KS Fort Worth

If you DO have sleep apnea, it becomes a comorbidity, and increases your chances for approval. I just had my sleeve yesterday, but I lost enough weight since the diagnosis that my apnea is mostly resolved.

When insurance does cover it, it's usually called a pannectomy. This procedure covers only the removal of excess skin, whereas a tummy tuck addresses the muscles of the abdomen. I've heard that some people are able to pony up the difference and get a full tummy tuck.

I used BariEssentials from Dr. Kim's office. I chose skim milk instead of water to mix it with. I also found using flavored extracts helps break the monotony. I tried coconut, raspberry, orange, and almond. I wouldn't want to be on those forever, but it was doable. I found orange to be the strongest, 1/8 tsp was plenty. The others I just eyeballed a splash.

30-40 pounds in one month is not exactly healthy. I suggest you push your surgery out one more month in order to give yourself time to learn to eat more correctly. Less of a shock to the system that way. 30-40 in TWO months is still tough, but much safer IMO. To get there, you MUST 1) make sure you get enough protein every day, every meal if possible, (it really helps with the hunger), 2) limit quantities at EVERY meal (you want to shrink your stomach some) and 3) REALLY cut back on the carbs, ESPECIALLY sweets and any beverages with sugar or alcohol. You CAN do it, but this whole process is as much a mental thing as physical. Good luck!

Sitting in the waiting room at Baylor Trophy Club, procedure scheduled for 8:30. A little nervous, but ready. Got my hair cut yesterday to make it easier to take care of, and had my toenails done. I had the girl put butterflies on the big toes in honor of my metamorphosis. (Will post pictures when I get home...)

I get sleeved in the morning by Dr. Kim, but at Baylor Trophy Club. That one is on Aetna's network. I also chose the BariEssentials, and it's been OK for the most part. I am glad it's only 14 days, as my brain was a little foggy yesterday and today. I did find that adding flavors helps break the monotony. I've used orange and coconut extracts in the vanilla, and use a spoon of instant decaf coffee in the chocolate. Tonight I added almond extract to the chocolate/coffee and it was tasty! I always added a few ice cubes to all of them, It makes them colder and a little thinner, and usually frothy as I used a Bullet to mix them. The occasional cup of broth satisfies the want for something savory instead of sweet. I chose Swanson low-sodium chicken broth, and to me it tastes just about like Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, but with no noodles or actual chicken. As for not seeing Dr. Kim every time I went in, I have no problem with that. I realize that his services are in great demand, but I feel confident he will be there if need arise. He has deliberately surrounded himself with a highly trained staff. Every interaction I've had with all of them has been very professional.

WAS a Dr Pepper addict, broke that 3 years ago, thank God. I did not like what I read about how HFCS spikes blood sugar even quicker that table sugar, and the "real" Dr Pepper is too expensive. I gave up sweet tea early this year in preparation for surgery. I weighed my priorities and decided I just cannot afford to get so many calories (especially empty ones) from sugary liquids. The price is too high.

I hate to break it to you, but those ARE emotional issues. I was never a binge eater either, but if I enjoyed the taste of something I had no problem going back for seconds. I also learned to use food as a reward in childhood, and continued that into adulthood. There are times when food can be a PART of a celebration, but I do not NEED a tasty snack after every small victory, or at the end of every week. I do think genetics plays *A* role, but it is not all. This is why the sleeve can only HELP, it cannot CURE.

One of the reasons I rejected plication was. as far as I know, it does nothing to reduce grehlin. If you're really hungry all the time, it would be just too easy to graze.

Surgery is Tuesday, and today is Day 13 of liquid diet. Glad it's almost here because my brain feels like it's running out of gas! Just a few more hours in this workday, and I'm off tomorrow, so I'll be OK. I'm just not sure I could handle more than two weeks of this, trying to maintain a normal schedule. My brain wants glucose...

Dr. Kim has a two-week liquid diet of Bari-Essentials or Optifast, patients' choice. You can also have 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth a day, and no limits on sugar-free Jello, Crystal Light, and the like. (I don't like artificial sweeteners, so I've skipped all that.) They said the reasons were twofold; firstly, it helps jump-start the weight loss so you have an immediate sense of success; and secondly, it helps shrink the liver in order to make surgery safer. I have heard of some people being denied surgery on the day of because they cheated and their livers were too large. THAT is a powerful motivation to not cheat! (And I haven't!)

I, for one, am glad that Aetna requires a 90-day supervised weight loss period before they will grant approval. It gave me time to fix the bad habits, and the carrot-on-a-stick (surgery) to make sure I didn't cheat. I think that anybody who is still gaining weight and wants the surgery RIGHT NOW needs to ask themselves some very hard questions. ALL of us here know how to lose weight; the sleeve will be just a tool to help KEEP it off. I originally considered bypass precisely because of the malabsorptive potential, but decided the sleeve PLUS getting my head straight was a MUCH better path.

Awesome "celebration!" as a kid I learned to use food as a reward. I hope I have killed that notion for good.

I'm not post-sleeve yet, but high carbs is part of what got all of us into this mess in the first place. From what I understand, high Protein low fat AND low carb is the way to go. I've also heard (read) good things about Biotin helping, and it's not expensive. Exercise in ALL instances. #longhairforaguyandproudofit

I've been dieting since February anyway, and since the liquid diet my hair is falling out. I have long hair, but I'm going to have several inches cut tomorrow so the ones that do fall out won't be quite as noticeable. It also seems to tangle easier when it's full of loose hairs, so this should help. I've had it fall out before when I lost weight, but it DOES grow back. as for bald heads, I think they can be quite striking and beautiful on a woman. You DO have a pretty face, I'm sure you're gorgeous now!

My older brother is mostly supportive, but has said "if you simply ate less..." He has need complaining occasionally for about a year of wanting to lose 20-30 pounds. If HE can't lose a mere 20, what makes him think I can simply drop one HUNDRED and twenty?

I found just a SMALL handful of peanuts to work for me. High in Protein and some of the fats you actually need, so it satisfies. Just be mindful of the quantities and don't graze. I have lost 47 pounds since February, so mine's been a little slower than what you might be looking for, but I did look for opportunities at every meal. We have a little grill/cafe at work and one thing I did when I couldn't take something from home was order a grilled chicken breast with mushrooms and onions, and asked the chef to use only enough oil to actually sautee the veggies. No sides. I was trying to A) limit the size of my meals, get in plenty of protein, C) shrink my stomach, and D) get my mind used to the idea of smaller meals. Lifelong habits to unlearn: A) you do NOT have to clear your plate you do NOT have to eat anytime someone offers you food C) that blasted food pyramid we were taught as kids Other suggestions here were excellent as well. For Protein Bars, I prefer the Pure Protein versions (available at Wal-Mart) to the Adkins, but that's just a taste issue. I agree STRONGLY on the soda issue. Even diet sodas have been shown to screw with your blood sugar and appetite. I do not drink iced tea either, because I don't like it unsweet. I do thankfully like black coffee. I know that after surgery I cannot eat and drink at the same time, but for now Water is your friend. Drink plenty, because it helps you to feel fuller and will help flush the toxins out of your system as you burn the fat. Good luck, my friend, you (WE) can do this!

Doing great! I go in this Tuesday. VERY ready.

On Day 8 of 14 pre-op, using Bari-Essentials 4 per day with skim milk. I am drinking at LEAST 48 ounces of water in addition to the 32 ounces with the shakes, but my mouth feels thirsty most of the time. My skin tone seems correct, my urine is not darker than normal and frequency seems the same, so I don't THINK I'm dehydrated. It's not unbearable, but curious anyway. Anyone else experience anything like this?

I found if you make yourself eat smaller meals before starting the liquid diet so your stomach shrinks a bit, it makes it easier to not feel starved on 800 calories a day. You CAN do this, just keep your eyes on the prize and remember this phase is only temporary. If you haven't already increased your protein intake and cut back on carbs, that will help a lot as well. Good luck!

As I understand it, our goal should be to get our proteins in first, so as long as oatmeal doesn't overshoot the calorie goal it should be OK. It is a complex carb, so it doesn't spike the blood sugar and cause a crash later. Never really knew until earlier this year exactly HOW HUNGRY I got so shortly after eating an all (bad) carb meal. Quite the revelation.

Pookeyism - this is one of the scenarios that made me finally decide to go through with surgery, even though I am losing weight pretty well this year. Did you find that the sleeve helped you cope with the overeating at all, or was it ineffective during your stressful period? Or did you simply eat the WRONG things?

You're about to GAIN control, friend! Good luck on your journey!!!

I didn't have a one-on-one psych eval; I figured they used the answers to the questionnaire they had us fill out.

Same day as me! Are you in DFW?