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Hey guys. I am nowhere near my goal probably like 70 pounds away lol but would definitely consider getting this procedure done. I hear they freeze away the fat and it doesn't involve surgery or downtime. They call it "lunchtime lipo". Definitely an option once I get to my goal weight. Anyone do this procedure?

I have the same requirement from BCBS and I have just completed my fifth month. It has actually been very informative and has given me different answers to questions that I have had. I still have to do my counseling session and I am having trouble with two years worth of weight history. but hopefully by the end of may I will be all done and just waiting for approval !!! Good luck to you all ......

The people who know I had surgery could tell I was losing weight 2 weeks post-op. My face was the first place to thin out (pretty common from what I can tell). Today I got my first compliment from someone who didn't know I had surgery. My neighbor noticed I looked smaller. It's been a little over a month post-op and I've lost 25 lbs.

To be safe, go to your PCP and have them document that you are starting a six month physician supervised diet. Then each month go back and make sure they do all of your vitals, weight and put they it is for the six month diet. That is all my doctor has been doing. I never got a form for them to fill out. I believe you can do anything to lose weight as long as your doctor documents what you are doing. If in the mean time someone calls you from your insurance then great, if not then you already started and you haven't wasted time. Though I would call and ask them again what the details of their program is. If you don't get an answer you like ask for it in writing or call back. I seem to get different answers each time I call because they are too lazy to look it up. Good Luck!

Ok, I so know what you are talking about. I had the pain too and had a horrible time sleeping due to not being able to even remotely sleep near that side...I had planned on taking a week off of work, however, it ended up being 2 weeks and I will still sore. I carry most all of my weight around my middle. Maybe that makes it harder to get the band in, thicker skin, which in return creates more pain.

I have lost 9 lbs in 9 days. I bought the Protein shakes from the grocery store whey Protein 32 grams of protein 3 grams of carbs and make my own protein shakes. I have protein for breakfast, apple for snack, Atkins bar with 12 grams of protein for lunch, apple for afternnon snack and fish or chicken with green vegatable for dinner. 3 oz of meat and cup of vegatable. Basically I can eat anything that is on adkins as long as not fatty because it's supposed to be a liver shrinking diet. If hunger in the evening I will eat another bar. or a Protein Drink mixed with Water instead of skim milk. Oh yeah my morning one is mixed with skim milk. I feel great and the weight is falling off. Also, this may be TMI but my bowel movevements only happen every few days but I know on those days I am going to lose weight if you know I mean. I have alwasy suffered from irritable bowel but not on this diet. Hope that helps. Tara

I buy the liquid at Whole Foods. Works for me. pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4

I'm bipolar, had my surgery 5 weeks ago. I've had no problems with my meds or any relapses from surgery. I've had no problem losing weight either. I lost a bunch pre surgery and losing post op.

I take nine pills every morning for a variety of major depression/anxiety/ADD issues. I have my pre-op appointment on November 4th and have to bring all my pill bottles so that the psychiatrist can talk to me about what I can and cannot take normally leading up to and after the surgery. I am so prayerful that getting the sleeve and finally losing some weight will get me off of some of this medication. I am only 26 years old and my depression/anxiety is so debilitating sometimes that it makes me sick. My doctor had absolutely no issues with my mental state and thinks that the sleeve will hopefully help with my disorders. However, I am self pay - insurance would not approve me for several reasons, although I don't know if any of the reasons had anything to do with my depression. I hope you figure things out, and good luck!!! ????

Have always been a runner—but it's also the reason I've elected for Bariatric surgery. At 386 pounds...can't even explain the looks I'd get in before starting the 5ks, but finishing in the middle of the pack was never an issue once I had built up after training. Though "admirable..." HOWEVER, I did serious effing damage, and have only ran once () since starting to reduce my weight because the doctor said I needed to stop immediately—until my body mass was reduced. The wear and tear on my ankles and left hip was too much, and he said I may have already done irreparable damage (). I'm 29-years old. When I ignored the doctor's orders and went on a five mile run a few months ago after not training for six months? I had to call out from work the next day from the pain, and I was sore for almost ten full days. I've taken off fifty pounds pre-op (I hope to lose another 34.5 before going under the knife), and even when I get sassy and run up/down the stairs, my injuries make themselves known right away. I've been doing yoga/strength training/swimming daily, but there is NOTHING like the Runner's High. I'm welling up actually typing this right now. Just remember that no matter where you start, how you start, how slow you are, what you look like... you're a runner. Humans were made to move. All love. Good luck. Build up strength in your legs and flexibility in your joints if you start a bit heavier, and everything will fall into place. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was probably around 260 when I started running and I developed problems with my knees, but I believe it was due to ignorance about how to properly care for my knees, not the weight itself. If you have proper shoes, do a proper warm-up, do post-run stretching, start off VERY slowly and for short intervals, and ice your knees after running, you should be able to avoid injury. Be for emy sleeve I began running again at about 250 and doing those things, I did not experience any knee problems.

Yes I have already read that and agree it is an excellent post with very helpful information. I am trying to figure out when it would be safe for me to start adding running to my walking routine at my age, weight, and out of shape condition. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

LOL, yep smoking pot and dieting don't go together. Like oil & Water. Time to not only lose weight, but to get healthy too. Give your lungs a break too. Plus the money going to pot, will be needed for new clothes. I was a teen in the 70's, know what your saying. No judgement here!

I had the sleeve 5 years ago and due to acid reflux and my esophagus was collapsing I had to have a revision to the bypass 14 months ago . I'm a 105lbs now and want to stop losing. I have been having issues since I had the revision. I just had a pick line in that I gained 20lbs and 3 weeks later it was gone. At first it was diarrhea and now its vomiting. I seemed to can't get a break. I felt great with the pick line in but that is dangerous walking around with a IV in your arm feeding you dripping over your heart. I just has another EDG on Monday and they found nothing again. I had to spend another $300 for that. I am trying to stay positive but this is getting very hard and expensive. Need someone to talk to.

When they take out blood and see where you are at, they will notice drug use. Hopefully your doctor won't terminate his services with you. Please stop the use or you will gain all yoru weight back.

Oh no I am not even a daily toker anymore just a couple times a week if that. Now I am not even going to do that for awhile. The weight loss is more important.

Yesterday seemed like a blur of appointments and blood work & tests. The highlight of my day was my annual appointment with my gynecologist--never thought I would say that. But, last visit, I was in there for ovarian cysts---not "Polycystic"--these were the kind they were really worried about...solid adnexal cysts with significant fluid around them. Didn't look good on the sonograms, but after being on the pill they have gone away. Problem is that I want to get pregnant again--sometime before I'm 35. The lady put my stats in the computer and I could see the history of the last 3 years as she did so. Weight 212.5, Height 5'4.5"....compared to last time of 203 and then the time before that at 186...I see a pattern. The girl didn't say anything. When I met with the GYN in his office we started talking about me wanting to get pregnant and then going back on the pill about a month ago. I took a breath and told him the surgery I am getting ready to have. I always feel trepidation when telling people. Not sure why--but am anticipating some kind of judgement or alarm. (Most of the time I get that!!) But anyway, He was OVERJOYED and SOOOOOOO supportive. He knows of my surgeon and said he's the best one around and that I would NEVER regret the surgery, and that someday I will look back and say it's the best thing I've ever done for myself. He looked at my blood pressure--history of weight--cysts...etc. He told me that he has had SEVERAL patients who have gone thru it and then have gotten pregnant--and they've done "remarkably"---and EVEN that they had LESS complications and problems than their FIRST pregnancies without the band. He just went on and on and the more he talked the more reassuring it was. I was thinking while I was waiting for the appointment...I wonder what he would say--and what it would take for him to say to make me NOT want to get it. Obviously that wasn't an issue. I have only three more hurdles before surgery. Monday is the first support group--my surgeon requires that I go to ONE before surgery......Tuesday is my PREOP appt with the surgeon (I will talk with the Nutritional Therapist at the same appt)...then the 10th starts my PREOP liquid diet. 19 days left...the countdown has begun!!! I am getting SOOO excited I can hardly stand it. My two sisters are distributors for this vitamin supplement called RELIV....they have talked me in to starting it NOW and taking it THRU the surgery--THRU POSTOP diet---etc. I'm excited about that too. It is a liquid vitamin--and 45 calories for the shot--which I can live with. It will provide plenty of great micronutrients vitamins and minerals. If I can get this stuff down then I'm good with whatever liquid protein stuff they can throw at me for this preop diet. I did my will---I know---that might be overkill, but it is a good feeling knowing that my baby girl will be ok if the worst were to happen. But, I'm hoping for the best ---and keeping my eyes on this Christmas and next summer and having a new little baby brother/sister for her.

Yesterday seemed like a blur of appointments and blood work & tests. The highlight of my day was my annual appointment with my gynecologist--never thought I would say that. But, last visit, I was in there for ovarian cysts---not "Polycystic"--these were the kind they were really worried about...solid adnexal cysts with significant fluid around them. Didn't look good on the sonograms, but after being on the pill they have gone away. Problem is that I want to get pregnant again--sometime before I'm 35. The lady put my stats in the computer and I could see the history of the last 3 years as she did so. Weight 212.5, Height 5'4.5"....compared to last time of 203 and then the time before that at 186...I see a pattern. The girl didn't say anything. When I met with the GYN in his office we started talking about me wanting to get pregnant and then going back on the pill about a month ago. I took a breath and told him the surgery I am getting ready to have. I always feel trepidation when telling people. Not sure why--but am anticipating some kind of judgement or alarm. (Most of the time I get that!!) But anyway, He was OVERJOYED and SOOOOOOO supportive. He knows of my surgeon and said he's the best one around and that I would NEVER regret the surgery, and that someday I will look back and say it's the best thing I've ever done for myself. He looked at my blood pressure--history of weight--cysts...etc. He told me that he has had SEVERAL patients who have gone thru it and then have gotten pregnant--and they've done "remarkably"---and EVEN that they had LESS complications and problems than their FIRST pregnancies without the band. He just went on and on and the more he talked the more reassuring it was. I was thinking while I was waiting for the appointment...I wonder what he would say--and what it would take for him to say to make me NOT want to get it. Obviously that wasn't an issue. I have only three more hurdles before surgery. Monday is the first support group--my surgeon requires that I go to ONE before surgery......Tuesday is my PREOP appt with the surgeon (I will talk with the Nutritional Therapist at the same appt)...then the 10th starts my PREOP liquid diet. 19 days left...the countdown has begun!!! I am getting SOOO excited I can hardly stand it. My two sisters are distributors for this vitamin supplement called RELIV....they have talked me in to starting it NOW and taking it THRU the surgery--THRU POSTOP diet---etc. I'm excited about that too. It is a liquid vitamin--and 45 calories for the shot--which I can live with. It will provide plenty of great micronutrients vitamins and minerals. If I can get this stuff down then I'm good with whatever liquid protein stuff they can throw at me for this preop diet. I did my will---I know---that might be overkill, but it is a good feeling knowing that my baby girl will be ok if the worst were to happen. But, I'm hoping for the best ---and keeping my eyes on this Christmas and next summer and having a new little baby brother/sister for her.

I am having a very hard time loosing any weight since the weather has gone into this deep freeze. I had my bypass a year &a day ago & I have been lucky the weight has been coming off steadily for this year with the infill now. Two weeks ago I got on the scale & was thrilled, I had broken through the 250's & weighed in at 248lbs, I stood on the scale & cried I was so excited. When I weighted in this week, the rotten thing said I was 258!! How did I gain 10lbs in a week??? I do mother & eat candy or sweets unless it is sugar free or under 10 grms of sugar. The only thing I can think of is I really haven't been out of bed in over a week, I have chronic RA &Fibromyalgia, & I have been in so much pain I haven't been able to move ( my RA is so bad that I am disabled from it & take pretty heavy duty pain killers) . Sorry this is so long & I sound like I'm whining, I guess I just need some advice/encouragement/etc. from people who have been through or -Maybe I just need to vent I don't know. A little help please?

Your telling me that you lost 138 lbs since last January....And your worried about not losing now...Your doing everything right except not exercising because of your health right now... Most people could not lose 138 lbs in a decade. Right now you are ill and so there is not a lot you can do with the weight issue except stay on track...Keep doing what you are doing and the weight will move....It has to! Try to get more Water in though as that helps weight loss. Stop being so hard on yourself and ease up on the scale okay...Get better and keep the program.....Don't falter! You got this!! I know it can become frustrating but really you have come so far...and most likely you will slow down and even gain a bit from time to time..But as it goes by your body will settle down to allow you to lose more....This is what I call a bump in the road........... I am sorry that you are unwell that just sucks!!!!!!! But you got this...And us too. We will be here to read what you feel and encourage you to keep on the straight and narrow.Not to lose sight of the goal line...That will be how you get the strength to push through this rough time.... So far so good..138 lbs is nothing to sneeze at....you got this...just keep swimming okay!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations on your surgery and weight loss!

KabinKitty, I know what you mean about stressing before a physical! I used to hate going to my annual physical at work b/c I would get the "talk" about my cholesterol, BP, weight, etc, etc, etc! BARF!! I'm a Nurse, for goodness sakes...I KNOW it's not healthy to be overweight. It just kills me that people think that b/c someone is overweight they can say ANYTHING to them. WHAT??? Not. Here's hoping that you get to join the losers' bench really soon! It is such a liberating thing to not have to be tied down to my mask at bedtime. My Husband loves that I don't snore anymore too.

MD specific. It's going to depend on some different factors. Some doctors like you to sneak up on restriction/satiety because it takes some time to learn how to eat like a Bandster. How much was put in during surgery? If he put in 5 CCs then 1 CC now is about right? How did your Q&A go before the fill? Did you tell him you're starving or that you're eating less due to the band? Did you lose a lot of weight since surgery? But, 1 CC is rather anemic from what I've read?

I don't know what they use, I would guess it would be the most current weight. This sounds terrible, but maybe load up on the fluids just before going in to get weighed so your BMI doesn't fall below the requirements.

Well yes that really does sucks!!!! Im still going to call my insurance company on monday just to make sure cause they sent me the requirements & it just said; these exact same words, The patient has been clinicall evaluated by an M.D. or D.O. who has documented failed medical management including a structured, professionally or physician-supervised weight-loss program for a minimum of six consecutive months prior to the recommendation for bariatric surgery. Saying nothing about with-in the previous year. Is you with BC/BS of Michigian? I know some BC/BS are different than others. Well when i call Monday i will let you know what they said. Thanks so much for your replies!