iggychic

If anything Liz, I just like threads and stories like mine to keep people's eyes wide open after surgery. It might just be gas...or it might be a hole in your stomach! I think early in this thread the OP said she didn't listen to her body or her friends. I also was too wimpy at the start and took the word of "experts" over my own feeling that something had to be more wrong than they were saying. I know you're going to do great But if there is an odd twinge...I also know you'll have it throughly checked out (or I'll drive to your house and drag your arse to the hospital to do so LOL)

Are you going to Mexico? (is that the area this is posted in LOL) I'd call your doctors office (the surgeon) and ask if they have access to suplimental insurance for complications. I didn't know it existed (and I had mine in the US) until I read about it here. We are fortunate in that we own the company that insures us. So far the policy is covering most of the bills. Being self insured is probably what made the difference. We make our own rules (though they apply to all people who work for us and have to meet state and federal guidelines). But in the long run this is paid for by us anyhoo as the bill comes off of profits for the company. I didn't mention that in the first post because I like to really make it clear to people that we are the exception not the rule! Most insurance policies DO NOT cover complications from elective surgery (surgeries they don't cover). I used to sell insurance so I'm pretty experienced in this area. But check your policy. Some policies cover additional care if you are admitted to a hospital via an ER or if you arrive at the hospital via ambulance, verses on your own feet. There are all these little side rules you need to understand just in case. If your insurance is through your work you can call the personnel dept and talk to the insurance person and they should be able to point you in the right direction. You mention your MIL? Mom ?? anyhoo, complications and still out of work. I was 58 days before I could walk more than down a hallway. I have a six year old child who had to have full time care off and on throughout the time I was ill. I was so sick that even when I was at home I could do nothing with him aside from giving him a kiss when he said goodnight to me in my sick room. I spent 22 days in hospital and am on weight restrictions (lifting) which have continued three months...so I can't do laundry, much of the shopping, housekeeping, etc so this has to be figured into the costs. Not to mention not working for that period of time, which would be hard for almost any family right????? Search the Mexico forum for suplimental insurance and I think the post that lists who it was through will come up, but also call your surgeon and ask.

I wouldn't do it again either. The pain and suffering and facing possibly losing my life...not worth it at all!

That's what it took to get me well Lindsey. I'm so glad you are in good hands. I was worried about you. I don't want anyone to suffer like I did. If I have to smack around every doctor in the US I would do it to see that it never happens to anyone else!

I'm around 600 normally. I sometimes go over if I need to do a Protein boost (I do oveltine in nonfat milk at night to get me over the hump). I tend to go below or above that by 50 or so, but no matter what I do it's always near that number. I don't know how I'd get 800 in frankly. I"m finding five meals hard to do myself and am trying to do four now. My sleeve just does not have any capacity for more calories unless I ate goober...which I'm not terribly interested in.

I did not get extra insurance but I had serious complications and in 90% of cases, those costs wouldn't be covered because the initial surgery wasn't covered. There are some insurance policies that will cover, but it's rare. You should review your policy carefully. Now for the scary part. You get a bill in the mail...not one bill, but bill after bill after bill for anyone you see during your after care if you have any complications. I am still adding them up. We thought it would be around a quarter of a million, but it's looking like we might be pushing half a million in costs from the complications. Compare what that bill would do to your finances if you weren't covered with the few hundred dollars that an added policy might cost....It's easy math Get the extra insurance. And no hospital makes you pay up front if you need to go to the ER. But you will get a bill in the mail. Added to my costs are all of my follow up care because I switched doctors (and had paid for that up front with the other). Ouch!

I'm glad you are getting some care finally darling. But get a leak test! You can bill my insurance

You look so much younger! Great work!!!

Insist on a leak test for gods sake. You are being jacked around like I was. It nearly killed me. DON'T ASK!!! INSIST!!!!!

Ive had issues since coming home from the hospital. I take benedryl at night to knock me out and it still does not work well. I can't take anything stronger because I need to wake up around 4 to get my son a bottle, but it sucks that even on benedryl (like 4 of them) I don't get sleepy. I've been staying up way too late and then I'm too tired when I have to get back up at six. I was blaming it on the hospital hours. I was there for 22 days so perhaps there is some truth to that, but given so many others have the same problem it can't be all that. I still wake up at 6:00 and expect to see the surgeon's (gad they did early visiting hours) next to my bed. I am getting better but it's still not great. I'm on week four of the second surgery and week ummm 10 on the first. I must admit, I did sleep pretty well when my lungs were filling with Fluid prior to the hospitalization...perhaps it might have been the delaudid and vicodin (is that the right name???) combination. If ya'll want a cocktail to make you sleep...those two do knock you for a loop! LOL

I'm hoping to be at goal in Jan i bet you get to your goal of being sleeved before i meet mine lol

no biggie

I replied to your other thread *(best to do just one by the way). I had nausea and felt generally ill that long. I nearly died from a leak. Don't wait to get to your doc Wed. Call them first thing in the morning.

I'm 5' tall and expect to be between a 0 and a 4 when all is said and done, aside from fitted cotton shirts which would be more like a 6 if I'm lucky (I love fitted shirts but with a DD chest it's hard to find ones that actually "fit". Other tops should be small/petite hopefully My target weight is 110. between 105 and 115 is ideal but I want wiggle room on each side. Not long after surgery DH bought me a dress that he said reminds him of a dress I used to wear a lot when we met. It was a size 2 I think....knit thing that I'd throw on with tights when I was traveling because it traveled so well. I miss that dress LOL Anyhoo, his version is more cocktail party than travel dress, but it's fun anyhoo and I can't wait to wear it.

I'm 5' tall and expect to be between a 0 and a 4 when all is said and done, aside from fitted cotton shirts which would be more like a 6 if I'm lucky (I love fitted shirts but with a DD chest it's hard to find ones that actually "fit". Other tops should be small/petite hopefully My target weight is 110. between 105 and 115 is ideal but I want wiggle room on each side. Not long after surgery DH bought me a dress that he said reminds him of a dress I used to wear a lot when we met. It was a size 2 I think....knit thing that I'd throw on with tights when I was traveling because it traveled so well. I miss that dress LOL Anyhoo, his version is more cocktail party than travel dress, but it's fun anyhoo and I can't wait to wear it.

LOL Thanks all...yup just lazy Oh and then there was the almost dead thing in the hospital thing and two surgeries...but Lazy is so much easier to go with OP, I was just making fun of myself to make you feel better about hanging out at home for a couple of weeks. I had serious complications and a second surgery hence the 58 days...(half of that was in hospital). Don't rush it If you push too hard you could end up where I was. A couple of weeks rest after major surgery isn't a luxury, nor is it lazy It's a good idea so that things heal properly. You will also be on a weight lifting restriction, so things like the grocery shopping should be done with someone else to carry bags, or by someone else. My mom might still be available

I couldn't do Water in the hospital. I had broth and peppermint (which is decaf) tea and they were fine with this. I still drink tea mostly (decaf always) instead of water. I just don't like the stuff and my doc is just fine with this. My son had dehydration issues all the time as a baby due to a rare condition he has. At ten months a doctor (one of the best in his field in the country) suggested I give him six ounces of diet soda a day and he'd never be in hospital for dehydration again (he just weighed a few lbs so that was enough). He was quite right. The issue is you need liquids, and while water is a liquid, so was soda in his case. Between that and formula (he didn't take much) he stayed out of hospital from that point on for dehydration. Tea is fine As long as it's decaf.