Thanks for the advice everyone!!!!!!  I am at that point where I am too scared to eat anything.  For some reason I cannot tolerate eating egg or any dairy product.  I love eating yogurt and drinking skim milk....everything I eat makes me feel like crap.  I will have my one month visit tomorrow.

I don't have that much energy.  I wake up in the morning with really dry mouth.  Sometimes I develope yellow foam in my mouth.  It is soooo nasty.  I really need to use mouth wash.

Will post my weight loss tomorrow.  Just feel like I didn't lose much because I didn't excercise.

Much Mahalo......no worries....I haven't touched da white rice....I was just asking if get any local menu out there when we are on the road trying to look for something to eat.

Someone told me about taco bells...the cheese roll for 99 cents.

Hi there...just wanted to chime in and say a few things. First off, congratulations on your quest to a better feeling you! Secondly, whatever doc you choose and whichever route you decide, it'll all work out. And time really does fly. Soon you'll be on the losers bench.

aloha,

michelle

Hi Jenn,
Its me HIgurl....i had the same situation as you...i was going to go with Dr.C and i did go for a consult with him...i didnt need a PCP referral to see him.  He is really knowledgable and has a lot of experience but his $4500 is just too much for me to come up with.  So thats how i got hooked up wtih Dr. Fowler.  I just went to Oahu in fact for a consult wtth him.  I know that DR. F will do VSG on ppl who have a BMI of 55 and above.  But he says he doesnt think HMSA will cover it.  If they deny it, you can always appeal.  But if you are thinking of doing the VSG, I would recommend going with DR. C as he is much more experienced with that type of surgery.  Dr. Fowler mostly does lapbands and RNY (which i am getting).  Like Nahea said, I think you should call HMSA first and find out what they cover.  I will say that i like both of these doctors.  But i f i was rich and had money, I def would go with DR. C just because he has many years of experience.  Dont get me wrong, Dr. Folwer is competent too and i am going with him for mus surgery...but whatever u choose, research and research!!!  Good luck and let us know how it all goes!

FYI - I hope you get to stay in HI and your insurance pays. With the packages from Dr. C, my hubby got to stay with me (we had to pay only for his airfare because I was a self-pay, but he was able to stay the week with me... one night at the hospital and the other days in the hotel nearby) without any additional cost. I wish the hospitals here in HI met Dr. C's standards... hopefully, they will someday soon. I'm just glad I get to have my follow-up visits with him here on Maui and knowing that he is just a phone call or email away. He's really good at getting back to me if I need him.

Let's see if HIgurl has anything to contribute, though. She may be an excellent source of information! Aloha!

thanks, the info helps a lot. my BMI is over 60 so i hope that means i can get the VSG. i REALLY wanted dr. c. i think that's who my pcp has sent his patients to for surgery, cause the nurse said they have sent a few to san fran, but they also work w/ docs from oahu. and WOW $4500 and $600 is a HUGE difference. I don't have anyone that can help me pay, and making any kind of loan is unfortunately not an option, so cost is a big issue. so i think i will look into some hawaii docs. i would like to have my surgery in hawaii so my husband could be there with me. if i go to san fran, i would most likely be going alone.  but anyway, thanx for the info