Carmen1963

Found this website tonight...bariatric-surgery-source.com Lots of useful info - questions to ask your surgeon form, articles on insurance, procedures, what does Center of Excellence mean, steps in finding the right surgeon.... Put together by some of leading docs in the US.... Whether you use them or not...still useful info. thought I would share.

It was cold and windy today....so I walked slowly around Kroger/King Soopers for almost 2 hours. I was released from the hospital this Wednesday. Main things I needed were these Protein shots/bullets around 3oz 26g protein, zero carbs. The are not super sweet, fruit flavored, can easily get it in on the go. Kroger has them on sale for $1.88 normally over $2.50. Sometimes I throw it in my 32 oz sipping glass with ice. The shot liquid is clear. I can't do the choc and vanilla shakes every day. Kind of grosses me out with how sweet they taste, even if I dilute them with skim. Right now I really like is Unjurys flavor called Naked. I made myself some meatless and cheese less tortilla Soup. I added a half cup of finely diced onion cooked to clear to 2 bottles of costco chicken stock and diced a bunch of baby carrots to put in and also put in 2 tbls Pace picante medium and 2 heaping tbls fire roasted tomatoes diced, garlic salt. I let that cook for a little over an hour so some flavor could develop. Tomorrow I'll add some powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored protein and blend it. No cheese on top maybe a few slices of really ripe avocado,or maybe just dream about it. Since I'm not cleared for solids yet. I'll let you know how it tastes. My bariatric Super Bowl treat. I hope you all are having a good feeling day! Are you burnt out on choc and vanilla like I am? :-) Those protein bullets have helped me in the past couple of days. I am tired tonight. I did laundry, took out the trash, fed the dogs, checked the mail, made beds, did the laundry and got into a fight with my husband. He promised to kick in extra around the house and support me. Really has not happened. He was rude and selfish yesterday. He said he supported this surgery and would do whatever it took to help me succeed. I got fed up and called him out on it. Words vs. Actions. I do not normally lose my temper or call him out on ANYTHING. (I need to clarify that he had a liver transplant last June, recovered from that with some complications last September. I have taken care of him daily and willingly since. In fact I have willingly cared for him through 2 broken hips, a broken shoulder, a broken wrist and a severely fractured leg below the knee. All within the last 5 years. Yes. Hope that paints the picture without my having to spell it out. I have put his needs before my own.) That changed inside me when my surgery became a reality. NOW. IS MY TIME. I have to take care of myself first. It is my time. We've only been married since 2009. I've given everything I have to this marriage, financially, emotionally, my mental health, my physical health and relocated 1700 miles from my family. Can you say codependent/enabler? Not any more. IT IS MY TIME. I come first. Actually, the beginning of change is when I made and met my insurance requirements step by step in the past couple of months and the foundations I've laid along the way in the past two years. My self confidence has grown with each thing I've added to make sure I'm supported and successful in this bariatric journey. *Personal counseling started 2 years ago *CODA Meetings *Bariatric support group meetings in person - which are FUN! *Online support *Behavior Modification support group and individual therapy with psychologist who specializes in bariatrics. *Walking. *Family and Friends support, even though they are far away. I've lost 15 pounds total since 1/25/14. But I have gained so much more. My personal boundaries are getting stronger! My self esteem is getting stronger! My sense of self is becoming more clear. Something inside me has clicked. Really clicked in this process of getting the surgery done. I can only IMAGINE the future full of my choices and needs, where that road will go. This the good selfish I've never really known. IT IS MY TIME....and this is just the beginning. Sorry for the long rambling post, clearly it started as a personal response to how I feel 5 days out from surgery - and my boredom with chocolate and Vanilla Shakes. Thanks for listening. Clearly, much much more is going on. PS- My husband apologized before going to bed. He promised I could lean on him. He promised to do better. He's sorry he's been a selfish jerk the past 2 days. Ad infinitum. PPS-This woman is going to care for herself bud, first. Get used to it.

Gas X strips were and are a godsend for post op gas pains this week. I HIGHLY recommend them!

My surgery is at 7:15 am tomorrow - I have to be there at 5;15 am. I'm ready....2 weeks of liquid diet and the colon blow mag citrate....what fun today was! NOT GOING TO SLEEP MUCH TONIGHT I DONT THINK. Too excited. I've really worked hard to make this happened and to finally do something for myself! To all my All my buddies out there having surgery this week. I wish you a speedy recovery! XOXO

My surgery is on Monday January 27th and I can't wait! 3 long months of pre-op req's are over! I am feeling really blessed right now.

My surgery is on Monday January 27th too! I've been on a liquid diet for 10 days now. It really makes for a safer surgery because it shrinks your liver. I've struggled but I keep my eye on the prize of sitting on the losers bench. Please keep me posted on how you are doing you two. Have you joined any local support groups so you can meet other patients that are one, two, 5 years out? That has helped me tremendously. Great advice and great fun.

January 27th is my surgery date! Had my preop visit with the doctor today and all is well! I've lost 10 pounds on the liquid diet I've had to do! So, so excited to join the losers bench. XOXO

I would suggest getting a local support group and meeting other patients that have been through the process. Meet them in person. They are by the majority overwhelming in the knowledge and support. Weight issues are so highly personal and it does affect your self esteem. I have taken care of others before myself for many, many years. I decided it was time for me. In the beginning it did feel awkward and a little guilty. But how on earth am I going to be there for my loved ones being morbidly obese. Many hospitals have bariatric support groups at little or no cost. Get out and attend some of those. It will only reinforce you decision with the knowledge that you are worth a healthier life. The people you will meet are supportive, funny and full of life. That has really helped me a lot! My surgery is on January 27th and I am happy and excited. I wish you all the best on this journey and lifestyle change. YOU ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY! XOXOXO

I had my days of struggle too. But keep your eyes on the prize! A liquid diet shrinks your liver and makes for a safer operation. I distracted myself by starting a SmashBook weight loss journal! Lots of cool ideas about a smash book journal for weight loss on you tube. I ordered it a kit from Amazon and have had fun going to Hobby Lobby for stickers, etc. Pinterest has some great things about bariatric surgery you can save to a private board and print out. I found a lot of inspiration there too! Hope this helps! It helped me. I also ordered a food diet journal...to track liquids and my Proteins, my measurements, etc. logging every day helped me see the progress I was making daily. XOXO

My surgery is this coming Monday, January 27th! So excited! I went through a lot of insurance hurdles with Cigna...but they approved me in 24 hours once submitted! I just did all my pre-req's over the past three months like clockwork. It was good to have the time to educate myself more and find local support groups in Dallas - and meet other sleevers in person. Wealth of knowledge and support! Wish me luck!

Andrea, You can compose your letter of recommendation. Ask you insurance provider or read your plan docs for the explicit info they require from your PCP recommendation. The easiest thing to do would be to call Cigna. I would write down the bullet points you doc needs to include in the letter for you. It makes it easier for them and will save you time. Then have the PCP fax that letter to your bariatric surgeons insurance coordinator. It needs to be in the docs that are submitted to Cigna. Hope this helps!

Thanks.

Wow...This is an excellent thread. I'm grateful to all of those that have posted before me. I never realized, really, until I read this that I I'm not so alone with those extremely, deep personal thoughts about my weight. I've had these similar thoughts for at least 25 years. You are all so precious for sharing. Really precious. Some things I will not miss: =Wondering if I'll have another heart attack because I'm morbidly obese =Being 260 at 5'3" =Not Taking all the various prescriptions I have take...Hopefully. =Not being out of breath walking up the driveway to get the mail =Not to do nothing more than walk for exercise =Being the fat sister. You should see the yoga positions my younger sister can do! It's obscene. I went to yoga with her ONCE. It was a hot yoga class. Thought my head would explode and I would sweat to death. =Not being able to wear cute boots. =Absolutely dreading the company Christmas party, but having to make an appearance. =Dreading, crying over finding something halfway attractive to wear to said Christmas party. =F@&ing wearing polyester! Why on Earth do they only seem to make clothes out of that crap for us? =Feeling so damn old at 50 =Underwear rolling down =Feeling like I could not fully be present at significant moments at my children's major events. Worried that they might be embarrassed of their fat mom. Like sons college graduation...barely any photos of us together. My kids have never said a thing to me....it's all in my head. =Being depressed about being overweight and emotionally eating at night after my husband has gone to bed. =High Blood Pressure =Staging myself behind other people, or bending over the back of a chair with my chin slightly stuck out...so my face doesn't look so fat in photographs =Always volunteering to be the photographer. I've actually gotten to be quite good in the last 25 years. I hope someday, perhaps within the next year to be able to look back at my list and your lists....and have some or most all of these thoughts and feelings be a thing of the past. I hope to be on the other side encouraging others.

Lauren - I'm not sure of what insurance you have. But Cigna will require a letter from your PCP. That states they "medically clear" you for the surgery. This exact words need to be used. Initially my PCP wrote that he commended the WLS and I have struggled thru various weight loss programs with no long term success. It was a great letter. But Cigna still wanted another letter stating he "medically cleared" me. I wish you well!

In one visit at the hospital, I had a barium test so they could see how well I swallow and the size and position on my stomach. They put me on this giant table standing up to start with. Then they lean the table back and take X-rays at various angles. I had to to roll all the way around to coat my stomach with the barium. It tastes awful. But the procedure was painless. You might want to contact your doctor and see if an alternative contrast solution can be used. Hope that answers your question. For the second visit with GI specialist - I have a stricture in my esophagus called a shotzkys ring (sp? I think it's correct). My father had it, my brother has it. About every year I have to get a dialation. They put me under and used a 52 French. Honking big! Glad I was asleep for that one. So I had my upper GI and the dialation in that visit.

Oh...one more thing about Cigna. The wording from your PCP has to state that they "clear you for surgery", not recommend...the word "clear" has to be used. They are very specific.

It took about 7 days to get my answer from Cigna. I'm approved pending my NUT visit completions. I submitted early, knowing that might be the case. CIGNA has just placed my pre-auth on hold pending NUT info. I'm glad I did it that way. Now I'm not on pins and needles. I know I'm approved and know exactly when I can be. Cigna was really nice with me and my insurance coordinator.

Maybe his reasons for pushing it out have to do with your own safety? Did he give any reasons? Hang in the sweetie.

Found this website tonight...bariatric-surgery-source.com Lots of useful info - questions to ask your surgeon form, articles on insurance, procedures, what does Center of Excellence mean, steps in finding the right surgeon.... Put together by some of leading docs in the US.... Whether you use them or not...still useful info. thought I would share.

EarthWormJenn Thank you! I keep quitting...then I last 2 days...do it again. I'm lying to my family....they thnk ve quit. God help me this is HARD!

My Cigna policy is self insured -meaning the claims are paid by my husbands company and not by Cigna. Cigna is the administrator of the policy. In my 70 (exaggerating) policy guidelines it states the following and does not refer to Cigna's bariatric guideline. "Exclusions, Expenses Not Covered and General Limitations Exclusions and Expenses Not Covered Additional coverage limitations determined by plan or provider type are shown in the Schedule. Payment for the following is specifically excluded from this plan: for medical and surgical services intended primarily for the treatment or control of obesity. However, treatment of clinically severe obesity, as defined by the body mass index (BMI) classifications of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute guideline is covered if the services are demonstrated, through peer-reviewed medical literature and scientifically based guidelines, to be safe and effective for treatment of the condition." I have a BMI of 46 and two comorbitities. I need some advice regarding the wording. Does this mean as long as I have my PCP referral and my bariatric surgeons recommendation - that the 90 days are not required? Just a peer to peer between my surgeon and Cigna? I've called Cigna twice to confirm that I don't have to do the 90 days....the rep I spoke to said there was nothing in my policy stating I had to. THEN THE SURGEONS INSURANCE COORDINATOR CALLED ME - she says I have to do 90 days. ????? I'm doing the NUT started it Monday and desperately trying to get the surgery done this year. I also started Medifast last month with PCP. But I don't have documentation for it. We've met all our deductibles and 20% co insurance. My husband had a liver transplant earlier thus year -he had cancer. He's great now. My biggest fear is that with Obamacare on the horizon that Cigna may change their policies or even worse my husbands company will change their policy in Jan. 2014. I'm really scared. I really need and want to get this done. I've been caring for everyone else but myself for so long! Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards - Carmen

I'm 5'-3" and I just turned 50. My BMI is around 45. It's time for a change! I have HBP, sleep apnea, and had a heart attack last year. I've hidden in family photos for years or done the trick where you kind of bend over a chair a stick your chin out so your face doesn't look so fat and puffy. Anyone else do that? I've yo-yo'd since my late 20's. Emotionally and physically my weight has taken its toll on my life. I'm done. I'm praying I can get my surgery at the end of December. We've met all our deductibles and 20% co insurance. My husband had liver cancer and was blessed with a transplant in June. Now....after everything....it time to take care of myself for a change. I live in the Dallas area. Have a great surgeon I really trust lined up. Dr. James Davidson. ...just working my way through all the pre-req's -regardless of whether it's 90 days or less. I decided not to get upset about what I could not control. I'm doing everything I can to knock things off the list. Done: Started NUT meetings with my surgeons recommended contact. Did my psych eval and passed Letter from my PCP Met with cardiologist and did stress test and passed. Had Upper GI that my surgeon wanted -barium is nasty stuff. Having endoscopy and colonoscopy done next Wed. Sounds like fun huh? Sent out all medical records requests for my surgeon from prior procedures and issues. To Do: finish my NUT classes and lose 15-20 pounds before surgery. I've lost 4lbs from just walking 2 miles a day. My insurance coordinator is going to send the package out -just to see what Cigna says. Does not hurt to try. Other than that -just super excited and motivated about doing something just for me and bettering my health. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you. Best Regards!

Best wishes!

OMG! The posting about your cat was hilarious!

Wishing you well!