Valentina

Is cost the reason for your wiliness to go outside the country? If the cost was the same, would you be going outside of the country for your TT and breast surgeries.??? Just wondering.

Thank you. That has to be the answer. Insurance approval is a "thorn" in most WLS folk's path who need skin surgery. I wish the program would go into the pre-approval hoops and jumps that are regularly required, but I guess the program can only cover just so much. I watch the program --even though I get so exasperated by the "spoiled brat" attitudes that come across. But, I guess that makes good TV. Fatness is not an excuse for some of the behaviors exhibited on the show.

What I'm missing is that no one seems to have to have their skin surgery approved by their insurance companies. Cosmetic or medically necessary, an insurance company still has to approve of it, don't they?? We have folks posting here that have lost hundreds of pounds and have documented skin problems and still can't get approved for skin surgery. What am I missing?

Go and get it "off", my friend! How exciting. --expecting a full disclosure. Prayers going up for a safe surgery and an easy recovery.

This skin surgery thing-- Am I missing something? Does Dr. Now make all the decisions about when skin surgery is/isn't approved? I don't remember ever seeing any one having to clear their skin surgery with an insurance company. How many of WLS would have skin surgery if we didn't have to it approved by insurance companies? Or self pay? I bet a great many of us would. Maybe I just missed that part of the production. Did I?

You are so very welcome, friend. I wrote it as I felt it.--still feel it. You (and myself)- need to remember- are not alone with this "rain storm" of feelings during our WLS journey. Together maybe we can avoid being swept away by a "tsunami" of negativity. I know "we" can. Let's not give up on ourselves or each other----OK? Never ending prayers going up.

----"And there's your sign!"

I get it. Some WLS folks will never understand what you are feeling right now. Their journey is truly one of "yellow brick roads". I envy them. I find that I still "mourn" the loss of memories never to be realized about the socialization of food. Is having WLS a wonderful thing for one's health and longevity? You bet. Will your bones and joints thank you for relieving their burden? Yep. Will you be able to shop for smaller and more fashionable clothes? Sure. Will looking forward to having a family traditional "feast" ever be the same? Nope. I find that whenever I go to a food based outing with family/friends I feel like I'm "separate", "alone", --like I'm outside the group looking in--not totally fitting in like before WLS. It's like I feel like I'd rather be somewhere else--doing something instead of just sitting and eating 6oz of Protein.--trying to remember that those 6oz were from Great Grandma's favorite recipe. I also know that we can't "undo" our sleeves. So, we have to find a way to adapt ourselves to start feeling comfortable within our family/friends groupings again. I'm just not there yet--now 5 years out. However, since this journey that we are on is a life changing journey, I'm thinking that the journey is never-ending and I am learning with each step. I don't know if I've helped you any, but I guess I just wanted you to know: --that I'm out here. --I'm listening --I care. and --I get it. Prayers going up for all of us.

the progress you have made is inspiring. I always look forward to seeing your posts. Thank you very much. I'm glad to be around to post...........'being around' wasn't a safe bet a year ago. Comorbitities were piling up and dragging me down. I'm grateful and trying to set things up so I can do a better job for the next half of my life. I told Chritinamo7 about my NSV on Mothers' Day, Dub, so I'll share it with you now. My daughter and I were going through my mothers hope chest in the attic on Sunday. In there were all of the baptismal gowns and my wedding gown. Talk about ancient!!! After much whining and pleading I tried it on. I don't know which was more wrinkled--the gown or my skin, but the NSV was ---IT WAS TOO LARGE!!! The last time I wore that gown was 44yrs ago this month. I only fit into it because I went on a "starvation" diet for weeks before my wedding. Wow! Wrinkled or not, it felt good. First time in a long time---I felt----really happy. Simple feeling shouldn't be soooo hard to accomplish. I had almost forgotten how good it feels just to be happy. I may try it more often.

If I would volunteer for any kind of plastic surgery, it would be for my "turkey waddle". I hate it! I swear, on a windy day, my neck skin slaps my ears!!!!

Relax, talk honestly, and easily and what will be will be. If there was a best time NOT to prepare for a conversation, it is before your psych. eval. Just be yourself. You'll be much better off if you just --be yourself. Prayers going up for you.

Call you MD. He/she knows you better than anyone. Maybe you just have a stomach virus. But any concerns that you have this soon, need to be addressed by your bariatric team. Please call them and them post and let us know how you are. We really care. Prayers going up for you. Feel better, friend.

@DukeLacroix: Thank you for you concern. John (my S.O.) was adamant about me not having WLS. He was clinically depressed and was terrified to be alone. I thought I had made all of the necessary arrangements to have someone visit him throughout the day, but when I woke up from surgery and he wasn't there I knew... I signed myself out of the hospital and found him dead in our bed. He had consumed 120 vicodins. I made his memorial service arrangements, so by the time his mother, and three sisters arrived from Florida everything was beautifully arranged. I was told to leave the home that John and I had shared for 10yrs and invited never to return. I was not welcomed to attend John's services. I was to blame for his death because I KNEW he was opposed to my having it. I was totally selfish with a complete disregard for John's well being and stability. I, along with a policeman picked up my belonging from a storage unit a month later. So now you know---the rest of the story... I hope you also know why it is that I believe it is soooo important for one's spouse, or S. O. to receive counceling/therapy and even a mandatory pysch eval before surgery. It's not just one person having WLS---it is the two of you--your partner, spouse, soul mate. My opinion

It amazing me how different we all are. I can not tolerate much chicken at all. I will eat it only if it is very moist--like being cooked in a crock pot, or grilled and then dipped into a vinegar sauce--no bbq sauce nor ketsup---tooooo sweet. I will tolerated moist chicken on top of a beautiful bed of greens, just so I can have the treat of eating the greens. I've never had a problem with rare beef or juicy pork. Fish--especially those that I've caught out of the surf myself is my all time favorite!!! Yummmmyyyy. Chicken? Blahhhhhh and yuuuuuccccckkkk. "To each sleeve, their own"

I added instant coffee to mine--a lot of instant coffee. Be sure to check with your bariatric team to see if your program allows for you to have coffee. If so, give it a try. The bitterness of the coffee cuts the sweetness of the Protein shake. Good luck, friend.

My recommendation? You should follow your program. There are as many theories about coffee and when/if bariatric sleevers should have it as there are stars in the sky. You chose your bariatric team for your own personal reasons. Now you should probably follow their guidelines. Call them and explain your "misery". Maybe they have a "plan B". Good luck and keep posting. Sometimes, that alone will help. prayers going up for you.

Be a good Girl Scout and "Be Prepared". If you start to hurt, take your pain med for the first couple of days. It is much much easier to manage pain if you "head it off at the pass"--stay ahead of it. If you wait until you are overwhelmed with pain, it will be much more difficult to get control of it. I find that peak pain is usually around day #3 after surgery. I believe that is when your body is finally fully "awake" and on its own. I look forward to your posting when you are post op and some newbie asks this very same question. Prayers going up for you. You got this!!

--like ordering wonton Soup with no wontons? That usually leads to a great deal of foreign language exchange.

I never take left overs home. These days I will order whatever suits my fancy--Protein of the day. Then I will order to have only a third to be delivered to me. The other two thirds (sometimes 1/2) I will donate to the homeless shelters. Many restaurants in NYC are donating all uneaten food to the homeless. I think it's a wonderful program. I will admit once sending an entire beef wellington back because the beef was too well done. Normally I would have just eaten it, but I thought some homeless person would be thrilled to be able to enjoy a beef wellington. Shame of me, I guess, but I still smile thinking about the smile that must have been on the poor soul's face that evening. I'm just bad, I guess.

For me, different varieties of lettuce are a treat for me. I will eat the yucky chicken just so I can crunch into the escarole! YUM! If I'm a good girl and drink my sickly sweet shake in the morning, I can look forward to some endive with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast and balsamic vinegar on it later in the day. When your program allows varieties of lettuce, just PLAN for it. Work it into your requirements --then ENJOY THE CRUNCH!

I didn't see any "Valentina's" hot sauce on your list. Ever try it?? Of course I, who can not tolerate hot or spicy gets a bottle of it every year for my birthday. Oh well, it's great for re-gifting. I do love well seasoned food. There is a difference, I think. Enjoy the spice, you hot mamas and stud muffins!

I believe that the closer one is to the ocean the better the cerviche. Makes sense to me! I would think that the "pickling" with the lime/lemon juice would kill most parasites where in suchi the parasites are free for the ingesting! I just keep thinking: No one is going to come out of this life alive, so why not? Heading for the surf in two weeks. --can't wait to catch some "sushi".

Everyone has--or should have doubts before having WLS. Those doubts usually come with a dose of fear if not all out panic. You aren't ready--in my opinion. Your research is incomplete. Read everything you can get your hands on. Talk to as many WLS folks you can (those who will share their experience with you). Go to WLS support group meetings. Those meetings are deep deep wells of information. Ask questions--write them down before you go so you don't forget any. Talk to people who have had a negative experience as well as the fortunate ones who have had great success. Keep posting and reading on this site. There are always opinions! --as well as useful information. Discuss WLS with your spouse/S.O. to get their feelings about the procedure. This is a big one! WLS is soooo much more difficult without support. After you have done all of the above (and a little praying couldn't hurt), your mind and heart will know. Then you will be ready. I wish you "happy information hunting". Prayers going up for you.

Not only mandatory therapy for post ops, but also for spouses/S.O.s. Just think of how many relationships could have been saved if the sleeved and their main support person were on the same page going in? My opinion.