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That is so great! Congratulations!! I can't wait to join you there

The thing is, whether you tell them you are having surgery (hernia or otherwise), or tell them you're going on vacation, they will figure out you had something done if you start losing weight after your time off. Especially since you will probably be down several pounds after the two weeks. People are just so nosy aren't they? Actually, there will probably be a little jealously involved when you come back with your fabulous self!

Does anyone know if it is ok to eat celery that has been put through the food processor? I never have liked eating celery as it is, but I like the flavor. I have always processed it and chopped the chicken, added mayo and had a nice chicken salad. I just wonder if the processed celery would cause the same problem?

It's almost here!! I know you will do great!

My insurance (Tricare) does not cover VSG so I had no choice, but I could wait for them to, I guess. But I'm like you, I am ready NOW, so I am going to self-pay. I have a feeling i'm not gonna mind that monthly payment very much when this weight starts falling off.

I guess none of us have any way of really knowing, but according to the OH listing of bariatric surgeons, Ramos-Kelly has the most VSG's performed, followed by Aceves and then Rodriguez. I have not had surgery yet, but I chose Aceves based on reviews here on the sight. To the OP, Dr. Alvarez has done many, many VSG's also. I have no idea about his sucess rate, though.

No, they don't think that, they just go through your application for surgery with a fine-toothed comb to find ANYTHING they can to deny you. It is just WRONG, but it's what they do.

Thanks for posting these beautiful pictures Tiff. They are truly an inspiration to me. I completely agree that you were still beautiful even in the before pics, but even more so now. You have a very nice looking family, too. Thanks again for the pics and thanks for all the well-researched advice you give to all of us, especially the newbies like me. I can't wait to join you on the "other side"

Hey y'all, the bariatric surgeon in my city accepts Tricare Prime. He does the big three, bypass, band and vsg. He knows I'm holding out for VSG and tricare prime to cover it, but he also knows I am saving $ as fast as I can to be a self pay. So,,, whichever comes first. I wish it would be tricare approving, but I am like Tiff, I am NOT holding my breath! If I do have to self pay, I won't be using him as a surgeon because his price is $4000 more than Dr. Aceves and I am MORE than confindent with using Dr. Aceves so it is a no-brainer. I only worry about any complications afterwards and not being near my surgeon.

I really feel bad for you that you feel you have to 'hide' your weight loss from him. It should be such a happy thing and he is making you feel like you can't even enjoy it because you are dreading seeing him ever so often. I understand you didn't tell him initially because he would have been negative about it, but he really is being negative anyway and he doesn't even know what happened. So in my opinion, you might as well tell him. He might blow up one big time, but that would probably be it ( I mean, you can't exactly go back in time and change what you did. Nor would you want to.) and at least then you won't have to dread visits with him.

Yay! Congrats! BTW, love your ID.

She said she told her husband and girflfriends, not her dad, and she also explained that she has mentioned it to her family in the past and they were negative about it. I can understand her wanting to stay away from negativity. Who needs it?

Thank you for such a detailed account of your experience. Since I am self-pay, I have decided on Dr. Aceves and this is exactly what I wanted to hear! DH is somewhat worried about going to Mexico with all the cartel violence, etc. I explained to him that Mexicali is not in the same area as some of the cities having so much trouble. He is still iffy about it, but will go with me anyway, he knows I want this more than anything at this point. I am sure he will change his mind once we arrive. (However far away that might be) So glad you had a good experience and I hope you have a continued successful recovery and weight loss.

Hey that is great! I can't wait till I can make a post like yours! Will be very interested to hear your story afterwards. I know I will cry when I leave my 3 year old girl, too!!! Guess what, tomorrow may be your lucky day in more ways than one. Tomorrow is 1-11-11

Yeah, hubbies have to say stuff like that, but it's true, you look absolutely great and you did before as well. The one with you and DH hugging, you look so pretty. Congrats on your weight loss and keep up the great work!!

Actually, I have a relative that went in to have lapband surgery and did NOT follow the pre-op diet and they DID close her back up. You can imagine her surprise when she woke up. Her DR was extremely pissed that she did not follow the diet and told her she would have to wait a few more months and exhibit weight loss so that he would know for sure her liver had shrunk. He said it makes the surgery much harder to maneuver around in there, not to mention dangerous for the patient when the liver is so large. She did follow the rules the next time and had a successful surgery. So, yeah, a competent surgeon will close you back up if your liver is still large.

I have not had VSG surgery (YET!!!) but have had several surgeries and also as a nurse, I can tell you this: pain will elevate your BP as well as stress (both mental and physical) from surgery. I would keep a close eye on it now that you will be starting a new BP med, because if it WAS related to surgery/pain, and regulates itself, you don't want the meds to bottom your BP out! Your PSP will advise you best, but I think this too shall pass!!

Thanks for the reply butterfly! I have indeed called MANY mtf's and none would take me from so far away. There are none near me. Soooo..............

It was the head nurse and she told me the surgeon is the one that decided that they wouldn't accept people from too far away. Maybe I said it wrong earlier, she said they wouldn't see anyone from more than 2.5 hours away. Which, that is out of state for a lot of people cause Texas is BIG..lol...Ok that was San Antonio. Then I called West Point, they said they wouldn't either. She kept saying, you are out of our area, over and over. I told her I was willing to travel and even stay there several weeks after surgery and definitley come back for follow ups, but she say N-O. The one in San Antonio said I had to be available for at least 3 months after surgery and then asked if I had any relatives or friends in the area I could stay with, so they dont really require you to live there, they just want you close by afterwards. But, sadly I do not know anyone around there. I wonder if NMCP would take me? Did you get all your bloodwork, tests, etc done there or at home?

Ohh, ok gotcha! My tricare south will pay 100% for bypass and lapband, but I want the sleeve or nothing. My mother thinks I have lost my mind, but you just can't really understand the logic behind it till you do the research. My mother had the band and has had NOTHING but trouble. She is in pain everyday just from eating a teeny amount and they just tell her, basically, that's life. She has lost a lot, but at what price? Pain everytime she eats? But she can't see paying for something out of pocket when my insurance pays those others completely. I am hoping tricare will start covering VSG the first part of 2011, but if they do not, I am going to scrounge up the money however I can. Thanks for the reply!

That is such a good idea. But I have not heard the best stories about VA hospitals! Maybe it is different nowadays. Believe me, I don't expect Tricare to pay for anything! They have made it LOUD and CLEAR that they won't touch a claim for VSG. WOW, I don't even know what I would do if I got a bill that large! I guess if they wouldn't adjust it with the congressional complaint like you mentioned, they would be getting $25 a month for the rest of my life! and anyway, what in the world made her bill so freakin high? All the quotes I have seen were around the 12-15 thousand mark. Labs, etc included.

Was this Dr in St louis at a military hospital? If so, could you tell me which one it was?> I know there is a VA hospital there, but not sure about anything else.

That's just it, there are no MTFs nearby. The closest one I have even found that does VSG won't accept me because I am too far away.

Thanks for the reply! I am in Mississippi and DH is retired Army also, but we don't use an MTF, not even one close, so we use Civilian Dr's. So actually, I don't guess I would have to transfer anything, just my med. records from my PCM. I just don't know. It is getting more and more frustrating. I just cringe at the thought of self pay when it would cost me ZERO at an MTF. Thanks again~

Can anyone who has had their VSG done at an MTF please let me know where it was done and if you were from out of state, and also how your experience was? I am having a hard time finding an MTF near me and when I found one kinda close, but still out of state, they said they could not take out of state patients. I would like to hear any input anyone has on this. I would also like to thank Tiffykins for helping me so much. I just don't think I will ever be able to afford to self-pay and am getting discouraged. Thanks everyone!!