ajeeprider

Hi CJ My PCP letter did not state it was medical necessary, just that I was a good candidate. I got approved in 5 days.

You look great! Thank you for sharing! Sent from my iPad using VST

Thanks for the visual encouragement, I love this site because of people who inspire like you! Great job at loving you enough to take the chance. Sent from my iPad using VST

Congrats on the first week out. I am just over a week out and am down to 225 from 237. I did not hav to do anything preop so this all post op weight loss. Yesterday was my first day where I felt like myself again. Just tummy pain at two of my incision sites. When I cough or sneeze they still burn like crazy! This morning I got up and felt completely washed out. I re-read my discharge instructions and they don't want me on a Multivitamin until I am on puréed food, which will start soon. I took a chewable today, just cause I felt so bad. I am consuming fluids and about 50 gms of Protein consistently so I was surprised I woke up today feeling bad. I was out walking yesterday so maybe I over did it. Oh we'll.....this is all trial and error! Sent from my iPad using VST

It took me 5 days with help! Then I had diarrhea for an extra day. Sent from my iPad using VST

If you followed criteria, Cigna seems to hold up their end of the insurance contract. Good luck to you all! Sent from my iPad using VST

Congrats Sissy...the time will fly by and before you know it....you will be waking up in recovery......sleeved and ready to start a new life! Sent from my iPad using VST

Yellow box please appeal. Some companies deny at least once. Sent from my iPad using VST

I am in Durham near RTP. Sleeved April 24th...taking it day by day. Sent from my iPad using VST

Even when I splint my belly with the cute tropical mini pillow they gave me it still stings and throbs like crazy at two of my incision sites. Today is my one week surgiversary. I do feel better and am bored out of my skull. But coughing, sneezing, bending the wrong way still burns really bad at my incisions. Sent from my iPad using VST

Hey does or do any of you have sites covered in this clear stuff that looks like tape? I asked my clinician what it was and she said it was the glue they used to close and cover my sites till they heal. One looks ugly ( bruised dark red). So I am worried about scarring. Anyone experience this or know more they care to share? Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi Jshaw! Glad to see your post. I too tried milk yesterday actually lact-aid and I had the worse case of diarrhea! I was never a milk drinker anyway. I tried it out yesterday so I could get more protein in my chicken broth by making it a cream soup. Never again took me all night and many doses of Immodium to bounce back! Sent from my iPad using VST

Thanks all! I love this forum! Sent from my iPad using VST

Welcome to our club...now get your fluids and Protein in over the next few weeks and keep reading the boards here. We love to hear your updates! Sent from my iPad using VST

I am now consistently getting 40 gms in per day and Today is my 7th day of "eating". I do a muscle milk in the morning (20 gms) and nectar flavor (23gms) around lunch. It takes me about 6 hours to get all of it in since I can only have 4 oz every hour. The rest of the day I focus on getting the remaining 32 or so oz in to meet my Fluid needs so as to not get dehydrated. Sent from my iPad using VST

]So today (7 days out) was the day that I hit that hormonal wall of crying like a lunatic. I am not used to laying around to heal. I am a ‘rub some dirt on it and keep moving' person. But today the stars aligned and I lost it. I am just so darned exhausted. I can do dishes for 5 minutes before my back is killing me. I took a nap after driving my kids to preschool. Seriously. I had a csection with twins and *never* felt this exhausted. My back has been bothering me lately, like a burning ache. Perhaps if I move a little more tomorrow I will feel better. One step at a time... I too am day 7 out. I feel just like you without the hormonal thing going on. I thought by today I would be rolling thru the streets getting light errands done. So this laying around is awful. I had my husband take me to the market yesterday and when I got home from my 45 min trip... I sat down for a nap. My back has been bothering me since surgery mid and center....I have had heat pads on its like spasms no burning...just a dull ache. Sneezing kills me ooh the burning at my incision sites makes me want to cry! The good thing is I am better EVERYDAY that passes.....so hang in there this too shall pass. I am looking at my small victories right now, yesterday I only took my hard core pain med to sleep. I am now just taking Tylenol for pain.....focus on the victories! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi Dimples! I had my sleeve on April 24th. It's hard but I have made it a game and set it up so I can win. I monitor everything right now. It is hard to get all your fluids on. So I do a lot of measuring things out to make sure I get everything. I am struggling with the Protein drinks so I got some lacaid today to mix my chocolate protein in. I am hoping to make them taste more like chocolate milk. I was mixing with Water but the protein is strong cause I am only using 4 oz of Fluid based on my 1 hour consumption limit by my surgeon. So I have bargained with myself to get 40 gms each day of protein cause its only a cup total ( each choc protein pkg is 20 gms of protein) Then the rest of the day I focus on drinking no less than 4 ozs per hr while awake. That way I stay hydrated. What I have discovered is I get all my fluids in and usually 40-50 gms of protein. I think this is pretty good considering I am just at 1 week post-op with fluid restrictions per hour. But it's the head game with measuring and ticking off what I have accomplished each day. It keeps me busy and less focused on how I feel. I am getting closer to puree soon...and I look at my calendar everyday to see how close I am. It's a mind game....that's what is keeping my spirits up right now. I am in it and I am beating it. Keep your spirits up and play the game! Sent from my iPad using VST

Thanks True! I am weaning my pain meds today have only had Tylenol for the pain and not the OxyContin. This helps me to stay awake. I have not had a lot of energy as I struggle to get my fluid and protein in each day. I feel much better than I did yesterday. So each day is better. My goal Saturday is to do 15 mins on my elliptical to start shaking things up. I walk around my house every hour I am awake to keep things moving. Your encouragement is appreciated.

Hi sissy...when I read all the Cigna post here I too thought they would be difficult...but they were not. You just have to arm yourself with the criteria and make sure you meet it all. I was approved on day 5....had my surgery last week. So no worries you should be fine.

Wish you well Panda.

Hang in there new me....this is a rough patch. I am home now had surgery on Wed and discharged on Friday. I have been vigilant with my fluid and protein intake but can only get in 40 gms a day. I was told to do a max of 4 oz when I consume but to make sure I get protein and good hydration. It's been a balancing act and has been all consuming. I initially wanted to stop my rx pain meds but cant. My incision sites hurt when I move and I still have swelling especially late afternoon. So I have just starting staying on schedule with my dosing. But I know each day it gets better and this too shall pass. Well wishes and easy recovery!

Thanks squeaky....this has been the hardest physical part of the journey.

I am 3 days post op. My abdomen is still swollen and hurts when I move. I only have nausea when I move too much or don't take my pain meds. But I have one area near one of my incisions that burns when I move. It is getting better each day...but there is no way I could go back to work in less than 2 weeks!