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You were in my thoughts today. Please let us know how you're doing as soon as you feel up to it.

I'd call and schedule an appointment with the surgeon in the next couple of weeks. I would not set this up through the insurance lady, but the office coordinator. You could say it's to discuss your surgery options (I'm assuming this surgeon does more than vsg) and at the appointment explain yourself to the surgeon and what you need. Also, you may want to postpone or cancel your surgery date and let them know that you still aren't sure if insurance will cover. Maybe call another surgeon, talk with their staff and explain the problem...maybe you'd be better off?? Good luck!

Being nervous is very normal. I did not do a liquid diet, so have no suggestions there. My pre-op blood work showed I had a Vitamin D deficiency (18), so I took 10,000 IUI's of Bariatric Advantage Vitamin D (although a capsule, it's made for us so it dissolves before it hits our stomachs). I also used chewable Multivitamins, a sublingual b12, and my surgeon wrote me a prescription for solutab Prevacid (melts on your tongue). Check with your surgeon/nutritionist though because all of my Vitamins were based specifically on me. Good luck and keep us posted!

Welcome to VST! There are members here who have had both and I'm sure will chime in with the differences, but obviously they've revised to the sleeve, from the band, so for them I'd venture to guess there are more positives with the sleeve. I started my wls process looking and planning to get the band as well. I started reading the complication's forum on lapbandtalk.com and decided the band wasn't the best thing for my life. I won't talk about the negatives with the band or other wls (you can read the complication's forums on both lapbandtalk and obesityhelp.com) because I've never had it, but I will share with you how I thought the sleeve would be a good fit for me. -I still have a completely functioning stomach and can take pills; I'm only 30 and didn't want to restrict myself in case I needed specific medications later in life. -It's permanent; I do not ever want to gain the weight back (I realize that this is only a tool and I do have to make some permanent lifestyle changes). -I do not have to worry about extra supplementation due to malabsorption. -I do not have to worry about continuous follow-up care (fills and unfills). -At 7 months out, I now live a very normal, active life! Not saying that other procedures aren't as good. This procedure just matched my life best, and it has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

Good luck Kelly! I didn't quite believe it would really be the last time for me to lose the weight (I've never been able to keep it off before), but after going through this journey...I KNOW it's gone for good.

I am so sorry for your loss.

I had to bring my CPAP machine to surgery and they had it handy to put on me right after surgery. I believe it was put on in the recovery room (but don't know for sure, but I think this is what they said would happen). I know that I had difficulty breathing when they first moved me to my room (the first time I remember being awake after surgery) and the nurse told me to hold on as she fit the CPAP machine on me (it had fallen off?). My surgeon required a sleep study before surgery that I thought was just silly. The technician that night did not have me do the second part of the study--sleeping with the mask--because he wasn't sure that I had enough episodes that night to warrant it. But after my data was gone over I had to go back in for a second night with all those wires...it was horrible to have to do two nights. So if you do a sleep study, you may want to ask them to do both parts of the test in one night if possible. Good luck!

Congratulations on your loss and wonderful outlook on life! You are going to have a blast on your upcoming trips (and possibly shopping for those trips???). Keep us posted.

I started eating turkey jerky when on the soft food stage. I got the Trader Joe's teriyaki flavored and it was so soft and easy to chew. The only thing I had to watch out for were the carbs (because of the teriyaki flavoring), but I thought it was a great source of protein. I started beef jerky when on regular foods. I love jerky! I still use it for protein and on the go meals.

Very little. It depends on you, but I had had surgery the January before (my first) and discovered I didn't really use anything. I brought (I think): lotion, chap stick, comfy dress to wear home (mine was in August), flip flops to wear home, and slippers

Welcome John! I'm glad you've found us, keep us posted on how your journey progresses.

You're already on your way, but I'm thinking positive thoughts for you!!! Let us know how it went when you feel up to it.

Sounds like you're learning to live normally with your sleeve. Congratulations on the weight loss!

CONGRATULATIONS! You've done so well in such a short time. Thank you for sharing your journey so far.

Congratulations! That is a great victory!!!

Excellent job!!!

Welcome to VST! You have a similar story to many who have wls. My surgeon wasn't the most experienced with the sleeve either and had had one major leak before me that had him start oversewing the staple line. But he had other things important to me in a surgeon...number one being he was covered by BLIS (complications insurance for wls). I was also self-pay to the tune of $19,000 and my (and husband's) big concern were for complications during or after surgery, we really didn't want to see our savings wiped out in part or whole. As for the anxiety, speak to your surgeon about this. I guess there is a prescription that he can give you to take before coming to the hospital (the nurse informed me that I should have done that when I was shaking so bad from nerves as she was trying to start my IV). Good luck and keep us posted!

Good luck this weekend Laura! Doctors know quite a bit, BUT NOT everything, I feel we know our bodies best and are able to use their expertise and knowledge with what we know to make the healthiest decisions. By the way, I think 53 pounds is an excellent weight loss!

Congratulations!!!!!!! This is definitely the right forum to announce your terrific weight loss, exercise, and attitude victories. I hemmed and hawed over my goal and ended up using one higher than my surgeon recommended. I still toy with the idea of getting to his (about 6 pounds from where I am today), but I'm really happy at this weight. Good luck with the rest of your loss to -100 pounds. That's amazing!!!

Funny you should post this. I actually have gained back 3 pounds and am not bummed at all, I'm back at 144. I was trying to gain (for once in my life). I'm also a size 6 and really would like to maintain between 140-148 lbs. to keep in this size. My blood pressure issues have been much better this week too. I'm back to working out 6 days a week and with that comes drinking a lot more water.

You should be proud...awesome job!!!!!!!!! Just think how much better shape you'll be in come summer with this type of a workout.

I think the literature my doctor gave me said 65% EWL was averaged with the sleeve. I think at my last follow up appointment he mentioned that my 100% wl would be a bmi of 22.5, and that is not my goal...so that might mean people like me (who want to stay at a higher bmi) bring the percentage down?? I'll try to look through the materials I was given because this could be way off or maybe someone else will be a little more knowledgeable.