measureofme

Okay kids... I actually love Soup but never make it because spouse and teenager don't like it at all... so my occassion to use broth in the past is zero. So, no idea what to look for. I've seen the "box" broth, cubes that make a broth, crystals, cans... the works! But what do you use and like? I appreciate brand names. I live in the Seattle area. Oh, and what's the story on strained Miso soup? I read in one thread it's a good source of protien but counts for the immediate post-op clear liquid phase too. Thanks for your voices of experience. I'm two weeks pre-op tomorrow.

Thank you thank you everyone! I've bought some of both the Swanson's broths and the Better Than brand to see which I like. I've also got some HMR chicken Soup. Some folks don't like it on it's own so I might try mixing it with the straight broth to get the protien quality in as well. The nakid protien is a good tip too. Oh, and thanks for posting the homemade instructions/recipes! Talked to the family over the weekend and we may just try this out! woohoo!

Feb 2nd for me!

I feel you completely... I too have GAD and we took me off my meds to actually help this process along. I seem to pick one thing each day to obsess over LOL. I wish I had fool proof advice for you, but all of us are different... I think you are normal. I try to name my anxiousness and reassure myself with the preparations that are in place. You will do fine. Best wishes!

So I started my Pre-op Diet on Saturday. It has 19 points on it that read more like a healthy-living lifestyle guide rather than a super-conservative, hard core diet that I was expecting. I'm managing the 19 points just fine, but feel like I'm cheating... I read about so many others, especially with super high BMI's like my own, who have to do full on liquid diets in this time period. I have even been following the video blog of another recent sleever, same surgeon as me, who mentions repeatedly his two week pre-op liquid diet. I contacted my coordinator to be SURE that what I had was the guidlines they wanted me to follow and yes, I have the info they want me to have. LOL I'm so concerned that I've finally asked to have a consultation with my surgeon, that happens tomorrow. I have to just step back and remember that each doctor is different, right? The point of the pre-op plan is to not only prepare your body for surgery but to also help get you in the mindset you need after surgery. Right? (I DO move to the full clear liquid diet three days prior.) Then I think about how I've been eating since the weekend and think I'm not doing so bad... Using a mix of HMR protien drinks with fruits and vegetables and one meat at night... reducing my portions (moving to a small plate to help that), drinking more Water, sipping, keeping up with Vitamins. I felt so GUILTY with my potato for lunch (didn't realize I'd polished off the carrot/snap pea bag!). GAH! Call me a psychologist, will ya?! Just terrified to get there (Mexico sleever here!) only to have them open me up and say they cannot do it because my liver is in the way or I didn't loose enough before surgery... that they had me confused with someone else... or I missed the fine print. I guess I'm just venting and I need to stop and TRUST these people. And I do. I guess it's me I don't trust.

Thanks everyone! HoosierGirl, pre op diet is going ok... MyFitnessPal is yelling at me that I am not getting enough calories! Lol that is a first. I have dropped more than ten lbs so far but I am not sure I am doing it "right". I have the pantry stocked with broth, Jello and the like, and the HMR orders are arriving soon! Best of luck to you! SoCalDixieGal... Two weeks is when I started to think too much! I hope you are feeling pumped and confident. Your hoarder comment made me giggle.

There certainly are docs out there who will work with you, just don't be discouraged if it takes a handful of calls to find him/her! Your stats and mine are quite close! It is excellent you are already on the weight loss road! That can only help. Good luck!

My teenager just came into my office and ate a piece of toast and nutella. I'm afraid I bit his head off when I told him he cannot eat that around me again today. I'm emotional and pissy and fearing I can't do this. How are you or did you get through it when there's others in your home not so restricted?

I called my hubby in tears and he pointed out that it had been too long between my "meals". Must keep better check on that! Dinner time was not hard at all. So back on track mentally for me!

I've been going round and round in my head about my pre-op diet. It does not feel like a diet to me when I see it on paper. Just 19 instructions such as no fast/fried food, no sugar, no sugar drinks, no carbonated beverages, protien first, reduce/eliminate caffiene, lots of Water... etc. Feels more like every other diet I've failed than a pre-op diet. I asked my Doctor THREE times to verify what I should be doing pre-op as a very high BMI patient and all three times this was reiterated until I reach 3 days to surgery and it changes to predominantly liquids. All that said, I do not trust myself so I've beein doing HMR shakes 3-4 a day, some fruit and veg and a low fat/low carb dinner. Just yesterday I switched to HMR heat/eat box meals for dinner too since I don't trust myself to cook properly. I have HMR oatmeal on standby if I get into a space where I cannot stand myself, but I'm trying hard to avoid it because I don't want it to trigger a binge. Weighed in yesterday, 9lbs down from where I was at my weigh in during November. May not seem like much, but I KNOW I gained during Christmas so I'll take it as a small victory.

Thanks a ya'll! I will keep this info handy... And try my hand at a homemade solution too.

Thanks for the tips! I was just looking at the selection at the market and felt like one of these emoticons o.0 LOL As for high sodium content... my husband always jokes that I should just have a salt lick and be done with it!

I had a similar question when reading the updates for my existing insurance in 2013. For me it did come down to dollars and cents. While WLS was finally being covered, I had to read the fine print, the hoops. My co-pay is 20% with an out of pocket max per year and a hefty deductible but still slightly less expensive than going to MX. The fine print is where the decision was made for me. All the Nutrition counseling, "medically monitored diet", diet program foods, and a bunch of tests like psych evals would NOT be covered by the plan. So, my actual costs and time kept MX the better choice for me. It's such a personal decision though, you gotta weigh the pros and cons for yourself. I will admit I still have moments of trepidation, thinking I'm a little crazy to have this out of country when I could be patient and thrifty (to afford it) and have it done "at home". Good luck.

I too was told I only needed to bring my ID and birth certificate. Reading up on the State Department website (referenced above), I decided that I didn't want to risk it and ordered a passport. It would probably have been okay, but I didn't want to get "that" border agent on "that" day and have a problem crop up when I'm trying to catch a flight. Since mine came a few days ago, the idea that I can go anywhere in the world now is very liberating... even more so is the idea that soon I might actually enjoy it in a slimmer body! LOL Me, spontanious? That would be novel!

** Sorry to hijack this post a little ** rdoactv: I'm with Dr. Kelly on Feb 2nd. I understand your nervousness after these changes but I'll be sure and post how it goes. While Dr. Kelly is not so "popular" on this board, I know there are a few of us and I want to help ease minds. So far Alina, the new coodinator, has been pretty cool to work with. I wish she was a little faster to reply to me but I know I'm not the only patient and that they have work outside of email. From all the VSG message boards and Mexico doctor threads, it seems that musical coordinators is just the name of the game. Go with the flow is my mindset.

I am reading a lot about the different ways the surgery jacks up your cycle. Some find their cycle skips and others find that it will not stop. Fat holds estrogen so your body is processing that release too as you start more rapid loss. Oh joy!

I will be interested in this too... I am going in for my VSG on Feb 2 and while I am not worried about anything, it would be nice to have new feedback on the staff change.

I was quoted $6200 for my high BMI, but watch for specials... One he has had going for the fall is just ending.

Your post actually makes some sense... I was thinking about it and realized Omar had not written to me last but another woman. The same email address worked though.

The contact info I use is the same as Webchickadee gave above! I am working with Omar on the arrangements for my Feb. 2nd VSG.

Thank you everyone for the replies. The stories and encouragement are helpful! I'm trying really hard not to do food funerals and basically just trying to cut out the stuff I know is bad for me (like soda) on my own terms before the Sleeve is reality. I'm avoiding a scale at the moment but will likely weigh in during January as I start the pre-op diet. I'll hope the scale has already started the backward slide!

I'm so very sorry that a "professional" treated you that way! Ready4success took the words out of my mind though... if it's possible, I'd consider another surgeon after being treated so roughly. The circumstance and decisions you've made should never be taken in such a cavalier way... in my humble opinion anyway. Past that, I am sorry that they need you to reduce before they'll schedule you.

I could use some advice... I am set for my VSG with Dr. Kelly in TJ on Feb 2nd. My insurance plan does not cover WLS and even if it did (the insurance company has guidlines if it's allowed on your plan), the hoops to jump through will cost us more out of pocket than if we go with the self pay option. So, innocently cruising this site, I've come across the complication stories and other threads in the other forums which list "insurance not covering complications" as a big reason they won't consider this option which feels like a miracle to me. I thought I'd done my homework, but now I'm waffling... I touched base with my PCP and they're cool to monitor me, I even read my insurance company's Medical Policy, all 30 odd pages of it, and see nothing noted about denying coverage for complications arising from elective and/or overseas procedures. But now... I'm feeling scared and unsure. My faith and personality want me to be Little Miss Sunshine and trust that this is a God-led solution to a 300lb problem. I feel confident that it's the right procedure for me, that the doctor I've selected is right for me and my needs... etc. But then I wonder if I'm not sticking my head in the sand. I read the Medical Policy rather than call them because they're notorious for giving you different answers and I'm very afraid to put myself on their radar (maybe I need a tin foil hat?) by asking questions. How did YOU handle these questions? Maybe you're still living them out and working through them? In the quiet moments of the day, I think it's this specific insecurity... will I be taken care of if something goes wrong... which is giving me cold feet. ugh.

Thank you for the encouragement karensuue!

Hah! Well, that was a "duh" moment for sure. Just cruising the boards and really noticed the "Research and Statistics" board. Yeesh. Off to start bookmarking!