MikeinMD

My surgeon required 30 day compliance with the CPAP treatment. That means getting the machine and using it at least 4 hours a day for 30 days (I think it was like 70% of the 30 days). Often times it is the anestiologist that requires this because it is his/her job to keep your hear and lungs working during the surgery.

Wow, keep up the good work and thanks for the encouragement.

Yes. The first test determined there was an issue and the second was with the CPAP machine to figure out what I needed and if treatment would be effective. Sometimes if the apnea is really apparent during the first test, they will hook you up half way through. My guess is your apena is on the less severe side so they wanted the Dr. to read the results before trying the CPAP.

It is under "My Patient Profile", "My Surgery" and then my Photos on the left hand side.

Wonderful. I don't have my first post surgery appointment for 5 weeks which seems pretty far out compared to everyone else. I am weighing myself at home and have lost some but don't trust the accuracy of my scale.

I am 10 days post op and I am not experiencing most of the things that others are. I have felt absolutely no restriction since surgery and have not been able to tell that I have had the surgery at all. Since day 2 I was able to finish my shakes in about 20 minutes and have had no trouble getting plenty of water in. Reading other people's experiences, I am wondering if something is not right. Maybe i am just very early to the "band hell" between having surgery and fills to start the restriction process. Is anyone else experiencing this so close to their surgery? Thanks.

My nutritionist said that the body can only absorb 40 grams of protein at a time so you may want to drink some and wait an hour or two or else you are not getting all of the benefit.

A serious reduction in calories can cause this. Your body will adjust and it will get better. I had blurry vision for a couple of days after surgery but everything has gone back to normal now.

Cream of chicken soup with unjury protein powder added. Still on full liquids.

I tell just about everyone. I am so big, I generally get support and/or questions about the surgery. I lost a bunch before surgery and looking to the future and if people don't like it, that is their problem.

At that rate you would probably be better off flying to Iowa and having the surgery.

Is this surgeon within your insurance company's network? I would call your insurance company and ask them about options. Maybe a different surgeon if this one is so expensive?

Congratulations and keep up the good work!!!

That makes no sense to me. Is this person from the insurance company or the doctor's office?

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to check-in. My procedure was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. but did not get started until 11:10. By 12:30 the doctor was out talking to my relatives in the waiting area. I was consious by 1:00 and off to my swallow test by 1:30. Left the hospital by 4:00 and home by 5:00. So far minimal discomfort but nothing I would classify as pain. Have not taken any pain meds other that the meds they gave me in recovery. My throat is bothering me more than my abdomen (from the intebation). I am up walking, eating popsicles, drinking water/crystal light annd chicken broth with some protein power mixed in. I consider myself to be very lucky and very thankful for all the prayers I have received. If you have any questions, please let me know.

I guess I was one of the lucky ones because I did not need the pain meds at all. I think what I got was liquid Vicodine but it is just sitting in the medicine cabinet.

Also remember that you should only have to pay 20% of the insurance approved amount. If the total is $25000 but your insurance will only allow the doctor and hospital to charge $15000, you would have to pay 20% of $15000 or $3000.

Thanks all. Still doing well. Slept through the night and have not touched any pain meds including Tylenol. I am amazed at how smoothly things went. I think I should get some money back from the surgeon for making his job so easy.

I am quickly running out of time before my surgery. I had my last real meal tonight and tomorrow is all clear liquids. Monday morning is surgery. Hope all went well for you and can't wait to hear your report on the other side.

Don't know your situation but you could take the new job and stay on COBRA for the rest of the year with your old employer if you can wait to take the insurance from the new employer at their next open enrollment. COBRA is expensive but the surgery is also expensive. If the new job pays significantly more than the old one it may make sense but you will need to do lots of reaearch. I am currently on COBRA from my old employer and my surgery is scheduled for 4/16, I will have to stay on that plan until the beginning on 2013 when the open enrollment eligibility opens.

I add the Mio tangerine flavor and a pack of splenda to the vanilla flavor and it makes it like a creamsicle flavor. Yum.

Hi everyone. I am now 1 week out from surgery and my approval came back from Carefirst and i am good to go. I was expecting to have to pay $275 in copays + 20% coinsurance. Apparently Carefirst changed my policy and now they cover 100% of everything except for a $25 doctor copay. That was great news for me. I am into week 2 of my modified liquid diet. (Allowed 1 high protein low carb meal a day + 4 protein shakes and under 1500 calories a day). I have been doing very good with this except for yesterday for Easter. I went over by about 600 calories and had double the carbs I should have. I still did so much better than I would have before I started this process. In the old days, I would have easily eaten 5000 calories. Back to my shake this morning and for lunch and back to the pool this afternoon. I have been swimming 90 - 120 minutes a day 3 - 4 days a week. I am going to miss that during the 2 weeks that I can not be submergered in water. I strongly recommend water exercise/swimming for anyone who has not been exercising because it is very low impact and burns lots of calories. At my weight, an hour of swimming is about 1300 calories burned. It took me about 45 days to build up to swimming this much. At first I swam some and then walked laps in the pool and then swam some more. I am sure post surgery, it will take some time to get back to being able to swim that much but I am committed to making that happen. I have not been on the scale yet this week and my scale does not match my doctor's scale. My goal has been to be below 400 prior to surgery and it will be close. Crossing my fingers and plan to get to the pool at least 4 days this week. Thanks for everyone's support. I will post next week after my surgery and I feel strong enough play on the computer.

Thanks. I am a bit nerveous about getting out of the habit after surgery. My doctor wants me to not lift anything more than 10 pounds for 1 month and I can't be in the pool for a minimum of 2 weeks. I work from home so being here won't be so bad but I am only planning on taking 1 week off even though my doctor would prefer 2 weeks. Hopefully i will feel up to working after a week. Glad to hear that you are feeling so well after your procedure. Keep up the good work and those pounds will be melting off. ...Mike

Well exercise is pretty new for me. I have been inspired by a facebook friend who started walking in the pool and doing weight watchers. She has been doing great and she updates her status frequently and that helps inspire me. I don't mind the physical part of the workout now that I have worked up to it but finding the 2 hours at a time is the hard part. I have a gym at my apartment building that is great but I feel more comfortable in the pool so I go to the health club. I think once I get a little smaller, I will feel better in the regular gym. Like our eating habits, I guess changes take time and most habits take consistency for a while before it becomes the new habit. I am sure that you will get better with the exercise as time goes on and you feel better and lighter. ...Mike

April 16th