Dolittle

Sorry, but 99.99% of the gastric sleeve patients on this forum are self pay. You are in what we call "insurance hell" for weight loss surgery patients. If you're an insurance patient in the USA, you're not going to find much information here concerning the insurance hoops and requirements that may pertain to you. Here's some food for thought, there have been numerous patients that had insurance but still chose the OCC for their surgery and were self pay. Many found out that with all the insurance hoops and other requirements, plus their portion of the deductible and co-pay, the OCC and its award winning bariatric program was a better choice. www.obesitycontrolcenter.com

I'll be travelng alone when I go in July for my Lap Band to Sleeve revision. I'll have a rental car and need to find a place to park it for a few days. Has anyone used those pay parking lots at the border? Can you tell me and other future patients your experiances?

If you were banded in 2003, my opinion is that your way past the average life of the band. Most patients of that era only got 6 to 10 years out of the band before having issues. The OCC uses the Marriott in TJ for the patients and companions to stay post surgery. For info pertaining to reflux, hernias, etc, contact the OCC and talk to one of the surgery coordinators at 866-376-7849

Here's a good example of a food log. A copy of it is in my gallery where you can download it at normal size and print it for your own use. I do have this available in a pdf file format. If you want it in a printable pdf file, email me at occforummoderator@gmail.com and I'll send you a copy.

Article from Weather.com July might be the peak of American meat-eating with all the backyard barbecues and summer parties. All in all, Americans are notable carnivores, downing about 260 pounds of meat per year, James Hamlin recently wrote for The Atlantic. But there are some among us who still might come up short on protein, Cindi Lockhart, the senior program manager of nutrition and health coaching for Life Time Fitness, told weather.com. "For the average person, you should get some form of protein every time you eat," she said. "Depending on how active you are, you'll also want protein snacks in between." Seattle sports dietician Kim Larson, R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told weather.com that protein problems are relatively rare in the United States, but that getting a protein boost at every meal is essential, especially as we age. To find out if you might need more of this essential nutrient, read on, though this article is not meant to diagnose any medical condition. Cravings for "sugar, carbs and starches" might be symptoms of a protein insufficiency, Lockhart said, noting that insufficiencies are more common than deficiencies in the Western world. "If you're reaching for crackers, cookies, breads and other refined carbs, and if you're hungry all the time, you might not be getting enough protein," Larson said. This is one reason why protein is so important for people who are trying to lose weight. It not only helps build muscle, which can stoke your metabolism, but also it can help you feel fuller, longer. Protein supports muscle growth, so if you're having trouble building or maintaining muscle, that might be a sign of an insufficiency, Lockhart said. Because of protein's role in muscle and bone growth, it's particularly important for people over the age of 50 to prevent the muscle wasting associated with aging, Larson said. Muscle wasting could also be a sign of too few calories, she said, adding that when the body has too few carbohydrates for energy, it breaks down protein. "Your muscles breakdown the protein that you're eating for energy, and then that protein is not used to build your muscle mass," she explained. Protein fortifies the immune system — another reason it is so important as we age. "Getting sick a lot would certainly relate to protein intake," Larson said. "Protein does so much for us. It regulates a lot of different metabolic systems," Larson said. "We think of sodium and potassium for fluid balance, but it's a very key component in fluid balance as well." The important thing is to know is that you should have high-quality proteins for breakfast, lunch and dinner, she said. If you're losing hair or noticing an uptick in split ends, your protein intake might be to blame, Lockhart said. This happens because when the body lacks protein, it stops growing hair to use protein elsewhere, according to WebMD. Horizontal, white bands on your nails can also be a sign of a protein problem, Lockhart said. "Protein insufficiency is more prevalent in kids — they can be picky eaters, and they're developing fast, so they need that protein," Lockhart said. "Anyone else who is a growing phase — adolescents, [during] pregnancy or lactation." Vegetarians and vegan also have to be more conscious of what they are consuming, she said. Although it is completely possible to get enough protein on a vegetarian diet through beans, soy, nuts, dairy and eggs (depending on dietary restrictions). Although, Larson cautions, few plants sources contain all nine indispensable amino acids, so a variety of plant sources are needed. The elderly are another at-risk group, Larson said, as muscle wasting is a problem associated with aging. Some very active people also might lack protein, which can help the body recover. "In general, marathon runners are not very buff. They don’t have a lot muscle mass," Larson said as an example. "They're a group that tends to under-consume [protein] and under fuel." It was once believed that too much protein could cause kidney failure, but that is an out-of-date concern, Larson said. "We really don't see kidney failure even at 2.5 grams of protein per day per kilogram of body weight [170 grams a day for a 150-pound person]," she said. "That concern is obsolete." Gender, weight, age, activity level and more all play a role in determining an appropriate protein intake, Larson said. Generally, 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight is a good starting benchmark, with more protein needed if you're trying to lose weight, or if you're a very active athlete. Athletes who are heavily strength training might need as much as 2 grams per kilogram a day, she said. "Proteins are made in our body all throughout the day, so you constantly have to replenish that steady stream of amino acids by eating protein at breakfast, lunch and dinner," Larson said. Meat and fish are go-to protein sources for most people (and the reason why true protein deficiency is not much of an issue in the United States). Low-fat dairy and eggs are also great complete sources, Larson said. As far as plants, "soybeans are one of the best sources of complete protein," Larson said. "Edamame, tofu: These things provide all of the indispensable amino acids [though] variety is really the key." Protein combining used to be a big deal for vegetarian — for example, eating rice and beans together to hit all the amino acids at once — but now it is believed that a generally varied plant-based diet is enough. Protein powders can also supplement intake, Lockhart said, particularly for on-the-go athletes.

A tummy tuck is where a plastic surgeon will cut and carve with a scalpel to remove excess skin around your waist line. Liposuction is where a special thin hollow rod is inserted under your skin that has the capabilities to cut and suck fat deposits without removing outer skin. My best advise is to go to Youtube and which a few videos on these subjects.

This topic is for those who are coming to the OCC in 2018 and can meet up with other patients during their stay in TJ.

There's pros and cons to each. The Plication surgery and sleeve are really similar. On the Plication, they fold and sew the stomach to the same size of a sleeved stomach. It can be reversed, or say undone. Sleeve is permanent, you can't undo it. But most have better results with the sleeve than the plication. If you consult your surgeon, they can give you a better perspective and some statistics.

No need to exchange money to Peso's, everyone takes American and Canadian money, especially if your just using it as tip money. Places like Walmart will do an exchange right at the cash register.

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of June. Posting in this topic gives you a chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month

I loved my band,, but after years of high maintenance and fills, unfills and acid reflux. I found it time to dump the band and go with the sleeve.

Best to call the OCC surgery coordinators. 1-866-376-7849

The TSA only goes after stuff that will bring a plane down and prohibited items, example, guns, knives, bombs, liquids over 3.4oz, gels and aerosols in your carry on. Protein powder isn't one of those and it isn't a prohibited item. They might check it, but it will end up ok to go. If you are checking a bag, pretty much anything can go in checked. The TSA has examples on their website if you need to be assured.

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of May. Posting in this topic gives you a chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month

Call the toll free number 1-866-376-7849 and talk to a surgery coordinator and they will answer all your questions.

Protein powder and supplements will be fine going through customs and airport security. The only thing the airport security is looking for is liquids, aerosols and gels over 100ml in your carry on. If you have anything that's larger than 100ml, put it in your checked bag. If you don't have a checked bag,, don't bring it. Walmart has a lot of travel size stuff under 100ml available.

I had no issues with using FMLA at work. Signed the proper forms at work and it was approved. I don't remember if the employer can ask where your procedure will happen? Your surgery coordinator at the OCC should be able answer that question. They deal with it everyday.

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of April. Posting in this topic gives you a chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month

It's never too late to have surgery. There are a lot of patients our age that have chosen to go this route and have had great success. I started this journey back in 2007 at the age of 54 with the Lap-band, then at age 61 switched to the Sleeve. One of smartest things I had ever done.

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of December. Posting in this topic gives you a chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month

I really don't hear of patients that need aftercare. If they have an issue they can call the OCC and they advise you from there. Most are very minor and handled over the phone.

Just send your flight info to your surgery coordinator and the OCC concierge. That way your covered. And a week out, email them to get conformation. They should give you a contact number for the van driver too. Just in case you need to contact him when you hit the ground in SD.

Sorry to say, the app isn't ready yet and there's no estimate of when it will be ready.

There's two leak tests. The first is during surgery, they push a little air into your new stomach and run a little water over the stomach at the same time checking for air bubbles. This test is shown being done in some of the live surgery videos. The second is nothing but a barium milk shake without the milk. It can be a strawberry or cherry flavored and you drink it while they watch the fluid pass through the your new smaller stomach on a fluoroscope. Pretty harmless and quick, takes a couple minutes and it's done the last day before you leave for home.

This is the topic for those who are scheduling their surgery during the month of March. Posting in this topic gives you a chance to meet other patients that are going to be in TJ during this month