Lander

The surgeon's office called late yesterday afternoon and moved my surgery date up to the 19th. Two weeks from today. I nearly jumped through the phone I was so excited. My husband has been laid off from work for the month so the timing is perfect for us with him being able to be with me and care for me the first few weeks. Just a month ago the insurance rejected me. I'm so glad that I didn't lose focus and stayed on track, continuing to stick to the diet the NUT gave me until the appeal went through because things have happened so fast since then. Now I'm going back and re-reading the 'getting ready for the hospital' threads. I realize that I will probably spend Christmas day crying in pain and vomiting, but it will be the best Christmas in years because I'm on the road to my new life. Hurray!

I just got the call. I go in in two weeks, Dec 19. Be home in time for Christmas

Hope all goes well for you and you don't get nausea. Fingers crossed. Remember to sip sip sip and walk as much as possible to get rid of the gas pains. Press your pillow to your stomach for pressure to help you when sitting up. Best of luck. My turn in 2 weeks. Lander

I just got the call today. I'm being sleeved in two weeks on the 19th. Hospital stay is 2 nights, home on the 3rd day. I'm so excited. Thankful I've been sticking like glue to the pre-op diet for the past 3 months so I'm ready.

I expected to have my surgery this week. That was the plan. Did everything on schedule. Stayed on the diet. Did everything I was told. Surprise the insurance rejected because of the Psych eval. Said his recommendation wasn't definitive enough. My response? I still want this. My surgeon put in an appeal. I stayed on the diet and continued to lose more weight. I continued going to the life skills class. Just carried on as though everything was going to happen. Yesterday the surgeon called and the approval came. So I'm getting the surgery a few weeks later than initially planned, but I AM getting it. The bonus is that I weigh even less going into it so there's less to lose after. This will happen for you, too. Maybe not on your initial schedule, but in the end you'll find a reason for it turning out the way it did and you will still be a happy, much thinner bride. Just stay on track and continue to lose weight until things get processed.

Having given birth several times and being 53 yrs old, everything sags anyway. Nothing to do with weight.

My surgeon has us attend an 8 week Life Skills course where we discuss the behavioural patterns and emotional patterns that cause us to overeat or snack on things we shouldn't. It has been really helpful. I'm so grateful I have a surgeon who treats the "whole" issue, not just an incision and removal process.

Each of these milestones is an exciting step. Good for you making the decision to get there. Now give yourself a non-edible reward.

Hi Antbarrella. Welcome to the site. I am 3 weeks behind you. This site offers so much incredible information. Most of your questions will be answered before you can ask them if you take the time to look around and read. Check out the Do's and Don'ts list at the beginning and don't miss the hospital list. Lots of things on there I might not have thought to take along.

Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. What a great Christmas present.

BCBS turned down my application for a sleeve because they said my Psych's letter was "inconclusive". He didn't really recommend me one way or another. Now the thing is, he wrote similar letters for three other candidates, and they were all accepted. The surgeon's office is questioning why mine was the only one rejected. They think it may have been processed by someone new who isn't familiar with the terminologies they tend to use. They are going to appeal it. In the meantime I went ahead and booked another appt. with the psych to get him to write a more affirmative letter. Even though he does state that he feels I'm egocentric and in denial of suppressed anger. I don't see that any of those has anything to do with surgery. Soooo, I am not having surgery this month as planned. But I haven't given up hope. I'm staying on the diet the NUT gave me and continuing to lose weight. I figure it's got to come of whether before or after the surgery, and in the meantime I'm learning lifetime habits to keep it off. Anybody else here get refused and still make it through the process in the end?

My surgeon offers a Life Skills class that is an 8 week course dealing with mental and behavioural eating issues. Helping us to recogize our eating problems and reprogram our brains and behaviour so we don't repeat our mistakes. He also has monthly support groups for post op patients where they have discussions on all these things. Find out if your doctor offers something like this.

I take a few tablespoons of mineral oil each day. Helps things move smoother. I kept getting impacted and would spend hours trying to get something to come out. This had really helped a lot. My NUT has had me on a no carb diet for the past two months and except for the first few weeks after surgery, this is to be my diet for life, so I HAD to find a solution. Mineral oil has no flavour and simply can't be taken within 2 hours of food. I take it in the middle of the afternoon.

Anyone just go to jars of baby food for the week of pureed foods? Sounds to me like it would make things easier. What do you all say?

She meant: Fourth - I'm going to buy myself a set.

someone mentioned I should buy mt self chickens cultry set like the gerber brand to help take smaller boys had anyone done this I think this should read: Someone mentioned I should buy myself children's cutlery set like the Gerber brand to help take smaller bites. Has anyone done this? Yes. I have also heard of this and plan to do so. I found one of my kids baby spoons in the drawer and have been using that to eat yogurt in prep for surgery. Will be getting baby cutlery in the next few weeks.

It's never asking to much to pray for someone. We've all been through hard times and we all understand how hard it can be. Hold on - the light will come.

It's always a great feeling when all 3 numbers move. You're doing a great job. Keep it up.

I'm curious about this too. I've heard it's the best and most popular brand. We just ordered the starter kit.

I'm also in Wisconsin and am planning on having Dr. Georgen do my surgery. I decided on the sleeve along with my GP because the Roux en Y don't allow you to take time release drugs and I take a few of those as part of my pain regimen. Also need to be able to take Ibuprofen which is a nono with the RnY and safe with the sleeve. Dr. Georgen said he only sleeves people with a BMI of 60 or greater. I"m a lowly 49.2. My doctor called him with her concerns and I think we got a go ahead - depending on the insurance clearance. My GP was adamant about sending me down to Neenah and not to Green Bay for the surgery. She said it was more thorough before and after care. I have no problem with that except I have no car to get myself there and have to rely on finding people to drive me and I don't know a lot of people in Wisconsin. I really feel like I'm imposing. Carrie

So shave your legs the day before. No problem.

I've been on it for two weeks now and it's pretty quiet unless the mask gets askew in the night and then you can hear the air leaking. Just pull it away and reset it against it your face and you have quiet again. Doesn't bother my husband at all. I've adapted to it quite quickly. I got a mask that just fits around my nose, not the mouth. Sometimes I feel it's lulling me to sleep. Hope it goes as well for you.

I just want to be able to buy a bra that fits. I am not largely endowed, yet to get a band that fits around me, bra companies think I need a D cup. So I have to buy one of those to get a band, and a small bra to get the cup, cut them apart and sew them together to get a bra that fits me. It's ridiculous. So, yes, I know how you feel. Won't it be nice to put on panty hose not feel them rolling down over your stomach and hips and you walk down the aisle at church. Urgh!

Good idea writing a the letter, Kenzee. My insurance company requires just such a letter from me. My surgeon's office put's together the whole package of everything the insurance requires and submits it all to get the approval on my behalf.

Your post is so encouraging. Thanks. I haven't had my surgery yet but posts like this give me so much hope and will power.