mamaofmatthew

I use these, I got one in every flavor offered in my area to see which ones I liked. I would suggest you try them before you NEED them...the taste is certainly an "aquired" taste...make sure you want to use these for your primary protein. good luck!!

Had my 9 day post op appt today, removed the staples and drain (thank God!), down 19 lbs since surgery, cleared to return to work tomorrow and begin mushy food stage...great appt!

Is anyone running a fever? The pain is tolerable, but this fever worries me.

I was sleeved on 09/10. Still in hospital...worse pain for me is in shoulders, I guess it's still gas built up. Hospital needs a masseuse on staff! Lol

I have my surgery in 3 days and I have been working on what I am going to do for my weight loss rewards, just to add a fun element to all of this. 1st 30 lbs- new hair cut/color 2nd 30 lbs- ??? (Still working on this one) 3rd 30 lbs- SPA day 4th 30 lbs- tasteful boudoir pics (this is my goal weight, I figure if I see this weight, I need to get pics to document it!! ha ha) Anyone else do something similar?? )

Doctors office submitted my paperwork to insurance today. I know this wait is going to kill me! So I was just wondering, how long did you wait for approval from BCBS Federal (basic)? Did you call customer service for status updates? If so, how often?? Thank you!!

I start my pre-op diet tomorrow for surgery and I see everyone has different pre-op guidelines. Mine is a 2-week liquid diet. Can some people eat solid food on their diet? Drink coffee?? soda?? I am just curious what others are having to do.

I'm looking for honest responces here...are you cheating on your pre-op?? I am really REALLY struggling with mine and have to admit some days I fail completly. I am wondering if I'm the only one on here that has failed?? How will this effect my surgery??

I'm scheduled to have my surgery in less than two weeks and one thing that I'm worried about is how am I going to adjust in the same why that smokers struggle with "what to do with their hands" after quitting. I eat when I'm sad, when I'm happy, when I'm stressed...etc. I drink soda when I'm bored or just to be social. I plan vacations around what restaurants are in the area, I could go on... I am worried about how will I adjust to ALL that! food is one of my best friends, it never lets me down. Its like a break up. I'm 100% ready for the change, but at the same time...what do I do with my hands?? Anyone else feel this way?? Any advice from seasoned sleevers???

I'm in my pre-op stage and the only protein drinks I can tolerate are with torani syrup. My grocery store only carries 2 flavors so I want to buy some online. At work I can't have a blender so I use a blender ball cup. This limits my mixing fruit, etc into drinks. Anyone have any suggestions/recipes? Do the fruit flavored syrups work in the shakes?? Thanks!!

I am officially in the 2 week pre-op liquid diet, and it sucks already!!! Is anyone else getting sleeved July 31st?? How is your pre-op going??? I'm hoping to find/be support for eachother in this time!!

What protein are you guys using to stay full? I am using premier protein but I'm sure I'll be sick of it soon! I'd rather have a juice protein than a milk type.

I have question for those of you with tatoos that lost a lot of weight...how did it effect your tattoos?? I have a tattoo on my inner ankle and i'm afraid when I lose a lot of weight its going to get all wobbly looking! Anyone have issues with their tattoos post-weight loss?? Thank you!!

I got my approval yesterday when I called, yay!! it took exactly 7 days )

I have BCBS and was told that diet needed to be doctor supervised, so WW would not count.

I'm in the process of getting insurance approval and would love to do this process with others in it locally. Anyone have experience with Dr. Appresai in Beckley??

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but 15 days means business days. So actually the nurse has until July 23rd. Good luck! Actually, I thought that's what they meant too, but the rep actually told me it would be done by the 15th, so I guess it is calendar days. I see all these fast approvals, and hope mine isn't taking longer because there's a problem...it's driving me crazy waiting. Did you call the customer service number or the pre-authorization number on the back of your card? I was calling the customer service number and they told me to call the pre-authorization department listed on the back of my card. The rep I got at that number told me it could take 6-8 weeks!! Although everytime I talked to someone I got a different answer.

My paperwork was submitted on July 9th. I called today because I am so impatient and could not wait anymore, ha ha. I was told it could take up to 8 weeks for approval!!! The lady did say that if the doctor's office submitted a tentative date for the surgery they could possibly expedite the approval. As soon as I hung up with BCBS I called my doctor's office and requested they schedule me for the first available appointment and fax that to the insurance company. Has anyone heard of this?? I wonder why it could take up to 8 weeks and so many people find out within 1 week or so??? I was confidant I would be approved, now im nervous!!

I was going to do lap-band, but after ther research I changed to the sleeve. Last week I actually meet 2 of my 2nd cousins out of state for the first time and they had the sleeve 4 years ago and are still loving it. Both of them are healthy and are actually beachbody coaches now! Seeing the long term benefits they have experienced was really inspiring. I'm glad I decided to go with the sleeve. Good luck with what ever you choose!!

I have had several people say "Why don't you just diet and work out?" How do you respond to this?? So annoying.

Although I have never been a fan of my body at this size, it seems that after I finally made the decision for WLS my already poor body attitude just went down hill fast. My large stomach frustrates me more, my lack of clothes makes me angry than ever. I finish my 3 month weigh-ins on July 6th and then I will have everything to submit to insurance. I am so annoyed with this body, I'm not sure I can even make it that long!!! I am wondering if anyone else has had these feelings once that decision was made??

Things I cant wait for... - my neck not being as wide as my face...AND losing my triple chin! - having other people hear me breath so loud b/c i'm out of breath - having my wedding ring fit again!! - wearing pants W/O an elastic waist!! - losing the kankles...and gaining ancles! - worrying my fat belly is hanging lower than my shirt!! so many things I CAN NOT WAIT FOR!!!

Hello, I have BCBS Federal, Basic Plan. I am required to show "Evidence of attemed weight loss in the 1 year period prior to surgery have been ineffective". I asked my surgern about it and he said reciepts for gyms, or notes from family doctor would work. But I don't have either of those even though in the last year I have several attempts of losing weight on my own. I was thinking about doing a notarized letter for insurance with a list of attempted diets. Anywone try something like this or something different that worked?? Also how do I prove I have not smoked or been to rehab?? Thank you!!

Question for those of you who have gone through the surgery...how long were you out of work? I work in a correctional facility, and have a desk job, but do have to run sometimes if there is an alarm. Will I need more than a week off? Thank you!

For me, I have consistantly gained wait for the past 16 years up to my highest of 272. In February we adopted my son from foster care. In March we were told our son has a biological sister that will be adoptable this summer. I called my parents to tell them how excited I was that we might be getting a baby girl. The first thing my usually very loving father said was "please tell me you are not getting another child, you are too fat to take care of two children". i about fainted and cried for 2 days. At that point, although what my father said was cruel, he was pretty much correct. If I was going to be the mother I wanted to be and that my child(ren) needed, I needed to do something serious. At that point I started researching WLS and am now planning on doing the sleeve. I WILL see my children graduate, get married, etc. I will live for them!