monty

Thanks for your help. I will be getting my blood work done when I see my Primary Phy. when I fly home in a week.. I am not feeling tired at all,was one of my clues when I would get injections for anemia. . If anything I am not getting enough sleep. I have not seen him since my surgery so I'll have to mention both of these issues. Thanks again!

I am 7 weeks out and have intense ice cravings. I read some place that this can be a sign of anemia. I am curious if this has happened to anyone else. I read that seasoning food helps with taste and also wonder if it is due to those spices-nothing real hot-salt, pepper, chopped garlic, onions etc. As always any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Has anyone here tried lately to get medicare coverage of the sleeve? They authorized payment for the by-pass but now after much research I want the sleeve and they won't approve it. Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience like this. Thanks!

Thank you so much for posting this. I have already had my surgery and am appealing the denial so any info like this is a help in supporting my case. I also sent a copy to my doctor in hopes it might help others in their challenge of denial. Happy Thanksgiving :biggrinjester: :Banane57:

Have you spoken directly with your surgeon or only the scheduler? Sometimes if the surgeon knows the circumstances s/he will make an exception and stay late, come in another day etc. If he had an emergency surgery they would find room and sometimes they allow room in the schedule for that. I would definitely plead my case directly even if the only way to see him was another appointment face to face. They are human and if he says "no" then you'll feel no guilt switching ( though you shouldn't anyway)! It's your money! Let us know what happens.

Hi, I feel that way but it is getting better. I am 6 weeks out and have dealt with nausea most of the time. My doctor told me to forget the morning protein shake and to start with warm coffee and meds. Let that settle for an hour then eat protein, fruit, etc. It does seem to help having something warm on the tummy first thing. I also take a ginger capsule and that has helped .Hang in there. Also if possible try to get outdoors and get some sun. Hope this helps.

Good luck to you on your first step of the rest of your life. Keep us posted how you are doing and chime in whenever you feel like it! :banane58:

Hi everyone. When I initally went to see my surgeon he recommended the gastric by-pass since my weight gain came not from eating large quantities but rather snacking on carbs and sweets, especially chocolate. He said the "dumping" would keep me "sraight" I should mention I have been on anti-depression meds for years and my family doctor feels my cravings for chocolate and carbs is from the low sertonin levels associated with depression. After doing much research I decided, given my medical history of many surgeries and the depression, I would be much better off with the sleeve. Now I am being discouraged from this procedure because of the sweet tooth. Did anyone who has gotten the sleeve have a sweet tooth as their main problem and if so how is the sleeve working for you? I really want the sleeve and surgery is in 2 weeks. Could really use your help. Thanks

Hi All, Well I am still concerned. I am one month out tomorrow and ever since I have started on small bites of food chewed, chewed, chewed, slowly,slowly, I have had nausea (worse in the morning and NOT pregnant) and after each bite have a need to burp (hard and it hurts). Now I'm wondering if anyone had a stricture and what it feels like. Or if anyone else had this feeling. It makes me not to want to even bother to eat. Am very down about this and don't remember reading about this. Thanks!

Ohhhh! What were your symptoms and how did they discover it? Antibiotic or surgery? That must have been tough and I hope you are on the mend!

Hi All, I am now almost 4 weeks out and have been told to start adding small pieces of food to my diet. I am following the rule about no liquids 30 min before or 1 hour afterward and chewing, chewing small bites. I had no problem with ground meat, ham salad, and pork. But I made a slow cooked pot roast, very tender, ate a few small bites after chewing well, and I started getting these awful pains coming from mid-chest, in waves and felt like I was going to die! I could do nothing but wait it out. Finally I started to try to burp and up came what seemed to be "slime". I was so frightened that I was reluctant to eat the next day. But at lunch, ham salad went down fine. So I tried some chicken in ragu sauce, and again pain, then slime. Now I am concerned I can not eat meat or dense solids. Did anyone else have this, how long did it last and how do you handle it when it happens? Is there something you take to get thru this? Thanks as always for all of your help!

Once again thanks for your advice and encouragement. It helps the head to know that what I am experiencing, you have as well and to have one's hand held thru all this. God Bless!

Hi Everyone, I told my husband he may have a thinner wife but she is going to be wrinkled and bald. I was blessed with good skin and with a full face and therefore people always thought I was younger than I am. Now that I am losing weight lots of wrinkles are starting to appear. I don't mind the others, but the ones showing up on my face are very noticeable. Never having delt in this area, I was wondering if anyone had found a product to use on their face that seemed to work well for them? I"m not looking for foundation make up, more like something to use daily on the skin. Thanks!!!

Thanks, so much for your help. I'll definitely check some of these out. I'm 3 weeks postop and my face is where I am losing. That, and the girls are starting to take a walk down South!!!

I will turn 68 tomorrow and was sleeved 3 weeks ago. What percentage of people over 65 do you think Medicare or advantage plans would have to cover? There is hardly anyone in the "60's" forum on this site. So sad...

Did anyone use a binder or girdle after the sleeve? Was it advised by the surgeon, did it help, what brand/type did you use, and would you buy that type again? Thanks so much!!!

I would love to have some of those leaves. I will be 68 on Monday and I lived in Ohio most of that time and Fall was my favorite time of year! The sunshine here is nice too! I think medicare coverage is determined by each state. FL is a no-go for the sleeve. However, the self-pay here is $18,000 for the sleeve, so you could have a nice vacation for the extra money!!! Let me know how you make out. I'll be thinking of you. Please let me know if medicare changes to have it covered as I am at appeal level 2.

I would love to have some of those leaves. I lived in Ohio 40 years and Fall was my favorite time of year! The sunshine here is nice too! I think medicare coverage is determined by each state. FL is a no-go for the sleeve. However, the self-pay here is $18,000 for the sleeve, so you could have a nice vacation for the extra money!!! Let me know how you make out. I'll be thinking of you.

Well we're at opposite ends of the country! I'm in Fl. Curious as to what self-pay is on the sleeve up there. Would be great if it wasn't a trick!

The nausea can come from dehydration (the only way I could drink more would ne to stay up all night), ketosis (burning the fat) and/or this thrush. The bougie he used was 36. Glad you got your surgery date. What state are you in?

Just had my two and a half week checkup and Dr. said I am ahead of schedule and Monday to start stage 3. Gave me something for nausea and said I may have thrush due to antibiotics I was on pre-op as well as in the hospital. He gave me an rx for that too. So I am good to go for two more weeks. Thanks for asking.

Greetings Fellow Sleevers, I have been having a big problem every morning and evening with nausea. (not pregnant) The first week I was fine. But then the last week and a half I have been so nauseas. Dr said may be dehydration, and to drink, drink, drink. However I drink every 5-10 mins. Only way I could do more is to not sleep and that's been happening so I drink some more. I have the supositories and they help temporarily. I have tried to exercise thru this and that doesn't seem to help. I am still on liquids and am wondering if maybe food will help Did anyone else have this and if so what did you find helpful and how long did it last? I drink pepermint or ginger tea each morning and only helps temporarily. Desperate for your suggestions, Monty

Hi Guys, Thanks for the info. It helps so much to know you're "normal" and what you might try to help with the problem. I am going to ask about zofran.