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What wonderful words. I am also on my preop liquids. I was to be on 3 shakes a day and one Protein meal with vegetables for one week, and Liquid Protein and liquids for the 2nd week. I started the liquid only phase several days earlier than what I was supposed to so I could get used to it. They're not bad. Had a decaf coffee shake for bfast (rounded decaf instant coffee 1/2 tsp, unflavored Protein powder, Water, splenda). Just had lunch -chocolate raspberry Protein Shake (1rounded tsp choc sf instant pudding, unflavored protein powder, raspberry extract, water and splenda). I leatned if I use too much sf instant pudfing, it gets very thick. The pistacho sf pudding is great too. Just spit out the pieces of pistacho.

Oh gosh. I'm sitting here giggling reading your posts. I too have big girls. I described it to someone as 'my boobs walking in the door and five minutes later my body follows'. I live in Vermont and travel to New Jersey when I need more bras, a place my NJ sister goes to, you know the one where they look in your eyes, squeeze each breast and call out "Harry bring me the 48G from the top shelf." 100 dollars a bra. I can't wait to have smaller breasts. I do plan on having a reduction, when I'm all done (surgery date 7/16). Seriously, if you get rashes or back aches or dents in your shoulders, see a plastic surgeon. Most insurance companies pay for reductions. I am looking forward to buying a smaller sexy bra instead of the ones I have now where if I cut them in half, I have two hats.

Oops. guess I didn't keep track of all the cutting and pasting. sorry for repeating it three times..

Please check out this website that gives out grants for Weight Loss surgery: It's the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America. Full Grant Applications will be accepted July 1, 2013 – December 2013. *Qualified surgeons can refer patients in need. Referred patients may submit a completed application packet to the WLSFA between dates listed above. *Qualified surgeons are US Bariatric Surgeons that are ASMBS Center of Excellence Certified & members of FACS or have ACS BSCN Accreditation & members of FACS. US Plastic Surgeon who are Board Certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ASPS Who is Qualified to Refer Patients for Grants? IMPORTANT INFORMATION Doctors must refer patients with the WLSFA online Referral form. A referral letter from the Doctors office is not accepted. If you are a referred patient: Access the Referral Guidelines and application forms CLICK HERE If you are a qualified surgeon: Please send an email to Send Email to request a password to our secure online Referral Form. The referral process is on line and secure. Your surgeon will request a password via email and they can complete their referral form on line. Referring doctors will be required to print a copy of the referral to give to the applicant to include in their application packet. To Help You Prepare All referred applicants must be 18 years old or older and will be asked to provide the following required information with their grant application: · A letter of referral from your surgeons office via the WLSFA online Form. · A Completed Application Form · A Completed Financial Questionnaire · If Insured: Verification of insurance denial – including appeal · Verification of loan denial from three different sources · Verification of public assistance denial ( Medicaid, Medicare, State Programs) (If quailified for these programs) · Contact information for character references All applicants must answer the following questions: · Agree to raise 10% of the funds required for your grant? (The WLSFA will assist in the fundraiser) · Willing to be an Ambassador for the WLSFA? Appear on Television, Radio, Print and On -Line · For Weight Loss Surgery Only – Agree to attend support group provided or recommended by your surgeon for one year The Selection Process: The selection committee bases it’s decisions on financial hardship and patient effort only. All required information must be submitted with the application including an essay. The essay can be up to five type written pages telling your story. The Blinded grant application (the applicants name and contact information is removed) along with the surgeons referral is reviewed by the selection committee who selects the finalists. The board of directors of the WLSFA choose the actual grant recipients from the finalists for each grant cycle. The number of grants awarded is based on the funds raised in that grant cycle. There is no guarantee any grants will be awarded.- See more at: http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/#sthash.N5ofEYyf.dpuf'>http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/#sthash.N5ofEYyf.dpuf Full Grant Applications will be accepted July 1, 2013 – December 2013. *Qualified surgeons can refer patients in need. Referred patients may submit a completed application packet to the WLSFA between dates listed above. *Qualified surgeons are US Bariatric Surgeons that are ASMBS Center of Excellence Certified & members of FACS or have ACS BSCN Accreditation & members of FACS. US Plastic Surgeon who are Board Certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ASPS Who is Qualified to Refer Patients for Grants? IMPORTANT INFORMATION Doctors must refer patients with the WLSFA online Referral form. A referral letter from the Doctors office is not accepted. If you are a referred patient: Access the Referral Guidelines and application forms CLICK HERE If you are a qualified surgeon: Please send an email to Send Email to request a password to our secure online Referral Form. The referral process is on line and secure. Your surgeon will request a password via email and they can complete their referral form on line. Referring doctors will be required to print a copy of the referral to give to the applicant to include in their application packet. To Help You Prepare All referred applicants must be 18 years old or older and will be asked to provide the following required information with their grant application: · A letter of referral from your surgeons office via the WLSFA online Form. · A Completed Application Form · A Completed Financial Questionnaire · If Insured: Verification of insurance denial – including appeal · Verification of loan denial from three different sources · Verification of public assistance denial ( Medicaid, Medicare, State Programs) (If quailified for these programs) · Contact information for character references All applicants must answer the following questions: · Agree to raise 10% of the funds required for your grant? (The WLSFA will assist in the fundraiser) · Willing to be an Ambassador for the WLSFA? Appear on Television, Radio, Print and On -Line · For Weight Loss Surgery Only – Agree to attend support group provided or recommended by your surgeon for one year The Selection Process: The selection committee bases it’s decisions on financial hardship and patient effort only. All required information must be submitted with the application including an essay. The essay can be up to five type written pages telling your story. The Blinded grant application (the applicants name and contact information is removed) along with the surgeons referral is reviewed by the selection committee who selects the finalists. The board of directors of the WLSFA choose the actual grant recipients from the finalists for each grant cycle. The number of grants awarded is based on the funds raised in that grant cycle. There is no guarantee any grants will be awarded.- See more at: http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/#sthash.N5ofEYyf.dpuf'>http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/#sthash.N5ofEYyf.dpuf http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/ Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America Saving lives one grant at a time Top of Form Grants Full Grant Applications will be accepted July 1, 2013 – December 2013. *Qualified surgeons can refer patients in need. Referred patients may submit a completed application packet to the WLSFA between dates listed above. *Qualified surgeons are US Bariatric Surgeons that are ASMBS Center of Excellence Certified & members of FACS or have ACS BSCN Accreditation & members of FACS. US Plastic Surgeon who are Board Certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ASPS Who is Qualified to Refer Patients for Grants? IMPORTANT INFORMATION Doctors must refer patients with the WLSFA online Referral form. A referral letter from the Doctors office is not accepted. If you are a referred patient: Access the Referral Guidelines and application forms CLICK HERE If you are a qualified surgeon: Please send an email to Send Email to request a password to our secure online Referral Form. The referral process is on line and secure. Your surgeon will request a password via email and they can complete their referral form on line. Referring doctors will be required to print a copy of the referral to give to the applicant to include in their application packet. To Help You Prepare All referred applicants must be 18 years old or older and will be asked to provide the following required information with their grant application: · A letter of referral from your surgeons office via the WLSFA online Form. · A Completed Application Form · A Completed Financial Questionnaire · If Insured: Verification of insurance denial – including appeal · Verification of loan denial from three different sources · Verification of public assistance denial ( Medicaid, Medicare, State Programs) (If quailified for these programs) · Contact information for character references All applicants must answer the following questions: · Agree to raise 10% of the funds required for your grant? (The WLSFA will assist in the fundraiser) · Willing to be an Ambassador for the WLSFA? Appear on Television, Radio, Print and On -Line · For Weight Loss Surgery Only – Agree to attend support group provided or recommended by your surgeon for one year The Selection Process: The selection committee bases it’s decisions on financial hardship and patient effort only. All required information must be submitted with the application including an essay. The essay can be up to five type written pages telling your story. The Blinded grant application (the applicants name and contact information is removed) along with the surgeons referral is reviewed by the selection committee who selects the finalists. The board of directors of the WLSFA choose the actual grant recipients from the finalists for each grant cycle. The number of grants awarded is based on the funds raised in that grant cycle. There is no guarantee any grants will be awarded - See more at: http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/#sthash.N5ofEYyf.dpuf'>http://www.wlsfa.org/looking-for-help/#sthash.N5ofEYyf.dpuf

Npecor Great hearing about your success.

Sorry, I forgot to say my sister is coming with me and I'm paying for her airfare too and hotel. She knows she had to work for me. I'm covering her food too but since she was sleeved last year, (fully paid for by her insurance company in NYC ) (can you detect my tone of irony and my extreme jealously), I know she won't be eating much. Ha. Did I say that outloud?

I would have had to pay $47,000 in Vermont. I sobbed for two days realizing I could never afford to do it. Now I'm going to Mexico but still had to figure out how to pay for it. So maybe this can help you. I went to my credit union and they "loaned" me money against what I had in savings. Here's how it works: If you have any savings $2,500 for example, they freeze the money and create a loan. They set up a monthly payment according to what you can pay up,to 10years. They give you a check for $2,500. When you make you first payment of 25 dollars, then the credit union releases $25 dollars from you savings account so you have access to it again. The interest rate is 2.5 percent. You are essentially loaning yourself money. Maybe a family member can set up a loan like this for you where you make the payments. Good luck. My surgery is in Mexico for $5,200, airfare is $2,200. Expensive but not $47,000.

I bought one too on sale at Costco and left it in my car for 3weeks. When I finally used it I couldn't figure out how to store all the pieces. I used it once. I returned it. I have an immersion blender with an attachment that is like a small food processor and a large container (like a chinese soup take-out container). I works great in blending my shake in a large mug. It cleans up under running water. I'm trying to keep it simple since this phase and pureeing food is not forever.

Bariatric Advantage in vanilla or unflavored. I use the unflavored and add a rounded teaspoon of pistacio sf pudding. Add two splenda and blend away. Yummy.

I use Bariatric Advantage both unflavored and vanilla. No undertaste.

Everything checked out fine. I'm very happy about that.

I'm booked on July 16th with Dr Kelly. I was originally going to use Mexico Bariatrics but they tried a bait and switch on me to go with another Doctor. The website drramoskelly.com is owned and operated by Mexico Bariatrics too. I posted my experience on another forum. Dr Kelly can be reached through Lora, his assistant through email at wlsclinic@outlook.com. Do a search on this website for Dr Kelly and you can find very satisfied patients. I'm starting my packing list. Anyone else for July 16th?

Yes. July 16th

Thanks.

It costs $ 47,000 dollars to have the VSG in Vermont and the maximum lifetime insurance benefit is only 10,000 dollars. The cost for all the pre op appointments and post op appointments plus appointments with the NUT, any testing (esphagus, upper GI endoscopy required) are all additional costs. Again I said Lifetime benefit of 10,000 dollars! I'm headed to Mexico and Dr. Kelly.

I'm also from Vermont. Can't afford the $47,000 dollars so I'm going to Mexico with Dr Rams Kelly. Have my upper GI endoscopy and baring test on 6/25 at FAHC and results on 6/27.

Where did you find the Isopure?

I'm also lactose intolerant. I ordered Bariatrics advantage protein shakes which doesn't have any lactose in it. Will be delivered this Tuesday. I'm currently trying the Costco Performance Whey Isolate, but my stomach is beginning to gurgle. Had a shake for a late breakfast this morning.

I might be crazy but I've actually started drinking a protein shake for breakfast and I'm not having surgery till 7/18. Try mint extract. Or instant deaf coffee 1/2 tsp. Or a tsp of sugar free jello with the shake. The was a post in the nutrition section under protein shakes that had 50 or more recipes.

Have you tried mixing a little sugar free hot chocolate powder into a raspberry flavored yogurt? I've been doing it for years, kinda my way of having a chocolate-raspberry mousse. I'm curious about the Mexican government sponsored program you mentioned. Can you give me more information about it?

Hey HopefulintheNW: I'm a newbie and have been reading posts for a week. I think I'm going with Dr Ramos Kelly too. I also had carpel tunnel surgery on my left wrist a few years ago. Please be aware that you will be in pain from the hand surgery and you hand will be in a molded ' cast' for several weeks. You might want to plan your WLS toward the end of your time off. I had to have my husband help me with my clothing so I could go to the bathroom! I hope you have someone to help you prepare your foods. You listen your surgeon as Dr Jamie Kelly. Did you switch? I'm hoping to schedule mine in mid July.