SparkleCat

That's awesome!! What gym is this?

My new favorite ice cream trick!! Get some ripe bananas (with brown spots on the skin), cut into pieces and freeze for several hours. Once frozen, blend or process bananas with a little milk, soy milk or almond milk until perfectly smooth and the consistency of a thick milkshake. Enjoy!! (I add PB2 or Just Great Stuff powdered chocolate peanut butter) (you can also freeze the blended banana to make it firmer or into popsicles) super creamy, same mouth feel as ice cream and no added sugar! 1 Ingredient Ice Cream - http://www.instructables.com/id/1-ingredient-Ice-Cream/

I am officially approved for surgery this Tuesday! My surgeon's office had a peer to peer review and went over paperwork. My PCP had recomended surgery in January, so Cigna used that release and recomendation as a start date for my supervised diet...so I got the 89 days. It is now very real!

Excellent news!!! Currently at St Luke's for preop class Keep us updated!

That sucks!! But it's not "no"...it's just "not yet". I will hopefully find out tomorrow about my reconsideration...they didn't answer the email I sent today. Did I mention how much I hate insurance and what a scam I think it is?

I definitely have the pcp clearance letter and recommendation ..but I thought it was > or = (great than or equal to) 89 days ? God I hate insurance! Legalized extortion....and we pay through the nose to jump through arbitrary hoops set up by a system that is designed to be more concerned with profit than health.

Now I am freaking out a bit...my file is in reconsideration at Cigna because of the 3 month diet and 2nd physician clearance....my surgeon thought they didn't see the documents now I'm concerned about the time periods. I have a signed release from my pcp and can get a care summery recommending surgery, but my 3 month diet was February 2nd, March 2nd and April 1st....surgery scheduled for April 22nd. If I am understanding this document correctly, I don't have enough diet days. Crap Crap Crap!!!

My date is April 22nd (Yay!), I am getting ducks in a row and preparing for the hospital stay as well as the week or two after. I am making a list of what I need and one question has me stumped! And it's super silly... What is the best style of jammies/comfy clothing to wear in the hospital? I am wavering between: ~ jammie pants and a t-shirt: comfortable, warm and the waistband could hit right at incision spots ~ Cotton nightgown or sleep shirt: Easy, no restrictive parts and could hinder access to drain/ tubes etc. So...Ladies...Which worked best

I have seen PB2 at Target and GNC. I got the "Just Great Stuff" powdered chocolate peanut butter at Sprouts

"Fudge"sicles Good for Full liquid or blended stage Supplies - Blender (I use a Magic Bullet) Popsicle Mold or small paper cups and popsicle sticks Ingredients - 1-2 Frozen ripe bananas Almond milk/ Soy milk/ Fat Free Milk powdered chocolate Peanut Butter (PB2 or Just Great Stuff) Optional: Vanilla or chocolate Protein powder (this might make them taste a little proteiny...or strange) (I eye-ball the amounts to taste and consistency) Blend frozen bananas, milk and powdered chocolate peanut butter until perfect smooth. It should be the consistency of a thick milkshake (in fact, if you are craving ice cream...this would be a great substitute) Pour mixture into molds, insert popsicle stick and freeze for several hours. The bananas don't need any extra sugar and the powdered chocolate peanut butter make them taste really rich! Enjoy!

"Fudge"sicles Good for Stage 2 and possibly Full Liquids Supplies - Blender (I use a Magic Bullet) Popsicle Mold or small paper cups and popsicle sticks Ingredients - 1-2 Frozen ripe bananas sliced or in chunks Almond milk/ Soy milk/ Fat Free Milk powdered chocolate Peanut Butter (PB2 or Just Great Stuff) Optional: vanilla or chocolate Protein powder (this might make them taste a little proteiny...or strange) (I eye-ball the amounts to taste and consistency) Blend frozen bananas, milk and powdered chocolate peanut butter until perfect smooth. It should be the consistency of a thick milkshake (in fact, if you are craving ice cream...this would be a great substitute) Pour mixture into molds, insert popsicle stick and freeze for several hours. The bananas don't need any extra sugar and the powdered chocolate peanut butter make them taste really rich! Enjoy!

Just heard preapproval was denied because they seem to be missing 2 forms I thought I had....starting the reconsideration process...I feel nauseous... and I still have my full stomach. Hoping I can still keep my April 22 daye

Special spray to keep your mouth moist? Do tell! Where might a future sleeved get this magic potion?

Thanks so much for the tips and encouragement! That's why I love this place...lots of people who have "been there, done that" and understand the roller coaster of emotions we all go through no matter what stage of the process we are in! Best of luck to you!

Thanks Ginger! I, too, am at the age will it will only get worse (44)...I have always been big, have always been in denial of how big I really am...that mirror can both beat us up and delude us can't it. My BMI ranges from 37-39 and I have scary high cholesterol (over 300 w/o Crestor), so I know I am a good candidate for surgery. I am not at all backing out. When it comes to my weight and my health I have always told myself "It's not that bad" "I'm not that fat" "I have time" in order to avoid really seeing what my bad habits are doing to my health. When I decided to explore surgery I was just tired...tired of the roller coaster, tired of the shame, tired of the denial and tired of constantly thinking about how much space I was taking up. So while fear is definitely rearing it's ugly head...I believe I am making the best decision for not only my physical health, but my mental and emotional health as well. Best of luck to both of us in the coming months!

Surgery date is less than two weeks away and the fear is starting to settle in. I am terrified of a leak...scared of post op pain....scared that my lifestyle will change so much that I will lose friends...friends with whom the majority of our social time is spent eating or drinking...scared I won't know how to handle not being the "big girl" I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror this morning and though "Maybe this body isn't so bad?" then I will see pictures of myself and realize I am twice the size of many people I know and I can only fit into 2 pairs of my pants. The picture attached was taken when I was 20 pounds lighter and felt "skinny" until I actually saw the photo. I go from complete excitement to outright terror of what I am about to do to my body. My only other surgery was a breast reduction which changed my life for the better...I am hoping this is similar if not even more life changing, but it's still so scary!

Yay! It's almost time!!! I'll be following right behind you in two weeks! Leg us know how it goes

SparkleCat- several years ago a friend and myself decided to go to a huge Carnival party...while getting ready we literally covered ourselves in glitter! Glitter hairspray, Body Glitter, glitter make up....it was everywhere! When I got home, I was so exhausted (and, being honest, more than a little schmammered) I crawled directly into bed and slept like a log! I woke up the next day and the glitter covered everything! My sheets, my floor, my clothes and my jet black, long haired cat, Kisa! I texted my friend "oh my God! Kisa is covered in glitter! I have a SparkleKitty!" Since SparkleKitty could be construed as slightly risqué...I cleaned the phrase up for public forums...SparkleCat was born

Agreed! I would also attend...but if I'm honest, I with surgery coming up, I probably couldn't organize it

I am pre-op (two more weeks!) but would love to participate in a Denver/ Denver Metro area Local Chapter!

Oh no! 3 DAYS! I don't think I could handle 3 or even 2 weeks of clear liquids! I've already warned friends and family to expect an unhappy Carrie for those three days! Love the props, but I'm not earning them

As surgery day gets closer I would love to hear how Dr Brown and Colorado Bariatric patients are doing! I'm Beginning my pre op freak out

April 22 here! Only 3 days of a clear liquid pre-op which I am grateful for It's starting to get real! Doubt, apprehension and excitement are regular parts of my daily life now....I am hoping to not add regret! Love all the stories! As y'all cross the sleeve line please continue to let us know how it's going!

Mine is 3! It is weird! Start wt: 231 5'5" 44 yrs Surgery date: 4/22!

I just realized I never responded! Thank you so much for the offer....I am about three weeks away and starting to freak out a little! I can't believe what I am getting myself into emotionally, physically and financially. I'm both excited and terrified!