trekker954

I would wait until October. I'd also recommended second hand shops or goodwill. I buy high end brands. And will even drive to classy neighborhood goodwill. I was dripping sizes so quickly too. Some goodwill have specials for the week. Toss it all in the washer, twice if it makes you feel better. I've gotten tons of complements on "New" outfits.

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You will need to take supplements for the first year and should be reassessed after that to see if you will require MORE than a Multivitamin which you should take the rest of your life.

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My wife is in this exact same situation. She has proof of weight BMI 35+ with sleep apnea and depression from 2014, 2015, and 2017 from the doctor's office. She did not go to a doctor in 2016. She does have documented photos from 2016 with weight and date from when she tried to lose weight with one of those direct marketing shake companies. We are Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal. She is now BMI 41+.
Is that lack of medial weight documentation from 2016 going to be a problem and reset her weight history clock?

Almost a year now. Multi vit patch. Added D3 patch 3 months ago because my d was low. I have my annual blood work this coming Saturday. I will report back

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I'm a tad frustrated that all the experts believes that every fat person or previous fat person has some type of emotional issue that can be fixed with counseling. What if you don't believe a counselor can fit you?

I'm in the category of testing my sleeve after reaching goal. I am good about not introducing carbs back in my diet (other than an occasional tablespoon of Pasta, which I adhere to), but I have tested my sleeve with red wine and often binge on soft caramels or chocolate). And its worse, when I step on the scale and do not see it go up.

Sure I'd like to know why I would do this,..... food addiction, yep likely. Stress eater, definitely. But I do not see what a professional could do for me. I had a great and normal childhood, I have great responsible adult children; not so great relationships with men in general (yet nothing I can pinpoint), generally life is good. So I've read some recommended books that discuss why we eat, how to stop that behavior, etc. I know the lists of things to do to replace stress eating. Don't work for me.

I'm nervous about my future with food. I will have my last appointment in a couple of months, with my surgeon and my nutritionist.

Just checking back. My tummy is fine now. Must have been Guatemala bug.

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I often don't recognize myself in the mirror.

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I had both at same time, so happy. No issues

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Mine finally stopped coming out at around 7 months. Was awful between 3 and 6 months

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I'm nine months post out and have been at goal for the past 5 months. I know we should not drink alcohol, breads, sweets, and large portions once we reach goal. But are there foods we should avoid altogether because they are dangerous for our small stomach or we can longer process them in the same way.

I don't overeat, I never eat bread or Pasta. I have the occasional small bite of birthday cake, or a piece of chocolate and I have an occasional glass of wine since reaching goal. I haven't changed my weight in all that time. So this is how I've decided to exist. I am no saint but for the most part I stay on track and an occasional treat hasn't affected my weight.

I did, however, have a few pieces of caramel a few days ago, probably too many, no idea why - and ever since have been having sharp pains deep in my tummy and diarrhea. I was also in Guatemala for a few days and may have picked up something there. I'm not sure. But then started obsessing if I've blocked something in my tiny tummy with the caramels since they are oh so sticky.

I'm just wondering if items such as these interfere with processing. I don't need a lecture on my brain and nutrition, just wondering if there are things that can mess up someone stomach this far out. I would imagine my stomach was completely healed from surgery.

I cruise a lot. First this isn't something you need to call ahead about as other dietary issues. If you decide to eat in the main dining room, you will be ordering off a menu. I would only eat in the dining room if you can have a table for two. You do not want to sit and watch ofhers eat amd wait around for each person to be served including dessert. Just order the Protein and tell them NO sides. They will bring you a standard steak, chicken, fish. They are precut so they won't cut in half. You won't be tempted to eat too much at 3.5 months. Just remember to stop when you feel enough.

I found just going to the buffet easier at night. I could chose a small piece of protein and be good with that.

It's actually going to be easy for you because you are not that far out post surgery.

Cruises have so many options for protein, meats, chicken, cheese, hummas,.

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I've lost about 80 lbs since august and am at my goal. Im 63.

My last two times thru customs global entry i received the dreaded X and had to stand in the problem line. Ugh. It rejected my fingerprints. I had not traveled international since December when it did work. It coded BP both times, different airports, bad prints even though they registered green, good capture. The CBP officer recommended I get reprinted in one of their global entry office.

I've had global for 8 years now, never a problem. I didn't think prints change but I assure you my fingers are much slimmer and tips seem to have access skin like other parts of my body.

Curious if other travelers have experienced this?

I'll be getting reprinted next week.

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3 months. I start each day since with a scoop of GENEPRO in my black coffee, no sugar

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I more or less reached my goal at 6 months, which also happened to be around Valentines Day and was exposed to a lot of candy. While I'm a full blown abstainer of carbs (bread, Pasta and cakes), I ate some candy and noticed no weight gain, nor loss. I was angry that my sleeve worked great when It comes to Protein and feeling full fast, but didn't phsase me in the least when I ate candy. So we really must mentally get a grip on our sweets addiction because it will continue to exist. I now know I must fully abstain from sweets as well. Also measure and weigh you portions. My phone broke so I wasn't able to track my food either, I know I likely never would have cheated that first time had I been tracking.

There are two types of approval. There is your insurance carrier (FEP BCBS) and your surgeons requirements. They are different. I'm saying this because you are quoting numerous required emotional behavioral weight management sessions. This is NOT a FEP BCBS requirement. See below the Insurance requirement. Is a physician supervised diet required, yes. Is a Psych eval required, yes, but its typically one appointment. I was approved quickly, 2 days, by FEP. It is most important to collect all your documentation from your primary doctor and his his support. Mine wrote a great letter. I had his staff print out all of my visits regardless why I was there as everytime I went in as most doctors, you are weighed. That will show BCBS that you have been obese for at least 5 years. They don't really budge in their requirement and if they want to see a failed diet consecutive, its must be monthly. You cannot have skipped any month at all.

Now, my medical team wanted another whole slew of testing. Heart, lung, scans, sonograms, sleep study, it was endless and took forever (not really but it felt like that). So just know, that not everything they ask of you is for insurance. Once I knew I had all my insurance stuff, I insisted they sent that through. Why would I subject myself to some of the very invasive pre-tests if I wouldn't be approved.

And remember, if you want to self pay, the doctors don't even care about pre-tests or psych evals. Just give them the $50K and they'll be happy to get you scheduled the next day.

FEP BCBS miminum requirement

• Body Mass Index of 40 or greater OR BMI 35 or more with comorbidities.
• Documentation of failed diets by conservative treatment.
• Letter of support from primary care physician.

BCBS FLORIDA PRE-APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

• BMI of 35 or greater
• Diagnosed as morbidly obese for at least 5 years
• Documentation of physician supervised non-surgical management weight loss program (e.g., diet, exercise, drugs) for at least 6 consecutive months
• No thyroid or endocrine disorders
• Psychological evaluation
• Letter from PCP supporting the medical necessity of weight loss surgery

Unfortunately yes.

There are some things you need to mentally know that you should NEVER have again. Soda is one of those.

I had sleeve and gallbladder removed at the same time. No issues at all. So glad I did.

This forum is a blessing and a curse. Every surgeon and nutritionist seems to have a different eating plan pretty and post op. Many are allowed Soups and carbs from 2 weeks out while othrrs, including me could not introduce fruit and veggies until week 12. So of course those would lose faster. Many of us stalled at three weeks for a couple of weeks, including me. My big weight loss came between 3 and 5 months.

Once I brought back fruit and vegetables it slowed, it continued just slowed.

I'm 7 months out and have been at goal a month. It is really wonderful but not easy. I know I'm not going to eat Pasta, bread and such. I do eat my Protein first, usually chicken or fish. But damn, I wish if/when I eat something I shouldn't like a dessert or candy it would be hard to eat. But it isn't. It's very hard work but we must continue to mentally stay on plan.
I'm glad my tummy keeps my overall meals portion controlled but it is still hard work, especially at goal to say no to carbs and sweets.

Bcbs want the months consecutive and are pretty anal about them. My hospital also made it clear weigh in more or less had to be every month, not three weeks, not five or six weeks but monthly. Maybe with a holiday you could get by with the closest date but not skip an entire month. Maybe if you can provide them airline or hotel receipt showing you were gone an entire month. But to start over, ugh. Good luck
Bcbs approved me no problem.

Patch MD multi. Slap it on. I put mine on overnight. Leave it on for 8 hours. Absorbs thru the skin. Cleveland clinic is happy with my blood results. I also use B12 patch. I'm 7 months out. You can buy it on this website store.

My surgeon as well as the other 2 surgeons in the hospital ALL use the drain to make sure leaking stops. It is the nastiest feeling when they take it out. it's slippery and gross. That's the grossest thing i've ever experienced and it's the worst feeling i've had since surgery. Although, it is quick, maybe it's just me and my disgust by it lol. Most surgeons do it though!! good luck

I was kind of in a daze, but my first thought was OMG, I really did this and was so excited that I was still alive. Yeah, really. I just listened to all the commotion and nurse chatter going on in the recovery room. The nurse said they would be moving me to a surgical care unit for an hour and then up to my room. I just remember waking up in my room, I think the nurse woke me to go over the logistics of the room and how to administer the pain meds and how to call for them. I was pleased to see it was a private room and really huge. I was hooked up to so many things (fluids, pain meds, medical socks that apply pressure), heart monitor, cateter (although they did pull that out first thank God), ugh, probably forgetting something, I couldn't freely get up. The nurse set up my cell phone with longggggggggggggg cord for me and I made my calls to let my family know I was alive, to let me sleep the rest of the day and to come the next day and spring me out. I did not any gas pain either. But I wasn't disconnected from all the stuff for many many hours, and that delayed my walking the halls. grrrrrrr

Goodwill. Most have certain sales too
Color of the week give me 50% off. Most have a designer section but it's obvious whomever is sorting doesn't know their designers. I'll often find white stag in that section. Walmart. Then in the regular section I found a gorgeous pair of lucky Brand $3 with a 50%off. My price $1.50.