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He askied about: Drinking. They want to make sure that you don't over indulge regularly because you shouldn't drink for 6-12 months after surgery. Why did I decide I wanted the surgery. Have I tried to lose weight other ways first. Support system: Who did I tell? What was their reaction? Do I have anybody in my life who I think will be jealous after surgery. My history of being overweight. Was an overweight child/young adult? Family history of obesity? My childhood- what was it like? My relationship with my mother/father/siblings. My relationship in my currently family- husband kids. If I had a history of depression or eating disorders. (lots of questions about that) My relationship w food. Do I bing eat? Emotional eating. What exercise I get now, and what my plans are after surgery. There were also questions about how I sleep. I hope this helps.

I have gained so much knowledge from this forum. My only remaining questions deal with insurance and financing. I have BCBS of Texas. We emailed them regarding a possible surgery for me and received a letter that said: For a member to be considered eligible for benefit coverage of bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity, the member must meet the following two criteria: BMI equal or grade to 40 kg/meter OR BMI equal or greater than 35 with at last 2 comorbidities (listed below). AND Documentation from the requesting surgical program that *Growth is completed * Documentation from the surgeon attesting that the patient has been educated in and understands the post operative regimen, which should include ALL of the following components: Nutrition program AND Behavior modification or behavioral health interventions AND Counseling and instruction on exercise and increased physical activity AND Ongoing support for lifestyle changes to make and maintain appropriate choices that will reduce health risk factors and improve overall health AND Patient has completed an evaluation by a licensed professional counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist within the 12 months preceding the request for surgery. This evaluation should document: The absence of significant psychopathology that would hinder the ability of an individual to understand the procedure and comply with medical recommendations AND The absence of an eating disorder AND The patients willingness to comply with preoprative and postoperative treatment plans. My BMI is right at 40, so I read this as saying all I need the is psych evaluation before we can schedule surgery, and then I need to comply with everything after surgery. Is that right, or do most policies read like this and I'll still be expected to comply with a waiting period before scheduling? Also, my insurance says that: When utilizing one of our participating providers at a in network facility, your coverage for an eligible medical necessary approved Bariatric surgery provided by an M.D. and the related facility charges is 80 percent of allowance after you meet your deductible of $400.00. The in-network individual out of pocket maximum is $2900.00. The benefit maximum is one visit/procedure per lifetime. At this time, you have satisfied your in-network individual deductible and the amount of $651.34 has been applied to your individual out of pocket maximum for the 2015 calendar year. Does that mean if I use an in-network provider my maximum out of pocket cost will be $2900? Is that paid before the surgery? Thank you!

Hi Fee! I too have to pay about 3000 out of pocket. I had to pay for the nutritionist consultation which was $200 then the psychological evaluation test which was $160 my insurance picked up the rest of that($140). The weight loss workshop here where I live is called obesity to balance I attend that for 2 days in August which is $500. I will also have a bill from the physician for about $2000 after the surgery. .

Don't stress yourself out Hun! The weight will start dropping soon! Trust me 13 pounds is great so far!!!

I will be 7 months post op on the 13th... just wanted to say that things are going great. I have tons of energy! I have fallen in love with going to my local YMCA and working out. I've lost 90 lbsand several clothes sizes. Along the way I've lost a few friends....cause I am not the "fat friend" anymore. But I have gained experience and new friends who are on the same path I am. This surgery has been a lifesaver not only for my but for my family too! My husband has lost 50lbs, my 16 year old has lost about 25 lbs. And we all eat healthier than we ever have. I started this journey for the benefit of the hubby and daughter mainly, because If Mom's not fit....neither are they! But I have to say that during the preop journey and now the postop journey I have gained confidence back, I think more clearly about healthy choices and how to move more. And am generally in a much better frame of mind and body! As an added bonus the Dr. who did my surgery also goes to the same YMCA I do.... (We both work for the same hospital system....and membership is a perk for us!) so seeing him there motivates me to work hard and show him just how much appreciate him doing my surgery...and I dont want to waste a day not using my "tool" to the very best I can. If you havent had surgery and are reading this... BEST OF LUCK to you... DO IT! The surgery isnt an "easy" way out...it is by far the hard way. The pain afterwards will fade...and a new life will take it's place quickly. You'll see things in a whole new light!! If you have had surgery already and are reading this.... lets keep going!! Thank you for sharing your story with me, I keep reading and making notes of things others go through and try to do or avoid those things. Your story inspires me to continue on this journey till I reach my goal!

Oh Kristina! I am so happy for you! I have been researching and trying for 3 years to switch from my lap band to the sleeve! I have been banded for 10 years now and at times have felt so badly that I just was meant to live life as a fat woman. I have battled insurance and only came to brick wall contract exclusions. Starting a year ago, I decided on Mexico and even picked a surgeon, but we live on one income while I stay home with our young kids. So 2 months ago, decided it was time to get healthy, no matter what it took!! I saved, begged & borrowed and came with the money and scheduled for May 11th. After 10 years and a roller coaster of weight issues stemming back almost 20 years, it is finally time and I have 100% faith that this is my time and I couldn't be more excited. You are so very right!! NEVER give up hope!!!

I want to be able to quit fretting about weight limits on everything. Kind of tired of going to people's houses and doing the discreet furniture wiggle to see if there's a chance I'm going to get dumped on my behind!

Hi There. Hoping someone could give me some insight. I am 5 weeks out, lost a ton up front and have stalled for the past 2.5 weeks and actually gained 5-7 lbs back, but this morning I woke up with very swollen ankles! I'm following the plan and so I'm quite frustrated. I have never had a swelling problem except for once for a few days following my third child. I'm also fairly healthy besides my wight issue. So I'm so curious as to what is happening with my body?! I have a Dr. appt tomorrow, so I will hopefully get some answers then too, but I wondered if this has happened to anyone else?

Yesterday was my two month anniversary since my surgery. I am officially down 55 pounds from my height weight and 40 pounds since my surgery. I am feeling great. I'm still learning how to eat differently but am doing much better at it. How is everyone else doing after two months. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I find that the more Protein I have and the more intense the exercise the more weight I lose So make sure you're getting all your protein and exercise Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

Your 19 lbs loss is great Once you get into a routine you will see a steady weekly loss of anywhere from 1 lbs to 3 or 4. It all depends on how much you have to lose... I believe RNY you will lose 70-80% of your weight where the band and sleeve is something like 60% only.

I'm doing great! The experience of living with the sleeve (for me anyway) is SO much better than with the band. I don't have any issues at all associated with it. Never get that stuck feeling. Overall it just feels more natural. I just feel full and satisfied with less food - and with healthy foods. My cravings are under control (not gone, but very diminished). I think the removal of the part of the stomach that releases the hunger hormone ghrelin makes a big difference. I've now passed my lowest weight achieved with the band and am heading towards uncharted territory. I've never as an adult weighed less than 175 (and only saw it for about 5 minutes in my 20s), so that will be a thrill to see 174 for the first time - and that's now just 6 pounds away! Not sure if you can see my signature (I know they don't show up on ipads/phones), but I'm down 84 pounds since my highest weight earlier this year. Just 25 away from goal. Overall very thrilled with the sleeve for sure! Fingers crossed you get approved - sounds like you've got a good shot!

Hi I got banded on Oct 29th and my paper from the hospital said advance to solids as tolerated but I sm seeing slot of people who were banded with me or around the same time are still on liquids only. I have still been losing weight even though I been eating solids. Please let me know if I am messing up.

sooooo I am almost done with week three (only a three day bootcamp because of thanksgiving) and I have to update. I have not lost one pound or even one ounce since i've started this! arghhhh! I could be super frustrated about this but I feel too good about myself to get discouraged! I know things are "shifting" and shrinking because my clothes are def getting losers (just bought a size 14 pair of jeans!!! yay me!!!) but the thing that truly sucks is there is a $250 prize for the person who loses the highest percentage of weight....*sig* oh well! maybe the next two weeks will surprise me and the lbs will just fall off! haha

I work out with a trainer. Some days are crazy hard, while other days I can handle it. It's so worth it though. I think I am losing weight faster with the training.

Yes! I Finally Have My sleeve and i did pretty well in the hospital i was just in ALOT of pain when i woke up from sergruy i was crying and was hoping the pain would stop but the nurses gave me pain medication and the pain went away thank god!. i was in the hospital for 3 days just got home yesterday and i am having trouble keeping my protien shakes down i feel nauseous when i drink it but i have not vomited yet and hoping i dont, i'm still a little sore but i have pain medication so that helps and i dont have a drain just five little insicions, I Am also having trouble keeping my fluids down it kinda hurts when i drink my water but it has gotten better. I Was sooo nervous going in for my sergury but when it was over i was happy i also had gas pain but that has gotten alot better too so overall i did real good in the hospital and i am excited to lose this weight and for a healthier life

It will slow down. I'm not sure what you weighed at surgery or what you weigh now, on my phone so I'm not sure if your goal is realistic or not. But a lot of people end up plateauing sometime during the first six weeks due to healing. I plateaued weeks 2-5, my weight loss average right now is like 1 lb per week. I've increased my activity so once my body gets used to it, I hope it will pick up. But realistically the average persons weight loss is 1-2 lb per week. If you think about it sometimes slower is better because it can give your skin time to adjust

I'm a week and a day post op and I have only lost 13 bounds all together I feel kind of depressed about that because I think I should have lost more weight than that. Ant feed back???

The first 4-6 weeks after surgery are for healing, not losing. Most don't loose during this time, some even gain, so if you lost 13 pounds you're doing great. Put the scale away for the next month and concentrate on following the post op diet, making smart food choices, and healing. Then once you're back on normal food and all healed up you can start worrying about weight loss.

When I spoke to the representative she said the notes said that I gained weight even though I lost all the weight I gained. I still haven't gotten the official denial letter in the mail.

It does sound like you need a fill. Also you mentioned not eating as well as you should. I know it's sucks but try to kickstart your weight loss by eating low cal/fat protein and veggies. If you are on a food plan most schools now have grill where you can order chicken and veggies. Ask them to make thing with as little oil as possible and low salt flavorings.

I'm 14 months out and "only" down 59 lbs. I'll take whatever weight loss I can get. Because if I hadn't had the band for the last 14 months, I'd probably be up another 30+ lbs!! I'm a slow loser compared to everyone else in my surgery date group, but it beats the alternative. Also, as far as fills. I've had 6 fills. I'm at 8.2cc in a 9cc band. I think I'm just one of those people who took a long time to get to the green zone. I'm finally able to not eat 6inch subs or any bread really for that matter. So, glass half full!!!! You're doing good!

Was just in for a cleaning last week....my teeth are perfect. Clean bill of dental health. You do need to take your vitamins, and you do need to be extra careful to brush more often because you're eating more often. I do recommend that anyone going into weight loss surgery get a dental checkup before surgery and get any issues repaired and resolved beforehand. Dental infections can be dangerous and you don't need the extra stress.

Thanks all, it's a wonderful feeling to be overweight! I don't dare hope that I'll ever be "normal" weight according to the height/weight charts, since that would require me to drop almost another 30 pounds, which -- with my build -- just ain't happening. But now, if I ever have to fill out one of those singles/dating profiles, I don't feel guilty saying that I'm "about average" in shape. Huzzah!

It can be a serious problem. I like Rachel412's ideas. Try and add healthy fats to your diet through full fat dairy products and nuts, seeds etc. Also i would make sure that your blood work is current to rule out any unknow causes of the weight loss.