Angelmom

Did you appeal first? ...because now the public insurances are covering it for everyone...and other insurances always follow suit, then. Appeal it!

Sounds like the job is within the same company. I wonder if you can ask about the benefits the new job has, then, if it's covered, you can suck it up and do your 6 months over..it's not really a big deal to start over...you'll just have a jump on things and can work out to make your lungs and heart stronger for surgery. That's what I would do. I would also ask to transfer the time off to the new job. If you aren't "entitled't to the time off, you can take the money from the old job, and put it in an account and take unpaid time off that you'll tell them about from day one...and still have money to cover your bills for a couple weeks.

Maybe your body is making up for so many years of good periods.

I wouldn't. Give yourself the 2 months healing! If he can't wait for your full healing...get a new guy.

I hope I can say the same after all the wishing-I-was-dead pain I have and am suffering with.

Go back to journaling. Three meals, two snacks...or eating 5 times per day. Sometimes when I did that, I'd wait a few minutes during an eating period and if I was still hungry, I'd eat more and count both things in the same eating slot. Either way...if you count your calories and mark the protein down, as well as sugar and fiber...you'll be facing yourself and be better able to make good choices. Stick to 1000 calories. You can do it!

Something I love to do is walk outside. I take that time to relax, enjoy nature, and pray. We walk 1-3 times per day, one mile or so at a time.

The pain I went through, and am going through, alone, will make me be very wary of eating anything not on the list! I never want to go through this again. All I care about is getting out of pain. If I never lose another pound, I don't even care. I have been so consumed with pain and discomfort that I can barely eat anything. Perhaps trying to remember how bad you felt after surgery might be the kick in the butt you are looking for. I know it will be for me! I wish I never had the surgery (less of a feeling than two days ago, though), but now that I have it, I'm stuck with it, and I intend to do whatever it takes to be healthy. Maybe thinking like that would help. Don't poison yourself by eating too much food...and crap.

If you are willing to mail it out, I'd be interested.

gnc total lean premade strawberry and vanilla. carnation s-f chocolate pkts--use 2 in 1 cup skim or 1%. yoplai greek 100 calorie yogurt is pretty darn good and fits the preop diet well. I also found super low fat weight watcher cheese sticks--which are basically dehydreated skim milk...to work well

I wrote out an answer to this and it disappeared!Yes, there were 3 pain meds in hospital that together took the edge off....they stop the auto drip, then stop the torodol. I had to beg them to get me the oxycodone because it absolutely could not be filled anywhere else. The only other thing that was helping, surprisingly, was tylenol....for the headaches and aches in the the body. I had to make them stay on top of giving me my pain meds. They want you to have a ton of pain--which I did, before they give you anything. They left me in supine position, with half way collapsed lungs, for 2 hours! No one would help me. I began to yell and demand they do something about it...I had to pee really badly as well. The care I got was less than what it should have been. During that time, there was no pain meds. I just now got my Tylenol delivered. Pharmacy nearby got bought out by CVS, and now the service sucks. So I had to call someone in the next town like 10 miles over to get my Tylenol, rest of my nausea meds and patches. Big thing for me to do now is try and increase protein, as I am not getting nearly enough. I also have tons of liquid meds here that take up my space in my stomache...just learned I can take teeny pills for the one, and don't have to take the other at all.But you need to get all your post op meds filled asap...don't wait!

no one told me how bad the pain really is...like having your guts blown out and you can't die, although i thought i was going to die...so not worth it!

I also seem to have a rash forming on my buttocks near the separation. I showed the nurse--who was kind of nitwitty--and she said there isn't one...but i know something is there. So I've been using a cream that is mild and that works on rashes, and airing that part of my skin out. It could be a little reaction from the binder.

They only give you so many pain meds, and then ween you off because even though they are via i.v. they can upset your stomach...but my stomache was fine. The pharmacy won't deliver, and I have no help to get me meds. My daughter knew of another pharmacy that will deliver, so the surgeon's office called them in, but they never brought them..though they told me they were. Now I have to wait til tomorrow for antinausea meds...and I can barely hold anything down without feeling sick. The complications were that my blood pressure was dropping, heart rate going up. Unbearable pain!!! And, yes, this amount of pain is normal. I had to be in the hospital for 4 days...and could have stayed another day-today, even. They wanted to boot me on day 2!!!! Effing crazy! The nurses also did not want to boost me in the bed...nor when they left me lay in the hall in a bad position on a gernie while waiting for another scan to look for leaks. I have bad asthma and my lungs were still part collapsed from the vent--which happens to everyone...but which affects an asthmatic more. After the scan, they techs left me lay for 2 hours in the hallway in supine position. All my effort of breathing went out the window and I lost a day of recovery. No one seemed to care about that, except my surgeon who said she would try and make sure I had a normal day and that my pain meds were not missed. Almost seemed like half the nurses were bothered that I wanted the door closed as I tried to ambulate to the rest room. One made a comment that I would chew her head off if she didn't close the door. When I first got to my room, there was a woman there getting discharged, who had visitors, who would not shut the hell up. I was in so much pain, and the staff would not make her have respect. I finally said that I asked for a private room because of my PTSD, which they knew about, and that if I was a soldier, that PTSD would be cared for, too. Finally, only then, did they clear out the other bed, and not fill it unless a trauma victim needed it. The nurses the first few days were mean! I felt no caring or kindness toward me until the very end of day 2...like 3rd shift...Marie was her name. The surgeon did tell me that the surgery went very well and that I am her star patient...said I was "in shape" and they knew it by how my body tolerated everything in surgery. I never thought I'd hear that about fat-ole-me..but it's true...trying to eat healthy, and exercising a few times a day--which amounts to walking, made a huge difference. They gave me a nurse who will come to my house a couple times a week just to look at my incisions and take my vitals. I asked the woman to help me with the shower, and she said no. What's the point!? She also was repeating herself, did not listen to my directions, and annoyed me in general...knocking over my little cup of protein shake as she leaned on my pillows to get something...ridiculous. She did not offer to get my meds from somewhere for me, either. That is what i need help with. I recommend to everyone here, that you severely exhaust ALL alternatives to losing weight before taking on this massive tearing up of your guts! Heed my words, because though some people are darn lucky to not feel much...you may be one of the one's who suffer endlessly, like me. See if you can find another way. My son has been home for 2 hours and is trashing the kitchen, already...already I have to yell at him...which is making me feel sad and cry.

Thought I'd be nervous...but I really feel that I got that all out of me...I'm ready to go!!!! Psyched out!!! No worries! I even found Special K protein powder for water, and Designer Whey protein powder for water--Designer has 10 g, and K has 5...at Rite Aid...they have the Isopure too, that I have been looking for. I found it all while I was waiting to find out of that particular pharmacy has the Hydrocodone liquid. No place has the pain killer. It's on back order, and there is talk of not making it anymore, so I'm not sure why on Earth the doctors are prescribing it! Be aware that if you get prescribed a pain med, that it is hard to find. Get it early, and start filling it early. I got extra walks in this week, and a double one just a couple hours ago...so that I am ahead for the recovery days. Sweet! Went to a support group meeting today...the one chick there talked and talked and talked...but I did learn some things from her...though I really wanted to talk about some of my last concerns. Toward the end I was able to get in that I was getting my surgery in the morning, and then I got to chat with some people who had some very good tips...such as the one woman who had her surgery in May, right before I was supposed to have mine, showed me her incisions and told me that, Yes...I will still be able to yell at my children when I get home. That's all I needed to hear! I was worried I'd be layed up like a sick dog..but not so. The other woman had her sleeve 17 days ago, and has lost 15 lbs...which she was not happy about...but which is encouraging, and right on target. I have all my medicine cups, some antacids, gas med, prescriptions, a can of meat and beans, a can of applesauce, a can of tomato soup, and a can of cream of chicken soup along with the protein powder packets I just got, and the Carnation sugar-free packets all lined up on the counter. We moved the couch, vaccuumed and moved the recliner so that I can have my pick when I get back. I put my sewing projects for Eckley on hold (that's a coal mining patch town that still stands, where we volunteer to raise money--you all should visit, sometime). I just don't have time to do those things. I figure when my belly gets better at the end of September, I can sew then, I hope. I can't wait to get back to my walks! The treadmill is up here now, and I cleaned it off, so I can walk inside if I want to, now, and for the winter!...NO slacking for me...never again. I refuse to be a hermit this year! My daughter and I are also going to do our aerobics together. We did some Zumba at a support group meeting two weeks ago..and boy-o-boy, was that something! We were all cracking each other up with the moves, and it was just a lot of fun...so now, we are going to work out together more. I can't wait....my girl is the best...so is my boy! My two special buddies are right here alongside me...like no one else. I should mention my one friend, Annette...she's being very nice to me, and helping me get there and back...but that's all she can do..and it's A LOT!!!...but still...I need help at home...and will have to rely on the children. I wish I had more family, and more people who really care about me. I am so thankful for what I have though, and wouldn't trade my 3 buddies for anything! Travis Tritt is on tv right now..and man is he spectacular...love him...I'm really enjoying his concert! Sure beats eating my self to death, right now! Tomorrow is such a special day, and I'm so glad I get to share it with you all!

Well, I figured out how to post a new entry!!! I was going to give up, but gave it another try and found the button. Yippee. Yesterday, I found myself feeling guilty a bit because I am unable to lose the weight and keep it off, in my current state. I felt a bit sad that I have to have surgery, but I know it's the right thing. At the beginning of this round of 2 week liquid diets, I was so upset because I was not able to eat beforehand, and was broke, etc...and the roller coaster of emotions was rampant. Now, I am feeling much better, but I want to eat all the time...and right now, it's pizza--brought on by the left over I took out of the freezer to give to my boy-who had a hard day at school. I have also been wanting an egg McMuffin...and just saw the commercial...ugh...I am hungry, and now I'm really toeing the line. I have been scared about surgery, and have worked to settle my fears by reminding myself that my children have had innumerable surgeries, and I assured them they'd be ok...and they were. I trust the surgeons and staff with their lives, and of course, must trust them with my own life! I hear and see myself telling my son that he is ok, that he is not going to die...and somehow my own mind and heart hears it...like a mom taking care of me...me taking care of me!!! Imagine that! Anyway, my surgery is in 2 days!! 2 Days!!!! Can you believe that??!!! Finally!! I have been sad that I could not eat at the diner that my sister owned before she took off to wherever and never came back--it openned and I didn't get to go there. I also want to eat at the sub place that has the best chicken parm hoagies ever!...and at the Subway--love the tomato sauce...and at Friendly's...and at Rodano's in Wilkes-barre--best spaghetti and meatballs. I realize though, that I made a choice to move forward with this surgery and to once and for all get a grip on permanent change in my life...and that others on here have said that they can eat what they want, but not as much, about a half a cup, eventually...I think I can live with that. I also want to go to the movies one last time and get some pretzel nuggets with spicy cheese, and some popcorn...and to go to the drive-ins for hot dogs and fries!!! Ugh. Since having some money to spend, and starting my 2 weeks, I did, indeed, have some of these foods so that I could ease my mind and be more prepared for the procedure...and success, but I still want more of it! I am never satisfied...only pacified at this point. Recognizing those two facts helps me to see that what I am doing...eating that pack of pretzels, and then wishing for and wanting another--though I can't fit more in my stomach...is not good...I need help...and that's what I have elected to get. I know that if I was to not get the surgery, I would be very upset. I have weighed things carefully, and thought about what would happen, how I would feel if I did not go through with the procedure--which I already have a taste of from when I was denied by the insurance, and from when I had to drop out twice before because my son got sick again. I have so much peace about the sleeve that anything else is chaos. I have a real chance before me for real, permanent change, and I can hardly wait. At the same time I am worried about problems during the sedation...such as that I might have a cardiac arrest or something and have to be shocked back....which happened to my brother, but supposedly for a different reason. (I don't get to see my family, nor hear from them very much, because I was an orphan...and we children were separated early on--a truly great tragedy and lifetime of suffering--which also has had a hand in food addiction and food abuse by me...among other things). But, then I remember that my twins were born very early, and very sick, and have had many surgeries and are ok...and that I have exercised and prepared for this, doing my breathing exercises, seeing an allergist and getting my asthma meds changed--so that the year long cough could go away. I am prepared, and my prayers have been answered! I prayed for years for an answer, and this is it.....maybe now, God will reverse the food issues that were caused by the evil in my father's heart. Maybe now...physically, the pathways will be changed....combined with my own efforts, and several years of trauma counseling that helped me deal with all the other crap. It's time for a body change! I can't wait to put my smaller clothes on. I have bags and tubs of smaller clothing, as well as an industrial rack to hold current and not-so-long-ago clothing. There is a pink chiffon and silver sequen skirt that I cannot wait to donn and go to the market--or anywhere for that matter!! Jeans?!! Oh yeah!...looking forward to it, and to being comfortable in my own skin and clothes. Can't wait to put on some hot little classy number and some high heels (which I will promptly remove) and strut around in front of the ex when I drop the children for a visit...he'll be eating his words...loser. I am improving my health for me, and have been divorced for over 7 years...but still...there is sweetness in even the slightest victory, and I'm going to enjoy that one! haha. My girl and I will be wearing close to the same size when I get this weight off, and I can wear my Army class A's..and my cammos again! That would be very cool...and is something I have wanted to do for years...since I was pregnant with the twins 14 years ago. It will be nice when I can see the bones in my feet and my ankles and legs are not swollen anymore, and when I can roll over in bed without a ton of aches and pains...and when I can increase my 1 mile walks to 2 or 3 miles at once...instead of doing 2-3 1 mile walks per day. There are just so many benefits! Ooo...and I can get out my multitude of swim suits and try them on...and go find a new one that makes me look smashing!...that is a cool word..."smashing!" Positively smashing! I would love to do the P90X program, too...not the jumping, but the rest of it...and to find my fitness like I had, and better, in the Army. I'm going to look for an ab workout to help me look not pregnant. No matter what size I am, people always ask me that. I'm used to it, and just say no, I'm not pregnant, just fat." Then they look at me, all shocked...and embarrassed and say either "Oh!" or run out of the store with their tails between their legs. I'll say to them, "That's ok, I get that all the time, but I did lose XX lbs. over the last 6 months." ...Doesn't matter, they are put in their place for asking such a personal question, in the first place. I don't really care about that much, though...I don't...I just want to feel good about my body, that I am caring for it as God intended, that I am working to live well for as long as I can for my family...however small it is with just the twins and me...for our futures, for my grandchildren...so they can say that I truly am and was a great and strong person, no matter what came my way...and have some more proof to go with it! Can't beat that!

Thank you for the encouragement! I had struggles to get to this point too...but it does get here.

Hello, Everyone: I have found that the GNC Total Lean shakes in vanilla and strawberry only are pretty good. The powders and chocolate shake are not. The powders are sickly sweet, and chemical tasting...bananna tastes like dentist cleaning toothpaste. The raspberry powder was better, but all the powder flavors were sort of metamucil like...which I don't like. The Chocolate premade--which is like the vanilla and strawberry--tasted just like Slimfast shakes or one of those kinds that are very soy-tasting...which I do not like. The Vanilla Vitamin Powder is disgusting...absolutely not vanilla-y at all! Don't buy it. The workers said the powders were all tasty...but twas untrue. When I returned the powders and the chocolate premade Protein shake, the other worker said they are not good at all...and that the vitamin powder protein mix is meant to be mixed with other powders. I don't know what they are thinking...but those are all gross! The two that are the best are the GNC premade Vanilla and Strawberry shakes. I think you will like those if you give them a try. At 25 Proteins, 3 fibers, and 2 sugars...it is a winning situation. Next, the Carnation sugar-free Instant Breakfast in Chocolate works well when mixed with skim or 1% milk...and for me, a little Water to thin it out. It is only 60 calories for the powder with 5 grams protein, no sugar and I think a little Fiber. Add milk, and protein goes up....I use that in between the other shakes. Finally, the surgeon said I could us the sugar free puddings that are out there. The tapioca and rice ones are pretty decent if you put a teeny sprinkle of stevia in them. The Active Culture Jello Puddings are sugar free and don't need any stevia. I especially like the one that is light chocolate on top and bottom, with the darker one in the middle. If anyone has tried these or has any ideas on variations or what I could add to the mix...reply below.

I had a fellow parent at our Boy Scout troop who is a nurse, and whom I have known for 9 years, tell me that it's the easy way out and then tell me that people don't know what they are getting into and that it's incredibly difficult....I think she was just prejudice against me in some way. People are strange, and don't always know what they are talking about.

You don't need him...your gut is telling you it's for the best...listen to your instinct...and go be that strong woman who cares for herself--without a man.

Maybe you could just turn the subject to something else, or mention that you prefer to talk with your ob/gyn doctor about that area, now that your surgery is complete...something like that. That should give him the hint.

GNC has Total Lean, and I love only the pre-made strawberry and vanilla flavors. The rest are pretty yucky...and are either really sweet and metamucil-like, or taste just aweful or just like the lousy protein shakes you get at walmart. Only the powdered raspberry was a bit tolerable-though I took that one back, too.

lol...is he just thinking that you might like them as much as he apparently does, and that you might miss them as much as he would have if they got smaller? Maybe he was sure they'd be gone, and now he's surprised they aren't. Maybe you should check if he has a ring on and feel things out!...punn in tended, haha! Go for it! Is he cute?

Good luck with your procedure tomorrow...I'm on Thursday...and working to get my mind set correctly...and working not to eat food.

I would use soap to shave the legs, not lotion. The reason is that if you put lotion on your legs...feet, etc...and they need to put sticky pads on your skin to measure heart beat, or other things...or get an iv in your leg, it will make it a little tougher to accomplish, as they would have to scrub the lotion off. I wouldn't want to risk losing precious time for that during surgery. I would avoid lotions altogether...you can lotion up afterward. Deoderant was not something I'm restricted from...face lotion was not something they said was not to be used, either.