Darkkyss

CALL!!!!!!!! don't know how to make it any clear. LOL call them Monday dont wait another day! I would call insurance then the Dr's office. I kept in contact weekly making sure things were in order. You dont realize how many times the ball can be dropped and you have to stay on top of everything. I am not blaming the insurance company or the Dr's office but honestly you think of who all they have to deal with. I had to call on test results that were just sitting there at the hospital and not faxed to Dr.'s offfice, I had to stay on top of both. My nurse at the Dr's office heard from me weekly, either by email or calling. I would call her to tell her what test were done and had she received yet. I also had the nurse drop the ball she was suppose to send me a list of items I had to have done and she forgot. I had psyc. eval. done and was waiting, when I called a week later she informed me of the other items I had to have done. She stated it was on the list and I said you did not send that list to me. She was sorry and faxed over same day to me. Luckily I was able to get in for the test within a couple days. Good Luck!!!!!

I asked my other half to take pictures of me today so I have some full front, side and back pictures. Part of me feels time is not going fast enough and another side of me is its flying by. Today my nerves are getting the best of me... almost like anxiety!! Seems like the protein drinks are not enough today!!! Picking up a tread mill today so I will have it in the house and be able to walk on it when ever I want since I will be home almost 3 weeks before I head back to work. My son called yesterday which made my day. He is worried not being in the states and being here for me. I reassured him I will be fine. I put off my surgery date till Aug. because I wanted as much time as I could with him while he was home. I did not want to be laid up and unable to do things with him. He had just got home from Afgan. and then he would be off to Germany. So I told him to call Marc about 11am our time on Wednesday and I should be out and everything so Marc could tell him everything was ok.

Congrats!

My Dr. is removing my gallbladder while he does the sleeve. Alittle nervous i was told I would be sore on both sides because of this but reading everything about people needing there gallbladder out after wards I think its worth it to do it all at once. HINTS; since I have been having gallbladder issues off and on for 1 year now.. Drink lemon either straight or with Water. NO ICE WATER, makes it worse, room temp water. Helps the pain to a point.

I found this not the same site but good info :What is a Bougie, and what size do you use? A bougie is a soft flexible rubber tube that comes in multiple sizes. They are designed to stretch esophageal strictures. We use them to calibrate the size of the gastric sleeve. The size indicates the circumference in millimeters. I use a Size 32 bougie, which translates to a diameter of about 10 millimeters or 0.4 inches. This is very thin, and explains why you can't eat very much! It is placed temporarily while performing the operation, then removed." http://laparoscopy.com/pleatman/vsgfaq.htm

I found a site, but my computer died !! but it has to do with a certain size, they found if to small, or to big it just does not work...they stick this tube down your throat and into your stomach and they staple along that if you go to youtube there is surgeries on there you can watch even. It really made me feel better seeing what they are going to do to you.

I was having a hard time and I spoke to my NUT and she allowed me to have 1 scrambled egg, or 5oz of chicken on salad...... it helped I just couldnt get the 5 drinks down. And you feel like you at least get to eat something! good luck,

My Surgery is scheduled Aug. 15th, I can't believe its so close!!! I am having more and more problems sleeping at night..My mind wont stop working.

chewable Flintstones and I found it very hard to find the calcium chewables and ended up with Viactiv caramel flavored called soft chews good luck, I might end up ordering some chewables but for now I will try these have to take 3 times a day to the get what I need

You can change protein shakes for broth I found Unjury has a chicken broth protein, I just received and I will be adding it to my broth starting tomorrow. I too was having problems with my protein drinks I might get 2 down a day. My NUT said I could have 5oz of chicken because it had high protein or I could have scrambled eggs, I also do salad with petite shrimp and boiled egg cut up. It has help TONS!

Short term disability is something that some companies offer, you have to ask to see if you are covered. You can apply for short term disability, I have a 7 day grace period that I will have to take vacation, then the rest of my time is covered and I received 67% of my wage per week. I am having my gallbladder out at the same time and I have close to 3 weeks off before I go to work so this is a big plus that I don't waste all my vacation. Your Dr. will have to fill out some forms and you will need to start a claim with STD. I completed all my paperwork 1 month before I was even having surgery to get all my ducks in a row and not have to worry about it when I got home.

Sorry to hear that, my Dr. had me do a gallbladder ultar sound, and I have to have mine removed also but he is doing it at the same time as my sleeve. I am a little nervous about being sore on both sides....

When I called my insurance I had the exact code for the sleeve and asked them if this covered under my insurance I think its new CPT (billing code) for gastric sleeve procedures is 43846. I had to look it up again so I am not sure which code

Happy for you that things are going good!!

I was told the same thing before I started, to keep on top of everything calling back regularly. I was even calling on test results making sure they were sent up to the Dr.'s ASAP. I called and emailed my Dr's office and insurance company at least weekly. If they needed something I made the call asking why it was not sent already and when it would be sent. I did not wait for Dr. office. Good Luck,!!!

Great Job!

My step dad was 60 BMI or close and he was able to have surgery. They will probably want you to lose some weight. He did 6 months of dieting. Best bet is to talk to the Dr. When I went to the seminary I know there were people with high BMI's.

I don't think we will every read enough to be ready!... Mine is Aug 15 and I am so glad mine is first thing in AM I have to be at hospital at 5am so at least I dont have to think about it to much on the 15, just ask me on the 14th how much of a nervous fool I am then LOL

Good Luck

If you have any doubts call your insurance company, I kept in CLOSE contact with my insurance company. I think at least weekly making sure they did not need anything else.

I was told you could add flavored extract you buy from the store (cooking isle) there is TONS of flavors. I was having problems doing my pre surgery diet. I didn't like the flavor. I am getting some tonight after work

Congrats!!