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Actually my VSG was my new car. My insurance didn't cover WLS so I used every penny I'd saved for a down payment on a new truck to pay for surgery instead. And I'm still driving my skinny little butt around in my 18 year old rust bucket.

If it's the other way around then that means your max insurance coverage is $10,000, which means it's a pretty sucky policy. OOP is what you have to pay before the insurance kicks in. For example, I have a $3000 deductible and $6000 max out of pocket. Which means I have to pay 100% of all medical expenses up to $3000. After that, insurance pays 80% and I continue to pay 20% until I have paid a total of $6000. After that insurance pays 100% up to my annual limit which is a couple million. Edit.... You're right, I just reread the original post and it is $10K Max coverage for obesity charges, which is different than OOP Max.

You keep talking about eating just a tiny sliver of cake or having just 1 or 2 Cookies. You can't do that now, so what makes you think you can do it after surgery without serious psychological intervention? After your initial honeymoon period, and barring certain sensitivities like Valentina has, you WILL physically be able to eat a boatload of cookies and cake and pretty much unlimited ice cream. You will be able to eat 20-30 wings or a whole pizza....it just may take you all day. Your sleeve won't stop you, so what's your plan for limiting your portions then? THIS is the important question you should be asking and preparing for, not whether or not you can drink soda and eat wings in moderation. You've already stated you wouldn't have surgery if you can't eat your favorite things anymore. What's your plan B if you can't? Will you be miserable and regretful for the rest of your life? What everyone has been trying to tell you is that you have to be much more mentally ready to commit to change EVERYTHING about how you see food if you want surgery to be successful. You will be doing most of the work, not your sleeve. You may not have to change everything, but you have to be WILLING to do so before proceeding with surgery.

Oh boy, you sure opened a can of worms with that statement! And I'll be the first to respond......I did not have surgery because it was the easy way. After 30+ years of failing to maintain any significant loss through traditional "dieting" I had surgery because it was the ONLY way. Easy is the last word I'd use to describe life after WLS. you are clearly not ready for the kind of commitment that WLS requires. Good luck.

I absolutely agree you should enjoy and take advantage of your freedom from hunger for as long as it lasts. In fact, some people do experience a permanent loss of hunger which is great. It's just that when I was preop and researching all of my surgical options, the loss of Gherlin was touted as such a bonus for VSG and made it sound like everything would be so "easy". No hunger=no eating, right? But as more and more people have VSG and more data is collected from patients further out, it turns out the initial absence of Gherlin is not typically something you can rely on to help you be successful. I just think if more people knew how important the psychological aspect of obesity is and not concentrate so much on the physical part of the surgery there would be a lot less who regain. I'm not trying to be discouraging, just trying to provide the info I wished I'd had. In the end, it's our heads that need fixing, not our stomachs.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, For those of you just 5-6 weeks out and happily feeling no hunger just know things will likely change. I had no appetite in the beginning. It was a struggle just to meet Protein and Fluid goals and I had NO interest in eating for 4-5 months. Getting my nutrition via IV would have been a welcome treat. By 6 months eating wasn't such a chore anymore, I actually enjoyed my teeny tiny meals again. By 10 months my appetite was pretty much back to normal but my tight restriction kept my portions in check. At 28 months out I have the hunger and appetite of a small horse. I still have restriction, but nothing like that first year. I guess what I'm trying to "warn" you (and the OP) about is that the no hunger/gherlin thing is not something you can rely on. In the end, it's the issues we fix in our heads that make or break long term success. Don't underestimate the importance of figuring out how and why you got fat in the first place and make every effort to change those behaviors.

Mostly long hours at work, a Therapist, Wellbutrin and testosterone replacement therapy. Cleaning, laundry, hanging with my dog and cats and binge watching House and Greys Anatomy also fill the gaps. If it ever stops snowing and raining I will throw horseback riding, camping, hiking and kayaking into the mix.

No group support dynamics ever appealed to me. I'm just not a "people person" and prefer to do things on my own or one on one. I found www.smartrecovery.org a good option for dealing with my food and alcohol addictions. And I finally started seeing a therapist to deal with my grief and emotional issues. I also talked with my PCP about my situation and after running some tests turns out I have really low testosterone which can account for so many of my mental and emotional struggles. Started T replacement therapy last week. But I'd go ahead and give OA another shot but also explore all other possible options. Besides therapy, counseling and addiction support, there are a lot of good books out there than can help. It's definitely important to find the type of support that works for you.

Modified huevos rancheros..... Refried Beans, melted cheese, soft scrambled egg and green chili sauce. Second favorite.....pureed split pea soup with unflavored Protein powder added.

VSG removes the part of the stomach that produces gherlin, so theoretically, we should feel not feel hunger and not want to eat as much. Unfortunately hunger and appetite control is a million times more complex than just one hormone. In general, VSG patients do eventually feel hunger again, and regain weight even with their sleeve restriction, so I don't see how that technique stands a chance. If they want to come up with a new successful weightloss procedure they need to get the neurologists and psychologists involved because obesity is not a physical problem, it is a psychological one.

Even knowing where they are I have a hard time seeing my scars. In fact I can only find two out of the five and they are both below my waistline so even if they were noticeable they would be covered by anything except the skimpiest bikini swimsuit.

Isopure was the only thing that made me gag postop. That and my colonoscopy prep Fluid. Syntrax nectar tastes a LOT better and comes in flavors like orange, peach, Caribbean cooler, grape, lemonade, and cherry. You can get a variety sample pack on Amazon. Or they sometimes have individual packets in health food stores. You may also want to check out Nashua Nutrition. You can order sample sizes of dozens of different Protein powders before buying a big jug.

I am definitely on the moderation band wagon. I eat pizza and wings and drink alcohol and have cake and bagels and ice cream cones in the summer. I eat crap from convenience stores and fast food places. But I do so in moderation while eating healthy, bariatric friendly food 80% of the time. Too much sugar or fried food or alcohol or coffee will give me gastritis and carbonation is impossible. But I didn't do any of these things until I was under my goal weight. And although I don't track or count or measure my food I am mindful of what I do eat and how it affects my weight. I get 60-80g of Protein everyday, at least 80oz of fluids, I take my daily Vitamins and I have my bloodwork checked regularly. If I pop even one pound above my bounce range I go back to strict protein and veggies or even the preop liquid diet until I am back down. You should also know that after a years or two your restriction will lessen and you will not be able to rely on your sleeve for portion control. Anyone can learn how to eat around their sleeve and if you don't address and change your eating habits early on then you WILL regain. You will likely have a harder time than your wife because of her malabsorption I have a couple friends that have had bypass and if I ate like they do I would be right back where I started. There are many ways to be successful after WLS..... VSGAnn and I are nearly identical in our starting weights/heights, final goal weight and maintenance success. But the details of our success are different in a lot of ways. And I'm sure there are a hundred other versions of success out there. But there are also a hundred ways to fail. There are common denominators in the successes and failures, and only you can figure out what works for you if you decide to have surgery. In the end, postop life is about choices, not rules.

There is conflicting information because Everyone is different, and there is no real answer to your questions....for you. You have no way of knowing how your body will react to surgery until you're there. My experience has been, yes, I can eat spicy good just fine. No I can't drink carbonation. It's not that I'm not supposed to, it's that I CANT. the bubbles have nowhere to go so more than a sip or two is painful. And no, I never lost a strand of hair. Didn't take any supplements, just got in all my Protein and Water and never stressed about it. But you have no control over it. It's just gonna happen it not. I guess you just have to ask yourself if you want to be thinner and healthier even if you can't drink soda or eat spicy food or if you go bald. My answer was yes. If your answer is no then perhaps surgery is not for you, cause you can't take it back. Besides, surgery alone will not make you successful. It's not JUST about portion control. There are a lot of lifestyle and diet changes you must commit to....forever.....or the surgery will be a waste of time and money.

Suck it up buttercup. It's only for a few more weeks. You will have the rest of your life to feel full. Of course that's how we got fat in the first place, huh? Time for a new plan and being hungry sometimes is just part of the package. On the other hand, taking an antacid, getting at least 60g of Protein and at least 64oz of Fluid will probably make those hunger pains go away.

SOTFS!!!!

Most of the syntrax nectars do not contain colorings. Better yet, the Syntrax Naturals line doesn't use artificial sweeteners, either.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely check it out Another good "tool" I found was the Smart Recovery program. It is an addiction recovery program different from the typical 12 step programs. It treats addiction like a behavior that we have the power to change rather than portraying addicts as a victim of a disease. There are online and in person meetings, a forum and the handbook to get started is just $8.00 www.smartrecovery.org

From another post on here..... "The phrase Honeymoon Period is an often quoted and vague concept to some (sort of like saying ‘Gold Standard’ when referring to RNY surgery – what does that really mean?) Marriage is rough in the long run – but when we first get married, we live in that fog of bliss for a brief moment called a Honeymoon, where all is good and the reality of money, housecleaning, laundry, kids, money and personal habits have not had a chance to drive us mad. Ditto for bariatric surgery. When we are first turned into surgically altered freaks we have no idea that we are not actually steering the car. Or better yet, we do not realize that we have absolutely nothing to do with our massive seven month weight drop. Some folks are already off the path at this point, snickering all the way ‘I am eating all my favorite stuff, nothing is making me sick and I am still losing weight, hehehee.’ or my all-time favorite justification for early Krispy Kreme eating, ‘I have lost 55 pounds in four months, I must be doing something right.’ Nope, during the Honeymoon Phase – we could have been washing down Fluffernutters with McDonald’s shakes and still have lost that first 85 pounds." So the honeymoon period is basically when weight loss and a lot of the psychological issues surrounding WLS are relatively "easy". Eventually, the mental struggles become harder and harder and a lot more effort has to go into losing and/or not regaining. That's when your "WLS marriage" becomes real and you've really got to fight to make it work.

You're thirsty cause this isn't enough fluid. I was given a minimum of 64oz. In order to do that I had to sip every moment from the second I woke up in the morning. I did not go to bed till I had gotten in 64oz. My protein smoothies were 24-32 oz and the rest was pedialyte, water, diluted vitamin water, diluted juice, and since I had an easier time getting in warm fluids I drank a lot of broth and herbal tea.

My incisions never bothered me but I was so swollen and bloated it wasn't comfortable to sleep on my stomach until about two weeks out. Had been sleeping on my side since the first night.

Based on advice I Read from veterans online even before I had surgery, I implemented the rule from day one that I would not eat in front of the TV. And No Eating in bed. Non negotiable. When watching TV I drink Water, Protein hot chocolate, herbal tea or maybe a Protein shake. No TV Snacks allowed. Period. If you haven't already, I strongly suggest finding a counselor that can help you overcome your addiction. As you already know, long term success is an emotional/psychological battle, not a food battle. If you're wide awake then get up and clean or organize or read a book or go for a walk or learn how to knit or paint or play solitaire....anything to occupy your hands and head besides eating.

So interesting development in my ongoing struggles with grief and depression. At the advice of my grief counselor, I went to my PCP for him to prescribe Wellbutrin. In addition to a good long talk, which, of course, I cried through most of, he gave me some very interesting articles to read for "homework". One describes the history and conflict between the different psychotherapy methodologies and one about the history of the psychopharmacology industry. VERY interesting reads....the "latest" psychotherapy method basically says "Happiness is not normal" and you need to learn to embrace all aspects of life, including all the negative stuff. The second article included lots of studies and examples that disprove that any of the antianxiety/antidepressant drugs even work. I had to laugh because these articles were so "him". I am actually really good friends with him and his wife and he's always kind of been a "Life sucks and then you die" kind of guy. Anyways, he did Rx the Wellbutrin and I've been on it for almost two weeks. Luckily no negative side effects, and maybe I'm feeling a little better...not quite so despondent. But is that my therapy, the drug, a placebo effect or just the new perspective I've found from reading those articles? I guess it doesn't matter, any improvement is a hood thing. But in addition to the Rx, he did bloodwork to check hormone levels. I'm happy to report I'm not yet premenopausal, but my testosterone is very low. Turns out low testosterone in women can cause depression, mood swings, abnormal sleep patterns, low libido, exhaustion and fatigue. Pretty much describes me to a T. One article states....."Women with low testosterone are often misdiagnosed and put on antidepressants". So, being the science nerd that I am, I'm actually glad to find out there may actually be a correctable biochemical reason for my struggles. I will be talking to an endocrinologist to try and figure out what to do next. In the meantime I'm still going to embrace my therapy and drugs to try and get through the next few weeks. This weekend is the one year anniversary of my friend's suicide and I need all the help I can get.

I actually do hike and snowshoe quite a bit (when I'm not shoveling snow, riding my horse or paddling my kayak). I live in a gorgeous mountain valley. The Grand Tetons are literally out my back door. Unfortunately that fucking hamster wheel just won't stop spinning. I am cursed with an overdeveloped ability to endlessly obsess. Something my therapist and I are working on.

Thanks everyone for the support and well wishes. The weekend wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I kept busy and distracted. Saturday morning my dog, Isaac and I completed our Pet Partners Therapy Dog evaluation with the highest team qualification they have. So proud of him. Sat afternoon I treated myself to a massage. Gotta admit I took a Valium in order to shut down my brain long enough to get some sleep that night. Guess that's better than the bottle of whiskey I really wanted. Sunday morning I got a call from my friend's widow and we ended up going for a horseback ride with their son and a couple other friends. Only the second ride of the season for me, so keeping my horse's spring fever in check and staying in the saddle took all my attention away from being too sad. Been struggling since, but the Wellbutrin, or at least it's placebo effect has taken the edge off. That and working 12 hours/day. I start my testosterone therapy tomorrow, so I can only hope there are better days ahead. According to my PCP's wife, it worked miracles for her. Again, thanks everyone. I'll keep you posted how the T replacement is going.