Cheryl

Congrats, Jennifer! I will be a loser right along with you. I got my surg date yesterday....March 16th.....so happy St Patrick's Day! early. Good Luck!!

I called Aetna and the guy said VSG was approved! Bugging the clinic to get me in Thursday for my pre-op appt and start my 1 week liquid diet so that I can have my surgery 3/16. I have a block of time off of work so potentially I don't have to take off but a day or two because I can come back on light duty..... Now it seems more like reality...

I wish this waiting period was over....I know that I didn't become obese over night and I am not going to lose the weight over night but I just want to know if Aetna approved the VSG surgery. They just got the faxes but even a week seems like forever.....

Sunny, I am in a similar boat as you were in. My papers should have been faxed to the insurance co last week and I don't have weight from doc in 2009. What ins co do you have? Glad to hear you were approved. Cheryl

You need to look at each specific plan which you would be on whether it is covered. I know that a coworker has UHC and she was approved easily. I have Aetna and I hear everything has to be down exactly as they want it. VSG is covered 100% under my husband's plan, but I will be paying a program fee. Most people who have Aetna, I assume, don't have as good of coverage as I. Check each plan specifically. Good luck, Cheryl

Anthony, I like your post. I haven't had surgery yet (hopefully March) but it seems like too many people focus too much on Protein drinks. I am all for pureeing cottage cheese and greek yogurt with more skim milk to get the needed protein. My surgeon's office suggests dairy as our primary source of protein for the first 3 weeks. They also want us to eat/drink 100gr of carbs so that we are NOT in ketosis. Should be interesting how my progress compares to those who eat less carbs.

Hi, I asked to meet with my surgeon ahead of time to answer some questions regarding his history of doing sleeves, etc. He said with his program (diet, excercise, surgery) most of his patients lost 80% of their extra weight by the end of the first year. It was pretty consistant and not many continued to lose much beyond the first year. For example....I weigh 280 and should weigh approx 165 at BMI 25. My expected outcome would then be 180-190 lbs. How did all of you decide what your goal weight should be? I know all about the BMI charts but I was wondering how other doctors and patients came up with their goal weight? At a specific BMI or what?

My surgeon told me that the excess weight was the weight over my BMI at 25. I can't imagine being at 22 BMI. I am not big boned but I don't think I would look good at that number BMI 22). Our familytends to be muscular. On the other hand,I'm not going to settle for just an 80% of excess weight loss. I want to go for BMI 25.

Hi, Eureka-C, I see that you teach psych. I'm a psych nurse and am married with 2 kids, too. What number we see in our head may or may not be realistic, albeit better than we are now. And what I was in high school is not what I would want to be today...even if I was 150. I am much more muscular and curvier now (my hubby isn't complaining about the second one.) I look at my sister who is approx 165 lbs BMI 26 and she runs 21 miles/week and has run a couple of half marathons. I think I need to scrap having a certain BMI or weight in mind and see how I feel.

I don't know if anyone out there used to/is a big holiday baker but I always made tons of holiday cookies and passed them out (the ones that didn't add 10 lbs to my gut every holiday.) My cooworkers are asking me when I'm bringing in buckeyes but I just take a deep breath and smile, "Sorry, guys. This year I'm not making cookies because I can't get them out of the house quick enough so you're on your own." I've gotten some resistance but who will have the last laugh...me! So far, down 15 lbs in the past month by eating every 2-3 hrs and I have cut out allllll fast food (I don't consider Chipotle fast food but I eat 1/3 of a veg bowl instead of eating all of it at once.) Energy level up. Making sleep a priority since I work part time night shift and have totally irregular sleeping. Must get going to the rec center where I plan to rock out on the elliptical machine. Happy Tues to all.

Hopefully I'll be sleeved in March or April 2011. I can't even imagine what it would be like not to crave eating all those Cookies, especially at the holidays. Thanks for letting me know there is life without devouring sweets.

I haven't been sleeved yet so I want to avoid the temptation. Next year should be different for me. One day at a time....

Hi Julie Here's your well deserved compliment. I looked at your youtube and you can clearly see your weight loss. Keep up the good work. Cheryl

Just testing my ticker

Hi, Lisa, I'm not sure if all Aetna plans are the same, as far as their requirements with documenting diet/exercise. You should be able to check with your dr's office (if you picked one yet)/ They work enough with ins companies to know. I don't remember what percentage of weight Aetna wants presurg/preapproval too. Will keep you informed. Cheryl from Ohio

Good evening to you all. I have a request of one of you sleevers out there that have had your op preferrably at least a year ago. I would like a mentor or reciprical buddy that is in a similar situation as I. I should be having surgery in March/April. I have been married 5 years with 2 boys, age 2.5 and 4 yo. I also work part-time night shift as a nurse. 2011 is my year. If anyone reads this and is in a similar situation, I can be their sounding board too. I want to lose around 110 lbs. Thanks much.

HI, Keshia, I am fairly new to this process. Nov 9th I had all day appointments with the dietitian, psychologist and physician for a physical. Had bloodwork in the AM. Already knew I had sleep apnea and have been on a CPAP since April. Aetna requires 3 months of nutrition counseling with documented food and exercise logs. I guess they are big into making sure that you are ready for a major lifestyle change before they approve the surgery. Just completed my first month and met with the dietition last evening. She says I am doing great. I hadn't heard of the sleeve before I started doing research on line. Several girls where I work have had the lap band and have lost significant weight but I hear that they binge then barf it right back up and eat some more! My 3 months of nutr appts should be done in Feb so they say I should be able to have surgery in March/April if I can work things out. Since I am part-time night shift I have to ask work if they are willing to work with me to let me do light duty for a few weeks so I can help out and still get payed but am not exposed to hostile situations. I am using this time to clean up my eating habits and bust my butt at the gym. The sleeve is the best choice for me and I thank God that it's covered by my insurance. Good luck to you.

Welcome, Telisa! I am lucky about insurance paying 100% of my surgery but I think I would still stay local because I want all what a local program has to offer....regular nutrition appts, support groups, somewhere I can go to immediately if I have a problem. I have found that since I have to do the 3 months of nutrition counseling, I feel much better and am making changes now that will effect not only surgery but hopefully the final outcome. I have lost approx 15 lbs so far and I feel great about incorporating many of my program suggests....eating every 2-3 hrs, not drinking while eating, cut out sugars, exercising, and even not baking for the holidays! Waiting can have its advantages as hard as it is. Good luck.

It is just so hard to believe the weight loss but I can't stop dreaming, thinking that could be me in the following year. Keep it up. Want to see more pics as you progress.

I haven't been sleeved yet but try not to compare yourself to others, as hard as that may be. You have 70 lbs to lose vs some (including me) have much more. Are you keeping within your dr's guidelines in regards to nutrition and fluids? Good luck.

What about the ghrelin aspect of it? If they aren't removing the extra part of the stomach, then does the whole stomach still produce the appetite stimulating hormone ghrelin? This is why I like VSG...to decrease appetite, not just restricting the size of the stomach.

Good Morning! I am new to the whole idea of WLS as I always thought it was the easy way out. Now that I am into the process, I find that I am having to evaluate more than ever what I am eating and why. This is much more difficult than I expected. So "Hi" to all. I am 40yo, married with 2 kids, ages 2.5 and 4. I have a BMI of 44 at 292 lbs and want to weigh under 200. I have had an all day consultation and met with a dietician, psychologist, and internist. Other than having obstructive sleep apnea (I have had a CPAP machine for 7 months) I am otherwise healthy. Working night shift is not helpful to losing weight because I also take care of our two little ones during the daytime. This is my first time attempting to blog but I have found others inspirational and look forward to this journey.

HI Part of my surgeon and insurance plan's process is to write down everything I eat, including how much, at what times, where and what I am doing, and any thoughts/feelings before I eat. If that doesn't get you to really take a look at yourself, I don't know what will. It has also helped to eat healthy foods (high, lean proteins, fruit and veggies) every 2-3 hrs while you're awake because that is how you have to eat for the rest of your life. I don't like having to wait 3-4 months before surgery but it is there for a reason. Gives you time to put in place some of the coping skills and ways of eating before you actually have surgery. Good luck.

Hello, About the psych eval, I had one too at my first appointment. She was harmless but she did suggest I talk to someone about my binge eating and relationship with food, which makes sense. Unless we know why we do the things we do, it is hard to change them. The psychologist is not there to judge you (I'm sure they have heard it all.) Go in with an open mind and answer the questions truthfully. Good luck.