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Hi everyone, Can someone please help me, im fairly new to this site. I am 24 years old, have had my Gallbladder removed last year and diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome). Which makes you gain a lot of weight and on top of that its verrry difficult to get pregnant. i have tried dieting but that doesnt last long i always loose the weight but gain double of what i had lost. Ever since my gallbladder surgery i have gained a lot more. I have always been on the heavier side but not as much. Currently i am 220 pounds and my height is 5'1. I have doctors appointment on the 5th for a consultation for the lap band. I am kind of scared bc i have heard a lot of negative things. Can someone please give me advise? What has been your experience like?

Frogger- bc I sound like I have a giant bullfrog trapped in my chest.

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Hi I am drinking the premixed EAS 45gr. Protein. I drink 74 oz of Water daily. I take multi-vita and 4000 units of vit.D as per dr. It's weird but any time my bs gets below 100 I feel shaky and lightheaded. The dietitian had stated that it was because I wasn't eating enough food. Thanks for your help. I probably will email the dr.

As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect... As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect that many of you are just like me. Even after 19 years as a weight loss surgery patient, when I feel the need to show my love, support or appreciation for someone I use food. It seems we all do. And that, I am afraid, has been the case since the beginning of time- you know, killing the fatted calf and all that. We love, we celebrate and we motivate with food. I have been wondering if it would be a futile endeavor, or would it actually be possible to change this behavior? Now, I know that I cannot be responsible for everyone else, but I can be responsible for the choices I make. One day, one event and one holiday at a time. So, now that the good candy from the gingerbread house is about gone… along comes another sweet holiday, Valentines Day. You know, expensive dinners, heart-shaped cookies, cakes, and candy. In years past, Valentines Day has been the perfect excuse to bake giant heart-shaped sugar cookies with white icing and red sprinkles. But, this year I am going to do things differently. I know, it will be tough, now that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups come in a heart shape, but I am committed to showing my love for my family and friends without using food! I have decided to spend my cookie baking time, writing heartfelt letters and notes of appreciation to those I love. My hope is that my words will fill their hearts, and that they will feel loved and appreciated, warmed and emotionally fed, and that they will not miss the cookies. Won’t you join me this Valentines Day, by doing what you can to fill someone’s heart – rather than their stomachs? I love you – here’s a note!

So we had another admission of a young 30yr old who weighs 350lbs and 5ft 3in, blood pressure was 250/144!!!!!!!! Of course behind close doors the nurses again had to comment rude stuff!! I got fed up and told them off! I said the other Day you were talking bad about the gastric bypass patient and now about this girl!!! You all are saying she needs to loose weight but if she was to get wls you all will still make fun of her! I went on and on about what good nursing is and ethics! I was pissed off! I didn't talk to them the whole rest of the day! The patients room was close to nurses station and the mom heard so she is reporting them!!! I came out looking good .

It felt fine! Lol, too good! I had a rum and coke or a glass or two of wine daily. This was a treat! The only thing I'm noticing is if I'm gng to drink anything, ( water, g2, etc) I have to time it right, bc I need my protein, so it's all in balance. This is my second WLS, had the band for 4 yrs. this isn't my first rodeo, but this is a good rodeo compared to the band!

Will your new insurance at the new job cover VSG at the same level that your current insurance does? (and with the same type of requirements--eg, is there a 6-month pre-op weight loss period, etc.). I would definitely take that into consideration. I thought I might be starting a new job when I was close to insurance approval and asked the surgeon's office if they could put in an expedited approval request. They did, and I was approved in one day (!). (My BMI is a lot higher than yours; I didn't have any major comorbidities.) Then I asked for the soonest possible surgery date and I received one about a month out; I had a scheduling conflict and asked to reschedule the surgery--and they were able to get me in the day after (!) I asked bc of someone else's surgery moving. It was weird only having one day to prepare but in a way it was great not having the anticipation and to be on the other side of it once my original surgery date came up. Anyhow, I'm glad that I went ahead and did it. I didn't end up getting the job for which I was a finalist! But I thought it would have been difficult to start a new job, take time off right away, and have to negotiate new insurance and maybe go thru the approval process all over again. As others have said, it's a personal decision. I do know a lot of people do this and say they wish they had done it sooner. I would give yourself a good 2 weeks before you go back to an office job, and take it easy for a week or two after that. You could have "bathroom issues" for at least a week after, though working at home would help with that. I was working from home within a few days of surgery but my stamina wasn't great until I transitioned from full liquids to thin purees on day 15 post-op. Your mileage may vary. Congratulations on your new job and on your decision to get VSG--I'm sure that you will find an answer that is right for you!

take and toss. My MIL wanted to stuff me like a bird during the holiday even though she is aware i cant eat if all..... she herself stuggles. So my DH and i had a plan of attack... i fed him off my plate while we had our "appetizers" and at dinner I had just a little bit and pushed it around a bit. They thought i ate too much appetizer and thought i was feeding him HIS... he was actually getting mine and his. His mother thought i was SOOO Sweet and in love that i was feeding her son to fatter him up ( he is underweight) little did she know!! It is all about you and the DH having a plan of attack and sticking to it. Good luck!

I am begining to lose girl friends because of my weight loss, they don't even know about the surgery they think I am on a diet and working out (didn't feel too comfortable telling them). They always want to go out and eat and I always give an excuse bc I cant go out and eat yet and their response is "I forgot your skinny mini now". It makes me so upset. All my family is in NYC and I'm out here in Jersey and now I have no one to hang out with. I guess I learned who my real friends are.

I don't care. I'm a full blown open person and could care less what other people think. My family and my Dr's support this so I honestly don't care if they want to talk. I am 5' 6.5" HW 255. Most people start out with "you aren't big enough for that. You could loose that little amt by exercising". I come back at them with you know what if I could have it would have been gone by now. I have psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis so if I do too much I end up in the bed in pain and I can barely walk bc my knees CRUNCH so bad. When my rheumatologist mentioned possible back surgery or knee surgery, I started looking for some other option, somehow. My Dr mentioned this and things have just fallen in to place. If someone keeps on with me I very nicely put them in their place and tell them my FAMILY, my DOCTORS, my closest FRIEND support this and I have to do this for MY health. I'm not asking them to do it or anything, just if they want to help they can pray while I am going to be goings through the 2 wk pre op and during surgery and then the 1st few months after. It always shuts them up. Now, since I start a full CLEAR liquid diet for the next 14 days exactly prior to surgery, can anyone give me suggestions on what to eat? This is the only thing I am stressed about.

Now I know BMI is basically BS...but I am still a little giddy that, for the first time ever, I am now a "normal" BMI...not obese, not overweight....but Normal. This is all still so crazy to me! Normal!! Never thought I would see it!

Hi !! I've been on the site for awhile now just reading and gathering some great information, I must say that everyone here is GREAT !! The support is wonderful and I love how everyone is always willing to help. I've been researching this surgery for about a year and 6 months ago decided to begin my insurance journey, mine required me to do a 6 month doctor supervised diet...and so everything was done and submitted and I was approved and scheduled for surgery next Monday, July 26th !! I am currectly doing my pre-op diet, this is my 2nd week of Protein shakes and Water...which has been really tough :crying: but this week it seems to be a little easier. Now that I am so close, I am soooo scared. I have a 2yr old little girl and a wonderful and supportive husband and I am so scared to basically never see them again...which I know is normal to feel for any surgery bc they all have risks...but I'm a worrier and an analyzer by nature...2 things that do not come so handy right now...LoL ! But I have been battleling my weight for the last 5 to 6 yrs..lots of up and downs and it just got to a point where I said "no more", but the funny thing is that when WLS first came about..I always thought "I can't ever do that, it's just too scary and drastic"...Well you just never know when it's going to become a real option for you...and it did, so here I am. I want to live and be healthy for my child and for the amazing family that I have. Anyhow, I will be around asking some questions and listening to the great advice from all of you !! PS. Is anyone here from Miami?? just wondering....

It's not BS at all. The whole idea of WLS is to create restriction so you eat less and feel full longer. Eating and drinking at the same time is one of the easiest ways to bypass that restriction. I know for a fact, that pre-sleeve, I used drinking as a way to shovel in more food. I would go through 4 glasses of Water at a large meal, so I could wash that food through my stomach more quickly and fit more food in. That fact REALLY hit me the first time I experienced "fullness" post-op and my very first instinct was to reach for the water so I could keep eating. You do have to be responsible for what you put in your mouth, that includes foods and liquids at the same time. And while it all does come down to calories in versus calories out in terms of weight loss, if you want to take full advantage of this TOOL we have all been given, don't cheat yourself out of that restriction.

Ohhhh. I misunderstood ya. I have to have help getting it on though. Thank goodness for Lindsay and Jolie. They've been a huge help. Jolie even changes my bandage over where my drain was pulled Bc I have to keep it covered for 5 days. They said it's a high risk of infection otherwise.

I have capital BC/BS. I had regular bloodwork, gallbladder US and h pylori test. Mine came out positive. The cure for that sucks.

I made it to ONEderland! I am 198 down 42 lbs in 9 weeks, but not without trouble and some regrets. I knew this was going to be hard but I had no idea how hard. Some days I wish I was just normal again. Every day is such a struggle to eat, everything makes m nauseas nothing even sounds good. It's more a chore to eat. I am having trouble getting fluids in on my days off work bc I'm not as active and just forget to drink. Where at work I remind myself constantly to drink. Could I be getting dehydrated? Is that why I am having such a hard time eating? Oh and did I mention I throw up almost every day! I need advice and encouragement some kinda bad!!! help

I've really been focused on my diet bc is easier now. Fish chicken veg and fruit is basically all I eat. Gym so much and no no sugar are carbs. I will admit I've smoked a few cigs because I've cracked but I'm good now. so no cigs and Alcohol. not drinking was the hardest for me. Follow what the dr says and u will be good take all your protein I take 80g a day calcium, multi vitamin and b12

Sorry I didn't get a chance to read the article but speaking from someone on the west coast (British Columbia) I had to pay for my surgery as it is not covered by government medical and for extended medical companies (through employers, etc.) most of them have the clause that won't cover WLS. For our medical coverage we do pay to the government (BC Medical Services Plan) a monthly premium but it is based on your income - to give you an example my yearly gross is $45,000 and my monthly payments would be approximately less than $20 for a single person but my employer actually pays that premium for me. Whenever we go to the doctor, the hospital, walk in clinic - there is no charge to us. If you got hit by a bus tomorrow the only thing you would be charged for is an ambulance fee which I believe is around $50-75 (not sure never been in one lol). The one thing with our medical system is that waits for surgeries, procedures etc can be PAINFULLY long. Obviously if it's a life saving procedure that is different but say you have had back pain or something and they want to send you for a CatScan or MRI you can be waitlisted sometimes upwards of 6months to even get that done. Lapband is not covered here as I mentioned but Gastric Bypass is - however, due to limited dr's performing it as well as how much they allot per year for it I believe the wait list if you qualify to have it paid for by BC MSP is approx 6 years right now.

So I have been losing weight, have good restriction, and doing good overall. But I kept wondering where was all this energy that's supposed to come with losing weight. Well I hadn't realized that I have been doing more things. This weekend was a prime example. I went to a pet event with my Yorkie so there was a lot of walking, went to the mall, and started cleanings the house. Today I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in months bc I never felt like doing anything, took my dog to training, then went shopping at Costco. I just realized that my energy level is better bc I have been doing things on the weekends when usually I would stay home or if I went out and did one thing I would come right away exhausted. I have gone to several events around San Antonio that have involved physical activity like walking. It's only gonna get better from all here on end.

One of the reasons I waited until after I did my 25 years in public health for full retirement benefits before having WLS. total BS to be excluded after taking a step that did nothing but improve our long term health. Probably that a national political movement to change these policies. We could begin by lobbing politicians who have had WLS...

My surgeon told me I can use any BC. I am on the pill. So far so good.

I am so sorry to hear that. I know exactly what you are going through. I first started trying to revise 3 years ago. I went through two insurance companies that denied me bc they said since I gained the weight back, I was non compliant even though the testing showed damage. I finally got approved with my new insurance but my plan ends on 07/1 and I am still trying to get cardiac clearance. It has been a long fight but worth it for my health. Hang in there and maybe a law firm would help, I never thought of that option. I would go to Mexico and get it done, but I feel like my husband would not support me in the option even if we found a really good program. He still pictures old rusty equipment and dark infected rooms... Any way I wish you all the best and a speedy appeal and approval.

I had to have my lap band removed because it eroded but my ins (BC/BS) won't pay for another WLS. so I am at a total standstill. I can't private pay anytime soon. My dr. Already approved to do the sleeve but I wondered if there's any insurance I can sign up for that most likely will pay?

I would definitely be checking on that. I had ankle surgery 2 years ago, and the surgeon didn't have me stop bc, I developed a blood clot. I had a Nuvaring. I can never use regular bc again. In fact, I ended up pregnant 4 months later. I now have a 19 yr old, 12 yr old, and a 13 month old. (Born Christmas Eve) Bottom line, blood clots suck, big time.