Mab

My paperwork for VSG was submitted last week and I am a nervous wreck. I can't focus on ANYTHING. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (with a "specialty") in catastrophic thinking, so I'm always thinking the worst. I need a reality check, which is why I've come to you all! Below are the requirements for obesity surgery with United Healthcare under AT&T's plan. I meet all of them. Yet, I can't help thinking that they are going to deny me. Covered Person must have a minimum BMI of 40; • Covered Person must have documentation of a diagnosis of morbid obesity for a minimum of five (5) years from a Physician; • Covered Person must be 18 years or older; and • Surgery must be performed at a Network or ONA-PPO Provider by a Network or ONA-PPO surgeon. This is true even if there are no Network or ONA-PPO Providers near the Covered Person. • Benefits are limited to one procedure during the entire period of time you are covered under AT&T Medical. My current BMI is 42, I am diabetic and I have sleep apnea. Even though co-morbidities are not mentioned below, would they be taken into consideration? Thanks for any words/thoughts/whatever you have for me.

I had a drain for a day after my surgery on 4/10. They bandaged it up before I left and my doctor told me to remove the bandage and let it breathe yesterday. Today it's a little tender and a teeny bit red/pink around the edges. Is this okay? I am so creeped out by this black hole in my side and so worried that it's going to start leaking green stuff, or a bug is going to crawl in - IDK, I am just thinking the worst.

Btw, I am so sorry this happened to you! What an awful thing to happen on top of having the stress of surgery. I hope you're on the mend now.

There's no pus - no leaking of any kind. It's just tender to the touch and pink around the edges. It's pretty darn dry and just has crusty blood in it. As a matter of fact, there was very, very little blood on the bandage when we first removed it. I just don't like having a frickin' hole in my side. CREEPY. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday - if anything super red or anything at all starts leaking out of it, I am going to FLY to the ER. However, I tend to overreact so I just wanted to see what you guys said. Meanwhile, my husband, the clown, is coming up with suggestions as to what we can use the hole for - holding pencils, my medicine, Snacks??? That's just gross. LOL

Perhaps your coffee today was hotter than yesterdays? I've heard that some of the Protein powders don't mix well with hot things.

I was sleeved on 4/11. I knew there would be gas pains, but OMG I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS. I am taking Levsin and using Gas X strips. I am walking like crazy, too. Any idea how much longer I'll feel like this? Any tips? Also, it hurts when I drink. Are my sips too big or is something wrong? Oh! This is probably pretty common, but my doc found a hiatal hernia and repaired it. I guess that explains my last year of heartburn issues.

It's very easy to intellectualize all of this - we *know* what we should be doing, but actually doing it is another story. I think that honest communication with fellow sleevers and a therapist are crucial. Attend support group meetings. There are some great books about overeating and specifically emotional eating.

My hospital stay is $37000 and of that I had to pay (up front) 10%. That doesn't include my surgeon and anesthesiologist. I'm to be sleeved on 4/10 and I expect to be treated like a GODDESS for that amount of money. We're talking massage, mani/pedi, around-the-clock back scratching... Your surgery bills are the last thing I would worry about if I were you (unless they need to be paid up front). Once you get billed, make payment arrangements. They're usually pretty nice about it as long as you pay according to your payment schedule.

I am scheduled for surgery on 4/10. While I expected to feel super anxious (exacerbated by general anxiety disorder), I did not expect to feel depressed and hopeless. Physically, I'm not feeling well - which can be attributed to the liquid diet I started on Monday and though I realize that it's not rational, I'm afraid I'll never feel "normal" again. I'm in therapy, had a session today and my therapist said that I am "grieving" the loss of my (unhealthy) relationship with food. Has anyone else experienced this pre surgery?

I would gather 3-5 years of physician progress notes (specifically the information that the nurse records prior to seeing the doctor). My assumption is that they want to make sure that obesity has been an ongoing issue and not something that happened within a short period of time. While my insurance did not require a diet, they did require documentation indicating that I have been obese for at least 5 years.

Calculating net carbs is easy - subtract your dietary Fiber from the carb count. Please keep in mind that everything I'm telling you is based on either Atkins or The 17 Day Diet, so I'm not entirely sure of calories. Salads are fantastic, but watch the cal contents of your toppings, especially with dressings. eggs are wonderful - remember the white is Protein and the yolk is fat, so if you scramble eggs, keep one yolk in, one yolk out. Turkey and chicken sausages are great. Mashed cauliflower is a great sub for mashed 'taters. I cook mine until tender then mash in some low fat sour cream and low fat cream cheese - delish! I enjoy Atkin's shakes - 15 grams of protein and 1-2 net carbs. My husband likes the Atkins bars, I don't. I got Isopure Low Carb Dutch chocolate - mix w/water and it's 50g protein and I believe 1 carb. It's not great, it's not something I get excited about, but it's palatable and you can't beat 50g of protein. If you get one of those blender bottles (WHICH ARE MAGICAL), you can blend it up super easy. MAGIC, I TELL YOU. One of my favorite low-carb meals is taco salad! Make it with ground turkey or ground chicken, salsa, lettuce, low fat sour cream and low fat cheese! Yummy! Honestly, though? Eggs are your friend. Good luck!

Anyone on Effexor XR? I take the orange generic capsules. I've heard that XR's (extended release) don't tend to work for sleevers because of the lack of stomach acid to dissolve it. It's a concern for me because as anyone who takes it knows, it's got horrible withdrawal effects.

I wasn't sure where to put this exactly, so I stuck it in pre-op - mods if it needs to be moved, I apologize! So last December I noticed several rock-hard (marble and ping pong ball sized) lumps beside and above my belly button. No pain, just lumps. Went to the doctor and ended up having first an ultrasound and then a ct scan. They didn't show ANYTHING. So the doctor surmised that they were lipomas. Now one of them is hurting - so of course I think it's something horrible that will prevent me from having surgery. Has anyone had anything similar? ETA: I should add that the lumps can ONLY be felt when I stand. They can't be found by myself or a doctor why lying down.

My first day, too!

Dooter, could you be experiencing acid indigestion? Perhaps speaking with your doctor would result in some answers - and relief.

I'm pre-surgery and trying to work out head hunger for myself, but... When do you most notice your head hunger? Is it constant, does it come at the cessation of activity. I guess I'm trying to see if there is a correlation between head hunger and boredom/inactivity. I know there is with me, so I'm putting together a Head Hunger Survival Pack. It's got nail polish, some huge fashion magazines, a couple of books I've been wanting to read....I'm also thinking about making some Head Hunger flash cards with tasks on them. You know - ones that say "do a load of laundry" "clean out your car" "call your mother" "clean the toilet"... If we didn't all have head hunger or at least had it for a long period of time, none of us would be here. Our relationship(s) with food is what gives us our common ground. You will get to the other side. So will I. So will those gorgeous men and women lurking. Consider me a friend, okay?

Just now seeing this - Yes, absolutely. And what a coincidence - my surgery is set for April 10th!!! I start my liquid diet next week and I am not looking forward to it. Ugh.

I begin my liquid diet on Monday for surgery on the 10th. I am dreading this more than having my stomach removed. My reaction to food deprivation is scary. I turn into a child begging for food, crying, sometimes yelling...and I'm a successful 37 year old woman! I'm going to do it though. What I want to know is of the 1000 calories I am allowed to have, should I be able to choose any liquid to eat as long as I stay in my calorie range? (Except alcohol of course!) Meaning do I have to pay strict attention to fat and carbs? What would happen if I cheated one night? (Going to a party for the Hunger Games (ha ha) and there will be mounds of food.) At 220 lbs and a BMI of 42, does anyone know the amount of weight I would be expected to lose? Does anyone have any tips or tricks that they did during their 2 week pre-op? Thanks, guys, I'm so glad you're here.

Maybe it's a Kaiser thing? I chose our plan specifically because it covered the surgery. You can always change providers during open enrollment in November. If I hadn't been approved, I was headed to Mexico.

I literally JUST found out that I was approved. My husband works for AT&T (management/non-union) and we have United Healthcare Choice Plus-Definity. I am in Georgia. I switched to his insurance specifically for obesity surgery as the plan I was under at work (State Health) dropped WLS as of this year. What are your stats and the specific name of the plan you are under?