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you have come to the right place for "Proper Education" an "Personal Experiances" ..Im not male nor a chef however being married to an Italian we do luv to eat! we do enjoy going out an he LOVES to cook! trying to make a long story short bare me: Im 51 have battled yo yo dieting an weight since I was 17. my body started falling apart in my mid 20s. I have seen countless drs, specialists, thru countless testing blah blah blah..5 yrs ago I had to quit work for the 2nd time in 2 months my body refused to cooperate. the past 12 months I had gained again 40 pds in 2 months. finally got referral to endo after putting my foot down on seeing one. my immunologists couldnt understand why no other dr I had seen would refer me to well it was bc my thyroid panel was always on the low side of the "NORMAL" gold standard range. he did as I asked ...within 2 wks I was having an in office US on thyroid, (I had been complaining for 2 yrs of trouble swollowing) low an behold goiter on side the other thyroid "dead" shrinking. the PROPER bw on thyroid panel that I had researched from mary shoman had those tests ran sure enough I ended up on the biopsy table confirmed hashis, insulin resistant. with over 25 yrs of yo yo dieting an already the past yr of slashing calories down to 500 or less still having a difficult time of the numbers dropping I was prime canidate for sleeve to be done. that was farthest from my mind even though 20 some yrs ago I did think about it yet I never dreamed my ins would pay for it. now all of a sudden I have 2 specialists sending me to the surgeon, saying the sleeve way was best no switiching of organs an getting rid of the portion of the tummy of the stomach hormones that would never shut up an down sizing the tummy from a 40 oz to 4 oz would make all the differance in the world! before I knew it I was accepted online by our hopsital over here insurance was verified immediatly an within 2 wks I had started preop classes, going thru the mental evaluations didnt have to repeat the stomach endoscopys bc my internist had already done one a yr before , had all bw done by then I was on armour thyroid an got my levels where they are approved for surgery an released by my endo to go forward with it I also had severe apnea, fibro, lupus, polymyalgia , GERD, prediabetic, insulin resistance an hashis an list goes on, I had a surgery date within 3 months from start to table! I am 7 months PO..100 pds down would I do this again? YOU BET!!! best thing I ever did besides marrying my bes friend an hes my biggest supporter an having my 2 beautful adult kids! I am 51 (I dont know if I mentioned age earlier) but I am feeling now that my life is actually starting new! If I hadnt had this surgery for the tool it provides(its not "the miracle" but a tool) I saw myself with all the health dx I had there is no doubt I would have ended up being over 300 pds more miserable an bedridden! for me I dont wish that on anyone! thats honestly UNHAPPINESS UNHEALTHY (an no one can convince me that being fat is healthy) Im sorry I was FAT an theres no other term for me I use...I refused to be delusional anylonger an just living. I actually wasnt "living" I was merely in survival mode an that term I use bc I was merely breathing an a couch potatoe. no life! now I am all of a sudden able to actually keep up with my home , I am not out of breath as bad I do get some asthma a little an my meds for my autoimmune an inflammation do flare but controlled better. I have another 40 or so pds to go to make goal I havnt broadcasted my tool yet but only to a selected few I didnt need others "UNEDUCATED" neg comments bc the majority of ppl have no clue of the facts. this was hard enough the first month especially fighting with head hunger an going thru craving with drawls that the brain an body do go thru I needed positive support around me. but to eat there own. I will eventually help others if asked. I hope I have had a positive impact an answered some questions. your at the right place. my only regret is that I didnt do this 10 or more yrs sooner! I would do it again in a heart beat regardless of what I endured the first few months!! best wishes an keep us posted!

I also add a 1/2 scoop of powdered Bakers Chocolate to my shakes: it's SF/NF & love the SF Davinci flavored syrups. I make homemade broths & soups. I'm on a Tomato Florentine kick bc you can have it hot or cold. It helps that I'm also a chef so I know the how/what of ingredients. My nutritionist said the liquids all count so this helps me & w chopped spinach & other veggies I get that chew sensation in, which is something I need. I make a Chinese wor wonton soup deconstructed & it's a lifesaver. I do the SF jellos, puddings & popsicles, too. What I learned was to drink my warmed broth first, before anything else in the morning from my nutritionist. I tried broccoli flavored w parm cheese, but it's too much for me presently.

GREATER NEW YORK BARIATRIC SURGERY and NON-SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS CLOTHING EXCHANGE [The free event since 2010 for men and women who have had or are scheduled for WLS or participate in the practice’s non-surgical program.] **************** Join us in MIDTOWN MANHATTAN Tuesday * Sept. 27, 2016 * 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Location: BOTTOMLESS CLOSET 16 East 52 Street, 15th Fl., New York, NY 10022 (bet. Fifth and Madison Aves.) **************** Everything should be clean, intact and wearable. Intimates (e.g., workout clothes, leggings, underwear, swimwear, sleepwear, socks, hosiery) must be new/unused/unworn. Accessories are great (belts, jewelry, scarves, neckties, purses, shoes, etc.). Dressing rooms are available. Need nothing now? Feel free to bring items you're no longer using and stay for the conversation. Bottomless Closet, our host, helps disadvantaged NYC women enter and succeed in the workforce and improve the quality of their lives. All items not adopted during our event are donated to BC. Documents will be available for tax purposes. If you have any questions about the exchange, ask away. If you'd like to help set up, come at 5:00. If you're able to stay a tad past 7:30 to straighten up, great.

Great idea, I'm going to make up my mind to do one of those....it is weird BC I look at these wonderful ideas and I don't feel I deserve the reward.. Mind games! Sent from my LG-H900 using the BariatricPal App

I refused to go off. I need to stay on the pill. It’s to prevent DVT. I just made sure to walk a lot to prevent clots. It also depends on your weight. I think the higher it is the more likely you should go off BC temporarily. I believe I’ve also read it can be less effective short term after surgery but don’t quote me on that. I’m currently not sexually active 🤦🏼‍♀️ so it was never a concern.

I was sleeved 7/14 and I did the same thing, worried about my calories bc I wondered how was I surviving lol but honestly you don’t need any. Just focus on your protein shakes and water and take your vitamins:.. you will be great!!!! Soon you’ll be able to eat soup I did Bariatric soup low calorie and high protein... best of luck

Hi everyone...this is my problem...I currently have bc/bs ppo for my medical insurance. It does not cover anything Bariatric. My question is...is there anyway around that? I am morbidly obese and have MANY problems with my health:frown:. I have had a letter of recommendation from my Dr. for over a year now. Each time I contact anyone about lap-band surgery...I get the same answer...NO, it's not covered!! I was just curious if a doctor deems it a medical necessity, will the insurance pay for my surgery? Basically is there anyway around it? I desperately need help with this issue. I want to make sure there is no way to get the lap-band surgery here in the states through my insurance. I have been looking into having my surgery in Mexico, but want to make sure I have done all there is to do here in the states first. Thanks in advance for any information anyone can give me!

OK so here it is... I feel like I am drinking FV flavored water bc of the decaf!! Very bummed bc coffee is my crack too! I'm someone who drank 6-7 travel size mugs of coffee a day. A DAY !!! Bad... Yes.. But I knew doing this changes were coming. Overall the coffee mate, sf, powdered cream isn't half bad... I decided to do the powder this time as I have been making a mug of tea and taking two to three sips satisfied and I dump the rest. So the powdered lasted longer than the actual cream. Once I get to 8 weeks post op you can bet I'll be back to my morning cup of coffee w my CAFFEINE. I have read numerous people who actually never do the decaf while they've become sleeved or bypass (like my sister)! But being a week out, I don't want to start my journey off doing something I know I shouldn't.

BC/BS of Ohio just started covering the sleeve as of 11/18/10. My paperwork was recently resubmitted and I'm waiting for my approval. The weight considerations are: 1.BMI of 40 or greater, or BMI of 35 or greater with an obesity-related co-morbid conditions. I hope this helps!

Babyhellfire- OMG thanks for the info!!! I'm so happy to find someone who has just recently seen him. As far as the stay I will prob take the extra day bc I have 2 lil ones (that love to jump on mommy like a bouncy house)...lol =D Nurse Chris told me I should expect a call from I think Kathy who will basically go thru my chart to check if evrything is perfect, then call me to tell me when she submitting the chart. Or does she call after the approval?

Well Ladies mother nature rolled around since surgery and i just had to have my M&M's I dont feel too bad though I look darn great for 1 month post op, PLUS I was cramping so bad I did not eat anything else besides a protein bar for breakfast and some water and a BC powder for pain (YUK) .... I must take a pic and add it....but anyhow just thought I would share ... Oh ...is anyone else using weight watcher frozen dinners when you dont feel like cooking anything and you know those days of driving through a fast food place are over? I find myself just grabing a weight watcher frozen dinner or a healthy choice dinner I try to grab the ones UNDER 300 calories....mainly I do this for lunch because breakfast is usually 2 scambled eggs, or a protein bar and for lunch DRY lemon pepper tuna, and dinner a frozen dinner or a protein shake. I am going to have my first fill Jan 5th so .....Just wondering if anybody else is using anything else with thier band to achieve maximum weight loss .....Example: Lap Band, Excercise, Weight watcher meals & snacks

so today was a bad day a real bad day...im very disappointed in myself and still feel defeated. i want this so bad and then 1 family emergency and it all goes to hell. the damn diet is making my stomach hurt and the dr said that it could be bc of not enough fiber so they want me to take some benfiber to see if the pain goes away. if not then i have to go back to the doctor. then i opened the email and found out that my surgery is scheduled for 3/11 at 11:30 with pre opt on 3/8. i just need to refocus and make it through the next week. my surgery is next week and i am nervous and scared. but excited at the same time. i just hope that i didnt fuck everything up. im praying that tomorrow is a better day. im glad that my husband is ok and going to make it. now to make it through 1 day at a time....

so today was a bad day a real bad day...im very disappointed in myself and still feel defeated. i want this so bad and then 1 family emergency and it all goes to hell. the damn diet is making my stomach hurt and the dr said that it could be bc of not enough fiber so they want me to take some benfiber to see if the pain goes away. if not then i have to go back to the doctor. then i opened the email and found out that my surgery is scheduled for 3/11 at 11:30 with pre opt on 3/8. i just need to refocus and make it through the next week. my surgery is next week and i am nervous and scared. but excited at the same time. i just hope that i didnt fuck everything up. im praying that tomorrow is a better day. im glad that my husband is ok and going to make it. now to make it through 1 day at a time....

did u call & ask them? i did six diff times bc i wanted to c if they all told me diff things. they didnt. Sent from my iPhone

Hey Cynthia K....I responded to your request for a buddy the other day. Here was my post, if you are interested in staying in touch. I am pretty sure my surgery date will be pretty close to yours.... I have already found a lot of support and valuable information on this board and I am sure you will be so happy with your decision to go through with this.....Here is the post I sent you in case you missed it. Have a great night. Heather Hey there, Girl I will be your surgery buddy. I am 43, and my BMI is 40.5. I am only 5'0 ft tall. I live in Nashville and I am so excited about this surgery. I had a lot of reservations at first but, I want my life back. A little about me. I am married and have three boys. Aged 10, 12, and 42 (hahah, my husband). I was in shape most of my life, but then my back went out. I used to be a gymnist and I had spondiolethesis, and had to have major back surgery a year ago. Since then I have gained so much weight. I am 5'0 and I weigh 209. With this surgery, my hopes is to lose 80lbs. I would love to be your surgery buddy and support you and I would love the support in turn. Thanks for your post, I just started my process and I will most likely have the surgery in May. So, we are still very close. I am going the insurance route. I work for Federal Govt. and have Fed BCBS. So, I have to do a 3 month medically supervised diet. Hey, I gottal go but, lets talk some more. Tell me more about yourself ....I am still trying to figure out how to get a picture up on ths site. Have a great evening. I will check back in in the morning. Taking the boys out to dinner. Bye for now. I am excited to get to know you better. Thanks Heather

I accept your apology and thank you for the encouragement. I wish you all the luck in your journey also. I understand the getting in the mind set for after surgery but here is my issue with that also. From everything I have read you can still eat whatever you want after surgery in moderation so this whole argument about getting ready for after surgery to me is BS. I do plan on being very successful after my surgery, but I also know that we have to live a little. I did mention my trouble to the surgeon and he said that I would be fine. Jackh please except my apology for snapping at you. I am one week out from my surgery and I am ready to be successful the rest of they way. Again good luck to you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You know what your right I don't know what people's struggles are especially when they don't post them. What I do know from all the reading and listening to podcasts that I have is that unless we follow the instructions to the letter the chances of long term success aren't good. And if your issues with the pre op diet have to do with low sugar then why wouldn't your surgeon or nut be willing to modify it? But I also know thatr my head can make all kinds of excuses if I let it. We have to be brutally honest with ourselves if cheating is because of a legit issue or is just because we want the damned pizza, cheese, whatever. I am honestly sorry if I made any assumptions about your situation but honestly as I peruse these forums I'm seeing tons of belly aching over bs. If we don't at least try to have the right mindset and approach to this then what's the point? If we don't challenge some of the crap that goes on in our heads then who else will? Hang tough man, you can do this. I've never met you but I got faith in you. I'm not here to stir people up but to challenge them, us. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I was banded on August 17, 2013. A little over a year later, I've lost 95 pounds! I know, right. That's A LOT of weight! I'm 5 '3 and now weigh about 150 pounds. Aside from the BS I'm currently dealing with, it's been a pretty good ride. I've consistently lost weight with some stand still during these last 25 - 30 pounds here & there. Needless to say, I feel genuinely thankful & blessed for getting many, many compliments from co-workers & neighbors. No, I didn't tell any of them! I had a very bad episode this past Friday, not sure as a result of what, where I vomited 12 times in a 4 - 5 hour time frame. WTH! It was God awful. I can't even pin point what started the whole thing. Had a stomach ache that got progressively worse hour by hour until I kept getting sick. Obviously, not a lot coming out because, as lap band patients, we don't eat much. Well, I considered going to the ER but since we recently converted insurance companies from Aetna to Kaiser, I had concerns about being properly treated (medically speaking, of course). My throat burned from vomitting, my neck was sore & my esophogus felt sore too. And yet, I still didn't go to the ER. I just prayed it would stop. It was a tough night, but... I tried to drink hot tea, which tends to soothe our tummies, but instead out it went too. I called what will be my new bariatric office on Monday. Since I was feeling better by Monday (just achy around the band area) along with lower back pain which to date, I don't know if it's stress or related some how. They had me call to schedule an upper GI, but the earliest they could fit me in, as non urgent, was this morning. The technician "unofficially" told me that I had a partially slipped band. He said he had seen worse & that it didn't look 'bad.' He thought that maybe I would only need an unfill, but since he doesn't deal with patients after-the-fact, he wasn't sure. I waited ALL day for my Dr's office to get the results. Finally, they called about an hour ago & confirmed I had a partially slipped band, facing down slope (which was allowing me to eat). I haven't eaten much the last few days & have stuck to liquids today & now through Friday morning, which is when my first available Dr apt is. All the office lady would say is that they would do an unfill (which beats surgery, right), but she wouldn't / couldn't say how much they would take out or for how long. She did say that I would need to talk with the Dr about "options" since obviously I wouldn't be eating the same way. What does that mean? I'm a little anxious & nervous as I don't know if this means I may have to have a revision down the road? No more fills? My mind wonders... I'm also a little hungry... Not sure what liquids I will take with me to keep me full at work tomorrow. I'll provide an update on Friday. Wish me luck!

When you can eat at least 1000 calories a day and drink a couple ounces of water at one time. If you arent well fed and well hydrated you get dizzy in poses.

I was also told a year. I probably won’t likeky stick to that, bc I like to have a drink after work. I’m planning on staying away from beer and carbonated mixers, and sugary mixers. That puts me with wine, or a sugar-free water based cocktail, or a Bloody Mary? Idk. Now I want a cocktail. Lol.

I ended up going with a $8500 "line of credit" from Regions Bank with interest rate currently at 8.5%(varies as fed rate +2.5). I got approved for 2 loans, one with my credit union for 10.9% and another from regions at 13% i think it was.

Teeta, it really is true that the answer to this question relies totally on the insurance plan you have. Is it a PPO or an HMO/POS? Do you have an in-network doctor? Do you have a hospital copay? Are you going to an in-network hospital? There is no way anyone can answer your question without knowing the precise details of your policy. I can tell you that in MY case, with an HMO plan, I paid the office-visit co-pay for each visit to a doctor's office (surgeon, PCP, and dietician), and had to pay in full for the psych evaluation because there were none in my network. That came to about $275. Then for the surgery itself I was charged only an office-visit copay, because I was operated on as an outpatient and didn't have to stay the night in the hospital. If I had stayed overnight, my charge would have been $250. But NONE of this pertains to you. What kind of plan do you have? If you call the membership services number on your insurance card they can clarify your plan and the way it works. If they say anything that is confusing, ask again. It's their job to help you understand exactly what your responsibilities are. As for whether BC/BS covers the band, the answer to that is again, it depends. BC/BS is not one company, it differs from state to state. I know that Horizon BCBS in New Jersey does cover the band, and Empire BCBS in New York is coming around. Where are you? Good luck!

i had a great vacation - at the beach with my kids and grand-kids - but ... i overate and drank and ... i did exercise 6 of 8 days, but i still gained 2.5 lbs - i was able to eat way more than i thought i would - i grazed all damn day - i couldn't stop myself - i felt really guilty ... and vowed each day i wouldn't but i did - all my old bad habits just came right back - got home yesterday and am trying to get back on track - i will see how i do this week but i think it is def time for a fill - i'm hungry now - of course i wasn't hungry at the beach bc i ate all day long .... pray for me to get back on track thanks

Hello to all My surgery was on Wednesday (July 2nd) I live in the Oak Lawn area - I will check out the support group listings on this thread - As a social worker, I think mutual support is as essential as the surgery for long term success and think the doctors should actually emphasize it more than they do. Even though I feel ok physically (for now) I think it is wise for anyone that can get to get to a support group - including myself I'm glad to know there are groups in Dallas bc my doctor's/program's support group is in Ft Worth and I can't drive there from work to get there in time.

hey yall, i have just completed my 6 months but have been advised that it would be better to go an extra month to be on the safe side. BC/BS of Ala. apparently wont approve if not exactly 183 days under doctor supervision. I'm so glad that I found this site. It is good to be able to talk to people who are going through the same thing and really understand how I feel.:smile2: I hope that I will get a chance to talk with some of you soon.