Bellasarrah

I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WILL NOT BE HAVING GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY...THE INSURANCE HAS DENIED ME ONCE AGAIN SAYING I ONLY HAD THE LAPBAND FOR 2 YEARS...AND IVE HAD IT FOR THREE...AND THE TRUTH IS RIGHT NOW ITS NOT BOTHERING ME OR MY HEALTH IF IT STARTS TO THEN I WILL HAVE IT REMOVED END OF STORY. I REALLY DONT WANT ANOTHER STORY... I LOST 80 LBS WITH THE BAND AND I WILL WATCH WHAT I EAT AND BE MORE MOBILE AND ACTIVE...I HAVE MADE THIS DECISION AND IT WAS HARD. I REALIZE THAT I WILL NEVER BE SKINNY I WILL ALWAYS BE ME EITHER YOU ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM NOR YOU DONT I AM AT THE AGE WHERE I DONT CARE. ITS ABOUT ME ACCEPTING ME FOR ME AND THATS HARD SOMETIMES....BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DO

I was scheduled to have surgery on 06/25/14 but had to cancel because I am anemic and my hemotolgist said NO!!!! Not till we find out why I am anemic...I was all ready to go in my head and then bam! Now I call my Drs office to see if I can schedule surgery again which I did 07/28/2014...but here's the kicker my insurance co denied me Empire BC/BS said I was non compliant in what I ate... how the hell do they know what I put in my mouth. My ddoctor is going to talk to them have a peer to peer meeting and hopefully I can get approved for the surgery. I don't know how much more I can take...It seems as if I am getting bigger by the moment. I try not to eat but I keep doing it. Has anyone else been denied then approved? Please let me know. Thank you!

Thats the day I get my revision from lap-band to sleeve. I am nervous...I am excited...I hope I have the strength to go through it. I have to see the hemotologist first as I may need to get Iron infusions cause I am very anemic...I hope that everything works out...crossing fingers

I KNOW THAT I WILL MOST LIKLY BE ON LIQUIDS FOR A FEW WEEKS. WHAT KINDS OF PROTIEN SHAKES DO YOU LIKE? WHAT IS YOUR FAV FLAVOR & OTHER DRINKS WOULD I BE ABLE TO DRINK SUGAR FREE ICED TEA & KOOLAID SUCH AS WYLERS. ALSO BROTH AS IN NOTHING IN IT RIGHT? I WANT TO GET ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW. AND DO YOOU MIX YOUR SHAKES WITH WATER OR MILK? TELL ME PLEASE!

It seems that I will be getting sleeved in JUNE. I am excited to start life again but I am scared. I found out recently that I have parkinsons & sleep apnea. I am hoping that by shedding the weight the sleep apnea will heal itself...as for the parkinsons all I can do is take it one day at a time and take my meds. I know that I will be alright. But I am still a little scared...I love food...I know I will be able to eat small amounts at a time but what if the things I loved dont love me back after surgery? I think I just have to adjust my head and thinking. THIS IS WHATS GOING TO BE BEST FOR ME...I keep telling myself. So here's a question what foods did you love before surgery and can you still eat them...has anything become your favorite after surgery?

I was just diagnosed with Parkinsons and am still planning on having the sleeve. I am wondering if there are anyone else out there who has Parkinsons & had the sleeve. Thank you

SO I HAD THE FIRST PART OF MY APPOINTMENTS ON THE 25TH AND THE DREW BLOOD...MY WHITE CELL COUNT IS THROUGH THE ROOF...IM ANEMIC AS HELL...NOT TO MENTION MY B12 IS LOW AS LOW CAN GET. I GO SEE MY GENERAL PHYSCIAN ON MONDAY I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT...CAUSE I NEED TO HAVE THIS SURGERY...CROSSING FNGERS AS MIND RUNS WILD...

FIRST APPOINTMENTS DONE SAW THE SHRINK...NUTRITIONIST & HAD BLOOD DRAWN...LOST 4 POUNDS WHICH MADE ME VERY HAPPY. NEXT MONTH ROUND 2 ON MY ROAD TO THE SLEEVE. WAS HOPING THAT I WOULD HAVE A DATE BUT iM SURE EVERYTHING IN ITS TIME. NEXT MONTH ISNT HERE FAST ENOUGH. I AM EXCITED AND SCARED ABOUT THIS JOURNEY BUT I HAVE FAITH THAT I WILL BE FINE. FOUND OUT liquids FOR 2.5 WEEKS & NOT 4 WHICH MADE ME HAPPY!

Will I still have cravings....for peanut butter & chocolate....& I am not a chocolate lover by anymeans but put peanut butter with it and ahhhh need my reeses. Also I heard of this thing called dumping what is it and will it happen with this surgery. WHat have been your highs and lows let me know I am wondering....

HOW SOON AFTER THE SLEEVE CAN YOU FLY? i AM HOPING TO HAVE THE SLEEVE IN APRIL AND TO GO TO SAN DIEGO IN JULY.

The 25th isnt coming soon enough as thats when I see all the doctors for my conversion surgery. I have all these questions running around in my head... 1- WILL 10 days be enough to be out? I am a clerk and sit most of the day... 2-WILL there be much pain? If so do I get pain meds to take @ home? 3- WILL I be able to survive 4 weeks on liquids? WILL my insurance cover protien shakes? 4- I've watched the gastric sleeve surgery on tv and I see they use staples...WHERE do they go? 5- WILL they go in through my lapband scars to remove the band and do the conversion? 6- I am a stomach sleeper how will I sleep now? 7- WILL I be able to take my medicine at night? As I have 3 pills I take everynight? I know I will be asking my doctor some of these questions but thought I could get insight from those who have been there.

Goodluck....I know this is an exciting time. As I am going through the same thing.

I have my see all the neccasery doctors appointment 03/25/14 and then the paperwork goes off to the insurance company for my conversion. I am like hurry up hurry up cause I believe that day we set up a surgery date. I am super nervous and I hope that I am strong enough to go through this...I watch shows on TLC were they are 600+ pounds and have surgery and I see what they go through I am not that heavy but I am still scared a little. I admit I like food and I hope I have the strength to make it through the weeks of just liquids. Any advice out there to possibly help get over this hurdle. Thank you...

Yesterday I went and saw my dr and said YES! I want the conversion from my non-working lapband. I go back on the 25th and see the psycactrist (pardon my spelling) have blood work talk with the nutritionist...and then they submit to my insurance. I sent the letter to my generall physcian today for her to write to my bariatric doctor. I am getting excited...I am getting scared. What if my insurance EMPIRE BC/BS doesn't approve me...what am I going to do? Just had to get this out of my head...

I am pretty sure that I am going from the lapband which failed me to the sleeve. And I am wondering if there are any foods that I CAN'T have....

GOOD LUCK !!!!

Can anyone recommend a book to read about gatric sleeve? Thank you~!

I just found out that my band isn't working. I've had it for 3 years and have lost 80lbs gained some back and am having a hard time loosing. I am thinking about getting the sleeve...I am pretty sure that I am going to get this surgery but am scared. Wondering of there is someplace I can find maybe a penpal who has gone through the same thing. thank you

I am in the pre pre stages of lap band I have to see my regular physcian and I am sure that she will say yes to the procdure and a week later I see Dr.Artuso for my first consultation. And I am looking for anyone who is willing to answer my questions as I have many. I have ordered a book that I am sure will help me. Thank you.

Well I just had my consultation with Dr. Artuso and the ball is rolling. If you;d like to chat you can email me at Bellasarrah825@msn.com. By the way my name is Sarah nice to meet you

Just wondering if anyone has had Dr. Artusa who is in St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie NY? PLease let me know your experience whether it was good or bad.

How long does it usually take from your first consultation to seeing the shrink and dietician to actually having the surgery.