MeMeMEEE

I was told recently that after 1 year my doctor will consider short stints of ibuprofen. I think each situation is unique and has to be individually considered. I will say I have migraines as well and there are prescription drugs that have no ibuprofen in them - talk to your primary doctor about getting something to keep on hand for them.

I am with the "never lie" group - I don't go shouting what I've done but I tell anyone who cares enough to ask. After all, I really don't want to contribute to the stigma that is already on WLS. It's there because of all the secrecy in the first place. To each his own, absolutely.

Tomorrow my mom is making me meatloaf, all covered in katsup and bacon and some mashed potatoes too!! I am so excited - even though I know I might get just a few bites in and a tiny taste of those buttery potatoes - I just cannot wait!! It sounds soooo good! Have you had a meal like this? One you anticipated this much? Did you enjoy it like you thought? Every day I feel like I can eat a bit more, I really need to get myself to cooking so I can't have homemade stuff because it sure tastes better than frozen or to go. I have been having alot of to go Soups lately and they have been a lifesaver for me. Today I went to dinner for my future sister in law's bachelorette sort of party - to a place that serves horse shoes, some of the best around. It's a central IL thing and if you have never been here or lived here you would never have heard of it but let me help you picture it - Texas toast with your choice of meat (a burger is popular), cover that in french fries then top with very yummy homemade cheese sauce...yes. A horse shoe, or a smaller version, the pony. I had tilapia - I was so good - just had me some baked fish, didn't even stick a fry in cheese sauce just so I could taste it. So I feel pretty ok about my meatloaf for tomorrow By the way, I'm not hungry, I was a lucky one and lost my hunger. But mmmm the taste of some things just sucks me in!!

I have BCBSIL PPO and work for them. I was told specifically that 6 months medically supervised weight loss was 6 months of visits with your physician where you discuss your weight, what you are doing to lose during your 6 months, exercise/diet plan etc. I have heard of one person submitting 6 months of nutritionist visits and being approved. My Dr filled out a form my surgeon's office required each month and only submitted once they had all of those forms in hand. I was told specifically also that a weight watchers booklet showing 6 months of weigh ins doesn't count. Now, if you have discussed your weight and what you were doing to lose 6 times over 24 months your doctor could say you have met that requirement. Here is a link directly to the medical policy - http://medicalpolicy.hcsc.net/medicalpolicy/home?ctype=POLICY&cat=Surgery&path=/templatedata/medpolicies/POLICY/data/SURGERY/SUR716.003_2011-03-15#hlink The statement below is pretty clear - Documentation of active participation in a comprehensive, non-surgical program of weight reduction for at least six (6) months, occurring within the twenty-four (24) months prior to the proposed surgery.

I took 4 weeks and this was my first week back. No matter how well I felt, working an 8 hour day zapped me. Remember you are relearning how to eat and drink and your calorie intake is very low. I spent this 4 day week napping on my lunch and after work. 2nd day I clocked out after 2 hours and slept for 2 hours - I work from home in a desk job. I didn't shower or dress until the evenings, trying to conserve the little energy I had for work. Whatever the max is your Dr recommends you take, do it. Use vacation/sick time, FMLA, Short Term Disability - whatever you have to do but do it!!

Congratulations on your persistence!! I know there are alot of people here who have Kaiser - I see alot of people mention it. Might look over in the insurance forum to get some users and they can tell you all about the process! I know they seem to have lots of classes you have to go through!

You will be her support, she will come to you when she isn't sure about something or has a problem. You are sort of her mentor. I agree those of us who had to go through the "hoops" will probably be better off in the long run as we have the extra follow up and support needed. Back 10 years ago there were bariatric clinics all around and they rushed them in and out - I have a friend who had RNY then and she hasn't ever followed any rule, she doesn't take Vitamins and just knows it is Vitamin related when she has problems. It's sad, and everything I say she says "I was bad and didn't do that." She says don't follow my example! And I sure won't!

Every time I read the "What should I say that isn't a lie?" threads they upset me. I think people need to know! There are so many people who have thought about WLS and not had anyone to ask about it - so they hear the negative comments that float the edges and keep quiet about their thoughts and don't act. I have had 2 friends ask me lots about it, both had considered it but never looked any further, one is getting ready to schedule an orientation. I don't know if either will follow through but I feel by being open I gave them a person to ask about it. I sure said forever I would never do it! Then I started hanging around with a friend who had RNY like 10 years ago and asking her things, observing how she ate, lived, etc and it put a bug in my brain - I started looking in to it. You just never know who you may lead to a new life!! The stigma is there because people are so silent about it - break the stigma!

I actually have the twisted cherry and thought it would be ok then half way through it started making me sick too

I've been looking forward to this thread all week!! Hi All-Stars!! I am weighing in at 194.2 this am, I have pretty much hit my stall on Labor Day. I'm ok with it. I've really been struggling with food and fluids but yesterday I managed to eat 3 times and I felt so accomplished! I even got every ounce of fluids in! I couldn't however stomach my last Calcium. I am headed this morning to get the yummy chews so I can get them in every day without feeling like I might hurl. Have to get my 1 month blood work drawn too, not looking forward to how that will make me feel for the rest of the day! I can;t tolerate the shakes so I have struggled with Protein from day one - found some bars that aren't bad. I have a friend sending me samples of hers today, looking forward to trying some different ones but not much hope for them Hope everyone is settling in to a routine with everything! Can't wait to hear how everyone is!

Did they tell you to crush it? I am able to take pills whole, just wondering if maybe it is absorbing different? I hope you are felling better!!

Had the RNY? No I would have never considered it but the acid reflux after surgery has thrown me for a loop and I understand that isn't an issue with bypass. Believed everyone when they said you might not like the Protein powder afterwards. I would have really practiced pacing myself with fluids and paid attention to the time it took to drink 4 bottles of Water when sipping. I drank alot of stuff from a straw and I think that makes you drink faster - I am still struggling with my fluids. Took 6 weeks off instead of 4.

Oh my I feel the exact same way - I am not in a good place right now and can't really recommend the sleeve to anyone. I feel like I will never be able to eat Protein and sustain myself. I can't do the Protein drinks either. I struggle with my fluids daily too. It is so annoying right now and makes me sad.

I don't know how i would put myself on a schedule - when I eat more I get less fluids in which isn't cool. The not drinking before and after turns a meal in to 1 hour 15 mins of no drinking - I tend to eat twice a day. How do you snack and still get your fluids? I can't do the Protein shakes, they make my heart race and make me feel sick. DId find a Protein Bar but again the time away from fluids. Did you guys just force yourself to eat and drink faster or what? I just want to wake up and be able to DO it!

I'm 4 weeks out myself - and getting between 100-350 calories a day. If I take time out to eat I don't get my fluids in so it it is a vicious cycle and I don't know how to end it! I guess I am just one of the lucky ones who gets to have swelling farther out than normal. Every day I look for a sign of a turn around!!

I told the few I am close to what I was doing, they have been very supportive. I told my boss also, her husband had bypass 10 years ago so she has been great also. Thankfully I work from home and actually everyone in my department with exception of 4 people do so we don't see each other often, once every month or 2. I was out for 4 weeks and on FMLA/STD so I am sure the ones I didn't tell will be nosy the next time I see them - I will tell them the truth. Mostly I wanted to avoid negativity before surgery, no one was going to talk me out of it. I have the benefit of several others in my division who have had bypass this year so hopefully some of the stigma has been broken by them. If not? I just don't care. It's for me and my health.

I have been having the phlegm thing going on, hadn't associated it with food or eating and with it being allergy season I am blaming that. I have been taking zyrtec-d the last 2 1/2 days and I think it is helping.

Last year was full of planning my oldest daughters wedding. When it came time to find a "mother of the bride" outfit I was disgusted by how I looked. At that point I knew I had to lose weight when it was all over. At some point I made a reservation for the Weight Loss Surgery program's Seminar for 1 week after my daughters wedding. This was BEFORE I saw myself in the pictures haha! I was thinking Lapband at the time and when I went I knew it wasn't for me. I had never heard of the Sleeve before. I came away from the seminar needing a referral from my Dr and I just knew he wouldn't give me one. At one point my daughter was going to the Dr and I had her ask if he would refer me and he said he would. So I made an appointment and then canceled the day of it and joined a gym. That lasted a week. A few weeks later I had my referral and the appointments began. It hasn't been an easy road so far at a month out, I would probably trade for an RNY right now because of the reflux, but ask me again in a few months and see what I might say.

Great advice here! I agree, I wouldn't bring the weight/seat topic up with the big boss. Also, you can probably find a seat measurement online and then find a similarly sized seat and try it on for size to see what you think! Usually it will be an administrative assistant of some sort doing the booking of a flight so you maybe even be able to ask them if they can let you know the upgrade cost to business and that you may want to do that at your own cost if it's an option.

My plan tells me no more than 1/4 cup right now - I can do about 2 tbsp of solid protein and that's it. I can easily eat 1/2 cup of soup because of course it is mostly broth or liquid. I can do the same with a yogurt or pudding. So I guess it all depends on what you are eating.

good question! So far my meals aren't that sophisticated Usually if I am having soup it is split pea or egg drop so it has my protein in it - and it's all I am eating. I'd say avoid spicy if you think you might need a drink, but if you accidentally get spicy a sip of water isn't going to kill you.

I hit my first stall this week at 4 weeks out. I am so needing energy and calories not to mention protein that I don't think I care. I need a break from the sleeve myself to regroup. Wow it has been so much harder than I expected!! I just knew I would be one who didn't have any problem with fluids or protein shakes - ha was I wrong!

Insurance companies can consider procedures experimental or unproven - that's pretty common with a newer procedure and that changes as other insurance companies begin making it a covered service.

I'm four weeks out and can get in just a few ounces of food a meal, usually 2 meals because anything more pushes me not to reach my fluids. I am not reaching my protein goal (honestly. I don't know what it is but am sure it is more than I get). Today has been one of my worst days since being home as far as fluids - I started back to work today, thankfully I work from home but I did not meet my fluids, still trying but no way can I stay up much longer BTW, I can't do the protein shakes. I did get almost 400 calories in today, that's probably the highest range I get to - usually it is more like 100-200 which is pretty hard to function on. I was exhausted after about 6 hours of desk work.

Yes! I get this! I think it is phlegm but wow does it drive me nuts!! I have been having some major drainage for about 2 weeks and the hair in my throat feeling really gets me gagging. I am 4 weeks out now and really hoping it stops soon. I bought some zyrtec-D in hopes of drying the drainage up.