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I just wanted understanding of how to have a man understand at 11pm when ur friend is with friends and their kids are gone and my kids are tired a d asleep didn't need to be drove 30mins to hand deliver tickets when he was driving by our house this morning. He said he didn't want to get up to give them to him. I just don't understand how when he's been sick this entire week I've took great care of him. But I get sick vomit get attitude bc I'm walking slow and then told I don't like his friends bc I just wanted ro cone home a d lay down. Sorry I just wanted to be vent bc my feelings where hurt when I do so much fo someone I'm treated like that. That's all.

Hello everyone my name is Ellie and I am about to get a sleeve on September 29! This was all very sudden and unexpected unlike some folks who have researched this for many years and gone through a long qualifying process, I have stumbled onto this procedure through a very roundabout way and in a matter of weeks I was approved. I am 37 years old and I weigh 270lbs at 5.8", I am hypothyroidic, I have sleep apnea and I'm prediabetic at this time. A Little history: In 2007 I weighed 273 pounds! I had mild sleep apnea but aside from that I was relatively healthy. I had the Lap band procedure done mostly because I did not like the way I looked. But the band yielded very little results, despite 13 fills and unfills to adjust, I never achieved an ideal restriction and was always hungry the weight that I did lose was because I was starving and working out and then I plateaued at about 245 pounds. Then I got pregnant in 2009 I decided to take all liquid out of the band (complete unfill) so that I could eat tons of vegetables and fruits. Funnily enough during the pregnancy and the one that followed I actually lost weight!? I guess something to do with the baby and the restriction I felt because the baby was pushing against the the band. At birth I was 214lbs. But as soon as my children came out in 2010 and 2013, even as I breast-fed, I was completely ravenous and the pounds returned at an alarming rate. So I have found myself right back to where I started at 270 pounds. Only this time mother nature has not been so kind... I am prediabetic and my sleep apnea has returned with a vengeance! On a day to day bases I ache and hurt like an old rickety roller coaster! I feel like I am walking through Jell-O all the time everything has just slowed down. Even so, being busy with a three-year-old and a five-year-old and being a full-time working mom I put myself in last place and have not focused much on trying to lose the weight. It's basically been, whatever I need to do to make it to the next day! I have ignored the aching that my body feels on a day-to-day basis and how hard it has become living and getting around at this weight. I have ignored the emotional and social impact of my weight, or maybe ignored is not the best word, more like drowned out with more food. And I experience some of what most mothers will relate to, I don't want to be in pictures with my children because I feel like I ruin the pictures with my presence. But even all this did not bring me to a decision to refill my lapband or do anything about it until a few weeks ago... In unrelated events I twisted funnily and managed to cause harm to my port. I was in severe pain like having stitches after running but the pain never went away. So due to that event, I finally went back to see my bariatric surgeon and upon further examination I was told that my port had ripped out of my muscles and was now flipped. Great! It was then that my surgeon told me that my options were to repair the port and try the band again or do something different. He recommended I try the sleeve because if I was initially unsuccessful with the band chances of me being successful the second time around were slim to none. I had heard about the sleeve before but never really in-depth. I also have gallstones and have had two attacks which I feel is not enough to warrant surgery but my surgeons seem to think differently. They say the gallbladder wall has thickened and that it is a matter of if and not when I will need to have it removed I hate surgery I do terrible with general anesthesia it takes me hours and hours of tortured nauseated foggy horrible sickness and pain to come out of it. And there is nothing I want more than to avoid having to go through another surgery. However My surgeon sent me to other surgeon who specializes in lap band revision who said he could perform all three surgeries at one time!! He would take out the Lapband remove my gallbladder and perform the gastric sleeve. And we are close to maxing out our yearly insurance maximum out of pocket, so if approved these procedures will be completely at no cost to me!! If I have to go under the knife anyways, I reason, I might as well get as much stuff done at one time, so that I don't have to go under the knife several times. I have not had too much time to do research on the sleeve or get emotionally prepared for the journey ahead but I have spent the past few weeks ferociously researching and ferociously reading up on it and doing a lot of soul-searching realizing that given my Freewill to eat, I am killing myself by being morbidly obese. My doctor submitted the proposal for surgeries to my insurance and I prepared for a long wait. However a week later I found myself getting approved by my insurance and my doctors office saying September 29 is available so start your diet now!! WOA????? No time for food funerals, no time for that last binge, no time to take a cruise which I love to do because of all the deliciousness, and no time to deliberate too long. I do have an option of doing it at the next available date in November but that would be very close to holidays and who knows what other circumstances could arise to prevent me from having the surgery at that time. It seems like all the factors have aligned together perfectly... my job is willing to let me go for that period of time the surgery will cost me nothing I can do three in one surgeries and I can have it relatively soon so that I don't have an agonizing time to wait and stress about it. It's like it's now or never. Most reviews I've read have people saying they wish they had done it sooner. I have already started my pre-op diet which means I would've only been on it for 10 days versus 12 like most people. And unlike most people rather than being on full liquids I have been placed on a South Beach supercharged phase 1 diet that includes lean meats, low-fat dairy and vegetables. I am finally wrapping my brain around what is about to take place mentally emotionally and physically. I have stocked up on many things and thanks to all you wonderful sharing caring people that have taken time to share your journey I have had a chance to very quickly catch up on all the information that I will need to be successful. But I'm so scared and so nervous not even about the liquid diet following surgery , (although, my coworker who got the sleeve weeks ago says that she is hungry all the time), or anything like that but of the surgery itself of being under Anastasia, of the pain I will feel when I wake up, and I wonder if I will miss the stomach that God gave me with which I was born...I'm sure all these things have crossed your mind too. And because my Lapband failed I fear that if this procedure does not work for me and I shall be that one anomaly for whom this did not work, there is not much else to be done. And since this is so life altering and Permanent, I don't know where to go from there if it does not work out for me. I know...I know...not thoughts I should be thinking .., but I'm being candid and sharing from the deepest parts of my heart the secret fears that I have, I would never admit to anyone. Any words of encouragement advice, solidarity, anything will be so very much appreciated at this time! Like many of you my weight loss journey is a very personal and private one and I don't have much support from the few friends with whom I have shared this information. I am sorry this has been long, but the welcome letter encouraged that we share details about our experience and I hope that Sharing this much will give you a more in-depth insight into my personal journey struggles and fears. Sending you blessings and green lights, Ellie

Does anyone have the surgery codes for bc/bs? I have a friend who really needs them. Thanks! * I have UHC and have my codes... but I still need to lose about 75 more pounds before I consider those surgerys.

I also had my surgery in Oct of 2022 and I'm like dead center in the hair shedding phase and it's made me so sad bc i have always had really nice hair and I've lost so much 😭

Hi guys and gals, I'm a newbie and went to my first seminar 2 weeks ago. I was told I have to do the 6 month dr supervised diet/weigh in for bc/bs of AL. How long after your last weigh in does it take to get the approval letter? Thanks to all who respond!

Well this will be short out of frustration. When I weighed my self Wednesday I was sitting pretty at 188, when I did my official weigh in on Friday I was at 190.1, for a total weight loss of -1.5 this week compared to last Friday (and since I'm being 100% honest with myself I'm going with my Friday weigh in Number not the lowest number I saw during the week). NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. In fact I was so frustrated I waited until noon and re-weighed myself on Friday and still no change. I had to leave for a trip at 1pm on Friday and got so distracted I ended up running behind and running out of time to update my numbers or blog on here (hence why I'm updating today in stead of a couple of days ago). The only silver lining to my numbers going up and down so much in a few days is that I KNOW THE CULPRIT. I'm not regularly going to the bathroom. THe past 3 weeks I have been, suddenly something this last week changed and I haven't been able to go in about a week or more, and my body is obviously reacting. Things I'm doing to combat the situation: 1) Taking a probiotic EVERY DAY to get back on track. 2) I'm doing dissolvable miralax in my coffee every other day. 3) Taking a vitamin every day. Drinking water is not a problem, nor is working out. I've got those two things down solidly. But when your body isn't working properly there is no way your going to see effective weight loss. I even feel bloated right now. It's an icky terrible feeling of being desperate and wanting to shed the toxins out of your body with no idea when it is going to happen. Frustrating. I should be thankful I'm not in a full blown stall, BUT I workout soooo many hours a day, only seeing a -1 bs weight loss AND FEELING bloated is just a big fat NO GO. So I'm focusing on taking my medicine, hoping I get some regularity back and crossing my fingers this week is better than last week. Height: 5'9 Heighest Weight: 216 Current Weight: 190.1 (Total weight loss since surgery -25.9 lbs) 1st Goal Weight: 169 Sleeved: (8/17/2012): 216 lbs Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5)

I have wrote on here before about my marriage issues. I don't know where else to turn bc my friends and family want me to leave my husband A little background information, We are high school sweethearts that got reunited after my first marriage. He was the one that got away. But during that time he got addicted to marijuana. I always dabbled too, but it was more social for me. After a while, I started smoking 3, 4 times a day. My weight started going up and up. Finally I got it under control, but hubby has not My kids are now smelling it, it's causing major fights between us. Financially it's killing us too. My husband has left countless jobs, wrecked numerous cars and has a family history of alcohol ism and I see him going down that path too We fight constantly bc I keep trying to control everything, which then leads me exhausted mentally with my children. I feel my 11 year old gets the brunt of my lack of patience. I work 40 to 65 hours a week. I cook, clean, run all the errands while my husband sits back and does bare minimum. He is finally working in an amazing job, but surprise surprise he hates that too. He plans on leaving in a year when he gets called for another job. However, this job drugs tests. When I write this all out, I feel like the answer is to leave. Well have him leave. We have been going to therapy for over 4 years and he has made very little change. I don't know what to do. I feel so good about myself. I lost over 120lbs. I got my plastics too. Everything is great but my marriage. I gave him an ultimatum It's us or the drugs. But if it's not the pot then it will be alcohol. I just need help from other married folks. Should I get divorced again, should I try to make this work. I do love him but not all the drama he brings to the table. Thank u for letting me vent

my port is soo painful! It is still swollen, dr said it is normal bc it is sewn extra good to the muscle. Yuck!

Totally normal to be nervous - I almost backed out a week or two after scheduling. The closer I got the calmer I got though, which is weird. Or maybe I just didn't have the energy to be nervous bc I was too lethargic from the Pre-Op diet! I think you are lucky to be doing it young. Not that it should be taken lightly, but in my 20's and 30's I wasn't heavy enough to be a candidate - still struggled with my weight/dieting/body image, but just not extreme enough for this kind of medical intervention. I am 45 now, and when I look at the before and after pics, some of the women just look SO amazing, and then I realize that they are the ones who had it done while they were younger. Everything bounces back better Not to dis the rest of us, we still look and feel a far cry better than if we had not had the procedure, (I'm 10 days post-op now, so I'm kind of an expert, haha), but I think for most in our age group, it's the body contouring and "lifts" and skin tightening that make the best end result aesthetically speaking. Just remind yourself that you made this decision for a good reason and try not to second-guess that too much, because that's extra stress that really isn't worth it. Just shoot for "optimistically cautious"

YES! We DO want to see and want to know, and you can (or I can because they're probably reading my response) tell whoever complained to you that they can go fly a really big kite to another land. This is REALITY, this is WHY we are losing weight, isn't it? To look good and be healthy if only for ourselves? And I challenge ANYONE who tells me that they aren't interested in losing weight for how they look. Saying that is like saying you've never been a "Master of your Domain." You're lying if you deny that there is at least a small part of this that is about looks. I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for posting all of these pics. I especially appreciate being able to see the under the breast access scars and the around the nipple scars. I think it's incredibly wonderful that you are posting things like this for us. You are so right, breasts are NATURAL, many of us fed our children with them, they are NOT completely sexual parts of our anatomy. We are toooooo hung up on nudity meaning something sexual. It's they way we come into this world, why should we be ashamed? I love ya, Jenna!!!!!

I should be ashamed for asking this but im 6 weeks post op gas anyonr eaten hot wings not breaded bc i dont wanted breaded wings. Is it ok to eat?

I didn't take that approach bc I was afraid of gaining weight I worked so hard to lose. I did however enjoy a little bit of sourdough bread with my favorite homemade French onion soup.

I am type 2 diabetic. Purpose for surgery is to help control. I've had it for 18 years so any hope that it will completely go away is little. Keeping it controlled is my goal. I was told anesthesiologist will not do surgery unless my bs is 200. I was told not to lose any weight so I was eating whatever. After being told this I'm no sugar no carb. Hoping to get my numbers good for Nov 4 surgery. I'm trying to be so obedient to all the rules and the rules keep changing. I really want to hear from other diabetics and their journey! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

WOW! It looks like BCBS Fed covers all ranges, 3 days to 4 weeks for approval. Well my surgeon's office is "swamped" with insurance authorization requests to send out. My appt was Jan 24 and they havent sent my stuff to BCBS yet so .... I'm waiting for them to catch up. I guess I'll call at the end of next week and hope to know something from BCBS Fed sometime in March or earlier.

LOL, Tibbie! Alien butt probe indeed! Yeah, that stuff is nasty! I worked in a prison while in college and the high carb diet fed to the inmates caused them to have problems. Mag Citrate is what I ordered for them (Pharmacy Tech) and they had to drink it standing in front of me because it came in glass bottles that I had to confiscate. More than one solved their constipation issue after the first sip, or decided they would rather be constipated than drink that crap.

I had boston market meatloaf. I ordered a kids meal, with creamed corn and as I ate I fed my cornbread to the birds. I got my meal, went to the park and my dd and I had lunch and then we played tag, it was the first time I had the energy to run and play with her, she had just tuned 4. ~Mandy

Most meds are safe while nursing, bring it up with your team. They should know your situation beforehand bc they can choose safer medications to give you. This could allow you to not have to dump at all. Example: for nausea zofran is better than phenergan if you are nursing. Definately bring your pump. Hospitals have them, but not outside of OB. They could track one down for you, but if the nurses are busy it could take a long time. Some surgical groups want you to be done nursing b4 surgery bc your body will be in starvation mode. That being said, baby is eating other food too and not relying on you for total nutrition so it might be ok. I totally get baby led weaning, it is what I did. One decided to be done at 15 months, the other at 18 months. I started the surgical process as soon as I was done nursing. Even if they make you wait it shouldn't be too long. Unless you plan on nursing until preschool, but that would be another issue for another forum. Lol 😄

Mari3997, Pre-op diet will definitely help you and helps get "your head" into the right place for your new fabulous healthy life. Support system? I have no one. My husband tried to talk me out of it, NOPE! My body, my life, I make my own decisions...autonomy. Find support groups here, Facebook, IG, etc, research youtube videos on bariatric surgeries. Some FEAR is normal but still wasted energy and can become crippling. Find a way to reduce fear to a reasonable concern. I responded to another post with this...it might help you, I hope so, just do it. Definitely do it! At 71, 100lbs overweight, in pain constantly, both knees destroyed by arthritis, peripheral neuropathy in both feet with hot burning pins and needles when standing and walking, back pain. My journey started in orthopedics with knees, steroid injections, worked well most of the time, but didn't stop the occasional fall [3 to 4 times a year]. I knew sooner or later something would break. I would have had knee replacement sooner except for covid & elective surgeries were cancelled for two years [socialized medicine ***] weight gain, but developed hypertension. Researched weight loss thru ***, and because I had obstructive sleep apnea, I would qualify, and found this bariatric surgery should be first before the knees. I researched, attended classes, youtube videos, surgeons, after care, supplements etc. I wanted the Roux-N-Y but at my age surgeon said no, VSG. The surgeon recommended to me, is EXTREMELY strict and no BS kind of guy, he canceled my first surgery date because he didn't like something I did, so I really buckled down to his protocol. I knew I would have nausea and vomiting from anesthesia so I told EVERYONE, to give me whatever so this didn't happen. Well...it happened, no medication, and postop recovery the uncontrollable violent projectile dry heaves started, nurse good, gave IV Zofran, the IV Reglan and within a few minutes it stopped, but it was bad. I went home the next day. I had all my foods for week two, supplements etc. I am keeping up with supplements and fluids but not hungry. Dr said eat 1/4 cup every 2-3 hours otherwise your body will try to hold on to everything and the metabolism shifts. I'm going to add the vitamin patches from Bariatric Pal to my daily regimen of chews and capsules, [ I am very fatigued] for a while and see how this works. I use Mira Lax/:axa Clear equivalent in my morning water bottle and use a stool softener at night. Find whatever works for you, the stool softeners alone did not work for me. Trying to find my new normal, I knew it would be a process. I have NO regrets, and would tell anyone considering surgery to 'go for it' and FOLLOW directions strictly. Once I pass the phase of full liquids and get into pureed foods it will be another advancement. During surgery found a hiatal hernia and did the repair. Who Knew?! I didn't, glad it's done. My significant weight loss will help me in recovery for total knee replacement. I'm looking forward to repairing the rest of my body in my older age. Best wishes to you. Surgery May 15. 

Hey guys. My kidney function tanked due to a severe infection. I'm afraid my surgery has been postponed to some far off future date. I. Am. So. Disappointed. I need good healing vibes not only for my physical ailments but for my emotional well being as well. I feel worthless. I feel like a burden to my employer. I've had to take off so much work for the prerequisites and now I'm off for who knows how long. My husband is fed up with me. I can tell. I've never heard him sigh so much in the almost 5 hours we were in the ER. He had to take off work too. My mom is possibly facing a cancer diagnosis and wants to postpone her tests and Drs appointments. I keep telling her not to. That I'm being taken care of. Thanks for listening.

Just curious for those of you from Canada and going to Mexico for surgery. Who will do your fills? Just curious as it seems much easier in the US to find a doctor who will do fills. I don't know of any in BC. I have heard really good things about the surgeons in Mexico, so good luck to you and let us know how it goes.

I've never had regular periods. In fact, AF went missing pretty much between 1995 and 2005. (then I had babies and they sorta kinda came back every 5-6 weeks) And I have PCOS. I don't want to get pregnant right now because I'm on this weight loss journey so first I was put on Yaz. But my periods started happening EVERY 3 FREAKING WEEKS! I complained to my doc and he said Yaz shouldn't be perscribed to overweight women bc it doesn't have enough hormones for the weight. So he put me on Microgestin, which is supposed to be stronger. So finally the first month, I got 4 weeks between periods. And now, 2 weeks after my last AF, she's here AGAIN! What gives???? I've had AF FIVE times in 2.5 months! (which happens to coincide with when I started the whole lap band thing...) Someone please tell me you've been through this...

Apparently there was a problem with my liver when they did surgery. It was very fatty still and bled more than it should have. They almost had to give me a blood infusion. So scary, I’m glad I didn’t know that until today. I must not be in too bad of shape though bc they sent me home this evening.

I went last night for my "cosmetic" sleep study. I still can't get over the fact the insurance co may not pay for it because they consider it cosmetic (since it's being ordered pre lap band) Darn BC/BS IL. Anyway, I barely slept. I had about a half hour of REM sleep at the end of the night, the rest of the night I just layed there like a log...an awake log :thumbup: The girl who did it would not tell me what the conclusion was (I fully understand, it's against policy, and she is not a doctor) but, the impression she gave me was that it was OK :sad: I was really hoping it would show I had sleep apnea. Furst and foremost..it would really help my chances of getting the surgery OK'd (they are waiting on my study results, as well as 5 years weight documentation. Secondly...if the study is deemed medically necessary (I have apnea) the insurance co will pay for it too. Otherwise, I am on the hook for it. I hope they call me back for another study if this one was inconclusive in any way (I fell asleep pretty quickly, though the tech had to come in and put 0xygen on me before I went into REM, so perhaps that is enough to show a potential problem?) I guess a girl can hope.

I spoke to bc/bs il and asked them about the sleep study denial. They said it was billed out with a diagnosis of Hyerpsomnia not sleep apnea. I had to call the hospital dr office etc and have them write up a referral just in case, and change the diagnosis. They are also going to send a hard copy of the report just in case. Lets hope all goes well. The ins co told me if the diagnosis was sleep apnea it was covered. I would say mild or severe it should be covered. Good luck

Peanut butter! Yeah, yeah, I know - there's the stuff you grind yourself, there's PB2, there's Peanut Butter flavored Protein - I've tried those and even use them sometimes. But they're just not Jif. That's what my mother fed me, and I will always, always love it!