Girl you can do it. The smoking thing is Vanessa not Medicaid.  Have lots of sugar free gum on hand. It will help with the smoking and also the chewing sensation your body wants. Saved me lots. You can loose the 20 pounds fast on the liquids. You will also recieve your letter from medicaid before New Orleans even knows if you are approved or not. Vanessa changes rules everyday. Don't give up. This is the best thing you can do for yourself. Before you know it you will be down 20, 30, 40 pounds and still falling lol. Stay busy will also help but will be hard with the change in your diet. Just stay focused on the end results. Cant wait for you to be on the bench with the rest of us....Sherri

Had a sleeve in Lafayette with Dr. Gachassin.  Great surgeons and I had excellent results.  The bariatric team is wonderful and very supportive.

I will be having the VSG, the gastric sleeve. which one are you having?

 Here's another possible option. I've personally seen some great results. Both from some in my family & from friends. It's an awesome product that has helped a great deal of people. I'm not asking you to take my word for it. Take a look & see some of the results for yourself. I'm sure you'll be amazed. There's a good many every day people That are having tremendous success with this.
It's easier & healthier than what I'd been doing. I'm a skeptic by nature. I've tried so many things in life to help with my weight. After talking to a handful of people that's started this & seeing their results, I had to look into it. My theory, it never hurts to take a look & do a little research.

http://siscox.bodybyvi.com/

Dr. Thomas Borland in New Iberia does the VSG for $9800 on an out-patient basis. Out of town patients will need to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights though so that he can check up on you. I've heard very good things about him.