ga_crystal

^{I too drink carbonation regularly. Not everyday, but probably 3-4 days a week and never more than 1 a day. I used to feel so guilty about doing this, but I found that I actually do better when I stick with carbonated drinks, and not downing the real sugary sweet tea!}

I love this article, it says it all.

http://www.carolinasurgical.com/life-after-bariatric-surgery/i-am-afraid-of-my-pouch-stretching-after-bariatric-surgery/

_{"O, I bet your husband is just tickled to death with your weight loss".....}

_{"I bet you can't keep your husband off of you"}

_Ummmmmm.....

_{So, apparently some people think that being "wanted" by my husband only comes with weight loss. Huh?? SMDH.}

I feel your pain. I had my surgery back in February of this year, 4 months ago. A couple weeks ago I was on my insurance website looking at all my claims from surgery. I noticed a claim from a 3rd party company for an "Assistant Surgeon"...well he tried to bill my insurance for around $8,900, HAHA! Well of course, my insurance has denied it for two reasons. Reason one being that he was an out-of-network surgeon, and two, they never pre-approved for an assistant surgeon to be in the room. So of course, I was really nervous and upset after seeing this and called my surgeon's office. His insurance coordinator stated that I did sign a piece of paper giving my permission for an assistant surgeon. This makes me beyond LIVID, because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I never knew that they would be using an assistant. I called the insurance company and they stated that this is happening more and more because surgeons have figured out that if they call in a third party "assistant" they actually get a cut of their deductible as well. Guess who WONT be getting paid?? The assistant surgeon should have just stayed home that day, because he wont be getting a dime out of me.

Such inspirational stories, don't think I could live without this site....it has been so nice to have since my gastric sleeve surgery.

That was a great way of explaining the process! Congratulations and best of luck to you on your journey!

Sarahbeth, wanted to know if you have any tips or special things you did. I feel as though I'm at a plateau already, just had sleeve on 4/23, on surgery date was 265, today at 252.8, I'm walking 2.5 miles at least 4x a week.. Not eating over 500-600 calories a day. Do you have any advice

brmbrown, I know you asked for a reply from Sarahbeth...but I wanted to tell you that I went through the exact same thing! At pre-op I was at 302 in February 2015. Now, I am at 251...down 51 pounds! BUT, at about 4 weeks out...my weight loss just stopped! I believe it is a combination of Water weight from surgery and your body trying its best to hold on to that weight (survival instincts)...but then just a few weeks later it just started falling off. Just be patient and kind to yourself. Also, make sure you are drinking lots and lots and LOTS of fluids. Best of luck to you! P.S. I remember crying to my husband "The surgery didn't work"!!! Oh boy, it did...it just takes time

Hello ladies! I wanted to see if women who are losing/have lost weight after WLS are now more brave about cutting their hair! I know for me, I always felt like my hair was my curtain. I always hid behind it because I am a natural blonde, and therefore no matter how BIG I was I always felt like atleast I had pretty hair! HA, sad way to think I know. Anyways, I am ALWAYS hearing people say that they could "Never pull off a short hair cut" because their face is not made for short hair. My hair has been short for a few years now, mainly because I have two small children and it's SO much easier...but I also cut it when I was at my heaviest. I now have a short pixie, and I feel liberated!

My "last straw" was being too young to feel this old!

I will be 30 this year, and I'm tired of existing but not LIVING!

I have 2 little boys, and a wonderful husband and they are my world......I love them more than I love food. It's ok to be scared of change, but I'd rather start living my life for everything I hope to be, instead of everything I fear I never will be. In the business of life, you can get busy living or get busy dying.

I guess I'm just that typical ignorant patient, because I just can't seem to understand the process.

I will see my NUT for the last visit on 1/29, THEN everything that I've done for the last 3 months will be submitted to insurance. Once Insurance gives the go-ahead I will get my surgery date.

So who knows, it could be late Feb or even March. And then on top of that, if you work full-time like myself...you need to figure out when to request time off to do so.

I wish my insurance consultant at my bariatric office was friendlier, she's about 100 lbs. soaking wet and every time you ask her something, she looks at you like you are literally the dumbest person to ever grace her presence.

I am a pre-op sleever dreamer. I am almost done with my 3 months of supervised NUT visits (as that's my insurance requirements). At every visit so far, I have lost weight. I have not tried consistently to lose weight, I am just trying to eat better-exercise more.

My question is, has anyone had any problems with insurance declining due to weight gain or not enough weight lost during the NUT phase of the pre-op requirements?