, just accept yourself and love yourself. Well, even if I did all that, obesity is not healthy and will kill you sooner than anything else. That counselor gave bum advice. They would never tell a drug addict or alcoholic to just love themselves. That would be malpractice. They would be referred to rehab, even live in a rehab center for months..Why can't they do that for us? I think we would have all be fairly successful if we lived in the *Biggest Loser* type of setting, sans the yelling and degredation from Jillian. That is another thing that irks me. If you had a bunch of drug addicts and alcoholic on TV and called it the *Biggest Loser* and they yelled and demeaned them, there would be lawsuits..but obese people? Oh, yeah, that is acceptable, even considered entertainment. It is sickening. They put tempting food in their face and see how long it takes before they give in. Could you imagine a tv show where they put crack in front of an addict and see who could hold out the longest? No, because that would be inhumane. There are a lot of things I agree with you on Lisa. I wish I had better advice, but I just want you to know you are not alone. Keep trying, never give up on you.

Jo Ann, so many of us went through the exact same thing..Dr. Almanza in MX is supposed to be very affordable, a lot of folks here have posted their glowing experiences under a heading using his name. And, Dr. Aceves has lot of rave reviews too. P.S. Best wishes Carolyn, you'll do great! If you want to wait for the insurance co to decide it's no longer experimental, then you have more patience than I do. I wish the best for you regarding this. My BMI was 39 and I had no comorbities..so I was screwed.. What do the insurance co want from us? How fat do we have to get? How many other risk factors do we need? Don't they know the leading cause of death in America is due to heart disease and heart disease is directly related to obesity..it really irks me..because that means obesity is the leading cause of death in America. They don't cover ultra sounds of the carotid arteries either, unless you are having symptoms of mini strokes, etc..but having this ultra sound is a number one way non-invasive way to know if you are also having narrowing of the arteries around the heart, i.e. potential heart attacks. And, the call themselves HMO. What a joke. This simple test could prevent future heart attacks. I am thinking of paying out of pocket the $200 for this test. Probably, that's what they are hoping for. I could have heart disease, both my parents did, and I have that dangerous abdominal fat. So my EKG was normal, my bp is normal, doesn't mean my arteries haven't started clogging up. Most likely the have. That is a serious comorbidity of everyone who is obese..how can it not be? Even autopsies on children arefinding their arteries already clogging. Hey, maybe you should have this test done..there's your comorbidity. It would be worth the money.

This is why people go to MX. Rarely does any insurance pay for the VG. Most people are SP. I would have checked with Kaiser, to see what bariatric surgeries they perform, before signing up with them. If you would have selected the most expensive insurance option with CalPers, if just for a year, you might have had more luck. I think with PERS Choice or was it PERS Select? You could have gone out of network to find a good surgeon who performs the VG. You're probably fortunate that UC Davis canx the Lap-band procedure, a lot of folks need a revision due to slippage, errosion. If anything, the VG should have been approved by most insurance co., not the lapband. Dr. Almanez does the VG for 5K, including travel, I believe. A lot of folks here sing his praises.

Hi Chancie, I would be happy to send them to you, but I don't know how to msg..maybe you can msg me?

I have heard from a friend who had the RnY that they did leave her stomach in in peritoneal cavity, right next to the pouch they created.. She didn't know why, so I googled it and found out that they reason is that just in case they need to reattach the stomach for some reason, they can. Anybody else? Side note, my grandfather had a gastrectomy when he was young, probably was around 1920 or so, due to ulcers. He never had a weight problem either, and could eat normally..but I never saw him pig out. But he did like his beer. :-)

Sounds like a good idea, I was thinking of taking everything to a consignment shop..but, maybe this is a better idea. I am 5'2" and have a lot of fall/winter clothes in good shape, some never worn, I would be happy to send to a sister sleever. I bought most of them at Macy's Womens dept on sale, 1x, 2x, nice brands too like Style & Co., Jones NY, and Ralph Lauren. A few from LB and Dress Barn 18/20, 22/24. Mostly tops. I have 4 pairs of size 4 black pants in short from Fashion Bug. All I ever wore was black pants. Oh, and a pair of corduroy pants in a dark burgandy from Walmart size 20 I never wore..They were too long and I never got around to hemming them. A pair of jeans from LB in size 20. I can take pictures and post if you want. Oh, and more..I forgot about. I buy this stuff super cheap on sale..a pair of beige capris super cute size 16 from Macy's..too dang big and a beige cotton skorts, size 20 from WM again, never wore. They were both too tight and I though I would lose wt and they would fit, well...I lost wt and they are too dang big.

First place I lose is in my gut, but that is the first place I gain too..my butt has no fat on it, sucks because I always wanted a big booty..I got big boobies and big gut instead..lol..I am getting my old figure back though, more of an hour glass shape, instead of the *OMG* her stomach is huge..lol

Carolyn, I so agree, only my family knows. My sister has a big mouth though, so I told her if anyone asks about my weightloss, tell them they have to ask me about it. People are too judgmental, or I am oversensitive, either way. NOW, I understand how Star Jones felt. And, I feel bad for her, because she was so judged for not telling. Barbara Walters sits there on her skinny butt and judges Star. I think she and others were just jealous. No matter how much plastic surgery that 80 y/o old broad has on her face, she isn't going to be young again or be able to compete with Star. I am sick of Oprah too. Star had to go on her show and justify why she didn't tell the world her business. Looking at Oprah, I know that 54 y/o has had some work done on her face, get real. She isn't exactly coming out about that either. Okay, time to go work out, before I get myself into trouble. Good thing I am not talking about Dr. Almanaz or whatever his name is.

I have heard mixed reviews regarding this machine. But, I would be open to trying it once.

You guys are so right. It is a bad idea..since I got back on track I have been losing again and the hunger is gone, even the head hunger, except right before bed time. That was always my danger zone. It is something I have to learn to deal with. down to 181 from 213 right now. Oct 31st is the 3 mo mark my doctor set for me, and it is very indicative of if you will make your goal. If I can get down to 173, then I will have lost 40 lbs, 1/2 of what I need to lose. So, that gives me another 3 mos to lose the last 40 lbs. After 6 mos, it all slows down. I thank you all for your support. If diet pills worked, we would have all been skinney. I did the phen/fen thing back in the 90's. I lost about 20 lbs and stalled big time..head hunger again. Regarding counseling, I do talk to Tara from LapSF monthly and prn as needed. But, you know what, I really do believe carbs just lead to more carbs, especially for those that are insulin resistent like me. Thanks again, you guys are awesome.

Iron man, that is it, now I remember, brings back so many memories of my ex, he loved those contests. This weekend, a class reunion, 1970-1979, 1000 people are going. So have to stop at Macy's for a nice top, if I can find one. It's casual though, so my new jeans are just right. They want everyone to wear orange or one of the tie-dyed orange Ts they are selling. They are ugly to me..ick.. Getting the motivation to get on the treadmill, then pack for the reunion. Great thing this week? Got a wonderful annual evaluation at work, started back on strickly Protein and already lost 1 lb. The Beatles..not my thing, but I was only 8 when they were big. So, by the time I could really appreciate them, the band was already falling a part from one another. But, John & Paul together - sheer genius. *Michelle* loved that song and played it over and over again on the piano..The love songs Paul wrote were simply beautiful.

Isn't it great! You have so much energy after the surgery, me too. I bet you will then move on to shopping, it's great exercise walking, walking, trying on clothes, walking some more. Well, I have to run, time for the treadmill and more shopping at Macy's this time. My class reunion is tonight. 1000 people are going, it's mega reunion 1970 through 1979. Wooo Hooo.

My doctor doesn't think I am losing fast enough, and he may be right. I have a lot of head hunger. Last week my *experiement* with *good* carbs was a disaster, it lead to eating ice cream, chocolate, bread..and no wt loss, gain 1 lbs. I am back to basis now, protein, protein, veggies, water..but I am really pressed to lose another 10 lbs before 10/31. I am seeing my doctor then and what if I went to one of those wt loss clinics and got an Rx for phentermine, just for the next 3 weeks, and just see if I can live off Unjury and salads? I so want to lose this wt, tired of the head games I play with myself.

For me, it really mattered when my PCP confused the VG with the bypass. He just couldn't fathom what a VG was, kept saying I would have malabsorbtion and end up gaining all my weight back and have to take supplements the rest of my life. I even brought out the pictures to show him, and his mind just couldn't wrap around it. That upset me. I needed his support and didn't get it. My family got it, after I explained it about 3 times. And, I got their support. Yes, it kinda of makes me mad when people don't get it. Because I would have never had a bypass. The VG is so much smarter.

Wow, great price Tiff. You & John are two peas in a pod.

Thanks Mac, I'll try 30 mins am, then 30 min pm. Your an inspiration. My ex was into triathalons, the first one I saw blew me away.. amazing..totally amazing.