bakawaka

My wife had the band 10 years ago but back then I didn't need the surgery. When it came time for me to choose I went with the sleeve after seeing all the problems she's had with the band. But now she sees how successfull I was she wants the sleeve but dosent weigh enough for insurance to pay for it!!

I went self pay for gastric bypass - it might be worth considering self pay

I asked for extra versed preop an the anesthesiologist agreed - so I was asleep when I was wheeled into the operating room and literally slept through the whole thing. I told them I was nervous and they helped out. My gastric bypass was my first surgery and I was very scared and nervous. I would be nervous again but less so because it is more familiar. I found it helpful to tell the surgeon and the nurses that I was nervous - and they all said it is normal. That dialogue helped.

After gastric bypass I am not able to sleep through the night - even Ambien does not help other than to help me initially fall aslerp

I've had two VitaMixes - one for ten years. I think it's worthy the money. It does outlast other blenders - and it has more power than regular blenders. I do see advertisements for other powerful blenders at lower cost (can't remember the name at the moment). So there certainly are alternatives. I'm sticking with Vitamix. I'm also purchasing a masticating juicer so that I can extract nutrition from greens without all of the Fiber. It will sit alongside my Vitamix.

i love martinis and gin & tonics. But i no longer want the empty calories. Post-op I am happy to give up alcohol. Maintaining weight loss is more important to me.

I started with a BMI of 34.9 going for the sleeve but I opted for the gastric bypass because of its better results against long-term regain. I would encourage people with lower BMI's to get the sleeve or the bypass - don't wait until morbid obesity approaches. I am three weeks post op and I am so grateful I did this surgery. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had to pay out of pocket an t was worth every penny.

I have used Prozac since the 1980's. I amusing weight just fine - even on Prozac. I watched depression rip apart my parents' lived (my father would not take his medication). I refuse to fall into that trap. If you need antidepressants my recommendation is to take them. Untreated depression has horrible horrible consequences.

I had a catheter. It was inserted while I was under anesthesia. I truly needed the catheter because the anesthesia shutdown everything. I truly felt nothing when it was removed. I was so tired at the time of removal I did not care who removed it. The female nurse was 100% professional. Truly it was no big deal. Do not worry about the catheter.

I needed a catheter due to anesthesia shutting down the urinary system. I did not feel anything when it was removed. Truly no big deal.

I was worried about the catheter but I can truly say that it was painless - absolutely no big deal. And I was grateful to have it because the anesthesia shut down everything. Do not worry about the catheter.

wow... guys out there are so lucky... i dont even get to do it half a year once with my wife... and no oral...

wife is forever tired or busy...

maybe thats why men have affair...

sad man...

then why don't you have an affair? life is to short to experience an asexual life (unless you want it that way). the physical part of life is a very important part of life to be celebrated.

I am going to remain on Decaf coffee to avoid the dehydrating and appetite-stimulating effects of caffeine.

I vomited all the way to the hospital out of fear and nervousness. But now that surgery is over, I think that I will not be as nervous if I have surgery in the future. The gastric bypass was the first surgery under general anesthesia. It was the fear of the unknown. I'm sure that I will be a bit nervous for future surgeries, but much less so compared to the first. It helped me to be able to tell my surgeon and the preop nurse and I was nervous and scared. And it helped me immensely when they both said that fear and nervousness are completely normal. They gave me extra Versed before the procedure (I requested it specifically). And that truly helped.

Decaf coffee with soy milk or almond milk as the Creamer

I know without a doubt that I want this surgery' date=' and I've been mulling it over for looong enough to know that I'm making an informed decision. But for the life of me I am SO scared to go through with it!! During the whole pre-surgery process I just haven't been able to shake the underlying fear...and I can't help but worry I'll chicken out at the last minute. I think it's even been making me procrastinate on doing the final preparation, which is losing the pre-op weight...I mean, it's only 12lbs which I could totally shed in a heartbeat because of my high starting weight. Yet the only way the surgeon will give me a date is to do it.

Can anyone else relate, about wanting the surgery completely, yet being completely afraid to go through with it at the same time?? Any fellow procrastinators or self-saboteurs out there? <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ph34r.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ph34r:' /> Eeek, don't know how to just get over it and do this thing![/quote']

I vomited all the way to the hospital after fear and then after surgery wondered why. It was my very first surgery - I think that I now would be less scared of surgery. My suggestion is to take deep breaths and focus on a good outcome to work through the fear. My surgical nurse told me it would be abnormal NOT to be nervous. We are human.

My dr wants me to be able to walk a mile by next Thursday. I have been walking in my house but it's 25 degrees outside and I'm not up to going out there. How can I progress to a mile? I get short of breath pretty quickly---don't expect that to get much better till I drop some substantial weight' date=' have been short of breath when I walk for a long time now. I'm a bit worried and dh told me this morning I have 10 days to walk the mile. I don't think I can do it. Any suggestions?[/quote']

I live in a very cold city and walk in the mall - it's great because its warm and there are sights to distract me. I just walk until I am tired, sit down and rest and then get up and walk again. It's very slow but it works.

I am a week out from surgery (well close) I was sleeved December 4. Today has been a horrible day as I have been an emotional wreck and honestly was wondering if I made the right decision. I have been very tearful and the full liquid stage is depressing. Does this pass when you can go on to purees and honestly in my mind I just don't want it to always be like this. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Any advice would help.

It really does get better and better each day. I am 11 days post op and find myself irritable and emotional. I think it is a normal reaction. When I started on puréed foods I did feel better. Staying hydrated and getting Protein in truly made me feel better. I still am emotional - feel like Icahn cry easily. I don't know why but have a feeling that it simply comes from all of the stress that our bodies have been under. I had to stay in the hospital five nights. But I definitely can say that every day I feel a little by better.

I am sorry that you are feeling bad and hope you feel better and better each day.

I hope this helps somehow and I am wishing the greatest success for you!

I don't mean to be rude, but why are you on VST if you had bypass?

And, just to clarify - I know that VST is not magic. I've just heard so many people say "I know I won't gain it back. How could I when my stomach is so small". I just wanted to be a "vetran" to warn that this is a daily journey (for me over a year to get back on track) and you have to live it every moment.

your comment has convinced me to terminate my participation in this forum.

You can gain weight back with the lapband, with the sleeve and with gastric bypass. There is no 100% surgical cure. I chose gastric bypass. But my cure for my obesity is using the bypass to achieve diet/behavior modifications.

i had gastric bypass. I am 8 days post-op. I want to achieve 1000 calories per day but no more.

i had gastric bypass with Dr. Kane at Alexian Bros. in Elk Grove. Dr. Kane provided excellent care. Alexian Bros.' nurses provided excellent care.

i am 8 days post-op from gastric bypass. i am feeling a bit better every day. i find that weight loss increases as i am able to increase my Protein and Fluid intake. i think that i can stop taking my pain medication. i still have some staples and a surgical drain.

i stayed on the pre-op liquid diet for one month and then had gastric bypass. post-op i am so glad that i stayed on the liquid diet. it truly helped prepare me for the obligatory liquid diet post-op.

I have encountered bariatric surgery patients who have tried to discourage me. It's interesting to watch.

THIS. I always tell people not be upset or angry with the insurance company due to benefit level denials because everything lies with your employer and what they agree to during contract negations. I will say this, before you go the self-pay route, please perform or have your surgeon's office perform at least one appeal to BCBS. Sometimes another set of eyes reviewing a file will provide a totally different outcome.

Thanks so much for the advice. I am trying an appeal.