GardenLady

Olive Garden in Maple Grove sounds like a plan. I'm a M-F first shift person so evenings or weekends work for me...How's next Wednesday night (the 18th) sound? Say 6:00? Does that give everyone time to get done with the day and get there?

Hey SweeTea, I've been told that I am responsible for $250/surgeon and $350 for the hospital but they are still working through the insurance process (my surgery was May 12) so I'm not sure what will finally shake out...I have standard.

I've no preference on location - just thinking that a place that's accustomed to folks sitting for a while would be nice. Maybe - dare I even say it - Denny's or Baker's Square off Round Lake? They certainly are used to such behavior :-)

I didn't have to show a history of trying to lose - they saw that I was obese for a period of several years and that was enough apparently. They never really seemed to even ask me that I recall. I may have volunteered that I had tried and lost about 40 on my own but then plateaued and didn't get any further but that was pretty much it. When they were looking at the documentation in my records, they said oh we can show the years of. Good thing is that my bariatric center and my clinic are affiliated and so each can see the records of the other. Maybe that made the difference for me???

I call mine Skeeve the sleeve. Skeeve is a magician in a sci fi series of books, the Myth series. He sort of blunders around without any idea of what he really needs to do and it all works out right in the end. I figure that's me and my Skeeve blundering around, making mistakes but also making a little bit of magic happen...

I am two weeks out from surgery. I can drink just about anything you want to put in front of me - hot or cold makes no difference. But...let's make that BUT I have a hard time with Water - sharp, shooting pain from it. Has anyone else had this problem and how long did it take before you could drink it?

I am sooo glad it's not just me! Not glad everyone here has had the same issue... I have noticed that the Propel Water is thicker than regular water and, since I have no problem drinking it, I just ordered some thickener to add to my water to see if that helps any. I can't imagine not having an ice-cold glass of water through the summer months! I'll let you know if it seems to help...

Excellent! So nice to know it isn't just me and that it gets better. I'll have to wait it out...

Hey, This topic is actually for a friend who has a band. She developed severe acid reflux after the band was inserted. She has had all of the Fluid removed but still has the issue - she also had part of her stomach that managed to get up into her diaphragm. She is planning on the Roux en Y but I'm wondering if the sleeve might be a good option for her. Has anyone had acid reflux and done the sleeve? Has the sleeve addressed the reflux problem?

Thank you all so much for your insights. Her doctor seems to think the Roux is the only answer but she didn't have the problem until the band and I know the sleeve is still relatively new (so he/she may be sticking with what is known). My concern is that she will have a pouch that can re-expand after the surgery getting her back to the same place she is today - not that the same can't happen with the sleeve but I understand it's less likely because of the part of the stomach that is kept. She is a lover of chocolate and seems to think that after the surgery, she will be able to stop cold-turkey...thus my concern for re-expansion. She's an emotional eater who is very very emotional and chocolate is her solace.

My surgeon was Laura July and the operation was performed at Unity Hospital, Fridley, MN. The hospital was great and Dr. July outstanding - she's very involved in making sure all questions are answered and every aspect addressed. The staff at the hospital were gentle and caring - very enthusiastic about all of us who received bariatric surgery that day and our success.

Hey, I am so with you on this one. I took a mild laxative at day 4 and it worked. Took one again at day 8 and nothing...then three days later, diarrhea five times! My surgeon said it's normal - there's just nothing in you to come out. Let a little more build up and see how it goes.

Funny you should have this question - it's the same one that I asked my surgeon on my one week follow-up since I didn't notice any difference at all in the amount I could eat (okay so actually drink). She said to remember two things - first is that if you are eating slow (taking that 20 minutes to a half hour to eat), you can eat more than you should and second, that you have to determine the portion before you eat so you don't overdo it. I think the second one is going to be the hardest for me. I have two kitchen scales and I think when I return to work is when I need to take the second scale into the office. I rarely, if ever actually take lunch (or breakfast) to work with me but I have no problem eating the exact same meal every single day for breakfast. So it will be important for me to weigh it out before I eat or I may inadvertently overdo it. Good luck to us all!

Par1959: Just remember why you are doing this. I generally overthink everything until my decision is made. This one had me worried until the morning of but I just needed to feel the neuropathy in my feet for my worries to go. I wanted to do this because of my type 2 diabetes. They checked my blood sugar several times before and after the surgery and now I'm off all diabetes meds. The first week was hard - pains in the strangest places. Today is day 7 post-op and I'm quite happy with the results. Just keep your focus on why you chose this path to walk. And then take each step with that end in your mind.

Hey Joybell, Protein was only allowed to be added as of today but it tasted very good - 8 ounce skim milk with no sugar added Carnation instant Breakfast with added unflavored protein. I'm starting to wonder if they really took out most of the stomach! Just the shooting pain with Water and pain in the lower right abdomen - huh! maybe that's what they did - not WLS - they took out my appendix! lol, no, but seriously, I have no problem with anything but the water...

Hey Lalise, I'm allowed things with Protein in them now so this is good but I'm also supposed to be doing three meals with liquids in between that have no calories. pudding sounds yunmmy for lunch today! Thanks for thinking of it. I polished off my Jello yesterday but I'm still trying to get the additional fluids. I had no idea it would be so hard to just drink water! I'm been adding Mio flavors to it so it doesn't taste like straight Water (which I enjoy best when very cold). I've not been hungry once since the surgery but I do get the oddest cravings - this morning it was au gratin potatoes!

hey, okay so surgery on the 12th - doing okay but can't seem to get the liquids down. can do Protein shakes and the like but have trouble with Water. hate to resort to popsicles but that may be my best option until "this too shall pass". anyone else with this issue? how are you dealing with it? advice definitely desired!

Done and done - surgery went well and I'm back home. Moderate pain, breathing hurts when it's a deep breathe. Walking helps. Not having my two dogs jumping all over me is a plus!

I too am scheduled for Monday the 12th. I'm a bit nervous now. Had been doing pretty good but the nerves for tomorrow are actually higher than for the actual surgery - my surgeon only requires a one day liquid diet - I thought I was more ready than I think I am now. broth, sugar free popsicles, etc. - be still my pitty patty heart! I can't wait. I managed to not put any weight on in the last three weeks - traveling for the last two - and I was really concerned about that but the idea of only liquids almost has me running scared. I seriously need to make sure I stock the sf popsicles and jello! Good luck to all - see you on the flip side of the operation!

Hey TK Sleever, My program required me to lose 10% of my excess weight but over a three month modified diet. I've lost it but am concerned about keeping it off - it is hard to eat well when you are stuck with an over-priced menu at a hotel, a McDonalds, Popeyes or Arby's as your eating options. I think I did okay but it was very expensive for very little food (for example: $20 for 1 egg, one small piece of ham, three bites of hash browns and one slice of bread). And I travel next week too - the week before the surgery. I think I will do Protein shakes for like 2 meals of the day and hope that works. Good luck with your operation! We can commiserate the liquid diet that follows... AND the great results from the efforts!!!

my surgery is scheduled for May 12. I'm traveling this week and next so I'm really nervous about keeping off the weight I've lost - I've already checked with the surgeon - no weight added is the requirement. I'm wondering if I could do a liquid diet next week just in case...I'm not real confident in that but it might be my best option...

Lolly, did you get your approval yet? It seems to move pretty fast...

I'm scheduled for May 12th and am seriously looking forward to all of the sugar free popsicles - I hear they are a life saver! My pre-op diet has been my entire time in the program, I think - my center requires me to lose 10% of my excess weight before I get cleared by them to even have the insurance papers submitted. Done and done but now I have to keep it off for the next two weeks - given how much I so want to cheat, that has me a little concerned but I will make it - and if I keep telling myself, I just might. I've been told to do a mild laxative on Saturday before and then all liquids on Sunday. When they told me a 7:30 surgery time, I should have questioned their sanity though - they want me at the hospital at 5! I'm usually just turning over about then...

I'm confused - what is the 10-day pre-op diet? I am scheduled for 5/12 and have received my final instructions from my surgeon - a mild laxative on 5/10 before bed and only liquids on 5/11, nothing after midnight. My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 in the morning. I've been on dietician-directed weight loss since getting into the program mid-January but it wasn't a 10 day "event" just prior to the surgery. We are required to lose a certain amount of weight before the surgery so they can access the stomach easier (shrinks the liver).