Seabreeze06

@@lsmith715 I registered with them too. I called my RX co (where the scar cream will come from) and I was told the scar cream is $5000!!! Holy moly! I could get a Tummy Tuck for $5000!! But my insurance approved it, and my first shipment of Protein, my scar cream, and my Vitamins are on their way. I was assured I will never be expected to pay a dime. when insurance starts over in January, and I have an out of pocket to meet, then I won't be getting it, until my OOP has been met, and there will be no charge to me. They said if the products are delivered, but they find that insurance won't pay it, I can keep the product. It's a win-win! So happy a friend told me about this!!

They said there will be deliveries for a year

@@Mojo56 spoke with Dr Bruce and currently BCBSNC doesn't cover the SIPS procedure any longer....so it's plan B for me!!! Which is more research and then a decision on whether to have the revision or not if its not a DS related procedure which through research is successful after a RNY!!

@@magicalwoman they are currently on sale on Costco.com 19.99 for 18 shakes. Although my FSA account covers them from my Drs office BUT I'm paying double for the same amount! So I was looking for a less expensive way to stock up Pre-op!

I use chewables currently Viactive in the purple bag chocolate flavor and Carmel are good to me and it has Vitamin D also
But ck with ur Surgeon to see if the allow that brand.

My family income level dropped quite a bit since my husband passed away. My job as a public school reading teacher doesn't help make up for that loss of income much, of course. My income is just a tad over the limit to receive government assistance, so I decided to let my insecurities go and make a trip to the local food bank.
I wasn't hoping to receive food to help my dietary needs, since I don't eat that much. It was more to help fill my son's never ending stomach. Getting milk, eggs, and bread for free was actually my purpose in going this one time.
Let me begin by saying that everyone there was extremely friendly and the process was quite easy. The place was packed and it was over an hour wait, which I didn't mind. Most of the people waiting were mothers with many small rowdy children. I'm quite aware of the stereotype correlating poor people with obesity. Looking around at the very overweight moms and kids, I could see why others might make that assumption.
When they called my name to get my food, I was ecstatic about the number of bags of food they were bringing to my car. I only have one kid and he is quite spoiled. His only comment about getting free food was: "It better be doughnuts and pizza because I hardly ever get that anymore." I told him not to count on it, but it ended up I was wrong.
Here is a list of foods that were contained in the five bags and four boxes:
7 Kings Size Peanut Butter Twix candy Bars
7 Bags of mini-Butterfinger pieces
3 bags of mini Reese's cups
2 six count boxes of Crispy Crème doughnuts
1 bag of 48 unbaked chocolate chip Cookies
1 bottle of light corn Syrup
1 bottle of dark corn syrup
1 canister of salt
1 bag of frozen Black pepper seasoned French fries
1 bag of frozen Barbecue flavored French fries
3 boxes of cereal: chocolate crispies, honey bunches of oats
Baked goods: chocolate muffins, marble cake, pound cake, waffles, chocolate covered brownies, lemon streusel cakes, long loaf of French bread, 6 birthday cupcakes, red velvet cake
3 large unbaked pepporoni pizza's from Wal-Mart
Little Debbie Snacks (zebra cakes, moon pies)
2 large canisters of Wrigley's gum
10 cans of raviolis
2 boxes of saltines
1 box of wheat thins
1 box with 12 small canisters of cheese its
7 small snack bags of teddy grahams
box of Kashi granola bars
box of peanut butter/chocolate power bars
canned goods: green Beans, Peanut Butter, cranberry sauce, creamed corn, mixed vegetables
box of 6 angus beef burgers
deer sausage
banana popsicles
chocolate fudge pops
4 rolls of TP
paper towels
box of spaghetti noodles
3 boxes of hamburger helper
bag of frozen cranberries
pancake mix
cornmeal mix
1 canister of chocolate milk powder
3 boxes of pink lemonade cake mixes
2 boxes of muffin mix (blueberry/cornbread)
1 quart of whole milk
6 large eggs
I'm not going to complain about this food. In fact, I am happy that I got what I hoped, which was the bread, eggs, and milk. I've already given much of the baked goods away because my son doesn't need it. We have enough income to buy healthier food in place of it. But what about the families who don't? I keep thinking about those mothers at the pantry with all their small children. They must HAVE to eat all this food, including the junk because they have no choice. This makes me sad. However, I am thankful that at least they have something to fill their stomach.
My neighbor did inform me that not all pantries give out the same kind of food. Some pantries actually have fresh produce donated by the farmers market. I'll actually have to keep this in mind in case we get into a rut again. My salary has gone up this school year and I've started my own after school tutoring service, so I think we are going to be financially set for awhile. Once we get ahead, I plan on donating some healthy food to the same food bank I just visited.

Well so far I've enjoyed my brief encounters with Dr Bruce he is definitely a very calm matter of fact kind of guy, but with a sincere smile! Our next appointment will allow me more time to get a better relationship with him cause it will be more time for us to discuss my situation more fully!

Well @@SIPSGrammy I definitely understand cravings, and popcorn is my favorite snack of all times...lol
Yes please get on your vitamins, I know for me that will be a struggle as well so I am trying to get into a routine myself....cause I honestly hate taking meds...but I also don't like being sick....so that is my journey...and I need to embrace it now!!!
I will definitely keep you posted once I hear something...I have a couple more months to see Dr Bruce as part of my revision requirements per my first meeting....so IF it is approved I am thinking it will not be until the fourth qtr of this year.

@@Seabreeze06, I have to do the same from time to time, staying away from websites..it's good for the mind. I am doing well, although I have been cheating eating some foods, for some reason, I am craving, i.e., popcorn? ! Although, I cannot eat much of it, just enough to satisfy. Honestly, it's been hard trying to get in 90-100 grams of Protein a day! I can drink fluids okay, with small frequent sips, eating Soups, soft foods are okay as well. I tried eating breaded pork chop one night and I swear, I think it took hours before I actually digested it. I've noticed too, that one week, I won't lose a pound and the next week I lost 5 lbs! It's been crazy!! I also have not been diligent in taking my Vitamins.. a BIG NO NO. So, starting tomorrow, I've got my Vitamins all lined up after my morning Protein shake or yogurt.
I am very pleased thus far with my weight loss.. Surgery weight was 276 and today I'm 240 lbs!
Keep us posted on your surgery status! Looking forward to reading your posts!

Sorry for the delay in response, I felt like I was overloading on information I was reading every moment I had on different sites information so that when I meet with him again this month I would have some questions from a knowledge base instead of knowing nothing as I was prior to visiting the different WLS sites.
Yes, Barbara told me that REX was the hospital I was supposed to use for mine as well so I will find out more. I just finished my tests last week and found out that my stoma was stretched quite a bit and that is why my food intake has increased over the years. So after my last test on Friday, he stated he would have Barbara submit my paperwork to BCBSNC for approval. So we will see what he has in mind for me I know he still wants to do a DS version surgery for my revision so if that is not approved, I may have to switch to a provider who actually does the original DS, since he is known for the SIPS.
SO..... enough about me.... how are you doing post surgery....please share any information you are comfortable with about your journey thus far so I can again, add this information to my notes for Q/A on my next visit.

@@Seabreeze06 I met with Dr. Enochs (same practice as Dr. Bruce) and he confirmed that BCBS was no longer covering SIPS. Dr. Bruce may be able to do what Dr. Enochs suggested and do a standard duodenal switch with a longer common channel.
I had my meeting with Dr. Sudan regarding the DS and he is going to do mine with a standard 100 cm common channel. If I am going to have a DS I want the full malabsorptive process and I just know going in that I've gotta be uber diligent about my Water, Vitamins, Protein and follow-up appointments.
Please do tons of research and decide what's best for you. Dr. Keshishian's website has a side by side view of the DS and SIPS/SADI surgery if you want to compare the two. Good luck!

@@SIPSGrammy I am with BSNC as well so you got the SIPS approved through UHC, do you know of anyone recently who has gotten it approved through BCBS of NC? That is my concern like JenKapNC.

There's an app called bariatric timer my NUT told me about, when you eat something tap the bagel and when you drink, tap the wine glass and a countdown clock appears telling you when you can eat or drink next.

Buzzfeed can be, well...buzzfeed. But then you get those little gems like the following. I smiled the whole way scrolling through these photos.
Enjoy!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/the-beth-project#.jaZ2ozbPD

There are lots of people who've had "Band over Bypass" and "Band over Sleeve"....AND vice versa... so listen to the medical professionals.
There are several people who are active on here who got plication when they had their bands placed, and have done fantastic! Some haven't even needed to adjust (fill) thier band post op....for years.
I haven't heard of anyone going to plication after bypass, but I'm sure your surgeon wouldn't be suggesting it without some EXPERT knowledge of its success rates.
And welcome to the forum! I think you'll find most people here non-judgemental about your regaining and seeking more help via a revision. We all needed help to control our eating....some are so quick to forget that.
I wish you much success in whatever you and your surgeon decide is best for you!

Hi everyone, I just received approval from my insurance and have a surgery date in August. It's been a long process and I'm so excited to get to this point.
I've read about a lot of people trying to get back to work as soon as they can - two weeks or less. Did any of you take more time off, or wish that you would have?

I drank pretty heavy before my "stomach stapling" back in 1982 and after, I went down hill fast then sobered up 6 months after. I met several gastric bypass pts. when I was in treatment (I had a serious relapse after 26 years of sobriety). Unfortunately I gained my weight back and looking at a roux n y after years of trying to get this weight off again. Just know it is out there and be on guard.

I agree I'll take my exercise more seriously it seems the most healthy and sane?

I hope I get addicted to exercise! I think I'm going to look for a therapist who specializes in WL

I was worried about my husband and I after I had weight loss surgery more because he met me as a big woman and loves them that way. I feared he would no longer be attracted to me getting smaller. I had surgery two years ago and have gone to counseling both individual and couples just to make sure I kept my head on straight and my husband was able to deal with the changes as well. We have been together for 10 years! I would say the key is really talking to one another.

Your surgeon should be used to it. I had 3 previous abdominal surgeries before my sleeve surgery. I warned my surgeon too and he kind of blew it off when I had my pre-op consult. However, my surgery was scheduled to be done in 90 minutes and ended up taking over 3.5 hours. My husband was really worried while he was waiting for me to get out even though I tried warning him before I went in. I got the last laugh when I woke up and found out how long I was really in surgery for. Lol, maybe they will start listening to their patients. The only effect my scar tissue had on my surgery was making it take longer. Please don't worry about more than you need to and it will all end up as it should be in the end. Good luck and we will make some room on the loser's bench for you.

I think pros and cons are unique to the individual and their situation, and can include anything from financial obligations, family obligations, work obligations, and personal readiness. Only you know that.
However, the sooner you start losing weight, the sooner you start to feel better. Every day is the first day of the rest of your life, so I never believe in wasting that opportunity

I don't understand what a "con" would be of having it sooner? Or to look at it differently, why would you want to put off getting healthier for several months?

Hope things worked out, Baraitric Specialist did my SIPS in Nov and BCBS of NC covered it!

Keep an eye out for a new SIPS/SADI forum! I contacted the admin and he said he would start one specifically for us.