bakawaka

I have encountered bariatric surgery patients who have tried to discourage me. It's interesting to watch.

I wanted to share the story about why I am a self-pay. I have a BMI of 35. This places me in the Class I obesity category. I have two co-morbidities: high blood pressure and high cholesterol plus heavy snoring (not yet apnea). My insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, denied coverage on the grounds that my surgery is not "medically necessary." Does anyone know what medically necessary means? My primary care physician and my WLS surgeon view it as medically necessary. The insurance denial is not stopping me. I want better health. I do not have a specific goal weight, though I do have as goals getting off of cholesterol and blood pressure medication. Has anyone had a similar BMI and similar conditions but gotten covered by insurance? It is an interesting thought that my self-pay surgery will not only benefit me in terms of health but also my insurance company.

Thanks so much for the advice. I am trying an appeal.

I can empathize. My surgery date has been changed three times, twice by the surgeon.

Self-empowerment is intimidating to other people and they will try to attack it when they see it because they are not as self-empowered.

Well, I cannot call the liquid diet fun. I do enjoy the feeling of being a bit more in control of my eating. It's hard to call that "fun." But it is a sense of accomplishment. I will definitely enjoy being able to eat solid food again. I like the idea of eating solid food again only after surgery. I wish you great success with your weight loss journey!

My surgeon told me that my body will find the weight it wants and that I will never be a skinny person unless I become a fitness fanatic. I'll always, according to my surgeon, be a bit chubby. And that' s fine with me. As long as I have good health, being a bit chubby is just fine. I have class 1 obesity and am hoping to get a a target weight somewhere close to guidelines - but losing enough to get off blood pressure/cholesterol medication and eliminate the risk of diabetes would be sufficient for me. I'm not an athlete, never will be. I don't need to look like a fashion model to be happy in life.

i am still pre-op but i plan to use shakes the rest of my life for convenience - so much easier than cooking. of course, not every meal, but maybe one meal a day. i'm tired of sweet-tasting shakes. but they are certainly convenient.

My surgeon insists that I will need to use a urinary catheter for 24 hours after the surgery. For other men on this forum who had to use a catheter, did you find it painful or uncomfortable? Did you find it helpful? Was its removal painful or merely uncomfortable? My surgeon and my primary care physician insist that the catheter removal is not painful. But I find that difficult to believe.

Thanks very much for the helpful comments!

I was also told that I can add fruit to my protein shakes as long as it is blended. I can even add nuts and oatmeal (cooked or uncooked). But it also had to be pulverized.

Am on 2nd day of preop liquid diet - I have headaches but am not hungry. But I do have head hunger. What are your experiences?

I tried to make pudding with soy milk. I was not successful, other than producing a thick liquid. However, that thick liquid did have a nice flavor!

my doctor said i could put my pills and capsules in the blender along with Water or yoghurt as long as they are not extended release pills. This seems like a good idea to me.

I notice that in week 2 of a 4-week liquid diet, I am irritable, fatigued and "slow." I find that my thinking is a bit lazier than usual. I'm usually more alert. Hopefully this period will pass. I do use sublingual B-12 in the mornings. I drink decaf coffee (I miss that caffeine but am not supposed to have it). I do find that the decaf coffee gives me a psychological boost (placebo effect?). Does anyone else have cloudy thinking on the pre-op liquid diet?

One think I have found challenging is the constant sweetness of the Protein shakes. They are all sweet. I get tired of that. I have found that beef broth and chicken broth inbetween the shakes helps with that. Also, instant miso soup! It's full of protein. It's a liquid. You can strain out the solid stuff. It's also savory and a wonderful alternative. The challenge with miso Soup and chicken/beef broth is the sodium. But it does help. On this business trip out of town, I do not have access to broth, though I did have miso soup today at an Asian restaurant. Maybe these ideas will help.

Well, it happened to me too, today. I have been in business meetings with colleagues out of town. We inevitably go out to eat. I order chicken broth. The hunger returned. I've had to use a lot of mental discipline to get through the head hunger while watching my colleagues eat. Today was actually my most difficult day. I am trying to distract myself. I wish you and everyone on the pre-op liquid diet success.

Idea: steam or boil butternut squash and purée with soft tofu. Add spices/flavors you like/can tolerate. More protein is the result.

My surgeon states that I am allowed to fly 10 days after surgery. Do you think it would be okay to fly on a 10-hour business trip 4 days after surgery?

So do you think that 8 days post-op a two-hour flight would be possible?

VitaMix is another great "super" blender - you can buy reconditioned ones at a lower price.

I have rescheduled twice and even had to switch hospitals.

I plan to eat 1200-1500 calories per day post op. preop I am on 900-1000 per day (liquid diet).

I do not have a goal weight. My surgeon and I agreed that my body will find its goal weight. He informed me that even post op I will probably always be on the "chubby" side unless I become a workout fanatic. My goal is good health, not a specific weight. It will literally be a journey of discovery.

The preop diet gets easier day by day - I am doing it for four weeks. I still get hungry (in the second week). But the is good practice for dealing with head hunger post op. I think the preop liquid diet is great preparation for the post op lifestyle.