Daisee68

Actually I was just coming on here to post how blessed I have been in the support and response from people. Today I was eating in the breakroom at work and someone asked how I could eat just a small bowl of refried Beans (still on puree). I told them I had gastric bypass. There were 4 people in there who didn't know and 1 who did. They were SO incredibly supportive and interested. And these aren't even folks I know that well. I did say "Now that doesn't give you the right to question every bite a take". I laughed and said only my good friend could tell me that. So one of them said they would go tell her if they saw me eating something I shouldn't. They were just joking of course, but seriously, my family has been amazing but boy did I leave their boosted and loved. So, what am I doing? Telling everyone! I am not embarrassed at all and have only had 1 negative response luckily - and I knew that was what she would say. She's not the boss of me, so I don't care! It is certainly an individual decision but I say don't be afraid of telling. Be selective if you feel necessary but mostly you are right, who cares what they think anyway?!

I am in the exact same boat (surgery 3 weeks ago today and same weight loss and same calories!). I actually asked NUT similar today. They want me to use the shakes as "snacks" and said I don't have to stop drinking 30 min before / after if it is a shake. (Just not to drink Water while drinking the shake) and to save the 3 meals for actual "mushies". Struggling here too and looking forward to ideas - mostly struggling with Breakfast. I have tried sugar free pudding cup mixed with unflavored Protein powder as a "meal". Wasn't too bad.

Pain meds will do it too. I am taking Colace 3 times per day - and occasional Milk of Magnesia to get things really moving. first time was HORRIBLE! I cried and laid on the floor shaking. Yes, ridiculous but wow I have never had that kind of pain and I have passed about 60 kidney stones in the last 3 years (4 since my WLS on June 4). My NUT recommended Benefiber or some sort of Fiber supplement too - at least until I can get veggies back in my diet. I saw some post on here yesterday that said it was like passing a Pineapple! HAHAHA! So true!

Mine (Cigna) told me I was covered but didn't tell me all the requirements. Surgeon's office did. Pretty sure you will since you have BCBS. If/when they tell you what the requirements are, don't get frustrated or detoured. All of my pre-op wait paid off in the end. I would never have truly been ready if I hadn't had that 4 months to prepare.

You got this girl! You are well over half way there! You can do it!!

If it makes you feel better, I had a charge for my dr's PA also in the operating room. I think it's fairly standard, but if he had previously agreed to the earlier arrangement, I am sure he will honor it and someone at the office just billed you wrong. Hope that is what it is anyway!

I don't have any advice but just wanted to say so sorry. I know that is disappointing. I can only imagine how I would react to that! HUGS!

Just tried tuna. Did not go well. Try Shelly's Ricotta Bake. It's awesome and goes down great.

Totally agree!! It was the 2nd thing I ate on the 1st day I was allowed pureed foods. Yummy!! And I'm not even a huge fan of Italian food

@@lkt997 - Be sure you ask about the taxi. Anytime I have had surgery (any kind of surgery and there have about 10) they have specifically told me someone must be there when I leave - taxi was not acceptable.

Doesn't taste too bad but the smell is AWFUL! I let one of my friends at work smell it and she said "OMG how did they bottle farts?!" She nicknamed it "CocoFart water". UGH. Not sure I can try it again.

Don't be nervous. I have continued to see my therapist. She has been the strongest tool in my tool box. All they are checking to see is to be sure you don't have some undiagnosed / untreated psychiatric disorder (i.e. bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.)

@sparksrn There are quite a few out there but I am using Aqualert from the Google Play store on Android

@ - so sorry for the loss of your father. That is a lot to be dealing with in addition to the surgery. I hope everything went well (or as good as could be expected I suppose) at the service today. Re the pain, have you tried heating pad and/or ice pack yet? I lived with both (alternating - mostly the heating pad) on my abdomen for at least the first 10 days. Really seemed to help (or at least it seemed to but given some other stuff I have had in my life, I tend to turn to heat and ice quite a bit.)

I actually weighed more at Day 5 than I did when I went in the hospital - supposedly due to swelling and fluids used in hospital. It will start coming off as long as you are following the plan. Promise!

Yep, I am told no gum as well.

My NUT says no straw too, but I confess I have used one and haven't seen any marked difference in "air" getting in. Just have to take very small sips if you do and don't gulp (that goes for using straw or not! )

Congrats!!

My dr required same. My insurance company (Cigna) initially declined drs request for sleep study but after a conversation with the doctor eventually covered it but only for a home sleep study which they arranged. The equipment came to me, was very easy to use and then I mailed it back the next day. You are going to have to pay your deductible eventually for the surgery I assume, or if you are self-pay, at least for all the other medical tests, so I would definitely go through your insurance company. I had to make SEVERAL phone calls on my own to get it arranged. Have you contacted your insurance company? If not, I would suggest calling them and see what needs to be done next. I actually had to send a link to my drs office to fill out the form, then when it turned out they didn't do home sleep studies, I had to call Cigna back and get that arranged. Kind of a hassle but glad I stayed on it. hope that helps!

So I had an appt with my GP on Friday (8 days post-op) for a follow up on a med unrelated. (She is not the one that has been walking through this process with me. I did that direct with surgeon's office.) Anyway, she said "Congratulations. You made a very brave choice." I can't decide what I think of that comment and it has been rolling around in my head for 4 days. What do you think? Is it brave as in it is a dangerous choice? Or was it just a sideways compliment for taking a very drastic step towards health? I know she meant it as a compliment; just that "brave" wasn't a word I had associated with this process before. Do you feel "brave" for taking this step?

So glad it helped! I am told HOPEFULLY acid reflux will eventually go away so we won't need Zantac nor have the mock hunger issues.

Ugh. I absolutely need to join you in this. I had my surgery on a Thursday so I was thinking of weighing in every Thursday morning (of course that was after I weighed this morning ). Based on everyone's experience of a 3 week stall, mine is coming any day and I need to break that habit!

No advice to help the anxiety, but best first post-op advice I had was drinking from a medicine cup. It holds 1 oz and you need to try to drink 1 oz every 15 minutes while you are awake for the first few days to a week. (It gets easier after that.) You cannot (or at least I could not) drink the entire ounce at once, but I would set an alarm on my phone for 5 minutes and then every 5 minutes sip 1/3rd of the medicine cup. Once I started this (even did it with my broths and shakes), it get me rehydrated pretty quickly. Concentrate on the fluids. Good luck! You will be so glad you did this and 24 hours from now on your way to recovery / healthy life!

I had bypass but I certainly wasn't awake for the intubation. I do remember getting the "happy juice" and hearing the dr say "she won't remember the last 30 minutes" as they wheeled me down the hall. I do actually remember not only the last 30 minutes but also the next 5 or so as I went in to operating room, but nothing after that until they woke me up in recovery. I have had about 10 other various surgeries and each time, the last thing I remember is them putting the oxygen mask on my face and telling me to take some deep breaths. The most nerve wracking part of surgery is the moments in between checking in at the hospital and the moment they finally give you the good stuff. If you are VERY anxious, they will sometimes give you a valium beforehand, but that has only happened to me once.

Yep, I have been taking a Zantac which seems to help. When I have had intense hunger (pre surgery), it would take me several days to figure out "Oh yeah, that is my acid reflux rearing it's ugly head".