1Day1Life4Now

lynn2win, Sending hugs in your time of sorrow. I understand all those feelings of loss as I went through something very similar when I lost my best friend to breast cancer. It takes a long time for that pain to ease but the one thing I know is that you were so lucky to have a friend that you felt so close to. Those types of relationships are rare and not something everyone gets to experience. Count yourself lucky. Keep those memories close to your heart and she will always be with you. I hope you will be okay.

Gruiz27, I'm also 3 weeks out and I too am craving fast food. At least my mind and my mouth is...but I know my stomach could never handle it. The smells and sight of food make me soo hungry. Ah well, I'd rather be thin than eating fast food.

Special Girl, How is it going? Any closer to a date? What surgeon are you using? Have you been attending the Support Group meetings yet? They seemed to help me prior to surgery so I will continue to go post surgery. I had my surgery at Baptist Hospital and had a wonderful experience there. All of the medical staff was awesome. I could not have asked for anyone to have been any nicer or more accommodating. Baptist rocked. Good luck and hope you will post soon.

This entire process is about jumping through the hoops. Just do what they ask so they are more willing to send over the paperwork. Kill them with kindness. Good luck.

Willow, my tips are that you follow what your surgeons office has instructed you do. They are the experts and know how to prevent you from having any issues. Its better to prevent the issues then correct them on the other end. Drink water/fluids all day and eat only what is on the list. I did buy the Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies and Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies and have found them to be of immense help to me. Don't look at this as a diet... look at it as your new life style so it becomes your new norm. This is actually how most thin people eat. I'm in this to get the final prize. On to goal!!! Good luck.

Malsr, welcome to the world of sleeves. You are making a great decision and you will be healthier than ever. You will be able to share lots with us on band vs sleeve and what the differences are. Post often. Good luck with that insurance.

Dragonsmate, I know exactly what you are talking about. I refused to get on the scale for years except when I had to at the doctor's office. I always knew the numbers were up but could not stand to look at them. Now, it seems every day is a different (lower) number and stepping on the scale is exciting. Yeah, the diet is a little boring and difficult but its so worth it. I love my sleeve.

Jujube, I don't know where your PCP got his facts, he might be referring to the band as they do have a high statistical history of weight regain. According to my surgeon the long term stats on the gastric sleeve are not out there yet because as bariatric surgery goes, it's the new kid on the block. I think your doc was talking out of turn so don't worry about it. Prove to him that he's wrong and you made the right choice for you.

Two Penguins, everything has fallen in to place quite nicely which means that it all must be meant to be. You certainly got through the process very quickly so consider yourself quite fortunate. Good luck and have a safe surgery.

Tiffany, my nutritionist put me on a high protein low carb diet. I drank protein shakes and then ate meat and veggies for supper. Mine was during the holiday period too so I didn't stick to it during Thanksgiving, Christmas and News Year. I did try but it was just too difficult. I would lose and gain over and over during that period. I was much better on the pre-op diet. They want you to lose weight prior to surgery to shrink your liver and then it also gives you a head start on your weight loss journey. Every doctor is different and they all have their own plan so just follow what ever they give you. The common denominator is that everyone will drink 64 oz of water every day, you will take vitamin supplements, and you will eat protein first. Other than that... everyone is a little different. Good luck.

Tiffany, I had to do the 3 month supervised diet and I did it with the nutritionist at my surgeon;s office. once that was finished, I started the pre-op diet. BCBS is very easy to get approval with, especially the federal. Good luck to you both, use the time to study and research. There is soo much to know.

Hi Jessica, Welcome to Bariatric Pal. It's a great place for support and information. I was sleeved on Feb. 10th so I'm just a 4 days ahead of you. I love some of the pre-mixed protein drinks but haven't developed a fondness for the powder though. I'm working on it but still having a bit of a problem. I started my puree diet yesterday and it seems to make it all much better because I'm eating real food... although it's pureed in the food processer. Yesterday I had pureed chicken and greenbeans. For lunch today I had tunafish with light mayo and a hard boiled egg put in the food processor. I do eat the ready made sf jello and sf pudding. It goes down easy and keeps me from being hungry. Only 1 or 2 grams of protein there so I'll start adding the powder to the kind you have to make. I eat either grits, cream of wheat or scrambled egg for breakfast. Certainly more tasty than the shakes so it is easier to follow the diet. I bought the Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies and it has helped me tremendously with ideas of things to eat that are "legal". I took this drastic step of surgery with the intention of being successful. I will not sabotage myself with "non=legal" foods. I wish you lots of luck. You will feel better... it gets better each day. You will get there. Congratulations to you and your MIL. You should be good support for one another.

Good luck Willow. You are in for big changes. Have a safe surgery.

I agree with the rest of the posters. Most likely your blood pressure. Get up slowly and it should help with everything. Check with your doctor as you may need to lower the bp meds or get off of them completely. Good luck.

Hi Moni, I have Federal BCBS as well but mine is in Mississippi. Mine took a week. I gave them 5 days and then I called them and they gave me the approval over the phone before they sent it over to my surgeon's office. Good luck!!

you may be gaining muscle and since muscle weighs more than fat, its not showing up as weight loss. The fact that you are exercising is great because ultimately, that's the key.

Purging feels soooooo good. I can't wait to get rid of my stuff. Right now everything still fits and I have problems letting go. As soon as they are too ridiculously big I will be putting them in the box to donate to the shelters.

Two weeks ago I had those same feelings and was second guessing myself. Now I am so happy I did this. The first week will be a little rough but it gets better each day and you will feel fabulous before you know it. I love it.

I am so sorry that you have had this experience. TJ Mexico has many surgeons so not all of them are butchers. I'm sure there are many fine surgeons down there and there have been many happy people with successful sleeve journeys. I hope you are recovering and that all will go well. Good luck to you.

Kellyann, stay off the scales. Do you feel like you have lost anything? When you go back to the doctor, they will weigh you and that will be your official weight loss. Just follow the plan and don't stress about the numbers.

My surgeon's office no longer offers this surgery due to patients complications. Having said that, the medical community as a whole is going to do it as long as patients request it, as it is a big money maker for them. Some patients love their band and have been successful with it. I would never join a ban the band campaign but I will continue to sing the praises of the Gastric Sleeve.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your precious brother. I know that is enough to set any of us back. Today is a new day and you will have to start over to make yourself healthy. I had BCBS and they required a 3 month weight loss program but never stipulated a certain percentage or amount. Most doctors offices don't support this long preliminary diet so don't tell you what you haave to lose, they just encourage you to lose. What the doctors are concerned about is the pre-op diet you must do prior to surgery. Don't beat yourself up about not losing that much on the dr supervised diet. If we could lose weight and keep it off on our own, none of us would need this surgery. Take the time to heal your heart over your loss and focus on getting healthy. Dedicate your journey to your brother and keep him with you always. You will do fine, try not to worry as this process is not meant to add worry and stress but to show you how to get healthy.

good luck gldnhoney.... you are in for a real life change. Congratulations.

hmmm, can't wait to have that problem. Just as we had portion distortion to start with.... when people lose weight, there is a certain size distortion. Sometimes large people don't realize how large they are and smaller people don't realize how small they are. The mind is a funny thing. I don't think its the size you are unhappy with but the lose skin.

Allycat, I had my surgery here in Mississippi and I have access to all type of follow up and support groups for which I am very thankful. It sounds like the doctors in Florida are holding you hostage by charging those exorbitant fees. I think Nolagirl and mmhutch have some very valid points that you should strongly consider in favor of Mexico. Whichever you choose, I wish you lots of luck and a safe surgery.