Bryn Dawson

My PCP has known me for a few years, but she is a DO not an MD and is not really for the surgery. I waited a while to break the news to her, but there are things to remember when doing so: 1. Relax. 2. Breathe. 3. Remember - YOU are the patient. Patient = client. Client = boss. 4. Lather, rinse, repeat. The worst this PCP can do is refuse to write a referral, and then you find another one that will. I KNOW that is not what you want to contemplate right now but that really is worst case scenario. If you go in and calmly, rationally explain your reasons for wanting to have the surgery and that you have already begun the research process, your PCP will listen. That, after all, is their JOB. We've all developed this inferiority complex when it comes to doctors, like they are some great and powerful being and we are lowly peons, but it is not true at all. They're just people, doing a job like the rest of us. Do your best, and if the outcome isn't what you want, vote with your feet. You have the right to a 2nd opinion, 3rd opinion, etc. Don't forget to repeat steps 1 and 2 as frequently as necessary! My PCP expressed her opinion ('Wouldn't it be nice if you could lose the weight without the surgery?') and we left it at that. She has NOT refused to treat me and did all my pre-op testing KNOWING what it was for and giving me the best care she could anyway, even though she has reservations about WLS. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I have had a similar experience as well, because my surgeon's office and insurance required a 6-month supervised diet period. So effectively I have been waiting since January to make the leap into sleeve land. I did the same thing - start making changes one at a time as I get closer to my date. For instance, I haven't had anything fizzy, including soda, since January 6th. (My surgeon calls soda 'liquid candy'.) I also took that long period of time to say goodbye to things I wasn't going to be able to have for a while after the surgery - if I craved something, I went and got it. Not bingeing, just having some as a meal and then being done. That has helped me immensely with learning to identify emotional eating and sticking to the 6-month diet. I'm on the 2-week pre-op low carb diet now... 2 Protein shakes a day, one meal. I've only been on it two days, but so far so good. Good luck to you on your path! Enjoy Memphis!

Found out today that my insurance still hasn't approved me. They haven't denied me either. I am in 'pending' status. Also found out that if they don't approve by July 6th, I'll lose my July 12th surgery date. I'm pretty bummed and worried. I keep telling myself that I can reschedule, it's not the end of the world, but it's hard to listen to myself. It's hard to stay positive. Sorry, just venting.

I'm ready too - finally got my approval and am on the pre-op low-carb diet, so I say bring it on!

Good luck - I'm on carb detox also. I've been through it before so I know what to expect but it can be a heck of a bumpy ride at first. Also, I am echoing those who say Tylenol/acetominophen/paracetemol. NSAIDS are a no-no this close to surgery according to my doc.

Thanks Debbie! Sorry to hear about your tribulations with the sleep study tonight. I will be thinking of you.

Thank you for your response and for good wishes - the insurance just approved me! I have an authorization number and everything. Yay! I am so relieved, it's incredible. My knees are weak.

When I have my morning Protein shake, I mix 1 scoop of unjury vanilla with the coffee to use similarly to creamer - it gives the coffee a creamy taste AND gets you some protein with only a few grams of carbs - 4 grams with 1 of that being dietary Fiber. Another thing to try is Almond Milk - tastes a little weird on its own but in coffee I couldn't tell the difference between it and skim milk, and it is pretty low-carb too. The brand I tried is called Almond Dream and only has 3 grams of carbs with 1 of that being dietary fiber per 1-cup serving, so the amount you would use as creamer in coffee would be less than 1 gram. Good luck!

I'm starting the lower-carb phase of my pre-op diet today too, even though I don't know if my surgery is going to fall through or not due to the insurance problems. For me, this means going from one Protein shake a day to two - I'm doing unjury shakes mixed with skim milk - and only having one full meal a day, plus Snacks in the low-carb range (string cheese, yum). I'm proceeding as though the surgery is going to happen as scheduled. Good luck to all of us!

Thinking of you and sending good energies your way! Let us know how you are feeling when you're up to it!

Yeah, I know. Me too.

I have HealthPartners, which is part of the Cigna network although is not, strictly speaking, Cigna itself. But it's a PPO. However, I am having difficulty with them at the moment. Please make sure you are fully aware of all the requirements well before your surgery date is in sight.

I'm really glad that everything has resolved okay as far as the physical problem. I can only hope that you get a satisfying resolution to the hospital/doctor/tech problem as well. I'm sorry that this happened to you, and sorrier that you had such a bad experience. Please let us know how it turns out.

I'm still pre-op and this post is somewhat scary and also enlightening. Just another thing to prepare for, I guess. But I am sending good thoughts and energies out for those of you having this trouble right now, and hoping that you reach the turning point soon.

Sending good energy your way - I am sure you will do just fine. Keep us posted when you can!

I've never been much of a praying woman, myself, but I could sure use some help about now. My insurance is trying to balk on my application again over this stupid 5-phone calls to the insurance company people in 10 weeks-thing and I'm worried about my surgery date (July 12th) getting cancelled. I've got everything crossed. Also my insurance coordinator (with whom I am now on a first name basis) and my surgeon are writing letters to the insurance requesting they make an exception in my case, so I guess that counts as an appeal, though the word 'denial' was tactfully not used in the voicemail I was left. I am super bummed about the thought of getting cancelled, and super anxious waiting for official word. So any thoughts or prayers or good energies or mystical psychedelic frisbees or whatever you all could say/think/metaphysically send my way would be very much appreciated. Thanks and reciprocity, Bryn

Woot! Go Tamz!

I had low Vitamin D when I was tested but that was early enough on in the process that they could put me on a supplement to get it to come up. I don't think it will affect your surgery, though.

I lose in stair-steps now and I'm pre-op. In fact, this is how my body has always taken weight off during any of the diets I have tried. It is normal - don't beat yourself up over it. I know that I use a weight tracker at caloriecount.about.com - it has not only weight tracking but weight trending, and as long as the trend continues to go down or stays the same, then you are fine. Believe me, it's hard for that trend to go up - you have to actually gain. It might be worth checking out, if only to help you feel better about the process. For an interesting take on it, look up something called 'The Hacker's Diet' on Google. There is a lot of interesting information there regarding input vs output, trending, etc.

I'm preop so I don't have any experience with this but I will keep you in my thoughts and hope for a resolution soon!

Hey Debbie, I can tell you that I take benefiber with my morning shakes and it seems to help a lot. I have also heard Miralax will help. Good luck! Let us know how things 'come out'. LOL

I too am fairly open, and have told my office (including my boss, because we're very open with each other) and my mom and dad, one aunt, a lot of my friends, and of course my husband. My employees are all excited for me and give me encouragement - they tell me I'm doing well when I walk to the kitchen to get Water for my Crystal Light or other things of that nature. It's little stuff, but it makes me feel good about my decision and about my support structure. Keep in mind, you have nothing but time. You can always decide down the road to tell someone, but you can't take it back once it's out. That's how I'm looking at it for my extended family - no reason to tell now but might tell later. Just my 2 cents...

I am sure you will do great! You sound very dedicated. I will be rooting for you!

Oh no! I can understand EXACTLY how you are feeling as I went through a potential roadblock just last week. It is miserable! But I agree with the other posters here - call your surgeon and see what they say. It is possible they will still operate, or will refer you to another PCP to do the physical. Also, keep in mind you can always get a 2nd opinion from another PCP for preop! Good luck! I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I am really, really lucky - I have a great mom. She's awesome.