poohmsg

So I had talked to my doctor about the sleeve and suggested we try the referral process, we called Tri Care and they shot us down even before the Dr wrote the referral. 1. They still don't cover the sleeve 2. I would have to gain at least another 50 pound or have a obesity related medical condition (which I don't, but am 105 pounds over weight) we were also told I did not even meet the requirements for the other 2 procedures either. So my question is since it appears that I am going to self pay do baratric surgeons have such strict rules to have the procedure done? Also what are some suggestions to finding a surgeon to do the procedure? I have seen several people going to Mexico to have it done, and while I like saving money I am still kinda leaning toward to having it down here in Texas. Thanks for any suggestions you may all have!!! Melissa

Last year at this time I was recovering from surgery, it was the best decision I have ever made for my self. I have been lucky and have not had any problems along the way but it is still a challenge everyday to not fall back in to old habbits. Anybody who says this is the easy way out has no idea that it is not easy you have to stay with it and follow the the program of diet and exercise. That being said we are all human and slip ups happen I have had my fair share of them for sure! The one thing I wish some one had told me before hand was not to get so obsessed over the number on the scale. I look at pictures of myself and realize that I have not been this small since high school yet there are days I get on the scale and it says something totally different. I am now more focused on my BMI and not what the scale says. I started at a BMI of 42.2 and now it is a nice even 27, my weight was 262 and I am now down to 177! I still have about 15 to 20 pounds to my goal and for some reason the last few months they just dont want to go away but I am determined to get them gone and with time I am postivie they will vansih forever just like the last 85 pounds have I want to thank everyone here for all the support and advice that I have recieved during my journey this last year and may you all the the sucess that I have had

Just make sure you get in all your protein and water and that you are taking your vitiams along with the liquid B12 and as crazy as it sounds see if you can add more time to your workouts even 5 to 10 minutes may help ou,t I always seem to have more energy after a workout and it helps me sleep at night as well.

Good luck and if you need anything let me know, you will do great:)

Advice for people who have not had surgery yet would be : 1. Don't ocmpare yourself to others!! You are your own person and your body will do its own thing when it wants to. There were serveral times I would get down on my self because I would see that somebody who had surgery around the same time I did had lost more weight then I had. What took me a long to time to realize is that that person may have been heavier or lighter than I had been or that they may have had complications or who knows what. You will lose but at your own pace 2. Take pictures of before and also take measurments!! I wish I had taken measurments so I knew how many inches I had lost all I have is pictues and what the scale said. 3. Dont be a scale *****!! While knowing your weight is great getting on the scale 15 times a day will just make you frustrated casue your weight can fluxuate during the day. After going through this for a month I finally picked a time once a week to weigh myself and stuck with it. And finally don't give up even when you hit a stall, it will be hard but you can do it!

So I have leaned that I need to start listening to my husband he seems to know my body better than I do! I went shopping for new clothes since summer is approaching and all my summer clothes from last year are way too big and as I am looking for stuff he brings me up 2 pairs of capris and said try these on, I look at them and they say size 12 and I tell him there is no way they are going to fit I am not that small yet, but to make him happy I go and try them on. As I am standing there loking at myself in the mirror in amazment they FIT!!!! The same thing happened at another store with a pair of shorts I swear they wont fit, but he insists they will and they do!! I still see myself as overweight even though I have lost 85 pounds but he sees me as I am now I am very lucky to have such a suportive husband who is behind me 100% and now has a new job as my personal shopping assistant

Over all I have been doing great and things seemed like they were great. I only weigh myself once a month and today as I stepped on the scale it refused to move from where it was in January. I am down 85 pounds which is great but at 10 months post op I was hoping it would be more. I have stalled for 2 months now and it is frustrating and almost makes me feel like I have failed at this as well. I know there are days that have been better than others but come on already stuck at the same weight for 2 months. I am trying to stay positive but all I want to do is cry this is the first time I have been this frustrated with my progress.

I was so worried about how the holiday season would go and if I could stick to my goals well I knocked it out of the park and lost 16 pounds between Nov 17th and Dec 26!!! I was in the middle of a move and chaos of traveling and visiting family that I did not always get my protein or water in and exercise was not happening. I am now settled in our new house and am back to eatting regulary and getting in my required protien and water daily and getting back to walking. I am proud of the 85 pounds I have lost over the last 8 months can't wait to get the last 30 off!! Here is to a great 2012 I wish you all the best in your journey!!

PIctures were taken the mornig of my surgery on April 26th and then last week on Oct 26th 6 months later. I have lost 70 pounds and went from a size 20/22 to a size 16/14. I feel so much better and as so proud of myself

I had surgery the end of April and by the first few weeks of June was feeling really good no longer sore and able to do anything. But recently we went on vacation nothing big but a long 2 day drive and a lot of time in the car after we got there, I was feeling fine but on the way home another 2 day drive my mussel that they cut through for the surgery started to get sore. I have been home a week now and it seems to be getting more sore everyday. Its not unbearable but i defiantly feel it. I was just wondering if anybody else has has this happen? I don't recall doing anything that would make it sore but who knows I am thinking maybe just sitting so long in the car could be behind it?

I am getting ready to go on vacation for 2 weeks and I am worried about not having access to all the healthy food that I eat at home while I am gone. There is also a lot of the family that doesn't know I had surgery so if you don't mind I am going to steal that line if anything comes up. There are just some people I don't care to tell about the surgery as I am not in the mood for their judgments of my life. I am hoping somebody has a scale in their bathroom when I visit or I may end up at Walmart too !!!

I am almost 8 weeks post op and my Dr told me not to worry about calories to just make sure I drank my 64 oz of water a day and make sure I get between 60 and 80 grams of protein a day. Well I have been able to do that but started tracking what I eat on a app on my phone and for the last 2 weeks I average between 700 and 800 calories a day and was wondering if that was either too many or not enough? I know some of you have to count your calories so I was just wondering what your Dr's suggested when it came to this. I am still losing weight although I have had 2 stalls but down almost 35 pounds since surgery.

Sorry I meant protein not fiber not sure what I was thinking when I was typing. I changed it a not to confuse others

It amazes me how different the post op diet varies for people. I was only on clear liquids for 2 days then on to full liquids for 10 to 14 days and can start mushies between 10 and 14 days after surgery. I am 11 days out and have slowly started yogurt. cheese and eggs. I am not hungry all that often my problem is I think I am and I am afraid I am not getting enough in even though I am following the diet they gave me. I know it is all in my head and really wish it would go away, its hard to go from a huge plate of food to 2 spoonfuls of food. I was told to expect this but it still SUCKS!!!

I am not sure if is a lack of food or just crazy hormones but I am starting to freak out about surgery. I know I want this but all of a sudden I keep thinking about what if the worse happens during surgery I have too great boys and a wonderful supportive husband who just happens to be deployed over seas right now that I can't imagine not seeing again. I know the chances are really small and my surgeon has a really good record of surgeries without complications but its still there in the back of my mind. Am I the only one who is having these thoughts and how do you get past them?

I start my liquid diet on Tuesday and I have been doing the last meal thing all week long and it has sucked nothing tastes good everything is just blah I am not really sure why I know it is going to be along time if ever before I can eat some of the food again but I think between stress and that that I am getting in to the mind set to be able to do the liquid diet it just isnt working. But I would defiantly have a last meal that you really love as long as your sensible about it ENJOY

I start my diet next Tuesday but I only have to do it for 7 days and it scares me more than the actual surgery does I just keep telling myself if I can get through this than I can do the rest with out a problem, and it does make me feel better that so many other people have managed to do it so its not impossible. GOOD LUCK

Well my question is have you been able to get a hold of Darnall? I get the run around every time I call as to if they even do the sleeve. I don't mind waiting since my hubby doesn't get back until August anyway. I do know Scott and White has a baratric program in Temple but not sure if they do self pay but I don't know why they wouldn't.

WOW had not thought of doing that with the weights! I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say. I do not have any of the medical issues you listed but there is a family history of them for sure. My mom had a very debilitating heart attack a few years ago due to her weight, high blood pressure, and diabetes. My dad also has a weight problem and high blood pressure. I just want to get something done before it effects me as well. Thank you for the help I will let you know what they say.

My BMI is 40.1 but they said my I had to be 200% over my idea body weight to qualify. Do you know if Darnall Hospital here in Killeen does the procedure. I go to a off post provider and am not sure if that makes a difference to them or not. I am even willing to travel to San Antonio to the military medical facilities if need be. I have awhile to figure this all out I can't have the procedure done until Aug when my husband comes back from deployment anyway just very frustrating already.

Thanks Kassie for asking I am in the same situation you are. I am going to the Dr tomorrow to find out how to even get started since I have no idea. I have read several different things on if it is coverd or not the info everyone has shared has been more helpful. Good Luck! Melissa