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Hi LovliBabi21. I'm also scheduled for surgery this Saturday with Dr. Ren. However, I guess I can't get nervous b/c I don't think it's going to happen. I was supposed to have it this past Monday but my insurance approval had not come thorugh yet, so we had to postpone. Well, here we are on Thursday and it still hasn't come through. Three weeks now on Slim Fast. Not fun.

Anyway, maybe I'll see ya this weekend.

And to FatBoySlim, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for the recap of your experience. I just hope I get to have a similar experience soon.

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Hi LovliBabi21. I'm also scheduled for surgery this Saturday with Dr. Ren. However, I guess I can't get nervous b/c I don't think it's going to happen. I was supposed to have it this past Monday but my insurance approval had not come thorugh yet, so we had to postpone. Well, here we are on Thursday and it still hasn't come through. Three weeks now on Slim Fast. Not fun.

Anyway, maybe I'll see ya this weekend.

And to FatBoySlim, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for the recap of your experience. I just hope I get to have a similar experience soon.

Kimberly,what insurance do you have?

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Cigna. Unfortunately, they tell you it can take up to 30 business days for predetermination, but mine has ben, supposedly, bumped to the highest level of priority, but that doesn't seem to be much. All I keep being told is that it is with a nurse for review, yet, a supervisor told Dr. Ren's office last week that we would definitely hear in time for surgery this Saturday. I'm not optimistic.

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Ironically, there is nothing I cant eat...I CHOOSE to stay away from foods that I know are high in caloric intake or fried. I remember pre-surgery my doctor tellin me that I prolly will barely beable to eat bread. I eat bread fine, and as often as I like for that matter. I was on liquids for a week aftermy surgery...That second week I was perfectly fine eating whatever I want....

HOWEVER....

The only thing I havent had since my surgery is alcohol. Mainly just because its alot of empty calories, but Im just curious to know has the band affected anyone from having an alcoholic beverages if they chose to have one?

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hey KimNYC i really hope it happens for you :)

that would be awesome if we both got banded on the same day

i really hope the insurance comes through. =) im sure the girls in the

office are trying really hard to make sure everything goes smoothly

with the insurance .. call johanna and bug her alot :) thats my best advice

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KimNYC,

I had to switch insurance 3 times to get this done. First I had Empire Blue cross, then I switched to Guardian, till finally I switched to Oxford and they approved it. They might be the most expensive, but they're the best by far. Good luck!

Alsgyrl:

Good for you for being able to hold back. In my head im still that same pig, and I want to be able to eat certain foods. Therefore certain preperations have to me bade :-D LOL.

As for alcohol, I've had a few beers since the surgery, and it's just like soda. If soda works for you then beer is no problem. I also had a shot of Jack a couple of weeks ago, and if was no problem at all.

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LovliBabi21 - Looks like I'm off the schedule for tomorrow. Haven't heard from my ins co yet, so we need to postpone again. Good luck!

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LovliBabi21 - Last minute change in plans. Just got a call from Joahnna and a miracle happened. Cigna approved me and she was able to put me back on for tomorrow. Woo hoo. See you there!

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Hey all, I'm from Brooklyn, NY and I'm 25.

I started out at 280, and had surgery 4/23/07. I've had two fills so far and am down to 252. I'm only 25, however I had no choice but to do it ASAP. My dad who's been overweight most of his life developed diabetes in his earely 30's and went on to have all kinds of medical problems including kidney failure and a kidney transplant. 3 years ago he was at wits end, at 256 lbs and started doing research on the band. Long story short, he had it done exactly 3 years before me and he lost all of his excess weight in about 8 - 9 months, and has been 168 - 173 lbs ever since. So for me, it was more of preventing all that. I also have a beautiful wife and baby girl, so it changes your perspective on things in general.

So far it's been going great, I fit back into many old pants and shirts I stopped wearing a while ago, and I'm now at the gym 3 times a week. I couldn't be happier.

OH, just wanted to add that I had the surgery done in NYU by Dr. Christine Ren.

How good is it to be back in your old clothes! That is sweet.:clap2:

My older brother lives in Brooklyn, in Carroll st. Do you know it?

I am in Australia.

Susannah

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LovliBabi21 - Last minute change in plans. Just got a call from Joahnna and a miracle happened. Cigna approved me and she was able to put me back on for tomorrow. Woo hoo. See you there!

see u there!! i gotta b there at like 7 am!

i wish you all the best ;)

maybe ill see you :) ... <3

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ok, now listen I am really wandering about this. I was banded on 3/5/07 only filled once on 6/5/07 lost 70 lbs. But I could never ever eat 3 hot dogs i would puke (sorry). I can only eat very small portion at one time. example: dinner 1/2 cup lean chicken not dry 1 cup salad I am stuffed. How are you eating like that and still loosing weight. Hot dogs are all fat, you must have incrediable metabolism!

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Those days are gone if you want to loose the weight. Start to have discipline now and your result will be great! Get a calorie book and check out the grams of fat in a hot dog and pizza. Not to mention the calories. Get you mind set on the right things to eat. You will do great.

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guys... i had it done yesterday.. got home from the hospital this morning.... its exciting and im really happy with the way they treat patients at nyu... it was a great experience and the random walks in the hallway that caused traffic were great. everyone was outgoing and a bunch of us strolled around the hallway every two hours together...

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... but I've been wondering what the "full" feeling is that everyone is talking about. I mean, I've been "full" before and have kept eating, which is why I'm in the predicament I'm in! But I've been "stuffed" before, too, and that is when I've stopped. So hearing you put it that way helps put it into prespective.

I remember thinking exactly this before being banded. While the band definitly helps, you have to work with it. There are times I've been full and stopped right there... a few times, I've put one more bite in my mouth and then realized that I should probably spit it out. There's full and then there's uncomfortable. You'll get to know the difference very quickly!!!

Good luck!

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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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