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just spent 45 mins typing an update and poof, when i tried to preview it and edit a word it dissapeared basically, still waiting for blood test results, really fed up of waiting, not got my hopes up to have my op in november any more. Today i have cast my cares on the Lord and will have my op when He gives me the date, He knows best. I know i still want my sleeve, and will restart the liver shrinking diet when i have a new date for my sleeve. I am not concerned if it is just before christmas, any time soon will be ok with me, i was motivated and ready for oct 9th and can do it again, but this time without the problem of my blood it will be safer. Hope everyone is doing well, sleeved or to be sleeved, God Bless, xx

What feels to me like the biggest hurdle has been jumped! And it's fine! I came down on the other side on both feet! I had my appt with my PCP today. I need from her a letter of medical necessity. And I wasn't sure how my visit with her would go - whether she would make me defend and justify this, whether she would be adamantly against it, whether she would emphatically support it...I just wasn't sure at all! And she said she would absolutely give me that because while she's only known me for a year, she's seen enough to know that I'm not lieing when I say "I TRY!" And it comes off. And it comes back. She said we would do some testing to prove a comorbidity that she thinks I may have. She said we will jump through those insurance hoops and give them NO REASON to deny this! She also said three or four years ago she would have been hesitant, would have said, 'do it yourself' but she's seen those people she told that lose the weight and then gain it back plus some. It's something about a BMI over 40 that makes your body NOT WANT TO LET GO! And she's seen lap-band® after lap-band® do wonders for people. She said my choice in surgeon is fantastic. Can't beat him in my area and she would have suggested him had I not found him myself. She recommended doing the supervised exercise and diet program with them because she likes their nutritionist and the staff in that office are all fantastic. She gave me copies of everything I need for the consult tomorrow - which should help some of this role along faster. I did some blood work because I had questionable liver function earlier this year and she wants to see if we can prove it's fatty liver. If the blood work warrants it, I already have the order in hand for a abdominal ultrasound. She said even if we can't prove that comorbidity, it's enough that my parents are ALREADY deceased - were deceased by 55 (mother) and 61 (father) - for things that are comorbidities. I already have tons of odds against me, I don't need this weight stacking my odds even further! To me, getting her approval was potentially my biggest stumbling block. Had she said no, I would have gotten myself a new PCP and kept trying. But I like her and I didn't want that hassle which would also potentially become a demotivator. And I KNOW I'm fat enough. She laughed at that. Was impressed at how much research I've done, what I knew, and how I've been taking care of myself in this endeavor. Wasn't asking for the answers, was asking for endorsement - and from what she said, the people willing to do this from start to finish like this, on their own - if you will, are the successful ones. The people on this website, I'd venture! Can't be done on your own - don't get me wrong. But I'm not being spoon fed my information. This wasn't suggested to me, I explored the thought. That's what I'm talking about... Anywho... She said she has seen it before where people are like me, on the fence with the BMI with no comorbidities. And she's seen - and even supported - minor weight gain to get them to the "acceptable level of fatness". I find that sad. But it's the game we have to play, apparently. Comorbidities help, but I've enjoyed my food this weekend to ensure my weight today and tomorrow would not be an issue. And hopefully tomorrow can start the six month supervision. And hopefully I can be looking at the March/April time frame. And if not, I'll take it as it comes. My biggest stumbling block has been passed. I just feel like now I can say "Ok, hope is on the horizon!" YAY!

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!

I remember before my surgery thinking how I didn't care what I looked like, I was going to love my body because I would be so much thinner. HAHA 7 months post-op and that's not the case. I used to love my breasts. Even though they hung down, they looked awesome in a bra and they were just great. Well not they are literally just flat sacks of skin (and i'm only 1/2 way through my weight loss!) So literally the one part of my body that made me feel sexy and that I loved, I am embarrassed by bcecause they don't even look that great in a good bra anymore. Having said that though, I am finding other parts of my body that I am taking a second look at and going- hey that/those are pretty sexy, I like those! (Like the way my legs/thighs look in a skirt now for example). I have been single for 3 years and am so ready to start dating again. I am feeling AMAZING after surgery already- I am still me, but i am a completely different person in a lot of ways as well. I find a lot of men who are into me on dating sites because I work out- but I feel like they associate work out as a nice way of saying, "someone who is thin and always has been thin". I feel like it's misleading when someone just thinks I am super hot curvy girl- and then to see my without clothes on- the scars from surgery don't bother me, it's that I have a LOT of saggy skin. i mean it feels cold and kind of neat to touch- but how do you prepare someone for seeing that? Do you tell them RIGHT before you jump into bed? Do you tell them on a 3rd or 4th date? Do you never say anything? Do you put it out on the table before the first date? LOL I probably didn't help did I? I would love to see answers to your questions bcs I was asking it to myself too Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So you're in Eastern Kentucky, how do i know? I was way back a long distance telephone operator. I'm in Ohio, and a couple cousins married ky and va girls. So I'm close to a GRIT, which stand for girl raised in the South,i am sure the Michiganders on here have accused me of it. They are still mad at Ohio for winning the Toledo war. Shoot I love everybody, even my misguided sisters to the north. Once upon a time I belonged to Bassin' Gsls, insisted when late hubby joined Bassmasters. My wants were simple, he went onto to fish more for catfish, GIVE me mealworms and I'll happily fish for bass and bluegill all day. Yes I bait my own hooks and clean my own fish unless someone insists they want to do it instead. Family went froggigging, wouldn't take me, left me at the house to cook the previous day's frog,legs. Put them in the skillet and forgot to put the lid on. When they got warm they jumped out, picked them up, washed them up, fried them with the lid on and fed them to the happy hunters. Figured if they got sick served them right for not taking me. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm scheduled for my procedure on July 23rd. It's a Friday. I was told that I will fly into San Diego early, be picked up and taken to Hospital BC and have my procedure that same day. I will stay that night and Saturday night at the hospital and Sunday I will be at the hotel. Monday I will check out of the Hotel and be driven back to the airport in San Diego and then fly home. Everything taking only 4 days. I'm worried that I'm not giving myself enough time to rest. Is this time line realistic? I don't want to be in excruciating pain or hurting myself trying to do to much to soon. Any feedback?? Sent from my moto g stylus using BariatricPal mobile app

I feel your pain...absolutely hate it when my pump acts up and BS gets so high! I usually end up taking insulin with a syringe so it's a faster dose....I've had a few of those (pump malfunction) in the past month and honestly it takes a toll on you! I think it's the current box of supplies I'm using. Hope your doing better now!

Hi all, I was banded in November 2008, I fell pregnant in April 2009 and had my gorgeous boy in Dec 2009. I am now struggling to move forward. My first adjustment after birth, done in Feb, prove to be too tight, so I went back and he removed 3/4 ml. Since then I have been back 4 times and although I now have more saline in there than before I still have no restriction! I now go to the hospital tomorrow for an xray fill. I feel really fed up and have been making really bad food choices and sabotaging the weight loss already acheived before I fell preggers (3 stone) I still have another 4 1/2 to go and feel like I will never get there. I was banded in London.

I had my EGD at Victory and my surgery at FP Dallas and I prefer FP Dallas. Beautiful rooms. The nurses and aids were all fabulous. And the cool thing about FP Dallas is Daugherty's pharmacy. Thy have a lot of the stuff bariatrics patients need and some things that are hard to find. Also you can sign up for them to bring your prescription meds to your room before you leave he hospital. It is a free and awesome service bc trust me, you do not want to have to fill prescriptions on the way home. I don't know if Victory has this service. Great overall experience there. The only hiccup I had there was that a staff member in the OR that sets it up was out sick that day, so they took longer than they should have to set up the OR so I did not go into surgery on time. Dr Nick was probably mad about that lol

The sweet spot doesn't mean u can't eat certain foods..I wasn't able to tolerate pasta with no fill also bread. There's just certain foods that expand or don't break down while in the band..doesn't make it the sweet spot. Just means don't eat it bc its a "problem" food. Are u continuing to lose weight..like 1-2 lbs a week? If so, then u may not need the fill right away..but if its slower and stalling a lil then I would get the fill. U should be able to eat food that's the size of ur whole palm/hand..minus the fingers. My doc made that visual connection for me and it helps..but yea if ur not losing wat u should then get the fill. Good luck

I read a lot of posts from people who say they got off track because of one reason or another... And I just want to say that you get off track for one reason and one reason only. You choose to. Now i am sure i will be called out for being insensative but i am as sympathetic as the next person for just cause......but I just do not get the mentality of getting off track because the dog dies, its raining, money is tight, your kids get sick or your job is stressful. I could list a hundred other reasons I have seen posted which covers just about every life situation. And you know what.... While it stinks and you may have got dealt a bad hand....it has nothing to do with your band. The only excuse I might think is valid is if there is a medical reason you shouldn't or cannot lose for a period of time...and even that is pretty rare I would think. The band is ever present. It is with you 24/7 to govern your eating. If fed properly it will help you lose weight. If not you will fail it. We are responsible for our own actions and believe me I was the queen of excuses why I chose not to lose weight.... Until I fully committed myself to my band. During my journey life got in the way all the time.... Adult daughter moved home with her newborn which created all kinds of stress in the home...we moved, we rented our other house, I worked 60 hrs a week in a high profile management capacity, my father in law had a heart attack, my 401k suffered, my hubby changed jobs, my other daughter moved back home after college, I hosted partied, baby showers, held my best friends hand while her mother suffered a long illness..... I think you get the point. It's just life. But never during that time did I ignore my band...and it didn't let me down. Please take my point in the spirit in which it's intended... If you want to lose weight you will. If you want to gain weight you will. If you want to maintain..... You will do that too....because its all about the choices you make. I wish you all success on your journeys!!!

I, frankly, am quite sick of the politically correct bs. Everywhere you turn being afraid to say ANYTHING to might upset someones apple cart. Come on people, get over it. You are going to have things said in life that upset you. Not everyone's uptopia is going to exist. How sad is it that we supress our actions and words just to make sure we don't step on someones toes? (ie: had an employee that was afraid to say "black friday" to a black man.) Seriously?? Well.. guess what. I'm going to be authentic this year. That doesn't mean I'm a racist, or a bigit, or just an ass. I don't intentionally hurt peoples feeling, in fact, I am usually the peacekeeper, BUT, I won't turn a conversation around 15 times in my head to make sure on one gets their feelings hurt if it is something I really mean and do say. I don't feel others should have to say I'm "heavy" instead of "fat".. etc... This p.c. crap is ruining this world. AND.... for the records, btrieger, you crack me up too!

Thats quite a lot you cannot eat. I guess I need that too!!!!! :mad: But if I could control myself I would not be in this situation, would I? Somewhere in the past few years I realized my problem with food is a least partially due to the fact that as a child....I had NO FOOD! I was living with my father and we NEVER EVER had food. A friend saw a picture of me from then and said I should have my own commerical for "Save This Child". Sad but true. My eyes were buldging out of my face, my hands look like man hands on a skeleton. So when I was out of that situation and I was being fed like normal people, I started hiding food in my room, eating after the lights were out, keeping it from the people around me. And still to this day I hide that I eat......even from my own daughter. She's 9. What am I thinking???? And I eat fast like lightning fast most times....like someone might try to take it from me. I wish I could have dealt with this as a child when it was happening but........eh what can I do now? It is what it is.

lol I havent had a fill in like 2 months I feel like I should go back maybe next month lol I dont want to gain (even tho I already did gain these past 2 weeks) I think its time 4 a fill, but then again Im scared bc if I get any tighter, I may not eat out anymore...but maybe I should avoid eating out period, probably help me cut out calories and stuff lol ill eat out one I reach onederland!

Do any of you remember baby jessica? I was young when it happened but a psychic helped get her out..so flash forward about 12 years..my friend and I went at 4 am to this seedy district of downtown houston to go see this guy. Got in line..he saw like 20 people a day and took no money but did have a donation box by the exit..not the entrance. I went first..he told me my weight would come off, I would be happy yad yada then said my dead grandfather was watching me, and he said sorry..my grandfather was a pervert so this kinda shocked me that this man apoligized for him watching me..and he said watching not watching over..then the really freaky thing happened, my best friend is coming in as I am leaving, she doesnt even get across the room beofre this man asks wheres micheal..mike is her bf. I hated/hate the guy so we never talk about him when we were together..ever. Its a sore subject for us so his name is not mentioned..heck now hes her husband and we still dont talk about him! anyways, it was totally weird... as to most of these guys..i look at it as during the day time theyre psychics at nite theyre the call in phone sex voice...they know nothing and do nothing but drain bank accounts..Im sorry but ANY person who could pick the lottery numbers would...they dont want money from thier sight BS..win and then donate it to the red cross..then Ill believe you, instead of writing books and being on tv..as for the gy I went to I like to believe that something was real..but i cant explain it.

So far just us...but don't give up. Others will join in. My husband and I are excited to meet someone that knows their way around in Florida. He actually would like to take a deep sea fishing trip that is really fishing for the blue marlins. Do you know a real fishing trip we could do for a long day? Bc every time we go to the coast and go deep sea fishing it is very touristy and not really fishing for the big stuff like he wants. And I am looking forward to lobster, especially if we can catch it which I heard people do in Florida but I don't know. We're all for staying somewhere very reasonable, so if you decide on a place let me know and I will make reservations. Join in people...it is a good chance to get a start on your summer tan. And I have a feeling that Floriday sun will shrink our skin!!!

Yes I checked with BC/BS PPO back in June 2010 and they told me that Medicare does not cover VSG surgery but they do. I was told by BC/BS PPO that I met their requirements and they would pay even if Medicare denied it. I have to wait & see if this is true. Shady Grove Hospital did not bill BC/BS because they said if Medicare did not pay for the surgery neither would BC/BS. BC/BS told me that is not true so I called Shady Grove Hospital and told them BC/BS want my claim to cross over to them and they will decide what to do. Shady Grove filed a claim with BC/BS after I insisted they do and start doing their job correctly. I have at least 30 days until I find out what is up. The surgeon does not take any insurance except Medicare so I need to appeal Medicare decision because until Medicare agrees to pay the surgeon I am in for $9000.00. BC/BS may pay him some money for the surgery if they pay some on the hospital. Medicare needs to get with the times & recognize VSG surgery. Gastric Bypass is becoming obsolete because VSG is much better surgery and allows the patient a normal way of living. I can eat most anything now except in smaller portions. I continue to lose weight and I feel great. No Dumping.

How far out are you? I am 5 weeks out and honestly I haven't kept a strict count on anything bc I know I'm not eating near enough to do any damage. I am pretty much living on protein drink and water. :/ Sorry I couldn't be of much help,I would ask your nutritionist how many carbs you should be having.

Ok so i dont know my offical surgery date weight bc they didnt take it but i dod have the pre registration weight whit was a week and a half b4 surgery so my numbers are BW 450 SW 430 CW 401 down 49lb altogather The Losers Bench

@ I am fed basic. I sent a letter to my surgeon's office and Ned records showing my side effects and weight for the last few years. They said it might be enough and to get my psych evaluation done. Doing that in two weeks and we will submit. We shall see! Thanks so much.

I can say when I did work out, I eat better bc I don't want to "ruin" what I just busted my @ss for at the gym. It's like no way. I'll eat something healthy, lol.

they haven't done anything since the stent. i don't see a doctor till the 07 of april. the stent surgeon just removed the stent. tried to clip it after he removed it while he was doing the endoscopy, but said the clips didn't work. told me it wouldn't close on it's own because it's too 'fibrous'. the mexican doctor wants me on the j tube only as it's less invasive. but told me to listen to the doctors here because they know best what state my stomach is in. the stent doctor hasn't contacted me since he removed the stent even though i called his office to talk to him. he never phoned me back. my son said he's probably fed up with me for not keeping it in the whole six weeks. i don't think that's very ethical so hopefully not true.

Hey hey! Ull be glad to know we have similar starting stats! I am 31 years old, had a BMI of 40.67 and was a size 18-20. I was 252lbs at my highest (10 days prior to vertical gastric sleeve surgery) and I was 242lbs on 7.27.20 (day of surgery). I am 5ft 6. I am 2 months post op now. Already i am down to 206lbs. I have lost 45lbs in total and 35 in two months since surgery.my bmi is 33.25 at the moment. I no longer have hip and back pain, my face is back to looking like "myself" again, I wake up happy every single day now and don't feel like I need to to hide away inside the house because of shame. I wear a size 16 at the moment. I have always had a big butt. Washing and wiping my own butt before surgery had started getting difficult which was one of my main wake up calls. I no longer have any issues with this at all only two months out! I could go on and on. There are sooooo many pros to having wls of any kind! My husband was skeptical that wls was necessary and wanted me to diet and work out with him for another year before we considered "something so drastic"..he now agrees this is exactly what I needed and is glad we didn't wait another year of me feeling the way I did about myself. As far as recovery, it was very easy for me. Sharp pain from incision sutures for abt a week, maybe 1.5 weeks. Within 2 weeks I had no pain. Can eat very little (have to remind myself to eat bc im not hungry and it seems kind of tedious to eat now bc its only like 4-5 bites of something) and i have no desire to eat sweets or junk anymore. That is huge for me bc I would easily and regularly consume cookies, brownies, candy bars, chips and crackers by the box/package by myself in just a few days. I craved snacks all day everyday. The only "con" i am experiencing is that i loved water before surgery and chugged it all day everyday. Now it's another thing i have to remind myself to do and it feels so tedious because i can only sip water now, not chug. Oh oops i forgot.. vitamins and meds are another "con" for me because I was not any meds prior to sleeve surgery and didnt take vitamins. Now i take like 3 meds and vitamins daily. My stomach is so small it feels as tho I've eaten after just taking my meds. I used to be able to throw back 3 Tylenols and swallow at once but now i take each pill one at a time because i feel like im gonna choke on the smallest pill size. I think this is just a fear tho..like a mental thing..and not actually a legit concern or something that is experienced by others lol. Anyways, i hope i covered enough for u. If u have any other questions, feel free to ask. Im an open book and wish i had found this app when i was preop. I did find TONS of videos on YouTube that convinced me sleeve surgery was just as good of an option as bypass for me tho! The videos I watched showed sleevers years out remaining successful and losing over 100lbs. The videos showed me ppl experiencing restriction and maintaining their goal weight years out which proved to me that bypass wasn't necessary for me to reach my 100lb weight loss goal and maintain it. This was encouraging for me because i was self pay and sleeve is cheaper. I would not let money be a determining factor tho. I was kind of forced into sleeve anyways because I am a smoker..still trying to quit at this point. OHHH BTW My mother had bypass 13 years ago and has remained at her goal wait this far out. This made me believe bypass had a higher success rate because she gets dumping, forcing her to not eat certain things or too much. Many surgeons disagree abt whether sleeve patients get dumping. I can eat whatever i want post op without getting sick but obviously can only eat a small portion. Many surgeons and patients argue about whether this restriction is lifted a few years out but there are ppl on here who will tell you they still have restriction with sleeve years out so it's hard to know what each of our bodies will experience. Do your research, watch youtube vids, listen to what people have to say, but most importantly choose a good bariatric team and trust your surgeon! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thats strange bc like about a month ago I broke my retainer while eating and I didnt have anything to put in it...by the time I got home from the rest. I had to force the barbell thru.........

How's everyone doing? I'm tired :/ Not abnormal. And I know it was major surgery. I'm tellin ya - if anyone has a hiatal hernia repaired during their surgery, it's a doozie! I'm getting in my 64 oz fluids in. Wondering if i need more bc i am not needing to use the bathroom more than 2x a day. But this is SC sweating weather. But pre op i drank way more Water. Tho guidelines said to "aim for at least 40 grams protein", I'm trying to keep with the 60 grams. Been able to since I came home on Friday. I decided on the Centrum silver chewables. Got my Calcium citrate. Almost gagged on one of those today! Gonna pick up the sublingual B-12 tomorrow. I wanna do all I can to protect my hair!! That's all for now. Thanks for listening!