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I have Aetna POS, I started the process in November and just had my surgery 3/4, my doctor had an outline of appointments, etc. and they seem to know the insurance inside and out. Luckily everything seemed to flow through for me.

Yeah for you !!!! I've been reading your posts and I think if your dietician told you that you're eating the right things (you didn't lie to her, did you?!?!?!?) then you are what this surgery was thinked up for---hee hee...as your fills progress, your noticable "full feeling" will become sooner and sooner and GRADUALLY you will eat less and therefore lose the weight. Remember, this is a slow process, you didn't get here overnight, and getting down to your goal overnight has it's consequences...that's what bypass is for...I say, be glad for the earlier fill, it's gonna help get you where you want to be...but, be patient with your band and yourself. I just had my 2nd fill -1cc- for a total of 4 cc in a 10 cc band. I am noticing some restriction, the total amount of what I eat in a day has decreased, but it's not like I only eat a meatball and I'm full. A word of advice, take it for what it's worth---I buy those 3 ounce protein bullets from GNC (42 grams of protein in each test tube)...the grape ones...and add 1/2 of it to a litre water bottle with an equate grape drink bottle mix...the protein helps to curb my appetite while the water is a MUST...maybe this will help...drink between meals to help with the starving feeling...hope it gets better.

Anyone have revision from sleeve to bypass? I would like to hear your story? Ups, downs, how it is working for you?....any information you are willing to share with me... Thank you

This surgery was the best thing I did for myself, and I would do it again, without hesitation. I have been given a second chance at life! I have lost 157 pounds in 12 months... And I workout three times weekly, and have gotten my life back. I have Lupus, and had many health issues. My lupus is now currently in clinical remission, and I feel better than I have in years! It wasn't easy, and you have to be ready to make a life change, but it is so worth it, once you do!

I'm on day 3 of my 2 week preop diet. The slightest smell of food is making me want to back out of surgery. I'm on 3-4 protein shakes and 3ozs of lean meat and a serving of veggies per day. I'm scheduled for gastric bypass on December 19th. I really need this surgery, but I'M STARVING! Any suggestions on how I can curb or ignore the hunger pains? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi there. My name is Rachel and I'm 23 I live in Queen Creek AZ and was banded on November 5, 2007. I always like meeting new people and having someone to talk to who knows what I'm going through is even better! Later!:redface:

Also check out this website Weight loss surgery site for info http://www.trueresul...-loss-surgeries It will give you a pretty unbiased chart comparing band sleeve and bypass I've only been banded 4 1/2 months so my opinion may not hold weight but so far I love it !! And have list 43 lbs .Choosing weightloss surgery is a hard decision ! Good luck in your journey no matter what you chose.:-)

Keep in mind one issue. When people have bypass many (most?) lose a LOT of weight quickly. The thing that doesn't come out is that within about 5 years the body starts to compensate for the loss of intestinal tissue and it makes MORE! Not all malabsorption is forever. The body replaces SOME of the "removed" tissue. So within a few years you'll be back to diet and exercise. With the band if you start to gain later, you get another fill. No big deal. If I could lose weight and KEEP it off via diet and exercise, I wouldn't NEED any type of WLS. But maybe you are different. The first few inches of intestine absorb Calcium and Vitamin B12. Does it make sense to you to have to take a great deal of suppliments since your body no longer absorbs it naturally? If that makes sense to you, have bypass done. Look at the stats. When people have revision surgery they aren't typically going from band to bypass. But they ARE typically going from bypass to band. Perhaps the 2nd question you need to ask yourself is how many weight loss procedures you want in your life?

My best friend had the gastric bypass...She was about 500 pounds. Her health was in serious trouble and she needed to do something YESTERDAY to help herself. She had a young child at the time, hes a big boy now.....and you know what they say, Despirate times call for despirate measures. In my opinion, I feel that the RNY is just that...a despirate measure. Do it if you are 300 + pounds over weight. Do it if your health can not hold out much longer. If you have 100 pounds to lose, it is TOTALLY "do-able" with only having the band....I say only like I take it lightly, but what I mean is that your intestines do not need to be rerouted....My girlfriend lost her weight quickly. She now has over 40 pounds of extra stuff, skin, cellulite to get surgically removed.......another surgery.....another risk. Granted, some of us get reconstructive surgery too..but there is a better chance at our skin reforming around our newly found muscles due to the slow weight loss! I am 32 years old. I am holding on to that hope for dear life! I dont want a tummy tuck, but if it comes to it, I will. I do however want a boob job!! That is my two cents on the subject. Good luck to you and please let us know which way you deside, and eventually how your surgery goes......

20 lbs. a month is great. Don't compare yourself to other peoples #'s. Its healthier to lose the weight more gradual over this 12 month period as opposed to dropping the bulk of it right off. You'll have less lose skin and always remember everyone loses at their own pace. Stick with your plan and you'll do fine...also set realistic goals and have realistic expectations. Bypass patients are actually expected to lose the weight over a one year period of time...its not a race. Patience is a virtue also congrats on the 20 lbs... Sent from my Nexus S 4G using RNYTalk

Yes I'm from Ct. My surgery is November 4th at Hartford Hospital.

As of now, my surgery is scheduled for November 20th, the Monday before Thanksgiving. I really hope that the surgeon can stick with this date b/c it will really really work out well with my and my boyfriend's school and work schedule. I find it hard to believe that it is just over a month away...I have done so much work to get to this point and now I am facing the 10 day liquid diet... I am not sure what I am actually feeling at this point...when I think about it, for the most part I am excited and anxious...honestly I think that I am trying to bury any other negative thoughts at this time b/c it would be so easy to get scared. I am changing my life and that is such a wonderful, yet nervewracking process to go through. I feel that few people in my life actually understand...in ways I think they are nervous too about me being different, I have been overweight my entire life and I do belive that it has helped define (or limit) who I am today...

Woo hoo! That is sooo awesome! Way to go Amanda and Fern! I trained for and did the Nike Women's Marathon in 2007. I was 240 pounds..but I did it! I'm doing the Santa Barbara half in November and plan on jogging (not walking..like I did the full) the whole thing and maybe even having a respectable time. Hopefully a lighter body will help me accomplish that goal. I trained for my marathon for six months with Team in Training and learned A LOT..if you ever need any insight or advice..let me know

VerticalSleeveTalk News This is it! We’re launching our VerticalSleeveTalk News, a regular newsletter to keep you up to date on our community. We’ll tell you all about our exciting new features, programs and anything else you need and want to know about VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Our goal is to make sure you know everything This is the first edition of VerticalSleeveTalk News, and we have a lot to talk about. In this edition, you’ll find information on: The Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Apps Have Launched! Now take VerticalSleeveTalk.com with you wherever you go. The fully functional Celebrate the release of our Mobile apps, we’re giving away a brand-new iPod Touch. It’s a drawing, but we want to reward our active posters, referrers, bloggers, members with completed profiles and new members. The more you participate in VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better chance you have of winning. Here’s how it works. Eligibility and Chances of Winning Forum members must make at least one post in any forum on VerticalSleeveTalk during the contest period of 30 days from your receipt of this newsletter. Members must have a completed patient profile. You can increase your chances of winning by making more forum and blog posts, uploading more photos and referring members. At the end of the contest period, one of the forum administrators will find all of the eligible forum members – remember, you have to make at least one post and have a completed Gastric Sleeve profile. We’ll make a big spreadsheet with the Username of each member who is eligible, and assign points based on your activities. The more points you have, the better your chances of getting the iPod! Point Structure 1 point: each forum post and each uploaded photo 2 points: each forum post from our mobile apps and each blog post 5 points: join a group 10 Points: complete My Surgery, My Surgeon or My Gastric Sleeve Story; upload before and/or after photos 20 points for each successful forum referral; and 40 points for a fully completed patient profile Get Involved Again If you’re an old-timer who hasn’t been around much, this contest is a great opportunity to bring you back to the boards. You have tons of experience and advice to share with newer gastric sleeve patients. If you’ve fallen off the wagon, don’t be shy. It’s never too late to get back on, and we’re here to give you the support and confidence you need for success in your lifestyle goals. Some Reminders and New Features Create or update your own Gastric Sleeve Patient profile. Your information encourages other members and helps you connect with members that have your same interests and struggles. It also gets you 40 points for our iPod Touch giveaway. We've recently updated our surgeon database; now, every bariatric surgeon in the world is included. Check it out and find a local surgeon who can help you. You can locate and read reviews on gastric sleeve surgeons to help you choose an expert for your care. Our social and support groups are up and running. We know that you all have special interests and identities, and our social and support groups provide more specialized platforms than our general community. Just of the few types of groups we have are Regional groups of people from your city or state. Surgery Buddy groups with people who got the Gastric Sleeve at the same time as you. Medical Condition groups with people with a particular condition, such as PCOS Eating Support groups with people who struggle with eating issues, such as emotional eating Check them out and join one or start your own. Be a Good Friend Be sure to mention VerticalSleeveTalk.com as a source of support and information for any your friends, family members or associates who are considering gastric sleeve surgery or have had it. Also, don’t forget that VerticalSleeveTalk.com is a member of the WLSBoards.com network. Recommend our other four communities to anyone you know who needs them, and please stop on by and introduce yourself if you have had a weight loss surgery revision. LapBandTalk.com for LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Band RNYTalk.com for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass SleevePlicationTalk.com for Gastric Sleeve Plication RealizeBandSupport.com for Realize Adjustable Gastric Band We Need Your Help When you come here, you can depend on support, encouragement, sympathetic ears and expert advice from surgeons. But we need you to let community be able to continue grow stronger! Over the years, I’ve found that many bariatric surgeons and their staff don’t even know we’re here. Help us out by asking your surgeon to hang a couple of fliers in the clinic. They can go the waiting room bulletin board, at the reception desk and in patient consultation rooms. I’ve even gotten the fliers ready for you in color and black-and-white options. Print them out and bring them to your next appointment, or email them to the office. So please, support us and ask your surgeon to post these fliers in their office and hand them out to their patients. It helps you out because our community will benefit from more patients and surgeons with valuable advice. Remind your surgeon and clinic staff that it helps them out because it gives them more exposure to patients. Stay in Touch Feedback forum - we're always open to members ideas and feedback. Please use our feedback forum to let us know how we’re doing and send us your ideas on what you’d like to see at VerticalSleeveTalk.com. We always want to know what you’re thinking and how we can improve! We're now on Facebook and on Twitter. Like us and follow us to keep track of what's going on in our communities and show your support! Don’t forget to support and celebrate! Our upcoming surgeries list tells you which members are about to get their bariatric surgery, so stop by and wish them luck! Come by the surgery anniversary list to congratulate members when they hit their annual anniversaries of their surgeries. Your name will be automatically entered onto the right list as soon as you update your patient profile. Coming Soon… We're releasing customizable health trackers and tickers within the next 90 days. We'll include more info in future newsletters, so stay tuned for information on those and the other latest happenings around VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Thanks for reading, and talk to you soon! Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

I am FRUSTRATED...I am FRUSTRATED that I can't get below 330 and stay there for more than 2 weeks..I am FRUSTRATED that I count and I track and I work out and nothing changes...I am FRUSTRATED with the a**holes that tell me I was just too fat for the lap band to work I should have gotten gastric bypass...I am FRUSTRATED that my ex boyfriend that I posted about in January that dumped me after 3 years has decided that he needs to go to the same gym as me and likes to tell me how my body hasn't changed in months and now he tries to embarrass me at the gym..and it really FRUSTRATES me that all of this is affecting my mood and my confidence. I am 15 months post op..I have been pretty much stuck for 6 months. I get to 325 and then I am slowly creeping back up to 333..back down to 328 and back up to 331..I KNOW I have done well..and I am amazed at how much better I feel just by going from 428 to 332 (this week) but I want MORE I want to lose MORE. I want to tell everyone who has doubted me MAINLY my ex to shove it and laugh in their face and say HAHA YES! I can do it! I have switched my food around and I get my Water in and I don't eat slider foods and I take my Vitamins, I work out everyday and rotate work outs, I push myself until I can't push anymore, but the damn scale will not budge!!! I know I shouldn't focus on numbers, but isn't this why we are here? to actually lose weight? TO see that number dwindle down to a number that we are proud to discuss? sure, saying I weight 332 sounds MUCH better than 428, but this isn't my stopping point...that's not enough for me. I lost 9 lbs last month and I go to the dr Wednesday and I know I have gained some of that back and I don't get it. Maybe I'm not tight enough, because I sure am hungry, but my dr felt like I needed to switch my diet up some before getting much of a fill..so I did. I feel defeated and all of the negativity coming from a**holes and the ex aren't helping me any. I have been getting up at 3 am to go work out before work just so I dont see him so I am dragging at work and plain exhausted and EMOTIONAL. I can cry at the drop of a hat because of the frustration. I know that this too shall pass..but until it does I need some words of encouragement/wisdom or something because right now I feel like throwing the towel in and saying I quit.

Hello everyone my name is Tina otherwise known as breakingtheshell. I really want to share my story with you I am so glad that I found this website. I am sure that there are many others out there with my situation maybe somebody can help me understand this because I asked my doctor my dietitian and they just seem to give me short answers and then there in a rush to get away I started out at 347 during my six-month counseling sessions and the day of my surgery I was 327 my surgery was on October 26, 2012. I wore a size 5x tops and bottoms or a 32/34 and my bra size funny funny was a 54 Double D. I never wore jeans after my disability which was a big contributor to becoming morbidly obese. Oh this is funny, I used to wear a size 13 wide shoe now I'm in a 12. How did that happen?? The surgery was extremely painful for me and it took a great five hours for them to poke and probe me and rearrange things rather then the simple 2.5 hours. My liver was extremely enlarged because I suffer from nonalcoholic liver disease so they needed to go in other places it was hard for them to lift my liver to work around it. I have been on the highest strengths of morphine for so long that when I got into the recovery room I felt all the pain and there was nothing else they could do for me so I stayed at the hospital for three days straight crying and begging for help to get rid of the pain.........I felt like I was butchered. By the way I was on pain medication for so long because I have severe back injuries I need to have a Nother three surgeries on my back I have fibromyalgia rheumatoid and osteoarthritis degenerative disc and joint disease spinal stenosis sciatica And everything else that causes pain. This is how I got started on my venturers for a gastric bypass surgery my back surgeon had to do another surgery on me but because I was so morbidly obese he refused to open me up on the operating table for fear that I would die. He told me I needed to lose over 100 pounds and in order to do that I had to go have the gastric bypass done so I quickly did my research checked my insurance and was approved quickly after six months of counseling. I lost a lot of weight I'm talking about 85 pounds by the end of my third month. I felt horrible I felt lethargic and spent most of my time in bed because I was so tired. My skin dried-up like you would not believe my face looked horrible like I had aged 10 to 15 years and I still with having pain in three months in my stomach area. Oh and the hair loss ......it's still coming out!! My six-month mark was on April 26, 2013. I had lost 122 pounds and my clothing sizes got to an extra large top a size 16 trying to wiggle into a 14 jeans and my shoe size went down and my bra size is now at 38b. When I look in the Mira I see a totally different person I look like a skinny person but I know that I need to lose at least 60 more pounds!! my husband says I should be grateful for what I have lost but darn it I didn't go this far to stop here but the problem is it STOPPED!!!! I understand that there are times that you will Platau but mine has lasted two months now losing only 9 stinkin pounds. I started solids a little late because of having Strictures and having to be dilated three times but I noticed that when I started eating solid foods my hunger started and I always feel hungry again an hour after a meal. I can only eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of solids. I mentioned this to my doctor and that was hysterically crying and he says to me well that means your metabolism is working again that's a good thing and then got up and walked out!!! Wtf???? This is my life. This is my dream. I am doing everything by the book I am drinking my Protein I am actually drinking the whey protein bullet (with approval) which is nice because it's only 3 1/2 ounces to suck down to get your protein and I don't know what else to do. I cannot exercise because of my back injury. I'm going to be having surgery again rods and screws put in my back and I just don't know what else to do. I've kept logs, drink my liquids,snack on a little fruit or fat free sugar free yogurt. UGH CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME ADVICE ON HOW TO KICKSTART MY WEIGHTLOSS AGAIN????? I don't want to be skinny because I love curves. I'm not being selfish! Thanks in advance for your input. Tina

I had my bypass surgery on 5/16 I still have problems eating meat. But I keep a food journal and try to keep my calories at 800 a day and 60 grams of protiens a day. When I still feel hungry I chew on sugarfree popcycles helps me a lot. I've lost a total of 83 pounds. Sent from my SM-J100VPP using the BariatricPal App

I am so upset. I am scared. My father had three bypasses, my younger brother had a heart attack at 32. He recently had a stent put in place. I can't call my Mom because she will be upset, I can't call my Daughter because she will freak out, but she is going to be pissed that I didn't tell her. My husband hates Doctors, but this time I think he sees it as a blessing. Maybe it is a silent heart attack, but not a bad one. I went on the internet - BAD CHOICE, NEVER LOOK THIS STUFF UP ON THE INTERNET. So I sit her ready to cry, okay crying now, because I know that bad stuff that it can be. I know I could have dropped dead and it was all my fault because I never lost weight even knowing I had predisposition. I know that I might have some bad stuff down the road, I know I have ignored some chest pains, because it always hurts. I have GERD and Gastritis. I know this and more and yet - it's all my fault. I did this to myself. I caused this, I ate myself into this. I know depressing self destructive talk, but I am so upset. How can they tell you that at the Urgent Care, where I had to go to get the EDG, and then tell you to go home. I called my Dr and he hasn't returned my call, talk about feeling rejected. So now, I will dry my eyes and know this self pitty crap off. Thanks for listening. When I said I felt blue, I guess I wasn't kidding. Haven't cried like that for a while. Debbie Oh the good news, I have lost almost 20 pounds on my pre op diet.

Hi Guy, This is my first post to the forum, but I have been doing a ton of research lately and I am trying to decide whether surgery is right for me and which procedure to go with. I am a 44 year, 5'10" and at my highest weight I was 258. I was always a thin guy up until my late 20's (when I was generally around 185). In my late 20's, I somehow managed to get up 210, then went on diet and started working out and got back down to 185 in a couple of months. Then I got married and got up to 220, then back down to 200, then back up to 241, then down to 215, then back up to 256, then down to 217. Now, I am 44 was back up to 261 of June this year. The pattern is pretty clear and continuing going up and down the scale isn't doing me any favors. I was sort of on the fence about surgery, but last month I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and that freaked the crap out of me. I always knew I was at risk cause I get the fat all in my tummy, but it's one thing to be at risk and another to actually have the disease. I also have high cholesterol, high triglicerides and sleep apnea. At this point, I am really concerned about my health. I am married and I have two young daughters, 2 and 7, and I would like to live to see grand children someday (and live with good health--not with crappy quality of life). My cardiologist referred me to a bariatric surgeon in March, so I have been through the initial seminar, consultation, nutritional counseling and monthly weigh-ins. At that time, I was leaning towards VGS, but that was before I was diagnosed with diabetes. Now, I am thinking maybe RNY is the better option? I would like to be able to consider mini-gastric bypass, but it doesn't seem like any doctors in the NY area perform this procedure (I don't think many in the US do it actually). I am kind of scared about doing this, but more scared about not doing it. Is there any reason why I should go with VGS over RNY??? Thanks in advance for the advice!!!

OK, this is my first post. I found this site about a week after I had my band placed. It has been so helpful to me to see what everyone else is experiencing. So, thought I would share. I had my band on 6/29/09. I went for my first fill today. Absolutely hate, hate, hate needles. I waited in the exam room for about 45 minutes and made the mistake of looking at the supplies about to used.....AGH! Tip- DONT LOOK! Anyways, he got me on the table lying flat on my back, had me raise my feet a couple of inches up, poked around my port with his hands a few seconds, and bam! He was done! I swear I was in shock at how simple, quick, and painless it was! I would never mislead anyone. I wanted to share b/c I know I contemplated bypass for a while b/c the thought of fills horrified me! Just want anyone out there to know, it was great! :scared2::tt1:

I was sleeved at the end of November and have had no hair loss until the last month and that's entirely the fault of a new medication I'm on. But I also got in all of/if not more than my daily protein requirements, took very good care of my scalp and hair before and after surgery. There's a chance you won't lose any at all, but if you do, fear not! It will grow back. They say it tends to start thinning around months 3-5

Realize bandit here May 8th. I had my second fill on Friday and I asked him how big my band is and he said "well there is only one size, I think it's 10 or 11cc" So right now I'm sitting at 4 cc in my realize. there are times I feel restriction and other times I dont. Wish there was a forum on realize site that way I can talk to others that have that band. I am so far with going to the gym and everything losing 2 lbs a week. I just wish I would be losing more, I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm doing it better losing slowly instead of gastric bypass patients. I sometimes just get so impatient with the weight loss. I am swimming, biking, elliptical and treadmill and weight room.

Hi November sleeves! Just wondering how those who will have surgery before thanksgiving plan on dealing with the holiday! And those after who are on a pre-op diet are going to handle it. I know we're are all different times during the month but all have to face this day dedicated to our enemy FOOD!!!!

I've taken Fiber supplements (capsules) for years. My family doctor recommended due to colon cancer so heavy in my family. Do any of you take or is there an issue with the sleeve? I'm not scheduled until November 15th. So excited and trying to be totally prepared. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the sleeve in 2016 and never had Gerd until the surgery. Got bypass in September of 2022, and it feels so good not to have Gerd and take nothing, and I have reached my goal weight....Go for the bypass.. Sent from my SM-G991U using BariatricPal mobile app