GreenEyes604

At 2 weeks, I was still on full liquids. I wasn't released to move to pureed foods until 3 weeks post op.

Mine sounds pretty close to everyone else. Aside for my co-pays to my surgeon each month, I had to pay a one-time program fee of $500 which covered 2 visits to my nut, my psych eval, and 10 visits to the hospital fitness center whenever I chose to use them. It also covered my first 3 months of surgeon office visits post-op. My insurance paid 100% of everything else.

@@LipstickLady PREACH "J" PREACH!!! This is one of the reasons that I have so much love and respect for you. You, like myself, believe in "keeping it real" and don't have a problem with it. If more people kept it real like you do, there would definitely be a lot less bullshit and a lot less misunderstandings in this world, because EVERYBODY would know where we stand. LOVE YOU TO LIFE GIRL!!!

@@MsBeautyB4&After Thanks sweetheart for the kind words. Its really funny because everyone that has seen that photo says exactly the same thing... I look so much younger... LOL

The waiting game is without a doubt the toughest time during this entire process. However, use this time wisely to read, research, find recipes, test different protein sources, etc. You will find yourself much more comfortable with each step of your process, not to mention it will keep your mind occupied. The time will pass quicker than you can image as long as you keep occupied.

@@LipstickLady see that's why I love you, because you got jokes!

I have UHC and it took them less that 36 hours to approve me from the time my surgeon submitted the paperwork.

First off, I truly believe that real friends tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Having said that, REAL friends are not going to tell you what you need to hear in an insulting or derogatory manner. Telling me something I need to hear by insulting me, degrading me, or putting me down about it, does not in my mind qualify you to be a friend! Not to mention, if you come at me like that, you are more than likely to get your feelings hurt by my response. Now as for the direct comment... I challenge anyone to give me an instance where using the word "fat" is pleasant, positive or complimentary. Go ahead... I'll wait!

My surgeon also required that I attend an informational seminar at the hospital before she would schedule my first appointment.

I had my surgery date a good 5 months before my insurance approved my surgery. My surgeon's office had to put a "tentative" date in the paperwork when they originally contacted the insurance company to make sure that my surgery would be covered before I even started the process. Once I completed my processes, about 4 1/2 months later, my surgeon submitted the final paperwork again to the insurance company, I was approved for surgery less than 48 hours later, and my surgeon confirmed a final surgery date within a couple of days. My tentative date was Dec. 16th, and I actually had my surgery on Dec. 12th.

What screws us up most in life is the picture we have in our head of how things are supposed to be. Sounds to me sweetheart like it's time for you to get out your camera and take a new picture.

People kept telling me that I was losing weight, but when I looked in the mirror I couldn't see it. A good friend of mine told me when I started my journey to be sure to take tons and tons of pictures, and whenever I needed motivation to put an old one and a recent one side by side. So a couple of days ago I did just that, and boy oh boy was I shocked! I still have a long way to go, but at least I can see progress!

I take and love Flintstone Chewables. They come in 4 different flavors, and are really good to me.

Your post is very interesting, but I totally disagree with you. I have been using unjury for the past 3 months, and here are my reviews: chocolate Splendor - I don't like this flavor at all. It has a chalky chocolate taste to me, and I just can't get past that. Chocolate Classic - The Chocolate Classic is by far the best one to me. It has the soft chocolate flavor that I like, and it really does taste like chocolate milk. Vanilla - I agree that the vanilla is just so-so. I could never drink it just plain. I always had to mix it with some other flavoring. I bought quite a few bottles of DaVinci and Torani sugar free flavorings, and they have been a life saver. strawberry Sorbet - I didn't care for this flavor at all. It doesn't taste like Strawberry at all, and it too has that chalky taste. chicken Soup Flavor - The chicken soup flavor is actually very good if you use it correctly. You can use this with extremely hot Water, as long as the water stays under 140 degrees. It makes an excellent chicken broth on its own, but is even better when mixed with the broth from Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup and a bit of water. Unflavored - This is the most versatile flavor all them all. Mixed properly (not all at one time), it dissolves extremely well. It takes on the flavor of anything you mix it with and is an excellent way to get your Protein in. I mix it with Jello, popsicles, Soups, shakes, and anything else I want.

@@wannaBthinsoon I too have UHC. I had my surgery on Dec. 12th. Their bariatric group is absolutely the best to work with. They assigned a bariatric case manager to me that followed my case through the entire approval process. I was approved on my first submission. Whatever case manager you are assigned will also follow you monthly through the first 6 months post op to make sure that you're not having any problems, and everything is going well. I'm very happy I have UHC. They have truly taken a lot of stress out of this process for me.

@@LipstickLady That's my girl!

My surgeon told me "NO" on fruit. It has too much natural sugar and really doesn't give you anything valuable. She said I can't even add them to my protein shakes.

I hate one prior to surgery, and one everyday I was there (4 days). I was also sent home with 12 injections of Novanox that my daughter injects into my belly once a day for 12 days.

I had to do a semi liquid for 7 days (2 Protein shakes per day, and one very light meal). Then I had to do 14 days of pure liquids. The first 3 days of the liquid were the toughest. You get irritable and sometimes angry because you want more food. After that it was smooth sailing until around day 11. Something hit me that day and I was so hungry I wanted to eat the furniture! Somehow I managed to make it through that day, and the last few days I had no problems. Just take one day at a time, and if that's too much sometimes, take it one hour at a time. The end result is definitely worth it.

I drink OptiSource. It comes in Caramel and Strawberry flavors. It was the protein drink they gave me at the hospital and I loved it. It's pre-mixed and comes in a little carton. I know you said you're not a fan of powders, but I think the Unjury brand is absolutely amazing!

The exact same thing is happening to me. I have my 7 day post op appointment tomorrow, so I will be asking my dr. tomorrow.

You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else. There will always be people in this world who will say really ignorant stuff due to their lack of proper upbringing, lack of education, lack of empathy, or just down right STUPID! Don't EVER let anyone steal your joy! You are a SUCCESS! Don't take others' negative affirmations into your spirit. Don't let ludicrous comments take any of your power. Haters are gonna hate, and stupid people are just gonna be stupid! Consider the source and keep it movin'. You do not have to defend your life decisions to anyone, so don't give them your power. People do and say ignorant things to and about me all the time. I just look at them, laugh and say to myself... "Thank God that I'm not like them!"

Hi Ashley….. my name is Michelle. I live in Aspen Hill and Dr. Cook is also my surgeon. She will be doing my sleeve this coming Friday. Dr. Cook is absolutely FABULOUS! I am so blessed and fortunate to have found her. I would be more than happy to talk with you anytime. Send me a private message and I'll gladly send you my telephone number. Hope to hear from you soon!

It wasn't difficult for me at all. I gave up soda a very long time ago.

My surgeon told me to say good-bye to soda for the rest of my life.