Arts137

I have not heard of this --- to this extend and at this level --- before. PLEASE keep us posted as you continue to investigate what this is!!!

... proof that our insurance 'system' is very broken...

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/31/297160022/weight-loss-surgery-can-reverse-diabetes-but-cure-is-elusive

At a year out I have been approved by my bariatric surgeon to use NSAIDS!

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

I too am around in more a "lurking" mode... just quiet. Stable. Still working at working at it.

I too am around in more a "lurking" mode... just quiet. Stable. Still working at working at it.

I too am around in more a "lurking" mode... just quiet. Stable. Still working at working at it.

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

Yep, THAT's "In Between"!

Ah Lipstick, you are a dear!
I am fat, no matter what I weigh. I have a fat brain.
But I am in control!

I am a carb addict. I cannot have ANY. I AM the Lay's chip commercial... betcha can't eat just one... BAG.
SO, for sugrs and refined starches and carbs, I follow Yoda's advice:
"There is no try. There is only Do or Not Do".
I choose Not Do.

Ah Lipstick, you are a dear!
I am fat, no matter what I weigh. I have a fat brain.
But I am in control!

I am a carb addict. I cannot have ANY. I AM the Lay's chip commercial... betcha can't eat just one... BAG.
SO, for sugrs and refined starches and carbs, I follow Yoda's advice:
"There is no try. There is only Do or Not Do".
I choose Not Do.

This gets better as long as you are strict. If you are, it'll get 'easier' after 3/4 days. If not strict, you start the three days over again!
And it's 2 weeks, the surgery is Forever! Your behaviors must change forever too!

I am a carb addict. I cannot have ANY. I AM the Lay's chip commercial... betcha can't eat just one... BAG.
SO, for sugrs and refined starches and carbs, I follow Yoda's advice:
"There is no try. There is only Do or Not Do".
I choose Not Do.

This gets better as long as you are strict. If you are, it'll get 'easier' after 3/4 days. If not strict, you start the three days over again!
And it's 2 weeks, the surgery is Forever! Your behaviors must change forever too!

This gets better as long as you are strict. If you are, it'll get 'easier' after 3/4 days. If not strict, you start the three days over again!
And it's 2 weeks, the surgery is Forever! Your behaviors must change forever too!

Talk about a "forgetful" friend!

Yes, you are doing well at 5 weeks. Sometimes adding a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) helps (like Prilosec) since it might be stomach irritation. My trick, whenever I am unsure of hunger is DRINK! Drinking can fill you up for a little while so you can get back to sleep...

I am a carb addict. I cannot have ANY. I AM the Lay's chip commercial... betcha can't eat just one... BAG.
SO, for sugrs and refined starches and carbs, I follow Yoda's advice:
"There is no try. There is only Do or Not Do".
I choose Not Do.

Pssssst, hey buddy, want some cake?
RJ's, I believe the focus is on high glycemic foods... refined sugars and processed foods.

Fluff, I've seen your pix and "woof" to you as well!!!

I am not sure that Journey meant that a low BMI was (or should be) by definition a reason to exclude from surgery.
That said, we are on a similar journey but have vastly different paths. Luckily I was (well, still am) a Very fat healthy man. My BMI was 52. Some with BMIs much lower have very significant medical reasons to be sleeved.
Nonetheless we are ALL in this together! The only exclusion from the sleeve is a high liklihood that the patient will not or cannot comply with the behavioral changes that the sleeve requires (and even this is IMHO)