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GassyGurl

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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Everything posted by GassyGurl

  1. GassyGurl

    Timing

    I'm unsure of the best time to start this whole process and wanted to see if ya'll could offer your experience. It seems convoluted to me because I'm borderline 35 Bmi. I have federal Bcbs, Aka fepblue. My requirements are: 2 year morbid obesity. 35 bmi with at least 1 comorbidity. 3 month supervised weight loss program, including nutritional counseling Prep nutritional assessment Evidence of filed attempts in the past year Psych eval The only evidence I can find weight wise is from Oct 2015, where my Bmi was 35.1. In Feb 2015 my Bmi was 34.9 (ugh, we are talking 1 lb) . In 2016 my bmi was 33-34 because I was taking contrave, which is only allowed for a year. So I guess my 2 year clock started Oct 2015, unless they rounded up the 34.9 to 35. I think I have the comorbidity covered with high cholesterol, arthritis, possible rheumatoid arthritis, and 'elevated BP without hypertension'. Do I wait to see the surgeon until October? Or should I see them now and start the process? But I fear I will lose weight and not hit 2 year mark and then be disqualified insurance wise. I would really like to something in the meantime. Would they 'let me' do the psych, supervised diet and nutritional counseling now? One lesson I learned is to quit telling nurses I'm 5'3". I used to say that because I was desperate for the lower bmi. Now I'm desperate for the higher Bmi. Ugh. It feels like a game. I don't like playing games with my life. WHY couldn't I have weighed 1 more pound in Feb 2015? Lol. Tips?
  2. I am losing some hair at the 5 month mark... Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  3. GassyGurl

    Complications

    Some studies say most obese people have hiatal hernias. Totally common for your surgeon to fix at the same time. Just a few stitches to tighten up the diaphragm. Feel better soon Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  4. GassyGurl

    More "dumping" questions

    For me, sugar is sugar, my body doesn't care if it's from fruit or a packet. (I had VSG). Protein and fiber help slow down digestive emptying, so yes they might help. But higher protein/fiber shouldnt be justification to eat higher sugar. I have found the low glycemic foods to be "better". Once it starts, you just have to let it pass. For me, it's not consistent. It seems to happen with more liquid type foods and isnt always tied to grams of sugar. High carbs in general can do it, but high sugar always does. It sometimes seems random and I havent figured it all out yet. I can eat kit kats, but not drink a premier protein shake. I can't eat mashed potatoes or soup. Oatmeal is fine. I can eat dry cereal fine, but I cant eat it with milk. I also get late dumping/reactive hypoglycemia. Between 2 and 3 hours, my glucose crashes. It sucks. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  5. My insurance would ha e denied my claim had I dropped below the bmi requirement on the preop diet. They wanted all weights reported. Not just a consult weight like some talk about. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  6. I like coconut rum mixed with a coconut bai. The bai has 5 calories. I also add a little sugar free davinci pineapple syrup. I sometimes get dumping from wine. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  7. GassyGurl

    Body Countouring

    Out of all the boards I have read, I've never seen anyone talk about skin Tightening with lasers. I'm researching PS and I've never come across a single mention of it. Is it new? Maybe it is that rare! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  8. I had the sleeve and get dumping. Not from sugar, but from liquids, like protein shakes, milk and soup. It's not all the time, and very scary and frustrating. I've almost passed out from it. I did read that bariatric patients should treat it with protein vs carbs. Carbs will cause a rebound blood sugar issue, where protein is more stable. I now keep emergency jerky in my purse and have felt much better. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  9. I could have done it after bariatrixc surgery, but not after gallbladder surgery. Some people are vice versa. It all depends! But if you can push it out, it would probably be better. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  10. GassyGurl

    How does pain compare?

    My gallbladder was much worse. I asked my surgeon why, and he said short surgeries and outpatient surgeries are generally worse than inpatient and/or longer surgeries. He said with longer and inpatient, there are more or drugs they can give you, better pain control, and there is more time for the drugs to percolate through your system during surgery. For my sleeve, I was awake in recovery, was up walking and rated my pain a 2. For my gallbladder, it was like an 8. Best of luck! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  11. GassyGurl

    Florida Bariatric Surgeons

    I didnt do a conversion, but I travelled from SC to the Ft Lauderdale area to see Dr Taggar at Bariatrix FL. I would do it again! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  12. GassyGurl

    Self pay

    I used bariatrix too. I'm almost 1 year out, lost 62 lbs and feel good. There was 2 surgeons, I used dr taggar ;but he recently moved closer to his family. Everyone loves Dr wizman and dr Taggar. I recommend them to everyone. I have no complaints. I wrote a detailed review after my surgery, I think you can find it through my profile somehow, or under Dr wizmans name in the surgeons directory. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  13. GassyGurl

    Self pay

    I used bariatrix. http://drwizman.com/ There was 2 surgeons, I used dr taggar ;but he recently moved closer to his family. Everyone loves dr wizman. https://www.drshillingford.com/ dont know much about him, but when I was researching, everything was favorable. He has prices on his website. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  14. GassyGurl

    Self pay

    Many,many testimonials on Mexico on this board. This page is affiliated with bariatric pal in mx. Read here, plus watch some of dr illans you tube videos. Also dr Ariel ortiz at the obesity control center. Totally will put your mind at ease. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  15. GassyGurl

    Self pay

    I had mine done in ft Lauderdale FL for $9000 (was a special). There are several drs who are under around 11k . Bariatrix Fl is who I used. My insurance covered all preop testing. EKG, bloodwork, psych eval. I travelled on Thursday, had surgery Friday. paid for 2 nights in the hospital, however only stayed 1. Follow up in office Monday, then traveled home. Dr shillingford is another surgeon in the area that has a good self pay rate. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  16. GassyGurl

    Price increases

    Is this just the hospital portion? I paid $9000 total last year. $3000 for the surgeon, $6000 for the 2 night hospital stay. Prices vary so much. Where I live, cash prices are $19000. So I went to Florida. Something seems fishy....if they quoted you a price, they should honor it. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  17. Thank you for the clarification. I mistakenly used generic terms that float around in my support group. Our nurse suggests muscle milk when someone cant tolerate something like premier. Or pea protein, egg protein, etc. It seems to be a common problem post op, and my main point was intended to be, "try something else till you find something that works". Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  18. For me, I get fatigue, and heart palpitations. Some get diarrhea, and the other symptoms mentioned above, but you dont have to have all the symptoms. Have you tried a lactose free shake like muscle milk? Some become lactose intolerant post pp. Try some diifferent protein shakes to see if it makes a difference. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  19. None of the practices where I live do the swallow test. They do a blue dye test in the OR. There is a chance you will not need it! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  20. I havent had it done via the robot, but my nurse told me she thinks the robot is really only necessary for complex gynecological or urological surgeries. She said it adds time on the table and more anesthesia time. Her recommendation to me was to choose laprascopic so I'd be under anesthesia for a shorter time. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  21. This happens to me, I'm just short of a year out. I just strike a Charlie's angel type pose till it passes (a few seconds) Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  22. GassyGurl

    Cash prices in the US for Bypass

    I had surgery in ft Lauderdale, fl. I paid $8899 for the sleeve last August. I used bariatrix fl, dr taggar. Dr shillingford is also another dr that is at the same hospital and has a great self pay rate. Also, dr berland in Louisiana (he might just do the sleeve) or dr umbach in Las Vegas. All cater to travelling patients. Look up dr Kim in Texas. He does a "hernia discount". Insurance covers the hernia fix and he charges you cash for the sleeve. Other surgeonsdo this, but they're hard to find. Dont rule out Mexico till you've read the reviews, and interviewed Drs, or at least watched them on YouTube. They cater to travelling patients and most have a fantastic experience. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  23. GassyGurl

    Help with vitamins

    Your best bet might be to get a good high potency multi, then supplement with extra calcium , iron, b and possibly d. Our practice has similar requirements, but nothing meet all the requirements. Some need extra this, some need extra that. But, the biggest complaint of the all in one types are they're huge, and it becomes cumbersome. I take flintstones complete, plus barimelts D, barimelts D, weekly b12 and. Complex. They're all tasty and tiny and I meet all the requirements. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  24. GassyGurl

    Surgical Glue.....

    I've had it twice. First time, it was peeling off in less than a week. It was sloppy, and thin, but I also had stitches. 2nd time, my big incision had enough glue it could have passed as gorilla tape. This dr didn't used stitches, but did a meticulous thick glue job. I pulled it off on day 15, and it felt like torture. I felt ok pulling it off, because it had worn through right over the incision scab. Obviously it was healed and wasn't serving a purpose anymore. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app
  25. GassyGurl

    Vitamins I love

    I used flintstones complete, and use barimelts to meet my iron and vitamin d targets. Taking 1 barimelts iron gets me to 54, and 1 barimelts vitamin d puts me over my target. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

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