akindofmagick2

:mad: The moderators on this forum are without a doubt the worst at their jobs I've ever seen - going all the way back to my first forum membership in 1986. SET SOME RULES, people. No doctor bashing. No flame wars. Abide by The Golden Rule (you know, the one your mother taught you). Anyone who violates the rules should be first warned, then put on probation, then banned after the third offense. Oh, but wait - then the moderators would have to ban themselves - as they're the worst offenders!! After scanning the sheer nastiness posted above - I'm outta here, and won't be back. Sheri

Hi, JoAnne - United Healthcare now covers the sleeve as "proven" - effective 1 October 2009. Other insurance agencies will likely follow suit shortly. I don't know of any recent studies that will help you - although there are many in process right now. Because of its "investigational" status, the SG procedure is still not so common in the USA right now - so not that many doctors have published their findings, let alone long term findings. The doctors doing the majority of the procedures (Mexico and elsewhere) aren't publishing much, either.... The ASMBS is expected to come out with a statement regarding SG in the near future - but not for several months. Six months from now things will be very different, I believe. Do take a look at the insurance forum on obesityhealth.com - there are lots of people fighting their insurance companies there, and some good info. Bottom line, tho - with your BMI, you will need proof of comorbidities, and very likely also will need six months of supervised weight loss attempts (doctors office or Weight Watchers, etc.). Which is why I'm going self-pay. BTDT - don't want to wait any longer. (and my company has a WLS exclusion, dammit!) Sorry not to have better news! Sheri

I had endometriosis surgery 5 years ago, and dealt with the gas they use to move your organs out of the way so they can see - and the aftermath of having your body rid itself of same with no orifice for relief, only absorption: pain in the shoulder, miserable discomfort for a couple of days, etc. I'm not looking forward to going thru that again, but ya do what ya gotta do. It's only a few days - out of the whole rest of your life. Glad you're feeling better! Sheri

Do you have cancelled checks? Credit card records? Can you get them? I've read elsewhere that that is considered proof of services. My concern is this statement: "....clinically severe obesity as defined by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). " Is the NHLBI definition the same as the NIH definition? Off to research.. not that I'm gonna do the six month thing, tho. BTDT, many many times in my life. Heck, I've even tried hypnosis!! Don't give up yet, tho - unless you paid cash... Sheri

I agree with what everyone has said above. Phentermine is a bad idea. Unless you want to have to lose it twice, as someone said. And, as someone else said - it's almost certainly less safe than they think. Why is the 31st so important?? Sip sip sip, eat Protein, then veggies, sip some more... and take a walk. Of course, I recognize this is easy for me to say, since I've not had my surgery yet, and I'm sitting here swilling a DC, but I've also been on phentermine... and here I am today, waiting for surgery, and at my all time highest weight. Nuff said! Except: hang in there, you CAN do this!!:biggrin: Sheri

I decided against participating in this study. The time committment was not something I could work with - 9.5 hour days under observation plus travel time - I'd have to take leave and hire sitters, and I don't let anyone drive my kids but me, let alone transferring the car seats and all that!! The extra radiation and muscle biopsies kinda bugged me, too - it is an extremely comprehensive study. (Altho I understand you may be able to opt out of the muscle biopsies...) THANK YOU - everyone who does choose to participate - the results will be extremely interesting and beneficial to all!! Sheri

I am very much leaning towards Dr. Aceves, but I still have to question a 0% leak rate in over 600 VSG surgeries. Where did you obtain this statistic? Presumably this is self-reported by the physician? Thanks in advance! Sheri

Congratulations!!! That's fantastic!

>I'm half tempted to go back to the bullets... Hi, no advice here - only a question: what do you mean by the above statement?? Are you talking about a Magic Bullet blender system, or something else altogether? I'm trying to build a list of what to have on hand for the first month, what protein drinks to try, etc. Thanks, and good luck! Sheri

Wonderful news - will call them on Monday - wonder if they would do my surgery for free??!! LOL!!

Hmmm... I live 15 miles from Johns Hopkins - are they still taking new people into this study group? Sheri

Hi!! WOW - you're thru surgery - let us know how you did!! CONGRATULATIONS!! Sheri