Jordien

I too was looking for a group of the "newbies." I think complaining a bit (or even a lot) is okay, and now we have a thread to do it. lol... I got this healthy shot Protein stuff. It's only 2.8oz but it has 24g of protein. It's made by hormel and only available online. You can get it on the GNC website or the hormel site (it's cheaper on the hormel site.) It's still not great, but I dilutted it with water/ice and given it was so small, I got it down by 3pm yesterday. I started on a new on in the evening, mixed in some lemonade. I think I'll just do it on the rocks from now on though, makes me feel accomplished to get that much protein in in a small drink. I got two shifts of sleep in tonight, which is better than the sleep for an hour, wake up restless pattern, I had going. SLept from about 9 to 12 and then from 12 to 2:30. Was on my third shift, (lol I typed shit at first lol) and my little guy woke up, so I came down here just to wander around and get a change of scenery. I agree the JP drain is gross and freaking me out and probably my most painful spot, other than one other scar on the left which is the most badly bruised too. It's right in my "waist" if you can call it that... like my crease between rolls. (lol) I am happy to have my sense of humor back at least. I had quite a bit of anxiety in the hospital too and just nervous thinking, etc... I feel a bit more like myself now. I'll be checking in with you all, frequently!!! Thanks for posting!

I am going to CLING to this statement over the next few days!! Thank yoU!! I have moments where I think it'll never be easier!

Can't believe it after all the rigamaroll, but I finally got my letter today that the band removal was approved and the sleeve gastrecomy was approved! Nothing like cutting it close! 4 days? I even went ahead and had all of my pre-admision stuff done Tuesday. So I'm on for 9/20 and ready to go. Now I'm a little nervous! Good luck everyone. It's neat to see some of you on the "other" side now!!

I will! I got your message... will be in touch! Thanks!

AhhhH!!!! I check my insurance company webpage 20 times a day to see if there are any new authorizations or pending approvals! My surgeon's office said she COULD know by Friday. That's tomorrow?!?!? I'm going to force myself to go out so I don't just sit by the phone the entire day. I just want to know for sure. Ahhhh.... :thumbup1: :eek:

LMAO!!! I just laughed out loud and scared my cat!!!! HAHAHA.. that was really funny!

Oh that is SO good!!!! OMG that is the same date as me if all goes okay for me. I am hoping to hear this week!!! Well, today is the 6th. So two weeks from now, we will be sleeved and lying in the hospital bed, ready to start our journey to healthiness!!! We should exchange text #s!!

thanks settebee! I am still planning for the 20th. Confident the appeal will come this coming week. I just replied to you in the September thread! Same day for us! Let's keep in touch!

settebee! we are both the 20th! counting down the days yet?

Well... they approved my b a n d removal and denied my sleeve. We already submitted my appeal, so I am hoping for the best!!!

CalgaryGirl THANK YOU!!! Determined... that's awful! I really hope they work it out in the next few days and are able to let you know. tdov... I don't mind the unjury at all! I sneak a half scoop of unflavored into my coffee in the morning! Prila.... glad you're feeling okay!!

Hi everyone... Insurance approved my band removal but denied my sleeve. Immediately sent in appeal (I love my surgeon's office and the nurses there) with paperwork and proof of long attempts at exercise program, eating program, support groups, etc.... and feel confident they will come back with an approval! Positive vibes please if you can spare some? THANKS!!!

That's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Good luck both of you! How are you feeling?

4re4me... I am so glad to read your post. My year-long lapband hell was just like that. Even now that my band has been deemed defective and leaking, the other day I was eating, and I felt that awful restricted full feeling, and I said to my husband... gee, how nice this band works about every 4 weeks. NO consistency at all. I have been feeling nervous that the sleeve also won't work for me, that I'll fail again... and I just hope that I'll feel the same way every day and permanently eat LESS!

I just added contacts and friend requested or whatever.. I didn't get to everyone, because my husband is calling me to come watch a movie!! lol.... I'm determined to not lose touch with people here in September! So if you get a request, it's from me. I also started a blog, and I protected it so that only my contacts could see it? Or something?!? I don't know, I just don't want to bare all to the whole wide world, makes me nervous, but I want a place to check in and be held accountable and vent and post photo updates (when I get brave enough) and etc... anyway, I'm in a rambling mood tonight, so forgive me! TTYL!

Okay one more test, then I'll scadaddle off of here for tonight. Mommy & Boy taking nap on a snow day...

Okay, so if I start to track my pictures/progress on here, I am paranoid about people searching and finding this. After all, I'm a teacher, and I'm also a somewhat private person. I mean I guess there's no such thing as a blogger who's private? lol... but seriously, as I get to know people here on VST, I would like to share and get opinions and feedback. I just don't want to bare it all to the whole wide world! Please tell me that makes sense? (okay if no one is reading this, I get that I won't get any replies.. LOL!) Okay so testing out posting a picture to this entry.

Okay, got weird error... not even sure that this posted, but looks like it did. Used medium pic from my online storage site. Will use the small version of a pic. Ahhh I remember that snowstorm!

Just trying the blog thing out. My goals are: Have a place to keep track of how I'm feeling, eating, exercising, progressing, LIVING! Allow people i know/approve to view my blog. I do not want strangers searching around and reading my blog. I just feel it's personal, and I want to choose with whom I share! Have a place to get my emotions out when I am feeling I want to turn to food. I use food to: reward myself, punish myself, comfort myself, fill my boredom, something to do while I'm having down time after a long day, etc, etc, etc.

There's an August 31st with us, right? hehe! I am excited too. I am nervous. I am still waiting for my insurance approval. On the website, it now lists the claim and says PENDING. So I check it every 10 minutes. Sigh.... I was wondering how we'll all keep in touch and bond and share. Do we keep replying to this thread until it's 1000 pages long? Or do we have our own September group in one of the other subforums? I'm not sure yet, as I'm pretty new to the site. BUT... I know I don't want to lose touch with people whom I start to know and form bonds with. :-) HP... enjoyed your video. It stopped for me just before the 3 minute mark, but that could by my dumb computer. I got the main part, and I have a similar story with the dreaded lap band... now hoping or sleeve. I wondered if bariatric surgery really WAS for me after the lapband experience, but like you, yes it is. I am anxious to really get on with things. Thanks for sharing! I was thinking maybe I would start my own video diary. Seems like a good idea! Is there anyone who has no pre-surgery diet at all? My surgeon didn't mention anything special about that.

thanks! I went on the website today and saw it listed!!!!! It says "PENDING." SO... now I'll really keep checking it constantly to see the "approved" word!! Ahhhhh nerves! Thanks you guys. I'm starting to feel that comforting feeling, coming here to this website. A lot of really great people! Thank you!

Nothing yet! I have company this weekend, so not thinking about it (trying!) How are you feeeling? Was it worse than band surgery? Pain? Curious to hear how you did! :-)

This is a great thread, thank you! I'm going to save it for future reference!!