Donna4545

I really need to know.

I really need to know.

I walked across the parking lot to work and to the store without huffing and puffing. It was a great thing!

I just turned 46, but better late than never!

I just turned 46, but better late than never!

I don't know what the prices are for self-pay, but I have had such a wonderful experience with my surgeon/hospital, that I just have to recommend them. They really know what they are doing. My surgery was a great experience, and they knew their stuff (scopolamine Patches so no nausea ever; really caring nurses who knew about sleeve surgery and the difference from RNY; even the minister who visited me unasked because they knew I was there alone with no friends/relatives). They have two nutritionists who are both great and know "all the tricks".
North Dakota might sound like a weird place to travel for surgery, but I think it would totally be worth it. I stayed in the local Radisson hotel after surgery. They have a shuttle that will bring you/pick you up from the hospital and a special hospital rate of $69/night. My Flex account reimbursed me for it. I drove myself home on Day 4, and felt great. Even the people in hotel are really nice, especially when they find out you are there for surgery. This was really important to me because I was utterly alone. The housekeeping lady was really neat and checked in on me every day I was there to make sure I was ok.
The surgeon has a zero complication rate, and the Bariatric Center has done over 1,000 surgeries.
So his name is Dr. Brandon Helbling at Mid Dakota Clinic is Bismarck, ND. They are so accommodating, I'm sure they wold work something out with self-pay people. For people who have insurance, they are part of a special pilot program with BCBS, so insurance approval is really easy.
I hope everyone finds the surgeon they need. If you do end up in North Dakota, let me know, I will support you! (Well I would support you no matter where you were, but it's easier when I can physically be there lol)

I just turned 46, but better late than never!

I've seen people post that even when they had complications early out, they still didn't regret it. I had no complications, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I'm 46 and I can't wait for my BMI to be less than my age. I agree about the 40s being great--I'm divorced, no kids, employed, and the happiest I've ever been. I wish my 40s could last longer.

Ok, this is going to sound weird, but it's perfectly honest. I believe in God, but Christians drive me crazy. Most of my friends are atheists or pagans/wiccans. Can I hang out with you guys? :-)

I'm 46 and I can't wait for my BMI to be less than my age. I agree about the 40s being great--I'm divorced, no kids, employed, and the happiest I've ever been. I wish my 40s could last longer.

Since you're stuck with the vanilla powder, have you tried doctoring it with sugar free syrups--you can made each shake any flavor you want, and you won't really taste the vanilla base. I use DaVinci sugar free syrups that are less that $5 for a 750 ml bottle at supplementwarehouse.com. Other places charge $7-$9 for them.

See the archives in my blog (link below) for what I did for pureed, Mushies, Softs. It's mostly real simple stuff because I didn't feel like cooking. Also, pureed canned chicken is better than it sounds lol. Add a little lowfat mayo and some celery seed--woo!