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March 19 th as well Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

Submitted Insurance on 3/7/19, Approved on 3/11/19 and Surgery scheduled for 5/13/19

Update: 3/13/19 wow it has been over a year since I posted?? I weighed myself this morning and it was 198. I finally made it to ONDERLAND!! ok, barely made it, but I'll take it. Had a bit of a set back. I gained weight over this past holiday season, but dusted off the books my Nut gave me and went right back to eating well and have lost the 17 pounds I gained. My last post surgery doc revealed that my sleeve grew by 50% and that is my fault. I am drinking and eating too fast. Gotta get to work on that. Sent from my SM-G892A using BariatricPal mobile app

Just was approved and scheduled for May 13, 2019 and I am happy as _______!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAITED A LONG TIME FOR THIS MOMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updating me at 10 months post op. Doing really well, weight loss has slowed a lot as I approach "normal" BMI with only 12kg to go to ultimate goal weight. I have booked in with a local plastic surgeon for an initial appointment in June to discuss possible skin removal surgeries starting from the end of this year. Once I meet the "weight stable for at least 6 months" medicare requirement I will be possibly looking at the following skin removal surgeries: belt lipectomy (aka 360 degree body lift), extended tummy tuck (likely including fleur de lis vertical incision), breast lift and possible reduction (the poor girls are now maybe 2/3 their original size but only 1/4 their original volume), upper arm lift and inner thigh lift. I'm feeling well, still not keen on walking in place or lifting weights at a gym thus far, but enjoying a lot of physical movement and activity doing gardening work (including now some paid casual gardening work helping another lady at her place) and beach fishing. I'm down to mostly size small/10 Australian tops, skirts and dresses, and size 10-12 pants but the excess skin remaining still requires larger undies and jeans. I STILL have calves too chunky for most gumboots (thanks genetics! lol) so although the rest of me fits well in standard fishing waders I still need custom ones, and have taken my previously XXL custom pair back to the manufacturer across town the other week for them to use the same cut-down boots but attach a size small body-section to them Tomorrow I'll enjoy going back to a local large second-hand place to look at some smaller autumn/winter clothing for me as the size 16 stuff from last winter/early spring is much too big now I got a few lovely dresses and tops there the other week (with a friend there to help me select suitable stuff to try, and giving honest feedback on how things look on).. I took a friend as I realised I have no concept of suitable styles yet for my much smaller and differently shaped body! I had to previously make do with whatever fit best / looked least bad from the very small selection of plus size clothing available. I hope everyone else is doing well and feeling good. (note, my friend photobombing my blue dress photo is actually wearing one of my old plus-size t-shirts) (the watermelon is one I grew this summer, an Orangeglo melon with bright orange flesh and it weighed 12.2kg. This was the first photo I posted on my Facebook recently that showed my weight loss and sparked a lot of surprise/questions from those who hadn't heard about my surgery)

You have to do what you think is right for you based on your research. Coming on here is a good place to get information. I had my lapband for 10 years and got it removed in January and wish I would have gotten it out 9 years ago. There is a reason some insurance companies won't pay to have them put in anymore and Allegan who was the biggest maker of them stopped doing so. The lapband requires a lot of post-op follow-up and your bariatric surgeon needs to know a lot about fills and realistic expectations of weight loss. Plus it is inevitable that you will experience a "stuck" episode which is very painful. I am not trying to scare you but am being honest and you asked for words of wisdom. My advice (wisdom) would be not to get it and instead get the sleeve (I didn't do a revision - just got it out). If you read the posts by those who switched from a band to the sleeve they say "this is what I thought the band would do (and didn't)". There are many who are happy with their band, though. But in the end it is your decision and I hope you are discussing your hesitations with your surgeon.

GTL SUMMER 2019 LOOKBOOK

Hello- I haven't posted in many years. I am about to get my bypass scheduled. It's been a long road! I have my sleeve 5 years ago, and due to not loosing very much weight, I want bypass. I started out at 268, and for the past several years, I've maintained 238. Last may, I went to a surgeon, who I really liked, and I asked to be re-sleeved. He suggested bypass, and I agreed. He did a scope to check how things looked, since my sleeve was done in Mexico (which was a super good experience). All looked great, except he found I had a hiatal hernia, which explained all the heartburn I have had. Now, when it came to the insurance, that was a whole big battle! I changed surgeons, hoping that the new surgeon would submit new info to insurance, and this would be approved. He did find my sleeve was a little dilated (large), which was a criteria for insurance, even though they did not pay for my 1st surgery. A very long story short, at the very end of Feb 2019, an outside agency found that my surgery IS medically necessary, and the insurance will have to pay. Fortunately, I have already met my out of pocket max,m so I won't have to pay a dime for the surgery (same as last year). In two days I go back to the surgeon for the group class, and get my surgery date! I have been battling so long, now I have to get back into gear for what is actually going to happen after surgery. Anyone else have a similar story? Anyone else been defeated, and then the surgery is back on?

I had gastric sleeve in 2016 and it didn't work well for me. I gained weight back now I'm having RNY Bypass on March 19, 2019. Getting nervous and trying to get all the vitamin I need figured out. Frustrating to say the least. Good luck to everyone!

10. One thing I'm good at: research and writing - boring but true 11. My favourite part of my body: I'm rather partial to my face. Since I've lost some weight it's less round and more heart shaped and I'm liking it more and more. 12. A negative thought I'm ready to let go of: that if I don't lose weight one week that it's all over red rover. Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

I love chocolate milk. I will try the fairlife chocolate. I mix my smoothies with the plain but don't like drinking plain unless it's with pancakes or PB&J, all of which i'm not doing yet. I go for my next appointment tomorrow. Thanks for the water info. I totally forgot about that. I did finally find a protein powder I liked. I asked the clerk at GNC for suggestions and he said this is what most of their clients like. It's GNC Pro Performance. You only mix it with 6oz liquid which I like to because I can get my protein in quicker without moving it with 10-11oz.

Hi, Me Again! Well I had my Iron INFUSION on Monday. Very interesting experience I must say. Decided to opt out of the p*****g war, appeared PCP was content sitting on his tuffet like Little Muffet so called OSU and went to Columbus. First it wasnt as hard finding OSU East as I feared. And my driver Terry actually didn't get lost. Got there, check-in was easier than at main hospital. Went up to the 14th floor, got weighed, rest of vitaks, must have passed everything there because they put my IV line in , rather odd looking critter, a wide platform on the " aeroplane" needle. I know they have to have a more formal title.but that's what I Call Them. I hadn't had iron supplementation since I was carrying baby # 2 and he, as it turned out, was robbing me. I was at a level,of 8, my little parasite, had a bilirubin level of 19+ when he was born, kid turned orange instead of red when he cried, just missed an exchange transfusion, OSU does them for a level of 20+. Half because he was stealing my iron,the other was he was Rh+, I am negative and my antibodies were attacking him. Spent his off time from nursing , under bilirubin lights, had his own little sunglasses on, rather cute, usually leave them naked but since he was a boy he kept laying there peeing on himself, said for Gosh sakes put a diaper or ABD down there before he starts smelling like an urinal. It was quite a yellow rainstorm. Anyway in those days they did Z track injections, so an INFUSION is much neater and sweeter a thing. They took me to a smallish room where I had my own comfy recliner. First they start a bag of saline, this is to make sure you're not too dehydrated, then they piggyback on a small bag of solution and watch you closely to make sure you don't have any unexpected reaction, if that goes cool and it did for me, they let the rest of the saline flow in, then after observing me another 30 minutes, they give you a steroid, 2 Tylenol and 2 Benadryl , I knew Benadryl was gonna kick my : "tushie" and it did. Got very sleepy, but then they brought in another bag of clear, I assume Saline but it could have been D-5-W and the monster bag of iron solution, golden brown. and clear. They could have told me they were going to feed me Ricin and kill me, I would have said Well that's very nice of you! curled up and gone back to SlumberLand. Oh I was the poster child for Mellow Yello at that point. Tomkitten assures me I didn't snore, drool or lay there with my mouth hanging open, and I guess that's a blessing. I got there at 8:30 and they released me 3ish, so it did take a while. What next? IDK , they said maybe another 3 months, maybe as long as a year, all depends on what my next blood labs show. So the dreading , like many things in life, was worse than the actual thing. Got home to the sound of water erupting, either a pipe split or the hot water heater died. Landlord keeps basement locked so texted landlord and he came out , lookedthings over, saidtoomuch for me, shut the whole houses water off , we had still cold water at that point, now I have to keepTomkitten from doing # 2 because we only have enough water in the tank for 1 flush. Just texted me he hasn't found a willing plumber, but he will this afternoon. And I did have places I wanted to go today. Oh well, its just the Hurry Up and Wait Boogie for me!

I have the same problem with protein. I can't stand the taste or smell of any of mine. Prior to surgery I liked them. I am getting mine in by fairlife milk. 20oz is 19 grams of protein and they also have chocolate, although I just prefer plain. Are you counting your protein as water? My nutritionist said I could count water and protein and that I needed a minimum of 48oz. I've never been a big liquid drinker. I can drink without restriction, but still have trouble getting 48 oz. Best wishes!

I had band to sleeve on 2/11/19. It will get better! I walked in circles around my leaving room to relieve gas pressure in my upper abdomen & chest. It really works! I also found relief by laying on my tummy. I use an albuterol inhaler to open up my air passages & used my spirometer daily for 3 weeks. I am no doctor but I know from experience that anxiety itself can make you feel like you can't breath! Take solace in knowing you did the right thing to experience a healthier YOU. We are here for you!

Yes, I think that's normal. No heavy lifting more than 10 pounds for a few more weeks.

So @ ihartme, did you get your March 2019 surgery date? Haven't heard anymore from you and I'm just wondering?

It's hard to eat healthy when you don't feel good. I've had a cold for the last 10 days and thought it was getting better and going away but now it's back and I'm taking cold medicine again. I've been tempted to comfort myself with some carbs, but I haven't yet and hope I can hold out. Chocolate protein shakes are my "go to" splurge.

My heart hurts for you because I think I would have gone stir crazy at this point! It will get better. So, having said that, have you spoken to your nutritionist and/or dietitian? I was advised NOT to drink protein drinks. My dietitian was very specific about it. She stated that they had a patient recently who had not lost for months because she was drinking protein shakes. I personally would stop drinking them and eat solids. 1. Protein drinks are usually high in calories. 2. You consume more drinking a shake rather than if you ate solid foods. That is my opinion but I would consult your team. I still eat a very low calorie diet, between 400-600 calories a day. I eat 5-6 times a day-that is the plan that my dietitian put me on. I eat for 30 minutes (usually takes me about 10-15 minutes because my portion is so small). I wait for 30 minutes then drink for 30 minutes (I draw this out for the full 30 minutes), wait for 30 minutes and repeat.The cycle is a total of 2 hours. Now I sometimes skip my eating section because of my teaching schedule but I try really hard not to. I am also exercising 40-60 minutes a day. I have lost 30 pounds in just over 6 weeks, I weigh myself 2-3 times a week.

Best tracker apps ranked! https://amp.businessinsider.com/best-calorie-counting-apps-lose-weight-2019-3

hello every one my name is shannie my surgery date is for vsg is march, 19th 2019 I'm scared :( I started my liquid diet on the 6th of this month and I'm so hungry I've been eating boiled eggs around three eggs a day will they deny my surgey

Hello, Long story short, I had the band to sleeve conversion on 02/18/19. All went well and then last week Monday two week check up and again all ok. Then Tuesday I had a hard time breathing and chest pains. Dr told me to go to the ER to rule out blood clots, etc, all checked out ok. My Surgeon on Thursday bumped up my Prilosec to x2 a day since I didn't feel much better by Thursday. It has helped a bit but still have a bit of the tightness and breathing issues. I am scared to eat, that making eating it will make it worst but having soft foods for the most part. Not sure if stomach is still healing/swollen. Someone said it can take up to four to six week for the Prilosec to take full effect. I guess I'm just wondering will it get better or is this my new normal? I am having some regrets on what I did even though at this point I cant change it. I have never had anxiety in my life but since Wednesday I think I have it in overdrive . I just don't know where to go at this point. Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful at this point.

My husband had his RNY almost 10 months ago and had GERD prior to his surgery. He still takes Prilosec even after losing more than 150 lbs and surpassing his goal weight in that time. I can understand your hesitation and would definitely ask your surgeon how certain he/she can be about coming off the meds after surgery.

Thanks all for the reassurances. My only reference is my husband who had the same surgery 10 months ago and did not have this issue. So then I thought perhaps it happens mostly in women than men 😂

I had ESG in October 2017 and regret it. I always had a strange pain in my abdomen after I ate, despite following the diet. I had to pay out of pocket for the procedure and ended up only losing 19 pounds! I had it reversed last year and did a SADI bypass on 12/31/18.