drmeow

I just had my first info visit this past week and was told my insurance (BCBS federal)only requires 3 mos of supervised weigh-ins and nutritional counseling. The person said it doesn't matter whether I lose on it or not; they just require the 3 mos. to prepare you for afterward. My BMI is 39.7 so it's not an automatic approval. I have high BP but it's controlled by meds right now so she said that's not automatic either. I go back next week for a doctor appt and my first nutritional meeting, then they will schedule the upper endoscopy and psych eval. By the time those are completed, and the nutritional meetings hopefully I'll be looking at June for surgery, which is perfect for my job as well, since right now someone is out on maternity leave and another person is taking a big trip to Africa right when the mom comes back. (Small company, doesn't qualify for Family Medical Leave, etc and since this is elective at this point i'm trying to be cooperative)

I've had high blood pressure for about 7 yrs, mostly controlled by meds, but my doctor had me buy a home BP monitor and use it daily at first, now just occasionally. When I'm in the office and it's higher than it should be he asks what it's been reading at home. So he can tell whether it's just white coat syndrome or real, before increasing my meds. Also, several years ago I went on Atkins. Within 2 weeks of cutting carbs down to 20 g/day, my BP went down enough to cut my meds in half. So if you want to see some quick improvement, I would count carbs instead of, or along with, calories. Cut out most fruits, grains, legumes and starchy vegetables entirely. Berries in small amounts, and melon such as cantaloupe, are OK. I just had my first info meeting with the weight loss clinic earlier this week, meet the doctor and nutritionist next week.

Also, I think it is important to note that you had spinal meningitis - that is not a complication of WLS; it is an entirely separate disease and can be very serious, even fatal, on its own. Yes, you were already not doing well and that probably did affect your ability to recover from it. My college roommate caught meningitis b/c we worked at the local hospital and she had a sinus infection, which decreases your defenses against it. She was extremely ill for weeks even though she was a healthy 125 lbs and had no other issues beforehand. Then, you were unlucky enough to develop MRSA, from being hospitalized so much. I can totally understand your feelings, that if you'd never had WLS none of the rest of this might have happened, but you still might have had meningitis and then the MRSA. Also, I'm sure it's just a mistake in my interpretation, but you talked about being in the hospital 3 weeks from an infection, going home and a few weeks later being back in the hospital for meningitis, then right after that the MRSA. Then you say you had not seen your child for 2 years? Something doesn't add up there. Again, I am truly sorry about your experience and am not trying to diminish it in any way. Since all this happened 8 yrs ago, how are you doing now?

Same here - I made my appt back in early Dec and it's next week. My BMI is 39.7, barely below the "automatic" 40 that most insurances will approve. But I do have high blood pressure, reflux and asthma, so I think it will get covered. however, I don't want to lose any before my appt just in case! So I've been eating whatever I want and just doing the normal walking the dog I've done in the past. However, it's a good time to work on the underlying reasons for eating. I've been seeing a therapist for 2 yrs about my eating, and for the longest time I ate out of anger and frustration at my (soon-to-be-ex) husband. We're separated now, but it still took me awhile to stop reaching for food when I'd get upset. Now I"m noticing that more of my eating is just grazing out of boredom and convenience. So I'm working on that - trying to break my automatic snacking while I read or use the computer, for example. b/c otherwise, after surgery I may sabotage myself by eating slider foods, etc.

I have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and take Armour thyroid (works better for me than synthroid did). How well is that absorbed after RnY? Anyone have significant problems finding right dose after surgery?

Just wondering how the pain from this compares with having a C-section, for anyone who's had both. I've had 2 of those, and had difficulty getting up from bed for about a week, but I had to, to take care of my babies! Horizontal incisions with both, but hip to hip. I had a laparascopic gallbladder removal a few years before that and it was nowhere near as uncomfortable - had it out on Thurs and went back to work (full time, physical job) on Mon. Maybe this is somewhere between those 2?

All of those in the "good guys" section still have some type of sweetener. I've been eating unsweetened natural Peanut Butter for years - my local grocery store has a brand called Crazy Richard's - ingredients peanuts, salt. Or Smuckers Natural. or get peanuts and grind them fresh at a health food store or even in something like a Vitamix.

should read "aren't getting a lot of carbs"

I'm not post-op yet, but I have done a ton of research on nutrition over the last few years (and I have a science background). It IS true that if you eat too little, your body thinks it's starving and slows down your metabolism. When I did strict low carb eating, I could eat 1800, sometimes even 2000 cal per day as long as my carbs were 25 gm or less and still lose weight easily. It's not a simple "calories in, calories out" equation like we've been told for years and years. Carb calories trigger insulin, which triggers storage of those calories. Certainly, eating too much is just as bad, but don't discount the idea that you might be eating too little. You mentioned yogurt - depending on the brand it can have a lot of sugars - both added and natural fruit sugar - you might want to look at labels and make sure you are getting a lot of carbs that way. If you use milk for your protein shakes, milk has pretty high carbs, esp skim milk (remove the fat, it automatically has more milk sugar per cup). I've switched to almond milk for the last 2 yrs - the unsweetened only has a few carbs and it has more calcium than dairy. Otherwise, though, try not to obsess too much over the scale. Measure yourself weekly or every other week and celebrate those losses. One thing I am doing to prepare for WLS is that I've made a big list of the things I hope to achieve with it. Not one of them has to do with a weight or clothing size. Most of them are activities that I've been too heavy to do for a long time. Some will be after a lot of loss, like snow skiing again. Others are much simpler - climb our basement stairs without getting out of breath. Try making a list like that and check them off as you obtain them!

I'm not a smoker, (both parents died from smoking related causes) but my oldest son is, and is trying to quit. He has been very pleased with the vapor cigarette things. He's been able to gradually decrease the nicotine concentration over several weeks, but still use the physical crutch of the actual cig in hand thing. I don't know if that is any help but just a thought. Also the Patches, they gradually decrease in strength as well. I think most insurances would cover things like the patches. I know our health dept advertises them free a lot.

Thanks, I had not found the Veterans Forum before you posted that, and now I've looked through it - found a few helpful posts but despite the label of being only for 1+ years out from surgery, it's still filled with lots of posts from people a few days or weeks after surgery, so it's taking me a long time to weed through and find anything really helpful. I did, however, find a link to bariatric girl's website through one of the WLS magazine articles, and she has quite a few people posting in her comments, etc. who have had long term results.

It sounds like a caffeine withdrawal headache - tylenol may help but likely not eliminate it. If you had a big coffee, tea or soda habit before you started, and quit suddenly you will definitely feel it. You might want to ask your doctor if you can take some low doses of OTC caffeine pills (cut them in halves, quarters, etc) to gradually reduce your amount and lessen the withdrawal agony.

I think for those of us (probably many of us) who have used food as our comfort to avoid dealing with anger or other emotions for a long time, suddenly not having that food is psychologically as well as physically tough. Studies have shown that eating, esp of sweets, affects receptors for serotonin, and these are very close to the receptors for drug and alcohol addiction. The more we've eaten that stuff, the more receptors our brains have made to process it all. Take the "drug" of sugar away, and it's just as bad as an addict going through withdrawal. Add that to the physical drain that major surgery takes on you, and I think being depressed after surgery is more "normal" than to not be. My 2 cents.

I've inquired into WLS with my insurance BCBS federal plan. I was directed to the page in the benefits booklet, which says either BMI 40 or above OR BMI 35 with comorbidity but doesn't list which comorbidities are accepted. I think diabetes is pretty universal but I am only pre-diabetic. But, I have high blood pressure which is currently controlled with medication. My BMI is 39.7 so I'm pretty close anyway, but I'm wondering if I'll get denied since the hypertension is under control. I was diagnosed with GERD years ago but my last upper GI 2 yrs ago saw no evidence of it and I was not on meds at the time (but was doing Atkins so was not eating most of the usual triggers). I do have asthma and mild increases in cholesterol and triglycerides. I do have family history of diabetes and stroke. I do not want to wait until I'm a full blown diabetic before getting surgery! Also wondering what BCBS's requirements are for demonstrating attempts at weight loss before surgery? My PCP has plenty of evidence of my weight for the last 4 yrs, along with a 30 lb loss on Atkins and subsequent regain + 15 more I'd love to hear from anyone with the same insurance. thanks

Thanks, MarylandCrab, that's what i have too - Carefirst. I have not seen a nutritionist; just my regular PCP that I see every 3 months for my high blood pressure, and we always discuss my weight and diet. SugarFreeMe, I have an appt with the surgeon Jan 19 to find out more. I knew that prediabetes would not be enough. I'm just at a point where I'm afraid to lose any weight on my own right now b/c it will drop my BMI and if they don't count the high blood pressure as enough of a reason, I need to have BMI of 40. Ironic, b/c I really have not been eating much lately over the holidays, and have been working for awhile on addressing the emotional eating - finally seem to have a handle on it but I know that I will not be able to be consistent enough to lose the 100 lbs I need to, without surgery. But, my PCP did have to double my blood pressure medication at my last visit in Oct so having that on record is probably helpful.

Another idea - would they let you work from home for part of the time? You may be too tired the first week but by the 2nd week if no complications, you might be up to at least some part time work at home.

I'm not post-op but I have done a lot of reading lately and I think I read that you have huge hormonal changes after surgery, similar to after having a baby, so it's not unreasonable to think that may be a cause of depression and esp of mood swings. Keep trying to get your Protein and Water in, and get as much rest as you can - you're healing from surgery but depression itself is exhausting. At the same time, some short walks outside in the sun (if there's any out there now) may help as well.

This is so inspiring and what I am hoping for. I have done a TON of emotional work with a therapist over the last 2 yrs for emotional eating, but the sweets still taste so darn good I'm still drawn to them even if I no longer binge like I used to. If surgery can help me lose my taste for sugar it will be a miracle. I have my first meeting with surgeon Jan 19.

It is so nice to hear of such supportive and loving spouses, esp. in second marriages. It gives me hope for the future!

One thing I am especially interested in in an activity tracker is sleep monitoring. It seems the garmin just records movement while sleeping but doesn't break it down into light/deep sleep etc. That was one of the pluses on the Misfit; also that you don't have to actively set it to sleep mode, it picks it up automatically, if I understand right.

Should have looked it up before i posted - doesn't look like my old band would be compatible.

I have a polar heart rate monitor - chest band and watch, about 3 yrs old. I wonder if that could be paired with the Polar Loop or I'd have to get a new HRM band?

Has anyone tried the http://www.amazon.com/Misfit-Shine-Activity-Sleep-Monitor/dp/B00G9N3I7O/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1418916323&sr=1-1&keywords=misfit+shine Misfit? I just read about it yesterday on another blog and it looks great. Waterproof and also works well for cycling. Syncs to phone; unfortunately not compatible with my older phone but I may be upgrading next year.

Before I began seriously researching WLS I believed the media stories about how unsafe it is and how people just regain the weight, etc. Even my PCP gave me the "weight regain" comment in trying to discourage me. But those stories are just the ones which make the news, b/c successes are not as interesting to read about somehow. Most non-obese people really think it's just a matter of willpower, and have no idea of the hormonal and genetic causes of obesity, so they think WLS is "the easy way out" as other threads have talked about, and why should we get to do it "the easy way" when they have to diet and exercise to lose their 10 extra holiday pounds? Out of all the diets I've tried, low carb worked the best for me and I stuck with it the longest and lost the most amount of weight, as well as physically felt the best on it, but I still fell off and regained it all plus 20 more. I think I will be able to use that in my post-op maintenance phase to prevent regain, but I need the feedback from the pouch and possible dumping to keep me from straying very far. I don't plan on telling very many people about the surgery. I'm separated from husband so that won't be a problem (he'd be entirely unsupportive, just as he was when I dieted) and I plan to tell my kids I'm having some stomach problems that need surgery (truth!) and they will not bother to inquire any further. At some point after losing a lot I'm sure I will let them know and others as well, but I can't deal with the comments early on and beforehand.

Just FYI, the doctors at Meritus do have offices here in Hagerstown - I have an appt there in January, right downtown. I'm not sure if they divide their time between Hagerstown and Harrisburg PA or if they've all moved here from there, but they definitely do see patients here. Even though you don't see the doctor that much, having surgery out of the area may prove problematic for me b/c I will have to rely either on my oldest son (if he can get leave) or a friend to drive me there and pick me up. Plus, I assume there will be quite a few post-op visits, at least with a nurse or nutritionist, and I would think those would be associated with the area the surgeon is in. I will see how the appt in Jan goes and then look farther afield if I'm not comfortable. Thanks for the info.