Debbie Jean

SW: 179 CW: 177.6 Goal: 169

My doctors orders were to crush pills for two weeks. Then I was allowed to swallow anything smaller than my little finger tip. At one month I was cleared to swallow all pills including the "horse pills" I took for blood pressure. I spoke to the pharmacist to make sure crushing was appropriate to my medications. Interestingly even she had to look one up to be sure. I put them in whatever I could get down. For me this was mostly mixed into a little yogurt. But I would certainly have put them in a Protein shake so I think you are just fine doing it that way. As in all things, though, speak with YOUR surgeon or nutritionist since they may have a preference. Good news is that this is just short term and with the weight loss you may very well find you need less medications!

Surgery last Dec at 62. I'm 5+ months out and down 72 lbs. No complications, very smooth recovery. I feel better than I have in decades and my doctors are thrilled! My surgeon has said that she finds her older patients actually do better than many of the younger ones. They follow directives and don't feel the need to "challenge" what she and the nutritionist say. I think this is because for us older folks we realize what is at stake. It's not primarily about appearance... it's about health. And at my age this is my shot to get it right. I picked my surgeon for her experience and the confidence I have in her. Best decision I could possibly have made!

If swimming is the deal breaker don't dismiss it out of hand. Ask your surgeon what HIS/HER protocol is. No one else's experience matters. You are HIS/HER patient.

May not be "clear", but regular coffee was on my list of permitted liquids on discharge from the hospital. ???? I drink a couple of cups of black coffee in the morning and haven't had any issues.

Starting weight: 179 Goal: 169 I LOVE Orlando!!!! I'm a real Disney girl ???? much to the embarrassment of my family LOL It's such a happy place and who can argue about all that sunshine ☺️ Glad you had a good time!

While 1/2 c is typical in the beginning, you will be able to eat more as time passes. At 5 months out and 70+ lbs down, my work lunch is often something like a few slices of deli meat and a low fat Greek yogurt. I eat with the same folks everyday at work and they know about my surgery. I simply said "this is what I'm doing, so this is what you'll notice". No biggie. They were more curious than anything else and had questions which I was happy to answer. Now people who know me realize I don't give a rats *ss what they say so I have had no negative feedback. That may be a factor LOL Seriously, if I want medical advice I ask my surgeon and nutritionist. No one pays any attention to my food at lunch. Much too busy enjoying each other's company ????

Just a reminder. I'm on vacation lol. I'm jealous LOL Enjoy! ????

Goal weight will be 169. I'll post my start weight on the 1st. Hoping to get that one lb off that I missed in the last challenge before this one starts ????

No restrictions on coffee at all. In fact it was listed with liquids on discharge. I had my first cup less than a week after surgery. Strong & black. No problems at all. One of life's great joys! LOL

This is so important to remember and where lots of people get lost. You have to think long. How you eat/drink after surgery is NOT the way it is further out. I prefer chilled water and at 5 months out I can drink a boatload no problem. Well except I have to pee like a race horse LOL and I have to wait a 1/2 hour after I eat ????

Two week preop diet, lost 13 lbs.

What does my insurance require? For example bmi, comorbidities, psych eval, etc. Every insurance is different. While yours covers WLS find out what the doc needs to submit to get approval. I had a bmi of 48+ and a laundry list of comorbidities so approval was never really an issue. But there are hoops to jump through all the same. What does the doctor require? Mine required a sleep study. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and had to have it treated before my doc would schedule surgery. Will you stay overnight in the hospital and for how long? Is there a preop diet? Mine was 2 weeks which is pretty common. There is, however, wide variation from a month to none. For many people this is actually the hardest part of the process LOL How long before I can be scheduled for surgery? Some schedule before full approval if they don't anticipate any delays on the way. Many wait until after the actual approval is given by your insurance. Ask if they can project when your surgery might be. My best advice is to read read read! But for actual specifics call your nutritionist or surgeon. While folks here can tell you their experience you need to follow the guidelines YOUR team sets out for you. For example search the forums for "coffee". It doesn't matter whether my surgeon allows it on discharge after surgery... what matters is YOUR surgeon I'm 62 years old and at only 5' I'm down 70 lbs in 5 months. I have discovered a life I thought I had lost forever. For all the struggle it is sooooo worth it. Best wishes on your journey ????

GW 179 SW 192 CW 180.8 Missed my goal by a lb. But that's another 11+ gone and a total of 70 so I am very happy! ???? Congrats to all on all those lbs lost and bring on the next challenge!

Add me, too, pretty please? ????

GW 179 SW 192 CW 181.8

It's a sign that your mouth is opening during the night, allowing the flow to escape that way, thus drying out your mouth.I bought a chin strap and wore that. Solved it right away. It's important to address, as the pressure escaping through your mouth isn't providing therapy for your OSA. As for me, I have an auto-CPAP, that senses what I need. Before surgery, I was at 16 cm H2O nightly. Now I'm running about 9. I'm hoping that in a few more months I'll be free of it. Not necessarily. That was what I thought but when my pulminologist read the SD card from my CPAP machine, he said it registered no leaks which it would if I was "mouth breathing". I started at 9 and lowered the pressure to 7 and the extreme dry mouth went away. I had lost about 45 lbs at that point. As I've continued to lose, I've had to lower the pressure again to 5. AHI's haven't changed. I may be one of the only people here who actually love my CPAP ☺️ After years of interrupted and broken sleep I wake up feeling soooo rested. LOL

Nope. Perfectly legal and not at all uncommon. Search these boards and you will find many who have done this when WLS was specifically excluded by their insurance. It is a "self pay" option that some doctors make available as an adjunct to hernia repair. Nothing illegal about it at all. The insurance is not billed for the WLS. The surgeon and hospital bill the patient directly at a vastly reduced rate. Some doctors in the U.S. actually advertise this as an option. Whether a person can take advantage depends on whether their insurance will cover the hernia repair, whether the surgeon is considered in network, etc. any links or key words "Just found out my insurance excludes WLS" was a recent thread with a happy ending. Search terms insurance hernia might work.

Nope. Perfectly legal and not at all uncommon. Search these boards and you will find many who have done this when WLS was specifically excluded by their insurance. It is a "self pay" option that some doctors make available as an adjunct to hernia repair. Nothing illegal about it at all. The insurance is not billed for the WLS. The surgeon and hospital bill the patient directly at a vastly reduced rate. Some doctors in the U.S. actually advertise this as an option. Whether a person can take advantage depends on whether their insurance will cover the hernia repair, whether the surgeon is considered in network, etc.

Um, congratulations? And good luck with that ????

GW 179 SW 192 CW 184.4

Really? What kind of support is this? Do I seem suicidal to you? Well, I'm not. What I am, however, is struggling. Sorry you were the picture of perfection before and after surgery. No, not suicidal. But I think placing yourself in very real danger of an "accidental overdose". And, yes, people do die this way. They are so driven by their addiction, they fail to see the possible consequences of their action. For them, it might be "just a few more pills won't hurt and I'll feel better" not realizing this could be the time that pushes them into an overdose. For you, continuing as you are risks the very real possibility of food getting trapped in your suture line and becoming infected among other things. There are very real consequences to giving in to your addiction so early after surgery. You wouldn't do it on purpose but it can happen. And really this is a battle you want and need to win for the surgery to be successful in the long run. Therapy for me has been the key. I'm not perfect by any means but I understand the connections and it helps. Besides you get to talk about yourself for an hour and someone has to listen! Take it a day at a time. Work on making just today a good day.

Not at all. The insurance is only billed for the hernia repair. The patient is billed separately at a vastly reduced price for the WLS portion of the surgery. This is an option that several people here have been able to take advantage of when insurance has excluded WLS surgery. It is simply a variation of self pay. To OP, good luck! You've worked so hard. I hope all the arrangements can be made ☺️

You may have lost it faster in the past but I'm guessing like most here you couldn't keep it off. Definitely true for me. That is the wonder of WLS for me. I have confidence that each pound I lose will get me to my goal. And that this is weight I can keep off. I now have a real tool that helps me make better choices. The work will be mine to do but for the first time in my life getting down and staying down seems doable. The slower loses and stalls allow my body to rest and catch up. Not a one have I had where being patient and persist wasn't the key. And sure enough the scale starts to lower again. It will for you, too.

GW 179 SW 192 CW 184.6