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About this blog

My experience with gastric sleeve surgery from the beginning of the insurance process to the endless present.

Entries in this blog

 

Square one: May 19th, 2010

This is the beginning. Age 45, BMI 51; Starting weight 331; Goal weight 150   I live in rural North Dakota, and I have just had my paperwork submitted for vertical sleeve gastrectomy to BCBS this week. The bariatric program coordinator said I should have no problem getting approved, as they are part of a BCBS pilot program. My hospital/program are 100 miles away, so the online community will be my main support system.   I have been overweight since age 10. I really ballooned to morbidly obese after age 40. I am absolutely done with diets. I am borderline diabetic, have arthritis in the knees, hyperlipidemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. I am also taking medication for depression, but it is treated, so I don't feel depressed.   I am hopling that my surgery will change all of these health problems. I tried to get insurance approval from United Health Care for a RNY in 2007--it was explicitly excluded from coverage. In 2009 I got a new job with new insurance and here I am.   I have accepted the lifestyle changes that will have to be made, so at this point my main concerns are cost, insurance approval, and finding out all I can about life after surgery. I'm a foodie so this is going to be quite a challenge, but I've already found a gourmet bariatric cookbook, so I am going to make this work.   I'll post again when I hear something from the insurance. Wish me luck!
Donna4545

Donna4545

9
 

Pre-op diet hell 7/5/10

I am in hell. 9 more days until surgery and the pre-op diet is making me insane. I'm always hungry, especially between dinner and bed. I hate being hungry!   I am doing it exactly the way my dr. said, drinking 64 oz water/day, no carbs etc. I want to eat the world!:scared0:
Donna4545

Donna4545

3
 

Shopping for supplies online 5/28/10

I spent the afternoon shopping for my pre and post-op needs. I found baby flatware, 2 oz tupperware cups, the smallest bowls with lids I could find were 8 oz.   I found the pre-op Atkins Advantage RTD Shakes for about $4.50 per 4 pack, 4 oz. baby apple juice for dirt cheap, gerbers baby green beans, stage 2, Isopure 3 lb 50g protein powder for $32 (1.50 a serving). I found the best deals by using Google.   I already have a food scale, chicken broth, and shaker bottle. I'm trying to think if I need anything else.   For four days after the surgery I will be in a hotel room near the hospital, until the doc says I can drive myself the 100 miles home. They have a special rate for this-$69/night and my Flex acct will reimburse $60/night for that.   The room doesn't have a fridge, but for day 3 and 4 I'm hoping I can get some soup in the hotel restaurant, and yogurt for breakfast. Otherwise, everything is check! Surgery scheduled for 7/14/10.
Donna4545

Donna4545

1
 

Day 8 update - 7/22/10

Yesterday was my birthday--what a weird birthday, on full liquids! I usually have champagne and dark chocolate. I settled for a cherry chocolate protein shake.   The scale says I've lost 40 lbs, but I still can't get into my old jeans. Where am I losing it from--my toes? I swear I can't tell the difference. 18 lbs pre-surgery and the rest post-surgery. It's kind of depressing to know that I have so much weight that 40 lbs is a drop in the bucket.   I feel fine. Recovered, really. I'm not hungry or anything. I'll spend the rest of the week cleaning the house and then I'll go back to work, I suppose. The cleaning is a big job. At least it's exercise.
Donna4545

Donna4545

2
 

2 weeks post op - 7/27/10

I started a new blog on Blogger called Vertical Sleeve Foodie, where I'm posting recipes because most recipes for WLS out there are for RNYers, who don't absorb calories like sleevers do. I'm still on pre-op recipes but I'll catch up. Myself, I just started puree/mushies today and I am thrilled! I will be posting mushy recipes soon!   My doc told me to stop stressing over weight loss and relax and just heal (while getting my fluids and protein in). He said to stop counting weekly losses and think about it as a long term process--I will have ups and downs, but the weight will come off--as long as I'm eating like I'm supposed to not worry about the timetable. He was right, I was treating weight loss like it was a race I was running, and that will just lead to frustration and burnout.   The nutritionist said not to be so carb paranoid--carbs from milk, yogurt, and berries were fine--just get the protein in first and stay below 15 carbs/serving. That's a major worldview change for me since I was doing 5 carbs/serving. She did say to avoid the "white carbs"--potatoes (ok in small amounts only), rice, pasta, and bread. That's doable.   I am so happy to have such a smooth surgery without any complications, nausea, dehydration like I have seen people talk about on here. I feel great. Not tired, not scared, not regretful, actually comfortable and optimistic. I'm off of 4 prescriptions because the co-morbidities are gone or under control. This sleeve surgery is a great thing! The difference just 30 lbs makes is amazing.:thumbup:
Donna4545

Donna4545

1
 

Made peace with the pre-op diet 7/6/10

After making a few attitude and effort adjustments, I've made peace with the pre-op diet. One more week and I'm on the table! I'm not nervous or anything--is that normal? I just feel kind of matter-of-fact about it. Gonna get sleeved. Yup.
Donna4545

Donna4545

1
 

'Twas the night before surgery..." 7/13/10

Here I sit in the hotel drinking the godawful required bottle of magnesium citrate and trying not to go crazy from drinking only clears for a full day. If I can get through tonight, I can get through anything.
Donna4545

Donna4545

4
 

Newly sleeved and loving it- 7/15/10

I was sleeved yesterday (7/14/10) and had some annoying shoulder pain that went away when they took the drain out. Other than that, getting a cold was more traumatic than my surgery. No major pain, just slight annoyance/soreness around incisions, but only when I move the wrong way. I am in such a good mood about it--optimistic and ready to follow the post-op diet to the letter. In case you're curious, my post op diet is: 1st 3 days: clear liquids Next week: full liquids Week 3: Pureed Week 4: Transition to solids-mushies Week 5: Solids   Try to keep each meal under 8 carbs and try for a daily goal of no more than 30 carbs. Protein: 50-60 grams per day Fat: lowfat as possible Liquids: 64 oz/day
Donna4545

Donna4545

4
 

Surgery scheduled 7/14/10

I got insurance approval from BCBS North Dakota in 3 days! One day at the bariatric clinic for clearances, and then I got scheduled. I'm still in shock!
Donna4545

Donna4545

2
 

Time to deal with the exercise monster - 7/11/10

My surgery is in 3 days, and I need to start thinking about the crucial component for taking advantage of the honeymoon period of weight loss--exercise. I am a total exercise wimp. I hate it. I hate it because it hurts my knees, I have bad balance, and I find it mind-numbingly boring.   So here's what I've done to ease myself into it. I decided that I wanted something that I could do at home (I live in a cold climate and there's no way I'm driving to Curves in a blizzard).   I ordered a DVD set, "The All New Zumba Fitness: Latin Workout Routine" It has 4 DVDs of varyiing difficulty. It's basically "dancercise" to Latin music like samba, tango, macumba etc. I figure this will be less boring that watching some perky aerobicized blonde bouncing around in ways that make my low-impact self cringe. I wanted something I could DO. It looks like I can start the "Beginners" DVD pretty much right after surgery (taking it easy of course) and step it up a bit until I reach the 6 week point, where I am allowed to do strenuous exercise.   At 6 weeks, I have another DVD to add in: "Walk at Home" which I plan to do for a half hour every morning. Hopefully by then I'll be a little lighter and it won't hurt so much. It's at that point that I have to start thinking about a gym for arms, etc. But I'm taking this one step at a time and so I'm not going to worry about the gym today. I'll worry about it tomorrow.
Donna4545

Donna4545

0
 

Day 4 update 7/17/10

I was a little uncomfortable yesterday. I was burping constantly, a bit nauseous at time, and my legs and ankles were swollen. I called the surgeon and he said the swelling was normal after a surgery, and just to keep walking around, and if it didn't clear up within a few days, or if there was pain that went with it, to call him back.   Day four - I'm not burping constantly any more, and the swelling in my legs/ankles has gone way down. Today is the first day of full liquids, and also is the first sense of feeling how much the pouch will hold. I have a 2oz medicine cup that I pour my full liquids in so I don't accidentally overdo it. I can have about 3 and a half oz before I get a pain signaling me to stop. Now I know why they say stop BEFORE you are are full lol. I guess 3 oz for full liquids is my limit. Clears, I can sip constantly. I'll be on full liquids for 10 days.
Donna4545

Donna4545

0
 

Pre-op emotional issues and eating, shake tips

My July 14th surgery date is getting closer, and I'm starting to ease myself into the pre-op diet (2 shakes and an Atkins-type dinner). The sugar free DaVinci syrups that I found online make the protein shakes less monotonous. I got these flavors out of the about 50 they have: Kahlua, coconut, pineapple, Amaretto, Creme de Menthe, Egg Nog. I'm using IsoPure zero carb protein powder in vanilla (as a base for my flavored syrups) and in Banana Creme (same). They mix excellently with water--no lumps. I've also gotten Inspire brand Cinnamon Cappucino protein powder, but the taste is mild so I have to add syrup, and it doesn't mix up quite as well, but it's ok. I recommend the Supplement Warehouse website for everything--best prices I've found, including the syrups, protein/soup mixes, and chewable/sublingual vitamins.   The Atkins Advantage ready to drink shakes are ok, but I can see they are going to get boring fast so I'm glad I got the powder/syrups. I also bought 2 oz. cups, 2 oz. ice cube trays for freezing purees, 4 oz. ramekins, and toddler silverware and bowls. I tried out the toddler silverware and I definitely recommend doing this BEFORE surgery because you will have an emotional reaction to eating in different amounts. It took me about 10 minutes to process the anger I first felt using a tiny fork--it's like my id was saying "why is this necessary", and rebelling but I got over it. I had these weird anger flashes, it felt like my inner 2 year old was acting up. I also got 4oz containers of Gerber Apple Juice for post-op. I feel like I'm all set.   I'm not scared, and I'm not excited--I'm more in the middle--a little disbelieving that it's actually going to happen. I got the final medical clearance from my primary care doc, paid my $500 co-pay, and I'm ready for rock and roll. I don't have any relatives or friends here since I moved here for a job not yet a year ago so I'm doing this on my own. I feel confident I can do it.   If anybody wants to correspond/chat/email I'd be glad of the contact, as I'd like to hear how other people are handling their July surgeries.
Donna4545

Donna4545

1
 

Moving to Blogger

Instead of keeping up this blog, I've moved to blogger, and started a VSG blog: http://gastricsleevefoodie.blogspot.com   You can still look at the back posts here to see my experience from insurance approval to two weeks post-op.   Cheers, Donna
Donna4545

Donna4545

0
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