laceemouse

Which BCBS do you have? I have BCBS Texas and have been waiting over 2 weeks for my approval, they said it sometimes takes a month. Each BCBS is different, each state is a different company, and there are different plans even within each state's BCBS. Anyway, good luck. I am tired of worrying about it, I need to get my mind off it.

Never in a million years would I take that risk. Of course if I never drank again I wouldn't care. I would ask your doctor, never heard of anyone being given the okay that soon.

I didn't mean to sound mean, I honestly think there is something wrong with me. So many people talk about head hunger and emotional eating and eating because they are bored, etc. I am pre-surgery and I can tell you that I am physically hungry all the time. It isn't just in my head. My stomach growls, it feels empty. And it happens when I am not bored in the least. I didn't have a tough childhood and I am not an overly emotional person now. I have a pretty easy, happy life. I start every day thinking I am going to "eat healthy and do better" but by the middle of the afternoon I feel like I am going to faint with hunger. When I eat a healthy dinner (lean Protein, veggies, maybe even a small serving of healthy carbs) I get up from the table hungry. I meet friends for lunch and have a normal, healthy "lady" lunch. If we sit and talk for a couple of hours I leave the restaurant hungry. I hate it

Can I ask a dumb question? Why did you think it would be easy? If eating almost nothing was easy for me I wouldn't have gotten obese. Every diet I have ever tried has been hard for me because I am HUNGRY morning, noon, and night. Once I did Weight Watchers for a few months and lost about 40 pounds. This is the most success I have ever had with ANY diet. It is low calorie, but not super low. I woke up hungry, ate all I was allowed to eat all day long, was hungry all day, and went to bed hungry! I am just surprised that other people who are large enough to be getting WLS have not had to deal with hunger. I think I was born hungry.

Usually, when a young person says "I am obese but I have no problems with blood pressure or blood sugar or anything else" I say "just wait". Those things tend to come with age. Prior my mid to late '40's I said those things as well. However, you make a great point about having children. I was normal weight in high school. I gained quite a bit my first 2 years of college but lost it back. I was normal weight when I got married at 25 and normal weight when I got pregnant with my first daughter at 28. Then, I had 4 babies in a 6 year time span (no accidents, we wanted all of them!) I was starving with every pregnancy. I gained too much each time, and never lost it all back before getting pregnant again despite breastfeeding. All this to say, I can't imagine having a tiny sleeved tummy while pregnant. If I didn't eat I felt sick, I needed to eat when I needed to eat. IF your weight is down to the point that you can get pregnant easily and have safe and healthy pregnancies and deliveries (obese moms are much more likely to have fertility, pregnancy and delivery complications) then by all means I would definitely have all the babies you want to have and then worry about getting the weight off. Best of luck to you!

From everything I have read the sleeve is not a good choice for those with GERD. Did your doctor discuss the options with you?

That doesn't sound too bad, I think I would pass out if I had to do 2 weeks of liquid pre-op and then continue on with several weeks of liquid after surgery. My surgeon says too many people cheat with the 2 week pre-op (I know most people here don't) Honestly one of the reasons I chose him is because he said "3 days of pre-op starvation is enough". And I don't work outside the home, I can't imagine having the energy to go back to work after weeks of no food!

What do you use it for?

My surgeon uses a drain but they remove it before you go home. He says it speeds recovery. I have noticed that he lets people progress to pureed and soft foods faster than most people here do. Honestly I am happy about that so I will endure the drain. He also only does a three day pre op diet. Some people don't do any. They are all so different. Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

It will get better and better every day, try to get a little closer to the goal each day. You aren't hurting yourself unless you get dehydrated. We have lots of fat reserves to use up, that's why we need WLS. Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

Every surgeon and insurance plan does things differently. I saw my surgeon in early August, talked to him and asked questions. Then the nurse went over with me what MY insurance requires me to do (not much really, I am lucky) I was given a number to call and set up a psych eval (it seems like everyone has to do at least one psych visit) My doctor needed a few other things and when everything was in his office the insurance woman sent it all to BCBS for approval. They told me not to keep bugging them about it, nothing more can be done until I am approved. It could take up to a month but has now been 2 weeks. AFTER insurance approves my surgery I will go back for more NUT info, blood work, etc. Then I will get a surgery date. Are you self pay? Things can go quickly then. If you want insurance to pay there can be many hoops to jump through.

So exciting! Keep us posted on how you are doing! Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

Way back when they used to think stomach ulcers were caused by stress or spicy foods but several years ago they figured out that a bacteria causes them. They are treatable with antibiotics. I would think they would have you on medication for them??? Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

Most insurance will only pay if BMI is 40, under that you need to have other health issues. Do you have any? I am your same weight but one inch shorter, awaiting insurance approval but my surgeon thinks it won't be a problem. I will never wear a bikini again, I had four huge babies. Also keep in mind, most of us will have loose skin after weight loss. Your height should help some though. Good luck!! Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

The likelihood of losing 50 pounds on your own and keeping it off for 5 years is about 2%. Most of us have more to lose than that, I need to lose twice that much. My husband is very supportive. I have told my adult kids and don't plan to tell anyone else. People who don't have a weight problem will never understand, and other people with a weight problem will most likely be jealous. Just limit who you tell. Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

Congrats and good luck!! I can't wait to have a surgery date, it sounds like you are ready!

Thanks for posting this. I am awaiting insurance approval, I assume I will get something like this, but even so it will be nice to compare. There is always more to learn!

I am pre-surgery, but I think you really need to keep up with your water and protein goals, even if you don't feel like it.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I have researched enough to know that you will be able to eat again, in small amounts, but it is going to take weeks or even months. And some people never eat carbs again (either they don't sit well or they don't lose weight when they eat them) As far as the discomfort I think that is normal but I would call my surgeon if I was really concerned. I have a suggestion for you, go to YouTube and search for VSG, WLS, etc. There are HUNDREDS of people who make videos about their journey. They will explain how they felt, complications, what they are able to eat when, etc. VERY informative.

If one co-morbidity would get you approved then go ahead and ask for the sleep study. Do you plan to have more children? I hate to say it but honestly I would probably get done with having kids before WLS if it were me, unless my weight was making it impossible for me to conceive or have a healthy pregnancy but they doesn't seem like the case with you. I had 4 kids in 6 years back in the '90's. I was normal weight when I started, I gained a lot the first pregnancy but not nearly as much the other 3 times. Every time I was a higher starting weight and never got all the pregnancy weight off. I was starving when I was pregnant and starving when I was nursing (basically, I was starving the entire decade!) I was never heavy enough in those days, or had any other health problems, so I didn't even consider WLS. I was mildly successful with Weight Watchers a couple of times but always gained it back. I know many people go on to have healthy pregnancies after WLS but I would be so concerned about getting enough nutrition without gaining too much. I know someone pregnant with twins after WLS and she is struggling to get enough calories in to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Just something to think about. Also, when I was born my brothers were teens and my sister was 9. I love them but honestly feel like we aren't even in the same family. My kids are all close in age and best friends with each other. I wouldn't have it any other way personally! After WLS you should wait at least a year to get pregnant, keep that in mind as well. How much of a gap in age do you want between your kids (assuming you want more)? I do have to say my PCP is not in favor of me having WLS. Thankfully with BCBS Texas she doesn't have to be! If I don't get approved for some reason I will consider self pay, maybe even Mexico. Have you looked into other options? Anyway, just my two cents.

I like when people post stats, I agree, it helps a lot! As soon as I get a surgery date I will add a ticker

I understand. Is the FB group private? Or secret?

I am still waiting for my approval, best of luck to both of you!

I have seen many concerts, don't think I ever saw one I didn't want to see My first concert was in 1978 or so, I was in high school. We lived north of Pensacola, FL but my friends and I drove to Mobile, AL to see Billy Joel. I saw him a couple of other times after that, he is fantastic! The last concert I saw was a couple of summers ago, my daughter Chloe and I saw John Mayer in Dallas. Incredible.

The first surgeon I considered told me a story about a man who ate bar-b-q soon after surgery. He ended up with a leak. The surgeon I decided to use has a support group run but a nurse that works with him. She has been working with bariatric surgeons for 3 years, during that time she has only seen 1 leak, and it was also someone who ate solid food before they were supposed to. A leak can kill you. Many people are hospitalized for weeks after a leak, more surgery, etc. I am pre-op but I can tell you those stories scared me to death!!