mrsbailey921

I responded in your other post as well and I'm really glad you created this one, because I don't think everyone realizes the kind of internal damage that can occur over time when meals are not balanced.
The human body is not designed to function without carbs, and the ones we chose to eat that packed on the pounds gives carbs a bad rep in general. However, we need and should include complex carbs in our meals as frightening as that may sound to some.

Pre-Insurance approval phase....

Hello All. I just wanted to say I love reading all the posts. Im going thru all the insurance requirements. I have to do 6 months of weigh ins I'm in my 3rd month I'm looking at surgery sometime in April. I am so glad we have this site so we can follow everyone process.

Medicaid programs are usually great with bariatric surgeries. My hospital prefers to take Medicaid patients because the insurance is great. It's probably the same across much of the country!

Oh OK...I understand

MsBailey well said. I'm choosing bypass because I have 200 pounds to lose and I want one and done.
My surgery is Monday!!

Congratulations!!!

Angel, the choice is definitely unique for each of us. I didn't choose bypass because I only have 100 to lose, and I didn't want to deal with food restriction and nutrient restriction/malabsorption. But that's probably because I only have 100 to lose. But many, many people are successful with both the bypass and the band! You can do it!

To be honest, many banders wind up revisioning to the sleeve anyway. One of my good friends is banded, lost 130 lbs in a year, and is now considering sleeving to make it permanent. My issue with the band is that it is not a permanent procedure. I didn't go through all of the difficulties just to place a band on my belly that may break in a few years, or become less reliable as time goes on. I wanted a lifetime change, one and done! The sleeve gives me that. And I still have my stomach...nothing has changed much. I still get cramps from drinking cold liquids in the am, just like I have since I was a child. I still have a stomach made of Iron, just like before. I still get nervous in my belly, I'm just getting over a stomach bug and I still got the bubble guts lol. Nothing has changed for me, except my stomach is smaller.

Let me preface by saying we have done everything we can to help our daughter. Dr.'s, nutritionists, personal trainers etc, since she was 8. Nothing has worked. We think she's beautiful the way she is! This is something she has wanted and been begging us for! She wants to enjoy her teenage years, make friends and enjoy life. She doesn't feel like her physical appearance reflects who she is in the inside and feels like it holds her back. She is very depressed and begging us for surgery. We cannot afford a US doctor. I need to know who you would go to in Mexico if this was your 13 year old. This would be for sleeve.Please I don't need mean or critical comments. Thank you

Angel, the choice is definitely unique for each of us. I didn't choose bypass because I only have 100 to lose, and I didn't want to deal with food restriction and nutrient restriction/malabsorption. But that's probably because I only have 100 to lose. But many, many people are successful with both the bypass and the band! You can do it!

To be honest, many banders wind up revisioning to the sleeve anyway. One of my good friends is banded, lost 130 lbs in a year, and is now considering sleeving to make it permanent. My issue with the band is that it is not a permanent procedure. I didn't go through all of the difficulties just to place a band on my belly that may break in a few years, or become less reliable as time goes on. I wanted a lifetime change, one and done! The sleeve gives me that. And I still have my stomach...nothing has changed much. I still get cramps from drinking cold liquids in the am, just like I have since I was a child. I still have a stomach made of Iron, just like before. I still get nervous in my belly, I'm just getting over a stomach bug and I still got the bubble guts lol. Nothing has changed for me, except my stomach is smaller.

The person who started this thread: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/324954-insure-nutritionmedicaidorparamountadvantage/?hl=%2Bparamount+%2Badvantage#entry3679202
has Paramount Advantage and she is scheduled for surgery soon. Reach out to her, she has recently completed the approval process.

I talked to the insurance company this morning, and I was advised that both my husband and I was both approved for surgery. We are so excited, now we have to wait to get a date. Hopefully, we can have surgery before 2015. I can't wait to join the loser bench with my husband. God is Great

Awesome... I have my first consult Tuesday. I'm nervous & excited at the same time. I thought I was pretty sure on which procedure I wanted but the more research I do the more confused I am. Lol

I'm looking to loose about 115 to 150. I'm sooo afraid of the sleeve. I can't cope with knowing most of my stomach will be permanently gone. And bypass is out of the question. I'm liking the band because its reversible & faster recovery but I'm afraid it may not be effective fast enough.

I agree MsBailey. I have close to 200 to lose which is why I'm choosing bypass. On my preop diet now surgery in 9 days!!!! After waiting 13 years 9 days seems surreal

i am NOT going to miss having a huge back or odd shape! i am also NOT going to miss all of the pain on my knees and ankles from carrying around an extra mini person!
i want to really be able to enjoy walking as exercise after surgery! just put on my music and GO--and SEEING the results of the exercise, instead of doing it and still being overweight a year later.

I was told 20g Protein per hour is the limit. I drink pure protein Protein Powder. Very affordable and tastes dare I say good! Each scoop is 25g protein so i pour 1 scoop along with 1c skim milk for 33 g protein total. I drink that over 3 hours. Then I have a Greek yogurt food 15g protein total over 2 sittings. 48 g so far. I'll have more protein drink, about 1/2 serving for 15 g more and I'm almost at minimum. Then I'll randomly fill in the rest, I had a bit of fish, milk and chicken last night.

If you have about 100 pounds to lose I think the sleeve it's a great choice. If you have more than that to lose I would consider bypass, but for me bypass was a bit too much.

Thank you for the reply!! Ok thank you for saying that Medicaid covers it! I have been nervous sitting ere waiting for my insurance card!! And fort surgeon I'm Looking into
Harish Kakkilaya, MD he is literally 5 minutes from where I live and I have heard great things from some of his patients!
Thanks
Casey!

I was worried about stretching my sleeve too, pre-surgery. I didn't want to go through all of this and then have the possiblity of gaining all the weight back. From everything I've read, the stretchy part of the stomach (unlike the RNY pouch) is almost completely removed and only the tough non-stretchy part remains.
How Easy Is It To Stretch Your Sleeve
I can tell you from 2 years of experience, you will know when you're beginning to stretch your sleeve - you will not like the feeling and avoid doing it in the future!! During the 1st few months, when I would get close to stretching my sleeve, it would hurt like Hell! On the occassion that I do begin to stretch it now, it is merely really uncomfortable.
How to Much Can You Safetly Eat
I learned real quick how much I could eat in one meal. I started using a small plastic bowl for every meal. I'd fill it up and know that's how much I could saftely eat. I started with a 1/2 cup bowl for about the 1st 9 months. At 1 year, I moved to a 1 cup bowl, and I've been at 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal for the last year.
Signs You're Getting Full
I am aware of the signs that I'm getting full - feeling bubbles moving around the food in my sleeve or feeling a poking sensation in my chest where the sleeve and throat meet. The days of that good old, "Ohhhh, I'm sooooo full" stretched stomach feeling are gone for good. And I dont miss it one bit!!!!!!!!
I'm sure if someone really worked at it, they could stretch their sleeve. After all, it is tissue, tendons and ligaments can be stretched and lengthened over time. But they would not be enjoying the sleeve stretching process at all.

Thanks but I disagree. We all rock!

I still see my shrink each month. Trust me, if the mood swings return I have to get back on medication as it'll affect my income. Can't have that affected.

I started thinking tonight about a lot of things and I was wondering if it was regret. I started feeling bad because I can't eat two large pizzas anymore in one sitting. I can't fit into my size 38 pants any longer. I can't wear a 2 Xl t shirt any longer.
I can't eat a whole double cheese burger. I can't drink soda. I don't know if I can drink alcohol as I've been afraid to try.
I then realized that all the things that I think I gave up I really needed to give up but I couldn't do it without the help of surgery.
I wanted to change what my future looked like. If we go off of our family history, I was at major risk for Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, dementia, seizures etc. I watched my father die of brain cancer, diabetes, dementia etc. My older brother is having seizures and he is huge. I want to tell him I'll pay for his surgery if he'll do it but haven't approached it yet. I am sure his response will be that he is healthy etc and he doesn't need to lose any weight. He's shorter than me (I'm 6 7') and he weighs 380#.
My father was bi-polar and unfortunately I followed that path. He would never see a doctor or get help. I sucked it up and wasn't afraid to see a doctor or take medication for it. After Surgery, I've noticed I'm not depressed and I don't have mood swings any longer. I take no anti-depressants or bi-polar meds any longer.
So I realized that once I looked at the over all picture, I think I made the right decision and I think it was for the best. I'm only 7 weeks post op now, and of course things can change. I might have mood swings again, but hopefully they stay away. Research that I've found suggest that a lot of bi-polar symptoms are related to the food we eat and all the chemicals in the food.
I didn't do this to simply look good. I did it for the health reasons. I can admit, I wanted to be thinner again, but it wasn't the only reason why for the surgery. I didn't want to have ED at the age of 32. I didn't want to be embarrassed every summer when we go on a family vacation and I'm afraid to take my shirt off due to my size. I'm looking forward to Cancun again in 2015.
I would do it all again if I had to.
No regrets. If your feeling regret, look at the whole picture. Think about why you did it. Think about what you are gaining in terms of good health. Think about your spouse/bf/gf/better half etc.
I also found out that the acid pill I needed was available over the counter. I feel so stupid for not finding this out sooner. Amazing what one little pill can do.