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Update for everyone my coordinator called me today to ask if I knew how much I had to pay for surgery at my pre-op. I told her yes 10% of the procedure since so am in coinsurance phase. She told me that didn’t sound right and to call the hospital they would know for sure. So the hospital said I have the best insurance because all I pay is 300.00 everything else is covered. A little lost I called my insurance asked to speak to someone high up and they too confirmed only 300.00. Like wow! I haven’t even met my out of pocket yet. So thankful I decided to get the more expensive policy for 20 extra bucks a month.

Yes I have met my deductible, but not my oop max just yet. I think I understand you. I am still in my coinsurance phase so I would be paying 10% of my surgery total?

19 in 10 days.

So I started at 284 on Sept. 19 now I'm 216 and cannot seem to go anywhere? Any suggestions on moving forward with my weight? Thanks!

Hello Everyone, So far so good. As of today, I have lost a total of 50 pounds.......WOOOHOOO!!!! I got to tell ya, when you are on this journey, you have to Celebrate the small victories. As each week passes, you may find youself discouraged at times. You can't expect to lose 10 pounds or 8 pounds each week. Some times you lose 8 pounds, some times you lose 2 pounds. The point is that you are LOSING weight. I told myself that I will celebrate when I am in the 250's. Well, I did it! I was 260lbs last week, this week I am 258. I thought I would never see the 250's again, yet here I am. This inspires me to get in the gym and work harder than I have been already. For me, its not enough that I lose the weight, I also want to be healthy and look good in the process. I plan on putting on muscle. Believe you me, my wife appreciates that goal. Anyway......my advice to anyone who needs it is not to be discouraged if you only lose 1 or 2 pounds. Use it as motivation and try to work harder to continue to lose weight and achieve your goals. Celebrate your victories no matter how big or small. Good luck! Kenneth

woo-hoo! it must have felt awesome! sleeved 12-19-11

I've have been stalling so frequently that I have really been down in the dumps lately. These past two months I would lose a few pounds and for the remainder of that week and the next week I would just bounce up and down with the pounds I'd lost on the scales. Then I will lose a few more and do the same thing for two weeks again. It really can be nerve wrecking, but thank goodness I measured in the beginning to let me know that I am progressing no matter what the scales say! These are my measurements and inches lost. 03/18/2011 neck 17.25 arms 19/19 bust 55.5 waist 54 belly button/lower waist 56 hips 59 thighs 35/35 calves 19.25/19.25 06/06/2011 neck 15 (2.25 inches) arms 17/17 (4 inches) bust 48(7.5 inches) waist 46 (8 inches) belly button/lower waist 48 (8 inches) hips 54(5 inches) thighs 29/29 ( 12 inches) calves 17/17 (4.5 inches) You think that you are big now until you look back and see just how BIG you actually were!!! Like a whole 51.25 inches BIGGER..... LOL

My Dr. said early on I should have a BMI of 25 and under. So for me 150-155lbs. I told myself my goal would be 160 first and then go from there. The thing is (and I'm sure you're heard this a million times), everyone's body is so different (body type, size etc). I love that I lost all the weight, plus some, but I am 100% happy at where my weight is now. I'm am currently hoping to tone, and maintain. I'm fine with no more weight loss, and my Dr. said I could stop loosing if I was comfortable with where I was with my weight. I just would look anorexic if I was in a size 5/6 (currently I am a 8/10). That's just me, I just don't have the body type to be super thin. Some people look great, I look like a bobble head.

I took some clothes to the tailor last week and I asked her to take them in fairly tight....she said, "what if you gain weight again?" I said, well, I don't think that will happen and in fact, I'll probably lost 5 to 10 more.....such a nice feeling. Oh, and I reached the top range of my goal weight yesterday!

Transition has been great so far and I'm down 10 more pounds and feel great

Welcome to the other side! You need rest in the beginning but walk if gas attacks you!!! You will feel horrible for 2 days and then start feeling better after that - get some tissue to handle the crying... I thought I would never stop. If you can stand it, walk for 10 minutes every hour.

I have had severe siatica in my left leg and have been taking Gabapentin (Neurotin) for 2 years. It controls the pain and tingling in my leg but I’m left with significant loss of strength in my leg. The neurosurgeon won’t do surgery until I’m down to 250. I just had a sleeve 10 days ago. He thinks that significant weight loss may resolve the whole situation and thus need for surgery. Anyone else had their similar situation be fixed by their weight loss?

Thank goodness. I'm trying to keep my band as long as possible... I'm a bit over 10 years... good days and weeks. And some rejection times.. The weight has stayed off though. Thankfully Please update. And did the er know what to do??

Hi Every 1 I just had surgery on Friday the 23rd. I had diarahha after drinking that liquid (Sat afternoon) for my x-ray which i realize is normal but is it normal to still have it sunday at 10 pm. I have absolutely no desire to drink/eat and i am concerned about becoming dehdydrated. I am feeling that gurgling feeling in my stomach which i am assuming is the air still? Am i doing ok should i be concerned?

I am so disappointed with my Band ..its been 2yrs for me 2nd attempt GLBI cannot excercise due to a spinal condition which affects my feet.. I haVe stayed the same weight for most of this time.. I am abt 100kg 5"4 The weight is just not budging.. the only way I have ever lost it is on LL meal packs..I paid nearly £6000 for this band which went wrong on the first go.. This Journey has been a total disaster.. I am 5.5mls filled in a 10 ml sl band. Any advise would be help I first started in 2009 May..with the Balloon that did not work either THIS WAS FAULTY.. IN BELGIUM i WAS RIPPED OF. SO PLEASE hELP......

Hi all, I was sleeved in January 2011, and my weight has been fairly stable for the past 14 months (unfortunately I didn't hit my ultimate goal, and am not likely to with the level of exercise/diet I am able to realistically maintain). I had been putting off having plastic surgery with the idea of losing the last 10-15 lbs., and finally I have decided to just schedule my first surgery (breast lift/reduction) because the weight is really not coming off despite diet and exercise. I'm going to make a big push to lose as much weight as possible this month (amping up the exercise and cutting daily calories down to <1,000 per day) before my surgery but don't expect to lose more than 3-4 lbs, max. I do wonder, though, what would happen to my results if I were able to lose that final 10 lbs. after having my breast lift surgery. Has this happened to anyone, and what did it do to your results? I obviously don't want to spend $6K on a procedure only to be unhappy with the results six months down the line. Realistically, I don't expect to lose 10 lbs. after surgery, but in case it happened I wondered how it would affect my ta-tas. Any experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated! I am really excited to finally have my first procedure and looking forward to the "next phase" of life after WLS!

5ml = 1 teaspoon So 10-15 ml would be 2-3 teaspoons. Try using a graduated cup, like the ones they give with kids meds or cough syrup. Kitchen teasoons are all different and may not give an accurate measurement. Hope this helps.

So for my surgery I have to go on a two week liquid diet. This consist of sugar free jello, broth, sugar free popsicles (which who doesn't want these in the middle of winter), protein shakes, and 1 protein bar a day. My first protein shake I made was vanilla. The consistency and smell made me gag, no gonna lie. So I doubled the water and I think it is watered down enough for me to handle. I am taking a sip of it and chasing it with water. I am on my second sugar free jello which (oddly enough) not that filling. I know it sounds like I am whining...because I am. BUT I feel like venting it out on my blog is better than taking it out of someone else around me. I have chopped my protein bar into three pieces so I can have one with breakfast lunch and dinner. I feel like this way I can "eat" something with each meal. It is only 10:30 but I am already looking forward to my broth.

I thought this would be a good place for all of us to start posting some band friendly recipes for our group. I pm'd one out this morning in celebration of St. Paddy's Day. So let's share and see how creative we can be to remain focused and reach our goals. My theory is variety in food keeps you from craving the old life style. Edamame Dumplings serves 2 adapted from the Sprouted Kitchen cookbook INGREDIENTS: filling: 1 cup edamame, shelled, cooked, drained a big handful of basil leaves (about 10 big leaves) 3 scallions, white and green parts, coarsely chopped 1/2 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced 1 teaspoon miso paste 1 teaspoon tahini squeeze of lemon splash of sriracha (or to taste) salt, pepper, to taste other ingredients: 18 wonton wrappers (plus a few extra to allow for mess-ups) 1-2 cups pre-made veggie broth, for steaming toasted sesame oil, for drizzling sprouts and sesame seeds, for garnish METHOD: In a food processor, pulse together all of the filling ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings. Don’t over blend, the filling needs to be somewhat chunky. If yours is more watery, add some more edamame or more basil until you get a thicker consistency. Lay half of the wonton wrappers out on your work surface. Set the rest in a pile next to you, along with a small bowl of water for dabbing your fingers in. Spoon about a tablespoon of filling in each. Use your finger to wipe a bit of water on all 4 edges. Place a new wrapper on top and gently press down, adhering each edge. Simmer broth in a medium skillet. Add enough broth so that it covers the bottom of the pan at least an inch deep. Drop wontons in the pan in a single later (you can do this in multiple batches if they don’t all fit. Cover and steam for about 2 minutes or until the wontons are cooked through but still al dente (like pasta). Divide steamed wontons among plates, pour the broth from the pan on top. Drizzle with some toasted sesame oil and garnish with sprouts and sesame seeds. Home made Dumpling Wrappers Ingredients for making dough and wrappers: All purpose flour, 4cups Water, 1.8 cup Salt, 1/3 teaspoon 1. Mix 4 cups of flour, 1/3 teaspoon of salt, and 1.8 cups of water in a large bowl. Mix until you get a smooth dough. 2. Cover the bowl with a cling film and let the dough rest for at least 10 minutes. 3.Remove the dough to a clean flat surface. Cut it into 20 equal pieces. 4. Use your hand to gently pound a piece of dough into a small circular disc, then use a rolling pin to roll each piece into a circular wrapper about 3 inches in diameter. 5. The wrappers can be used to wrap the filling immediately. For storage, they should be coated with flour so that they don’t stick together. They can be stored in the fridge for several days, or frozen for long-term storage. How to wrap Chinese dumplings 1. Place a small spoonful of filling in the center of each wrapper. 2. Smear a little water on the edges of the wrapper, then fold the wrapper over filling and pinch the two edges together, forming a half-circle. 3. Place the wrapped dumplings on a plate coated with a little flour so that they don’t stick. How to cook Chinese dumplings 1. Add a dash of salt to a pot of water, and bring to boil. Slightly salty water will give the dumplings more flavor, and help prevent the dumplings from sticking to the pot. 2. When the water has begun boiling, add the dumplings to the water. Wait 5 minutes for the water to come back to a boil, and then turn down the heat and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. 3. Drain the water from the dumplings and serve with your favorite dipping sauces. My first attempt at these dumplings I used wonton wrappers and did not like the outcome, so home made is how I am going with the recipe because I can not find dumpling wrappers in South Carolina. Plug the ingredients into MFP recipes and it will break it down into serving size. I usually only eat 2-3 dumplings so the amount of servings is more for me. ENJOY and Oh, Happy St. Paddy's Day Friends!

I am with you! I was in the same boat. I thought I was able to get financing and I also considered getting health insurance to persue the surgery but I could not afford it b/c my payments would be so high considering my weight. I decided that I was making my mind up to do whatever it took. That was in Oct. I am a waitress, not lots of extra cash and thought I nothing. I started with a garage sale. I sold everything. If I did not use it it went. Life is much better and my house is cleaner. I made $400. 00 in one weekend. I put things on craigs list, baby clothes, camaras , ect. I started putting away every cent. I used to like to go play Bingo, stopped that. I do not go buy fast food. $10-20 there a week. Soda.... that stuff.... My husband pitched in $500.00 from our business (which we really do not have) and as of today I am 1/2 way there. I have $2500.00 saved. This is from not having ANYTHING. I thought I had NOTHING to sell. If you really want to be sleeved you will see where you waste your money. For me I had to start a savings account with NO ATM card, otherwise I would spend it. I do not know if I will get the other half up as soon but I will give all I got till I get there. Also I am trying to repair my credit slowly in the event for my tummy tuck in 2 years...lol If you want it real bad it will come!!!!!!

Try one ounce at a time. Sipped over 10 mins. This is how I'm to take all liquids during my liquid diet Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had surgery 8/19 Dr James Ray also, I was understanding clear liquids only day and day after surgery then liquids skim milk broth coffee sugar free koolaid and Jello, yogurt drinks ensure juice instant breakfast drink tea crystal light popicicles and v8 juice that has helped me, I had got chinese soup just the broth and had froze it up. I do like that but may not after all of this. My problem is my shoulder is hurting really bad wish that would quit. I have not been able to go to the bathroom think I should have a bm soon take care