sleevemeup

I am pre-op, but I get leg cramps often if I don't have enough potassium. Can you do gatorade or powerade? I have also found that vitamin water zero helps.

Hello out there in VSG land! I have heard different stories of how your tastes change post op. Things that you once liked are now not tolerated or wanted etc. What has been your experience? Should you stock up on shakes that you like now, or wait and test it out? Did you crave different things? How many of you are now lactose intolerant? Did it go away? And heartburn- I don't think I have ever had it- Thanks!! Sleeving on October 18th!!!

Spot on- Thank you!!!

Greetings, I have my date! October 18. But.... I don't have final approval from my insurance company. Kinda freaking out. First of all, my insurance company is very small and easy to work with. We have had it for 10 years- through my husbands employer. They have an outside approval company that has never denied anything... One hurdle, they only cover band and rny. They did say they will let me do vsg if it is a better option for me (pending approval of wls surgery from the outside source). I have had all of my tests done, my 3 month supervised diet and now all I need is a sleep study because they think I have apnea. I'm not super concerned that I won't be approved at this point. But has anyone else had their date before final approval? Thanks!

My insurance doesn't allow this surgery to count as oop expenses. So I will still have to pay the co pay.

I am so worried about this too! I have very fine, straight hair. Right now it's shoulder length, One thing that could help is blonde highlights- which will thicken the hair shaft, making your hair appear thicker. I have tried nioxin products but found the shampoo too drying for my hair. There is a gel/serum that you can put on the roots, that my friend swears by, but I have never used it. My good friend does my hair, and has for years. One thing we thought of was hair extensions for thickness rather length. I still don't know what I will do, but cutting it all off works for me too! There is another product on the market called Keranique that is available. I think I may try that.... anyone else use this???

I think the important point to remember is that the sleeve is just a tool. I am pre-op with a October 18 date. Like all of you, I have scoured the internet forums looking for answers! I can't remember if I heard it from my doc, or on the internet, but the statistics of loosing weight and keeping it off is very low- single digit percentage when you go at it alone without the sleeve when you are at the high weights like most of us. That being said, I think if we use the "tool" properly, it is possible to reach your goals if they are above 120 lbs. I know we all have different stories as to how we got "here", but for me- I can loose to a certain point, but can't seem to maintain it... I loose steam with plateaus, sometimes I get sick and need steroids and that totally sabotages everything- so I eat.... I am hoping with this great tool, I can get to the point where I won't need steroids for inflammation and exercise like I used to! My ideal goal is 120-130 lbs lost, which would be pre pregnancy, but I'd take a 100 lb loss if I feel good! And remember- skin can add weight too!

Hello- October 18!!! Still waiting for final ins approval, but I am not too worried about that. Also, I have to see a dermatologist for some thing they found in my throat. So excited! I'm 47, I'm having some food funerals, and hope to loose about 10-15 lbs by my surgery date.

Hello out there.... I am in the final stages of approval and will be getting my date Friday! My biggest stress is my skin. I would like to know of those out there that have lost 100 ish pounds and what has happened to their skin. If you were saggy, where it is, how bad is it - really.... I've pretty much accepted the "girls" are going to be the area most affected. I have still maintained a great deal of exercise and muscle despite my weight gain, so I am hoping that will help. Any stories, suggestions, ways of handling the problems, etc. Thanks!

Thank you everyone! So, I guess you need to wait a while for the skin to suck it up! Hoping and praying for the best.... Get my date tomorrow, and have my psych eval. Stoked! So ready for this!

You look great! I am glad to hear you haven't had too much saggy skin. I am extremely worried about that. I have about the same amount to loose, but I am a little taller. So worried about the girls... I was a 32-A or B pre-pregnancy. I have come to accept that if I do need a little nip-tuck, so be it. I can't wait to get on the other side of the fence!

Last week, I had my pre surgery endoscopy. It was a breeze. That being said, my surgeon found everything to be normal, with the exception of a white thing in my esophagus. It was biopsied, along with some other areas and was not found to be cancerous or infected. He wants me to see a certain dermatologist for this?? Not quite understanding this... Anyone else experience this strange thing? I sure hope this doesn't disqualify me.....

Thank you! Yesterday, I found out I will be seeing the Doc that I saw for Celiac Disease years ago. He is a derm, but specializes in immunology and Celiac. Since everything else was normal and there was no evidence of cancer, I am hoping this will all be fine.

I use it. I have for almost 1 year with great results. I do still have light hair, but not the thicker black hairs. It also helped a great deal controlling sebaceous hyperplasia. I LOVE it. It took about 3 months to notice the hair difference, but after 2 weeks, my skin looked remarkably better.

So unfortunate, but I understand. Yes, it does happen. It may sound strange, but being overweight has actually made me a better person. I feel that everything happens for a reason, and you learn and grow from experiences. I went from being very thin and fit to 120 lbs overweight. When I was thin, I had more "guy" friends. Could have been because I was involved in sports, who knows. After my weight gain, I have more "girl" friends. I don't really miss my guy friends, maybe because I am married with a family. I seriously hope I don't loose my girl friends with my weight loss, but if I do, I guess they weren't friends after all. One thing I have noticed is that I am a nicer, more understanding and less judgmental. I don't think I would be this way had I always remained thin. It's not that I was a nasty person before I gained the weight, just not as "aware" as I am now. I am looking forward to sports, being able to enjoy doing things with my family that I haven't been able to do for 10 years. I am grateful for all this has taught me. I don't know how certain people will treat me, but I know how to now treat others and I have a different outlook. Sounds kinda crazy, geez- I sure hope I pass my psych exam next week.....lol

I had mine out a few years ago. It was also after a round of HCG. HMMM. Mine was all sludge. Gallbladder surgery was a breeze, and I felt better instantly. Before they took it out, I was a vomit machine. Glad it is gone!

I am hoping it won't be more than post pregnancy. With fine hair, I have found that if I go blonder, it appears thicker. I have my color all planned out. Probably having my color done around the 2 month post op, probably a few more foils.

I tried to get them to do it when I was out with my endoscopy- no such luck! Oh well. I think I will drink a ton of water beforehand.

Well, I had my endoscopy yesterday. All went well, still burping gas, and sneezing. Tomorrow I will give 18 vials of blood. Has anyone else had that many drawn? I am used to 10, but 18= geez. Better safe than sorry I guess.

I'm thinking hair extensions.... I have a lot of hair but it is very fine. My friend that is a hairdresser suggested it. We shall see.... I might just cut it all off!

Same for me! I don't drink a lot, and I drink it black. I can't stand the latte or the sweet coffee drinks. The only time I didn't drink coffee is when I was preggers. For some reason, it made me want to puke. My doc said I could drink coffee. I can give up anything but my cup of Joe in the morning!

Great topic. Growing up, I was thin and athletic. I lived for my sports. Up until my pregnancy at 34, I had an amazing body and worked very hard at it. All was good until my last trimester when I gained an astounding 85 pounds. Our son was 2 weeks late and 10 1/2 lbs via c-section. As soon as I was healed, I started working out vigorously. I basically did the Atkins diet, and worked my way from 240lbs down to 165. That didn't last. Fast forward 14 years- I am at 250 ish. I want to keep doing my sports, but I have had 9 surgeries on my legs and my weight won't let me do the things I enjoy. I do think this experience has made me more compassionate towards others. I don't judge people as much. I have experienced the looks and I know people that have known me for a long time say "what happened to her?" I do have some autoimmune problems (Celiac Disease and Hashimotos), which make it a little harder. I am hoping this will give me the tool to get back to where I was. My son has seen pics of me thin, and I have a super supportive husband. I am lucky. I think this experience has been good in a way for me (sounds funny). This weight has taught me so many things and has made me grow as a person. If I had remained thin and not gained the weight, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I like who I am, I don't like this weight. It hurts my knees and doesn't let me do the things I enjoy. I am looking forward to this journey.

When mine was a problem, almost anything I ate other than fruit or vegetable juice bothered me. broth was okay. I couldn't eat any fat or Protein without incident. I never had gall stones, just a bunch of sludge. I lived on Rx nausea meds until they took it out. I left the hospital feeling better immediately after removal, back at work the next day.

Yuck, I had the sludge a couple of years ago. Had the nuclear medicine test, and they took it out. I instantly felt better. Even immediately post surgery, I felt better than when I went under for the procedure. I guess that is one less thing I need to worry about for this journey! I had it out and was back at work the next day. A little tired from the anesthesia, but other than that I was fine. I didn't even take any pain meds after leaving the hospital.

Thank you, I was wondering the same thing. I have had 5 surgeries in the past 2 1/2 years without this even coming up or being questioned. 3 of them with the same surgeon and anesthesiologist. I go in 3 weeks for a consult. Hoping that is where it ends....