DanaInNewOrleans

Oh my God! I am so excited about this! My husband is from New York City and his family is still there! If this works ( please God let this work!) I know I will need everything done....I mean, I already need everything done and I haven't gotten the sleeve yet! But this gives me hope. I've been so worried about how we would pay for plastic surgery. After I poked around the internet it looked like it would be $30000-40,000. I'd need a breast lift and implants, the the arm bat wings, tummy tuck/lower body lift and a thigh lift.We are going to NYC for Christmas and maybe will visit the hospital and check it out! Thank you so much for sharing this info.

Hi Shan, My doc has not mentioned my liver --- did you have to do an ultrasound? Did you blood work show an abnormality?

Never mind the questions!??? I just re-read your post! I was so excited to see another New Orleanian that I just skipped right over it. So how are you? What has it been like since you got home?

Beth, Beth, Beth!! I'm in New Orleans (Mandeville) and am worried about never being able to enjoy a real meal. My husband is a little bummed about that too ( he does not have a weight problem). I mean, lets face it, food is the heart and soul of New Orleans. I asked him if he'd rather see me eating a fried shrimp po-boy or prancing around in a new body. LOL.... I think he got over that objection. One of the first things I thought about was things like crawfish boils .... I mean, are these things over forever? Will our stomachs really ever be able to eat these things, even in small portions? When was your surgery? How are you doing? Who was your surgeon? Dana

Hi Shan, I'm on the Northshore in Mandeville. My surgeon is Dr. Lavin at Surgical Specialists. Aetna requires I do a 90 day Pe-op diet, which really disappointed me. I've been on a diet for 40 years! My surgery will be at the mid-end of November....it cannot come soon enough for me! When is your surgery? Dana

I'm pre op but know that I will be using these terms Mushy and Puree soon enough... I've posts about people pureeing meat and vegetables and even eating baby food!!! The thought of that grosses me out. Can some of you tell me what your experiences were? Is "mushy" the same as "pureed" in the Sleeve World? Can you tell me what you had to eat (drink or slurp) right after you got home? How long did you have to do this? Also, I get nauseated very easily -- did your docs give you something ahead of time for nausea so you'd have it home? I'd rather be in pain than be nauseous. Fear of nausea is BIG for me. Thanks for any help! Dana

You know what cracks me up about all the people who are negative about bariatric surgery? Apparently they think it would be better for us to stay morbidly obese living a half and ruining our health. It defies logic. Ok. i just decided what I will tell people if they have anything negative to say... Those two sentences above this one!

I'm sure there is a good reason that 80% - 90% of the stomach is removed but would it be possible to decide ok, maybe this person would do better long term with only 60-70% removed? It just seems like there would still be great results without be sooo restrictive for a lifetime. Anyone know if this is possible? Can you ask that more stomach be left? Thanks! Dana

This is actually a good idea! I mean, you know people are going to plead for the secret!! It would be cute to make it a little lighthearted to hand them the card and then whisper..." this is my secret but don't tell anyone....."

Putting soup in a blender sounds relatively palatable! I think I could handle that. I'm not worried about oh my God what will I be able to eat for the sake of eating. I just wish for the healing period they could just inject yourself with some miracle shot and that would handle everything. I would be less nervous if it was No Eating Allowed during that period.

Hi, Do you remember the medication of the patch?

I just posted about being afraid of this same thing. I get nauseous very easily-- I'd rather be in pain than nauseous. I won't even attempt to eat if I feel the slightest twinge. Can the doc give you something to take for nausea, at least in the beginning to make sure you start off healthy? I'm pre-op and already worried. Hope you start feeling better Shape Shifter Dana

I'm pre-op but I have thought about this as well. Basically I'm a pathetic liar. I stutter, pause, look guilty.... I just can't lie -- everybody would know I was lying and then I would feel stupid because they know I'm lying! LOL I lost 160lbs on my own doing low carb and when people congratulated me and said oh my God you must be so proud of yourself, I was embarrassed because deep down I really wasn't "proud" of myself. I looked at it as something that I should have never had to do. In my mind I was just correcting a horrible embarrassing mistake. I didn't want grown adults to have to be "proud" of me for being morbidly obese and then losing weight. I may not be making sense.... Anyway, I think I will have to just tell the truth -- I wish I could lie but trust me, everybody could see it on my face immediately! Dana

Was anybody successful convincing Aetna or Federal Blue Cross to waive the pre-op diet/wait time? Thanks Dana

Thanks! I see my surgeon tomorrow!

Hi, Because of my insurance pre-op diet requirement I'm looking at late November for my surgery. My husband's family live in NYC and we are planning on going for a visit for Christimas. Do ya'll think that is doable? Will I be miserable trying to deal with shakes, Water, Protein and trying to figure out a ways to eat mushy stuff? I was praying that my insurance would not require it because I would be at whole different stage. Will I feel like crap? We always stay in a hotel so it won't be like I have a real kitchen to work in... Thanks! Dana

Hi, Thanks for getting back to me. Which doc refused--- surgeon or primary? Did you call Federal Blue Cross and they told you that or did the office call? I called Fed BC today and the woman was clueless. All she did was send me the official policy criteria, which I already had. I explained that I needed to know if there are any exceptions to the 3 month pre-op diet. She she did not know and did not know who would know. Thanks! Dana

Hi, I read a post on here the other day that summed up my life and feelings about doing this. I'm pre-op but would have never considered this just a few years ago. Fear of surgery I guess. I wish I could remember the posters name because it made an impact on me. Being fat has stolen my life. And I mean that literally. EVERY single choice I've made for 30 years has been influenced by fat. High School, college, career, hobbies, sports, dates, clothes, vacations, love/hate food, relationships...EVERYTHING. Every single thought I have is filtered through fat and self loathing. I go to sleep with thoughts of being fat. I worry if I die they will find my fat ass and the medics, coroner would have to lift my fat ass. I think about how humiliating that would be --- I can even be humiliated DEAD. I AM DONE WITH THAT. I am 49 years old -- I want to LIVE my life, not just exist and watch everybody else LIVING. Screw it! If I die during surgery, well, it was meant to be for some reason. I have a serenity about it, which is really amazing to me. If I could do this today I would. And if I'm successful (please God, let this work) I plan to use my 401k for plastic surgery. I want the last half of my life to make up for the first half of being a shell of who I really am. I want to thank everyone on this board who takes the time to respond and help everyone else, even when they are past their crisis or struggles. This board is an amazing resource of hope and help! Thanks everyone! Dana

Tracey, I've seen a number of your posts...and every time I see one I think --"she is so pretty!!" I laughed and laughed at your funeral worry.... I have the exact same thoughts....I have forbid Jay to have an open coffin...oh and I think about how big the coffin would have to be. What a miserable way to live .... but I can laugh about it. I've always been able to laugh about miserable things and it isn't to hide the pain. I don't hide my pain!!! EVERYBODY knows I hate being fat because I tell them all the freakin time!

Oh My Gawd!!!! I just looked at your profile before and after!!! Unbelievable!!! You look amazing! Congratulation!

Hi OTR, You're right of course. Maybe I could take out a plastic surgery loan instead of new car loan -- and just drive around in a jalopy --- BUT I'd look gooooood in my jalopy! Thanks for the reality check... Dana

Hi, I read a post on here the other day that summed up my life and feelings about doing this. I'm pre-op but would have never considered this just a few years ago. Fear of surgery I guess. I wish I could remember the posters name because it made an impact on me. Being fat has stolen my life. And I mean that literally. The EVERY choice I've made for 30 years has been influenced by fat. High School, college, career, hobbies, sports, dates, clothes, vacations, relationships...EVERYTHING. Every single thought I have is filtered through fat and self loathing. I go to sleep with thoughts of being fat. I worry if I die they will find my fat ass and the medics, coroner would have to lift my fat ass. I think about how humiliating that would be --- I can even be humiliated dead. I AM DONE WITH THAT. I am 49 years old -- I want to LIVE my life, not just exist and watch everybody else LIVING. Screw it! If I die during surgery, well, it was meant to be for some reason. I have a serenity about it, which is really amazing to me. If I could do this today I would. And if I'm successful (please God, let this work) I plan to use my 401k for plastic surgery. I want the last half of my life to make up for the first half of being a shell of who I really am. I want to thank everyone on this board who takes the time to respond and help everyone else, even when they are past their crisis or struggles. This board is an amazing resource of hope and help!

Hi, Just wondering if anyone found something to mix in with Protein powder so that you can just put it on a spoon and get it down quickly? If so, which Protein Powder is the most tolerable taste wise? Sort of like cough syrup -- it tastes gross but it's a couple of spoons and boom, it over. Thanks everyone Dana

Hi, I had the nuclear stress test done about 2 months ago. There is nothing to be afraid of. I could not do the treadmill because of my knee issues. The techs told me that 70% of their stress tests are done with the nuclear version. Apparently many people get on the treadmill and can never get to the level they need so they end doing the nuclear test anyway. He said it saves time just to do the nuclear and be done. During the actual stress part of the stress test when they inject the med is very strange. There is no pain but your body quickly (in less than 30 seconds) feels like you went from standing still to doing a marathon. It was a very bizarre feeling and I was amazed that a bodily function/response could be so real by a medication. But really, that part is over in a couple of minutes. Don't worry!

And you just gave me an idea for a better tasting shake-- add ricotta!