KristinaRN

Trader Joes! They have the cardboard cartons that you pour your desired amount from and put back in the fridge, very convenient. I have tried the Latin Black Bean, the Creamy Tomato, and the Butternut Squash, and they are all delicious!

Well said!!! You make an excellent point, and have done so in a respectful way. Thank you

Yay nurses! I have been a pediatric nurse for 11 years now, and love it! I have been considering getting my MSN someday, or possibly a Masters in Health Administration. Then I could RUN the hospital!

I am a huge fan of Celebrate chewables, actually kind of yummy! I have also tried Bariatric Fusion's chewables; they are pretty good too but Celebrate tastes better and has much higher levels of everything we need. Hope that helps!

You look amazing! Your posts are always so inspiring to me, thank you! Would you mind sharing some of your food logs? Thanks! Kristina

Hi Debbie! Come join the August All-Stars! Just scroll down to the 2011 thread, then click on August. Welcome! Kristina

AUGUST!!! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 KristeyK, KristinaRN 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

I am scheduled for August 24! I like the idea of having a name! How about August All-Stars? Kristina

Surgery is scheduled for August 24, 2011! Anyone else scheduled for around that time? I am so ready!

You look beautiful, and so happy and healthy! Thank you for sharing, you are such an inspiration!

You look simply gorgeous, and happy, and healthy! You are such an inspiration, thank you so much for sharing! Kristina

Thanks ladies! So very excited, and really love sharing this journey with all of you!

I AM APPROVED FOR VSG!!! I posted last week about how my insurance company had initially denied me, stating I did not complete the 6 months of supervised diet (which I did). Well it went back for re-review, and was approved this morning! I am so relieved and excited and anxious...this is really happening! I spoke with the insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office, and she said someone should call me today or tomorrow to schedule surgery! I cannot wait to join you all on the other side!

I am so frustrated right now! I spoke with someone at my insurance company yesterday and she told me I was DENIED. WHAT??? I did everything EXACTLY like I was supposed to! The reason given was that I "did not complete the required 6 month supervised diet with my physician". But I did!!! I have ben very meticulous in meeting their requirements, and my surgeons office has documentation of all 6 months of visits. Obviously there was a mistake made somewhere. She is turning it over to her supervisor to hopefully get it all straightened out. Of course, it is a holiday weekend so I have to wait until Tuesday! I think it will eventually get approved, because I have most definitely met all of the requirements, its just so frustrating! Has anyone else been denied initally, but then got approved on appeal or re-review????

I need a new scale! I can step on mine 3 times in a row and get 3 very different numbers. I would like to find something more accurate. Does anyone have a scale that you would recommend? Thanks!

That is so exciting! I am hoping to be sleeved around the same time you are, still waiting for approval. It was submited June 22, so hopefully I will get my approval soon so I can schedule my date. We can be sleeve buddies!

Thanks for the replies everyone! I am so nervous, need to keep busy and try not to think about it. I have met all of their requirements, and my surgeon submitted a letter stating he thinks I am a perfect candidate for this procedure, so hopefully the answer will be positive!

I have finally completed all of the requirements and jumped through all of the hoops, and my file was submitted to my insurance company today! I will be waiting on pins and needles until I get that approval! How long does it usually take to get an answer? And once approved, how far out was your surgery scheduled? Thanks!

A bougie is a tube that is inserted down your throat into your stomach during surgery to guide the surgeon where to make the incision. So, the larger the bougie, the larger your sleeve will be and vice versa. Average bougie size is 32-38 according to my surgeon, who uses a 34, but they can go up to a 60.

Not to be a downer at all, but I am 250 lbs and NOWHERE NEAR a size 14/16, more like a 22! I think your mini-goal idea is awesome though, I may need to steal it!

The sleeve gastrectomy originated as part one of a two step procedure. It was used for those who were too obese for more invasive surgery; they would get the sleeve and after losing down to a safer BMI would get the duodenal switch as the second part of the process. When the sleeve was done in this manner, a larger bougie was also used. When they found that people were losing adequate weight with the sleeve alone, it was developed as a stand-alone procedure, using a smaller bougie. Hope this helps!

WOW, you look amazing! You were beautiful in your before pic as well, but now you also look so HAPPY! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing your journey, it really means a lot to a newbie like me. I am soooo ready! Kristina

DEFINITELY an NSV, and not at all a silly one! I love this!

I haven't been sleeved yet, but I am having a hard time seeing the problem here. ONLY 20 pounds in 4 weeks??? That sounds pretty damn good to me! The goal here isn't to magically get skinny overnight with no time or work put in; this is a process that you will need to work at, the sleeve is only a tool after all. I think looking for quick easy results is why most of us have failed at diets in the past. Just my opinion. Good luck to you, for what it's worth I think your progress is wonderful.

I was told by the insurance coordinator at my surgeons office, and by the insurance company, that your approval is based on your INITIAL weight and BMI. I clarified this with both of them because my starting BMI was only 40, so losing even a few pounds on the 6 month diet will make my BMI below the minimum. I am still nervous though!