slimagainsoon

Hi Melissa!
It's so good to hear that you are doing better! I wondered about you and how you were coming along. It sounds as if it's been a difficult road for you. "I spend 3 days a week with a physical and occupational therapist, gaining strength and learning to walk again", man that is serious. I almost don't know what to say besides I'm so happy that you are doing better. I have not had the VSG procedure yet, so I have no advice on the dry heaving or vomiting. I pray that those symptoms soon go away. I'm always here with a listening ear if you need to vent/talk. Take care and I will keep you in prayer.

There are different foods you can get your protein from if you an not tolerate the drinks. I se the powered protein drink and mix with water instead of milk. The choca is great.Ensure has protein too.The Unjury online has broth with 21 grams of protein.

Niki Congrats!!!! take a deep breath calm down! You can do this. You have been given a chance to become healthy again. This is your blessing! Go get it!!! The sleeve is a tool that will help you maintain the weight for your health. The bonus is you will have more energy and feel so much better. I am encouraging you because I am next in line. I will be nervous and scared too. Its okay. God did not bring you this far to leave you. Stay encourrage and know that God is right there with you. I pray you have a safe and speedy recovery., In two weeks, I should be hearing when my surgery date is. God bless you may heaven continue to smile on you. Keep us posted!

Thank you ladies. Yeah, i pretty much figure that's what the change is or that maybe they didn't take their vitamins and now they're wacky haha. either way i'm SO excited...and i can't wait to have my own "after" picture too. haha =)

Well since she said everything I was thinking ( and way more great points), just want to say your pics are really pretty. Your style rocks and I can just imagine how great you would look in a pinup style "after" picture!

Great first entry. I've heard lots of people talk about how people "change" after WLS. I've known a number of people and let me tell you how they've changed...

More confidence - not bad at all, most people just can't take it that they now stand up for themselves now and won't be pushed around or are no longer shy, etc.
Happier - not always but in many cases those I know are happier which means they don't allow drama into their lives any longer, so you know what that means to drama kings/queens...bye bye
More active - they are no longer the sit in the house and eat with me types, they move, have fun, travel, do all the things they didn't do before
Make more $$$ - not sure if this is a result of more earnings or less spent on medications, clothes, food
Take more risks - by this I mean they try lots more things that they were affraid/ didn't have confidence enough to try before, from new careers, to new relationships, to more self-love

The list really goes on and on. I guess what I'm trying to say is those that I know have really improved overall body, mind, and soul. So what actually I've seen happen is the OTHER people can't take seeing them so happy and confident.
Best wishes you to on your journey!

The sky is the limit!!!! Congrats! I am so happy for you. If you get it done this year, you want have to meet another deductible. Please check on that so you want have surprise expenses.I have NC BCBS. They told me if I wait until next year, I may be paying it myself cause I already meet deductible for this year. I am praying I hear APProved by fri so I can hopefully get surgery date 11-26 or sometimes in Dec! I called yesterday, they say it is pending!!

The sky is the limit!!!! Congrats! I am so happy for you. If you get it done this year, you want have to meet another deductible. Please check on that so you want have surprise expenses.I have NC BCBS. They told me if I wait until next year, I may be paying it myself cause I already meet deductible for this year. I am praying I hear APProved by fri so I can hopefully get surgery date 11-26 or sometimes in Dec! I called yesterday, they say it is pending!!

Congrats!!!!!

Awesome!! Praying you have a speedy recovery.

Congrats!!!!!

Thanks all!! I've always had a fatty liver...Diabetes doesnt help..I was 235 now Im at 219...but it's like my old time yoyo diet...it comes and goes...Im condider Obese..But not Morbid...My main reason to do the surgery was to get rid of the Diabetes..and now my sugar are starting to rise again..so it had me rethink about the surgery... I feel like the surgeron now know my history and will be extra precautious to make it work the second time around...I guess I have to restart the process...I will see where it leads me....HEALTHY I HOPE!!

Welcome to this forum. When I started this journey I had so many questions too. When I went to my first visit with my surgeon he gave me a kit with a booklet that answerd my questions. He also answered them for me. I was assigned to a case manager and she emails me to see where I am in the process. It is a process. Each surgeon has their list of pre operative appointments,that has to be done before insurance will approve the surgery. It also depends on your health issues. For me, I had to see or have
Therapist
Nutritionist
Chest xray
EKG
Sleep Study
Gallbladder ultrasound
blood work

If you have already had some of these testing they can use them if recent. They want to ensure we are healthy enough to have surgery. I didn't go to the seminar we had the option of viewing video online or in person. Research all you can. This site is awesome. I also viewed the sleeved procedure on youtube. Its gross lol, but I wanted to see exactly what is going to take place
I am taking 4 weeks off. Everone is different. I read some posts where they took 1 or 2 weeks off. I think it depends on your age and type of work you do. I work in law enforcement and I am 47. I want to be healed and know how my tummy will be function. Some say, they experience excess gas after surgery.
I am going to try the isoplus whey 60 grain protein at Walmart. I heard chocolate and strawberry are good choices. No, everyone don't use the same protein drinks. Make sure its low in calories. My surgeon have their on store on site with the vitamins, mineral and different protein drinks. I will try different ones before surgery which I am hoping for end of Nov. I have completed all my pre oper as of yesterday. Good luck!!!

Look out World here she come!!!! Congrats! Thanks for sharing your post it is inspiring to read such uplifting posts! I am waiting on the insurance company and hopefully I will be joining you on the energy level and the losers bench soon. This journey is so exciting. I am so happy I found this site to research and learn all I can. Take care, keep us posted!

Look out World here she come!!!! Congrats! Thanks for sharing your post it is inspiring to read such uplifting posts! I am waiting on the insurance company and hopefully I will be joining you on the energy level and the losers bench soon. This journey is so exciting. I am so happy I found this site to research and learn all I can. Take care, keep us posted!

Niki Congrats!!!! take a deep breath calm down! You can do this. You have been given a chance to become healthy again. This is your blessing! Go get it!!! The sleeve is a tool that will help you maintain the weight for your health. The bonus is you will have more energy and feel so much better. I am encouraging you because I am next in line. I will be nervous and scared too. Its okay. God did not bring you this far to leave you. Stay encourrage and know that God is right there with you. I pray you have a safe and speedy recovery., In two weeks, I should be hearing when my surgery date is. God bless you may heaven continue to smile on you. Keep us posted!

You are very welcome. The walking you are doing will help you to get the gas out. I was pressing on my belly in the hospital and my surgeon told me not to apply any pressure to my stomach yet. The gas will roll around especially when you walk a lot. A warning when it starts rolling in your abdomen it can be painful. I just went with it and moaned through it. Now it's funny but the moan helped tolerate it. I only spit up recently and I am 5 weeks out. That was cause I over ate.

I love that dress!You go girl. I am so happy for you.

Congrats!!! Thats what I am talking about! I know you is so excited to have your sleeve and to begin the journey of a healthy you. I am so excited for you. Pray for me, I have my last procedure ERD Wednesday. Hopefully, in a few weeks if not sooner they will be calling me with a surgery date and I will be joining you on the losers bench. My insurance only required one year weight history.

Thanks for sharing your post. Thank God you are doing better. Even though its been a hard, and long road to recovery, You made it!!! Thank God, I pray all will continue to go well for you.

Praying for you!! You are so brave and I know things will be just fine for you. My best friend has a daughter who had to have a heart transplant. She was born without the left side of her heart and she lived with her old heart until 4 years ago. She is now 21 and doing fabulous!! Please keep us posted and I will definitely add you as a friend. God bless!

Praying for you. I understand what you are going thru. My husband was on the list for a heart and I now I have had a sleeve. Just know that I will be in the operating room praying for you. Sending GODS blessings and speed your way. You are loved. HUGGGGGGGGS

I know how you feel. I hated doing the the pre-op diet too, at day one. I was frustrated, hungry, and started to switch to decaf coffee, which led to the next several days of headaches due to the caffeine withdrawal I was having. It is hard and frustrating, and I gave up several times thinking it may not be worth it. I kept talking with WLS surgery folks who have had it, there's at least one in my office, and the talks helped a lot. It helped greatly to log into 'Myfitnesspal.com' and keep a food diary. The conscious effort helped keep me in focus and concentrate on keeping my eye on the prize. There were plenty of over eating days, but you let that go and start over again. I wish you the best and hope you'll be able to get there.

I don't know what State you reside in. I have BCBS in NC state plan. It is covered. The sleeve just got covered. It was not always covered by BCBS. Howver, each state is different. I agree with the other post. Hopefully, you can be sleeved this year so you want have to worry whether they cover it or not. Praying that everything work out in your favor. God Bless you and keep us posted!!!

Find out what the Dr's schedule is and see if you can get on the surgery calendar prior to the end of the year so you will still be covered by your current insurance and won't have to worry about BCBS after Jan 1. I would think that if you are already in the process, and the insurance company has your claim issued for approval and the coverage is available, then you could potentially be "grand fathered" and still covered since the approval for coverage was prior to the end of the policy coverage. Ask lots of questions, and you might even go talk to your benefits provider rep/HR in your office to see if they can help you with the process to get you covered while you're still eligible under this policy.
I just heard that our company is changing the policy (not the company). After Jan 1, instead of it being covered 100% (only $10 co-pays are out of pocket during the appointments) there will be a $1,000 deductible required for the procedure in the future.
Good luck! I hope you can get things figured out so you can get it covered while you're still under your current policy!!