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Congrats to you!!! I am going through the appeals process right now. I got the call from my insurance company (BC/BS) yesterday that the request was denied and I almost had a breakdown. I called the doctors office and insurance company today. The doctors office gave the incorrect BMI so hopefully that will help my case. Of course my BMI is 38.73 so still in the gray zone. I was 39.67 last month and I was told I needed to lose weight for my insurance company to possibly approve me. I don't have any major co-morbidities, however have hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, severe GERD with Barrett's syndrome (precursor to cancer), and stress urinary incontinence. I have had a BMI in the last 5 years as high as 42 so I am right there. I may have to gain 6-7lbs to be over the 40 BMI to guarantee approval. It just sucks that I have to gain a couple of pounds to qualify. Hoping the appeals process will work in my favor since I am already on the OR schedule for 3/31. Congratulations again and wish me luck too!!!

[/quote Soon 2Bscandalous did you have insurance if so how long did it take to get a reply from them I have band 8 yrs ago did great until about 18 mons ago it slipped I had it removed now getting sleeve, excited to get back to being me and my size lol!! I had to do self-pay bc when i went to him they said i wasnt big enough for revision that was lime 7 yrs ago

First, I know nothing about the sleeve....but let me say this... I have been 100% successful with the band, and in my case, it was the easiest, most effortless thing I could have done. What was difficult was the first 4-6 months, getting the band adjusted just right, and learning to modify my eating habits to match the bands demands. A lot of people never do get to that "Magic" place....the band is adjustable, and individuals can choose how they want it adjusted. They can choose how and what they want to eat, buy how much Fluid is in the band.....There are so many variables to get it perfect, and because of that, it has been said the success rate is low. Least that's what I've heard. My Dr. once told me I was one in a thousand as a band patient....just too many variables and peoples personalities, likes and dislikes, that he now will recommend the sleeve or RNY before the band. The PA told me she is fed up with people coming in to have fluid taken out of their bands so they can enjoy weddings, vacations, etc, etc. You can't do that with the sleeve, and my Dr. understands that. With the sleeve or RNY, It is what it is....you have to live with it..there is no adjusting. So, after saying all that, IF I knew I would be as successful with such ease with the sleeve as I had with the band, I would have gone with the sleeve. But again, I don't know, have no experience, as to how the sleeve actually performs with people, and how much work, or not, one needs to put into their success. Would I have been as successful with the sleeve? I really cannot say. But the band has been nothing short of miraculous for me.

After me doing research on the glucose meds its ironic they have starch fillers an sugars. Which affect glucose numbers. I was wondering if you eat red meat an watch the lunchmeats. I also use a organic liguid cinammon suppliment instead of capsules bc of the filler issue. Just sharing. I still add a squirt of the liquid suppliment to my coffee every morning. It doesnt have strong fcinammon flavor its just the supplement. Keps glucose in chk..thought i would share..

I tried calling his office but they closed bc of snow. I will keep monitoring my symptoms and call first thing in the morning.

I've got a low grade fever 99.8. Kind of achy and tired like the flu. I'm one week post op I hope that it's not related to the surgery. My site scars are sore and itchy. But I think itchy means it's healing? I'm going to keep an eye on things. I took one Tylenol a few minutes ago bc my body hurts. I've gotten one shake in and hardly any liquids. So I'm sipping on some water.

This is great info. Thanks. Have been wondering how this is decided and ended up posting similar question for sleevers in my area. Hope they respond bc it would be wonderful to know how the drs here handle it.

@@enjoythetime - SOOOOO proud of you! It was a tough day, but you took care of yourself. You took breaks as needed, you fed your body well, and you enjoyed family time with no guilt of a treat. Holy moly, you're rocking this thing, girly! Keep up the great work, you're an inspiration to me!! BTW, the comment from your son cracks me up. Sounds just like something my daughter would say. She's my conscience most of the time with her comments!

I was sleeved on 2/25 as well! I totally know what you mean about craving some real food. Unfortunately for me, every time I drink some of the shake stuff I'm just so fed up with it that it grosses me out and prevents me from having any more. Cannot wait to get to the real food part of this diet!!!!

Hey guys! I just got sleeved on 2/25 in Guatemala! I'm feeling fine most of the time, but I feel a bit hungry, especially when others around me are eating normal food. I've also become quite fed up with all of this soup/protein drink crap! It all tastes gross, which has sort of made me lose my appetite. Then again, maybe I'm a bit biased (I'm a chef). Anyhow, would love to be a part of the facebook group and have a chance to hear more about what you guys are going through!

Update... I tried a few sips of a different protein drink. Very slowly. Same happened again, but this time I've been on the toilet with bad bad runs. :-( tummy is so painful. so fed up. How do I get protein down ??

I'm type 1 and my blood sugars (bs) were ridiculous when I was at the hospital and I got off my pump and they couldn't control it. I had to get back on it like the 2nd day out of surgery and had to adjust it myself. My endocrinologist kinda gave me a guideline to cut everything in half and that helped. Right after surgery since it was liquids only, I didn't need insulin and stopped taking Glucophage and Victoza. The bs do get better and I take half of the insulin I take. Not sure if I'm much help, but feel free to message me if you have any other questions or need someone to talk to

I feel I have made a VERY informed decision, especially having had the Lap Band, I have SOME idea what I am in for. However, I know, there is no going back from this. I hope I will have great results, be happy and never look back! But, thinking, reading, learning is all great, however, I want to know about all of you out there LIVING it. Do you wish you were back in my chubby little shoes? Would you do it again? Run screaming from the hospital? Tell me the no BS truth as I know you all will! lol

bc I got married and promised to be with the person. that is why.

Hello December sleevers. I had my surgery on 12/9 I'm approaching my 3 mo visit w my dr and I'm afraid he's not going to be happy w my weight loss so far. It's going sooooo slow. Lots of stalls. I'm down 41.4lbs. I lost 30 the first month out then 11.4 in 2 months? Does that seem right to everyone? He didn't give me a goal but he said 30 lbs was just about what he would consider average % for my starting weight in the first month. The second month I had to minimize activity bc one of the incisions needed to be re cut and left open to heal on its own. I had like a 3 week stall during that time. I'm just getting past the walking / treadmill stage at the gym and have kicked it up a notch to spinning and toning classes. I'm eating between 700-1000 calories but I have had a day or two at 1200 calories. And I'm hungry! I am full really fast but I'm hungry every 2 hours. I was told not to count calories just to count Protein but I see how little some folks are eating and I look at my slow weight loss and I'm thinking that's why, but the funny thing is the days I've had the 1200 calories, I've dropped weight the next day or so. So while I feel like that means I may not be getting enough calories, I'm afraid to eat more. I track on myFitnessPal, according to their calories (even assuming I didn't have the surgery) I should be losing 2 lbs a week. I think my calorie allotment is just over 1400 cal to lose 2 lbs a week. I realize that's for "non surgicals" but wouldn't it stand to reason that I should lose a min of 2 lbs a week if I eat less than that? The scale is not my friend. I know I need to stay off but it's so hard. I have lost 6.5 inches from my waist and the same from my hips. So I'm seeing progress just not on the scale and that's all my doc goes by. Did anyone's doc give them a scale or set expectations for the 3 month visit?

I never did figure out what Frankensleeve's problem was that night. The next day I was fine and back to normal. I think he just likes to remind me who is in charge. Just to be safe, I fed him anti-nausea pills the next night before bed. He still grumbles, but hasn't thrown another tantrum. Fingers crossed that we can avoid doing that again for as long as possible!

I had been lying an making excuses to myself (denial) for over 15 or so yrs..I had to get control BACK an I knew I needed professional help. carbs or sugar is all I craved bc they are feel good on what it does to the brain. this was way stronger for me to do on my own. I used food for every emotion under the sun! so I was always eating the bad stuff. I had to get to the bottom of WHY I was craving foods. it was a visious cycle. thats where I turned for help. I was at least 10 yrs I also finally found a endo who ran the appropriate BW that I wanted done an finally found out I was insulin resistant, thyroid disease (hashis) an I asked to be put on armour an she did bc if she hadnt I was going else where who would. she did. then I cleaned out the pantry! all modern grains, anything with surculose, high fructose corn syrup, malitol, splenda aspertame was the worst, everything got tossed out an is not aloud in the house. all these chemicals were making me crave more an more...but I had to make my mind up an take control back an it has been the direction of 2 of my specialists sending me to have the sleeve my stomach hormones were crazy...with all of the above put in action I am a happier person, an so far so good with switching cheap foods pumped full of processed chemicals an replaced with whole organic foods I dont each much fruit grapes I stick to an pears but with all combined doing much much better . I'll be 8 months PO the end of the wk an 100 pds down I eat a little all day an it has worked for me. but processed white sugar an these artificial sweetners were either calming me an then when I crashed Id have to have more. therapy was the best thing an bc I had been for so long all this other changes it all fell into place ....I am not a slave to food anymore. (the withdrawls were bad not going to lie)..but ya got to go thru to stop it... I see my surgeon again so I'm definitely adding sugar addiction to my questions for him. Thanks for sharing!

I had been lying an making excuses to myself (denial) for over 15 or so yrs..I had to get control BACK an I knew I needed professional help. carbs or sugar is all I craved bc they are feel good on what it does to the brain. this was way stronger for me to do on my own. I used food for every emotion under the sun! so I was always eating the bad stuff. I had to get to the bottom of WHY I was craving foods. it was a visious cycle. thats where I turned for help. I was at least 10 yrs I also finally found a endo who ran the appropriate BW that I wanted done an finally found out I was insulin resistant, thyroid disease (hashis) an I asked to be put on armour an she did bc if she hadnt I was going else where who would. she did. then I cleaned out the pantry! all modern grains, anything with surculose, high fructose corn syrup, malitol, splenda aspertame was the worst, everything got tossed out an is not aloud in the house. all these chemicals were making me crave more an more...but I had to make my mind up an take control back an it has been the direction of 2 of my specialists sending me to have the sleeve my stomach hormones were crazy...with all of the above put in action I am a happier person, an so far so good with switching cheap foods pumped full of processed chemicals an replaced with whole organic foods I dont each much fruit grapes I stick to an pears but with all combined doing much much better . I'll be 8 months PO the end of the wk an 100 pds down I eat a little all day an it has worked for me. but processed white sugar an these artificial sweetners were either calming me an then when I crashed Id have to have more. therapy was the best thing an bc I had been for so long all this other changes it all fell into place ....I am not a slave to food anymore. (the withdrawls were bad not going to lie)..but ya got to go thru to stop it...

Maybe it's in the air bc I'm up 3 lbs today. I too have upped my workouts this past week. I'm guessing water retention due to my sore muscles screaming at me. You know logically it's impossible it's fat but it hurts to see nonetheless. Up your water intake and let's see what happens next weigh in ❤️

I caution everyone to be careful about judging a whole relationship from a single post. I do think there is alot to think about though because that cycle of abuse BS is absolutely true and everyone in a relationship should be quite aware of if the person they love deserves it. That's how they manipulate you! But of course, who knows if this applies to the original poster. When I had plastics (you wanna talk about drains and incisions!!!) I was dating someone - I guess we were about 6 months into it and he tried to talk me out of doing it. It was the "you don't need it", all middle age women have some extra skin, etc etc, but i was doing it for me, not for anyone else and he knew I was committed. About 6 weeks before my plastics, he became very encouraging, positive. He would say things like "you look like a million bucks now, after your surgery you are gonna look like a billion!" Basically, he wanted me to be happy and do what I felt I wanted even if he didn't agree. He also told me that he was easily "freaked out" by medical stuff so I never let him see the drains. He did of course see the scars and... and he was fine with it. I dated him for quite awhile even after that and the only time he brought the scars up was to just mention that he didn't even see them and just thought I look amazing. I did ask him once... many months post plastics if he thought it was worth it. And he was like "oh ya, I had no idea it could turn out so good - you just look incredible" See, that is supportive. My drains and the nasty business of surgery was something I chose to not share with him, but then again, we were not married or living together so a different situation.

by the way for the liars out there , this is from the National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk-factors/diet/artificial-sweeteners-fact-sheet Is there an association between artificial sweeteners and cancer? Questions about artificial sweeteners and cancer arose when early studies showed that cyclamate in combination with saccharin caused bladder cancer in laboratory animals. However, results from subsequent carcinogenicity studies (studies that examine whether a substance can cause cancer) of these sweeteners have not provided clear evidence of an association with cancer in humans. Similarly, studies of other FDA-approved sweeteners have not demonstrated clear evidence of an association with cancer in humans. What have studies shown about a possible association between specific artificial sweeteners and cancer? Saccharin Studies in laboratory rats during the early 1970s linked saccharin with the development of bladder cancer. For this reason, Congress mandated that further studies of saccharin be performed and required that all food containing saccharin bear the following warning label: “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.” Subsequent studies in rats showed an increased incidence of urinary bladder cancer at highdoses of saccharin, especially in male rats. However, mechanistic studies (studies that examine how a substance works in the body) have shown that these results apply only to rats. Humanepidemiology studies (studies of patterns, causes, and control of diseases in groups of people) have shown no consistent evidence that saccharin is associated with bladder cancer incidence. Because the bladder tumors seen in rats are due to a mechanism not relevant to humans and because there is no clear evidence that saccharin causes cancer in humans, saccharin was delisted in 2000 from the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens, where it had been listed since 1981 as a substance reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (a substance known to cause cancer). More information about the delisting of saccharin is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/append/appb.pdf on the Internet. The delisting led to legislation, which was signed into law on December 21, 2000, repealing the warning label requirement for products containing saccharin. Aspartame Aspartame, distributed under several trade names (e.g., NutraSweet® and Equal®), was approved in 1981 by the FDA after numerous tests showed that it did not cause cancer or otheradverse effects in laboratory animals. Questions regarding the safety of aspartame were renewed by a 1996 report suggesting that an increase in the number of people with brain tumors between 1975 and 1992 might be associated with the introduction and use of this sweetener in the United States. However, an analysis of then-current NCI statistics showed that the overall incidence of brain and central nervous system cancers began to rise in 1973, 8 years prior to the approval of aspartame, and continued to rise until 1985. Moreover, increases in overall brain cancer incidence occurred primarily in people age 70 and older, a group that was not exposed to the highest doses of aspartame since its introduction. These data do not establish a clear link between the consumption of aspartame and the development of brain tumors. In 2005, a laboratory study found more lymphomas and leukemias in rats fed very high doses of aspartame (equivalent to drinking 8 to 2,083 cans of diet soda daily) (1). However, there were some inconsistencies in the findings. For example, the number of cancer cases did not rise with increasing amounts of aspartame as would be expected. An FDA statement on this study can be found athttp://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/ucm108650.htm on the Internet. Subsequently, NCI examined human data from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study of over half a million retirees. Increasing consumption of aspartame-containing beverages was not associated with the development of lymphoma, leukemia, or brain cancer (2). Acesulfame potassium, Sucralose, and Neotame In addition to saccharin and aspartame, three other artificial sweeteners are currently permitted for use in food in the United States: Before approving these sweeteners, the FDA reviewed more than 100 safety studies that were conducted on each sweetener, including studies to assess cancer risk. The results of these studies showed no evidence that these sweeteners cause cancer or pose any other threat to human health. Cyclamate Because the findings in rats suggested that cyclamate might increase the risk of bladder cancer in humans, the FDA banned the use of cyclamate in 1969. After reexamination of cyclamate’s carcinogenicity and the evaluation of additional data, scientists concluded that cyclamate was not a carcinogen or a co-carcinogen (a substance that enhances the effect of a cancer-causing substance). A food additive petition was filed with the FDA for the reapproval of cyclamate, but this petition is currently being held in abeyance (not actively being considered). The FDA’s concerns about cyclamate are not cancer related. Acesulfame potassium (also known as ACK, Sweet One®, and Sunett®) was approved by the FDA in 1988 for use in specific food and beverage categories, and was later approved as a general purpose sweetener (except in meat and poultry) in 2002. Sucralose (also known as Splenda®) was approved by the FDA as a tabletop sweetener in 1998, followed by approval as a general purpose sweetener in 1999. Neotame, which is similar to aspartame, was approved by the FDA as a general purpose sweetener (except in meat and poultry) in 2002. hmm guess she is lying.

heres a simple thought so many fat people seem to know so much about being healthy yet cant get healthy themselves, so its do as i say not as I do because i tested 1 person who had diabetes, so therefore i know the truth. When i ask you what studies show artificial sweeteners not taken in tremendous bulk directly injected into lab mice has ever shown a correlation in humans. besides saccharin, and you cannot do it, because there are NONE but you say your surgeon is researching it. which is also amazing that a surgeon would be doing research not related to ther field of surgery. To me, youre lying over and over and what you are lying about is libelous and negligent. Then you want to attack paramedics by saying they know nothing but can give a few meds.Now i know maam you are so full of BS that you must have dark brown eyes. You are irresponsible, fraudulent and repulsive in your ideas. Project ME, you research diabetes, you dont experiment on your son, thats what this lady supposedly ( i dont believe she knows what a research study actually is since she had no control group, no study plan, no baseline of findings, no medical reports. but hey shes a whack job so whatever) see if you told us you feed different foods to your son then stick him right after to se what his blood sugar is, and do this over and over to test medical facts, id say you were an unfit parent but you dont, you monitor your son and looks for ways to make his health better. there's the difference. This idiot lady says that sugar doesn't make your blood sugar go up. um if anyone knows of anyone with diabetes like your son project me, you all know this is the height of BS ive had family members die from diabetes who never were alive to injest a single artificial sweetener. bt hey dont let facts get in the way of irresponsibility. Nothing is worse than an idiot armed with a little false knowledge. Here is the basic facts, when you go against established medical facts its not inventing or any such thing, hurt yourself, you can only blame yourself too bad so sad a darwin award goes your way. but when you promote it as fact to others you are disseminating lies to others in a medical context which as I said legally is libelous and can get you charged in a court of law. i can point out case after case of supporting case law to back that up. So because this lady works with paramedics she says she KNOWS what they know , see shes a secretary who thinks she knows more than the doctors do. Amazing. to be honest i would push to have her removed from this sight for promoting dangerous materials, but i assumes that he is such an idiot no one would listen, but just like the 9 eleven theory nuts and alien supporters, there's always a few nuts to cling on to their BS.

Thank You Kim. I hope so too. I am currently trying to take legal action against my first surgeon for not sending me for an MRI when I asked for one, and he let it get this bad. The mal practice attorney said I can't bc I don't have a permanent injury. We shall see. I have to have an echo cardiogram tomorrow bc being septic can damage the heart. I used to work for an attorney and she wants to take it on. Time will tell.

I can't tell you for positive but I saw my primary DR for a referral and while I was there I was told previously to make sure she wrote in the notes for that Visit that I was there for obesity. That counted towards my 3 month supervised diet. I didn't get any diet meds or anything else. I have BCBS Fed.

everyones comments are all over the board. heres my 2 cents for what its worth. sounds to me like he is definitly insecure an I also think maybe this is being used as the excuse or should I say this is the icing on the cake..like maybe there was already unresolved issues before the surgery? you dont have to answer that...when men (sorry men I dont mean to stereo type y'all) but when my hubs gets irritated an something on his mind thats serious an he doesnt know how to bring it up (which your actually went as far as really hurting you I feel bad for you) but mine will say something an blurt it out an then we cool off come back an talk about it heart to heart. can you draw him out any? I know your hurting emotionally. that was really mean ..I dont want to plant ideas in your head ...so I am going to stop right there. sounds like he's angry bc you are trying to better yourself an leaving him behind I dont know you nor him ...how about couples therapy to get this talked out? just throwing this out here. I believe in marriage an the vows take it seriously. none of us are perfect an in our insecurities we say things we really dont mean. I sure hope you 2 can sit an have a heart to heart. ...xx