Need-a-Sleeve

Hi Deanna! I know you work incredibly hard--I started as a CNA & it was brutal. I haven't had surgery yet but try to remind myself to get in all my water. Otherwise how else am I going to get rid of all this? :-)

One more thing that wasn't mentioned is to NOT smoke! All the plastic surgeons I worked with would refuse to do facelifts on people that smoked. You had to quit for at least 6 months before they would do it. Smoking makes the tiny capillaries that carry blood & oxygen to the surface close down. Last, it is physically impossible to absorb & assimilate collagen from a lotion or Creme. Collagen is the connective tissue in all our bodies & is the first & fastest cell type to decline. That is why the surfaces of our joints wear out & our skin starts to wrinkle & sag as we age (regardless of weight loss). When I ran a laser in a Dermatology clinic, we would 'zap' the patient until they bruised. The reason is part of the protective process of our bodies to damage is to increase collagen (aka scar) tissue to form. Look at people's scars--most aren't loose, they are tight & red for months. Sorry for the long-winded explanation! You might also try Strivectin ($149 a tube), we used to recommend that for stretch marks or any lotion with Vitamin E, cocoa butter or coconut oil. They help to keep the moisture in the skin which preserves elasticity.

Most states (not to mention the AMA) require all tissue removed from a person to go to pathology. Depending on your surgeon & his protocol, the pathologist will either do a gross examination (just look it over) or a micro/ biopsy to see if there is anything suspicious. From there it can either go for incineration (biohazardous waste) or some request their "parts" back for burial. Sorry, but that is the sum of it!

I think I went to the same seminar--same day! I have called his office & left a message for the insurance coordinator they assigned to me. I also went ahead & made the appointment w/ Dr. Ashmore for the psych eval. Will stay in touch & ask you to do the same if you don't mind. Thanks, Jana

Good luck, will be watching for your progress!

My weight at my annual PCP appointment last week put me at 40 BMI, but it normally hovers closer to 38-39.5. I am making the appointment to see the surgeon but didn't know if that weight would be the determining weight or one at the PCP?

Question for the nurses: I am only planning on taking off a week from work since I have a total desk job. Do you think I am being realistic? I bounce back pretty quick (had my gallbladder out on a Friday & back on Monday).

Hi! Have been a RN for over 36 years: ~18 in surgery & 18 in case management / management. Everyone is so right about knowing too much! Have also been a widow for 14 years today as a matter of fact. The big aha moment for me was the recent acceleration of health decline where all the signs pointed to my weight. Now going through the insurance process & very thrilled to have this app & forum. Especially happy to find the nurses!

I actually work for BCBSTX & know the "fast-track" approval number is 40, but I do meet the co-morbidities criteria: hypertension (on 3 meds), CPAP, GERD, asthma among others. I guess it will come on the letter of medical necessity from the surgeon. Will post once I find out, thanks.

I worked in surgery for nearly 20 years & can say that I never exposed any of my patient's longer or more than was absolutely necessary. We were sensitive to preserving the dignity of all our patients!

The reason some surgeons do the pre-op diet is because most obese patients have enlarged & fatty livers. When they use a laparoscopic approach there is a greater risk of liver puncture when they place the scopes in. The 2 week high Protein diet with low carbs shrinks the liver and reduces your risk. But you would need to heed your own surgeon's advice.

Go to his website: http://nicholsonclinic.com And his all inclusive cost is $12,200 for VSG.

I also bought a body bug thru Costco & paid $249, which included a Year's subscription to their site & you can download reports. Here are the things I like: -long battery life - great readout on your sleep cycle Things I don't like: -Customer service is sporadic -You have to use their food database & it is horrible! -The armband is bulky & shows under your clothes -Monthly fee after your free subscription is up is $6.99 a month I also used an Omron pedometer that was better, cheaper & interfaces with their b/p cuff. The reports from those two are both free & I could take them to my doctor. He loved seeing that. Unfortunately, I really like the sleep monitoring feature so may have to buy a FitBit because I am a huge fan of My Fitness Pal.

I went to a weight loss surgery seminar on Tuesday night & asked a question I don't think most would ask. Because I am an RN & have an extensive family history of colon & breast cancer, wanted to know which procedure would fare best with chemotherapeutic drugs. Part of the reason to have the procedure done is to reduce your cancer risk but in case it happens, a sleeve would be preferable. So chalk up one more reason for why the sleeve wins!