MPL

I need advice, please. I am 1 week post op and on my third week of high-Protein liquids. Fortunately, I have no complications (knock on wood.) Unfortunately, I now have an insatiable appetite (I have almost never in my life felt "full" but right now I am hungry 24/7.) During the two weeks pre-op, under a general admonition to "try to lose some weight" I lost 11 lbs by eating lowfat and high protein. Never was especially hungry, even if not full either. My doctor wants 64 oz. of liquid with a minute between sips and no more than an ounce every five minutes. I find if i am not paying close attention, I will have consumed a 3,75 oz. cup of SF Jello in no time,Five minutes between small spoonfuls of a solid liquid like low carb FF yogurt or SG jello or Soup and half an hour to consume 4 oz. (It probably takes about an hour and a half to eat 4 oz.) I try to combine both with Isopure low carb RTD. I am getting about 45 grams of my protein this way. I have tried Coco Libre high Protein Drink which is very concentrated protein: 20 grams in 140 calories. I estimate I am eating about 70 to 80 grams of protein and about 500 to 600 calories. (I can tell by the looks I get from DH that he thinks I am eating way too much.) I will also need a half an hour spacing between liquids and solids, starting with phase 2. This will be VERY hard because I have always been a major Water drinker, probably about 64-80 ounces a day. Trying not to be negative, but worried about this part. I tried writing it all down but it takes a LOT of time and distracts me from my actual work (writing, speaking in coherent sentences, computer research etc.) If it turns out I haven't lost weight at my 2-week check. I will plotz. Help, please? Tough love?TIA.

No one ever mentioned the use of a PPI; thanks. I will follow up. I have been using eat slower this morning and it seems to help. The "ding" in the background is almost subliminal and means I don't have to watch the clock constantly. This is a major improvement. No meds this morning (probably because I am eating slower) so maybe I can drive later today! A much better day, so far. Thanks much.

I vote for Coco Libre almond Protein Drink too. How can you beat 20 grams of protein in 140 calories? It has a very smooth custard texture, like the inside of a young coconut. I am less thrilled with the chocolate but that's what makes a horserace. I found it in the chilled drinks section at Ralphs's/Kroger's. It's about $2.50 a serving but that's a LOT of protein and it isn't "milky" at all but has a nice almond flavor. It is yummy with a couple of spoonfuls on top of SF Jello, too. For simple protein packing, I drink Isopure RTD low carb which is something like 15 gr. of protein in 85 calories. I just drink it as my Water. It tastes like slightly diluted Gatorade or diluted Crystallight. I order it from Amazon. I am only one week out but on my third week of high-protein liquids.

Another vote for Torani-- I love white chocolate, coconut, and salt caramel. I flavor plain yogurt with vanilla extract, sweetener, and cinnamon. Also a little bit of OJ concentrate, vanilla and sweetener. Not SF but it takes so little to make a Creamsicle flavor. I am pre-surgery, though-- don't know if any of these will appeal post-surgery. Good luck!

Feb. 10th. Scared sh^&^%less!

Can we revive this? I am having trouble finding others with fibro (well, I am having trouble with the "search" function altogether: nothing found on "protein drinks" either? My fibro doctor advises against surgery because it is a fibro trigger-- talk about being between a rock and a hard place. People who had the surgery, please speak up!

Me! After waiting eleven months for insurance to approve (took hiring an attorney to get there) and another month and a half because, you know, the holidays (!) I finally have a date: February 10. Dr. meeting is January 15. Scared to death but wish it was tomorrow because I wouldn't have time to worry about it.

After trying to accumulate all of the information and jump through all of the hoops since JANUARY, I learned today that Blue Shield of California denied my sleeve surgery as "not medically necessary." I have so many comorbidities that I have to ask, "what the [blank] does it take?" I have severe sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, lymphedema/cellulitis, depression, neuropathy, knee and foot pain, a BMI of 45, and I am post-stroke. I am dependent on a cane or walker. I was originally told (at my surgeon's office; they now say they didn't, but I took notes and so did the friend I brought with me) that although BSCA usually requires 6 months (or 2x 3 months) of a doctor-supervised diet program they would probably either waive that requirement because of my other health problems or accept my my history of weight loss efforts which nearly met the requirement. Now I am told the requirement is 6 continuous months within 18 months, no waivers. Had I known this in JANUARY, I could have completed another go-around by now. Of course, I couldn't afford to do that then and can't now-- and my insurance doesn't cover the cost of a medically-supervised diet! I have done the psych eval and cardiologist appointment, which that office assured me would be covered by insurance since it was a requirement of the surgeon. Who knows what will happen with THAT. Fortunately, I was able to cancel the nuclear stress test. The cardiologist's nurse said she had never heard of someone being denied after the surgeon's referral to the cardiologist. (It would not surprise me if the surgeon's office just sent me to get a cardiologist's clearance so I'd feel like something was happening; the office has misplaced my paperwork, claimed they didn't get other paperwork from several other doctors, and generally been very lackadaisical about the whole thing. It's clear they'd rather deal with patients with "easier" insurance. I am so frustrated and feel so defeated. I am usually a fighter, but I am so tired.I have absolutely no resiliency. My world just gets smaller and smaller as I am able to do less and less. I do an arthritis swim class 4 to 6 times a week but I am wiped out for the rest of the day. I NEED to get back to work. I am "only" 59 and not ready to be elderly yet! (My 84 yo parents and I compare symptoms...) How does a person fight "not medically necessary?" If you are too sick they won't do the surgery! Would it help to involve an attorney? Does anyone know an attorney specializing in denial of medical treatment? Any suggestions of how to move this forward would be very much appreciated.

Peteyrulz, I took your advice and contacted Lindstrom. Kelley was so helpful had great information that made me feel a little less powerless and a little more hopeful.. I will be trying this after I clarify with my dr.'s office that they aren't doing anything further. Thanks for the reference! All of my doctors-- including a very supportive PCP-- are shocked at the denial, but every one of them had a story to tell about recent problems with Blue Shield of CA. It's a shame that when I finally need to use it for something substantial, they aren't there, but that's the go-away game they are playing, I guess. Thank you all who responded-- I appreciate the advice, stories and support!

I am in Long Beach, just on the other side of the Orange Curtain. Count me in, please. My surgery hasn't happened yet. Pls. PM me so we can exchange info. I have a supportive DH and a couple of friends who know but am fairly alone.

Where's the category "The man is slime but I wish him success with his weight loss?"

I have absolutely no objection to the use of kisses; I think whatever works is fine to get him through this and on to other milestones! (Isn't it funny how our standards drop once we've actually HAD kids?) In case you are looking for an alternative,though, we used a star chart (actually a poster of zoo animals he stuck a variety of stickers all over) and a new hot wheel after a certain number of stickers were earned. (For your own sanity's sake, buy a bunch of cars in advance!) Good luck on both fronts!

I was dx'd with fibromyalgia about 8 years ago and have a pretty severe case. It was referred to as "nonspecific automimmune disease" for about 20 years before that. Previous bouts of CFE. There must be a significant overlap of patients with fibro and patients who consider weight loss surgery, since fibro magnifies actual pain and creates neuropathy and makes exercising excruciating (not hard, not painful, excruciating. I delivered 2 9 lb kids without drugs, so I am or was pretty pain-tolerant. ( I can tolerate warm Water exercise programs and do those several times a week, several hours each.) My fibro doctor is adamantly against any invasive surgery since surgery itself can be a fibro trigger. No weight loss surgery, no way. My PCP thinks it would be a great idea, but he gets bonuses based on "increasing health" in his practice's population. HELP. I generally trust and respect both of them, and just wish someone had straight info on this! Any fibromites who have had or have researched WLS?