jlteaford

Look at something like a camel back water bottle. It is a straw but the liquid does not go back down so you don't get the air. I used one of these right after surgery at the beginning and had no problems as all. I use a straw occassionally now and have not had any problems. My surgeon said after about 3 months it becomes a personal decision.

I am sorry I can see your frustration with the term "tool" but that is exactly how I look at it. It is a tool that I am using to prolong and possibly save my life. If I do not use my "tool" to its fullest extent it will quit working for me and I will put the weight back on and probably get back all of my co-morbidities. This was a major surgery but it is not going to work for me if I don't change my relationship with food and figure out what triggers me to eat junk, to eat when not hungry, etc. The surgery in and of itself is not going to be a "miracle" where I will never have to watch what I eat or never exercise, etc. It is just a "tool" to get me to a healthier, happier me.

I was on December 19, 2012 and I am down 84 lbs as of today. I am trying to get to onderland but it keeps alluding me right now. My goal was May 9th but I am 1.3 lbs from being there, so I am still happy with my success. Maybe I will make it by the 19th which would be 5 months. We will just have to wait and see!

My surgery was 12/19. I started at 285 and am down to 221. That is 64lbs. I am a stair step loser. I will go a week with nothing then I will lose 5 or more lbs and then I will stop and then start again. Make sure you are logging your food, drinking your Water and eating your Protein. Get on myfitnesspal, it is free and there are many people on their that have had this surgery. A lot of the successful losers are eating 600-800 calories per day, less than 40 g of carbs, and getting in 80 -100 grams of protein. Also if you haven't, take your measurements. The scale does not always tell the whole picture. You can lose inches and not see anything on the scale. Everyone is going to lose at a different pace so don't compare. Also I am not going to suggest that you don't weigh yourself because I do every morning but don't keep weighing all day. Your weight is going to fluctuate, weigh at the same time and with the same weight of close or (no clothes).

Has anyone been working with BCBS Highmark? How long did it take you to get approval and/or a response? I am being told 14 business days which is really hurting me because I really need to do this before Christmas in order to have to time to recoup before returning to work. Do you have any tips to speed the process up? They received my papework on 11/15 and sent to Medical Review on 11/16.

Actually they ended up approving in 24 hours. The paperwork was faxed on the 11/15 and the letter that I received on the following Tuesday was actually dated 11/16. My doctor's office submitted the paperwork for me. When you call in, they have know idea and the computers are not updated so I actually found out before it was updated in the system.

Surgery was Dec 19. Lost 21 lbs pre op Lost 15 lbs post op For a total of 36lbs!

I am like others on this post, to get in 1000 calories per day is a lot! I am between 600 -800 and usually get in around 700. I was sleeved on 12/17. Are you concentrating on the Protein or getting in 1000 calories? A person with a normal weight, stomach, etc would be eating 1200 calories per day. Sorry for the stall but I would concentrate on drinking Water and eating high protein, cut the carbs back.

My surgery is scheduled for December 19 in Topeka, KS. My paperwork was faxed on November 15 and it was approved on November 16 according to the letter. I didn't get the letter until the 21st. I am going to have to call them on Monday because it has a start date of 12/25/2012 and my surgery is on the 19th. The Christmas date doesn't make any since. I am nervous, scared, anxious. At this point, only my sister-in-law and my husband and kids are the only ones that I am telling. I do have family that will be supportive but I have other's that I just don't know and I really don't want to deal with their negative comments until I actually have to.

My PCP was very supportive! She asked me right away if I wanted her to do a referral. I have high blood pressure, high chloesterol, sleep apnea, shortness of breath. I also did 10 months of medically supervised (phentermine) to no avail (not with my pcp). At the time I went to the weight loss doctor, I did not know that it was a requirement for wls surgery but as things have failed it looks as if I was doing all the right things but they were not working. I thought I wanted a lap band but after attending the first survey, I knew I wanted a sleeve. I jumped on the final things, see a nut, psychologist and got my approval for surgery yesterday. If your PCP is not supportive then find someone that is. It is important that they document your conversations and progress as the notes have to be sent to the insurance company. If they don't document the counseling it will waste your time. You might also check with your insurance company and see if they will accept weight watchers documentation for 6 months. Your surgeons office might also have a program that will take care of all of this for you.