detchie

I'm in New Orleans and would be interested in meeting to walk/exercise. My sleeve was created by James Woolridge at Ochsner in 2012. Slow process but I believe I have perfected maintaining but need to get back on the loosing side of the sleeve.

I'm in New Orleans and am interested in getting together. E-mail me the proposed date, time and location, dvphill@aol.com

I had to pay 150 dollars for the psyc visits 25 for initial consult, 25 for the test and 100 for the report. I have only been billed $150 for the surgery. I have not had to pay anything for my follow up visits with my doctor or nutritionist. I am 4 months out but I believe my 1st year of follow up visits are covered by my doctor. I see both doctor and nut at the same time so it is considered 1 co pay. That is probaly how this team packages the surgery.

My NUT says they are fine for a sleeve pt but you have to chew 4 per day. I don't mine because they are close to candy. You can search online for $2 off coupons. I buy then 2 bottles at a time. They are probally the only Vitamin I enjoy.

I wouldn't it causes gas. I found out the hard way. I never knew you swallowed so much air when chewing. You may be able to tolerate it a little better in a month and then I wouldn't recommend you chew too long.

1st day home and it has been rough. I got home last night with terrible gas.....I could see my stomach rise with air by the minute. I took the generic gas x along with some pain medication and hoped it would knock me out and it would be all over when I woke up. the gas was better today but I am having trouble drinking. The though of the protene shake makes me ill let alone drinking it makes me gaseous. I got in 1/2 of one today. Hopefully it will get better or I can find a better solution to that shake. Sipping on tea and lemonade works. But if I sip wrong I feel a gas bubble. I hope it gets better with time. It must. I am sure those who went before me experienced the same and lived throught it. I have no other choice now... It is still early so we will see. Just sleeping alot now..

Day 1-4 were the most difficult. It took me that long to discover that I don't like cold protein drinks. Today, which is day 6 wasn't that bad. I decided to just chugg it down and get them in early to prevent the evening munchies. Surgery on Thursday and I meet with the NUT and Dr on tomorrow for preop. Only lost 5 lb on 1 week preop. but now that I think about it that not too bad.

I have BCBS Fed. They didn't cover sleeve last year when my husband had a band. They now cover the sleeve so its possible that they are in the process of adding to the plan. You may have to wait a few months. I would do the apeal and maybe by the time it lands on someone's desk they will cover. You should ask if they think it will be covered soon. Would be too bad if you got a loan and they added it to your plan in a month or two.

I'm sitting here with a moment of calmness because the slight headache has subsided and I don't feel the need to have another one of those swweet protene drinks. I hadn't had my 800 calories for the day so I think this moment is short lived because the headache will come back and I will have to drink sweet again. Wish I could take a pill to let me sleep for the next 5 days but the pre-op program restricts that. Hope I make it to Wednesday night without a massive meltdown. Wish me luck.......

My NUT says if it has less than 3g of sugar its ok. Those instructions were for liquids though. I can't drink the coffee without the cream. I say go for it you could do much worse than a little artificial cream.

Congradulations, keep us posted. I'll see you on the pre-op side in another 9 days. Well today is THE DAY!!! I'm sitting in the middle of my bed freshly scrubbed, dressed and ready to go [i don't leave for another hour but so what!] I have packed and re-packed my bag so I hope I don't forget anything. My sister and I are going in today for the VSG. She goes first, I go second. She's a few years older than me and deserves to go first, that is how we were raised. She is my older sister and we were taught to respect each other no matter what. Love that woman more than words could ever say!!:heart: :kiss: :heart: :kiss: We went and picked up our Mom last night so that she could be with us. Our husbands and grown children will all be there. Yes we are a very close knit family. We have researched and prayed over this procedure for months so we are more than ready. We will post an update tomorrow and let everyone on this fabulous board know how we are doing. Peace & Blessings to everyone!

Hi I'm scheduled for May 26th. I haven't got a time yet and probaly won't until I go for my pre-op and dietician visit the day before. I was scheduled to go for pre-op on 5/4/11 but as I stepped out of my car to go to the DR office he canceled. Hope its not some sort of omen that I shouldn't proceed. I have a busy schedule right up to the surgery date so I hope I won't have time to really think about what I am doing. I thought about it enought and there is no turning back now.