WeekendWarrior

We have a local WLS support group, and they have protein tastings on a regular basis. Maybe you can find a support group in your area that does the same, or join one and suggest everyone bring something different and have a tasting party yourselves.

Update: I went to the seminar today. Dr. Teresa Lamasters did the first part. They have a very nice binder with information explaining all the surgeries. It has about anything you can think of covered, from pre-op and post op diets, suppliments, and recipies. They also had sheets of different Protein suppliments with where to buy them and costs per serving. They have a monthly support group and they sample different protein suppliments. Dr. Lamasters does her laproscopic surgeries using the da vinci robotic surgery device. She said that this device makes the old procedures seem like using chopsticks. The robot has much better articulation and stereoscopic vision. The last person to talk was the insurance specialist. She said medicaid, and a couple other insurance companies cover the sleeve, but my insurance doesn't. She is not aware of anyone who has been able to win an appeal. I told her of my need to take nsaids, and my family history of stomach cancer and how I believed this was the only procedure besides DS that is appropriate. She had me make a appointment with the surgeon and would see if we could get wellmark to make an exception. So now I guess I wait until my appointment on the 23rd, to take the next step.

Sorry to hear your aren't doing well. My wife had her gallbladder out a while back. She was in utter agony and we rushed her to the ER as we had no idea what the problem was. They rushed her up to the emergency OR and removed it immediately. Once it was out, she was up and around the next day. I think they only made a tiny incision to remove it. I wonder if I should have mine out when I get my surgery? I don't know if they do that or not? Did you take actigall (Ursodiol) at all after your previous surgeries? I read somewhere that there is a 30% chance of getting gallstones after WLS. Taking actigall drops it to 3%. I hope everything goes well, and you out and about soon.

From what I've read, having the sleeve is like having a normal, but much smaller stomach, so you should be able to eventually eat most things you did before, but just much smaller quantities. They've know now for a long time that a bacteria causes most kinds of ulcers. Hot peppers inhibit the growth of H. Pylori, the bacteria that causes certain kinds of ulcers. Spicy foods can irritate an existing ulcer, but they don't cause them. Spicy foods can inhibit the growth of H. Pylori bacteria, and may help prevent ulcers. I've seen studies of people who eat spicy foods have a lower incidence of peptic ulcers. Nsaids can also cause ulcers. This is why it's bad for people using the lap-band, and the Roux-En-Y bypass to take them. Normally the stomach has three defenses against digestive juices: mucus that coats the stomach lining and shields it from stomach acid, the chemical bicarbonate that neutralizes stomach acid, and blood circulation to the stomach lining that aids in cell renewal and repair. NSAIDs hinder all of these protective mechanisms, and with the stomach's defenses down, digestive juices can damage the sensitive stomach lining and cause ulcers. So I think if you just eat things in moderation, then you should be fine.

I started checking into the insurance today. I have Wellmark Bluecross and Blueshield. (I didn't know that BCBS is over 39 separate health insurance companies.) I gave them a call and asked them what type of bariatric surgeries they covered, and was told the following. Vertical-banded gastroplasty Adjustable gastric banding Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy) Minibypass Sleeve gastrectomy Duodenal switch with a BMI of 50+ I hung up and thought great, they cover the VSG! Later I started thinking that I wanted to make sure this wasn't too good to be true, so I called them back and asked again, and wanted to know if they could send me the policy by mail or e-mail. This person told me that I could read it on the wellmark website, and gave me the following link. Bariatric Surgery for Morbid Obesity* Well I read the policy, and it looked like they would cover it, until I got to the very end, and noted. Sleeve gastrectomy as a stand alone procedure OR in combination with a malabsorptive procedure was considered investigational! Looks like I may have to fight them on this. Anyone know of a comprehensive list of Insurance companies that will cover VSG? I don't know if giving them a list showing that other insurance companies no longer consider it investigational will help. Any good resources out there on how to fight the insurance company? Should I just wait for my seminar, and ask the surgeon if they have gotten any BCBS insurances to cover it?