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Yup. I have bcbs CA. I too had to appeal. It was a long frustrating time. I began my first doc visit in June and had surgery nov 22. The doc suggested I go on a 2 protein drink, one meal, one snack diet, high protein low carbs b/c my liver was mushy, enlarged and likely fatty. I didn't stay on it the whole time as my emotion got the better of me at times, but when it finally came time for surgery, my doc was pleased with the weight loss and "feel" of my liver. So I just continued that and only had to do a 3 day liquid prep. Yeah. I had a beautiful liver. Doc gave us pics of the surgery. Total, since June I have lost 46 pound, 23 in the 6 weeks since surgery. It's not fast, but I am happy, lower than I have been in ten years. I still eat too many carbs. I can eat way more than many on here at six weeks. I am tempted and often succumb to temptation. I ate 3/4 of a jr burger from whataburger w cheese and felt so guilty. Then I realized I was struggling to keep down to 1500 cal before surgery, and now on my worst day, I had 1200. This surgery will happen for you. Don't give up. If the appeal fails, there is a second appeal process. If that fails there is self-pay and loans. Good luck and keep us informed.

Holy fast track!! Went to my initial appointment with my primary care doctor today got a EKG and physical done all at once. Answered a few questions and the dr. told me I was a good candidate for this surgery! Wooohooo got my behavioralist appointment next Wednesday and the following week I meet the surgeon. I'll be having my surgery in about 6 weeks!! Yaaaaay!!

So, tomorrow is my big day. I have been thinking a great deal about my dysfunctional lifelong relationship with food and struggle with my weight. I am extremely happy about having taken this step, but approach tomorrow with great trepidation, mixed with a significant amount of relief. My surgery will be on an outpatient basis. Today is actually the first day that I am fasting, as my (highly experienced) surgeon does not espouse the two week pre-op fast. I just pray that everything goes well, that there are no complications and that I do not experience excessive nausea or pain. Your encouragement, suggestions and recommendations would be most welcome. I am glad that I have found this forum, which is very helpful to me. Thank you, all.

I think almost EVERYONE experiences post-op depression, so you are not alone there! Coming to terms with the reality of the impact WLS is going to have on your relationship with food for the rest of your life is pretty tough to deal with. Plus the restricted diet gets old fast. It feels like a full-time job keeping track of your Water, Protein, and walking. Trying to schedule everything so you aren't eating and drinking at the same time, but you are still eating and drinking a lot. Going through such a rough time and not being able to turn to food for comfort the way you probably have during every other rough time before It's tough. But it get's so much better. I promise you it does. You will adapt to your new relationship with food. You will move onto more substantial food stages where you'll start to be able to eat enough to not feel tired and run down all the time. You'll find foods you can eat and enjoy. It all just takes time. Patience is definitely the chief virtue for anyone going through their WLS journey. You will need a LOT of it in the coming months.

Only you can know for sure if you're over filled, however considering you ate a sandwich for lunch with no problems, I would guess that you just took too big a bite and/or ate too fast at dinner. Now your stomach is irritated and swollen from the stuck episode. I would go very easy the rest of today, liquids only, then take even smaller bites and pause between them tomorrow. It's definitely a learning experience after fills. I actually got a tiny unfill of .3cc today because I was slightly over filled this past Tuesday. Good luck!

I am very frustrated today. I went in for my consult at Weight Loss Surgical Center in KC last November in which they checked to see if my insurance would pay and I received a phone call saying they would pay but it had to be done at an acute care facility which they did not have but were in the process of building one. Fast forward to a month ago and I called to check on the facility and if it was completed & they had just done their 2nd surgery there so the ball starts rolling again....get phone call to set up another consult OR pre-op visit. I was on the fence whether to do it or not and after joining this group and reading the success stories I am 110% committed so left 2 messages to set up pre-op consult and the person that gets insurance clearance had been calling me WEEKLY to update me on Tricare's requirements that were being met each week SO I think as soon as the facility meets Tricare's requirement I am a go....NOPE....now I'm told that my BMI is under 40 and I do not have the 2 co-morbidities to qualify. WHAT!?!?! Talk about popping someone's bubble fast that was ready to get this going..........so now I wait as they try to gain clearance from Tricare. Why would they tell me last year that they would defniitely pay for it and now possibly NOT? They had the same requirements last year that they do today. Very disappointed & upset. Anyone else have to deal with Tricare? Do they pay for your fills as well? I have a $1,000.00 family deductible which I met last year from being in the hospital twice and if I could have had this done before Oct 1st I would not have had to pay a dime! But my health is worth the $1000.00 at least and I just want to do this and I think if I'm denied I will really fall in to a deeper depression...I don't want to have to eat until my BMI is over 40 to get the surgery so I may be left of my own. I lost 84# once before but its all back and then some. They think my thyroid issues will count so they are going to run it by Tricare. Thanks for letting me vent and if anyone has Tricare just wondering how they were getting them to pay for your surgery!

I'm in the same boat. I get full very quick and at times I get mad because I feel like I was just getting into eating this, and bamn, no more hunger signals start coming from the sleeve. On the bright side I don't spend a lot of money on food. When I used to eat like crazy I would spend so much money at fast food places it was crazy sometimes 300 in a month for 2 people. Now I don't even care about fast food and it just doesn't make sense to spend money on something I can't really eat. So far I'm always able to eat a whole pouch of Starkist light tuna salad in a 100 calorie pack all the time. Other than that its always half of anything else bigger. A few days back I made home made cheeseburgers for me, and the wife ,we both didn't get much down . Its nerve wrecking and a life saver. I can never see me over eating or becoming that crazy over food again.

Wow, you tried the two that I know of that taste best. The Unjury chocolate tastes like a chocolate milk shake to me. And the Isopure is a great change from the shakes. The Isopure is definately better in some flavors than others. I prefer the apple-melon one best, then blue raspberry and then the grape. You could try the unflavored powders but I found those even worse than the flavored ones. Of the powders I use Body Fortress chocolate with some SF raspberry syrup but I think Unjury tastes better. Body Fortress is just much, much cheaper at Target. Just keeps trying them and I hope you find one you can tolerate. They do get old way too fast.

OUR bandaversaries are the same :huggie: However I have had a fill every month since and I am still not losing or experienced that "full" feeling just stuck feeling is all form eating too fast. I feel ya and now that Christmas is over I feel really hungry! Isn't that weird. I am due for another fill on the 6th and can't wait I didn't get a fill in Dec. becasue I had lost 9.8 lbs but now I am starving alot so I think I am due for a fill maybe that is what you need too. GOOD luck! You have lost more than I have :huh2: I feel embarrassed...you go girl keep that chin up and that will power at hand!!!!!

Relax and when you see the panic well up in you just before you go into surgery. Remember why you are doing this and what you are looking forward to and let it happen. You will start a new life of good health and well being! Also as you go a long write the non surgical victories down. You will be surprised how fast they start.

I am doing pretty good on my pre-op diet I think still some dry mouth issues but i drink lots of water and eating on ice so that helps alot so far so good i cannot believe it! Day 5 came so fast I did not think I was going to make it!!!!!! My Sx date is March 15th and I cannot wait! Goodluck to to all the March sleevers!

I feel way better than I expected. This is day 3 for me and the only pain I have is in my shoulders and neck that's just hanging on. My incisions feel fine unless I bump them on something. I have an allergy to adhesive so the steri strips are itching me like crazy. Taking benadryl to help until I can get those off. Doc said leave them until they come off, but I don't think I can wait that long! Taking eating very slow, but yesterday I drank too much too fast and had horrible hiccups.

By my first fill, I was so darned hungry it was strictly bare knuckles to not eat anything in the house (and since I don't live alone, there is stuff here that I certainly have no business eating, LOL). At my first fill (on 2/10), they drew out all the fluid in the band ... .6cc was left in when the doctor tested the band for leaks before he placed it. The nurse practitioner added 4 ccs and I was told to sit and drink a glass of water. And it just got tighter and tighter, until I couldn't swallow any water. So they drew out 1cc. It was like a rock in my chest melted away as she withdrew that little bit of saline. At 3.6, I certainly wasn't at my sweet spot, but I went on a cruise (can you say 24 hour food?) and didn't partake of the desserts, the french fries and cheeseburgers and pizza that was in my face. So I will say that the fill that I had was enough to get me going. When I got home, I weighed .... no loss, no gain. And I was very happy with that because I've read (and experienced) so many times that people gain an average of 10 pounds on a week long cruise. And after that, the weight started dropping consistently. I went for my second fill on 3/31. The NP and I discussed it and I really didn't want to go back to 4.6 and maybe experience being too full again...plus, I had been in a pretty bad car accident the day before and was bruised pretty badly across my chest and lower abdomen from the airbag and seat belt. The guy that caused the wreck got out of his car and he was fine. I have a broken finger and torn ligaments in my hand, too. Anyway, we mutually decided to go with .5cc, which puts me at 4.1. Still not at my sweet spot but closer. I still get hungry between lunch and dinner, mostly because I have to eat lunch 12:30 - 1:30 and don't get home until 7:00 and that is way too long between meals. My NP told me to eat solid protein at lunch (no soup, which of course is sooo easy) and to eat an ounce of cheese or an ounce of meat before I leave work at 5:30. That works for me. I'm losing consistently still, and a little fast than before the second fill. I'm happy! I hoped to lose 50 pounds by June 12 -- my 40th high school reunion is 6/12-13 anda 50 would take me to less than I weighed at the last one 5 years ago. Well, as you see by my ticker, I've already made it. I get my third fill on 4/30 and I'm planning on losing another 20 if I can by June 12. I've never met a weight loss goal like the one I just beat (setting a date and meeting it, much less beating it) and if I don't lose 20, I'll still be happy with whatever I do lose.

For me this has been one of the biggest surprises of all! I went through this process to get healthy, it was never about getting thin. Well, I got healthy very fast. Then it became about losing the weight and getting to goal. I am currently 1lb overweight and 10lbs from my ideal weight although I would argue that I am literally Boney in places and I have a lot of loose skin after losing 135lbs. If I don't lose another pound I would be happy where I am, knowing some day soon I will have several pounds of loose skin removed. Now, I cannot believe I am saying this but I love clothes! I can shop wherever I want and normal sizes fit me! I wish I would win the lottery so I could have a giant closet full of beautiful clothes that were meant for me. Shoes too! They never mattered, now they do. I am currently holding off assuming I have another 10lbs to go and I am in between a size 12 and a size 10. If I have all this excess skin removed I would likely be a size 8. I own two pair of jeans that are becoming too big fast. Several pairs of yoga pants which I wear all the time. 2 long sleeve tops for winter, a couple of sweater dresses. A couple of tanks and a couple of sweaters that are too big but I can still wear them over my tanks. That is literally my whole closet. My husband hangs my pjs in there when he does laundry just to make it look better. LOL! I have purged so many times in the last year! It is the best part.

I am 24 years old and have struggled with my weight since I was in the 2nd grade. I was raised on happy meals and diet soda. I struggled with an eating disorder in high school because I felt 'fat' next to my friends. I weighed a healthy 150 at 5'6. I now think back and wish I never even started my unhealthy eating habits. At my highest weight, 257 lbs, I decided to look at the Gastric Sleeve surgery. A friend of mine did it and had amazing results. On Wednesday, I will be having my surgery. The past several days on my pre-op diet have been extremely tough. I'm used to eating what I want and when I want it. Unfortunately, my fiancé eats what he wants, usually fast food. He wants to be supportive but is having a hard time changing his eating habits. I have lost 11 lbs since Friday morning (9/28) and I am extremely happy with my decision to have the surgery. I know the journey is just beginning but I am definitely ready for a healthy new start!

Sally, it just feels like slight cramping but it goes away quickly. It's gotten better as I slowed down as I eat. Just drinking Water can cause it if I drink too much too fast, but I'm learning. Have my first follow-up post surgery today so will see if everything is as it should be. I did felt a little nausea the first time I drank after surgery but not since then at all. Last day for full liquids! Hallelujah!

My paperwork was sent on Monday and I received approval today (Thursday) Yay! Can hardly believe it only took 3 days! I'm glad it was so fast and very thankful because I know some here have waited for weeks. Next step is to schedule surgery. Unless they have an opening within 3 weeks, I won't be able to get it until October due to work. I don't care either way, I'm just happy lol. :thumbup:

I had my LAP-BAND® on Nov. 6, 2009. I've had 4 fills. This last one I couldn't stop burping so I had them take some out. I still burp when I've eaten too fast, I have to get this eating slow thing down. I've lost 45#'s and need to concentrate on my exercising. I bought a Wii that will help.

Wow--I can see that you're happy to have your Pacemaker after that experience--how scary!! It was just such a surprise because I don't feel the changes in rhythm. Occasionally I feel that my heart is racing a bit, so I wasn't surprised by that, but I had no idea about the slow times. And I've been unhappy about being on a blood thinner, so I thought maybe the pacemaker would take care of that, but the doc told me yesterday that the pacemaker will not affect when it's too fast--just speed it up when it's too slow. So he can give me stronger meds to slow it down! I'll get used to the idea, just having a hard time with it right now. Since I didn't think I had any health problems other than my weight, I just thought the VSG would have me feeling great and super healthy!

I have it at 7 weeks. Was just told it could be gallstones or could be eating too fast. They said it can be discussed at the 6 month checkup

I am feeling super overwhelmed right now. I am a teacher, and I thought I'd have my surgery in January. But, no word on my application. We had a strike. I slipped and fell down a staircase. Strike ended. Went back to work. January ended. Found out my paperwork went missing. February came and went. Then, this Wednesday, my approval letter came. Thursday, at the end of the day, the surgeon's office called and said it was next week or May...I went for the 15th for lots of reasons, but now I'm freaking out. I am missing tons of work, very suddenly. I think I made the wrong call, but I can't take off in May because that's when the state test is administered, and subs can't proctor the exam. I feel... guilty? for leaving my students for a week and a half. I feel anxious? about getting all my lessons for the sub ready in time. Plus all the other worries. I guess there's not a point to this post, other than me being really worried I won't get everything I need done sorted in time. Fasting, multiple appointments all over town, working, parenting...arrrrrgh!!! Sent from my LG-G710 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi all - New here. I was banded last week on 7/27. Doing great. No nausea or vomiting, just some sore incision sites and sore left shoulder. Oh yeah, starving! So over the liquid diet but I am obeying. This is my question. I am losing a lot of weight rapidly. I am on day 6 and have lost 22 lbs. I am not complaining at all but is this normal?

I've had hypothyroidism since my early 20s. For many years I was on Synthroid and it did nothing for me. I went to several endocrinologists in an attempt to convince them that the Synthroid wasn't working, but all they would look at were my test results, not my symptoms. Seven years ago, it got so bad that I couldn't stay awake for more than 4-5 hours at a time, all my hair was falling out, I was so cold that my arms and legs would turn purple, I had to sleep with 5 heating pads on me to stay comfortable, my cholesterol was through the roof, I lost all the color in my lips, my fingernails developed ridges, my skin was a disaster, and I was lucky if I had 2 BMs a month. If that isn't uncontrolled hypothyroidism, then I don't know what is. Fortunately, I went to a new internist and although my blood work said I was fine, he realized I was having serious problems. The wait to see a new endocrinologist was 6-8 weeks, but the internist was alarmed enough by my condition that he personally called several endocrinologists and got one to see me that same week. The new doc put me on Cytomel (T3 instead of T4) and it's made a HUGE difference. (The downside to the Cytomel is that I'm burning up all the time now.) I have no doubt that the hypothyroidism is a significant part of my weight problem. Although my condition is now under better control than ever before, I still don't have the energy or stamina of a normal person. And it's hard to exercise when you have the fatigue associated with hypothyroidism. However, the band has been working for me despite my slow metabolism. I'm not losing as fast as I'd like, but I am losing 1-3 pounds a week, so I probably shouldn't complain.

Warning: long post ahead! Well, if you haven't already, focus on eating lean Protein, green veggies, and healthy fats. These foods will help keep you satisfied longer and avoiding high-carb foods will help curb your hunger. And the other thing to do is to learn to be okay with being hungry. Hunger is not an emergency. Starvation is an emergency, but you are not in danger of starvation. Hunger is just unpleasant. There are good CBT techniques to learn that can help you deal with hunger in ways other than eating. Here are a couple that I have found helpful: --plan everything you are going to eat each day, either at the beginning of the day, or the evening of the night before. When you get hungry, say to yourself, "it's not fun being hungry, but I can wait to have my beef Jerky snack at 2:30" (or whatever your next planned snack/meal is). --log everything you eat -- calories, carbs, protein. When you see those amounts going into your log, you'll find yourself less hungry. --plan three healthy meals and allow yourself unlimited Snacks in between -- but only if your snacks consist of nothing but one specified type of lean protein and one green veggie. You can use whatever spices you want, but no oils, no cheese, no sauce, etc. So your "unlimited snack" foods for the day might be chicken breast and asparagus. You get to eat as much as you want as long as it is chicken breast and asparagus. Again, you may find yourself not as "hungry" as you thought you were -- you may be experiencing head hunger or carb cravings, not true hunger. And if you are really hungry, well, you can't do much damage with chicken breast and asparagus. --practice fasting a couple of days a week. Have a small Breakfast, then no eating (or drinking anything with calories) until dinner. Before you start fasting, write a list of the most physically and emotionally painful experiences you have ever been through ("my mother died" "I gave birth" "I had a root canal" "I lost my job" etc.). Then, every two hours on your fast days, write a brief journal entry. Describe your levels of hunger. Rate your discomfort associated with hunger on a scale of 1-10 and compare that with the worst physical and emotional experiences in your life. Write down a coping strategy ("I will go for a walk" "I will remind myself that I can eat a nice dinner at 5 PM and I'm not in danger of starving" etc.) Make sure that you only eat sitting down at a table. No, you can't even taste or sample anything standing up. And being in your car does not count as sitting down at a table! Keep your phone turned off and do not look at any lighted screens (tv, computer, tablet, handheld gaming device) while you are eating. I am aware that this all sounds like a lot of effort and not much fun. Both of those things are absolutely true. I don't have a magic wand solution for you. But these things really have worked for me when I put the work in. Good luck to you!

I too have to wait for 6 months. I have to be on a 6 mos supervised diet along with all the other appointments and tests. Two months are gone now and it actually has been quite fast. I have time to do all the appointments and practice chewing chewing chewing! Good luck, it will be here before you (& I ) know it.