Tiffykins

My daily menu is pretty varied because I'm below goal and trying to maintain. I hate most breakfast food so I don't typically eat until 9-10am. I eat deli meat with cheese or I'll have some leftovers. Like we had rotissere chicken a couple nights ago, yesterday I made a simple chicken salad out of the leftover breast meat and that was breakfast. I don't typically snack. If I do snack, I try to make it a decent snack. I haven't ever been a big sweets eater. I prefer salty crunchy. I enjoy Garden Salsa multi-grain Sun chips. I'll have 6-8 Sun Chips and be completely satisfied. For lunch, I eat out 1-3 times a week. I had Beef Pad Thai this week for lunch 3 days this week. I eat just about anything and everything. I had blackened chicken alfredo with penne Pasta this week as well for lunch on Tuesday. I had about 1/3 of the chicken breast, and several bites of the pasta. I love tuna and chicken salad on crackers. dinner is whatever I make for the family. Includes at least 3-4oz of Protein (chicken or venison), a few bites of green Beans, or a small salad, and I eat potatoes a few times a week with dinner. I buy a lot of the Green Giant Steamer bags of veggies. We use those quite a bit during the week for dinner. I'm trying to learn to maintain. My nutritionist told me I have to increase my healthy carb and fat counts. I'm getting in around 900 calories with 50 grams of carbs, 60-70 grams of protein. I've been hoovering between 145-147 this last week after upping my calories. I am really happy at 145-148 (150 was my goal), and want to maintain. I need to find the right balance for me. I do occasionally treat myself with Snickers miniatures. I am never hungry. I typically eat because I know I have to eat not because I'm actually hungry. I pretty much knew once I got to goal that I would be able to maintain. The sleeve really taught me a lot about food. My relationship with food has completely change. I can eat one Snickers miniature and be satisfied. I just don't want another one. It's weird because I used to be able to eat 5-10 of those little boogars, but now it's just a mind over matter thing. I don't think about food the same way. I eat to live instead of living to eat. It's pretty liberating. Of course, any of the WLS can be cheated, or you can sabotage your success. But, I honestly have changed my entire mentality with food and that's why I think it's easier for me to not fall back into old habits. I may struggle with it in the future, but making new habits means stumbling a few times. I am almost 8 months out, and really enjoying a normal life.

So what if you don't like her. She has invaluable research links that are all compiled in one area. Regardless if y'all get along or not, there is no reason to come here and bash her. Especially since she is no longer part of this forum. Hi Pot, Meet Kettle. When people talk about bashing surgeons and experiences, this is a prime example of the pettiness that clogs up the forum, and gives it a bad rep.

Hi Michelle and welcome to VST. Congrats on getting your date scheduled. I'll be looking for updates from you, and if you need anything let us know ! ! !

That is interesting. I had to see an oncologist before my revision due to a clotting disorder. He advised me that by having this surgery I was actually reducing my chances of cancer by a certain percentage (I can't remember the %). I'd be interested in further studies because in all of my research on partial gastrectomies I never stumbled upon one case of adenocarcinoma. I looked this up through the Mayo Clinic, and gastrectomies are not listed as a cause or risk factor for developing gastric cancer. Stomach cancer: Risk factors - MayoClinic.com Webmd.com also does not list gastrectomy as a risk factor or cause: Stomach Cancer - Gastric Cancer Symptoms, Treatments, Causes, and Diagnosis Here's an article/study from webmd.com that discusses the increased risk factors of being obese and developing cancer. Looks like the risk from being fat and developing some type of cancer is higher if we remain fat vs. having surgery to help us achieve a healthy weight. Overweight, Obesity Linked to Cancers

I called as well to find out if it's considered a covered procedure. I spoke with a manager in the "covered services" department, and in the claims department. Both confirmed that it's only covered as a procedure at a MTF. The claims department manager said they get 20-30 calls a day for the VSG, but they do not foresee Tricare covering it until Medicare is on board for covering it. It requires the same eligibility requirements as RNY and the Band. The denial can be appealed if you have a medical reason to have the VSG vs. RNY or the Band. For example, the need to take NSAIDS, but many people are not successful appealing through Tricare. I had my revision fully covered here in Florida, and there are several MTF (especially large Navy and Army MTFs) that are offering the sleeve as a covered procedure.

It's actually pretty simple to maintain. I just tease a little bit on the crown on my head, smooth out the ends, and blow dry the sides straight down. 10 minutes tops from start to finish. Thanks everyone ! ! !

Congrats Shontel ! ! ! Onederland is wonderful. . .

Glad it helped ! ! ! I wish the best of luck getting these last steps taken care of, and we'll be waiting for on the loser's bench.

I had it happen once I started Prilosec. It's subsided for the most part, but I know how miserable it feels. Can you find some sugar-free lozenges?

Hope this helps: Re: Ms. XXX (your name) DOB: Your date of birth Dear Sir or Madam: I have been seeing Ms. XXX as a patient since April 29, 2005 and trying to deal with her morbid obesity with diet and exercise programs. With her medical problems and lack of success with any significant weight loss, I am referring her to Dr. Bariatric for weight reduction surgery evaluation. Ms. XXX's height is 5’5” and her weight is 282 lbs making her BMI 46. To my understanding this alone should qualify her as a candidate for the procedure. In addition to morbid obesity, the patient is suffering from low back pain, exertional dyspnea, bilateral lower extremity edema, and headaches. She has already tried numerous weight loss/exercise programs without success including physician monitored weight loss programs w/ medications as well as Weight Watchers Program and other noted programs. She also has a strong family history of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. I am respectfully requesting pre-authorization for bariatric surgery to include the patient’s benefits and coverage. We will send the accompanying documentation. Hopefully, Dr. Bariatric will be able to help her with your assistance. Sincerely, Doctor Name and Signature Doctor's Practice name, address, and phone number

The discomfort does get better as time passes. If you're discomfort with eating and drinking doesn't subside, you really should contact your surgeon for suggestions. Have you tried different temperatures of your liquids? Warm liquids always worked better for me early out. Did you have a hiatal hernia repair with your surgery? Others have described the same thing you are experiencing and it sounds like the spasms they experienced. Maybe getting something to relax your esophagus and/or stomach would help.

I'll be in chat for a bit tonight ! ! !

Hi Kelli, and welcome to VST. First congrats on getting your date set. You can stick to that pre-op diet, just a few more days then it will be a thing of the past ! ! ! Hang in there, we're saving you a seat on the loser's bench. . .

I work out 4-5 days a week. 3 days a week I do isolated(front of the body, back of the body, then extremities smaller muscle groups) strength training. 1 day of intense cardio, and isolated core exercises. I bowl on Wednesdays so that is my "down" day for working out. I'm glad to report that my skin is snapping back much better now that I'm maintaining instead of losing. I don't set goals for the gym. My personality doesn't do well with goals. I haven't been to the gym all week because my husband is on stand-by for Haiti. My mind nor my heart is just not into working out this week. I do specific leg lifts (standing and laying down on the floor with weighted balls),squats, lunges and I haven been focusing on my legs lately since spring time is coming soon. My favorite exercise for my butt, calves, and quads is to take my little 2x4 piece of wood, hang my heels off the edge of the wood, and then roll up on the ball of my feet kind of tippy toeing, clench my thighs and butt, hold for 5-8 seconds, and I do 3 reps of 12. It burns, and feels great. I do this and my ab/core workout 4 days a week. I do not and will not work out on the weekends.

I'm 7.5 post op from band to sleeve, and at goal. Maintaining fairly well, haven't gained any, have lost a couple of pounds this week and not sure why/how. I feel fabulous, and life is really great. I had my labs pulled on 15 January, and my bloodwork is perfect. My "good" cholesterol went up which is an area I struggled with pre-op. It's been amazing journey for me, and I'm elated that I was able to get that band out of my body.

Longhorn. . . You just made my day ! ! ! Thank you sooooooooooooo very much. I love, love my sleeve, and remember nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. That's my new mantra ! ! ! You are so sweet. . . Thank you again.

Okay, I took the plunge today, and chopped off my hair. I went shorter than I had planned, but I love, love, love it. I only had her do the dark in the back and underneath. I absolutely love my hairstyle now. It's sooooooo sassy ! ! ! It's a little bit different than option A, but I truly love, love it.

Sorry, I'm late on getting this out, but I'm so glad you are doing well, and home recovering. Keep on sipping and walking ! ! !

So, do all of the wonderful experiences of said surgeons/facilities need to be verified as well? Because, how can we be sure that they are not "paid posters" or imposters trying to just stir up business with lies. The reason I ask is because is be it seems like even when someone has a legitamate complaint or bad experience the thread is C&D based on an assumption that they are simply out to smear the reputation of a particular surgeon. Why are all the wonderful, sugarcoated, overly satisfied customer/patients not questioned? I don't believe in conspiracy theories, but I do believe the almighty dollar speaks volumes. If someone is padding a man's pocket, that man is going to ensure that it remains padded. Within the thread I had questioned, it was verified that those particular US patients were indeed patients at this facility. The member Time-For-Me verified she spoke with them, and heard the information firsthand. Yet, it was deleted. Would someone have to disclose their own financial statements to prove they were there when said events occurred?

Thanks everyone ! ! ! We're very excited. . . Laura- here's the link for the Lemon Calcet free sample. Calcet Creamy Bites

There's minimal difference between 32 and 40. In a couple of studies, it's been shown that anything smaller than a 32fr runs a higher risk of strictures and esophageal dialation. Here's a cool pic for reference size:

Hi and welcome to the forum. You definitely need to quadruple the water intake, and depending on where you are at in the post-op diet per your surgeon, you may need to get in some more calories. Sounds like your body is holding onto what it has because it needs fuel.

Thanks Snow. . . I've done that before, and I never get a style that really fits my personality. It may look great on my head, but I just can't get a look that really works for "me". I've chosen A with similar coloring in B except the lowlights and peekaboo streaks will be reddish-brown. I go tomorrow at 12:30ish ! ! !