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Well guys my surgery is in 2 hours. I'm not nervous or anxious but I probably will be when I get prepped for the procedure.So let's see, sleep I don't think I had a decent nights sleep for days leading up to today.I guess anxious is the best word. After doing the all day liquid diet, I'm not physically hungry its more of a mental hunger. If that makes any since. My mouth is dry, n all the above. I will keep u guys posted on what to expect bc I know there is always more information n stories that people want to hear..The good the bad and the ugly!

My surgery date was set for yesterday and I was denied again on Tues. So frustrating. My surgeon wants to appeal. I'm ready to just be done with all the BS here and head to Mexico. I'd actually pay less there then my out of pocket with insurance here!

Pink! You and i have the same day! Aug 21! I'm 5'5'. 51 yrs old. Doc wants me around 120 bcs i have two knee replacements. The lighter I am the longer they'll last. But I'll be passed out from shock like an earlier poster said. :-)

I have been thinking about seeing an endocrinologist for the pcos for a while but i was kind of hoping my dr. could take care of it... we will see how it goes... But i am actually under the 200lb mark and still need to be on the bc... im at 194lb right now

Has anyone 's Dr. had reservations about birth control pills because of high blood pressure? My Dr. has refused for seven years to put my on BC because of my BP...and it's being treated.

Oh my... I feel better that I am not alone in my battles my hubby is sweet man, he cares about the family, but he has big problem with over-using the Facebook and Internet in general. He can read Wikipedia for hours, leaving our 1.5 year old twins watching TV and fight over toys. He is not working, I make money and he is stay home dad... Or maybe stay home lawn mower... I love him dearly, but I am so exhausted leaving to work at 5.30am before kids wake up, coming home at 4.30, cooking for the family, cleaning little bit.. And before I know it it is time for twins to go to bed. After they are in bed, I take shower and go to bed myself, because I wake up at 4.30, etc... And the story repeats every day... And he is homegrown computer programmer so he works on his software hobby all the time... I tried to tell him that it is not normal that sitting at the computer is last thing I see him doing at night and the first thing I see him doing in the morning... Kids are fed and diapers are changed, bit he never plays with them, talks or reads to them... I feel like the computer is his addiction... he says he is tired too and i know that watching kids is tough work, but heeey... i am also just a human being and not sure how long I'll be able to go like that ugh... Feels better to just rant about it

Hey, I am looking for a surgeon in Montgomery County Maryland area. Please advise. I will have either Aetna or BC/BS in a few months. Thanks!

Yes my Dr stated that should my BP move out of the normal range and starts to increase she will take me off the BC pills due to danger of stroke, it's really dangerous. I think she will on my next visit as my ankles and feet are swelling and my PCP says my BP is slightly elevated and he wants to prescribe a low dosage water pill/BP pill for me and once I start taking it I must come off the BC pills my OB/GYN has me taking.

Hi everybody! I'm currently in the hospital and looking for some encouraging success stories for people who started in the 280s. Would love some eating and working out advice. Also what were you able to lose each month?I love this site bc it has been an extreme encouragement during this whole process! Thanks guys!! ????

Home and still in pain. No emotional support either bc parents found out. Im 28.....so....idgaf?

Ill go over this better later. I support mostly what it says,especially the part about immigration should be enforced by the fed gov, it cant be state to state. I just dont know how the law should be allowed to change just because theyre here but on the other hand whats the sense of sending them back(we would have to absorb the bill for travel back to home countries)when theyll be allowed to come right back legally. When done legally we would know their backgrounds, criminal history. This is such a deep subject with so many issues, Its going to take forever to get it done if they do it right. This country is made up of immigrants from every country in the world, I have no problem if its done legally. I must say, your on top of your game. I left for 5-10 min and you had the poll posted already!

well, fwiw, even the skinniest dressage queen should use a mounting block to mount because it's better for the horse's back and the saddle. I started my late BS Paint myself when I weighed 290lbs and I weigh 250 now (having band complications that will require band removal and hopefully a revision to RNY). I ride 3-4 days a week on my 7yr old Thoroughbred and am learning Dressage now. I asked my dressage trainer whether my weight was hurting my mare and he said no basically because I know how to ride. I'm not a sack of potatoes that can't balance in the saddle. So, don't let your current weight stop you. It took me a while to get my surgery but my initial weight loss was significant (40lbs in 3 months). You'll be fine!!!

OK so I just had a brachioplasty done not quite 2 weeks ago and let me tell you I am ECSTATIC with the results. Anyhow so my next PS that I want to have is an inner thigh lift. My plastic surgeon suggested doing this is a 2 step process.....he said so lipo and give it time to heal then do the actual lift. Can they not do this together? So here's a few questions I have for ppl that have had it done......I know I could google the info but I like to discuss this kind of stuff with ppl that have actually had it done 1. How happy were you with the results? My thighs for the most part are bumpy from cellulite and sag at the inner thigh. 2. How long were you down for? I work 3 jobs (1 FT and 2 PT bc Im easily bored) so I need to be back on my feet asap. I was down for the brachioplasty for about a week but it worked out to where we were closed for 2 weeks anyway :-) 3. How visible is this scar compared to others. My surgeon talked like he would have to go all the way down to the knee.

How scary for you. First of all, I would like to say that at your age, you shouldn't make a dnr decision while you are depressed. I can completely empathize with you and hate this for you. It sounds like a terrible ordeal to endure. But, please consider that aside from how hard this is, making a death decision while depressed is not ideal. I feel confident to tell you that I have faith that you will somehow overcome this. I know that there may seem like not even a flicker of light to look forward to, but that is usually the case when we are facing extremely horrible and depressing things...but, they almost always improve and I'm praying now that this will for you. It is unfortunate that some people have such horrific side effects, but we all go through with this decision anyways in hope of a better quality of life. I know it makes it worse to look forward to only to end up in misery. Please call your doctor's office every day that this is not improving in order to make them fully aware of the seriousness. Don't wait for things to change, call them everytime you have a problem so they can assist you before you become so dehydrated, etc. again. I feel so bad and wish there was more I could do or say. As for food, have you tried nibbling on mashed potatoes? I know they are carbs, which is not ideal after surgery, but this seems to be more about survival at this point and getting over this hump. When I have been sick at my stomach in the past and struggling to eat, these are a few things I have tried: Gatorade, mixed with water in order to dilute. It is full of electrolytes which can help plus you will be mixing with water which can aid in fighting the dehydration, but you don't want to get too much sugar. I'd probably try G2 mixed with water now that it is an option and there are several flavors so maybe you can find one that is tolerable. Mashed potatoes. I was able to nibble on these a little easier than almost anything else when I was severely sick. Another thing you may try is a light yogurt (this may be hard bc it is thicker, but it is full of protein so it's worth a shot.) There are some meal replacement drinks I use bc I can't drink anything thick (as it grosses me out). It is called Advocare meal replacement shake. It mixes with water and doesn't have the after taste or smell of most meal replacements and it's loaded with protein. What I love most is that you can mix it with less water than required so that it isn't so much to drink and it's still relatively thin. It may be worth a shot. It is a little pricey so I had to sign up as a distributor bc I need the discount as I am drinkinig this every day for my protein, but it is well worth it for me. Here's the site: www.AdvoCare.com/120531202 You can just go to shop and type in meal replacement shake in the search bar. I always use the chocolate bc I like that flavor in general, but I have heard the other flavors are good as well. I am so sorry for what you are going through and I am happy to lend an ear to help get you through this. I just have a strong feeling that you can and will get through this. Hang in there sweet girl. Rach

Kari, My insurance changed with my job in July of this year. I had been on Blue Cross of WY and when I called to ask them if they covered it, they said they did cover the bypass, but to submit reasons why I wanted a lapband thru my doc. That claim was denied, but by then, I had new insurance with Beech Street. I called Beech Street several months before I was even a member and asked if they covered weight loss and they said YES. I asked if they had ever covered any lapbands, and they said they had covered several in the last few years. I got approved with MINIMAL hassle! They were awesome. Then, my employer sent out our coverage booklets, and weight loss was listed as "excluded" except with medical necessity to be proven. I had to show a medical history, a medical supervised diet (I had done phenphen about 10 years ago), and had to get a psych eval. That was it. Honestly, that exclusion paragraph would have discouraged me had I not been approved! SO, all this means, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!!! Go for it. I even had a friend who paid big bucks to BC/BS for 6 months on high risk insurance so she could get a bypass...and they paid if for her after 6 months! SO, there are ways around it, too, without being stuck with the whole cost. I would just call and ask about a coverage claim and see what happens. All information is good information!!! As for your other questions, I had surgery on Tues in CO and I am tired today, but no pain meds needed...just sleeping and taking it easy! It was honestly much easier than I had prepared for. Good luck! Rose

Hi Lisa, I am so happy for you.. I am just waiting for all my appointmens. My daughter and I are both doing it together. You said you have BC/BS..so do I but it is BC/BS federal. I know I have enough health issue's for them to approve me, but I worry about my daughter. Other than being very overweight she is healthy...but not very happy. I just think if she dosen't lose the weight she will have my health problems later in life. We both have appointment on Oct 25th, so keep us in your prayers that we can get the ball rolling in the right direction. Keep up the good work and enjoy your new life.

I have BC/BS... in other words, I am self-pay.

I also go to True Results, call and ask to speak to a nurse ask for Ada and let her know you are concerned in waiting this long for a fill and you would like to be seen asap. they can schedule you in as soon as that same day. I think it's BS that they are making you wait that long, yes you missed your appt, IT happens. GL!

Thank you moneida! I have a dr. Appt next week - I just felt so disappointed bc my surgery date was set and I was so focused on beginning new journey. However, I am now trying very hard to follow the rules of being sleeved - chewing longer, eating without drinking, taking vitamins, and limiting my calories to 800 a day. Now if u could just get motivated to exercise:)

hi everyone! hope everyone is having a great time and recovering well! i am 7 days into my pre- op and i have lost 11 pounds. i am doing 3 shakes a day and 80+ ounces of clear fluids. i pee all day! its insane like i feel like im always running to the bathroom with the kiddos. I have 4 days til my surgery is anyone else experiencing irritability and crankiness? every soudn seems louder and smells seems more fragrant. i cook every night for the kids it is torture. last night they wanted to go to the movies so i took them and naturally i hold the youngest's popcorn bc she spills it everytime. the smell of popcorn was tempting me llol. I just learned i could season my broth with is nice but no salt. I am really anxious to just get the surgery oer with and start my healing. i feel like my body is going through such weird changes sometimes im freezing sometimes i feel like im in a suana. but usually always tired and low on patience haha. good luck everyone!

Kirk- That was very inspiring! You're weight loss is awesome! I often wondered why people didn't belive how much I weighed and I didn't realize it until more recently that it is bc I am alot more toned then most people my weight!

Skinny people just don't understand what us fat people go through. Here I am struggling to get through this pre-op diet and my lovely husband says he wants a big fat greasy pan pizza from pizza hut for dinner. That is like my favorite food in the whole world and I have been deprived for more than a month now. I immediately left the kitchen and hibernated in the bedroom when he came in with it and gave him the finger as I was exiting the room to let him know my disgust at his feeding! I am not hungry at all b/c I ate a little over budget already for dinner before he even ate...but still that pizza killed me. Now I must say I gave him the finger jokingly but am hoping he fed all the leftovers to the dogs before I have access to it. I am 3 days from surgery and will spend the next three days following the clear liquid diet even though my surgeon on requires the day before be clear liquid. I am overly prepared for this surgey and feel like I am planning a major vacation even though I only live 3 mins from the hospital I am having surgery at. My bags packed, my outfit is chosen, I am going to have a pedi/mani and a haircut on Monday and even bought a new outfit to where to/from the hospital. This is a huge event in my life and I hope to have memories (good ones) for years to come. I have been explaining to my 3 yr old boy that mommy is going to the hospital to have surgery on my belly. I hope he never remembers mommy as fat. I am going to spend this last weekend before surgery cleaning up the house and giving my husband and little boy lots of my attention. I need to start now by changing Jacob into his pjs so goodnight.

i kinda wanted my weight loss to stall as well not really bc of the saggy skin but bc in my mind i was afraid to lose weight ( and i still am ) ive overweight for the past 5 yrs and im afraid of being thin. i had my surgery 15 wks ago n have lost 50lbs, mind you i haven't exercised n i cheat as much as possible, im not crazy i know y i do it n i know that if i was exercising and eating what i was supposed to eat my weight loss would have been at least 20lbs greater, but im just so afraid of it all. idk i guess i have to work on that cuz im still not at my target weight, im a size 14 but want to be a size 3/4. i want to be healthy for myself and my family who love me greatly, i dont want to disappoint anyone especially myself. this surgery was about $50,000 and i dont want to throw all of it down the drain when so many people would love to have it done. im really going to work on it though, this website is really motivating especially when u view the pics, there's just some things that u cant tell ur family or skinny friends but can speak openly to anyone over here. if i would to tell anyone else about sabotaging my weight loss after i sought it for so long they'd lock me up in a nut house lol.

Sarah ~ I can't thank you enough - what brilliant information! I'm going to look up that website asap - better brush up on french! And yeah, i guess, weetabix is a carb - better rethink that - ryvita sounds good. I am so fed up with being exhausted and sluggish all the time - i don't just want to be thin - i really want to be strong and healthy too and live til i'm 100! Larry ~ gosh i didn't think it could be up to seven fills! I'm shocked! I'm sorry you're still hungry and feeling frustrated - I guess it takes a while to settle down but from reading most of the other posts here, i have no doubt that you will find your correct magical fill level and begin to see results. Oh and you and Marcia are definitely invited to visit me too! Did i mention I live only a few miles from the beautiful Tara? And the famous megalithic tomb Newgrange? http://www.knowth.com/newgrange.htm (check it out here!) Not to mention the amazing city of Dublin a few miles the other way! (the advantage of living in a country only 300 miles long!) Anyway enough of my bit for the tourist office! Babs ~ I almost cried when i read your post! It's been so long since anyone complemented me! My mother died this year at a young age (57), and she used to constantly tut tut at me and give me the "you could be so lovely" line - I really regret not getting my weight down while she was alive so this is what motivated me to go for the lap band.... thank you so much - you're a pet xx (god sorry for the length of this everyone! No more pages of waffle i promise!) :D

Same as apple203.... but told me to bring the accessories (tube, mask etc) and they’d have the base machine. They didn’t have one but I was asked why I wasn’t using my cpap about 20 Times over the two nights stay bc I was having a hard time breathing while sleeping. (They monitor your vitals obviously through the wires etc) Long story short—. Bring yours! 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 173 5’6”