shangefan

Congrats! You are clearly gonna be a success tory. Did you lose all 51 pounds during the 28-day pre-surgery diet?

You will do great! My doctor has me doing only five days, but I know everyone is different. Before you know it, you won't even want those food items!

Congrats!

Wow, Neese! That is amazing. Congrats on your wonderful success! You are right to show it off.

Well, I learned today that my insurance, CareFirst BCBS, has an exclusion for bariatric surgery. I am totally frustrated. In 2009, I was in a different job with different insurance that had no coverage, so I paid cash for a band. It worked well for a year, at which time I moved to another city. I got off track and never recovered. I have now regained 40 of the 60 pounds I had lost -- and I already was not at goal. The band is simply not working for me and my doc recommended a revision to the sleeve. Now I find out the insurance won't pay. I paid $11K for the band (which feels like a waste of money) and i just can't pay that kind of money again. So I guess I will look at the possibility of going to Mexico. All of the accounts I have seen from people who went there are positive. I guess I am really just venting because I am super disappointed. I had planned a trip to Hawaii for later this summer, but I think I need to cancel that and shift the money to pay for the surgery.

I am definitely a bit nervous but I am more afraid of not doing it. I am 42 and have been on BP meds since my mid-20s! I am scared to death of diabetes, which both of my parents and most of their siblings have. My mother experienced heart and kindney failure as a result of long-term high blood pressure and ended up having a heart and kidney transplant. Several of her siblings have had heart attacks or kidney failure. My father's side of the family also has high blood presure and high rates of cancer. My parents are not and have never been obese. So genetics are not in my favor. Given that, I definitely need to lose the weight and do everything I can to counteract them. I want to get rid of the blood pressure meds and avoid any of the other stuff. All of that is to say that you will do fine. I think the nervousness is normal but you clearly made an informed decision. Now you just need to trust yourself.

Congrats Browneyedsoulja! Glad all is going so well!

Congrats Furby! I am so jealous of all of you June sleevers! I don't go until July 9. In actuality, though, I know the time is going to fly by.

MamaM, don't feel bad about the band experience. Keep looking to the good things ahead. That is teh decision I had to make because I was totally pissed about the bad band experience. And congrats that your insurance is going to take good care of you through this.

As someone who is undergoing revision from lapband to the sleeve, I definitely would not advocate for the band. But you should get all of the information you can because it might be the right choice for you.

I love this idea! Make it an experience so that it isn't about the food. I am taking this one!

I actually never thought about surgery in Mexico until I started reading about it on this forum. Then I realized it makes perfect sense. I am a former journalist, so I knew that medical tourism is big; I just had never thought of partaking in it. Kisha, you are gonna do great!

Hi Shoe_Vixen, Best wishes for tomorrow. I know all will go splendidly.

I understand your desire to buy new stuff right now. I have regained much of the weight I lost after my lapband. I got rid of most of my clothes when I lost that weight so I now have very little to wear. I am always tempted to buy new stuff but I have convinced myself that I do not want to invest in any clothing at my current size. If I do, it will definitely be pieces from the Goodwill or someplace very inexpensive like that. For folks buying clothes as you decrease, I know that the discount stores are favorites, but I just want to say that Macy's is a great option, too. They constantly have sales and there are always ways to get additional discounts (through coupons or by using your Macy's card). I have found that shopping strategically there, I get basic items as inexpensively as in many discount stores. I have no investment or special relationship to Macy's; I am simply speaking from my experience as a clothes horse. And I can't wait to actually enjoy clothes again.

Prayers for you!

Yay Donna! I hear you. I keep counting the days, which I know is ridiculous! Where are you coming from Donna? I am in the DC area.

Interesting thread. I think all of the reasons are true. I am fortunate that my family is very supportive. They were totally with me during the lapband surgery and everything that followed. Now that I am doing the revision to the sleeve, I am undecided about telling them. I think I want to wait until I have some success. I have several friends who have had WLS -- although most have had gastric bypass -- and they are supportive. What they ARE NOT supportive of is my decision to have the surgery done in Mexico. But I am clear that I have made an informed choice and a decision that is right for me. So I am moving ahead. I actually plan to go alone because I dropped the subject after folks reacted badly. I also have people in my life who are obsessed with the gym and bodies. I have no intention to mention the surgery to them, even though I am sure they will start to ask questions when I start losing weight.

Coops, I agree! You are looking good!

Congrats!

Congrats Bentley Jade! That is about a week after me. I go on July 9, which seems like a long time from now, although it really is not. Congrats SDB1147!

What a nice birthday! Congrats!

That is great! Congrats!

Work dying2Bhealthy! That's what I'm talking about!

MamaM, There are a number of folks here who have revised from band to sleeve. I actually am doing the same in July. It is incredibly frustrating because I think we all went into the band situation with great expectations. The good news is that the success rate with the band seems to be much higher. I think you are right to get as much info as you can. You are gonna do great.

That is wonderful! And just think: this is only the beginning. Wonderful things are in store!