cole83

Have you called member services yet? I find it really hard to believe you can't see you. I will ask around tomorrow...I work at Kaiser and can get you the number if you need it. My understanding with medical is if you have ever had a Kaiser number they have to honor it and I can't see why they would not cover all things especially one like that. Its like a car...they better give you some kind of insurance or warranty. I am sorry, I would be pissed. That was a huge fear of mine if I had the band. Richmond has an ER right? You can go in there...they cannot refuse anyone and have to see you. If you want the number to member services let me know. Email me rebecca_cole83@yahoo.com and I will check into stuff as best as I can tom.

I went to orientation one year ago...but had a lot going on so had to once again put myself to the side. So I am trying again. I need to get motivated enough to do it. I would love to keep up with you to see how the sleeve goes...I am a little worried but need it!

Did you go through all the appts already? It is that far out???? I want the sleeve. NOW! HAHA I think I get nervous and screw myself up so have not lost the last ten pounds

Just wanna say thank you all. Ash...I read some of your post on the sleeve site and its so refreshing that all the things i have worried about are things you did as well. I am set on the sleeve. Need to get moving and into surgery soon

Ya I saw Dr. Baggs and he suggested the sleeve. Said I would be more successful with the sleeve and could lose more weight if I went that route. Whoever said the thing about the insurance not covering the band if and having issues with getting it handled if need be once insurance was lost really hit hard. I mean I totally changed my focus...I think we are all in fear of losing our jobs at this rate and what would happen if I got the band and lost my job...I would be screwed. I just wish there was more research on the sleeve...long term. But it seems like the worst that can happen is it will strectch back out if I eat too much. I am not worried like I was about malabsorption like I was before. Just don't want my daughter to ever have to take care of me...but if I don't lose the weight she will anyway. Thinking the sleeve maybe a better option for me. I love reading what everyone has to say...it is soooo helpful.

Hey strangers......... I am thinking more sleeve. Why is this so hard?? Did you all have such an issue deciding what was right for you?

Yup Pam I am still set on the band. I know it can be done and I would just need the tool to help me out. You guys are such inspirations to see...thank you all :bolt:

I know when I met with Dr. Baggs he said that the band is considered a success if someone has lost 50lbs...but that most people don't lose anymore then that. He also said it is a lot more work and with the other surgeries you simply cannot eat vrs. with the band you can, and you can easily cheat so it is more the person controlling the band that will work or not. I think they are pushing the sleeve more simply because it is a lot less work as far as appts...fills and unfills. It is also easier to lose and at a much faster rate. But who knows...I was surprised cause I had not been told about the sleeve prior to my meeting the doctor and he recommended me to do it. Since I need to lose more then 50lbs and apparently most people don't lose much more then that with the band. Now...I plan to be the execption and to lose a whole lot more. HAHAHAHA

Thank you guys so much for all the wonderful input. I have had my mind set on the band for many reasons and as much as the sleeve is starting to sound appealing I am still pretty set on the band. I like that it is totally ajustable and can be removed, I would love to have another baby in the future and seems like a better option for things like that. I also told Dr. Baggs my reasoning for wanted the band because he was recommending the sleeve and he ran some more blood test. I told him a major concern for me was the issues my mom had years ago after reversing her bypass and she was extremely anemic and was getting Iron infusions weekly until she passed. So he ran the test and it has me worried about doing any major removing of the body parts! I am already super low in iron and since there just is not all that much backing the sleeve I am sticking to the band. I agree that with every surgery some people get lucky, but some don't. I have known a few people who have been super successful with the gastric and one that has had the band and they are all so happy with the choices they made. But it seems like there is just not a lot of research yet on the sleeve to see how it affects people 30 years later in life. I just worry being 27 that removing part of my tummy could mess me up later...at least with the band it can be removed. Just wanted to say thanks to you all for all the super important feedback...it helps sooo much to have real people who have had these surgeries. You guys are the BEST! I will email Dr. Baggs today and ask him why he says the sleeve over the band. I think mainly his reasoning for that was because of the success rates and its much less work overall. But we will see what he says. Have a good day everyone...thanks again :thumbup:

Hey guys.... Weird how my email stopped showing me when you all write on here so I thought everyone was on vacation! haha So...I am seriously considering the sleeve now. Any lap-banders out there wish they had done the sleeve instead?

Thanks for the input guys. I am hoping to take like 2 weeks off. I have not yet told work about it cause I work with a bunch of non-supportive nurses! I had talked about it last year and they were so negative and harped on it. So...may have to use the hernia story too! hehe Hope everyone has a wonderful week...another hot one here!

Well....went to my Psych appt yest and all went well. I was down 5lbs so only 7 more until I can set a date with the case manager. The psychologist said she could not find anything wrong with my brain if she tried! haahhah Its gonna be another hot one here....yuck! How did you all do with getting time off work and how long were you off? I don't know how to request it since I have no clue when it will be or for how long I need off.

I have my Psych appt today and getting nervous for some reason...how long is this appt? what do they ask? how long did it take you all to get there? appt is at 1:30...thinking leaving at 12 will be good?

swrktp...Sorry think your name is Tina but not sure! Do you mean they changed your mind about wanting to look into the sleeve? Just curious. Tamra...That is an awesome amount of weight to have lost and you should be super happy. I would be! April..glad you are feeling better and home now...how scary. Everyone else...HAPPY 4TH OF JULY :tt1: Heading to Aptos to play in the sand with my little princess and the family.

Chrissy you are a great friend for being there for April. April...best wishes on a speedy recovery. Everyone else hope you all have a wonderful day. Off to another fun filled day at work!

So.... reading all your post makes me so eager to get my surgery. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

Tamra thanks for the advice. I agree with the fact that I don't really want to have anything cut out of me yet. So is that book something you recommend? Need to be really really good this week. Meet the Psych doctor a week from this Friday and hoping to be almost to my pre-surgery goal weight! Ummmmm....the crystal light slushy sounds GREAT. I read someone posted it before...so I actually am trying it right now. But it is sooo frozen, do you freeze it over night and then let it thaw all day to make its slushy-ish? hehe. It is super hot...can't wait to lose some weight and not dread this heat so much. Hope you all had a wonderful day.

So...how many fills have most of you had in order to get to a good spot or to hit your sweet spot of losing weight? Is pb throwing up? Sorry just curious. Tamra...would you rather have had the sleeve? You guys have me thinking now

Pat......THANK YOU sooo much for the help and for your support. What a great inspiration you are and so glad Dr. Park said we would have a good success rate since they seem to be phasing it out I think they are talking people out of it. But I think Dr. Park is the highest rated surgeons...so that is excellent to hear. Thank you somuch for sharing. As for everyone else I am sorry I missed the meeting today. Had no babysitter so did not want to impose my little princess on anyone just yet! Hope it went well.

Thanks John...will see how it goes :bored:

Thanks Riley, you made my day! That is super encouraging to read. I would love to lose 100lbs. that is what I am aiming for but more realisticly looking closer to like 70 or 80. I have to go get my EKG today and some more blood work Dr. Baggs ordered. Hope I kind find the EKG place in the new huge Kaiser Roseville!

:bored::thumbup: :thumbup::thumbup::tt2::thumbup:Ashley THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I am glad you sleevers are on here...I love to hear how things with you are going. The lap-band from what I have learned is much slower. With other surgeries I think weight loss is mainly within the first year...lap-band it takes about 2-4 from what the doc said. I guess I am just too scared to get the sleeve after what happened with my mom years ago. I would rather have something put in that I can remove if need be. But I love reading about the sleeve...I was not familiar with it at all before reading about it on here.

You all make me even more excited to have my surgery and start losing. I would love to be in the 180's too...Good job! How long ago was surgery? I would love more then anything to lose 16lbs in one month...thats AWESOME! I looked into Optifast too...but have not seen many people stay successfull with it. It is really expensive as well and Kaiser won't cover it so it ends up being about $4500.00 which is a lot in my opinion, especially cause all you get is shakes and no real food for like 16 weeks. A few women in my office have done it and lost fast but gained it all back. One didn't lose at all really...but she prob cheated. lol Everytime I begin to doubt the lap-band because of the negative feelings the doctor has I get on here and realize I can totally do it. Dr. Baggs recommended the other surgery but said he will do whatever I want. I really respect that.

THANK YOU ALI....I think I figured it out...looked at that page forever and finally saw it. Too funny!