Very happy for you!  I'm glad she "came around" and she will have an awesome sleeve mentor in you to help her with any struggles.

EDIT:  I just saw the surgery date.  What a great Christmas present!  It's going to make for a memorable holiday....that's for sure!

No real insight here.  I can't take regular full size vitamins now (and im not sleeved).  They always make me feel nauseous....even with food.  I can't even imagine how much worse it would be with a smaller stomach.

I currently am taking the nasty orange chewable ones you said you didn't like.   I don't mind them and will probably continue with them after surgery.

I've heard good things about the Bariatric Advantage brand of chewables.

Ah excellent point.  Thanks for pointing that out!  Good idea really.

Get er done!   You will be fine.  Enjoy the drugs!

That is unusual.....not usually an outpatient type procedure. 

They need to do the surgery, have you wake up and somewhat recover from anesthesia, then they usually like to make sure you can keep fluids down and maybe do a leak test.

Kinda hard to do all that in 1 day, but maybe.  I dunno....just seems very rushed.

Are you pre op or post op?  If your surgery date listed is correct you are pre op.  Diet soda isn't a problem then but you really should be "practicing" and weaning yourself off it for post-op.

Second....they make you drink through a straw pre-op?  What a wierd rule.

Sorry to hear that. :(

I would definitely give the appeal route a shot first.  It might take a month or so....but if it saves you 10-20k....probably worth it! 

As far as giving a conventional diet another shot....I will say that once you have made the decision to pursue WLS....its very hard to commit to another traditional diet.  You always think.....I can just get WLS if I can't do it....so the motivation isnt' really there.

However, if you feel you can do it....and you truly have no co morbidities...go for it.  Most if not all people getting WLS have numerous co-morbidities that are truly sucking their life away and need WLS to save their lives.  If you feel you have the time to commit to giving it another shot....why not?

Thanks for the info!  We are close....I am in San Mateo County.  I don't have an official "date" yet...need to call next week and arrange something in January.  The coordinator said January was wide open.

They did have one spot available still in 2011 on Dec 15th....but I have a pretty busy holiday season planned....lots of driving and it wouldn't work.  Plus....I am expected at a baptism on Dec 17th.....not sure if I would be up for getting discharged and driving straight to the church.  LOL!!

My approval said that it was good until the middle of February, so I'm good.

They do surgery on Tues/Thurs so I am really hoping for Jan 3rd or 5th.

My approval for Blue Shield HMO took about 2 weeks after submittal....how long have u been waiting for yours?

Thanks Jen....that is pretty much what I am being told now.   Just unusual that with the exact same medical group......they work that way with Blue Shield and a different way with Health Net.   At least on my end.

Strange....

Well - to be honest there is no way to "spot" lose in a certain place.  All you can really do is work on the muscle tone under neath.  I think you knew that...but just thought I would make sure.

The best exercise to tone your triceps (imo) are the normal tricep extensions.  You can do this from a lat machine.....just stand with the bar in front of you, elbows at your side, and push down using only your triceps....no leaning on the bar, elbows stay at your side.  You can also lie on a bench with two dumbells in your hands parallel to your body.  Lay down and then bring the dumbells near your ears and then extend using only your tris.  Ack....my description probably sucks.  You can google tricep extensions and it should have a demo. 

For your thighs, they have special machines (leg abductor) that supposedly work your inner thigh.  I think they are a bunch of crap.  The best exercises for your legs are usually body weight exercises if you can do them.   Things like scissor kicks, leg lifts, body weight squats, etc.  That particular area is hard to spot train.....but you can do exercises that will help your entire lower body and they will tone your thighs too.

Hell.....good ole pushups will do wonders for your upper arms too.  I used to be a gym rat when I played football....but I'm a big time believer now in using your own body weight to exercise.  Pull ups, push ups, running, body weight squats, circuits....those will kick your ass just as much as lifting heavy will.

Sorry probably more of an answer than you were looking for but good luck!

Thank you everyone!  This forum has been incredibly helpful.....not only in the information gained but also with a daily reminder that it was worth it to stick it out.

You guys rock! 

This guy!!!! WOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What great news.  I called the surgery coordinator for an update since my packet was sent in two weeks ago.  I was preparing myself for the "we don't know anything yet" speech but nope......approved 1st try with new insurance.  Blue Shield of CA.....I love ya.

11 months, 2 appeals, 2 insurance companies.....finally.

It looks like I will be getting sleeved sometime in early January.  I sure hope the Mayans were wrong about 2012.....I want to spend at least a few days at goal weight.  Maybe I can make it.