Champ715

Why was your surgery scheduled before insurance was approved? My doctor's office wouldn't even put me down for a tentative date until my insurance approval came back. Regardless, this seems like a requirement you should have known about at the beginning.

I have BCBS of Alabama and was approved just by meeting the criteria they list here: https://www.bcbsal.org/providers/policies/final/053.pdf

I am laughing so hard at all these names! I haven't come up with a name for mine yet but I'll think of something today!

I found sugar free popsicles at Target. I think they did contain asapartame though so it may be something to watch for if you have trouble with aspartame. I know it can cause headaches for some people.

Just note that Premier Protein shakes and the GNC Lean Shakes contain whey protein concentrate, rather than whey protein isolate. My NUT and surgeon both told me that the body doesn't absorb all the protein when it's from concentrate. Of the 30 grams in the premier Protein shake, supposedly you only absorb about 15 of those grams because it's not an isolate. Also, the GNC Lean Shake has 30 grams of carbs which is pretty outrageous.

I drank at least three diet cokes per day prior to my surgery. I was really worried about not being able to have them anymore because I got severe headaches every time I had tried to quit them in the past. I'm a month post op and really have not missed them at all. There have been maybe three times where I thought "a Diet Coke would be good right now" but it was a passing thought and not strong enough to act on. I even still have diet cokes in my fridge and haven't been tempted to touch them. I have really been surprised by how well my new tummy is working for me. I accidentally skipped Breakfast this morning and forgot to make anything to bring for lunch. I ended up getting a baked sweet potato from a local restaurant just for the sake of having something to eat. I cut it in half and thought for sure I would devour the one half because I felt like i was starving. I'm only about 6 bites in and I already feel full. I'm saying all this to say, have a little faith in yourself and what your new stomach will be able to help you accomplish. I know it is scary to think of a new life without your favorite things but I promise it won't be as hard as you think. Take it from someone who had a real addiction to food. I haven't had any of those bad foods in over a month and I do not miss them. I enjoy being able to eat some lean meat and feel full after a few bites.

How did they get your insurance information in the first place?

I have BCBS AL and was required to do the six month supervised diet (which is really 7 visits), meet with my PCP three times during the six month process, and have three years of weight records showing consistent BMI over 40. I did not have to do a psych evaluation or sleep study. The biggest hurdle for me was tracking down three years of weight history. I didn't have the same doctor for the last three years so I had to track down records from three different physicians. I was told I would be automatically denied if at any point in the last three years my BMI was below 40. One doctor visit last year listed my BMI has 39.3 because I got very sick and lost about 12 lbs. I had to dig up other records from last year to show a BMI over 40 so that was tricky to track down. My first appointment was sometime in March (can't remember the exact date). My last appointment with my NUT and surgeon was 9/18. My paperwork was submitted electronically online on 9/21 and I was approved instantly. I had my surgery on 9/30. Just curious why they can't submit your paperwork until November? Edited: nevermind, I didn't catch the part about starting your process in May. I guess May to November is your six months.

Two weeks is an awfully quick progression. I'm a month out and still on purees. Maybe my doctor is just super conservative. If your plan allows you to have soft food now then don't be afraid to try. Just start with something light, take small bites, and chew chew chew. I don't think you will start eating too much. When I moved from full liquids to purees, I thought I would gobble up my entire kitchen. I was surprised to feel full after just a few bites. If you are really afraid you will eat too much then just measure out some food into a 2oz, 4 oz. (whatever you're allowed) cup or bowl and only have that much.

I didn't even have one of these. The hospital sent me home with a tiny pillow that I pressed against my tummy when coughing or sneezing but that was it.

I was definitely still resting a lot in those early days. My doctor's instructions were to walk 30 minutes per day (outside of normal walking around). I couldn't do the full 30 minutes in one walk so I did three 10 minute walks throughout the day. I got up to shower but pretty much stayed in my recliner and rested the rest of the day.

I am one month out today and I still don't like my Protein shakes. They are all so nauseatingly sweet to me. Do you like milk? I have been mixing some unflavored Protein powder in my milk and I can't taste it at all. This has been the only way I can tolerate the protein powder. Plus, the milk gives it some extra protein. If you don't like milk or are lactose intolerant, I would suggest trying the unflavored protein powder in your drink of choice, or maybe even your food (Soups, broth, Jello, yogurt, etc.)

It depends on your plan.

That's odd. I have BCBS AL and knew about the "7 month" requirement all the way back in March when I started. It is still a 6 month supervised diet, it's just 7 visits. March to September is only 6 months but I had 7 visits.

I would probably call the insurance company and ask them directly. Make sure you record the call as well. It would suck to go through three months of stuff then not even be approved. I would want certainty rather than someone's optimism.

I started my journey with UHC and was told that I would be automatically denied if I dropped below the BMI of 40 at any point during my 6 month supervised diet. If they see that you got below that number on the supervised diet, they will use that as an excuse to say "well she lost weight so she doesn't need the surgery". I was only barely over BMI 40 and did end up dropping below that number at my 2nd month weigh-in. The insurance coordinator called UHC and they said "yep, automatic denial. BMI must be at or above 40 during the entire 6 month process". I ended up changing jobs and getting a new insurance so it wasn't a huge deal. They will probably deny you but you can always appeal and tell about the adipex. However, seeing as how you lost weight on a prescription appetite suppressant, they will probably say you don't need the surgery.

I have BCBS AL and was approved instantly online. Hopefully they won't take the full 30 days.

I'm only a month out and can take a decent sip now. The "sip sip sip" was really annoying me at first because I felt so incredibly thirsty. I still can't gulp like I used to but I can get enough to satisfy my thirst for the moment.

I made a poppyseed chicken casserole and it was delicious. I pureed the chicken and substituted the sour cream for Greek yogurt. I thought I'd miss the sour cream but honestly the plain greek yogurt tasted the same (plus it has a ton of protein). I found my recipe on Pinterest.

Not everyone is provided with the same amount of pre-op information that you were. I've seen quite a few posts from people who had surgery outside of the US and didn't have a nutritionist or even help from their surgical team once they got back to the states. There are also a lot of people who may be self-pay and don't have all those resources you had. I have had a great team but unfortunately, the packet of information they gave me was pretty flimsy. I'm only four weeks post op and I have had to call my doctor at least 6 times with questions that weren't answered anywhere in my paperwork. Not everyone will be fortunate enough to have a doctor they can call so easily so this forum may be their only resource.

I know I just posted a few days ago but I was still doped up on pain killers and not very lucid. I just had my surgery on Wednesday so I'm only 4 days post op. The nausea has subsided for the most part but I'm still having some pain around the incision area as well as pressure from trapped gas. I'm walking as much as I'm supposed to but I get exhausted very quickly and feel the need to nap for hours every day. I am overwhelmed with constantly trying to sip sip sip and remember when to drink/eat. I am feeling lots of regret and wondering what did I do to myself? Will life always be like this? will I ever be able to go out with friends again without worrying about over eating? Will I ever be able to enjoy food again? I feel like I'm not myself anymore. I have no energy and I've lost my sense of humor. I just want to feel normal again and right now I feel super depressed. Does it get better?

Does anyone else here feel really hungry when they are bored? I am not busy at my job so I get really bored sitting at my desk for 8 hours every day. When I have nothing to occupy me, I find myself thinking about all the foods I can't have then I feel insatiable hunger. I know this is just head hunger but it feels so real. I try to find things to do like go for a walk or whatnot but I'm pretty limited on things to keep me busy. My doctor has a pretty strict post-op diet which doesn't allow soft foods until Day 36. I'm on day 23 and found myself eating some tiny cubes of soft cheese earlier just because I felt so hungry. I've tried snacking on healthier things like Greek yogurt or cottage cheese but it seems like my hunger isn't satisfied unless my taste buds are satisfied. This is exactly the kind of behavior that made me overweight in the first place. I don't think three tiny cubes of cheese will hurt me but I just don't want to fall back into old habits so soon. Any tips on how to combat this fake hunger and how to make healthier choices? PS I only experience these feelings at work when I'm so bored and stuck for 8 hours. When I'm home or out and about, I have no trouble sticking to my diet.

I had some mood swings around a week post op but mine were sadness and depression, not fits of rage. I think everyone is affected in different ways by their hormones after surgery. One thing that really helped me has been talking to a therapist. I've only seen him twice since my surgery but it has already helped tremendously. Given the uniqueness of the situation, I can't say for sure what will work for you. My best advice is to not beat yourself up about it. Try to be nice to yourself and your body first (by talking to someone, getting the proper nutrients, getting enough sleep, etc.) then hopefully the rest will fall into place.

I get a tight feeling right at the top of my stomach (just below the breastbone) when I am full. On one or two occasions, I have ignored this feeling and taken just one more bite which made me so nauseated that I had to lay down RIGHT THEN. I was also having trouble figuring out what "full" felt like in the beginning. My doctor basically told me "When you feel uncomfortable, stop eating".

@@JohnnysGirl0424 I'm three weeks out now and already feeling much better. I am struggling with feelings of fake head hunger while I'm at work but it's just because I am so very bored. I think I have exhausted my family as well. The last three weeks have been all about me and how I feel, what I can eat, how I can eat, when I need to eat, etc. My poor fiance is probably ready to jump ship LOL I'm ready to be on the other side of this too!