Hello sleevetalkers,

My name is Brad. I had my sleeve surgery on July 29th in Columbus, Ohio. I had my first follow up yesterday and had the staples and tube removed.

I am a 37 y/o that just got my one do-over to live long into the future and see my 4, 5, and 9 y/o's grow up. It has been something I been contemplating for several years and finally everything came together this year.

I joined the Fresh Start Bariatrics program in Columbus, Ohio in Feb. and have had the most wonderful experience. My insurance was rumored to require at least 6 months of dietary visits and did not approve the sleeve.

I was figuring I was having the By-Pass in late September. I had done a lot of soul searching and come to the acceptance of the type and date of the surgery. I had wanted then sleeve since first hearing about it and was bummed.

Then on July 1st, I received a call that Fresh Start contacted the insurance company earlier and got it approved. I then learned the next day, that they got the sleeve approved. I was elated.

The program had us do a strictly liquid diet on food they provided for 6 days before surgery. It was brutal, but it was affective. I am exactly one week out from sugery. I have lost 27lbs since I started my pre-surgery diet on July 23rd.

Everyday is a challange, but everday is another day in the rest of my life

Welcome aboard! Congrats on getting your surgery approved and done!:001_smile: My husband had the sleeve done on 7/28 here in Dallas. He had originally planned to have the RNY possibly, but he, too, upon learning about the sleeve really wanted to go that route. We were not able to get insurance coverage (or for any weight loss surgery, for that matter because his employer's insurance excluded it) but ended up doing a self-pay which the Lord provided for us when it seemed impossible.

Hope things go well for you. I think you will find a lot of good info and support on this site.:lol0:

Edited August 5, 200917 yr by kaykay

Thank you for your kind words. I hope all works out for you and your husband.

Welcome!!

I have been reading about people that have insurance that pays for this and I am in awe. We (vegasangel) were self pay, and choose to go to Mexico and Dr. Aceves. We are so glad we did, what a wonderful experience. I hate hospitals and HATE surgery, however, after seeing VA have hers done I choose to have mine done because of the care she received.

Columbus Ohio are my old stomping grounds, I use to have an insurance agency in Richmond, IN and had clients in Columbus, not to mention a girlfriend.

Welcome and enjoy your new life!!

Thank you for your kind words. I hope all works out for you and your husband.

Thanks, Brad. Hope you will keep us updated on your progress.

Hi Brad, welcome to VST! Congratulations on getting your approval, that is fabulous.

Welcome Brad, you have such a great outlook. I'm sure you're going to have alot of success on your journey. You sound alot like me tho I'm a year older. I have 4 kids and I just wanted 1 more chance to have a healthier happier life and be able to see my kids grow up. Hopefully we have it now. Keep us posted and feel free to chime in or ask questions anytime.

Welcome Brad and thank you for sharing your story and your postive upbeat outlook. Feel free to ask any questions you might have as someone will have an answer for you or a suggestion, etc. We look follow to following you on your journey.

Thank you for all the kind words. This is such a great place for connecting with the people who "understand" what we are going through. I told my wife the other day, even though I am not physically hungry, mentally is a different story. I told her that it is like being a recovering alcoholic. That we battle with this mentally all the time. We may not show it, but every commercial with food and innocent casual conversation about what's for dinner is a struggle. But we have a prize at the end of the tunnel and know in a few months we can taste that food again and that keeps you going. My wife, I think, understands the best she can, but until your body is going through this you never ever will.

Now, I am not a sweets person, so I am in search of recipies for the full liquid diet that is not on the sweet side. I found a great one for potatoe cheese soup.

Welcome Brad

It's nice to meet a neighbor. LOL It is good to find people that understands our addiction. The people here are so supportive. They have helped me get through several rough spots. Looking forward to hearing about your progress.

I have not had surgery yet, but hope to in the next 1-2 months. It sounds like your surgery went well, which is great to hear. I like what you wrote, my addiction to food does remind me of an alcoholic. Best of luck in your journey!

Hi Brad

I have just joined in the hope of having some support and just looking at your replies shows that you have that already here. What a great site for me to stumble across! I am 10 days post op, and am lucky that mentally, I am not having any issues yet, not to say that I won't have though in the future.

You have done a very brave thing to spend more time with your kids, enjoy them each and every single day.

Brad did you post your potato and cheese soup recipe? I can't find it if you did. That combines my two fav things potatoes and cheese.

Brad did you post your potato and cheese soup recipe? I can't find it if you did. That combines my two fav things potatoes and cheese.

Me too! Please post it!

Another vote to post your recipe.

Potato and Cheese soup.

I used 1 package of the potatoe cream soup that you get at the store. It is the one that uses 8 cups of water. I follow the directions on it. I add salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder to taste. Once it is cooked I take 2 laddle fulls of soup and put them into a seperate pot. I then take about 4 tablespoons of Campbells Cheddar Cheese soup. Mix it with the 2 laddles of soup. Cook it a little longer. Then thin it out with skim milk. Pour it through a strainer. It is rather tasty. If you like french onion soup, I came up with one for that.