Susan 2.0

FunSize - How is your daughter doing? Will she be able to join you in Italy? I have this thread bookmarked & think of you often. I hope all is well.

2012 OctoSleevers updated (again)! 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 highschoolfigure urboyp FoxyRoxy diamondzlife hsirk SleevenChica twoplusone227 krenzema mztialady innermyth 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin tqmeri30 HollyC 10/3 miriamK NDN_RN mztj99 laurenw katstally 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn plbutler cheeri1 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han Kiki74 valdostaGA SolizeTheGift 10/6 bellesol 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R ElaineB MommaMeg01 lilly's journey turbosprint Mrz.LaWSOn 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 sacharliem butter-fly cosmo95 Malisima69 shamrockjulie Tanya~101 TuscanyDreams kbaith25 10/10 ready2bskinny butter-fly Missdede geewalk LivinADream MKate73 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin Holly5.3 gottaloozit ME123 10/12 suejersey TeeBeeCee 10/15 Susan 2.0 Cyn Hnbc1986 andreagoeldner (DS) Ely 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee MrzSongbird 052407 10/17 IrishShannon Neda17 MsInzee2010 tbnote71 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 ladyofdamage imworthit 10/20 buffygirl 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny Strangefruit bethxxx 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny kymbo jennifer4444 healthiermom 10/24 jlfinmn 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 jrabbit81 lifechanging sleclerc 10/26 mandymae 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day liz32 10/30 yanik TheNEWME! scarletwoodward shamyra1 10/31 AliciaA122 faeriefyre Honorary Members JLS (moved into Sept) gabby899 (moved to Sept 28!)

Has anyone been told to get a flu shot before the surgery? My PCP said I should get one at least 2 weeks before surgery. Said hospitals are full of sick people & I'll be vulnerable having just had surgery... Just curious to know if anyone else had heard this advice.

I thought yours was postponed (so I moved you to Honorary status)?

Oops! I'll correct :-)

2012 Octosleevers (updated): 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 highschoolfigure urboyp FoxyRoxy diamondzlife hsirk SleevenChica twoplusone227 krenzema mztialady 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin tqmeri30 10/3 miriamK NDN_RN mztj99 laurenw 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn plbutler cheeri1 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han Kiki74 valdostaGA TuscanyDreams SolizeTheGift 10/6 bellesol 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R ElaineB MommaMeg01 lilly's journey turbosprint Mrz.LaWSOn 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 sacharliem butter-fly cosmo95 Malisima69 shamrockjulie 10/10 ready2bskinny butter-fly Missdede geewalk LivinADream MKate73 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin Holly5.3 gottaloozit 10/12 suejersey TeeBeeCee 10/15 Susan 2.0 Cyn Hnbc1986 andreagoeldner (DS) Ely 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee MrzSongbird 052407 10/17 IrishShannon Neda17 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 ladyofdamage imworthit 10/20 buffygirl 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny Strangefruit 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny kymbo jennifer4444 healthiermom 10/24 gabby899 tbnote71 jlfinmn 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 jrabbit81 lifechanging sleclerc 10/26 mandymae 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day liz32 10/30 yanik TheNEWME! scarletwoodward shamyra1 10/31 AliciaA122 faeriefyre Honorary Octosleevers: JLS (moved into Sept) kbaith25 (postponed to unknown)

2012 Octosleevers (updated): 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 highschoolfigure urboyp FoxyRoxy diamondzlife hsirk SleevenChica twoplusone227 krenzema mztialady 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin tqmeri30 10/3 miriamK NDN_RN mztj99 laurenw 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn plbutler cheeri1 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han Kiki74 valdostaGA TuscanyDreams SolizeTheGift 10/6 bellesol 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R ElaineB MommaMeg01 lilly's journey turbosprint Mrz.LaWSOn 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 sacharliem butter-fly cosmo95 Malisima69 shamrockjulie 10/10 ready2bskinny butter-fly Missdede geewalk LivinADream MKate73 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin Holly5.3 gottaloozit 10/12 suejersey TeeBeeCee 10/15 Susan 2.0 Cyn Hnbc1986 andreagoeldner (DS) Ely 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee MrzSongbird 052407 10/17 IrishShannon Neda17 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 ladyofdamage imworthit 10/20 buffygirl 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny Strangefruit 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny kymbo jennifer4444 healthiermom 10/24 gabby899 tbnote71 jlfinmn 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 jrabbit81 lifechanging sleclerc 10/26 mandymae 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day liz32 10/30 yanik TheNEWME! scarletwoodward shamyra1 10/31 AliciaA122 faeriefyre Honorary Octosleevers: JLS (moved into Sept) kbaith25 (postponed to unknown)

Suejersey - I just returned home from our family cruise. It was such a good time. So heartwarming to spend the week surrounded by family. Now the countdown begins to the surgery on Oct 15th!!

OctoSleevers updated!! 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 highschoolfigure urboyp FoxyRoxy 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin 10/3 miriamK 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han Kiki74 valdostaGA 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R ElaineB 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 sacharliem butter-fly cosmo95 10/10 ready2bskinny butter-fly 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin Holly5.3 10/12 suejersey 10/15 Susan 2.0 Cyn Hnbc1986 andreagoeldner (DS) 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee 10/17 IrishShannon 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 ladyofdamage imworthit 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny kymbo 10/24 gabby899 tbnote71 jlfinmn faeriefyre 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 jrabbit81 lifechanging sleclerc 10/26 mandymae 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day 10/30 JLS 10/31 AliciaA122

OctoSleevers updated!! 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 highschoolfigure urboyp FoxyRoxy 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin 10/3 miriamK 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han Kiki74 valdostaGA 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R ElaineB 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 sacharliem butter-fly cosmo95 10/10 ready2bskinny butter-fly 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin Holly5.3 10/12 suejersey 10/15 Susan 2.0 Cyn Hnbc1986 andreagoeldner (DS) 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee 10/17 IrishShannon 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 ladyofdamage imworthit 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny kymbo 10/24 gabby899 tbnote71 jlfinmn faeriefyre 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 jrabbit81 lifechanging sleclerc 10/26 mandymae 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day 10/30 JLS 10/31 AliciaA122

Whoop! Whoop! Had my annual physical today & received a clean bill of health! Vita D a little low, bad cholesterol a little high, but she expects those to level out after the surgery. And she's very excited for me about the surgery & can't wait to see all the changes in me in a year. Yay, me!

No trouble - I'm an organizer (ADD? OCD?) so all the scattered info was making me crazy

Octosleevers unite! Best of luck to everyone & yay for us!!! 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 highschoolfigure 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin 10/3 miriamK 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han Kiki74 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R ElaineB 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 sacharliem butter-fly 10/10 ready2bskinny 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin 10/12 suejersey 10/15 Susan 2.0 imworthit Cyn Hnbc1986 andreagoeldner (DS) 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee 10/17 IrishShannon 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 ladyofdamage 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny 10/24 gabby899 tbnote71 jlfinmn faeriefyre 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 jrabbit81 lifechanging 10/26 mandymae sleclerc 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day 10/30 JLS

Here are the confirmed Octosleevers (so far)!! Let's hope those with tentative dates will be confirmed soon :-) 10/1 IsaacsGram ann48 luvlife conrow1994 hockeymom1010 10/2 SkinnyMinnie2Be melinda.trujillo ThinkThin78 kolerz219 minkywinks_esposa Peazwithin 10/3 miriamK 10/4 Scottishlassie KishaE cherrybombknits arathfon.rn 10/5 tfazio Jenni Smith mom2han 10/8 vitaleEM JustSkinnyMeInside jonesy8844 az1369 chad2rad Jae-R 10/9 hbjewelry Natava JazzyJ SweetTee shastarey3000 10/10 ready2bskinny 10/11 Lil'LO choc_thicktothin 10/12 suejersey 10/15 Susan 2.0 imworthit Cyn 10/16 kssooner2 Anicmice unobaby JonathanS SkinnyMinnyMom neenee 10/18 sleevemeup Lauren610 10/22 xmasbpig Riaa90 Donny 10/23 littlemiss0428 mrsjones075 time2getskinny 10/24 gabby899 tbnote71 jlfinmn faeriefyre 10/25 dyvasha70 this.time.its.4.me meeshluv81 10/26 mandymae sleclerc 10/27 zenoosh 10/29 DebInAZ jeriberi Look@meitsEmily Gonnabeslim1day 10/30 JLS

1019 hours for me. But who's counting?

Any self-payers purchase the BLISS insurance coverage? What can you tell me about it? Did you opt in for higher/more coverage?

Thanks for the kind words. I agree that I did feel like a bit of a failure when she emphasized eat smaller portions & exercise and STICK TO IT. Well believe me, if I could stick to it I'd be thin & healthy by now! Anyway, she doesn't like needles or doctors so I'm sure willingly putting myself through this major surgery just creeps her out :-). She'll come around. It's just something different she's never considered so she's just giving her knee-jerk reaction. Any one of my other friends that I've told (only 3-4) have been excited and supportive. And those girls have had life-long weight struggles, too. I guess a positive thing about my discussion with my BFF was that she did eventually say: "maybe I should tell my sister about this. She's always complaining about her legs & joints hurting because of her weight.".

Jennyannk73: I had other questions so I sent a list to Tammy. She forwarded to Blis: -----Original Message----- From: Billie Shellist [mailto:billie.shellist@bliscompany.com] Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 12:34 PM To: Beck, Tammy Subject: RE: Blis Insurance questions Hi Tammy, Here are the responses to these questions. I'm also happy to speak with this patient directly if you need me to, just provide her with my contact information. Best, Billie Q: Does the basic ($203.41) coverage include any gall bladder problems which might arise during/after WLS (considering my current health insurance may deny coverage due to the specific WLS exclusion)? ANSWER: BILS Protection does not cover gall bladder problems following a bariatric procedure. Unfortunately it is not a covered complication for us) Q: What exactly does the basic ($203.41) coverage include? ANSWER: The only thing that package C covers (which is your basic package for $203.41) is 90 days of protection for stenosis/stricture. It does not cover any other types of complications. Q: What exactly is "stenosis/stricture" that is listed as the basic coverage? ANSWER: Stenosis/Stricture - a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice. This is most common in procedures that rearrange your digestive system such as gastric bypass surgery and vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedures and results from a build-up of scar tissue between your intestine and your reduced stomach or at an intestine-to-intestine connection (anastomosis). Q: Since I live in Raleigh, will the Blis insurance only cover issues/time with Dr. Heider, or would I be able to see a Blis surgeon in Raleigh (if there is one)? If there isn't one in Raleigh, would I be able to be seen in an ER or dr's office here for an emergency need, or would I be required to return to Dr. Heider? ANSWER: Any complication related care needs to be authorized by the original BLIS Surgeon. This basically means that if you are in Raleigh and having some symptoms you are concerned about, you would need to call Dr. Heider's office and follow his recommendations. If he decides your symptoms are acute and that you need to go to the ER in Raleigh, you would go there. Dr. Heider would call BLIS and notify them. BLIS would reach out to the admitting hospital and let them know BLIS will be taking care of the bills. BLIS does not currently have a contract in place with any facility in Raleigh. All complication related care MUST be approved and authorized by the surgeon ahead of time. Q: Would the answers to any of these questions change if I were to choose packages A & B in addition to the required package C? ANSWER: Each package of protection is available individually and covers a different set of covered complications. If you want more protection for other types of complications besides Stenosis/Stricture, you would need to enroll in the other packages. Ex: Package A covers you for 90 days for the group of complications we call Cardiopulmonary/Thromboembolic - things like problems with anesthesia, blood clots, etc. The price of that package is $514.58. Package B covers you for the following covered complications: Bleeding, Infection, Leak, and Perforation for a cost of $1,293.99. Basically to get full protection for all the covered complications for 90 days, you would want to enroll in the combination of packages A, B, and C for a total price of $2,011.98

Kind of sad tonight & in need of some positive reinforcement. I finally found the right time (over beer & pizza) to tell my best friend - so close that we can finish each others sentences - that I'm having the surgery. About 12 or so years ago, before I knew her, she was overweight (not obese). She lost the weight via weight watchers & working out. She has maintained her size 6/8 figure by being vigilant about going to the gym & watching her proteins & veggies. Her response to my news: "You're messing with mother nature. You just need to change your eating habits to how you'll be eating after the surgery & work out - and stick to it." Heavy sigh. I knew she wasn't going to be happy about my having surgery, but I thought she'd at least understand my struggle. "I've TRIED all of those ways," I tell her, but she just shakes her head. "What are the side effects of the surgery?" she asks. "Less risk than my remaining morbidly obese," is my reply. Again she says that it just seems too drastic. She says I'm not going to be able to drink beer anymore. In my head I think "that might not be a bad thing, considering beer has contributed to this weight!" but I assure her that I will be able to drink socially but I just won't be able to drink beer & eat at the same time - it's going to be an either/or. Then she says "well then you're going to be malnourished from not eating..." I just need to change how I eat & exercise more, she says again as she's smoking her 3rd or 4th cigarette of the evening. Of course it didn't dawn on me until I got home to compare my struggle with losing weight to her struggle to quit smoking. But I'm kind of glad I didn't go there. I know she wants to quit & I even defend her to her long-time boyfriend who tries to guilt (bully?) her into quitting & harps on her all the time about it. But I can't help but think that I wish I had used her not being able to quit smoking to compare to my "not being able to stick to a diet." Any words of wisdom out there from my fellow Octo-sleevers? I could really use a supportive word or two right about now....