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My surgery date was set for yesterday and I was denied again on Tues. So frustrating. My surgeon wants to appeal. I'm ready to just be done with all the BS here and head to Mexico. I'd actually pay less there then my out of pocket with insurance here!

RidinMyHDDream / Carol I know this is suppose to be a LapBand forum "BUT" be very carefull and try an keep your bike to the regular maintance schedule. Should anything ever happen to it "under warranty" it may come back to haunt you if you dont! I took my 01 bagger in about a 1000 miles late once and they warned me about it and changed the mileage on the ticket to be inline with the regular schedule for warranty perposes. I also have a trailer I pull from time to time, seen a million of em on the road but "that's a big NO NO"! If a Harley rep was to walk into their shop while servicing my bike with that hitch on, it would VOID my warranty! To hard on the tranny they say (I say BS). I've rode since I was a pup, started out on a Honda Trail 50 (Mini Bike). My son went through the Marines and is in his last year of the Harley school in Pittsburg Ks. He'll be in the very first graduating class of the 4yr school. I've learned ALOT from him (and I thought I knew everything, just dont tell him!) Yes, would highly recomend Sturgis one week before the crowd hit's. Still lot's of folk's to talk to but motel room's are $100 per day cheaper! Some vendor's are already there and selling run shirt's, road's are not nearly as crowded. I'm a babysetter, I worry about all those that are with me. Fewer bike's, less worry! To keep this on the LapBand side, I started my Pre-op diet a week ago and was having cramps all night last night. Lower belly, lower back & leg cramps, anyone experience this in pre-op diet??? I use to buy banana's for the potaseum to help but there not on my diet. I've gone from eating anything and everything to 500-565 calories a day. Breakfast - 8oz Protein shake lunch - 8oz Protein shake dinner - Steak or chicken w/vegie & salad I started Jan 16th just to get use to it, I'm actually suppose to start today. I have read and re-read the info given me but I need a meal planner I guess. Was wondering if anyone knew if I was lacking something in the diet to cause the cramping??? ANY INPUT would greatly be appriciated! Y'all have a good day, Steve

Im at 8 weeks. I chew everything to mush, which isn't hard bc they are all air..

I used to have similar pain in my right hip down to my knee from a pinched nerve. The entire side of my leg would go numb and they sent me for an EMG. They stick tiny pins in my foot/ankle/leg/hip/back that gave tiny little shocks or something crazy. Then used some other big pronged thing jabbed into my hip area to shock the nerve and it hurt ridiculously awful! End results and how to relieve the issue...Lose weight to reduce pressure on the nerve. I wanted to slap the Dr doing EMG, bc that made me hurt more than I already did. *this was cpl years prior to my band surgery*

I'm seven out from my RNY surgery and I'm BS crazy right now. I cried most of yesterday. Hand in there. :-).

I have FED BCBS standard option. Can anyone tell me the difference in costs between standard and basic options? I'm in Ohio but I don't think that makes a difference. Thanks

Yeah I just called and asked if the scheduler was in bc she leaves early a lot. Well the receptionist comes back and tells me "she has your chart and will call you TOMORROW" ???????? urgh

I have BC/BS Federal and add to list all the diet attempts that I had tried in the past basically the year I tried them the date I tried them how much weight I lost and then how much if any I regained. My surgeon had a form that has different types of weight loss places that you may have gone Yee. Weight Watchers, Atkins, the different places that you buy the meals and lose weight like Jenny Craig Nutrisystem. I think I had to list at least three or four but that's all they required from me it didn't have to be listed in my medical record thru my PCM I just had to be a tent that I said I try to do. I would call your insurance company and get verification on exactly what they need that would be the best thing good luck with that. I am using voice to text on this message so if there are any errors forgive me.

I am literally in the same situation as you Adam. 21 years old with a social life! I’m from the UK though. My surgery weight was 266lbs. And I’m 4 weeks post op. My last weigh in over a week ago was 240lbs. I haven’t weighed myself since as I know from experience regular weigh ins mess with my head! I can see inches coming off though so holding back on buying a new wardrobe just yet. I used to drink loads on nights out. With friends. I’m nervous about now in the future bc even drinking water too fast or too much in 1 go physically hurts. Not to mention the annoying-odour-free burping. And then I would always have to what we’d call a “sober munch” before returning home lol. So as to not end up choking on our own sick in bed. Ie a greasy take out to absorb the vodka and sober us up! I’ve no idea how that is meant to happen now with the new sleeve capacity but I’m also not that bothered either like they’re empty calories. My friends have the skinny gene where they’d eat and drink and never gain weight. I wasn’t as fortunate so I ruined my own life going along with the crowd and eating out just to snap it for Snapchat and the gram! (social media) so even if I can get drunk on 2 packs now of vodka and a low calorie drink mix then I’m happy with that but I wouldn’t start drinking until I’m at my goal weight. Ie 7 months I think. I’m aiming for 175lbs. I sometimes have regretted getting the sleeve done because I didn’t have THAT much weight to lose and I did manage to lose 4 stone dieting in 2 years. No exercise. And just eating calories less than my BMR. But I couldn’t live like that for the rest of my life so I wanted to be able to enjoy food but smaller portions so I see that as a positive. I’ve been waiting to get cleared at 6 weeks before going ahead with my personal trainer because I’ve never stepped foot in a gym in my life! My surgery was done in Erdem Hospital in Turkey btw. It was £7000 cheaper than the UK (£10,000). I don’t have any communication with the surgeon or nutritionist so my diet I’m doing myself based on posts and archives from here but also I’m doing my 2nd year of nurse training so it’s part of my career too. I feel like there will be stalls in weight loss but that’s just because our body has gotten used to a certain routine so things need tweaking and changing. The thing about protein and vitamins is true for hair loss. Very true. I already suffered from hereditary hair loss anyway from about 16! So the fact I got this done now 5 years later and I’m 22 in 2 months, doesn’t help either so I’m still looking online for the perfect multi vitamin and protein supplement. I can drink shakes easily (not in 1 go) but the taste doesn’t bother me unlike some but yeah my Hospital were useless like that so I’ve been left to my own devices and find my own tablets for life. But I’m glad to know there’s someone my age on here now who’s going through the same thing as me!

I use organic Protein powder and it is great. It is called Fit365 www.fit365.com (Kyle Brown) (858)794-7777. He developed this Protein Powder just for picky people like me. (Smile) Grass-Fed Whey Protein (21g) Coconut Oil High Fiber Live Probiotics Gluten Free Non-GMO Soy Free Low Glycemic I was very concerned about using whey powder, especially since I try to eat organic when ever I can. However, many whey Proteins never claim to be organic and taste great at the same time. This one is and you can taste the difference. It is clean and taste great like I said before. I bought the vanilla bean and it blends with about anything. It is very filling too.

I can put away 2oz of pumpkin pie filling only w/ whipped cream. It was awesome & my bday "cake" bc I was on pureed then. Enjoy but measure bc the pie is sooo yummy it'll sneak up on you. allons-y

Unfortunately, due to a reaction I had to my anesthesia, I am still in the hospital, but aside from that I think everything is going well. My doctor did come in to check on me this morning and was asking me what all I kept down yesterday (liquid diet) and as I was telling him I saw his eyes get wide bc someone had given me apple juice. It says I can have fat free apple juice, but this was no sugar added and I drank two of them yesterday (4 oz each). I had no idea bc the nurses were bringing it so I thought they probably knew what they were giving me. Oops! I know now and won't do that again, but he was afraid of my body dumping bc of it although that didn't happen. Anyways, hope everyone else's surgeries and few days post op are going smoothly! I will hopefully overcome this postoperative myalgia soon and get to go home and see my puppy dogs. I'd love to hear how things are for everyone else. I am interested to get on a scale, but haven't had the chance yet. Best, Rach

Congrats AShlop80!!! That's AWESOME!! I'm glad Fed Blue was on it and got these decisions done quickly! Did they give you a surgery date?

I'm playing the waiting game with bcbs fed as well! It seems like it's taking them FOREVER! Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

This thread is very enlightening bc I thought I was doomed with straws lol Then when I had my negative experience with one by accident, that just cinched it! I like straws bc before WLS, they were my primary tool for drinkibg so much Water daily and since WLS, water has been sooo hard to get in, having to pick up my buba barrel and sip sip sip ....I much rather suck lol ha.. Hopefully after I heal more, I will be able to use a straw again

I went with Hospital BC in Tijuana Mexico, they are affiliated with BariatricPal and the only U.S, owned Hospital there. I had belt lipectomy with butterfly lift, medial thigh lift and breast augmentation. Everything was included, transportation to and from the airport, 7 night hospital stay, meals 24, hour care, pre op testing, Faja (x2) compression stockings, etc. $14,350 this also included my companion. I paid $366.40 for two people to fly round trip via Delta airlines. I did have one unexpected expense around $700 but that was all. My surgery was very long. I’m in the process of recovery since I had it June 15th. My surgeon is awesome 👏 I highly recommend them. They have 24 hour valet, nurse and doctor. Even when a nurse could not speak much English I felt they communicated well, and when they needed it the valet translates. I felt safe and knew my Dr. did a good surgery and the staff took care of me despite it being a challenging time due to COVID-19. https://hospitalbc.com

The hormones in Mirena should not effect weight loss. They are very low dose and released and act directly in the uterus. They do not circulate in the blood stream. The hormome in Mirena works differently than bc pills to prevent pregnancy. I have Mirena, am a VSG patient, and a Midwife. You should be fine! Good luck! Leslie

looks like your off to a great start.:cursing: and you can really tell it in your face. on a side note. how did you like dr.miles? im going to him and hoping to get my bc/bs papers any day now.

I’m feeling awful, not physically but emotionally. I am 2 months post op today. My first month post op I felt great. I recovered quickly & was learning quickly how to eat and drink afterwards. My sleeve seems to like just about anything unless I eat too fast and don’t realize it. Emotionally after surgery I also felt amazing. I felt better than I had in years. I finally felt like I was seeing progress and started to feel a lot better about myself and I felt as if I was dealing with my relationships with people a lot better (I always felt very anxious around people). I felt so confident about the decision that I made, that I decided that it shouldn’t be kept a secret. If someone asked where I’ve been or how I had been losing weight so quickly, I had no problem telling them about the surgery. It was the first time in a long period of time that I didn’t spend a couple days crying over things that hurt me, it felt freeing and I felt on my way to this ‘new’ life. But the last two weeks I have felt absolutely awful. I feel like everyone’s treating me like crap. My boyfriend was very supportive when the surgery happened but now continually tries to offer me food that I shouldn’t be eating. We went out to eat and over dinner I wanted to talk to him about how serious it was that I change the habits I had before surgery and how I didn’t want to get sucked back into greasy, fat, fried & fast food again. I asked him if he could please just eat a little healthier around me (ex: a sandwich instead of a burger) instead of asking me to stop at a fast food place when he gets into my car if I can just make him something when we get back to my place. He still didn’t understand after this conversation what I was saying.. He thinks its ok to eat that kind of food because I “can’t eat much of it anyways”, so he thinks it does no harm. Not even five minutes after this conversation he asks if I want to split a milkshake with him. *rolls eyes* On top of this, I have also lost all of my sex drive.. I honestly don’t know if it’s because I’m finally taking birth control for the first time ever.. or because I’m fed up with all of it. Other than that my mother has never been supportive of any kind of surgery and thinks it’s easy to just jump on a treadmill and eat some carrots in order to get down to the weight you need to. I moved in with my sister 5 days before I had surgery. She has always been the All-Star of the family. Skinny, dancer, beautiful, dresses & carries herself nicely & so on. I’ve always been very envious of her and always have looked up to her. These past two weeks have had me feeling so awkward around her and her friends. I just feel like that fat kid in the corner that doesn’t have a clue. Besides everyone else, I’m really not making myself any better. I get all dolled up and look in the mirror and sometimes I just cry.. I feel like I look awful and I get such anxiety just thinking I have to go out looking this way… I don’t have much support with the decision I made besides myself. I was comfortable with that but when people, a long with your own mindset try to throw you off the wagon.. It gets really hard to try to get back on.. I honestly don’t really know how to get my mind ‘back in the game’. Don’t get me wrong.. I’m still having all my protein and vitamins throughout the day. The only thing that has lacked recently is my exercising. I guess I just needed to vent.. but mostly was hoping for some feedback.. any suggestions on how to get out of this rut…

Hi everyone, I am a 58 y/o woman, 5'3", 281 lbs, and a 50 BMI. Right now I have good BC/BS Insurance both as a primary and as a secondary, and I have been trying for about 8 months to get their support for my surgery without success. Now I have found that one of the native American tribes is willing to pay for my surgery. Their rules are: 1 join and attend a weight loss group 2. Exercise daily and keep a journal 3. Attend all appointments with the physician who will refer me to the surgeon 4. Keep a daily journal of the foods I eat 5. Loose 30 pounds There is a weight watchers group in the small rural town wherein live, I plan to join them. I have been walking 30 min on the weekend and riding the stationary bike 15 min twice a day at work. My next appointment is October 21st. I have been keeping a journal of my food using " my fitness pal.com". I have learned a lot about the number of calories I eat at this site. My goal is to loose the 30 pounds in 2 months. I know this all looks good but it is only my first week and I need friends to guide me and hold me accountable.

My surgeon requires all BC stopped 1 month prior to surgery, including removing IUD/Mirena

I know exactly what you mean. I was wearing size 24 Jean's. My mom came to my house for the holidays (we live in different states) and she made me try on some 16 Jean's. THEY FIT!!! WITHOUT A BELT!!! I didnt want to try them bc in my mind I thought only one leg would fit un them. Definitely just try our brains play tricks. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Yeah, I got the same bs from my family for awhile. Two days after surgery my sister goes "It doesn't seem like the surgery is working for you." Naturally I respond "Its only been two days, you dipshit." At the end of the day rude comments from family bother me less than those from aquiantances. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

To tell or not to tell... this is such a hotly debated topic and there are valid reasons for both. In the end, do whatever makes you most comfortable and makes your life easier. I chose not to tell. I'm very proud of my decision to have WLS but I have low patience for BS. I love a spirited debate and don't mind a difference of opinion, but most people are uninformed about obesity and WLS and carry some serious prejudices. I don't want to hear anyone's uneducated comments, no matter how well intentioned they are - or worse, get watched like a hawk. I don't want that kind of irritation in my life. I told everyone that I was following a doctor supervised liquid diet for a few weeks (like medifast). It helped answer the rapid weight loss questions too.

A wave to you Diana!!!!! Ditto what she said!! I have kept my surgery a secret, only my niece (who had the surgery), my godchild, my hubby and now my 2 sisters. I was worried about telling them but since I was able to have my hernia surgery in Dec I wanted them to know. Turned out they were both very happy and have been my biggest cheerleaders. They also agree that I don't need to tell anyone else. So far I have lost 42lbs. 6 mo. It's been slow but the benefits are, skin has a chance to catch up and no one looks at me and says, oh wow you must have had wls!! ( with that very smug disgusting disapproval look) I just credit my loss to having been strict bc I needed the hernia surgery. Now that I have had the hernias repaired I am cleared to workout like a champ. I hope to knock off another 50lbs by July 2018, my 1 yr mark. If you are thick skinned and don't mind being scrutinized, then tell everyone, just be prepared for the "oh you took the easy way out comments along with the rest of the b.s. that comes along. One-day maybe I don't know, if someone makes a shitty remark, who knows what I might say. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Right now, this is for me, to get my life back and man I am loving it!!!!! Between the support here, my few family members and my Instagram buddies it's enough. I love sharing my little milestones and struggles with those who truly care and understand. Everyone else can go ....well you finish it....lol if you are like me it's the expletives!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 As the Lady Gaga song says, "so happy I could die" HW 274 SW 263 GW 125 GASTRIC SLEEVE 7/21/17. Height 5'1" instagram: K_aane_VSG