StacyS

Where do u get the Unjury soup?

Thank you for sharing!! You are an inspiration to me especially since I haven't been sleeved yet! Thank you

I havent even thought of making a wish list! This is a great idea!! 1. Be able to wear a bathing suit w/out being embarrassed 2. Have my daughters look at me in admiration, thinking "wow, I want to be like Momma" 3. Be able to shave my nay-nay again (sorry-TMI) 4. Wear my nice work suits again that are hanging in my closet collecting dust 5. Be able to join a fast pitch softball league and actually play 6. Paint my toes, tie my shoes, walk up the stairs w/out panting 7. Actually look forward to taking walks with my girls and the dog 8. And most of all, have lots of energy to play with my girls and husband w/out having to take breaks! OMG, I can go on and on!! But I think these will be ok for now. My 2 of 3 month supervised diet w/surgeon's office is next week... then I'm a month away from submitting for approval and then FREEDOM! I simply can't wait!!

I have been told by my surgeon to also get Nioxin shampoo and conditioner or Ovation Cell Therapy! Both of those shampoos work really well with hair loss/thinning hair. You might want to look into both. I know you can get Ovation on the internet and you can get Nioxin at a local Super Cuts! Good luck

I was with one doctors office that always gave me the brush off whenever I called. I gor a letter from insurance that paperwork was incomplete and tried to get ahold of someone at the surgeons office to no avail. I was so pissed that I finally went to see a completely different doctor and am so much happier!!! I still haven't heard from the first surgeons office and that was 26 Jan!!! Sometimes you gotta find another doctor that will treat you right and not make you feel so unimportant!! I'm much happier now that I did!!!

Yes, I would love to see ur video too. Have a safe trip home

I'm so happy for you!! Its so nice to get thin and buy new clothes that actually make you look great!!! I'm very anxious to feel that too!! Keep up the good work!!!

Hi Erika! My BMI is right at 40! My surgeon told me NOT to lose any weight while I'm on the 3 month supervised "diet" with their nutritionist (a NEW requirement as of Jan 1, 2011 for BCBS- Fed). I'm surprised you have been denied for the revision! What was their reasoning for the denial? Do you have a good patient advocate with your doctor's office? If so, they could probably contact your insurance and get all the details for you! I have a hiatal hernia and I was told by another surgeon (when I wanted to get the LapBand) that they would correct the hernia BEFORE putting the band in. Did your surgeon not do that??? My co-worker got approved for the sleeve after the second try and that was back in Oct 2010; so I know BCBS- Fed does approve the sleeve!

Like the other poster said... Make sure you contact your insurance company FIRST! Find out what THEY require in order for you to be approved. Some require a 3 or 6 month supervised diet with the surgeon's nutritionist, other insurances only require documentation that you've attempted to lose weight unsuccessfully (WW or Jenny). Honestly, all the other appts will be guided through your surgeon's office... ie: Psych Eval, Nutritionist, Upper GI, etc. There is no reason to make those appts w/out knowing if you're going to actually need them or not. So, please make sure you contact your insurance FIRST and then go from there!!

I have a hiatal hernia and my surgeon said he will be correcting it while he's in there! My sleeve buddy here at work also had one and she did not have a difficult recovery at all. Fixing the hernia added no time nor more complications. You shouldnt worry!

Great Job!!! What's your secret?

uh oh.... I love my hair and it's not thick at all. Looks like I'll be reconsidering WLS!!! -NOT!!!! As long as the hair grows back, then I'll be ok with losing a little volumn! It'll be the price to pay to be healthy for my family!

That's a terrific question!! Anyone????

Thank you so much Doug!!! I'm still waiting for my surgery date and just reading this makes me excited and focus on the BIG PRIZE! How are you doing now? How are you healing??

What do you usually eat on a typical day Tiff? From the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep???

Thank you! I know the Sleeve is covered but I've heard that it's terribly difficult to get approved at first. I have a co-worker who referred me to Dr and hospital who also has BCBS Fed, and they denied her at first.... so I was just curious to see if anyone has actually been approved the first go around since the new year and the new requirements.

Hi HoneyRubybee, I was just curious to see if you ended up contacting BCBS and what was the outcome? Stacy

Wow, that is super fast! Be thankful that it is going fast for you.... I'm insurance pay and there are so many hoops to jump through that it seems like forever since I initially wanted surgery until it will actually happen! I am actually thankful that insurance is requiring me to do a 3 month supervised nutritional diet with the surgeon's dietician!! I originally began my process with a doctor and thought that I would be getting the LapBand. But after the news that I had to wait an additional 3 months, I researched other doctors and other WLS and discovered my current doctor and VSG!!! I couldnt be more thankful for this time since I HATED the other doctor's office...so, in hind sight, I'm happy I have to wait b/c I found a wonderful doctor and am so happy to have found this site!!! Good luck to you and please keep us posted!!

Me neither Tiff

What an inspiration you are!!! Thank you for posting these and WTG on your success!!!

How much total out of pocket will it cost? I went to my first appt and found out they charged a $600 program fee on top of what they bill insurance!! And it was to come out of my pocket!!! I'm happy to say I've switched doctors!!

I love WW and have been on it off and on for many years!! And like others have said, its not the losing that's hard, its keeping it off!! If you can do it with WW alone, then more power to you! But most of us know that we have tried and tried and have failed numerous times and have no other choice at this point!! I haven't been sleeved yet but if I could've done it through WW alone, then I wouldn't be on here!!! Please, make sure this is the right decision for you. This is a great tool but if you need professional help, make sure to get that resolved before surgery; otherwise the sleeve will be done in vane. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted!!

WTG ya'll....is fantastic that you've all reached goal and are learning to maintain it!! I can't wait to post the same thing once I'm sleeved! You are all an inspiration and give us hope for a slimmer and healthier future!!! Congrats!!

Congrats!!!! Now you have to change your signiture to say "100 lbs lost!!!!" Very well done Sarah!!! You look fantastic! Keep up the good work!!!!

Hey Girl.... I've heard that Nioxin shampoo & conditioner are really great products to use for thining hair, and have also read that not enough protein in your diet can cause hair loss after surgery. Oh, and they have some vitamins at Walmart that are specifically to stimulate hair growth!! Check them out when you get a chance! I used to use them after I had my hair cut really short once, and the vitamins and shampoo combo really helped!! You can get the shampoo at Supercuts!!