no onions

@gobsmacked @ready2B@Anne BG@@DroppinLikeItsHot Thank you all for your comments. If I have surgery, I hope my result is similar to what you mentioned (gobsmacked). That would be fantastic to not need the medicine any longer. AnneBG - the medicines really do help for this problem, at least in my case (and some others on this thread. Good luck all!

Sorry, this is a bit long and it's getting late (forgive my typos). To avoid the tl:dr reaction -- does anyone take cholestyramine and how did you take it after your WLS surgery? See background details below for more info. Thanks in advance for your comments. Background -- My gallbladder was removed many years ago as I was finishing college, approximately 18 years ago. Since that time I've been living with chronic bathroom issues, namely diarrhea, that would present within minutes of eating lunch (generally the first meal of the day). It didn't matter what I ate - bread, Soup, iced tea, whatever. I might go once after eating or I might go for the rest of day (too many times to count). The diarrhea issues would last for several months and then might go away for several months or a year. However, the problem always returned. I went to numerous doctors about this problem and was always told something like, "you have IBS, or you have spastic colon" or something similar. Last year, I went to my (former) primary care physician armed with my internet diagnosis of Bile Acid Malabsorption. My physician didn't listen again and just said I needed more Fiber. Long story short, someone recommended their gastro doc to me and I went. The gastro doc said, "I know exactly what the problem is..." naturally I had to ask is it "bile acid malabsorption -- the result of my gall bladder surgery?" Ding Ding. That was the answer. I drink this gritty powder (that does not dissolve) called Cholestyramine (once a day) and my life has changed dramatically - problem solved. Has anyone else with a sleeve or other WL surgery had this gallbladder related issue and were you able to continue taking your cholestryramine after surgery?

Technology is amazing! I won't lie, the picture you linked - I thought it looked like some kind of robotic spider. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/the-robotic-doctor-is-in-15204883

We are redoing our bathroom and I considered getting one of these... Just for general purposes - I haven't had surgery yet so cannot speak to this possible issue. If I have surgery and this becomes an issue then I might break down and buy this seat. Purefresh Scented and Lighted Toilet Seat http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Purefresh-Scented-and-Lighted-Toilet-Seat/content/CNT115100007.htm

I feel like people have opinions on this topic (Obamacare) that are not supported by facts. I cannot find any rational (legit) source that indicates mom & pop pharmacies are being destroyed (by Obamacare). Now -- I did find an older article that said the Express Scripts-Medco merger could have a negative effect on independents.

This is a very interesting idea!

I don't know why, probably the late hour and the need for sleep, but the cat picture posted a few screens up (flounce flounce) made me think of Toonces the "Driving Cat" ... flounce. You know this cat flounces out to his/her car and flounces on down the road listening to... metal? pop? npr?

@@Walter Lindstrom Jr. - thanks so much for the reply. That is really very helpful/informative!

Thank you for the replies. WannaB - I'm planning to do that (call back in to see if I get a different answer). :-) onmyway - the rep said something similar to me about my employer's plan (she's never seen one quite like it). I'm also planning to follow-up with the WLS program I'm interested in next week and may just allow them to submit on my behalf and see what happens. Good luck to you both as well.

Hi everyone, long time lurker, first-time poster. Any thoughts or comments to my topic are certainly welcome. On the advice of my gastroenterologist and primary care physician, I began to explore WLS surgery in the summer of 2014. My 2014 insurance coverage specifically excluded WLS surgeries, etc. To prepare for the possibility of WLS surgery, I switched to a new plan offered by my employer that does cover WLS surgery. I called UHC today to find out details about the requirements for WLS surgery. What I was told: WLS surgery is covered if recognized by the NIH as effective for treating long-term morbid obesity. Specific surgeries mentioned by the rep (verbatim), but not limited to: gastric bypass, gastric banding, roux-en-y and vertical banded gastroplasty. No requirements - no 6 month supervised diet, in fact, nothing mentioned about BMIs or comorbidities. It is not possible to get this in writing (apparently) and the documenation is unpublished to the insured individual on the MYUHC website. I have followed the boards long enough to know that insurance can be a big stumbling block for some. I am not at all convinced that I was given accurate information. I quizzed the rep several times and made certain to document the conversation (names, dates, reference numbers, etc). I guess I will know more once a surgeon actually sends off for pre-certification, but I just find the lack of requirements so odd.