Randgalt

Wow - this is starting to move fast. I have orders for blood work and an EKG that I will fill this week. It looks like I may be sleeved by mid September.

My wife and I did it. For me, it's like everything else. I'm able to do it for a while but I lapse - I can't maintain it.

My understanding is that water makes the food slide out of the sleeve easier thus you don't get the benefit of the restriction.

I'm at the early stages of my VSG adventure. When I joined this forum I set up a ticker and was deciding on my goal weight. How did others here choose a goal weight? Is it a weight you'd be happy with? Is it your ideal (based on BMI) weight? Is it your high school weight? What's realistic? In high school I was 150 and would be thrilled to hit that. I chose 160 as I'd be very happy there. According to the standard BMI charts I should be 140 - I don't think I was ever that thin in high school.

I'm wondering whether I will or not. One of the reasons I'm doing VSG is that there are, technically, no food restrictions after recovery.

I live in Monterey

Doh - I'm doing that. I'm mentally not counting calories like I used because I'm telling myself that I'm going to get the surgery.

Hey Steve - I hope you can get back on track. Gaining 30 lbs 3 years out scares the heck out of me. I'm about to do this myself. I hope this forum helps you.

My mother did in order to get her gastric bypass covered.

Hello folks, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this forum. Without this forum, I can't imagine that I'd be embarking on this surgery. As a child, I was normal weight. However, many members of my extended family were overweight with some having diabetes. In my early 20s I started gaining weight and have never stopped. As I approach 50 I'm obese, have very high blood sugar (and will definitely become Type 2 Diabetic), high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea, etc. I've done Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Phentermine, exercise, Pritikin, and a lot more. A few years ago I looked into the Lap Band and decided against it. The post-band lifestyle and complications were more than I was willing to live with. Gastric Bypass was too severe and not really appropriate for someone with my BMI. A few months ago I found out about VSG and it appears to be the answer to my dreams. My problem has always been binge eating - once I start I can't stop. VSG seems to be the tool that can help me stop. After a lot of investigation I'm pretty sure I'll be going with Dr. Lavin in Louisiana. I'm self pay and he is much cheaper than the doctors in California where I live. Also, he seems to be very highly rated. Anyway - I'm in the very early stages and I'll keep those interested posted via this thread. -Jordan

I just got off the phone with Dr. Lavin and had a great feeling talking to him. I live in California, though. Do folks here think it's worth traveling to LA to do it or would I be better with someone local?

FYI - I've found another clinic doing the procedure: http://www.floridaincisionless.com/ - they do additional anchors in a procedure they call WiFi. The more I learn about this procedure the more excited about it I get.

The biggest problem for me with LapBand is the food restrictions. The POSE procedure reduces appetite and, apparently, reduces hormone release that can cause cravings. But, most importantly, there are no food restrictions. Another great thing about POSE is that there are no incisions and it's done as an out-patient procedure. I don't know much about plication. I'll do more research.

Last year I actively considered a LapBand but ended up rejecting it for a variety of reasons. Recently, I heard about a new procedure that may be the answer to my prayers, POSE. It's more common in Europe - I think there's only one clinic doing it in the US (in Louisiana). I'd appreciate knowing if anyone here knows about it and can give anecdotes/advise/etc. Here are some links: http://abcnews.go.co...ough-the-mouth/ http://www.poseinfo.com/ http://www.southampt...dolumenal-pose/

43 per hour for me. I just started using CPAP this week and it's made a significant difference for me. I'm sleeping _much_ better. I don't wake up groggy.

That's really encouraging. One of the things keeping me from saying yes to the band is situation just like you talk about. If I know I can nibble a bit and not lose it, that helps my decision.

Try to get a sleep study done. My BMI is 37 and it turns out I have Sleep Apnea so Blue Cross will cover it.

I had my first meeting with my Bariatric Doctor, Pamela Foster, today. We meet for well over an hour and it was very informative. I haven't decided to go ahead with a band yet, but I'm almost there. Dr. Foster was very encouraging and laid out everything very clearly. She's been doing bands since 2001 and does over a hundred bands a year so I think she's well qualified. She said that if I wanted, I could be banded by January. Next steps: get a psych exam, some blood work and check in again next month. Stay tuned...

Thanks. I'm diagnosed with "severe" obstructive sleep apnea. So, I think that should get me coverage. Now, I need to get my mind around actually doing this thing.

"What I want is to be like normal people who can have one cookie and stop" That says it all for me. Once I start, I can't stop.

Even Insurance covered banders have to pay co-pay, deductible, etc., right? I think that can come to $2K which is not small change.

Hey ziggledog, You seem to have the same stats that I do - age 46, BMI around 37, around 230 lbs. You say your insurance covered 100%, I assume you had co-morbidities. Was it sleep apnea? I've just been diagnosed with it and am hoping to get insurance coverage for banding.

gnortenjones, what are the slider foods that are trouble for you?

Hey - another guy here I'm still in the investigation stage. This site is very helpful.