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Thank you! I'm in NC and I have BCBS insurance. I finished all my stuff last week and got the call Tuesday!

LessOfMe0503 you mentioned you are in NC and have bcbs, i have bcbsnc am wondering how long it takes for approval. Reading your post that would mean around 2 weeks. Hopefully its that quick when we submit all my paperwork.

Two weeks out you may still have a little bit of swelling, which can make everything feel more constricted. My surgeon's advice to "eat until satisfied, not full". Sounds like you're doing that. When you get to solid foods, it's easier to measure because you can weight it. I can eat 4-5 oz of tuna salad or chicken salad, 4 oz of chicken, but only 3.5 of steak. Make sure you're getting in at least 64 oz of fluids, and if you're short on Protein, have another shake or a Greek yogurt. Calories aren't an issue because you won't get anywhere near 1,200 for a long time.

Who's the "everyone" trying to talk you out of weight loss surgery? Have any of them actually had weight loss surgery? Have any of them lost 255, 175, or even 100 lbs by any method? And if they lost that weight "on their own", without weight loss surgery, how long have they maintained their weight loss? I think it's wonderful that you've lost 175 lbs on your own, and losing another 80 lbs is a worthwhile goal, but if you've been stalled for a year, I'm not sure the on-your-own approach is going to take care of that last 80 lbs any time soon. On the other hand, you do need to be realistic about what adjustable gastric band surgery will do for you. It's not going to turn the weight loss switch back on for you. When properly adjusted, the band will provide you with early and prolonged satiety, but good food choices, portion control, dealing with emotional eating urges, and exercising will go on being your own responsibility. I won't try to persuade you to go ahead with surgery or give up the idea forever. I hope that losing 175 lbs has already given you many health benefits, and I would hate for you to consider yourself a failure if you don't lose the additional 80 lbs. Good luck!

What you are feeling is perfectly normal. Its a scary and life change thing, to get sleeved. If I can offer a few word from a veteran (as of March 6th, I'm a year out so I qualify) It will be the best health decision you could ever make. life is back to normal now. A new Normal? Yes. And I love it! There is nothing I can not eat. The only taboo thing for me per my surgeon is carbonation. I can eat and drink anything and everything. Not a single thing disagrees with me. That said, yes I can eat or drink anything, most of the time I just don't. The success I have achieved encourages me to eat healthy. I do eat very healthy 80% of the time. I eat better 15% of the time and I eat GOOD meaning anything goes 5% of the time, on average. Some days and weeks are perfect some days are not so much. I have succumbed to chips and salsa. I have eaten a few bites of the most decadent Desserts (only a few bites) but mostly because there is no more room I have wine every weekend. We are big wine lovers. I go to parties and social events where food is the focus and am just fine. I enjoy a few bites of this or that but always try to stay Protein focused. You will too. Life is not over after the sleeve, its just better. Way better. I still have 13 pound to go to my realistic goal and 23 to my ultimate goal. Although the last few months I don't think 130 is best for me. I don't think I would look or feel my best there. I think 140 is real for me. What I can tell you is, if I do not lose another pound, ever, I will consider this surgery as the best health decision I could have ever made. Where I am now is healthy, well, energetic and full of energy. I may not be a size 2 and that is fine with me. I am currently wear a loose 10 and snug 8. I I were 20 years younger I'd probably not bother with the 10. Med tops. It's not about the size but the health and all the amazing things that go along with new found health and energy! Your fears are real and normal. Take the step, it won't be easy. This is in no way "the easy way out". You will struggle, we all do, it's not all unicorns and rainbows. It is SO worth the journey and the end result is priceless. That's my 2 cents. Best of luck to you!

FayeJ..I had a severe pain in my left side that felt like a pinched nerve. I ended up getting checked out and had a PE.. However, they said the pain in your shoulders and between your shoulder blades is normal C2 pain and can last 2 weeks to 2 months..walking will help a lot.

I'm getting 6 weeks off so that I can recover. Talk to your doctor and explain your concerns. The Family Medical Leave Act ensures that your employer can't get rid of you if you have medical time off, up to 3 months.

Hi, I just joined the group. My daughter suggested it as she herself is a successful 5 year RNY bypass patient. From watching her I kind of know pretty much what to expect. The good and the bad. I am 57 years old and a single parent. As for myself, I didn't really start to have a weight problem until after having kids. Through the years the weight slowly piled on. On top of that I developed type 2 insulin dependent diabetes in my late 30's. My youngest was born after I became diabetic. I also have several other chronic conditions as well. The last 3 years I have been in and out of the hospital with septicemia, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, diabetic foot ulcers, two partial toe amputations on both feet and diabetic ketoacidosis. It has roughly been every 4-6 months that I've been in the hospital for at least 1 1/2 to 2 weeks followed by 4-6 weeks of IV meds via PICC line plus home nurse visits, OT and PT visits. It's only been the last 5 months that my blood sugars have really been under control and that my feet have been healed. I was finally able to go and see the bariatric surgeon and start the process to finally reach the goal of having RNY gastric bypass surgery. I received my surgery date approximately 3 weeks ago. I am now on the last day and a half of my liquid diet before surgery. the Protein powder that my daughter gave me is disgusting (she just laughed and told me to get used to it. HA) and is difficult for me to choke down. I need to try different brands to find one that is more palatable for me. My biggest problem is that I have healthy (I am a good cook, like to cook and like to eat and enjoy food) eating habits. It's just that my portions are way too big compounded by the last 3 years of not being able to walk as the wound care doctors wanted me off my foot as much as possible. So, I became more sedentary. And, voila! I gained weight and couldn't lose it. So here I am and the big day is almost here. My daughter will be taking me to the hospital and staying with me. My son-in-law will come to the hospital after the kids go to school. He's staying home with the kids while my daughter stays with me for a week. My oldest son will be coming also to the hospital. My youngest son isn't (both of my sons are autistc) sure yet. My neighbor will cook and watch over my sons for me until I come home. Now that I've introduced myself, I'd love to hear from others. I am extremely excited and a little nervous. But it won't be long. Monday morning at 5:30am. I've also been thinking about the walking and eating. Anyone else having surgery on the 1st? Anyone willing to be buddies with me?

Thank you Shoelover! That's kind of what I was planning. I would be due to start a new pack next weekend, with surgery 2.5 weeks later. So I figure I just won't start a new pack! I also figure my cycles are gonna be pretty crazy for a few months anyway! Did you see this?

I’ve been using Water Minder. I can set the three quick-access amounts so I’ve got an 11oz Shake, a 14oz mason jar of water and 1oz bites of jello. I’ll change it up as I move through typical liquid amounts.

If you can't handle regular Water, add Crystal Light or some other flavorings. Like massindex said, you need to make sure you get as many fluids as possible. Right after surgery, anything counts toward your liquid total for the day, but you need to make sure you're staying hydrated somehow or you'll end up back in the hospital with dehydration. As far as smells go, it is different for everyone. I noticed smells were stronger, but they didn't bother me. However, I do have a friend who said the smells bothered her for the first week or so after surgery. Hang in there!!

I had follow up 2 weeks, 1 month after that and have one schedule for 3 months after that one. I think there will probably be more but then I can just go to my primary occasionally to keep an eye on my vitamins, etc. One thing to note, not sure if this matters as I am not an insurance expert, but my surgery was on 2/7 and my last claim for it was just processed last week by my insurance company. The follow up visits were covered as part of my surgery up to 3 months out, then I have to pay my copay again and submit the visit to insurance.

Congrats!!!! I for sleeved 4 weeks ago today!!! I felt nervous about all that as well. Totally normal! We all go through it.

Hi, my name is Sara and I am currently waiting for approval from my insurance company to have the vsg. I had to do a 24 week weightloss program through the surgeons office which I completed in July and I lost 48 pounds. I have not been doing so well since. I have pretty much maintained until a couple weeks ago when we went on vacation and I gained a good 10 pounds. I have not weighed since so I am hoping I lost some of that but I still am struggling with getting back on track. I am in Michigan and I plan on having my surgery with Dr. Kemmeter of Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I would love to hear from anyone who has had Dr. Kemmeter or anyone who has had their surgery through this office. It would be nice to have some support. I do plan on going into some of the surgical support groups prior to having surgery as well just to hear others stories. Thanks All! Sara

3 yrs ago tonight my eating got way outta hand and worse. Yes I had always been overweight all my adult life but 3 yrs ago tonight my ex asked for a divorce out of nowhere, that sorry piece of SH*&. I know most of you are blown away at my language as I don't curse but if you knew what I know about him now, boy oh boy, have I found out things in the past 2 weeks, man was I blind! He was such a DOG! All I can say is I can take comfort in knowing I'm over him once and for all and have moved on and life is good and on with my weight loss and healthy eating and lifestyle. Now if I can get my sore toe to heal so I can exercise properly I'd be good. But with that said, I did blow up a stability ball today to do sit ups and I bought bands to do upper body workout, so that's a start. I thought about one of those mini stepper things with bands, do any of you have one? I happen to live with my mom so not a lot of space so I thought it was something I could tuck under the bed or in the closet when not in use. Thanks Donna

I think you are on the right track, but I also had to add in a Protein bar, many days (some days I can eat more, some days I can not - same foods. no idea why) I do like the power crunch triple chocolate bar. my weight loss had stalled, when I added in the bar I started loosing again. although if you want to stay with whole foods, perhaps a boiled egg as a snack would do well. wrap that cheese stick in a slice of deli meat maybe? just a couple of ideas.

You will have doubts until you get on the table. But you will have more good thoughts when u wake up and about 4weeks post op. you will also think "what the hell did I do!" In the first week. You will make it and you will not regret in the long run. So says the one 3 months out and 64 lbs off.

I was allowed to pick up 5 pounds each arm at one month, but was able to do bodyweight exercises at two weeks. No pull ups from a bar, but things like walking lunges with no weights, push ups against the wall, modified boxing exercises, step up calf raises, up and down stairs, walking and speedwalking to my heart's content.......that kind of stuff. Obliques were out of the question until six weeks. The inner workings of your incisions will let you know pretty quickly if you are over-reaching your healing. I tried picking up my 30 pound kettle bell last week, but that clearly is not gonna happen for a while. I could not even get it off the floor. Just this week (nearing 3 months) I have increased my weights to 8 pounds each hand. I wanted to go to ten, but I could barely pick the weights up. I am learning about Paleo Eating and Paleo Fitness from MarksDailyApple.com, and even purchased some Vibram Five Finger Barefoot Shoes, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE for exercise. I am having my boyfriend help me build a fitness course around the perimeter of our back yard, which is about a 1/4 acre. A lot of what I need to do is post-stroke therapy at a modified level, but I am fighting this fat with every weapon I can come up with. Mark explains Paleo Fitness basics as several primal efforts: our ancient ancestors (mine are orkney Island Stone Masons) did not chase mastadons all day. Their day included activities like these: Move Frequently At A Slow Pace Lift Heavy Things Sprint Once In A While Get Adequate sleep Play (No chronic cardio and exercise bulemia) I really like his approach to fitness. Between surgery and the Paleo Lifestyle, I am becoming a fat-burning beast! Since you sound like a fellow beastie who was sidelined with weight gain like I was, you may already know about Paleo. I used to belong to the National and Campers and Hikers Association back in the day and was even a decent archer and pistol packin' mama. I miss it, but I've gotten cushy in my old age. Now that I am post-op and healing, I will be glad to get outside in those barefoot shoes as soon an this frikin' Chicago weather warms up. I wish you good luck and good health.

One week. But I only walked around the track. Wanted to keep up the habit if going. Doctor would not release me to strength train for 6 weeks.

Its so slow! I went to my orientation in April and my initial appointment isn't scheduled until the end of July! I'm a little discouraged. I just want to get started with the process! I do start my 6 month program with a coach through my insurance next week though... Hopefully I can keep being positive. I wish I started earlier! Anyone else going through UMass? We can support each other through the process.

My doctor told me to give it two to three days and see how they sit. Day four was better then day three.

It's is exactly the same for me. I'm post week 3 and that deep burning pain you describe is only just starting to lessen. And yes it did get worse. Pressure on it and stretching bending or moving to quick and I was in agony. I've been prescribed codeine and soluble acetaminophen. Both every four hours. I personally was told don't take anti-inflammatories because they can seriously irritate your new stomach which is still trying to heal. Hope you feel better soon xox Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have Anthem & I have to do a six month meeting with a dietician and NP but they don't call it a weight loss goal. Had my second meeting last week and it seems to be more of a pep talk/review session. I'm so glad to have found this app and all the suggestions you all provide. Thanks! HEIGHT 5'9.5" HW 305; Started with first surgery, dietician visit 10/21/16

Hi! I've been reading your journal. It's very interesting. I haven't been though the exact same problems but I really feel for you. I have fought and fought with doctors the last 10 years and they have no respect. I'm tired of begin handed one medicine after another without any care for what is causing the symptons. I've dieted and dieted and all I get is blank stares from the doctor that I must not be doing them right because if I was they would work. I've pee'd in my pants for the last three years and they said "You're fine just try this medicine" I say "BUT WAIT -I'm young do I have to take it the rest of my life? What's the problem? They just don't know. My mom can't control her diabetes and they don't know why... they say just "Eat Better and try some more medicine" Needless to say I'm so flustrated. I have lost a few pounds since surgery so maybe I won't be a slow loser this time but I read your story and know in my heart how hard you must be struggling. I wish you the best of luck and that they find a solution to the cushing and take you seriously. That's the part I really understand is that feeling of them not taking me seriously. Sorry about the rambling above but after I read your most recent journal entry I was so overwhelmed with things I wanted to say and had a hard time forming a complete thought.