TNSleever

Ok, great! Thanks!

Great job! Keep up the good work!

I had an interesting puréed food today at the suggestion of my nutritionist... Take a small Wendy's chili with the liquid cheese (you have to request the liquid form instead of the regular) and put in some hot sauce and blend it up... Tasted amazing. He said that the liquid cheese at Wendy's is much better and that the meat and veggies being cooked so long couple with being blended can make it work... And let me tell you, it was good! I could only finish maybe a 1/4 of the chili total and it took me a good 25 minutes, but it was really good!

How early can you start using things like that?

I am two days post op sitting in my hospital bed, ready to go home here soon... I am feeling pain upon getting into and out of bed and some when walking... I am doing great walking and feel better and better all the time... I am burping and having gas and that has helped... I am keeping down solid liquids well and have not had much nausea. My question is when will I be comfortable enough to get up out of bed and get into bed? Will it be 2 week? 6 weeks? Ready to feel better soon! Thanks!

Lynda, Thanks so much for the advice... I literally printed your to-do list for passing time and posted it on my refrigerator! I think that I'll likely still be nervous during the 6 months, but at least I'll be busy! And I think it'll definitely help pass the time productively so that I do well post-surgery! Thanks!

I am really hating this 6 month waiting period... How did others deal with that much down time? I am driving myself crazy because I have a relatively low BMI at 37.1 and if I even lose 12 pounds during the next 5 months I will not qualify... I am and have always been pretty active and know that I can lose 20-30 pounds by just doing normal stuff, but I know that with my family history of diabetes and stroke that if I don't take this step, I will just keep yo-yoing back up with my weight and am a walking ticking time bomb... Any advice is appreciated!

Best of luck!!! Praying that it all comes together for you and SOON!!!! Let us know!

Congrats on the NSV!

I am a 24 year old married man and I live in Tennessee. My wife and I are adopting here in the next couple of weeks and I am working towards insurance approval for gastric sleeve surgery. I am 5'10, weigh 260 pounds with a BMI of 37.3. Here is my story to this point: I originally was gung-ho on going to Mexico and having the surgery there as a self-pay patient because I have a relatively low BMI and didn't think that I would qualify through my insurance initially, but I have a family history of an extremely rare condition that causes cardiac arrest when put under anesthesia and I would MUCH rather have US doctors there if something goes wrong than have self-pay options in Mexico. I met with a surgeon here locally who had me do the bloodwork, sleep apnea test, etc and he told me that he is confident that he could get me approved on my insurance based on family history, etc provided that I had a co-morbidity, which thankfully, I do in sleep apnea. Because of having sleep apnea (thankfully) I will qualify for the procedure with my insurance paying on it (after 6 months of dietary visits, etc.) I have Blue Cross Blue Shield TN insurance and am really, really hoping that I get through this process and get it approved. I would be pretty down if I got to the finish line in 6 months with this dietary stuff, only to be denied and have to go to Mexico to get surgery self-pay, which was the ORIGINAL plan anyways. I am going to a required Weight Loss Surgery support group meeting tomorrow night (well, it's Monday already, so I guess tonight) and am a little nervous about that. I am well known in my hometown and really wanted to keep it on the down-low that I am even having/considering surgery, but we will see how that goes... I am having my EGD this Friday, which means anesthesia and admittedly, I'm pretty nervous about being put under, even if it is for a short time because of the possibility of complications. I am having some trouble wearing my CPAP that I was given for sleep apnea. It is super uncomfortable and I am a light sleeper so the sound of the machine is making it hard for me to sleep, but I am going to keep plugging away because I know that they will check that to verify that I am using it and that I am serious about getting the surgery approved. My big motivations for having surgery are, honestly, 1) fear of the unknown in the future (diabetes, stroke, heart attack, etc), 2)my wife and I are adopting and bringing a child into our home, I want to be the best dad and husband that I can be, 3) wanting to be completely comfortable in my own skin and let the person that is inside of me that is confident and driven be exponentially compounded by me being happy with how I look on the outside and maybe that is selfish and crazy, but it is honestly the truth... I'm nervous, I'm a little bit scared (really probably quite a bit scared), but I am educated on this process and am learning more everyday and think that having this surgery will change my life for the better, today and later in life and I pray that everything will work out for me, as I pray that it will work out for everyone on this forum as I know that I am not the only person with these fears and I appreciate so much all of the support and kindness that everyone on this forum displays to one another. Sorry that this is so long-winded, that is not typically my MO, by any means, but I just wanted to put everything out there and appreciate any advice, suggestions, etc. Thanks!

Alright. I feel semi-unmanly admitting this to the world, albeit anonymously... but I am very nervous about this procedure, and for many reasons. I am thinking that I will use Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana and would love to hear from any of his former patients!!! I know that ultimately it is the best thing for me to do. I am 24 years old, 5'10", 265 pounds and have struggled with my weight literally my entire life. My sister, who is 22, had gastric bypass and has had great success. She had the surgery and qualified with insurance due to her BMI. My BMI is around 38 and I am not going to qualify for insurance to pay it, according to every hospital I've talked to so far because I am healthy as a horse other than that. Here's what I am nervous about, and some of it might sound stupid... But, I am nervous that the staples will come loose or something at some point. While I know that my family history of diabetes, stroke, heart attack, etc will kill me early if I do not have this surgery, but I'm nervous because there is no one who had the surgery 30 years ago who is in the 80's who can vouch for longevity of life post-op. I'm nervous that after 20 years or so the staples will just wear out and I will be sitting there flopping like a fish. I know that it's likely crazy, but that's my fear. Did anyone else have this fear pre-op? Also, I am wondering how scars look 2-3 years post-op. Are they still visible? I REALLY appreciate any and all input! I'm nervous! Thanks!