DebraLea

Dr. Christan Birkedal Florida Memorial Hospital Daytona Beach

Florida Hospital Memorial in Daytona Beach is awesome. Hospital is new building with all the same staff as the old hospital and they are a Hospital or excellence. Dr. Birkedal and his staff are awesome. All rooms are private at this facility and the nurses on the floors are wonderful. They allow family to spend the night and they donl't chase family members out of the room at 8 pm.

Thanks guys anyone know how to get rid of the ones I have on there now so I can start anew?

Girl you are so awesome! Huge hugs for you doing this after all you have been through. Remember you also have your sister as your guardian angel cheering you on and protecting you through out this journey. Me I am very proud of you. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!

YOu are perfectly normal. Same thing happens to most all of us. Until you get back on solids expect loose stools or diarrhea sometimes even after that for a while. You must remember you have a tiny stomach now and some food that never bothered you before may bother you now. Just take it slow. Are you sick of broth and jello Yet? I never want to see either one again. You need to be getting at least 64 oz. of fluids wach day and for some of us thats hard and tons of protein rich foods.

Started out with UHC and it was a great plan but yes they required 6 months of doctor visits with monthly weights and documentation of diet and exercise information AND the doctor had to have it in a specific format to please them. Had to change insurance and took three more months for apporval from new insurance after they denied me and my doctor appealed it was approved

EAS Advantage Carb Control. 17 grams of whey and soy protein comes in 2 chocolate flavors, strawberry, vanilla and new carmel. I just got the carmel to try out, These are sugar free as well and taste good

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your surgery and weight loss. Keep up the good work.

Tylenol with Codiene comes in liquid if they can find it, also there is a Percocet type pain med in liquid and they don't taste to bad, kinda like cough syrup

They give you Versaid to put you under, makes you not remember a thing and they use a drug to bring you out of the anesthesia. I ask my doctor to bring me out asap since I have the same fear of not waking up. I am a basket case everytime I have had to be under and its been a life long fear. Wake up in your room, have conversations you don't remember, talk on the phone and not remember, its all good. lol

http://bariatric.susanmleach.com/category/food/recipes/bbq-food-its-summer/ Cool recipes on this site

The is a new shake out there call EAS Carb control. 4 are $4.78 at the local Walmart and they are awesome. Two chocolate flavors, strawberry and vanilla. 17 gr protein, no surgar, 2.5 net carbs, a ton of vitamins and minerals. They are made by Abbott nutrition who is a leading provider in the health care industry. My friend who is a nutritionist/dietitian agrred they are the best of all the premade shakes out there now. Atkins is good, lots of flavors, but not so much protein, has a bit of sugar and cost more. Good luck

Congratulations! I was up walking around right after surgery even though everyone was freaking out. The weight is fluids and from inflamation it will go away. Hated the swabs, nastier than the yucky mouth to me. I had to wait until late the next day after the test to see if there were any leaks then they moved me to chicken broth- YUMMY- NOT! Don't ever want to see it again. You will be fine, Enjoy the journey to a new you

Nikki unless you have CHF or Renal problems water, water and more water to flush your system. Sounds weird but water will flush the fluids out. Make sure you are getting at least the minimum you doctor told you to.

Congratulations on your decision to make your life better. I have only the support of my significant other and he is being so wonderful about my decision and has learned to much to help me on my journey to a new me. I got grief from people at work as well. My boss who thinks he know everything said I didn't need surgery just stop eating all the time. I was like that is all the other department heads, I don't eat but once a day and it isn't here. Said if I'm eating 500 calories a day who is that to much? He had no response for that. Have jealous people who can't lose or don't want to lose on their own making rude comments behind my back about it. Do I care? Nope it's all about me for a change and making my life better and healthier ( I am Diabetic). You just keep doing what you are doing because it is for you and only you. I am sorry your family is not more supportive but they will learn to deal with it. Oh by the way your date is a good day to have it done, it is my dear moms birthday. She would have supported me no matter what, God I miss her. Here for you if you need to talk

Most insurance compainies have a requirement that you see a mental health specialist. I saw a Psychologist. They require a test with almost 600 questions. It is a personality test and it is pretty interesting. I have major anxiety and I don't deal well with a lot of stress but that was not a problem. The test is trying to make sure you have no underlying psychosis and no eating disorders. Just be honest. My requirement for the dieting and exercise was going to my doctor once a month and discussing my progress or lack there of and he documenting this and forwarding it to the surgeon. I was automatcally denied and pitched a holy fit. My surgeon is awesome and he raised cain with them and I got to have my surgery. It's kind of a game with the insurance companies they need to make sure your serious and they want to see if you will give up and not get the surgery thus saving them money. Hang in there it will come. Good luck

Welcome! Whatever pain there is is worth getting the weight off. Actually with mine seemed the pain was more incision related than anything else. They will give you pain medication, they want you as pain free as possible since pain inhibits healing and causes an inflamatory response in the body.

What kind of meds are you on? You may need to adjust them to get this under control. Do you know what your A1C is? If it is high you will need to get it under control. Very important for healing as Sweetsusie said. You need to check your blood sugar two hours after eating, that is where you should be seeing it at regular levels.Fat free doesn't mean sugar free, it amazes me hos something that is good for you can have sugar in it but it does.

Congratulations! Way to go, keep up the good work

OMG That is horrible. I hope you filed a complaint with the state against this guy. I went and looked to see where you are from because I truly thought you were in Florida as I was reading. I am glad that you have found a good doctor now. Whoever this guy is everyone should be warned to stay away from him. Bless your heart.

How did you get your insurance to cover this? I was told they never pay for plastic surgery since it is cosmetic. Good luck with your surgery, One of those recliners that helps you stand up would be great for not having to strain to get up and down.

Hi Lou thanks for the help. I plan on using a saucer for my plater from now on. Little scared of real food which is what the doctor put me on this week. Even worse I only lost two punds this week and on the same foods as since the beginning.

I was initally denied as well, it's part of the game depending on your insurance. When the doctor sent an appeal letter less than thirty days later I was approved. It will happen for you, you have to keep pushing the insurance gods until they argee with you.

Good luck, keep walking you'll get rid of the gas pains faster that way.

Hi everyone I am in Daytona and had mine done April 25th at Florida Memorial Hospital Daytona. Dr. Birkedal was my surgeon and he is awesome. I have lost 12 pounds in the past two weeks which kinda is depressing since almost everyone on here lost so much more, but its a start. I am on the puree portion of my journey now and I can't wait to get to soft foods, I am sick of broth and soup and jello has never been a favorite of mine. Any suggestions for the first real food when I get there?