GreenEyes604

You are not alone @@Ky89 I have not, nor do I plan to tell anyone. The only person that knows anything is my 23 year old daughter, and that's because she lives with me, and she is 1000% behind my decision. My reason for not telling anyone is simply that I feel it is a very personal matter, and I'm not interested in sharing my personal business with anyone. My boss at work will know that I'm having surgery, but has no idea what its for, and that's all they need to know. You do whatever is comfortable for you. This is your life, your body, and your decision. Quite frankly I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks or feels about my decision, so their opinions, questions, and attitudes are not welcomed or warranted. Best wishes to you on this journey my dear!

I am currently using complete vitamin gummies, (I love the taste of them), but my NUT told me that post surgery I shouldn't take them anymore that I should move to chewables. She said talk post surgery that gummies don't provide all the vitamins and minerals that you need. I didn't understand why it would be any different between gummies and chewables, but I'm just going to follow directions.

@RachaelThomas Rachel, that sounds absolutely wonderful and I'm praying that everything works out well for you. I have checked multiple times with UHC, and they told me that 6 months was my requirement. For some reason they have some very specific guidelines for the state of Maryland. I don't know why its different here, but it is. I am going to check with them again on Monday, and call my surgeons office as well to follow up and see if she contracted the insurance company yet. I was told that UHC doesn't accept letters of medical necessity, that's why they told me to tell my surgeon to submit a letter of escalation. I'll call and bug them again. Maybe they will get so tired of me calling them that I'll approve me just so I'll quit bugging them. Thanks for the positive report, and best wishes to you.

@@JCP it sounds to me like at the rate you're going you are going to have to have it altered because its going to be TOO BIG Congratulations on your success thus far, and keep up the good work. You have every right to be proud of yourself. You're doin' the damn thing!

WOOOHOOOO and congratulations @VBG I can already feel your excitement. I know I can't wait until I hear those same words, "You've been approved". Way to go sistagirl, and keep doing all your good pre-op stuff!

@kelseycakes20 Welcome and best of luck to you on this journey.

Hubble Bubble smoking is also known as Hoo kah @Jen - a work in progress Its the big bubble looking thing that you put Water in the bottom and it has a bowl on top for coals and smoking tubes that come out the sides.

WOW, I'm surprised that your surgeon is even allowing you have surgery and still smoke. I met a lady at the gym the other day that has the same surgeon as I do. She's a smoker and I'm not. She told me that our doctor refused to even consider doing her surgery as long as she was smoking. The doctor said she had to have documented proof that she had not smoked within 90 days of surgery. Apparently smoking and surgery is nothing to play around with.

@@Kindle I just went and looked up the Vitamins that you spoke about. I think as soon as the ones I'm currently using are gone, I'm going to give them a try. I didn't even know they existed.

@Jodi_S and when you're finished at Kindle's place, you're welcome to run right over to mine!

@@boosh10 I don't know if they do or not, but I'll check and see if there is someway to start one. Great idea!

BRAVO!!! It sounds like you are doing amazingly well. I know it has to be a shock that you've lost so much weight already, but I know that you are thankful that you went through everything you did just to get where you are right now. If you're happy now, just imagine how you'll feel another 6 months from now. I very happy for you, and pray that you have continued success with no complications.

OMG!!! I just had to rush here this morning to report on my Protein shake for this morning. After a recent NUT visit I ordered 15 different flavors of Davinci and Torani sugar-free Flavored Syrups. My NUT told me that are a great way to sweeten up just about anything. Well this morning I gave it a try for the first time. I used a single serving of Syntrax Nature Naturals Strawberries & Cream Protein powder, 8 oz. of milk, and 2 TBSP of the chocolate flavored syrup, blended them all together and poured it over a large glass of ice. HOLY COW!!! It was amazing!!! It was like drinking a fantastic chocolate covered strawberry. At this rate I may start my liquid only diet 2 MONTHS early! I can't wait to try another concoction. I have 15 different flavors of syrup to mix and match with milk, plain greek yogurt, and all the different flavors of protein powders that I have. So excited!!! I may even start a recipe book with all the different combinations that I come up with. Reporting live from Silver Spring, Maryland.... Greeneyes604, OUT!

@rxkid2384 Are you asking this question because you are tired of chewable Vitamins overall, or are you just tired of Flintstone vitamins? I am still pre-op but my NUT to me that I can have Flintstone chewables or Centrum Chewables. I will still have to take them twice a day forever, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to switch to the regular ones after your sleeve could handle them. I'm not a doctor, but that makes sense to me. It's a very good question, and one I will ask my doctor about during my next visit.

@BitterSweet* In response to your comment I respectfully want to say this to you... PLEASE don't do this to yourself. Making the comment, "I fully expect to feel this way after surgery" is setting yourself up for failure. Stop telling yourself something negative. Speak POSITIVITY to yourself! I just posted a topic which starts out "This may sound a little harsh...". Please take a moment and read it. I hope that it will be a blessing to you. I'm praying positivity and success into everyone that reads these threads. We all need to encourage each other to believe the positive, and fight against the negative.

@@boosh10 She did tell me the name of it, but for the life of me I can't remembers what she told me. I'll see if I can find out and I'll let you know.

Good evening all my fellow sleevers, and sleevers to be... I have been reading a lot of the posts on this site, and although there are many people here that offer positive reinforcement to others, I see much, much more of the self negativity. If you stop and think for just a second, who is your biggest cheerleader? Who is your biggest fan? YOU ARE!!! Too many people speak too much negativity into their own spirits about what they can't do or think they can't do. My mother (God rest her soul) always said to me, "Don't tell me what you can't do, tell me what you CAN do". All of us have very difficult struggles ahead of ourselves, whether you are pre or post op. We MUST starting speaking more positivity to ourselves. We need to tell ourselves, "Yes I'm going to make it through the next 2 weeks of a liquid only diet". "Yes, I'm going to walk for at least 10 minutes everyday". Everything you say to yourself should start with, "I can or I will". ONLY POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS!! If you tell yourself, you can't, you won't, or even I don't know, its not going to happen because you're beginning with a defeatist attitude. Speak positivity to yourself, say it out loud so your brain and your subconscious hear you claim the positive affirmation. You will be shocked when you realize how strong you really are, but you've always started the race 2 paces behind the pack because you started doubting yourself before you even got started. Start building your "new self esteem" NOW! You won't have time later on because you'll be too busy LOOKIN' GOOD!!! You CAN, You WILL, I CAN, I WILL... Let these words be your mantra. Just remember fear and self doubt bring failure and disappointment. We have all experienced too much of those in our lives already. Remember this... "Insanity" is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Let's start today doing something different, expecting a POSITIVE result! Thank you for your gift of time!.... Michelle

@cynthiarm2000 I too was in the same boat as you being an emotional/stress eater. I had to figure out something before I went crazy because sweets are my nemesis. I started slowly moving myself to sugar-free items. It's amazing how good the taste is of some of the artificial sweeteners. It took a little getting used to, but now I can't stand the taste of really sugary stuff. I would rather have just a little bit of sweetness that artificial sweeteners offer. You might want to consider trying it. I know it worked wonders for me and I cut out a TON of sugar and carbs from my diet. Every now and then I'll get that "itch" again and have a little something too sweet, and I immediately remember why I wanted to get away from the sugar in the first place. Just something to think about...

This week I tried the sample packs of the Syntrax nectar Naturals. I was pleasantly surprised that I really liked them. I mixed them with milk for breakfast in the morning, and they were quite amazing. I also bought 10 sample packs of the Syntrax Nectar Regulars and I'll start trying them tomorrow. I'm going to get brave and try mixing a few of them with Water and see how they taste. I haven't made any with water yet because I found mixing them with milk and then pouring it over ice in my to go cup is just awesome. Will report back soon.

This sounds really fun! I'm in.

**************UPDATE*************UPDATE************UPDATE************ I spoke with my surgeon's office today, and the coordinator informed me that they are going to submit my paperwork for early approval today! She is going to call the insurance office and let them know that they are submitting my paperwork for early escalation, and see what they say. I'm so excited, but I'm trying to keep my feelings and emotions under control. I don't want to set myself up for a big let down if they deny me. I'm just trying to stay positive and realize that even if I do get denied, I only have 2 months to go and I will have my full 6 months in. Everything else is done and completed. Please say a prayer that my insurance company accepts my early request. If they don't, continue to pray for me that I'll have the patience, strength, and fortitude to see this waiting period through. Much love to all the people here that are so encouraging and thoughtful. I know that my views on different things are quite different from a lot of people, but I truly appreciate being able to come here and express my own opinions without being berated or judged (at least not publicly ) I continue to pray for everyone here that your journey be smooth, and your pains minimal. ***************************************************** K, let me calm down for just a second here…. I don't want to get myself too worked up and then crash and burn because it doesn't work out. But…. I had my 4th of 6 required visits with my physician on Tuesday. I have no officially completed everything I need to do to qualify for surgery except for my last 2 doctor visits. My insurance company (UHC) requires 6 months of consecutive appointments, unlike others that accept 3 months or none at all. Anyway, she and I were talking about how much it sucked that everything was done, but I still have to wait 2 more months. She suggested that we submit it early and see what they say. She was pretty confident that it would be denied, but it was worth and try and if it didn't work out, I just had 2 more months to go. Well I got it in my head to call my insurance company and ask if this is something that they knew right off the bat that they would deny, or if was even worth the time to submit my request. The nurse on the BRS Team said that if my doctor called them and submitted a "Request for Escalation" I could possibly be approved right away. Normally if the doctor submits a letter of medical necessity, the insurance company will allow you to move forward, however UHC does not accept those letters. I immediately called my doctor, and she is going to make the call and then send over my paperwork and we'll see what happens. I would be so incredibly happy if I could have my surgery sooner rather than later, as this would also be a better time for me to be away from work, and waiting another 2 months with nothing else to do seems like it would take forever. I'm curious if there is anyone else that has UHC insurance and has gone through this process, and if so, what was the outcome. Hoping and praying for sooner, but if its later, I'm ok with that too.

@cynthiarm2000 I had my psych eval a little over a week ago. I didn't have to take any type of "manual" tests, all I did was go in and sit and talk with the psychologist for about an hour. We mostly talked about how I got to this point in my life from childhood. What it was like for me growing up, my marriages, my divorces (2 just in case inquiring minds wanted to know ) and what my thoughts were on this whole surgery process. I sat and talked to her like she was a friend that I hadn't seen in many, many years, and we were just catching up on what's been happening in my life. We laughed a few times, and when time was up she said she had no problem at all approving me for surgery. I think the key is when you talk to the psychologist, just be open and honest. They aren't know you're nervous and I think many are not cleared for surgery because they come across as uncertain about everything. If you know this is the right thing for you to do, and you have no doubt about it whatsoever, then go in there and just be yourself. I'm sure you're making yourself more concerned about it than it really needs to be. YOU'LL BE FINE!!!

@gruiz27 Sistagirl you look AMAZING!!! And I know you feel so much better. Please share with us why you feel that the experience is bittersweet. As good as you look, I can't imagine ANYTHING being bitter.

Hang in there my dear, this anxiety too will pass. Keep talking, that seems to help me.

@@Tashabella can you tell me what part of Maryland you are in? I am in Maryland as well, and maybe I can provide some support to you. I'm Michelle.