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2500 calories isn't the end of the world. You can't stretch your sleeve with one day of "extra eating". Just like what we're all supposed to do - when you eat more than you should, increase your activity to compensate. Start tomorrow a brand new day. Don't give up - its not all or nothing - every day is a new day. You're doing GREAT! You gave yourself a moment to indulge and I don't see anything wrong with that. You haven't formed a habit, you haven't returned to your "old ways". What matters is what you do tomorrow. Do you give up, or do you work the sleeve like you know you can and create a day of being on track and following your plan? If you can do that - then the day of indulgence was just that - a day of indulgence - which means you AREN'T returning to your old ways - you're living life how its MEANT to be lived!

I wonder how many of you have had your thyroid checked with this weight loss. Changes in the body can affect your thyroid. Being overweight can be a cause of, or can cause hypothyroidism. Conversely, losing weight can cause the thyroid to kick into gear - your thyroid could be now functioning at either a normal rate, OR to high. Please be sure to have your thyroid checked! Your thyroid controls much more in your body than most people understand. Make sure that you're not just having a TSH test, but also have your Free T3 and Free T4 as well as antibodies tested. Studies have found a direct correlation between higher Ghrelin and Hypothyroidism. http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/ghrelin_elevated_in_hypothyroid_problems/

I have no experience with this Dr, but I do have experience with the Baylor hospitals and they don't mess around. If he's the head of the department, there's a reason for it. I have never seen such a well run medical organization as Baylor. They just. don't. mess. around. Some people write bad reviews because they get rejected by a surgeon or because they don't like hearing the truth. If there were no details about the "maltreatment", you can pretty much guarantee that the patient didn't like what they were told.

Please try to change your perspective. I know its hard, but we're all either there with you now, or have been there. Looking forward is the only option. Bring into your mind the visions of when that friend is there, holding those millions of sexy outfits for YOU to try on. It WILL happen! Use those feelings to propel yourself into success. You're already on the right track - You dictate your success. You've found a tool to work with, and now you're using it. You dictate how you react to people and this guy is obviously beneath you - and you not dignifying him with a response is the right way to deal with it! Hang in there! We're here. We're rooting for you!

January 27th with Dr. Almanza! I'm so excited! My birthday is the 25th, which was when I was originally going to have the surgery, but I wanted my husband to be able to come with me so I changed it to the 27th I'm so excited I can't sit still! n2dvn - maybe we'll pass in the halls - me on my way in, you on your way out! - oh and kicking myself for not keeping up on that 4 years of Spanish in high school - at least half of what i can remember will be useful - I can order a beer and ask for the bathroom

I hope I have the same luck you do! i know some people do!

My husband was apprehensive about it at first and I just told him "Look, if you can't support me in my decision, don't think I won't remember that when the outcome is stellar. I've done enough research to probably do the damned surgery myself and this is what I NEED. I don't need your support, but I do want it. You don't have to like it, but if you want to reap any benefits and have a healthy relationship with me AFTER I'm well, then you better get on board" I had to explain to him that I didn't want to resent him and his attention after I was well. Go on the journey with me and be encouraging in my choice, and my recovery and we can share in the splendid outcome together. I'm not doing this for him.

awesome glad everything went fine! I've never had a UTI or a bladder infection so I definitely don't want to start that! Did you have a catheter? Is that what caused it?

I'm loving this thread. I can't sit still waiting for my surgery and getting to post here with my success. You ALL are inspirational! Way to go!

Surgery is scheduled for January 27th Had to schedule a little over a month out in order to have time to get my new passport What's really great is that my husband can also go with me now

about a year ago, I had a tumor removed from my breast and I put myself on the operating table and I didn't feel like I was going to fall off or anything - it didn't seem overly skinny and when my surgery was done, I got to move myself again - but I was awake for my surgery. I don't like anesthesia at all - although I know i"ll have to have it for this surgery. It tends to make me nauseous and well....angry haha.

thanks for the info! Yeah - have been fighting with insurance companies for 3 years - not fighting anymore. This insurance company doesn't cover anything. Period. I have the funds to pay cash in Mexico, so I'm going to do it. Let me know how your experience is! Good luck and I'll be praying you have a speedy recovery!

My BMI is plenty high enough. They don't cover bariatric surgery. Period. End of story. I've applied, appealed, appealed again. Its a NO.

so did this get resolved??? That's a scary thing right there! Obviously, they weren't too worried about it getting fixed if they waited for your 3 week followup to even mention it to you - just hope everything got taken care of!

Okay, I've been in and out of here for a few years now. This will be my 5th and final attempt at the surgery. Over the past 4 years, I have had 4 surgery dates, only to lose them at the last minute because I lose my insurance. This last time it was because the company I was working for just decided they didn't need to pay the insurance premiums - so now, not only do I not have insurance to cover surgery, I'm stuck with he bill for all the pre-op appointments, etc. Cash pay is NOT an option. My husband and I are in the process of moving out of this hell-hole of an area where employers just screw people repeatedly. His new company has Kaiser Permanente Insurance in Colorado. Anyone familiar with KP and whether they cover the sleeve and what the requirements are? Thanks

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the supportive words and the quick replies! I have had nothing but hurdles - you'd think that with all the jumping I've been doing, I'd have lost a pound or two!

I don't ever feel full either. Its my understanding that you'll still feel hungry when you are, you'll just lose a lot of the excess hunger crap. You'll learn to know what feeling full feels like, and what actually being hungry feels like would be my guess.

take a deep breath and remember, these guys have been doing this for a very long time. Fear is caused by the unknown. I used to be kinda freaked out about the prospect of an IV - till I had nearly 300 of them in a 2.5 year period. Now I could probably do one better than a nurse haha :biggrin0: The catheter thing kinda freaks me out - I'm not sure the purpose of one - I've never had one for any other surgery I've had. Don't they want you up and about after surgery? What better way to get you up than to have to pee??? I'm not sure if everyone does a catheter or not. The drain I'm not overly worried about either. I don't WANT one, but I'll take it if I have to I guess. I don't WANT a sleeve either - I want to be naturally healthy and fit But I'll take one if i hafta!

The sleeve has long been a procedure in other countries as well. Its always a concern I think when you have a major surgery that affects an organ that doesn't regenerate itself. I'd rather have something partially removed and left in good working order than something added or rerouted. There's a whole design thing going on here and that actually works, so I don't want to disrupt the *ahem* flow of things :biggrin0:

My sister and brother in law just quit with those. They loved it! My sister got the nasty ole tasting ones and she quit faster than her husband who got all the tutti frutti stuff haha

I have to say that this is the *ONLY* surgery for me now :biggrin0: I was content with the band and then a band to sleeve conversion when my husband gets to his duty station, however, I do know that this surgery wouldn't have worked for my mother in law - she NEEDS the dumping syndrome to tell her what not to eat. She would live on ice cream if she could. She's already losing her teeth because of malnurishment - she doesn't take the vitamins she is supposed to with her RNY and she smokes again too. I know I have a huge overproduction of ghrelin - the doctor told me that. I've never felt "FULL" in my life. I just know when to stop eating - well that was until the steroids lol. A mal-absorption procedure would scare the crap outta me. There are certain things a body needs that you just have to be conscious of, especially when you have non-related medical issues like I do. Now that the steroids are done, and the surgeon that's doing my sleeve is involved in my other issues, he's going to remove the steroid secreting tumors while he's lopping of a chunk of my stomach too 2 birds. one stone. good deal.

ok so. My husband's in the military now and I understand tricare doesn't cover the sleeve - and I'm not near an MTF so I thought I was going to have to go the route of band to sleeve later. THEN! The company I work as a contractor for just hired me in as a full time employee and I now have healthcare coverage through priority :biggrin0: Good luck is shining down on me I cannot wait to get this done. I'll be travelling a couple of hours away to have it done as I like the technique of the place further away AND I will have the surgery sooner. YAY me!

I've been gone for quite a long time. I was well on the road to having my surgery and BLAM we lose our insurance. Well, its coming up on almost a year later and I'm about to have insurance again. I'm getting this done as quickly as possible. Having the surgery done locally will take forever, so it looks like I'm heading a few hours away, which is fine by me!. I really would rather have the surgery done there anyway. The difference in the procedures makes me feel more comfortable. So. I'm just so ready to get this done and over with and get on with my life. I know I have to go through their whole program again. Hopefully it won't be *too* long of a process.

It will be my only WLS as well. A friend of mine's sister had the sleeve done about 18 months ago. She loves it. I'm so excited for her!

I'll be going for the TT first, a breast lift/reduction (yeah, it'll be necessary haha) and then brachioplasty after that. First 2 I should be able to have covered by insurance. :cool0: