Dulci

1. Not being the fattest person in the office. 2. Finishing the two week liquids only pre-op diet. I'm not hungry, but after only three days, I am sick of the protein after taste/coating on my tongue. 3. Being able to throw away several of my 'go-to' items of clothing. I'm sure we all have those items - the ones that are reasonably flattering and are wearing out, but they are irreplaceable. 4. Learning how small of an amount of food will satisfy me. 5. Joining the people that walk, jog and run around the lake in my community. (I won't now because I'd feel too self conscious.) 6. Going back to the area where I grew up to see old friends. I have missed reunions, turned down invitations and made so many excuses to avoid seeing people because of my weight. more to come as I think of them . . .

Sharing as much as you can with your medical professionals is always in your best interest. I'm happy that you were able to do that and that your nutritionist was understanding. This journey is all about becoming as healthy as you can be.

I'm envious of you folks. I am on day 4 of my pre-op diet. 3 Protein shakes per day and at least 64 ounces of non-carbonated, non-caffeinated, and non-caloric liquids. I can also have sugar-free Jello, sugar free popsicles, and no sugar added fudge-sicles. The first three days weren't too bad. Today has been awful - two of my office mates had lunch at their desks, so I was treated to the tempting aromas from their pizza and Chinese food. I cheated a bit with my dinner smoothie; I added a tablespoon of Peanut Butter and a table spoon of cocoa. It was delish! Nine more days of smoothies, then one day of Clear Liquids and finally, surgery !

Definitely call your doc and see if you can progress to full liquids. Also, have you tried any of the clear liquid Protein drinks? You can find them at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and I'm sure other places. I have only tried one and I didn't like it all. The brand was Iso... something in the fruit punch flavor. I would think that you would feel a lot better if you had some protein to nourish your body. Good luck!

I am having my surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL. I was required to attend a nutrition seminar which covered all of the diet information for each stage: pre-op and then 5 stages after (Clear liquids, full liquids, mushy, solid Protein, Proteins and veggies, and then regular diet.) During the seminar, I was given also given regimen of Vitamins to take, exercise recommendations to go with each stage of the diet plan and an extensive list of options for protein supplements. They also gave us a book with all of the information they went over during the group nutrition meeting. I'd check with your surgeon's office to see if they have something similar. I would think that Memorial Regional's program would be similar to Cleveland Clinic. From reading these boards, it seems that most surgeons have different requirements, so it is hard to make recommendations. Regarding Protein shakes, so far, I like Jay Robb protein the best. I also like Muscle Milk 100% whey vanilla (from Costco).

I researched all of the procedures and decided that both sleeve and bypass are just too drastic for me to seriously consider. I am in my early 40's and I hope to have least 40 more years on this planet. As my great aunt aged, she had a lot of issues with nutrition because of diminished appetite. If she had undergone a WLS in her 40's that resulted in malabsorbtion, I suspect that she would have died much younger than 93. I am getting a band because I want to live a long and healthy life. As I researched all of the available options, both the band and bypass seemed counterproductive to that goal. Good luck your decision.

Glad to hear that you were able to keep your band. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Good luck. I hope you get approved quickly.

I agree about the Isopure. I tried the fruit punch flavor today for lunch. I didn't have any alternative Protein drinks, so I couldn't throw it away. It is absolutely vile - imagine watered-down sugar free koolaid with some kind of hot pepper after taste.

My surgeon's staff asked me the same thing. After attempting to research it and not finding much objective information, I told them that I was not going to specify a choice. I feel that my surgeon should make the choice based on my anatomy. Once I communicated to them that my decision was for them to decide, they were fine with it.

I start my two week liquid diet tomorrow. I hope these two weeks fly by. I'm sure I will be here looking for support.

Call the customer service number on the back of your card, give them your member number and ask if YOUR policy will cover WLS. Most insurance companies do offer coverage for WLS, but many employers choose to exclude WLS to keep costs down. The only way you can be 100% if YOUR policy includes WLS is check the actual policy or to call the company and check what your specific policy covers. Good Luck.

My insurance requires a 3 month medically supervised diet. My surgeon's office submitted my PCP's office notes which documented my dieting with Adipex in 2009. The insurance accepted the 9 months that I was on Adipex as medically supervised dieting. Talk with your surgeon's insurance coordinator about your insurance company's requirements.

My surgery is scheduled for October 28! I'm excited and nervous. Thanks to everyone here, I feel so much better prepared to begin this journey.

My surgery is scheduled for October 28. I start the preop diet on October 14. I need to add one of those cool weight tracking signatures. I'm excited and a little scared. I don't think I'll have too many issues with the gas pains. I have had laparoscopic surgery to remove endometriosis three times and the gas was tolerable, especially with a heating pad my left shoulder the first few days. Good luck and fast recoveries to all of the October bandsters.

I am very happy to hear that all of you are doing fine with coffee. My doctor recommends no caffeine until you have lost 75% of your excess weight! Of all of the changes, recommendations and restrictions, the only one that I am sure that I cannot adhere to is the no caffeine rule. Several years ago, I realized that everything I drank was caffeinated. (Coffee, tea and diet soda were my liquid staples) I knew that couldn't be healthy so I slowly changed my drinking habits. At the beginning of my band journey, I eliminated all carbonated liquids. I love my coffee. I need my coffee to get my day started. Decaf just cut it. I have two cups during the week; one at home when I read the paper, check email and other online stuff, and one at work. On the weekends, I only have one cup. I do plan to let my doctor and NUT know that I am continuing to have caffeinated coffee. (I'm pre-op, all testing complete, and insurance approved. Just waiting for a date.)

I know how to eat healthily. I know that when something tastes good, I will continue to eat, regardless of whether or not I'm full. I know that when I lose weight, I look great, I feel great physically, I am more confident and out-going. I know that my husband loves me regardless of my body size. I know that my husband finds me attractive regardless of my body size. I know that I can make changes that are good for me. I know that I can break bad habits. I know that I have never learned to maintain my weight. I am in a constant state of weight change, either gaining or losing. I am hopeful that the band will be the tool (along with my NUT) to help me learn to maintain my weight. I know that I allow myself to let my weight hold me back. I have avoided seeing friends and relatives because I am ashamed of my appearance. I know that food is not medicine, and it is certainly not a panacea to cure all that ails me. Eating won't cure depression, sadness, loneliness. Food will not cure a cold, a headache, a stomach ache, or anything else. I know that I am worthy of being healthy and happy.

In the spring of this year, I changed jobs, moved and finally obtained health insurance that doesn't exclude WLS. After speaking with several co-workers regarding recommendations for a PCP, they almost all suggested that I go to an internationally known teaching hospital. I established myself as a patient of one of the internal medicine specialists and, until today, have been very happy with the coordinated care that I have received. The clinic related to this hospital provides complete care, including labs, diagnostic testing, and specialist care in-house. All of my medical records are available for all of my doctors to review. If my gyn orders bloodwork, the reports are available for my PCP, my bariatric surgeon and my endocrinologist to review. They also have a secure online site that I can access my test results myself. However, today I am wondering if this practice is too bureaucratic and regimented. I have been taking the antidepressant Effexor XR for over 10 years. This drug runs through your system very quickly and causes horrible, awful withdrawal symptoms if a dose is missed. I had my prescription set up with "autofill" with my pharmacy. I don't call in monthly refills; the pharmacy automatically processes refills and notifies me when I need to pick up my medication. Thus, I was not aware that the refills had run out and new script needed to be obtained. Last week, I called the pharmacy to check on the meds and I was told that my doctor needed to authorize a refill and they had contacted their office. They stated that there was nothing I needed to do. On Monday, when I had one dose left, I called the pharmacy and was told the same thing. I panicked a bit because of the short supply of my medication. I was told that my PCP denied the request for a renewal of the script. I determined that the pharmacy called my doctor near my former residence who denied the renewal because I was not currently a patient of his. I told the pharmacy that they needed to contact my current PCP and they informed that they had faxed her also. I also called the PCP department as well. I was told that the refill would be called in within 24 hours. Today, I followed up with the pharmacy, who has not heard from anyone regarding my script. My PCP doc is working the hospital until Friday. She is not responding to her admin assistant's urgent message on my behalf. The pharmist flatly refused to give me a dose or two hold me over. I am dizzy, nauseated, irritable and unable to control my emotions. I am scheduled for an upper endoscopy tomorrow with my WLs surgeon ( the last test before I get a surgery date, insurance is approved. As a last resort, I called the bariatric department to see if my surgeon would call in a small script to hold me over and to enable to me undergo the endoscopy with him tomorrow. If I am shaking, hurting and vomiting, I doubt he will be able to do the endoscope. My request that the surgeon call the script was flatly refused. I was also accused of lying by the patient coordinator on the phone because she didn't see any indication that I had called my PCP more than one time yesterday morning. Apparently my PCP's secretary didn't note the calls in the system. My surgeon's patient coordinator believed their computer over me. At this point I am emotional mess and a physical mess. I don't know what to do. Tomorrow, I don't know if I should try to have the endoscope done or if I should try get an appointment with my former PCP and drive 3 hours to see him. I am worried about what kind of aftercare or emergency care I may receive if I have surgery with this surgeon's practice. I am sure that I am going to change pharmacies and change PCPs. I have never experienced a situation where there wasn't another internist or P.A. available to cover for another. Am I overreacting? Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

I was approved by Fed BCBS (standard) and I am waiting for my surgery date. I provided them with 2 years of my PCP's office notes which showed my weight history as well as 8 months of "supervised" dieting (when I was on diet pills). My surgeon's insurance coordinator submitted my paperwork on a Thursday and approved by Monday. I just need to have an endoscopy with my surgeon and (assuming no issues) will have my surgery date scheduled the next day.

I had that done; it's not a pleasant test. I'd rather go to the dentist and gyn at the same time then to have that test done again.

I had low vitamin D as well. My surgeon's NUT started me on 2k IU, but told me to stop it 2 weeks before my surgery date. I read an article somewhere that correcting an obesity related vitamin D deficiency can help with weight loss.

I just found out I was approved today. My surgeon's insurance coordinator submitted my paperwork on Wednesday; they received the approval today. I have a BMI of 37, two co-morbidities, and I had 6 months of supervised dieting (taking Adipex) in 2009. I also met with my surgeon's NUT two times and they wrote up something as well. I'm waiting for the scheduler to call me.

Which FEP BCBS plan do you have? Basic or Standard?