weightnomore

Hi, I am in the western part of Northern Virginia. My brother and his family live in Richmond. Are you having your surgery at Bon Secours? I had my one on one nutrition consultation on Monday and she said the doctor did not mark down any pre-surgery weight loss goal for me. She thinks I will not have to do any pre-surgery diet. What a relief. I guess it is because my BMI is on the low end. I will be on liquids for two weeks after surgery and mushies for 6 weeks. I'm getting more and more excited.

I am having my surgery in Early December and am a little concerned because I am a very fast eater. Even when I concentrate on eating slowly, I don't seem to slow down very much. Was anyone out there a fast eater before surgery and how did you deal with the change after the sleeve?

Thanks for all the great tips. I think I already have the small utensils, so I will definitely try to use them. Reading during eating is a good idea, too.

Thanks for your reply! I think it would drive me crazy to time myself between bites. Like being in stop and go traffic when all you want to do is sail through. I don't love the super-mushy feeling of well-chewed food in my mouth, either (this is going to be a problem!), however, if I concentrate on the crunchyness instead, and chewing on the crunchy parts, I'm okay--as stupid as that sounds. I'm looking at the whole surgery thing as having to discipline myself to do certain things because I have no choice. Like wearing a seat belt because it is the law--I knew it was the right thing to do before, but if I didn't have to, I sometimes didn't.

You are funny about keeping your stomach in a jar. The only thing that would do for me is keep me from eating even more. That does not appeal to me at all! I've never heard of having a recording of your procedure. Here in America everyone is so afraid of lawsuits, they probably don't allow video taping--at least not to give to the patients. My insurance will not pay for the procedure unless it is done at a "Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence" meaning they have to have certain standards and certain programs in place. I will only be in the hospital for two days, though. They send you home early in the US--too expensive to keep you longer. I have been dealing with hair loss for quite a while myself as I have been having thyroid issues. Even though I see alot of hair in the shower and bathroom sink, and I have less volume, I still have quite a bit left--no bald spots or anything. I did start to take biotin (I was told to get a high dose (500mg, I think) and I have seen an improvement. I wish I knew where my grandmother was from. A cousin did some geneolgy research a few years ago, but I don't believe she went back as far as that. Let me know how things go for you! Anne

Glad to hear I will have a sleeve sister! My grandmother was English, though the family line goes back to the American Revolution. I have two nutrition visits in November for info and counseling on what I will be able to eat, then I have an appt. with the Dr. on Nov. 18th and he will tell me then if I need a pre-op diet or not. My husband and best friend will be helping me the first few days at home. I am convinced that this is the solution for me, but yet I am a little nervous about the permanance of it, and if I will be dissapointed that I can't eat more. I am a very fast eater, so slowing down and chewing will be a difficult thing for me. My surgery will be at 7:30 am EST, which would be 12:30 pm your time. (I am in Virginia.)

My surgery date is December 7th. Anyone scheduled on or near that date? I figure I'll be able to decorate the house and do my shopping beforehand, then be in pretty good shape by the time Christmas rolls around.

Yes, I agree with you. My husband was actually under a dermatologist's care, who didn't think his lesion was cancerous. So during the time the doctor was giving him creams and shots, my husband was researching and taking supplements. When it didn't go away, after about 5 visits, the doctor finally did a biopsy. Needless to say, we will not use that doctor again.

Thanks, Tiffykins. I have seen your many posts on this site, as I have been looking here for a long time. It is nice to know that you are a believer, too. I do think that some of my husbands issues are from fear of what could go wrong, and possibly, what if I start looking better to other men, will I be tempted to leave him? So I don't want to stop what I know in my heart is right for me based on some unfounded fears and lack of understanding of the issues. It just upsets me and gives me pause when he is not 100% behind it (God's checks and balances, so to speak).

Thanks for your reply, feedyoureye. My husband had prostate issues recently, so he started into natural methods of getting that under control which worked for him, so he is big on that approach. However her also had skin cancer and when green tea and all the other things he took didn't work, he did have it surgically removed. There are too many people out there that desperately want to be thin and who diet constantly and are still overweight. It is our bodies working against us, so I want to circumvent my bodies natural weight gain plan with surgery!

I am new here and hoping my insurance will cover the sleeve. Right now I am going through the pre-certification list. I am seeing a nutritionist which I need to self-pay for since it is not covered. I was wondering what others experience was with your psych evaluation. Did your insurance cover it? Also, is it a one visit deal? I have BCBS of Texas.

Thanks for your answers. I will be making that psych appt. this week. Hoping it is covered.