Leaderboard

Well, today I am 3 months post surgery. Thought I would share a few thoughts. I'm down 74 lbs as of this morning from my first day of preop diet on 11/2. 294 to 220. Holy cats, 40 lbs to go. Down to 38 jeans from 44s. Heading to 36s soon. Headgames are real!!! Head hunger, stalls, worries, etc. All of it. It takes time to wrap your head around all of it. My pecker is back! Nuff said. I can tie my shoes without cramping up. Lol. I can bend over, I can get off the couch. Etc. I'm able to build muscle at 52. This is a surprise. I thought it would be harder to regain what I'd lost, but so far I have been successful in getting my arms back. I can eat whatever I want. No problems getting hot, cold, and have made goals from the beginning, but have great restriction. All in all, it has been as advertised, but, some days can be a challenge. Its amazing how one bite too many, can make you miserable for an hour. Measuring, has been a big help.

The insurance company is bound by a contract, either between you and them for direct pay, or more likely between an employer and them to provide certain types of care. There’s no risk in calling them, there’s nothing to inadvertently agree to. All they can do is provide information on contracted plan benefits. In the end you need to take responsibility for your own finances and you should confirm everything with insurance yourself. I work with both health care and insurance and it’s vital to have a personal understanding of your plan benefits and how it will impact you. When I called I asked 1. Is bariatric surgery covered? Is there a prior authorization requirement? Can you share with me the page of the plan document that outlines these prior authorization requirements? 2. Are there requirements to see a surgeon/hospital within the plan network, or certain providers in order to receive coverage? 3. Is this subject to the deductible and coinsurance or are there special provisions for this coverage? Hopefully your surgeons office will help you with this, but I never recommend being passive and trusting someone else to do something when there’s tens of thousands of (your!) dollars on the line.

Hello! I'm 4 weeks post op and thought I would come back here to share what I have learned over the last 4 weeks. [emoji3590] My experience since surgery has been nothing short of incredible. I'm not speaking in terms of massive weight loss, but my energy, focus, well-being, mental clarity, and state of mind. The weight loss is a bonus. Looking back on my 8 month journey to the OR, I realized that the most crucial piece of advice I received came from the most unlikely of individuals on my path, the psychologist who did my psyche evaluation. She told me that the single best thing I could do for my recovery in the time before my surgery was to practice hitting my program Protein and fluid goals before surgery and to practice liquid Meal Replacement. I had more time than expected between this appointment and surgery (5 months versus 8 weeks due to multiple delays and reschedules), but I kept on doing this. I started by replacing Breakfast with my Protein Shake and monitoring my Water intake. I eventually worked up to hitting 70-90 grams of protein daily and my minimum 90 ounces of water. I still ate, but only after I was at my minimum protein goal. It wasn't an doctors order, it wasn't required, but I took her advice to heart and it has paid off in droves. Within days of my VSG, I was well on my way to hitting my goals again, with little head hunger or emotional discomfort with a liquid diet. I wasn't stressed or had any 'buyers remorse'. This is one small thing you can do for yourself on the way to make the lifestyle change a smooth transition. Best of luck! Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

I am 4 days out from VSG, and I have like a little tickle that makes me cough occasionally throughout the day. Laying flat last night made it a little more persistent. Not hacking or phlegmy or anything. Any ideas? Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

My cousin had a bypass at the same time I had my sleeve. When I asked him how he was finding the pre-surgery liquid diet, he had no idea what I was talking about. He went to Benihana's the day before his surgery, LOL. Different doctors take different approaches.

Well I am on day one of my pre op liquid diet for the second time. I was about half way thru back in December when I got the call that postponed surgery due to Covid spike. I just made a Premeir Protein shake (added ice in the bullet) with scoop of whey protein and a half tub of Triple Zero Yogart. I think this puppy has about 57 grams of protein to my estimate. 1 week from today I will be under the knife. I am ready to get this show on the road!!

It's possible it's irritation from the tube placed down your throat during the operation. Definitely ask your surgeon, especially if it doesn't clear up soon but I always get this when I have surgery. It's usually gone within a week. Edit to add: did they give you an incentive spirometer (plastic tool that you blow into, to exercise your lungs). If so, make sure you use it, it always helps my breathing to get better, sooner.

Congrats on your surgery. Yep, stalls are frustrating. You’re dropping pounds then nothing. Look at it as your body playing catch-up. It’s going through a lot & is taking a break. My longest stall was 2 1/2 weeks when I was 1 kg from goal. Grrr. It was right there ... I never changed a thing & my stalls still broke. There’s a lot talk about starvation mode & upping calorie intake. The term starvation mode is actually incorrect. The correct term to describe what is occurring is adaptive thermogenesis. This is the body reducing the metabolism rate (calories burnt) in response to a reduction in caloric intake. Weight loss will reduce the number of calories you burn but studies show it’s only about 6 calories per pound lost. But a high protein diet can boost your metabolism by 80 - 100 calories per day. So I guess the take away is make sure you’re meeting your protein goals each day to keep your metabolism up & counter balance any metabolic slow down from a reduced caloric intake. Good luck. This too will pass.

Yeah, you're gonna be more sensitive to smells for a while I think.

Can't wait to be strong enough to do this every morning!