DLCoggin

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, the sleeve has been approved as of June 27, 2012. The decision reads in part: Medicare Administrative Contractors acting within their respective jurisdictions may determine coverage of stand-alone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for the treatment of co-morbid conditions related to obesity in Medicare beneficiaries only when all of the following conditions A-C are satisfied. The beneficiary has a body-mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2, The beneficiary has at least one co-morbidity related to obesity, and The beneficiary has been previously unsuccessful with medical treatment for obesity. You can read all of the information at http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=258&ver=2&NcaName=Bariatric+Surgery+for+the+Treatment+of+Morbid+Obesity&MEDCACId=26&IsPopup=y&bc=AAAAAAAAIBAA It's been a long time coming but looks like it is here!

I would suspect the OJ as well. Lots of sugar and pretty acidic for two weeks post-op. I think I'd stay away from juices for a few more weeks at least. And as you now know, you definitely don't want to drink 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after you eat. Hard in the beginning but you get used to it and really don't give it a second thought after a while. You're gonna love the new you!!

The cravings will eventually pass so hang in there. In the meantime, there are a ton of healthy substitutes. Chips - try Kellogg's Special K Cracker Chips. They come in a bunch of flavors including sour cream and onion, ranch, and a number of others. 110 calories for a 27 chip serving size. I think they're excellent and a great substitute for chips. I also eat them in situations where I would have had french fries before. Snickers - Try Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe protein bars. They're delicious, 180 calories, 2g of sugar and 20g of protein. And they're amazingly filling! They're available from a number of places online and offline but Target has the best prices I've found. My high protein food list is over 125 items now. If you don't have it already, post or PM me your email and I'd be glad to send it to you. Lots of good stuff on there!

About half of gastric bypass patients do not experience dumping. Others may experience dumping without any vomiting and fail to recognize that it is dumping. You might find some useful information in my post "Dumping the Confusion About Dumping" at http://www.rnytalk.com/topic/2665-dumping-the-confusion-about-dumping/page__fromsearch__1 . Keep up the great job!!

Good for you! Congratulations!!

Great idea Mami! I love the Quakes Rice Snacks and they come in sweet and savory flavors! 120 to 140 calories and they are delicious!

I'm a big crunchy fan as well. Once you get past pureed foods, you might want to try Kashi Pita crisps. 120 calories in eleven crisps and crunchy heaven! Great with salads, soups, or even as a low calorie snack. Kellogg's Special K Cracker chips are excellent as well. Not quite as crunchy as the pita crisps but a really great substitute for potato chips and 110 calories in 27 chips. They come in a ton of flavors and I eat them any time I would have eaten chips or fries in my other life. Lol! You might enjoy nuts as well. Just about any kind of nut you can name is rich in "good" fats (mono and polyunsaturated) and they're a good source of protein as well.

I was told no popcorn for life as well. The kernels and hulls could lead to a serious problem. I wouldn't even consider it until you're at least a year out and by then, you'll be so amazed at the weight you've lost that it probably won't even be a consideration!

Isn't it amazing how you struggle, sometimes for months, trying to make the decision regarding surgery. You do the research, discucss it with family and friends, do some more research, read the stories of others, talk to doctors, do more research. Then you finally are ready. You make your decision - "I'm going for it!" And from that point, that very second, all you can think about is "I want it NOW"! Lol. I bet you there is not one person on this forum that doesn't (or hasn't) felt the exact same way. It will go faster than you think and from reading your posts, you're going to be a fantastic success story!!

Great, great job chaotica!! You truly are an inspiration!!

Great job Tammy and a hugh congratulations!! One of the more incredible things about this forum is that it makes us all "neighbors"!

I wouldn't worry too much about stretching your pouch. It takes a lot more than one meal. It's not only OK, but important to allow yourself to have an occasional day where you indulge yourself (although not to the "bursting" point LOL). Remember the Prime Directive - your lifestyle changes have to be sustainable. Set the bar too high and you're setting yourself up to fail. An occasional indulgence is part of life and perhaps more importantly, part of living your life as opposed to just going through the motions. punk.rock.mama - I don't have the slightest doubt that you have the very best of intentions. But what you're describing is "stacking" (aka "grazing") and that is a really bad idea. The goal is to finish every meal in roughly 20-30 minutes. Never eat less than two hours or more than four hours apart. You're gonna love the new you!!

Nasty stuff huh? LOL But the flavored isn't too bad and MoM works - at least it did for me.

Milk of Magnesia helped me a lot but be sure to buy the flavored one - accidently bought the unflavored one - BIG mistake! LOL! Colase is also a very good stool softener. And the good news is that you'll get to your "new" normal pretty quickly.

I can't speak for every but I have found that what I read is low calorie, low fat, low carb, low sodium - pretty much all around healthy. The only thing it doesn't help with is getting my protein! LOL

What a great idea! First time I've ever heard of it. I had to Google it to see what it is! LOL

Congratulations Don and welcome to the losers club!! Now go pee!! LOL

I didn't go out of my way to tell everyone I know - but I didn't hesitate to tell friends and family and anyone else who expressed an interest. I'm proud of the decision and proud of the result. I was fortunate that without exception, everyone was quite supportive. But to be honest, that may have been because they knew or sensed that opposition would not have changed my mind. I did the research and knew exactly what to expect, what the risks were, and that the odds were overwhelmingly in my favor of having a successful surgery and long term success. I gotta say it - I love the new me!! LOL!

One of the best articles I've read in a long time from Cornell University food pshchologist Brian Wansink, PhD. Fascinating stuff, easy to apply. Looking forward to reading what everyone else thinks!! http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110805/ways-combat-mindless-eating

Welcome Nina! You are definitey in the right place and you'll find an astounding amount of support and information here. You're gonna love the new you!!

Everyone is different and there is no one answer to your question. I encourage you to follow the protocol as close to the letter as you possibly can and just trust the process. The fact that your weight loss may be different from mine means absolutely nothing. Your body will find it's own way in it's own time. You'll love the result!!

Sounds and looks fabulous! I second the request for the recipe! Paul, I am right there with you. How amazing is this and why the heck did it take us so long to discover it? At almost eleven months out, I can honestly say that I enjoy eating as much or more than I ever did. I love the foods I eat. They are healthy. I'm not hungry all of the time. I don't feel deprived. I truly don't miss all of the crap I used to eat. I'm not suffering in any way. Just amazing!!

I think the key to so many aspects of this journey is realistic goals and expectations. Exercising an hour a day, seven days a week is not always realistic - in my case. An hour a day a minimum of four days a week - that's been realistic for me for more than six months. Sometimes I'm able to do more, and occasionally I fall a little short. The most important thing for me has been training myself to accept the fact that sometimes I'll fall a little short of my goal - AND THAT'S OK. It's the "OK" part that changes everything. We get so excited about the weight coming off and we want to do everything possible to keep it going and even speed it up. In response to all of that excitement, it's very easy to set goals that aren't realistic. You fail to meet your goal. Then you get frustrated. Then you fail again. More frustration. Before you know it, you give up. Training yourself to set realistic goals, Celebrate your successes, and accept those times when it just isn't possible - that's what lifestyle changes are all about!

Perhaps it would help to take a look at the "common ground" you guys share. Living as a vegetarian requires a commitment to life style changes. So does bariatric surgery. The surgery is a tool that makes those changes easier but it's not a magic bullet. It's all about life style changes. Most vegetarians are motivated by the desire to live a longer, healthier, and happier life style. Most folks who opt for bariatric surgery are motivated by the desire to live a longer, healthier, and happier life style. Being a vegetarian requires making choices, every day, consistent with their goals. Life after bariatric surgery requires making choices, every day, consistent with your goals. Vegetarians accept the challenges inherant with living with vegetarian limitations. Bariatric surgery folks accept the challgenges inherant with living with post-op limitations. Becoming a vegetarian is a choice. As is bariatric surgery. That's a lot of common ground. But the question still remains - diet and exercise vs. bariatric surgery? Less than 5% of individuals who participate in non-surgical weight loss programs will lose a significant amount of weight and maintain that weight beyond one year. Average excess weight loss for dieters is 2%-5%. Average excess weight loss for RNY is 80% with 50%-75% of weight loss maintained at five years post-op. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, bariatric surgery can improve or resolve more than 30 obesity related conditions including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Obesity is a chronic, progressive condition. Left untreated, sufferers will continue to gain weight. And those who do not already have obesity related conditions will eventually get them. There is virtually no evidence that supports the simplistic "eat less, move more" approach often given to folks has any realistic chance of success with people with a BMI of 30 or greater. If going on a diet or starting an exercise program resulted in persistent, long-term weight loss - we would not have an obesity epidemic. Bariatric surgery is a very personal decision. Do the research. There is a lot of nonsense out there so be careful to choose your resources carefully. The following sites will give you a good start. Ask questions. Talk to your doctor. And then make the decision that you believe is the right one for you. · http://www.hsph.harv...vention-source/ (Harvard School of Public Health) · http://www.webmd.com/ · http://asmbs.org/ (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) · http://iom.edu/Repor...Prevention.aspx (Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science) · http://www.wlslifestyles.com/ (This is a digital magazine with an ENORMOUS amount of information on weight loss surgery. Cost is $19.95 for a one year subscription and imho that's a real bargain.) · http://www.mayoclinic.com/

Severe pain of any kind - call your doctor. Always better to be safe. Most likely is gas and normal healing but it never hurts to be sure.