beachgurl84

I'm just starting my 6 month preop program and I've been wondering something....... After surgery when you're on the restricted diet, and then long term with eating healthier, has anyone noticed a significant change in skin quality? I am currently waging a war with blackheads going on about 20 years now (I'm 29). When I have dieted in the past, I've noticed my skin is much healthier looking. Vibrant actually. Can I expect the same results after the surgery?

I'm on my 6 month preop diet and trying to learn to pay attention to calories, protien, carbs, etc. I bought some Isopure protien drinks (clear, ready to drink kind) with 40 g of protien and zero carbs. I had a great day with the diet today and I was going to have a 6" flatbread from subway for dinner. I'm using myfitnesspal.com to keep track of my food intake. My food log today (including planned dinner) shows that I'm under in calories, carbs, fat, sodium, and sugar but I'm at 100+ g of protien. Is it possible to have too much protien? I got the Isopure drinks because before that I was not reaching my protien goals but I was way over in all other categories trying to get enough protien. How do you balance this? I'm definitely going to ask the nutritionist next time but I'd like to hear input from patients here as well.

@@pacheka I've cut out sodas too. I keep some crystal light on hand just in case I need something besides Water. Have you tried the Isopure zero carb protien drinks? They have 40 g of protien in each bottle and only like 160 calories. I'm on myfitnesspal if any of you want to link up. I could use someone to help with accountability beachgurl84@gmail.com

I'm 4 months pre-suregery so I can't offer advice on your situation but I can vouch for myfitnesspal. It will sync with your fitbit as well so you can import and keep track of your workouts with your calorie intake. You have to manually adjust the settings to the amount of calories you want to take in everyday or it will aim too high.

I think you gals are gonna make this 6 months a breeze!!!! Ok, so what kind of small changes is everyone making so far? I did get myself into the gym. I plan on going today after work as a matter of fact. Just cardio for now, but it's something. I've also been walking a lot at work. I normally do anyway but instead of walking point A to B, I keep going and lap around C & D as well. I'm using myfitnesspal.com to keep track of a 1400 calorie diet. No, I am not sticking to it completely. I'm not being harsh on myself and starving myself. I'm using it as a tool to make sure I eat a balance throughout the day. And if it means I go over cals a little to have a healthy Breakfast, lunch, and dinner AND not starve throughout the day, that's ok. I know the more I do it, the less hungry I'll be and especially after the surgery. So I'm not gonna torture myself in the meantime. I'm not focusing on losing weight pre-op. Just on not gaining weight, and learning how to eat healthy. So what changes have you gals made so far? Oh, I also bought a pedometer that syncs with mapmywalk which also syncs with myfitnesspal so I can keep track of everything.

For anyone else that has BCBS NC, I'm including a link to the Corporate Medical Policy. If your plan covers bariatric surgery, these are the requirements you have to meet. http://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/medicalpolicy/surgery_for_morbid_obesity.pdf

They certainly don't taste like Kool-aid. But, they are drinkable. They leave a papery feeling in your mouth for a few seconds so they take some getting used to. The flavors aren't bad, I like the alpine punch and orange. The grape taste like smelly feet. Those are the only flavors I've been able to find so far. I'd like to try the passion fruit. I stocked up today at GNC because they were $4.89 with member price and buy 3 get 1 free on top of that. So I spent like $30 on 8. It would cost me a lot more in food to make up for that much protien.

My aunt told me one time "Why don't you just lose 30 pounds!" Like, DUH! Why didn't I think of that?!?

Once you get used to the cpap, you will sleep much better with it. Experiment with the humidity and different masks too, that could be why you're not sleeping so well with it. I had a sleep study a few years ago and they told me I stopped breathing an average of 56 times an hour. But my sleep apnea isn't just caused from being overweight. Once I got used to it, I realized I had been sleeping horribly my whole life. I don't know about other machines, but mine has a setting where you can ease up to full pressure. Starts soft then works it's way up over an amount of time you designate. That helped when I first started using it. And I had to go through 3 different styles of masks before I was comfortable. AND.......I whined plenty too at the time Good Luck

Vspeck, I am just starting the process too but I have insurance that will cover my surgery. I am doing the sleeve. Just wanted to point out something as you decide on which procedure you want. My surgeon's office told me the band is slowly being phased out. It doesn't have as much of a success rate and it can have more post-op complications than the sleeve. If you're paying for this on your own, make sure you consider the cost of all the post op care and maintenance requirements. The band requires monthly follow up visits for adjustment for a long time so you'll have those dr's visits to pay for. Also, if any complications such as slipping occurs, you'll have to pay out of pocket for the surgery to fix it. Of course, there really aren't many studies on any long term WLS results so all this info is basically what they know from like the last 20 years. When you meet with your surgeon they'll help you decide what's the best path for you. Good luck, hope to see you around!

I'm just starting the 6 month program required by my insurance (BCBS NC). I am currently working in PA but I live in NC. I'll be in PA through the end of this year and into 2015. Because of work and the travel I have to do, this is the best opportunity for me to have surgery because this is the longest I'll be in one place. My surgeon's office is aware of the fact that I will not be here long post op and I will be transferring my post op follow up care back to NC for long term. Has anyone else had a situation similar to this? There is a very, very slight possibility work could require me back in NC before my surgery. Has anyone else had their 6 month program in one place and surgery in another? I'm going to talk more about this with my surgeon but I'd like to hear from actual patients as well. The PA hospital I am planning to have my surgery at is a Blue Distinction center for bariatrics and there is one in my home town as well so insurance covers both locations.

powaqqatsi, Before I give my input, please understand I am in the same position as you are. I am just now starting my 6 month program and I have my first "Lifestyle Class" next week. I asked myself the same question you are asking...."what's the point if I still have to diet and exercise?" If you notice, every single diet plan/weight loss program out there comes with the instructions "diet and exercise". So what makes this any different? If you can diet and exercise on your own without the surgery the same as you would with the surgery, what's the point? The question that I finally asked myself provided me with the answer that made me start this journey. That is "if I can get the weight off on my own, why haven't I". So, I can't give you any answers about post op or even preop really as I'm just starting myself. I've read everyone's responses and they are only encouraging me more. We are all responsible for our own actions. I CHOOSE to put the unhealthy food in my mouth. I CHOOSE to buy the junk food at the grocery store KNOWING I will eat it. That's why I'm really looking forward to the LIFESTYLE change that is required with surgery. It will be the most helpful tool I have to change my lifestyle. For someone like me that grew up in the south where eating is our way of celebrating (weddings, funerals, homecoming, church, holidays, birthdays), this is going to be tough. But I look at it this way....... 1. I KNOW I can learn to turn away from unhealthy food if I have the hunger under control. I need a tool to help with hunger. I need to LEARN to turn away from those foods. 2. The surgery is not going to keep my mother from making a sausage and rice casserole after church that's so greasy you don't even need to chew it because it slides right down your throat. It won't stop everyone around me from eating unhealthy. It will HELP me CHOOSE not to join them. 3. I haven't been able to get the weight off on my own for one reason or another. No matter how many diets I try, I have failed (I failed, not the diet) to get my weight off. I have to take responsibility and reflect on things I need to change. The surgery will be my tool to do that. Many people are very successful with the available diets out there like weight watchers, HCG, adkins, Jenny Craig, etc. I am not one of them. I know I haven't answered your question because I am not even close to my surgery. I hope I haven't sounded offensive in any of my thoughts. I just wanted to share with you the reasons I am starting this journey. If you are seriously considering it, but have doubts, ask yourself this.....if you can get the weight off on your own without surgery, why haven't you? I wish you luck in whatever you decide. If you decide the surgery is right for you, I hope to see you around on these forums as we get through this journey. It's going to be tough, but having such a wonderful support group available, and seeing all the successful stories will make it much easier. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!

I will definitely look into this. After just one phone call with the hospital I am so excited I can't sit still. I want to tell everyone that knows what I'm planning. A blog might be a good way to work out that excitemen without bugging friends and family

I'm doing my happy dance !!!!! Just got off the phone with the hospital. My first official class is Monday, June 16 and my first appt. with the surgeon is July 17. It feels so wonderful to have the process started!!! Can't wait for the rest!

Is anyone currently considering UPMC?

That sounds great. 6 months does seem like forever but I work full time and I'm a full time student online so I imagine it will be a busy 6 months. Did they wait till you were completely dones with the 6 month program to submit your insurance or do they do it towards the end? I am hoping to have my surgery by Christmas. I'm going to have to do a sleep study during this time too because I already use a c-pap. It's kinda scary knowing how I can't breath at night and thinking about the anastesia, but I know they know what they're doing.

I have BCBS NC platinum 500. I live in NC but I'm working in PA for the year so I'm doing my surgery in PA. I called and spoke to the prior review office, they emailed me the detailed documentation on what they cover for this surgery and what's required. I just went to my first information session last night so I'm starting at the very beginning. In the session last night, they said insurances usually look at your starting weight, so don't worry if you lose weight pre-op. Where are you in the process or have you already had your surgery?

I am in Washington too. Going to Magee tonight for the info session and hoping to get started ASAP. What was the program like at Magee?