SnohoGal98296

Vanilla protein shake (pick your fave) mixed 50/50 with Oregon Sugar Free Chai Tea base (or you could brew from chai tea bags). Yummiest Iced Chai Tea Latte ever!

So I am pre-op, I have always been a size 9, that being said in the past 2-3 years I have noticed that my go to size 9 feel tight across the top of my foot, I tried 9.5s and 10s, and my feet drown in them. This is one gal who is hoping that my projected 100+ lb loss will help my feet fit shoes normally again :-D

This is one my goal NSVs, it is humiliating to be flying to Asia and all of the flight attendants are tiny Asian women, and having to ask for the extender, or worse getting a front row seat with the in arm tray tables, because my belly inteferes and the tray won't lay flat... so embarrassing. .. surgery date is June 11th!

Washington State -Seattle Area Bariatric Centers of Excellence, Out patient surgical centers (Not in a hospital) Prices range from $17,000 to $18,000 and that is with your insurance covering the pre-op tests billed against your comorbidities, like blood tests, psych evaluation, endoscopy, sleep test, etc. The $18k price included BLIS self pay insurance.

Is it possible she isn't saying anything because she has known you for your life long struggles with weight, that she is worried that you will rebound again and then her comments will be remembered harshly? I know when I have attempted diets in the past, I didn't tell anyone so I wouldn't have to explain when I would inevitably start gaining again. I guess I am applying this in reverse to her, she thinks that by not making a big deal she is supporting you or protecting your feelings, in what she thinks is a short term success. Just thinking of a different angle. ..

Hmmm, if it is a true "exclusion" then there is nothing their insurance gal can do, if it is a "well they haven't approved anybody yet", then a talented insurance coordinator can work miracles. ..

Hi, try doing pre-op diet search in the forum, there was another discussion just a few days on this topic, if I find I will send it to you. The jist seems to be that some Docs do and some Docs don't, and that there is nothing to worry about!

So I asked my surgeon about bougie size too. She said that bougie size is irrelevant if they find that the curvature of your stomach dictates another size. Meaning that they can go in with size 32, 34, 38 whatever, they still have to gauge how much of an offset from the bougie based upon your stomach shape to maintain a certain boundary for your lower stomach valve (sorry don't have the name of that valve in my head at the moment). That if they ignore your specific physiometry (sp?) it can lead to strictures and other serious problems. So he may go in with a 32 and your stomach allows for a close trim and match to 32, or they may go in with a 32 and have to cut away from the bougie to maintain that areas shape and you are closer to a 38. Maybe your doc says 38 because he will make a decision for smaller bougie once he looks at your stomach in real time? I hope I explained that clearly - but definitely talk to your surgeon... Maybe he has a different reason for his decision...

Seela, if you are between insurance you could check what local services are available through either your state or county or a community service like United Way. When I was in college I used a county medical office that was for young women and children, they accepted a much lower fee based on your current income, so a visit was only $15

Keep up the hard work Seela, you will get there:-D

I hear ya, but I think I will be ready to try almost anything during the pre-op or post-op liquid phases...

I ship things to hotels all the time for work, just check their receiving address and address the package Attn: Hotel Guest John Smith, I do talk to the concierge or the front desk and ask they put a note on the reservation as well. I have shipped cases of Meal Replacement bars to Taiwan, 12 packs of Mtn Dew to Hong Kong, you name it I have shipped it to keep my field service team happy. That said, commercially or home packaged single serve powder packets shouldn't be a problem in either your carry-on or checked luggage. They are concerned about gels and liquids, not solids or powders. Otherwise think of all of the bare minerals makeup that would be confiscated; -D

I'm curious why collagen based protein is not recommended? I haven't heard this, so I am just curious on their reasoning. Maybe it is a quality thing or an absorbability thing?

As a size 24 today, I stand in awe of you who say you used to be in women's sizes and are now wearing 4, 6, 8, 10 ' s etc! I have a positive attitude and can't wait until June for my sleeve! I would be thrilled to be a size 16, and over the moon to be a size 10! My surgeon had told me I will probably end up around 165lbs, but my true goal is 145-155 which would be the top edge of a normal BMI for my 5'6" height. The last time I weighed 155 was when I was 24 in 1992... I wore a size 9/10 at the time.

So I tried the Protein Plus milk, I love it. My son has been also been dipping in my Nectra Sweets for his post track chocolate milk! I didn't so much love the single serve Lucerne Protein shakes, but they only had vanilla... The mixing the Chocolate Truffle with Water - I have never tried water, I always mix with NF milk or with Almond or Coconut Milk unsweetened, of course - it is 35-45 calories to milks 80-90 calories, I am afraid of mixing chocolate with water :-D

Ok, so 21 years ago I was pregnant with my first, I was so sick from morning sickness (24 hr sickness!), I couldn't keep anything down, I puked multiple times a day because I kept trying to eat for the baby. I was not a skinny woman back then either! I lost weight for the first 6 months of my pregnancy, I was growing a tummy but losing weight! The Doctor and the nurses gave me a standing ovation when I finally gained a pound at my 7 month appointment! I was beside myself with worry the whole 6 months, but my Doctor said not too worry, that the baby and your body work it out so the baby is nourished. He was more worried about the effect on my body than he was about the baby! I ended up with a beautiful baby girl and less than 20lbs gained. My point is, the baby will take what it needs and that beautiful baby girl? She is in college, working part time and smart as a whip! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

This person would be a state level person, I would search the name of your state and "insurance commissioner" or try variations of that doesn't work. http://www.insurance.wa.gov is the website of the Washington state guy, don't know where you are. ..

Madame Reverie, Lllluuurrrvvv your attitude! Bleedin' LMAO!

Are family members an option?

I would ask your surgeons insurance coordinator and your psych Doc to go to bat for you. I have always asked about that question on med docs, because of this exact reason. If you respond yes to the "Do you drink?" question it sounds like your an alcoholic even though you are only having maybe 1 beer a week or just at social occasions! It is the way they ask it, there is no way to say sometimes, maybe once every two months, I have two drinks at a party but nothing imbetween... I just shared this during my psych evaluation and told her I hate that question for this very reason. She explained that she understood that I only have a drink or two every once and awhile, and that they were trying to identify those who were drinking excessively. She shared that a recent patient was drinking two bottles of wine every night at dinner and didn't get that it was an issue for weight loss surgery. In any case, if they are going to accuse you of being an alcoholic, they better have more than stupid question to go on! Maybe even your state insurance representative could help, here in Washington our guy is a hero because he goes to bat for individuals all the time. One woman was denied coverage because her ex boyfriend beat her up, some stupid clause was referenced, it was huge in the news, the insurance company backed down and paid her claims. ..

Self pay here, they offered me an apt less than 6 weeks from my initial consult, said they could" fast-track" me through the medical tests, still need to have the nutrition and psych evaluation appointments (Just because you are self pay doesn't mean you won't split your sleeve if you aren't mentally prepared:-D). After that it is just the blood test and endoscopy. So apparently they would have moved as fast as I wanted to move though the testing phase. .. I had to slow it down because of some business travel, so my appt is June 11th.

Im hoping for end of June. Busy jumping thru all my insurance hoops to qualify. Must be great to have something set. Hi Everyone, My surgery date is June 11th, any other June dates out there? Yes, it feels good, but I am also apprehensive, there it is in black and white, something I have been working on for a year, is finally going to happen! Also, my work is really turbulent right now - not job security issues - just really busy issues, I am scared that something will come up and I will have to change my date. If I try to be pre-emptive and change my date now, that just means that it will change again and again so I am going to wait for a month or so and see if I can stick to June 11th... My Mom just chimed in - she is on a cruise that week and can I change the date? - I am sticking to this date for atleast a month!

Not sure, but I believe if you had no sleep issues they wouldn't ask you back for another night!