WASaBubbleButt

No, my info is correct. I thought you had to have a passport too, you do not. You DO need to apply for one but for the month of July if you show proof that you have applied and ID, you can re-enter the US. They did this because they are so far behind on getting people their passports.

White carbs... flour, sugar, Pasta, potatoes, rice. EVIL! ;o) She is dumping when she eats sugar, happens to about half of bypassed people.

Congrats! You won't regret it, you'll see. You get your life back!

You don't actually need a passport, for the month of July you need proof that you applied for a passport. Your receipt will do just fine as long as you are not flying. If you drive into Mexico the receipt for your passport is all you need.

Make extra sure you pay that $500 for the complication fund. His last leak cost a fortune, the person was still leaky after 4 months. Also, there is a person that he lacerated her liver during her sleeve and he wouldn't let her leave the hospital until she paid him $1200.00 for fixing it. He didn't even tell her there was an additional $1200.00 fee until the day she was to go home. He wouldn't accept most forms of payment. Finally her mother called with a credit card so she was able to leave the country.

I'm not at 18 months but I just passed my 1 year mark. Hunger does come back but not in the same way as pre op. I don't experience it much but I do experience it. This procedure has been done for a very long time it just wasn't studied as a primary surgery type for a long time. I don't think about it on a daily basis... well, maybe I kinda do. I think about it when I am preparing food. If I make any type of solid Protein I have to be realistic of what I can eat. Two ounces, 2.5 tops and I can't stuff another bite in. The regain is from falling back into old ways of doing things. If you eat chocolate instead of a vegetable you are probably going to regain. There is no surgery type that fixes white carbs. You absorb them, period. You really do have to do your part and change your food habits. All this surgery does is limit what you eat, you decide what you eat. It's a great procedure IF you can do it with restriction alone. Bypass... I don't like it and would NEVER get it. If I did was a malabsorptive procedure it would be anything but bypass, too many fail. I would get DS.

I can't really answer the recovery question because my surgeon does revisions via lap. Your recovery will be significantly longer if it is full open. There really isn't any leak test to be done outside of the hospital, they shouldn't be discharging you until AFTER the leak tests as if you have a leak you'll need to stay longer.

Dr. A doesn't use Heparin, he uses Lovenox. With Heparin you have to do blood tests to make sure you are in therapeutic range, that's why he uses Lovenox, it's much superior to Heparin. A WHOLE lot more expensive too but well worth the extra cost.

Noooooo, what I wrote was that the SOUNDS you were hearing were not hunger, it was air in your stomach. ;o)

Inamed came out with their 5 years stats just a few months ago. At five years people are keeping about half their excess weight off. Not really great stats.

He gives you Lovenox SQ the morning of surgery. IV fluids are Lactated Ringers Soln. They have their own version of TEDS. Incentive spirometer yes, they request that you use it 10 times an hour while awake.

I'd seriously use this time to research a sleeve. Stats are showing that if you surgically reposition or replace a band you are likely (70% of the time) to have another slip in the first five years. If you only get one bariatric surgery what will you do if you slip again?

Please see the link in my sig. It will work for a US or MX doctor.

There can be complications with any surgery but the point is after you heal there is no routine aftercare, no maintenance, nothing.

I'll catch the attention of Alex. He's the forum software guru.

That's great! Tell her congrats! Is she posting here? She has to start her own thread on the "Tell Your Story" section. ;o)

Ohhh, do not order directly from Syntrax, that's the most expensive way to buy it. It's half the price if you go to: Netrition.com - The Internet's Premier Nutrition Superstore! From there you do a search on Syntrax products and you'll see them all.

HAHA~ Didn't I tell you? See why when I was banded I drove to Mexicali for my fills? You need a passport book OR a passport card. The card is cheaper. It's really easy, you just make an appt with your post office for a passport, fill out a form, bring your original birth certificate, and your drivers license. They ask you to some questions and that's it. You don't even need a passport yet, what you DO need is proof that you applied for it. I know that is good for this month and next. You have to have at least applied for it and the receipt is good enough. But that is not forever, that is just for this month and next. If you have never had a passport before the passport "card" is $45, the passport "book" is $100.

I'll PM it to you.

The first two issues should be easy to resolve. It's not up to a clerk to decide if something is medically necessary. Fed BC/BS most certainly does pay for sleeve. The BMI...that one they may just get you on. If their requirements are that you be a certain BMI they have every right to deny you. :laugh0:( Not right and not fair, but they get to make the rules. I would explain that the Standard of Care is such that you should do a revision at the same time as the band removal when possible. Now, if you have a slip it may not be possible to do a revision at the same time as band removal. If your stomach is swollen it is not wise to do a sleeve until it heals. The problem is, then you really will be in a pinch because it will no longer be considered a revision to get a sleeve but it will be treated as your original surgery. WLS for an obese person and you *will* have to meet all the requirements.

I would contact Jackie_p36 on OH and see what she has to say. Might get some good info there.

Try going to: Netrition.com - The Internet's Premier Nutrition Superstore! Search under "Syntrax" and you'll find all the flavors available.

I had non surgical related complications and I was in the hospital longer than expected... or paid for. I was quite ill when I had my revision. Dr. Aceves didn't charge me anything extra for the extra night in the hospital, the meds, txs, nothing. You know how Hindu's have a million Gods? So do I. He is the Stomach God. ;o) He's a gastroenterologist, he's a proctor surgeon, he is FACS, he is everything needed. He's the best. The hospital is beautiful, the staff are great, I have nothing but great things to say about him.

Congrats!!! I'll bet you are excited! If it isn't real bread, warm, loaded with carbs and butter... it really doesn't count. ;o)

I have been sleeved for a year, I lost 20#. Heh.... I also had surgery at goal, I didn't want to lose the 20 I did, I couldn't help it. I've gained it back. Sleeve weight loss is pretty darn good! Congrats to you!