iegal

No problem getting across without a passport, getting back is an issue. Go down at least once a month with my church group. One member forgot their passport and only had DL with no birth certificate. We had to drive back (4hour round trip) to get it and return to border to pick them up. Only takes one agent to mess up your day. So, do you really want to chance it? Just saying.

I am sort of biased, but I highly recommned Dr. Quebbemann in Newport Beach and I think he has an office in Beverly Hills. Dr Q. did the first "Spider" surgery for VSG in the world and you can see him on "The Dr's" TV show talking about this single incision VSG surgery. He has two other firsts of WLS which he will talk to you about. He is the surgeon to the stars. Ever heard of Bill Handel? Handel's surgeon was....Dr Quebbemann. (if you want to watch Dr Q, go to YouTube and look up show airing in 2010) He has been featured on many other shows & newsarticles. If you can get an appointment to see him. Many are happy with his partner Dr. Braverman. Wishing you all the best!

May I suggest that you don't stock up on any one source of Protein presleeve? Your tastes are going to change along this journey. So grab different types and see what works for you. Isopure 40gm clear protein was my savior post surgery since I couldn't choke down those sickenly sweet and thick protien shakes post surgery. I got the 40gm protien Isopure from GNC, green Applemelon was the only one I could force down. Took me all day to drink it but at least I was getting in some protien. Isopure was taken only for nutrition and not for taste. At 2 1/2 years post sleeve I try to stick to one day a week of liquid protien drinks. My drink of choice now is Premier Protein from costco or Sams club with 30gm of protein per serving.

I had BC/BS Anthem PPO 2010. Wish I could give you advice but BCBS didn't approve SLEEVE surgery until Oct 2010. When did I get sleeved? 9/17/10 Yeah, I self paid since BCBS refused to pay less than two weeks before offically approved. If I knew BCBS would start approving two weeks later, I would have waited. Argh. Thanks for letting me vent. Good luck to your sister! PS- I think BCBS has a 6 month supervised diet involved before surgery is approved. Do a search of this topic in top right corner selecting forums. Enter in BCBS Anthem or BC/BS Anthem or similar

Diet is an ugly word but yes, you do need to watch what you put in. After a while I learned how to "trick" my tummy and get more in than needed by doing all the things I shouldn't. Yes, I am above my lowest weight and would like to lose 5 to 10 pounds but I am comfortable where I am still below surgeons goal for me. So, what was suggested to me was having a single day of liquids protien shakes once a week. This allows me to have fun food every once in a while and now worry about weight gain. Luckily my sleeve prevents overeating. Snacking is a killer of any sleeve post op plan. You know what you need to do. Easy? No, my surgeon did not do brain surgery only stomach surgery. So just continue to do the right thing. Follow the 3 meals a day plan, 60 gm min of Protein, suppliments, 64oz of Water, stay away from sugar, limit my carbs and excercise. Good luck! I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

While I don't get a ton of PM, people are usually reaching out to make contact and feel good about their choice more so that getting an answer. Sometimes there are so many conflicting information on this board or some newbies don't know yet how to search for answers. So...I teach how to do a search and have some commonly asked questions saved in MS Word to copy and paste in response. Just enough to get them going but not to tie them to me for future information. Be glad they trust you. You are an inspiration!

Got married. Seriously. I was married at goal weight. My DH asked me to marry him when I was obese. He had no idea I was seeking WLS options. This was my decision. Surgeon even said - a high percentage of relationships change due to one partner getting WLS since the other partner is already finds comfort in the others size. Maybe my DH like me as a "fatty" I was willing to lose him rather than lose myself. So, when did he find out I was going in for WLS? Day of final consult he went in with me and shocked me by saying he supported me. So - you don't need to get married to celebrate, this is just what I did. Yes, I looked smoking hot in my fitted dres, altered twice to ensure fit...and it was still to big.

Here is my favorite answer from a VST member who was my mentor when I was losing weight. She no longer posts here but I am still in contact outside this forum. The risk for a leak with RNY is actually higher because it's a more difficult staple line. If your surgeon has done more RNY bypass staple lines, he may not be comfortable doing sleeves if he doesn't have the experience. Technique gets better with experience, and if he doesn't have a lot of sleeves under his belt then his sleeve patients may not do as well as his bypass patients. RNY immediate complications are practically double vs. VSG. It's been well documented. I've lost just as much if not more that some RNY patients that started out with similar pre-op stats. If I were to consider a malabsorptive procedure, I would not waste my time, money on RNY. I'd go full Duodenal Switch. Grant it, neither of the malabsorptive procedures were an option for me. I didn't entertain either of them, but the DS is by far superior over RNY with long term results. Here are some of the reasons I chose VSG over RNY for my revision from the band. 1) RNY only gives you 2 years of calorie malabsorption of calories, but a lifetime of Vitamin malabsorption which can lead to later complications and deficiencies. 2) I had a pouch with my band, it is not natural, and the RNY gives the same pouch. My body hated the band pouch, and the RNY was not going to be any different. 3) I did not want a blind stomach that could not be easily scoped, but could still develop ulcers and cancer. 4) I wanted no medication or food restrictions. 5) Only 30% of RNY patients dump on sugar, it's not really a guarantee. If I want to eat a cookie, I don't want to suffer negative, self-induced consequences if I happen to be in that 30%. 6) I know several people in real life that have had major regain with RNY. Also, the complications that come 3-8 years later are just scary in my opinion. 7) I like the fact that my stomach is a normal stomach with function, just smaller in size. Hope this helps you. Personally I suggest you research complications on both. I chose the sleeve so my opinion is somewhat jaded. But, I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

Okay - if you want to drink most surgeons recommend avoiding until you hit goal or minimum of 3 months. Saying this - "Drinking alcohol after a bariatric procedure is not recommended because alcohol will take longer to metabolize in the patient's body; therefore serum levels of alcohol will rise more quickly and will be maintained longer in a bariatric patient. I still warn them that they stand the risk of getting drunk with small amounts of alcohol and may take longer to become sober". Personally, I was a light weight before and am a super light weight now. One drink and I don't drive, at all. Not passing any judgement. As Erica said, be careful if you choose to drink. PS - Erica you look amazing!

Congrats Brian on being able to make a decision for yourself. That is true love, loving yourself enough to reach out and take a chance. Glad you are doing well. Hugs to you.

Heavenly Angel; You look GREAT! Wow, I am so happy for you.

I am watching this right now and the changes. She is morphing both physcially and mentally. Congrats on your weight loss so far. Continue to great work!

Thanks for all the smiles tonight! Love the great attitudes. Saying that...sometimes the truth can be controversial. I have confronted a person on this forum who posts mistruths. So, I guess I can be a troll for calling this person out? Hmmm. To be a truth troll or to be quiet? Hugs my friends.

Still at over 2 1/2 years out I have people who don't recognize me. I am an average looking woman in all honesty but I stare at myself as if I were a supermodel. Yes, looking at my lovely collar bones makes me happy. Looking at my waist makes me feel like a woman. So, two weeks ago I ran into someone I worked with over 10 years ago at a conference. I was all over her since we somehow lost touch. She told me about a week later, "I didn't recognize you for about a half a hour, you exude such confidence and beauty." I love my sleeve!

After failing every fad diet, TV commercial, weight loss clinics, groups and others I was beyond depressed. While I hoped that I could somehow overcome my weight, I secretly KNEW that I needed intervention. What was the final straw? When my own skinny mother told me "You just need to tape your mouth shut" From my own mom. This is why I stay anonymous still. My mom didn't find out for months that I had had WLS. Didn't tell my dad until over two years out. I self paid for this surgery here in the US spending a boat load of money. Worth each and every single penny. As I always say...No regrets, I love my sleeve.

Welcome to onederland! Now that is a way to end a vacation!

Wow, what a friend to encourage you with such a thoughtful gift. You have an amazing friend. Hope you are feeling better soon.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-gastric-sleeve-surgery-thread/ There is even a downloadable checklist. Good luck!

What's next? Living life without the prohibition that our weight made us give up. My weight no longer consumes me as I once consumed food...in large quantities. Everyone has different dreams: Travel, shop, walk around and be invisible, fine dining, travel, a tap dance class, horseriding lessons again, wearing a bathing suit in public, ride a rollercoaster, shopping, and insert you "I wish I could". What hitting goal did for me was take my weight out of the equation of excuses. What is next? Everything. Watch out people, I have a second chance and no excuses anchoring me down.

Thank you for encouraging me everyone. Today is day 4 of pouch test. With the exception of dinner out with friends last night (I knew about this before my pouch test and gave myself a hall pass) I have done exceedingly well. Down 2 pounds also as a bonus. I have: felt restriction again on my sleeve starting watching the clock to ensure I wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking found that this really is head hunger (Telling myself now...you are just bored not hungry) know I can control my eating habits if focus Yeah sleeve! As just a tool for restriction, I shout..."the sleeve works." Hugs. I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

Early on, I could only tolerate Apple Melon Isopure, all others were horrid IMO. Listen, this isn't about taste, this is about getting in your Protein. During that postop liquid phase I could choke down one 40 gm clear protein Isopure a day.... Now I still drink Protein shakes when I know I will miss a meal on the go on when commuting into work. My favorite is from Familybarriatric.com "cappuccino" with 15 gm of protein. (I receive no credits or kudos for recommending them & you might be able to find similar locally or elsewhere cheaper) Once I found this type of protein, I would run you over if there was only one box left on the shelf. Yes, hated those disgusting sweet shakes just as much as the Isopure. But the Isopure provided a lot of quality protein in one bottle. Again, get in your protein even if it means you need to pick your poison.

IMO - You need to get that Protein up to around 65 daily and calories no less than 500. Try clear Isopure 40 gm from GNC, not cheap but I met my protein goals. Or you can try PremierProtein 30gm from Costco/Sams Club in chocolate or vanilla. I drank a Protein shake every day until I could "eat" my protein goals. This will up your calories too. You don't want to go into starvation mode, this will cause a stall. Eat day you will fight to eat/drink enough. So odd for us former fatties. Good luck. I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

Hi; Try sending a message to members below, both were sleeved by Dr Adam Smith in TX in last year hmscott09 & kelleeh11

I saw she was on the site yesterday. Agree, she doesn't post much any more but when she did, I read every word. So glad we have each other to learn from, lean on and cheer to victory. Hugs to my fellow vetrans...may this board explode with graduating newbies.

Whoo hoo, thanks! Always looking for low cal, high protein options. Thank you!