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Way to go. That is awesome. Keep up the good work. Isn't it amazing how now working out is a good, fun thing.

Congratulations. Waiting for insurance approval can be very nerve wracking. It does sound like the original denial was a blessing. You just never know how things will work out. I hope everything go swimmingly from here on out.

I, like most people on here, researched all options before deciding on VSG. I actually ended up having to change surgeons because my first surgeon will not do VSG, states it is still experimental. (they are a teaching hospital and I think it is just not in their current curriculum). I went with VSG because I really did not like the idea of having my bowels rerouted and the possible problems associated with that. I did not want to have dumping syndrome. After all my research VSG just seemed like a duh kind of decision to me personally. Most people lose as much weight with VSG as with RNY, just a little slower, but at 1-2 years are at the same point. I had my surgery in January and just had my 12 week post op this week. I have lost 52 pounds and am 1/2 way to goal. I am soooo glad I went with this option. Just do your research and you will have to go with the procedure that makes sense to you. I have friends who have had RNY and have done fabulously.

The reason there is a tablet inside is because it is time released. When you take the capsule, the crystals dissolve quicker and work quicker, while the little tablet takes longer to dissolve and thus to absorb. That is how it lasts 24 hours. Doing it the way you are you are not going to get 24 hours of relief. You did not say how far out from surgery you are. As soon as ok'd it is best to just take the capsule whole to get the 24 hour coverage.

Yeah, I am so excited. I had my 12 week post op this week. I am officially half way to goal. I can't believe it has happened this fast. I am sure it will really slow down at any point. Well, it has not really been quick so far, just steady. That is all way new to me though, so really happy about it.

Good for you Kelly. It helps that you have done so well on pre-Good luck next month. Keep up up to date on how you are doing.

Well, I am taking your word for it. I just ordered it from Amazon. They do have some used copies for about $10.

Congrats Katmagmom and Samantha. Welcome to the losers bench. Yes, every day should be a little better. Until you are so freaking great you just don't know what to do with yourself.

I have never heard that. Ask the dietician at your surgeon's office or hospital. Please post the answer though. Enquiring minds and all that.

You are seriously very funny. We really need to hang out. I have long felt the same way about Womens First. Every week is a new diet to make us all feel like we should be on one, even for those of us who don't. Mandalas are a very good use of down time. Generally relaxing. It does get better. If your steristrips should have fallen off 6 days ago, they can go. (I am a nurse, not just making this up). They usually only stay on for a week or so. If you are past that, let them go. They should not have job security. The energy usually comes up when you can get enough Protein in. Once the weight really starts falling off, it will really jump up. Congrats though and keep up the good work.

My BMI was only 43 (haha funny to now be able to say only 43). Anyway, no you are not crazy. This is a way to reduce those co-morbidities. It will make suregery tougher on the surgeon, but in the long run this surgery will make life way easier on you and your body. I know there are lots of people on here who have improved both blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis, if not totally gotten rid of them. I am now off both my metformin and my blood pressure medication. I don't know about the lupus or the copd. It can only help your joints though. I was off my meds by about 4 weeks post op. You will be surprised how quickly things start to improve. One benefit to having a higher BMI is that you will see your weight drop off quicker than those of us who had not quite so high ones. Don't be scared. It sounds like you would have to have surgery anyway. This is just like a bonus one that will decrease the chances of having to go through any of it again later. I would not change my sleeve for anything. It is the best decision I have ever made. Good luck and keep us up to date on your progress.

Thanks ladies. I have gotten so much information and inspiration from this forum. I don't know that I would have had the courage to have my surgery without it.

Getting ready to move to Salado (between Austin and Waco) .

I tried the Centrum chewables and hated them. Then the Flinstones chewables, they were ok. Currently I am using the Target brand adult gummies. It is not the preferable one I know, but in my opinion it is better to be getting them down every day than forcing and forgetting the others. They do not have quite as many minerals as the others, but the proper amounts of most of the vitamins and minerals my doctor was concerned about.

Diva, First of all I would recommend you need to cut yourself some slack. You are right, it is not good to be cheating on the post op diet. Mainly because you don't want to mess up your staple lines. You can't expect yourself to be suddenly able to not have food issues just because you are no longer hungry. It does really help, but it does not instantly fix all our food issues. I still think about food. A lot. I just now if I really feel the need for something, I can only eat a little bit of it. My hubby brought home a cupcake yesterday. Sugar has always been a really biggie for me. I had two little bites of the cupcake and he ate the rest of it. I could feel bad about it, but why. I have lost 50 pounds and am loosing more every week. I used to would have eaten 2 cupcake instead of 2 little bites. That is not something to feel bad about , in my opinion. Should I eat sugar on a regular basis, no. Will it really hurt to occasionally have a small amount, again no. You are going to have to figure out how to quit being so hard on yourself. It will be much easier when you can eat regular food. You can look forward to meals and cooking. You will just eat a tiny amount. There are so many good things you will be able to eat guilt free in another couple of weeks. Try to hand in there and be proud of how far you have come. You have taken your issues into your hands and done something about it. That is something to be proud of.

That is wonderful Keep up the good work.

I think most people have stalls. You body has been through a lot. I think your metabolism has to adjust. When I stalled, I was still losing inches. Are you measuring yourself.

That is wonderful Yolonda. Congratulations on the hard work.

There are also studies that show that people who utilize supports groups and forums (like this one) do almost twice as well after surgery and with maintenance.

It is a six month time frame Cigna is concerned with. They want you to be seen at least once a month, so I guess it would be six pieces of dictation. You can be doing the other requirements while you are waiting for time to move on though. The psychologist, etc. Cigna was pretty quick once my packet was sent to them, FYI. I think it only took them about 3 days to send my approval back to my surgeon after they got my documentation.

Congratulations on making this decision. I have to say that you are right in how people take the information you are giving out. The first surgeon I saw was significantly overweight and, as much as I hate to say it, it was a factor in my deciding on a different surgeon. I felt that if he could not follow the guidelines he was giving me, what did that say about him. I am a nurse and I know that I have felt bad trying to give any lifestyle advice to patients, thinking they were judging me on my weight. Who was I to advise them when I could not do so for myself. Good luck on your journey.

I think we all had those feelings before surgery. I had spent years losing and regaining the same 50 pounds, gain a few more until at 43 I was 270 pounds. I could not do the roller coaster any more. It is horrible on your body and your spirit. I am now 6 weeks out, down 34 pounds and thrilled. If you were not fully thinking things through, it would not be good. This is a major, life changing decision and should be looked at as such. This is not the "easy way out" . It was the ONLY WAY, for me at least.

I think it is very normal to have fears. I know I did. I did not have to leave my husband to fly away, but I had the sames thoughts when he left me in the pre-op area. I just kept telling myself that the chances of something going wrong in surgery were way less than the chances of something happening to me if I did not have the surgery. Don't be afraid. This surgery was much easier than I had myself worked up for it to be. It is still surgery and the first few days were a little rough, but not nearly as bad as my imagination. I am now 1 month out and so glad I did this. I now weight less than I ever have in 15 years. Good luck and let us know how things are going.

Margaret, FYI, I have CIGNA and my approval took like 2 days once my packet went in.

Also, only being 4 days out, the narcotics will really cause constipation. Time will help usually.