MoMo12onTheGo

@@carolyn_1978, @@Elode .. because you gals are post-op, I'm sure I am not telling you anything new, but my dermatologist said massive amounts of Biotin, zinc and magnesium. She said they are all Water soluble so you cannot over do it, anything your body doesn't use will just slough off. She advised it may take a month to really notice. She also told me that cutting your hair shorter helps (mine is to my hiney so she was advising) because then the Vitamins really have a chance of getting root to tip.... also-avoiding washing your hair or coloring it does NOT effect the growth, just possibly breakage.

@@Amy86 ..I am still pre-op, but read on another thread someone advising when this happens to only get enough Water in your mouth to wet it and let it slide down like saliva. And of course be sure you are not drinking with food and have waited the appropriate time after eating to be drinking. ...

Today was my final appointment with my surgeon so we could submit to insurance. I had a list of questions with me because I have heard some of the most outlandish things and just wanted real answers. I hope this helps someone else as well. He confirmed NO gum/straws/alcohol for one full year. GUM=some dingdong swallowed a glob and they had to do surgery to remove it as it had clogged her tube leading to her tummy. STRAWS=this gives too much air a chance to get in, causing painful gas and bloating. ALCOHOL=You will NOT react the same to alcohol as you did prior to surgery, beer has carbonation and other drinks have sugar. It's to be completely avoided. At my Bariatric center they use a 36F Bougie, standard. These means your new stomach will be approximately the size of a pen. The bougie is NOT your new stomach, just a tool used to aid in sizing during surgery. Your surgeon may vary, but he said this is most common across the board. (Anything less than a 33 is known to cause exacerbated reflux issues.) I am fortunate and neither catheters or drains are used unless there is a complication. He said that is more common practice than not these days to reduce the risk of infections. --The permanent Titanium staples will not go off in an airport, cause x-ray or MRI issues. Scar tissue will grow over them-they are part of you for life. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you should have an all in hospital visit of 24 hours. --Your new stomach will have a leak test performed on it before you are woken up, so no need to concern yourself with that. Concerns over painful gas in your shoulder and arm: due to the gas they push in you during the surgery and gasEx will not help.. Walking it off and moving around works the quickest. Like when your baby was constipated and you pushed their knees to their belly to push out air. DO THAT, if you can find someone to help you. Realistic weight loss: In the first 6 months, if you follow all directions and are without complications, you should lose 60% of your excess weight. (If you are 100lbs over according to charts/bmi-you can expect a 60lb weight loss) This is only my personal experience with my surgeon. Obviously, check with your own bariatric team for specifics on how they do things.

Hi Everyone.. I had my final appointment with my surgeon today and he is submitting everything to my insurance, Medicare. He warned me not to gain even an ounce because my insurance requires I be weighed on the day of surgery and if I've gained at all, they will not fund. He said Medicare is the only insurance to take this extra step. They literally had to postpone a gal's surgery because although she had lost 135 lbs, on surgery day it was her TOM & the scale was up 2lbs. Their office argued on her behalf that it was Water weight, but Medicare would not budge. KNOW YOUR INSURANCE...your policy may not have this strange clause, but it could have others.

@@Jaxxx .. Thank you for this post. My surgeon submitted today and because I saw your post, I am going to give them one week then start calling. The Bariatric Center has many folks to keep track of, I just have me so I am going to stay on top of things. Best of luck!!

@@highdesertblue ... Very best of luck to you (waving from AZ) ..

@@Robynne Hazebroek-Buzanko .. Hi Robynne.. I am not being judgy, just curious.. My doctor told me to be sure I was at my goal weight before doing a TT for the very best results. I was reading your stats and see you are close, but not quite there. Do you think you will reach goal by your surgery, or is this not a concern with your doctor?

I saw my surgeon today for our final visit and to send everything to the insurance.. This was one of my questions and he did tell me that you should lose 60% of your excess weight in the first 6 months.. His example was easy to understand.. If you are overweight (using BMI and height/weight chart) by 100 pounds and do EVERYTHING you are directed to, you should expect to lose 60 lbs in the first 6 months.. Naturally there are oodles of variations and circumstances that can make your loss more or less, but that's the gist.

@@DisforDavid .. I am shocked to hear you are even eating that much food. My bariatric team told me once I was far out from surgery I would be able to eat approx 4oz. ...Sorry David.. this is where I defer to someone else lol.. Can I ask if you regret your surgery.. are you happy yet about doing it or having regrets? I will be having surgery mid April and like hearing what newly sleeved really think? Is the gas pain in your shoulders bad? What about drains?

@@humblestar25 ... yawn You said your peace.. if you are no longer considering WLS you are free to leave.. ...all the best to you and bless your precious heart..

@@DisforDavid ... Hi David, I am sure someone else has a more accurate answer as I am still pre-op, but I have read several times on here that we all will get "head hunger"... so, just tell your tummy it's bored, not hungry and to SHUT IT lol...best of luck to you .. oh yeah and you should post more pictures

@@humblestar25 .. absolutely call.. sometimes you get approved and just get lost in the paperwork or happened to not get the call from your surgeons office. CALL GIRL.... CALL lol

@@crazyffhfan ... Anything I've read as well as my surgeon advised a 14 day liquid diet pre-op gives you the best chances of a safer surgery (The liver sits over your stomach and the liquid diet shrinks the liver, giving your surgeon a better view of everything at surgery time) and quicker recovery time. Call and ask your surgery center for advice on this. Don't just let it go because you might be cheating yourself.

@@Wannabeskinnie ... I think we get so used to things being wrong that when something is RIGHT, especially if it comes so easily, we are suspicious of it. LOL.. enjoy all your new health girl.. best wishes!

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@@OldMomOf3 .. do you have any idea what size your bougee is? I've read a lot that if it's smaller than a 33 your chances of bad reflux go up dramatically.

@@WendieBryant .. I would not want to be in a hospital for 3weeks, but part of me would be glad so I was sure I was doing everything correctly. Also, if I was having chest pains that everyone says comes from gas.. my anxiety wouldn't make me think I was having a heart attack.

@@^v^Iniquity^v^, @@Laureadolce, @@richardsgirl72, @@PMJ, @@martian57 Hi .. anyone wanting to join our "April Sleevers" FB support group please friend Alora Vsg Begonia on FB and she will add you. No one on your regular FB will know you post anything or even that you are a member.. the page is secret.

@@CapeMom3, @@Ima Doit, @@vixie1013, @@crazyffhfan, @@AhnaLucille Hi everyone.. if you friend Alora Vsg Begonia on FB she can add you to the 'April Sleevers' FB support group... The page is private so no one on your regular FB account will see what you post or even that you are a member.

I use a BlendTec I got at Costco (approx $300) and it works wonders. Fresh, frozen, skins on or off, nuts, seeds.. anything.. I love it!

@@deb1327 .. Hi Deb, I have medicare and they require 3months following a diet your surgeon sets up for you with NO WEIGHT GAIN.. and I mean NONE.. not an ounce. I am 5'1, weigh 210 and they qualified me. So, good luck.

@@SippedChick Hi.. thank you for your response.. I saw that woman for the last time on Thursday and got the note from her saying I did the 3 visits per my surgeons requirements. Tomorrow I final sign off from my primary & then Tuesday is my final with my surgeon and we will submit everything. I was previously told my surgery would be in April, but they couldn't set the date until final approval comes back. SO, i am hoping for April

@@Flygirl123 .. the page is private so no one can see anything besides the others in the group.. EVERYONE was worried about that, including myself lol

@@vsgdiva2015, @@ViciousVixen Alora Vsg Begonia .. if you want to be part of our April Sleevers support group on FB.. friend Alora and she will add you to the group.

@@Beautiful Mess, @@Janeapple71, @@bschearer, @@Janeapple71 .. anyone not already on our "April Sleevers" FB support group can friend Alora Vsg Begonia on FB and she will add you to the group..