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Yay you!!!!! That’s awesome!!! I haven’t worn shorts since 1998 when I backpacked through Europe post college graduation and I was thin! Ugh! I did, however, purchase a skirt last week! I’m not dreading our super hot summers here in Silicon Valley bc I can wear skirts now and not the ones from the big girl Store! I was able to get one from Anne Taylor in an 8! Omg! I still can’t believe it’s true!! The feeling of not dreading the hot summer is so freeing!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Great! Just didn’t want you developing a false sense of security based on the blood test. We tend to think what shows up in our blood is a measure of the adequacy of our diet but for things like calcium and protein it isn’t. Protein in the blood is actually a bad thing (poorly functioning kidneys)as is too much calcium (over production of parathyroid hormone). Those things can’t be assessed with a blood test. I don’t doubt you are getting enough calcium, I just think it’s important for future readers to have all the facts available. When I had my parathyroid surgery my surgeon wasn’t familiar with bariatrics and told me to use calcium carbonate to supplement. I wound up in the ER with tetany and I agree... OUCH! He upped my calcium carbonate and prescribed active vitamin D. Tetany subsides but when I had a bone density test they not only found osteoporosis but intestines full of undigested calcium. They asked me if I had recently done a barium swallow bc they couldn’t figure out what all the white stuff showing up in my intestines was!

I have had 4 or my 6 required office visits with my doctor. I've completed my psych eval, nutritional assessment, had test run/Blood work/EKG/Upper GI and 1 of 2 nutrition courses.. So I hope paperwork will be getting submitted for approval early June, bc my last office visit is Late May... Anxiously awaiting.

The way I look at it… It’s kind of like having a kid! After so long you start no longer counting the smaller increments of time bc it messes you up and just embrace the larger ones! So….I am going with months! HW 242, SW 236- (Bypass 12/20/17) GW#1- 199 [emoji736] (2/11/18) GW#2- 180 [emoji736] (4/2/18) GW#3- 160 CW 174 5’6”

i have care first blue shield which is a fed blue in maryland and the only out of pocket stuff i will pay is copays so for everything it will cost around 600 total that is it

My psych appt was in and out probably 10 min and I did this 3 times bc I was scared of surgery so had to redo paperwork multiple times

Now I don’t want to make anyone else jealous, but I just finished my psychiatric evaluation over the phone and it took all of 15 minutes. That’s it. No paperwork. No questionnaires. Done over the phone. No sweat. Granted, this did cost me $400 and it is not covered by my PPO. There was also the option of doing it via skype but since I'd have to do it during work hours and i can't use my company laptop for personal use, so I opted for phone. We arranged for a time for me to call her last week so I called her right on time as planned. She first asked why I was pursuing the surgery. I explained that while my eating has not gotten out of control, my various ailments including a bad back that may require surgery, arthritis in my shoulders and bone spurs in both big toes have made it difficult if not impossible to exercise without pain. I have not been increasing my portion sizes over the last few years as my weight climbed, but without the ability to burn off the excess calories I just kept getting bigger. Next, she asked some medical history questions (I never drink to excess because I’m allergic to alcohol and I’ve never smoked or taken illegal drugs) then asked if I was an emotional eater, a binge eater, a habitual eater or a miscellaneous eater, i.e. problems like portion control, which we’d already covered and I’d already identified myself as being. We went into a little detail about my current eating habits and previous weight loss attempts, which had mostly been successful when I could exercise freely. She asked about the kind of support I’ll have for the surgery and during my recovery at home. I explained that my daughter (who graduates from college this Friday with a BS in psych and a 3.7 GPA, thank you very much) will be taking me to and from the surgery. That’s because when I have it in late May/early June, my wife will still be recovering from knee replacement surgery. So, my kids (my freshman son was nominated by a professor for membership in an honors society that only admits 15 kids from each graduating class at his school, again, thank you very much) will be taking care of both of us. We consider it only a tiny portion of the payback they owe us for putting them through a private college. Finally, she went into a little detail about the required post-surgical changes in habits, such as measuring and logging food and sticking to the prescribed post-surgical plans, and asked if I thought I’d be able to handle. Having read through this board, some FB groups and all the literature I got from the surgeon’s office at my initial consult, I repeated everything back to her chapter and verse to confirm I know exactly what’s expected of me. I also told her that I’m far too cheap to spend all the money on the surgery only to throw it all away with bad habits. She asked if I knew about the types of complications that could arise, so again I referenced this board and the FB groups, explaining I’ve learned a lot about the types of problems that come up most frequently. She asked if I had any fear of the surgery and I said I’ve had many surgeries in my life, so I’m not afraid of it, plus I know that for each person who complains about a post-surgical ailment, there are probably fifty who do not have that problem so the odds are clearly in favor of not having complications. That was pretty much it. She said the approval will be on its way to my surgeon by the end of the day. I gave her my email address so she could send me some literature she likes to send all of her patients and her contact information in case I had any further questions. I am not kidding when I say it took me twice as long to write this as the phone call itself. With this and my endoscopy both out of the way, all I’ve got left before submitting for approval is my final visit with the nutritionist and the pre-op visit with my PCP who’ll also take care of my chest x-ray and EKG. The only real problem between now and the surgery is avoiding the temptation of pigging out at my daughter's graduation party...

Accountability Menu - 7weeks B1: 3 protein lattes (15g P) B2: 1/2c egg white scramble with ground turkey crumbles, spin, mush, green salsa (14g P) L: 1 hb large egg + 1.5oz BH blackened turkey + 1/2oz grape toms + 1/2oz baby carrots (15g P) AS: 1/2c chopped salad (4g P) 14g ea shredded cabbage, baby organic spinach, peeled cucumber, rbp 10g chopped purple onion 1 slice HSF BFHam 4g reduced fat fet WF Italian D: 1/2c Cheesy Turkey Italian Sausage & Veg with Marinara and Garlic Zoodles (16g P) 2oz Jennie-O Italian Seasoned Ground Turkey 1/2oz each red onion, rbp, mushrooms 2tbsp low carb marinara (Taste of Italy, Cent Market) 8g 6 cheese blend (Sargento) 1/2tbsp grated parmesan (Frigo) 1/3 tsp EVOO 1 garlic clove 1oz zucchini noodles BS: All Vitamins and meds Daily Totals: 556 cals; 64g protein; 23g fat; 29g carbs; 4g fiber; 25g net carbs; 9g nat. sugars

Ok, so it sounds like a fatty tumor or lipoma. The question I would ask him is if it's growing inside the wall of the intestine, or if it's growing outside the intestine or growing inside the intestine itself and if it will continue to grow? Why can't it be removed? Does it pose a threat to from the standpoint of bowel obstruction or pain? How big is it? What are they going to do to keep an eye on it and monitor it. Just FYI. (Sorry being 7 years out from a late BC and having too many to count scares with "new masses" that the docs are now all "following" it's just not everyone knows to ask these kinds of questions.)

I need to write a country song....I am so mad I could bake a whole chocolate ganache cake and eat it until I puke. I am not doing that, I am too lazy to go to all that effort....🍰🍷🍰🍷🍰🍷🍰🍷But this is now ridiculous to be sitting at this same weight for over 2 months. <rant over> WAIT. And the damn weather sucks too, snow. <now rant over>

When I called they told me someone will call me...I’m gonna call back tomorrow bc it’s been a week

My program says no to patches bc they do not work and no to gummies bc they are incomplete and full of sugar.

What plan is GEHA with? I don't know any federal employee that has something other than Fed BCBS. With Fed BCBS, all I've paid is co-pays Psyc Eval $40 Diet I did through my Primary Care Dr. 4 visits at $30 = $120 Surgeon Initial Eval $40 Cardiologist Clearance $40 Swallow Test $0 Total $240 Then for the surgery, Fed BCBS covers everything except a $100 Dr. Fee and then $175 per night hospital stay, and IF I'm in the hospital more than 5 days insurance pays 100% of the hospital stay.

i havent had time for appts bc im trying to get my mom into a nursing home and now im looking for a new job. I really dont want to start this whole process over 😳😧😩

I'm also a fed and I have GEHA. Any idea on total out-of-pocket costs for BCBS Federal? My out-of-pocket costs are adding up quickly, and I'm still a few months away from surgery. For example: - Initial surgeon consult co-pay: $30 - Dietitian/nutritionist pre-op visits (not covered): $350 - Psychologist eval (not covered because annual ded not met): $360 - 6 post-op dietitian visits: $350 - primary doctor pre-op clearance, ekg, and other testing: $? - final pre-op appointment w/surgeon or his PA: $30 - 4 post-op visits w/surgeon or PA: $120 - surgery/hospital/anesthesia costs: 15% of ~31,000 or $4600 Total cost to me: $6000 or so. This seems somewhat shockingly high now that I've added it all up, and I'm not even sure my list is complete. How does BCBS Federal compare?

I am 35 BMI with a few health issues HBP & High cholesterol. I just got approved the anthem BC/BS. Surgery date set for June 5. My experience with life is you can lose but hard to maintain. I have fluctuated my entire life ... I look forward to having a more permanent tool to help. Best wishes with your journey!! Keep us in the loop!

Hi Stacy, Yes, my doctor doesn't submit the paperwork for approval until everything on the checklist is done. They were waiting for the approval letter from Fed Blue to give me a surgery date. Impatient means I didn't want to wait. Fed Blue snail mails their approval letters, but if you email them through the website they'll upload it there so you can download it. Just a tip, if your doctor submits the paperwork on any day other than Monday, Fed Blue only uploads paperwork into their system on Mondays. My paperwork was sent in on the 27th, put into the Fed Blue system on 4/2 and then a decision was made on 4/3. So they were pretty quick once they had the paperwork uploaded in the system. Good luck!! Felicia

Hi, So did you doctor already approve you? I have Fed Blue as well and currently in nutrition courses and waiting to get an approval letter, or simply when I'll get one. Also what does impatient mean? (Sorry if my questions are coherent, a newbie at this) Thanks in advance for your response! Stacy

I have surgery soon and am at my high weight. My current clothes should be fine for a moment, then I have a few things in the hopeful/someday corner of my closet. I don't have much bc I never bought myself much thinking "I'll only be this size for a little bit" Well a little bit turned into a few years. But . . . . . SOMEDAY is almost here!

I'm with Fluffy Chix! This sounds like total BS. At 2 weeks out with this list of food this person would be in the emergency room! Surgery is pretty drastic if you have no intention of trying at all.

I too feel that way. I think it must have a lot to do with what we are putting in our bodies-we are so hyperaware now bc we have to be. I’m also working out with weights now and I think that has a lot to do with it. Congrats on a fabulous loss!!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Hey @frust8 There are still foods I love! I went to a restaurant and ordered tuna carpaccio - 6 thin slices of raw tuna seared a little around the edges (seared before slicing) with 6 slices cucumber, tiny dots of wasabi mayo, tiny dots of shaved red chilli, and drizzled with citrusy ponzu sauce. It was a pants-down-party in my mouth!! But - even though each slice was maybe 3 inches x1 inch and very thin, the first two were great, the next two nice, and the last two were “I need the protein”. I suspect even back as a champion eater, I only ever really loved the first few mouthfuls - but then in the BS (before surgery) days I didn’t realise I wasn’t loving the meal the same until I had eaten three cups full and felt pogged!

Hello, I experienced the same exact thing. It seemed everybody healed by the first week except me. And I was still very tender and even getting sharp pains on my right side. It was really annoying bc I wanted to start strength training by the 6th week but was still in pain. I could stretch or reach for anything without being in pain. I’m on my 8th week tomorrow. It’s better but still get that side pain if I bend down to get something. Hang in there

I'm going through the same thing you are. My surgeon wouldn't do it all in one surgery unfortunately, but that's okay. I've had my band since 2010, had issues with it for years, they unfilled it and I'm back to pre band weight and then some. Had my band removed in Feb and now I'm going through the motions to get the approval for the revision, but from what I know and I've talked to insurance and they said as long as it's needed I should get approved. I have Fed BCBS too and I've not had any problems getting anything approved before, so I hope that's the case this go round as well. Good luck!

I have 2 friends who have preceeded me to WLs, one sleeve and one RnY, seems strange in a city of 18,000 there aren't more. I can tell you in my own city and county there are MANY who could profit from bariatric surgeries, we tend to,be "corn fed" I would love to lecture them on the wisdom of Bariatrics then I remember I would not have appreciated it before. I took suggestions of weight loss as a personal attack, after all I was good enough a person already. I think you have to come to the decision for yourself, it is not something you are ordered to do!! My thought: You reach a point where surgery is less fearsome than continuing to live obese, sad and feeling society's rejection everywhere you turn. You are at best 2nd class citizens, bullied and reviled for nothing more than taking up more space in life than they are willing to grant you. Often they do not see the "you", they see a fat shell instead.I don't think I've been normal sized since puberty, and before that? Pudgy ,on the high side of average at best. Shoot at 1 year.I was 36 inches& 35 pounds, I was drafted into obesity before I was old enough to enlist. I was always "Big for Her Age" until puberty when the kindness stopped and I became only the Fat Red-headed chick on the outside of every group and clique around. I seldom dated,no guy wanted a girl who weighed more than them, not even the football and wrestling teams. And they all missed out,because even then size be d*****d I was and still am a wonderful person to know,smart, witty yet kind-hearted, if they had only given me a chance! But still I went on, if I couldn't be pretty, cute and perky,I could,be smart so I buried myself in books where I couldn't be misjudged. Anybody looking for someone who can recite the US presidents, name the 88 Ohio counties and tell an important fact about each one, recite the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence? No one else did either. At one time I could recite every Ohio Governor from territory through statehood and quote the length of term. But dance? The only ones willing to dance with me were my girlfriends, when a guy finally asked,me to dance I had an embarrassing tendency to Lead, well I always been the tallest so....... One said to me' Stop trying to lead", my answer was" One of us has to and I'm not too confident of YOUR ability!"Needless to say I was on the side lines, with all the other wallflowers soon. Now,after all the dings of life, bearing more than few scars , I present myself at the altar of Bariatric Surgery,begging to be granted an audience and the surgery I so earnestly went. Will I have success? I have every intention of it, a wise woman, I believe it was@ proudgrammy, said "There is only Do or Not Do, there is no Try! " So I move forward with the hard won courage of my life toward the Target, not running but firmly stepping each step to the conclusion.[emoji13] I can but hope there are others who will cheer me on but if not-- I am still,persevering . And I will be the very best ME I can be for at the finish,this is truly My Own Victory[emoji304],[emoji573]alone. [emoji13][emoji295] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app