Deevah

Where can i get the vitacraze dummies?

Thanks Thin, but Flinstones made me sick before surgery so I don't want to take a chance with them now.

Thank you. I'll pick up a mummy tomorrow.

I think the hair loss is due to the trauma to the body and the anesthesia. I say this because I experienced hair loss after my Tubal Ligation, which I had right after child birth. It was the only child birth (I've had 3) where I lost hair, so I think the surgery altering the body's natural function and the anesthesia played a major part of the hair loss. I also know a few AA sleevers who have lost hair after VSG, so I am just preparing to lose hair (I'm stocking up on wigs )

Im with Kaiser and I was sleeved on 8/31. the process starts with the NUT visits. Depending on which version of Kaiser you have (I have the FEDS version), you have to visit your NUT once a month for 6 months at $20/visit. I had to be tested for sleep apnea, and that visit was $20. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, so the three subsequent visits cost $20 each and the CPAP machine cost close to $700. During your NUT visits, you will be required to lose 3% of your current body weight. If you do not lose thhat 3% within the six months, you will have to continue to see the NUT until you lose the weight. After you meet the weight goal, the NUT submits the paperwork to the board. The board meets twice a month. It generally takes up to 2 weeks to hear back from them (a few days if you check your kp.org website for the referral). Once you're approved, you go to see the surgeon ($20). My doctor gave me a bunch of perscriptions that I had to get filled ($42). Then, the next appointment was the pre-op appointment with the surgeon ($20). I had to get a physical, chest x-ray and blood work from my PCP ($10) two weeks before surgery, and on surgery day I had to pay Holy Cross a $75 co-pay. Has anyone told you about the Weight Loss Surgery Support Group meetings? They are held at the Marlow Heights Medical Center from 6-7:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. In October, we are having a lot of post-ops come by to talk to the pre-ops and answer questions and share experiences. You should try to come out if you can. You can pre-register or just show up and register when you arrive. I encourage all Kaiser patients to attend, as I learned alot at these meetings and made some good surgery buddies. Let me know if you need any additional information.

I lost 20 lbs on my pre-op diet. It was supposed to be 2 weeks of all clear liquids and sugar-free jell-o, but it ended up being 8 days of 3 protein shakes and at least 50oz of water during the day and a smaller portion meal at night and 6 days of all liquids (the six days right before surgery). I would have lost more weight if I had followed my doctors 14-day liquid diet, but, he said my liver was nicely shrunken so I was happy with what I did. Good luck to you.

I, too, am having excessive drainage issues. I am 1 week out and thought I was alone wiu this! I have always had allergy issues, and this is the time of the year that is really bad for me, but this is the worst it has been. I don't have the headache or sneezing (thank God) but the post-nasal drip and excess spit is ridiculus. I didn't think about allergies until I saw this post, though, but, now, I will make an appointment with my PCP to figure out a way to handle this. Thank you everyone for making see that I am not going crazy!

My surgery is the 31st. Congrats to you and just remember all of the benefits from having this surgery (that's how I'm keepng my nerves at bay for the moment ).

Thanks everyone! So, today is 8/17 and I am officially starting my ALL liquid diet for the next 2 weeks. I attempted to start on 8/15 like I said in my earlier post, but, when the sun went down, my appetite (or, more appropriately, head hunger) went up! I failed miserably on 8/15 and failed a little less on 8/16. I did do all liquids between the time I got up until about 7pm, though, so that's good. I actually only ate one meal on both days. On the 15th, though, I ate enough for two meals, but, as I said, it was BAD (PMS). Yesterday, I did all liquids until about 8pm and then had about 3 bowls of Cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch--I will miss them so!! :cry_smile:) Since today is the day that I was supposed to start, though, I'm just going with today as my start date and, so far, so good. I'm almost through work and I have had chicken broth (with unjury Chicken Soup), Unjury strawberry, sugar-free jell-o, crystal light and Water. I'm not physically hungry and, as long as I keep my mind occupied (right now I'm listening to music and typing) I don't think about food. My friend who just had a bypass told me that the first three days are the hardest, so I am counting down...2 days 8 hours and 45 minutes to go until this gets easier! Right now, I'm actually full, so that's a good thing. Oh, and caffeine-free tea...AWESOME!!! That has helped me tremendously through today. I think I will be OK, I just needed to confess so I could move on. I feel like I'm rambling, but I'm sure that's due to the lack of carbs. :confused_smile: I'll update as I progress. Deevah

Toyia, You are exactly right. This process def prepares us mentally for the changes. Good luck to you and I hope the Hood milk works for you.

Hi Toyia! I have my surgery on 8/31 with Dr. Cantor. Jeanne told me that we cannot use milk products in our Protein drinks because the Protein Drinks should only have 5g of carbs per 8 ounce serving, and regular milk products (whole, 2% and 1%) all have too many carbs. An alternative milk product you can use if you have to have the milky taste is Hood's Calorie Countdown milk. It only has 3g of carbs (regular milk has 11-18 g). If you use unjury powder, that puts you at 6g of carbs if you make it with 8 oz of milk, but I make mine with 4oz of Hood milk and 4oz of Water so that I can stay under the 5g of carb requirement. Hope this helps. Deevah BTW - Congrats on ur surgery date!

So.....I GOT MY DATE!!! FINALLY!!!! I will be sleeved on August 31st and I am...scared, ready and anxious all rolled into one! I am supposed to start my pre-op diet on 8/17, but I'm going to start 8/15 with a fellow Dr. Cantor patient who will be sleeved a few days before me (hey Ms E!! :wave: ). I will update after my physical appointment which is some time next month. I am so excited to FINALLY be on my way! A new me is just around the corner! ttyl Deevah :woot:

My doctor gave me a perscription for Hibiclens, but I think it's an OTC. I guess his perscription was just to let me know to purchase and use it before my surgery. I thought this was common practice.

Ann, Hi. I, too, am waiting for Dr. Cantor. I had my first visit with Dr. Cantor in March. As of today, I am still waiting. One thing you can do to possibly shorten your wait time is, after your initial visit with Dr. Cantor, contact his Bariatric Coordinator (Jeanne Ferber - she runs the informational sessions at Holy Cross) and ask her to put you on the list for patients who can have surgery on short notice. This will, if you are called, mean that, if you accept, you will have surgery within 2-3 weeks after getting the call. Whenever someone cancels their surgery, people on this list are called to see if they can take the surgery spot opened up by the cancellation. It's not guaranteed that you will shorten your wait time, but it is possible. Hope this helps.

Congratulations on your speed to surgery! Obviously, my Kaiser plan is in the wrong area. Good luck to you!

UUUrrrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! :frusty: OK, patience is NOT a virtue I possess!! Apparently, the July dates have already started to be given out and I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL!! :censored: I am so not good at waiting. I suck at waiting actually. I'm trying to hold on and keep hope alive, but, I'm so ready to go that I want to cry!! Part of it is that, as of right now, I am not scared and want to get my surgery over with before fear can take hold. The more I read, the more I feel fear trying to creep in. I have a very vivid imagination and it is taking all of my energy to keep my mind focused away from the fear factor of this surgery. I am losing ground on that front, however, and now, I just want to cry! I am so tired of being on the waiting side of this. The Bariatric Coordinator at the hospital where I am having my surgery always says "You didn't get this way overnight", so you should be able to wait to get the surgery (or something to this effect) and every time she says this I want to HIT HER!!! :angry: OK, forgive my ranting, I'm just extremely frustrated and want my surgery! :frusty:

Just wanted to stop by and update. I've been in a holding pattern since my initial consult appoitment. My doctor has a 6-8 month waiting period for my insurance and I'm at month 3. This really sucks! I am not the most patient person in the world, and my weight has fluctuated with my impatience. I finally started to get back on track a few weeks ago and have lost somewhere close to 7 pounds. I've started a version of a liquid diet (2 protein shakes and 1 low carb meal a day) to aid in my weight loss. I'm trying to stay motivated as I wait until my name comes up on the surgery list...

Toya, Congratulations on your date! I, too am waiting for Dr. Cantor. What date did you receive? I'm on the waitlist for the people who can go anyday, and I was hoping for a July date. Thanks.. D

Here's another update: I HAVE MY PRE-OP CONSULT TODAY @ 2PM!!! Just got the call from the doctor's office! Super excited, scared and nervous (because all of my information and questions are at HOME and I don't have time to go back before the appointment). Just thought I'd update. Thank you everyone for all of the support.

I GOT IT I GOT IT I GOT IT!!!!! My referral was approved and on my KP website today! I'm so excited I can scream! YEAH BABY!!! On my way to a thinner me!! Thanks for all of the prayers and support. Talk to you later. Deevah

So, I found out today that Kaiser postponed the 3/15 meeting so that is why I haven't heard from them. The meeting was postponed for tomorrow, so I hope to hear from them by week's end. I am so ready for the next chapter of this process. Until then, I'm trying to keep the faith. My nutritionist attempted to make me feel better by letting me know that I was well within the criteria for surgery. So, I'm back to waiting...and hoping... Until next post, Deevah

InProgress - Thank you and no, no word yet. The stress of not knowing is wearing on my sanity!! As I said to Lexus, I am VERY IMPATIENT. Not because I'm a diva, but because waiting allows my overactive imagination to go into overdrive. Just last night, I dreamed that I was denied and because I found out too late I was not able to appeal. I've heard so many other Kaiser patients say how they received a response in a day or two and now I'm really starting to worry. I think I read that they can take up to 30 days to reply, and I don't know if I can make it if it takes that long. I'm trying to stay busy, but I can't focus on anything else while I still don't know about this. Urgghhh!!! I'll post as soon as I hear anything. I pray its good news and not bad...

lexusgirl14 - It's so nice to meet you!!! I have been looking for someone who is with Kaiser DC that I could share my journey with. I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Cantor, but the wait that long. I am not a patient person by nature (just this 6 month wait has been pure TORTURE) and if I can get a surgeon just as skilled as Dr. Cantor in a shorter time, I have to go with the shorter time. I attended Dr. Salameh's informational session and have studied him online and through talking to some of his patients. I am confident that Dr. Salameh is a better choice for me and I like the Virginia Hospital Center (the Arlington, VA hospital that has the new contract) campus better than Holy Cross. Where are you located? I wasn't familiar with the hospital or Virginia, but I was able to find the hospital with no problem (and I get lost trying to find my way out of a paper bag ). Not that I'm trying to change your mind, but, just in case you're not completely sold on Dr. Cantor... At any rate, please keep me posted on your journey. Let me know when you get your approval, a date, and all of the other pertinent parts of your journey and I'll do the same. So glad to meet you!!

OK, my update. Soooo...I'm stalking Kaiser! The board meeting was today and while I know that realistically, nothing will be in the system today (as to whether I was approved or denied), it has not stopped me from checking online and calling member services (who have no idea what I'm talking about or even know about Kaiser's Bariatric Program) all day. I know, I'm anxious, but it's also fear prompting me. I'm afraid I'm going to be denied, so I'm trying to find out now so that I can start preparations for my appeal. Why, you ask, do I fear being denied? I have no idea. I just do. When I look at it, I meet all of the criteria, as well as have a steep family history (documented by and through Kaiser -- thanks Mom for saying we all should have the same insurance) of all possible comorbidities due to obesity....but yet and still I am terrified of being denied. So much so that I have started eating through my nerves again. I've gained 6-7 lbs since my last nut appointment just from eating from nerves over the approval process. Bright side, I'm glad I recognize my triggers now and I recognized this trigger early out. Now, back on the plan to healthy living. But, I'm still anxious. I'm sooo ready to be sleeved! So, I'll leave you with the ramblings of this sleeve lunatic as I go to stalk Kaiser some more...

Sweetiepie - Go to the insurance and financing section of the board. There are a lot of people who have posted their appeal letters to that board. Good luck on your appeal!