Jill

I feel hunger too and it is frequent and very annoying. I am 2.5 months out. I am also able to eat almost two cups of food like turkery chili or turkery meatloaf with sides and about 4 ounces of a chicken breast with vegetables and some rice. I thought I would only be able to eat half that amount. It's quite frustrating and my weigh loss has been stalled for quite a while. I suppose that I need to just go on an old fashioned diet and only eat a small amount and let my will power stop me rather than relying on my supposed smaller stomach.

I am 4 weeks out and I feel hunger on a daily basis. I am also able to eat much more than I thought I would and have to consciously stop myself. I can easily eat a cup of food and I've never felt any pain nor had difficulty eating. Last night I had about three ounces of grilled chicken, a few bites of brocolli and about 10 tortellini. While I realize that is not a huge meal, I thought I would only be able to eat a couple of tablespoons this early on in the journey. I am also able to take regular sized sips of water with no trouble or pain. It feels like I never had surgery. I am happy about the no pain of course, but I do wish I would get full quickly and I just don't. Jill

Cheri, drink the protein in your water, so you kill two birds with one stone. It's a no-brainer really. Get protein shots and dump one in your bottle of water. Drink a protein shake; 55 grams of protein down the hatch and 24 oz of liquid/water at the same time.

Hi Traci~ Sorry you are having trouble swallowing. What does your doctor say is the cause? I've had zero trouble drinking or eating anything and I was sleeved on July 12 and didn't think that there should be any buring or anything. Jill

How do you "gently" remove something?

Why can't you take your protein WITH your water/fluids?

There are sooooooooooo many options for the full liquid stage. I've been adding about a cup of cottage cheese and a little basil to a can of condensed tomato soup with 1.5 cans of milk. I have a Vitamix, so I can turn anything into liquid. I get about three meals from this. Another thing I've been doing to make flavorful cream soup is to take a can of Healthy Request soup (Mexican chicken is my fav so far) and put it into the Vitamix, which turns it into a cream soup. I did this with clam chowder last night. I have several other varieties to try, all chicken, since beef is not yet allowed. Very soothing and satisfying to the stomach and head. If you have a Vitamix or a really powerful blender, you can turn any regular food into a cream soup. As far as a Protein drink. I have the normal 30 gram premade Protein drinks of course. I also bought a bag of 100% whey in vanilla. I put a scoop of the protein in the Vitamix, 2 TBLS Peanut Butter, one banana and Water and ice and blend to a thin liquid consistency. Tasty and masks the taste of the Protein powder mostly. This is higher in calories than a regular Protein Drink, but it gives me the potassium my cells need and extra protein from the peanut butter, not to mention, a more satisfying drink.

I've been adding about a cup of cottage cheese and a little basil to a can of condensed tomato Soup with 1.5 cans of milk. I have a Vitamix, so I can turn anything into liquid. I get about three meals from this. Another thing I've been doing to make flavorful cream soup is to take a can of Healthy Request soup (Mexican chicken is my fav so far) and put it into the Vitamix, which turns it into a cream soup. I did this with clam chowder last night. It was average....wouldn't do it again. I have several other varieties to try, all chicken, since beef is not yet allowed. Very soothing and satisfying to the stomach and head. As far as a Protein drink. I have the normal 30 gram premade Protein drinks of course. I also bought a bag of 100% whey in vanilla. I put a scoop of the protein in the Vitamix, 2 TBLS Peanut Butter, one banana and Water and ice and blend to a thin liquid consistency. Tasty and masks the taste of the Protein Powder mostly. This is higher in calories than a regular Protein Drink, but it gives me the potassium my cells need and extra protein from the peanut butter, not to mention, a more satisfying drink. Jill

Gotcha. Still horse of a different color. I wouldn't imagine they would approve you after the fact and in light of the above circumstances. Jill

Ah, that is a horse of a different color! Jill

How do you know this specifically? Is the language in the policy "we will not approve for BMIs under 35, nor for GERD no matter what the reason." Or were you denied because you didn't meet certain criteria? You really need to read the denial letter and read between the lines. How many times have you appealed? Jill

Ellisa, I agree with Mila. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois and I live in Florida. They kept requesting document after document and wanted medically supervised diets and other doctor visits, which I complied and then sent to them. At the end, I got the person on the phone who wrote the denial letters who told me that she was on my side and was the middle man. Of course I did not believe her, but it turned out to be true. She asked me about gastric bypass and I told her why I did not want that procedure and why the Sleeve was best for my situation. She listened and went to the medical director who denied me and said that I needed other information, which I actually had already submitted, so I refaxed that information directly to this woman who went back to the medical director and presented my information and my story and I was approved the next day. Jill

Thanks, it was frustrating to say the least. They put me through all kinds of nonsense and kept requesting records and information over and over and medically supervised diets and such. At the end I got a person on the phone and she went to the superviser on my behalf and was finally able to get me approved. I had to have all my ducks in a row and submit everything that was required. It wasn't easy and took me eight months. Jill

They verbally asked me about the gastric bypass and I told they why I did not want that procedure and why I wanted the Sleeve. I was adamant until they said yes.

Why won't they cover the Sleeve? I appealed 11 denials until I was appropved. Jill

Yay, that is great new!!!! It really does help to start walking right away; makes all the difference in the world. I too am on only clear liquids until Saturday. I have Protein shots which are clear and which give 26 grams of protein a shot. I've been drinking two a day. They are almost 3 ounces each. I take a sip just about every one to two minutes to make sure that I get in enough Fluid to keep from dehydrating. I am also sipping broth, gatorade and Water and I am eating Italian icees and popsicles, which I love because just a small amount goes through at a time so they are like a self monitoring intake bar. I seem to be able to drink more than 4 ounces per hour, which I like. I asked my doctor about that since the dietician and so many others told me ust 4 ounces at a time and he said that clear liquid goes right through, so it is okay if I drink more. I just make sure to take very small sips. The Gatorade seems to hydrate me the best and stop me from feeling so parched and thirsty, but the broth tastes so good and is satisfying. It's okay to take naps now, just make sure you are walking. Walking immediately after sugery is the most important and for that day and the next so that you don't get blood clots or DVT and it will also help move around the gas so that it can escape. Jill

Definitely!

My surgery took three hours because of so much scar tissue and the surgery was tough for the surgeon. Stop falling back to sleep and get your ass up and walking. You are making it harder on yourself by sleeping so much. Force yourself to get up and get up every couple of hours and walk for ten minutes at least. I came home the next day and have already driven to the grocery store. Today I am going out to do errands. Recovery is in your hands.

Still feeling good from my surgery which was July 12. I am drinking every two minutes to make sure I keep hydrated. Yesterday I drove to the store to buy popsicles and gatorade and those have helped with the liquid phase. Saturday I will start full liquids. The Protein shots and coconut Water are so disgusting and I really need to get some protein into my diet, so I am looking forward to full liquids on Saturday. There's really not much pain with this surgery and so far has been quite easy. I wanted to go back to work today, but my husband won't let me. How are the rest of the newbies doing? Jill

Thank you! Jill

Yum, I am not allowed to have any beef until six months out! :bored0:

I am back home and feeling okay. My hiatal hernia was not repaired due to too much scar tissue from the multiple surgeries and my liver and organs were all stuck together. The pain level is minimal, just mostly discomfort. I am a stomach sleeper so I am not getting much sleep. Clear liquids for several days and trying to get hydrated. I feel so thirsty. I do have hunger, but I would guess that is expected not having taken in any calories for the last two days. Jill

Thanks so much, Ellisa. I have shirts and blouses in sizes leading downward to a good weight, so I won't have to buy tops, but not so much in the pants department. Less than 24 hours to go! Jill

Everyone has the bestest doctor and the doctor with the least complications! LOL

I am having surgery with Dr. Eddie Gomez in Miami. The insurance dude is horrible at returning calls, so I have to call and call until I can get a hold of him. Everyone else is responsive. Dr. Gomez has done 600 Sleeves with six leaks, which I think is a good record. The hospital he is now with has been very, very attentive, which is nice. It is Jackson South, which is in Kendall. Monday is my surgery date and I am definitely ready. I've known of Dr. Gomez' reputation for several years, but can understand the turn off because of the office staff not returning calls. It is being dealt with however, I believe. Jill