MinaT

Sending up my thoughts and prayers.

At Healthy4life out of Hobart/Munster there is a $600.00 up front, not billable to insurance fee. Every month you see their weight loss specialist/internist (six months program) and he gives you a diet to follow, exercise, Water plan - basically high Protein, low carbs, 64 ounce a water a day and 10k steps a day. You have to track all that and bring it in once a month. There was one one mandatory Group Meeting, and one Weight Loss Surgery: "Is it right for me?" seminar to attend, psychological testing, and meeting with their psychologist. The first $200.00 is due when you meet with the nutritionist the first time at about 4 months who has reviewed the 4 months notes, you discussed your weaknesses, and what you may have to work on. . From here on out, I have open access to see the nutritionist for life. I can make an appointment any time or call at any time to discuss my needs. The second $200.00 is due after you are approved by the insurance company when you go in to the two Pre-op classes which discusses the surgery again in detail and discusses the diet and they give you 14 days worth of Meal Replacements (42 shakes/soup/puddings) that you will need before surgery. So that $200.00 pays for your 14 days pre-op shakes. The third $200.00 is when you see the Nurse the last time before surgery and she goes over everything once more, she will teach me how to clean out the drain, she will teach me the spirometer, answer any last questions. The nursing staff is available via phone 24 hours a day after surgery, and we can make appointments to see them or call them if we have questions or concerns at any time. Tomorrow is that meeting. I start my 2 week liquid on May 21st and surgery is June 4th. For life there are free monthly group meetings with special topics, including special speakers, there are meet and greets with patients that have undergone surgery, they have special times for clothing swaps, they attack special topics and there is an annual Christmas dinner for all the patients. There is also discounted membership to a local fitness club associated with the hospital, discounted personal trainer meetings. I have BCBSIL which will pay 90% of most charges, and I also have Medicare A&B due to illness. Unfortunately, their hospitals are not "Centers of Excellence" in bariatric because healthy4life switched from Methodist Hospital to St. Mary's/Community and they have to get re-certified. Also, Medicare hasn't fully approved the sleeve yet. I will have to pay 10% of the surgery plus the $600.00 up front. I'm really hoping some of the charges will end up going through medicare because the surgery could run higher with issues. I have to have a hernia repaired and I have extreme scar tissue/adhesion issues to deal with.

Congrats!!

If you can use myfitnesspal.com and make sure you are actually taking enough for Protein and keeping your carbohydrates low enough. You may not be taking in enough food and your body is holding onto the calories. There are times I quit losing weight (been following a diet for six months prior to my sleeve) and I stay the same even though I'm eating 800-1000 calories a day and the day I up my calories the next day I drop. I'm not saying go crazy with what you eat, just perhaps take a few days to get an accurate accounting of everything you are eating. Maybe your body is in starvation mode or maybe you are taking in more carbohydrates than you think you are. I am getting sleeved June 4th and I'm on a 3-1/2 week stall right now after losing 60 lbs. on my own and I think my carb intake has been higher about 75gms, as I am preparing for my pre-op shakes next week. Good Luck to you, but I think you are doing a great job. Congrats on your loss.

I am bringing my favorite small fluffy throw blanket and a hug pillow for my tummy. Make sure you have a pillow for the ride home for between your stomach and the seat belt. Definitely some soft wipes besides toilet paper, that's why I also suggest the A&D Zinc ointment, or Desitin. I have had several laparascopies, c-section, gallbladder out, complete hysterectomy so I sort of have the routine down. I wouldn't bring pretty nightgowns with because they may get stained up. You will most-likely have a drain (I'll be going home with one). Definitely a pair of crocs or good fitting slippers which are easy to slide into and something comfortable to walk the halls with too.

I am so glad you enjoyed your family dinner. I am sure our dinners will be fine, I just think Father's Day will be too hard on me this year. I will clarify the liquid phase tomorrow when I see preop nurse who will be teaching me how to use the spirometer and how to clean the drain and she'll be going over my meds and what I need to stop prior to surgery and which ones we need to change because they are too large. When the other nurse said don't be shocked after surgery when you realize you will be on 5-6 weeks of liquids after surgery, it did not seem like she was including the 14 days prior to surgery. I was given a sheet of each stage - Clear Liquids, liquids, mushy, soft stage, regular which included recipes for each stage. We are not to move on to the next phase until surgeon tells us to. I will have appointments at 1 week 3 weeks 5 weeks 7 weeks and then once a month. I'm thinking it's the one week of clears (4) days in the hospital and probably another partial week - 2 weeks of shakes and 2 weeks of mush? They say they get optimum results with less vomiting and food intolerance's, so I will just do what they say I suppose. Surgery is June 4th, which seems like an eternity even though I've been on their program for almost 7 months. I lost 60 pounds in that time so it hasn't been a waste, but I still treat myself once in a while to rice or things that would not be considered low carb. I went crazy Friday and ate a big bag of popcorn at the movies, which I am paying dearly for since I have a hernia and I suffer with intestinal issues anyhow. That was my last hurrah for popcorn. I only have a few foods I will end up missing after surgery anyhow, mostly popcorn and pretzels and rice.

There is a topic for what you should bring to the hospital and I think there's more for after surgery too. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-gastric-sleeve-surgery-thread/ I wrote my list, and I have a list of things to purchase before surgery for at home including the heating pad, I am purchasing some plain 100% whey Protein ('unflavored'), sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free Jello, Biotene (to rinse my mouth out if it gets dry) Unury chicken broth, still need clear protein choices and working on finding something I like. I am looking for High Protein, low carb yogurt for mushy stage, Gas-X for at home. I need to buy a small (child-size teaspoon). I have a smaller plate, Optisource Vitamins (chewable) and I have read a lot of people use the sublingual b12 for energy. I'll make sure we have gatorade just in case I need it, A&D Zinc (in case I have some issues with diarrhea). I'll probably pick up a package of gauze bandages to have on hand and lip balm.

Thank you so much for this post. I start my pre-op shakes next Monday and surgery is June 4th and this issue is giving me the most anxiety. Thanksgiving and Christmas is held at my parents, because it's easier on them in the winter, I host all spring, summer & fall functions like Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, 4th, Birthdays through Labor Day. I'm not doing Memorial Day this year because I'll be on shakes only, I'm really upset about Father's Day because it will be 2 weeks out from surgery. My surgeon expects 5-6 weeks of liquids AFTER surgery. I think it will be much too hard for me and I do wonder what it will be like for all the other holidays this year like Thanksgiving & Christmas. I am hoping to be at my goal weight for my parent's 50th in December, hopefully that will make up Father's Day. He's my biggest supporter of the surgery, yet he's the most apprehensive about it too.

You have a beautiful family. You were always beautiful, and now you are healthy & beautiful. Congrats!

It's still caffeine and a diuretic. I would wean yourself off and start doing decaff prior to surgery. You could end up with a caffeine withdrawal which could cause you to be agitated, tired and give you headaches. After surgery you can't afford to feel crappy with withdrawals, on top of feeling crappy from surgery for one, secondly it's suppose to be very hard to keep up with all the liquids you need to get in and you will most likely be a bit dehydrated, caffeine will make you more dehydrated. I have seen people state they go back to it down road, but the withdrawals from Caffeine is better off before surgery than after. Half the issue with addiction is perception. I was a huge Ice Tea drinker and coffee drinker, along with taking Water pills, without it my feet, legs and hands swell up. I swore I couldn't go potty without my morning coffee, decaff does the same thing for me now. I gave up the caffeine and will stop the water pills before surgery too. I started trying different brands of decaff until I found one I liked, and I practiced coming up with the best decaff Ice Tea. I make it and put it an old bottle of Gold Peak pre-made Ice Tea. (It fits in my fridge better than a pitcher.) I use individual Truvia's to sweeten my ice tea.

Good luck Cheryl.

Mom, tomorrow is your big day, I will think good thoughts for you and look forward to hearing how you are doing.

Mom, which ones did you try? I tried the Grape and didn't care much for it and I've been a bit concerned about it and now I'm starting to think, after surgery taste buds are going to change and really it's going to be a struggle to get anything down and clear phase is about a week so it's not going to matter too much. I heard there's a green one that's not bad, and I thought I'd try to find that and maybe add a squirt of green MIO or something fruity and add Black Cherry MIO. Unfortunately, I get migraines if I use too many artificial sweeteners, and there are some that cause a bloaty feeling, so I would rather not sweeten things if I don't have to. The only artificial sweetener lately that doesn't have that effect on me is Truvia. Too bad more things weren't made with it for me.

Good luck to you and don't be discouraged if you have to do the 6 month supervised diet. Many doctors in the United States are now instituting the six month supervised diets, nutritional classes, psychological testings, seminar's, etc. whether or not insurance companies require it. Their reputation is on the line and they want the best outcome. I have gone through it and the time goes by quick. I've been fat a long time and six more months isn't going to kill me and I lost 60 pounds in that time! If you have to do the six months supervised diet, why not put 100% into it! Go low carb 40-75 - high protein, learn to not drink with your meals, learn to chew your food slowly and thoroughly. It's what this time is for. Surgery is a lot easier on you and more successful if you can start working on behavior modifications in advance. I suggest signing up for http://myfitnesspal.com and logging in once a day to keep track of your water intake (try to get up to 64 ounces) track your food and calories and exercise. Can't exercise? Neither could I. I stood in place and walked for 5 minutes at a time and tracked it. I finally was able to fit on the Gazelle and could do 5 minutes, now I can do an hour and walk a mile and I haven't had the surgery yet. The first time I went to a surgeon for WLS, I was became depressed learning about the six month diet. I ended up quitting. Second time I went to another doctor, and I couldn't write it all down, and I ended up getting pneumonia, and kept drinking orange juice and eating pretzels and even lied about what I was eating and quit. By this time I gained about 60 more pounds for my third stint. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet or an easy-way-out, this is hard work, so I figured I would try working on changing behaviors now. I wish you the best of luck.

Mine starts May 21st and I have to go 14 days on three shakes a day and the only other thing I am allowed is sugar-free Jello and sugar-free popsicles. I was told that if the liver doesn't shrink enough, he will close up his patients because he will know they didn't do the 14 day liquids. I figure if I am going to go to the length of having 85% of my stomach removed and face possible life-threatening complications I should follow the directions. Good luck to you, I know this is going to be tough and I've got a whole week to sit and think about it but I'm still trying to follow my diet, before I start the liquids. I quit the caffeine already and that's definitely been tough on me, I'm hoping the rest will be easier.

Hope you are feeling better today. Tucks do burn, but I always have those handy. I also keep A & D Zinc handy which is like Desitin with Zinc. If you have Petroleum Jelly you can use that for now, to help.

Going so much can really irritate you. I get diverticulitis and have had several colonoscopies and have dealt with irritable bowel and these issues on and off for a long time. When you shower try using some Massengil or Summer's Eve sensitive skin wash (with no perfumes) for your behind and coat your bottom with Desitin with Zinc or something similar so the skin can heal. Sometimes the Charmin wipes can sting a bit too. Keep getting your fluids in and so you don't get dehydrated a little Gatorade wouldn't hurt too until you can see the doctor. Sometimes you have to balance taking in a little bit more carbohydrates to get your fluids and electrolytes back in so you don't get dehydrated. I'm so sorry you are hurting so bad.

June 4th here, Out of Healthy4Life Program through St. Mary's/Community Hospital in Indiana. I start my 14 day liquid on May 21st.

We were to lose weight each month, and if we gain weight after our approval any time before surgery, he will cancel. He has gone into surgery and opened up a patient and could tell they didn't follow the 14 day shake diet and closed the patient up. I start my two week pre-op shakes on May 21st and I admit, I want to go to the movies and get some popcorn and I want to go out to my favorite restaurant within the next week. I am still following my diet because I want this to become a lifestyle not a diet, not a surgery with regain. I've seen so many people that had gastric bypass that gained a whole lot of weight back and I am not doing that, though I'm getting the sleeve.

Good luck and I'm happy for you.

Congrats!

I would call yourself. It's what I did. They don't normally call you, they send you out a letter. IF you call them you can get the verbal approval, call your surgeon and let them know and they can get the ball rolling on anything else you need to do. The letter will eventually come in the mail.

I switched to decaff about 2 weeks ago and I am having surgery on June 4th. I used to drink a PINT glass of coffee a day, plus real caffeinated tea, so I understand. Believe it or not, I'm doing okay with it. The thing I worried about the most was not being able to go potty in the am. I was cranky about 3 days and I'm doing okay. I would rather have withdrawals before surgery than a few days before surgery or after surgery. Coffee is a diuretic and because you can't have it in the hospital for sure, you could end up with caffeine withdrawal headaches. I haven't had the surgery yet, but I read plenty of people that talk about headaches, and there's a good chance it's caffeine withdrawals. You will be fighting for the first week or so to get your liquids in so you do not become dehydrated. I haven't had surgery, I drink 64 ounces of water a day and I am still considered dehydrated when I had some testing recently. I feared the quitting caffeine the most too, so you are not alone. Remember you are going to have someone do surgery on you to take out 80 percent of your stomach. This is a life altering decision, giving up caffeine is a part of it, that you need to do to be healthy after surgery. Dehydration causes a lot of complications. I wonder if anyone started drinking regular coffee again down the road, but I do know everyone is different and what some people can tolerate others can't. Good luck.

Congrats, you look beautiful!!!

Congrats! I am feeling happier this evening about my date. I got my date today and it's June 4th.