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Well Hello!:yo:

I am a TEXAS GAL, and I am here to get all the info you guys are willing to share.

I want the Good, The bad, And the UGLY! (please)

After doing LOTS, and LOTS of research, I have decided to get the sleeve instead of the Band.:001_smile:

I recently found out that My insurance will cover the sleeve

(BCBS FEP) needless to say that was a plus.

I am curently in the process of meeting with my Dietician, and getting a Psyc evaluation. I have a long way to go before surgery but I gave my first step in getting healthy!

I wish everyone the best, and thank you for having a place like this!:thumbup:

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Welcome! I, like you, switched from the band to the sleeve. I'm very excited about my decision, and my husband can't stop talking about how excited he is for me. I was born and lived in Texas until last year and I miss it so much! Best of luck with your process and I hope you will get all the answers you need here. I know I have gotten tons of advice and I was able to form a list of questions to ask during my appointments all from things I've read here. :001_smile:

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Read the stories that others have posted and post whatever questions you have. Happy 4th and welcome!

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Welcome to VST and congratulations on making your decision to have the sleeve and what a plus that your insurance will pay for it.

There is lots of information on this forum and if you have a question and don't see a thread about it already, post away -- you'll receive lots of information.

Happy 4th of July!

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I absolutely love hearing people changed their minds are are getting the sleeve instead of the band. I wish they would take the band off the market. It's my opinion that the band is dangerous and can cause serious problems to the stomach and esophagus.

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Thanks for the Welcome!!:thumbup1:

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Super, I am so happy for you. It's great you have made the decision and awesome that ins will pay. I, too, was scheduled for band but changed my mind at the last minute. It is such a good feeling to be taking control of my health. You will be so very pleased with your decision, I'm sure. Hope to hear of your progress securing your sleeve.

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Well Hello!:yo:

I am a TEXAS GAL, and I am here to get all the info you guys are willing to share.

I want the Good, The bad, And the UGLY! (please)

After doing LOTS, and LOTS of research, I have decided to get the sleeve instead of the Band.:thumbup:

I recently found out that My insurance will cover the sleeve

(BCBS FEP) needless to say that was a plus.

I am curently in the process of meeting with my Dietician, and getting a Psyc evaluation. I have a long way to go before surgery but I gave my first step in getting healthy!

I wish everyone the best, and thank you for having a place like this!:blush:

I agree with OregonDaisy, I love to read people write, "I changed my mind I was getting a band and now I've decided on a sleeve." I love reading that, it is as though time spent on the boards was totally worth it.

I especially cringe for self pay folks getting a band. They only read the newbie banded folks posts, they don't realize the problems with the band long term. Or people that have a $10K cap in WLS for a lifetime. What will they do when they need a revision?

Anyway, congrats to you! You made a wise decision!

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yeah, it would have been really nice to read about the sleeve first and save myself that 10 grand I paid for the band. It's no fun to self pay twice, but I have to say, having the band out and getting the sleeve was so

worth it!

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I would have loved to have only had to pay 10K for the band. I hate making that big payment every month for something I dont have anymore

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I would have loved to have only had to pay 10K for the band. I hate making that big payment every month for something I dont have anymore

Oh my that is soooo sad......:lol0:

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Ruthi, I am so sorry, I would hate that. Having my band removed has been so liberating. NewSexyMe, you have made the right choice.

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I would have loved to have only had to pay 10K for the band. I hate making that big payment every month for something I dont have anymore

A friend of mine revised to bypass from a band. She's still paying off her band as well. :001_tongue:(

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That money going out every month serves as a reminder of how important this new me really is and what I am willing to go through to have a new life. Hope you like my photos I posted this morning. I am amazed at the difference so the band wasnt entirely a waste. I will post new pics in the near future. I am holding off till I hit onederland. Hopefully next week.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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