GreenEyes604

Hang in there my dear, this anxiety too will pass. Keep talking, that seems to help me.

@@Tashabella can you tell me what part of Maryland you are in? I am in Maryland as well, and maybe I can provide some support to you. I'm Michelle.

@@boosh10 I am still a couple of months away from my surgery and I purchased a ton of samples of different brands and forms of Protein. I still have quite a few samples to try, but my favorite powdered protein so far without a doubt is Muscle Milk Cookies & Cream. I've already tried the chocolate and Bananas & Cream of the ready-made liquid Protein shakes by "Oh Yeah", I liked the Chocolate, but the banana was just "ok". I tried all the flavors of "UnJury", and I love all of them. I also purchased about 12 different flavors of "Davinci and Torani" sugar-free syrups to mix with plain greek yogurt and unflavored protein powders. I'll keep posting my opinions on the other ones as I try them.

I'm feeling really good today Had my psych eval - PASSED Had my pre-op w/ Nut - PASSED Lost another 4 pounds - I have my 4th physician supervised visit next Tuesday, then I only have 2 more visits with her to go, and I'm off to insurance approval. I also went to My Bariatric Pantry website today and ordered all of the sample packs of Protein powders. I'll report back on what I think of them. I already received my sample packs of unjury... tried the chocolate Splendor already... not the best I've ever had, but it is tolerable. My current favorite is still Muscle Milk Cookies & Cream

@@4andcounting There are ignorant people all over the place that have no clue whatsoever the pre and post op processes, struggles, hurtles, and disappointments that those of us who are working toward, or already had bariatric surgery. My philosophy on this whole thing is that I will share what I want with who I want, and I don't owe ANYONE an explanation for ANYTHING!!! This is my life, my body, my decision, and quite frankly I don't give a rats ass what anyone else thinks or feels about it. No one but me has had to live with me being overweight for the past 40 years, and nobody but me will have to deal with me afterward. Don't ever feel like you have to explain or justify yourself to anyone. I'm telling my boss that I am going to have surgery and that's all the information he needs. I can provide a note from my doctor saying I will be under doctor's care for a specific length of time, but there will not be an explanation as to what type of surgery I'm having because its nobody's business but mine. If asked for more details I don't have a problem telling people its a personal matter and not something I choose to discuss with them. It wouldn't matter if I chose to lie to someone or tell them the truth, in the end its my decision and how I deal with it has absolutely nothing to do with me being delusional about the process, the outcome, or how I got to it. Do you sistagirl! And you know what they say if you can't take a joke...

I totally can relate to how you are feeling. For the past 4 months it's been nothing but appointment after appointment, test after test. Now all my pre-op testing is done, and I just have 2 more doctor visits before I can submit to insurance. It feels like the next couple of months are going to be brutal waiting periods. Sometimes I wish I could go to sleep and wake up a couple of months from now.

I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I am currently taking Methotrexate and Plaquenil. I was told by the Nutritionist that I saw last week that I would need to stop all my medications 1 week prior to surgery, and would not be allowed to resume them until 3 weeks post op. I just had my regular 6 month visit with my Rheumatologist, and she told me that I could stop all my medications for a month and shouldn't have any problems. She also told me that I could come into her office right before my surgery and she could give me a long lasting injection which would carry me through my 3 week post op period. If you are at all considered, I strongly suggest that you discuss with your Rheumatologist what all your options are. Best of luck to you!

@@sisterslim you have such a positive attitude. I know you'll be successful in your journey. Best wishes to you.

@@Stevehud I can't speak for anyone but myself, but the only person that knows anything about what I am doing is my daughter, and I have no intentions of telling anyone else. For me it has nothing to do with lying, this is just a very private matter to me, and I'm not interested in sharing my private business. If someone asks me how am I losing weight, I won't have a problem telling them I had surgery, I'm not going to lie about it, but I'm not interested in volunteering the information.

These sound absolutely amazing

I have been trying a few different Protein powders to see if there are some brands that I can find that I really like. I've tried a couple of the GNC brands which don't seem to be that bad, and I found a Muscle Milk Cookies & Cream flavor that is awesome! I order all the sample packs of the unjury which I keep reading is supposed to be really good. For those that have tried Unjury, please share with me your favorite ways of preparing it. Do you mix it with just Water, or milk, or something else? Cold, hot, I'm looking for all the suggestions that anyone has. I really want to narrow it down to some I know I like, so after my surgery I won't starve because I don't like any of the protein products. Thanks in advance for all the suggestions!

@@McButterpants Those sound amazing, I will definitely be trying some of those suggestions. What is PB2?

Keep remembering the restraint that you showed today. Remember the feeling of pride that you have in yourself. This will make the next decision you have to make regarding whether or not to eat something, just a little bit easier. Great Job!

You will be fine. Everyone is praying you. Just be sure to let us know how you're doing.

I take the Vita fusion Berry Flavored Gummies and they are amazing. I love the taste of them. I'm still in my pre-op period, but I've been taking them everyday for almost 4 months. Because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I also take everyday Folic Acid and 1200mg of Calcium Plus Vit D. I know I'll have to figure out something after my surgery because my Calcium pills are the size of horse pills!

Congratulations on your approval. Keep us posted on your pre-op progress!

@ You have a very positive attitude and that alone is half the battle. Everything will go just as God has planned for you, and like you said, this time next year you'll be slim and trim!

I totally agree, whatever you do don't give up! The insurance company is hoping you will give up, but if you bombard them with letters, phone calls, etc., they will approve you. You just have to be willing to FIGHT!!!

@@lynette85 I'm praying for a January date. Have a few more months to go and I'm starting to get worried about keeping up this diet. It's really tough.

I am absolutely amazed at how easy that is sounds like it has been for most people so far in their pre-op periods. I am in Silver Spring, MD and my surgeon is at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital which is the only Center For Excellence in my area. My insurance required me to do 6 months of physician visits, so I see my actual surgeon every month. I was put on a restricted diet from the very first visit that I had with her. I am only allowed to have 1 Protein Shake, 70 grams of Protein, 30-50 grams of carbs, and 20-30 grams of fat per day. No bread, rice, Pasta, potatoes, Cereal or fruit. I also have to take a multi-vitamin twice per day. I have lost a little over 15 lbs. just in my first 3 1/2 months of doctor visits. Did anyone else have to do 6 months of dieting before even starting the pre-op liquid diet? Preparing for this surgery has been the motivating factor to my weight loss thus far, but I've talked to a few people who have already been sleeved, and they think my pre-op requirements are a bit excessive.

@@proudgrammy Yes ma'am I sure do. I can't believe it sometimes, and yes I am never too far away from a potty! One of my co-workers have been drinking the same amount as I do after she noticed the difference it was making in me, and now we just laugh at each other as we pass in the hallway knowing that one of the two of us is on our way to pee....

I have NEVER been a Water drinker my entire life. Just the thought of drinking plain water would make me sick to my stomach. I could drink water as long as it had some flavor to it, but plain water is just disgusting. Then one day I read this article online about this woman that drank 3 liters of water a day for 30 days, and the incredible things that happened to her as a result. After I made the decision to move forward with WLS, I figured I'd have to figure out how to start drinking water. So I challenged myself to do the same thing this lady did and start drinking tons and tons of water everyday (of course its not plain, I mix it with different flavors of Crystal Light). I have been drinking 122 oz. of water everyday for the last 2 months, and I can't believe how much different I feel. Water has helped me unbelievably in losing weight during this pre-op period, and now I can't drink anything else. And if I don't get my 100+ ozs. in every day, I feel weird. My body craves water now. My doctor says this is a very good thing, so do whatever you have to in order to drink lots of water! Just DRINK, DRINK, DRINK!!!

Hello my fellow AA Sleevers... I am just about done with everything that I need to do prior to submitting for insurance approval. I have 3 more physician diet visits left, and I am praying for a January surgery date. I pray for ultimate success for everyone, and I look forward to seeing many, many more positive posts. Best of luck and God Bless You All.... Michelle

Everyone who is having VSG at my Center of Excellence is required to have an endoscopy. I have had a couple of them during my life and they are no big deal and it's over before you know it.

I too am hoping and praying for a January date. My last physician supervised appointment will be in December. I have just a few more things to do to satisfy my insurance company, which I hope to have all done no later than mid November. Then its all about the waiting game. My surgeon says that I shouldn't have any problem getting approved, and I also spoke with my insurance company a few times to make sure that I was not leaving anything out.