Beauty+5

@ octavia16 are the rescheduling due to your sugar dropping to low?

I was originally scheduled for surgery on 7/15 and due to being 15 pounds off from where he wanted me to be my surgeon rescheduled my surgery. I have a new date for 7/30! Yay! How many pounds did you all lose in the 5-7 day liquid fast before surgery?

For those of you that had open gastric bypass how was your scaring? How was you recovery?

I'll be having having Gastric Bypass surgery in July! Yay! I was wondering what exactly will I need to buy far as supplies and food is concerned? What types of broth or soups do you all recommend? What types of protein shakes? Can you give me an idea of what the main things I would need would buy? And of course a list of things you may think I may want or could use? Also what exactly do you recommend I take to the hospital. I was told the hospital stay is generally 2-4 days without complications, but since I live so far away my surgeon suggested I stay in town a few extra days. I appreciate any advice and thank you all in advance.

@@noura4 thank you so much, and yes this does help.

Congratulations!

It has been one of those days to say the least. I called my insurance to check the status of my recently submitted papers for approval for bariatric surgery. To my dismay I was told I was denied because it wasn't medically neccessary. How can that be? My BMI is currently 66 and my weight is 422. I have sleep apnea and yes I sleep with a machine. I am borderline diabetic. I have high blood pressure. I have high cholesterol. I've got arthritis in my lower back, right hip, and my pelvis, making it very painful to do anything. I have Sciatic Nerve damage. I have Carpel Tunnel in both arms, and hands. I am ALWAYS out of breath. EVERYDAY I live in misery from the pain, and yet they say its not "Medically Neccessary". Are you kidding me? So now they are requesting a Peer to Peer with my bariatric surgeon, and yet the lady that handles the insurance stuff at the doctors office says she hasn't gotten a request. When they told me they sent one over, and their waiting on a response by tomorrow or else that's their final decision. I don't know what to do. I have come to far to give up now. I made sure I got clearance from my PCP, the Pulomonary Doctor, the Cardiologist, and the Gastroenterologist, and they ALL said it was "Medically Neccessary" for me to have the surgery. I also sent the last 10 years of medical papers showing that I have been battling with my weight forever. So now what? Does anyone know about Peer to Peer meetings and what are the chances of approval after having one?

Good news everybody, my patient coordinator called the insurance company herself. The doctor she spoke with there is no need for a peer to peer, after reviewing my file she see's I am more then eligible for surgery. She said it is definitely medically necessary and it was APPROVED! Yay! Look at God work. Now my journey starts!

Hey now! Congratulations! I will be sending up a special prayer for you.

@ Martene81 I was saying the same thing it just doesn't make any sense to me. I even have a Vitamin D deficiency where I have to take 50,000 IU of Vitamin D weekly, I get B-12 shots, because it is so low. That's just a couple of more things. You would think the size and the Sleep Apnea would be enough. For goodness sake if I don't sleep with my CPap I literally stop breathing numerous times through the night.

@@MichelleTN that is some good advice. I am going to do just that too. Lol. They know I am VERY straight-forward.

@@phatfatgirl I have Amerigroup Medicaid. I was and still am in disbelief. I mean I have EVERYTHING wrong with me and I'm in my 30's. Hopefully the outcome will be good in the end I go see my surgeon tomorrow so hopefully he can work some kind of magic. Lol.

@ Congatulations on your surgery! I can't wait until its my time. I'm sorry you are having some troubles, I will keep you in my prayers.

Marissa, your family and friends aren't the ones carrying around all that excess weight. You are. You have to do what is best for you. Whatever choice you make always think of your daughter, because she depends on you. I have been overweight my entire life. No one can tell me what to do or give me advice, unless they have lived in my shoes. You know? I am carrying well over 240 extra pounds on my body. I am physically drained. My back hurts when I'm standing, sitting, and God forbid I walk a little ways it literally feels as if my back is cracking. I have 5 children and they range in age from 5-18. I missed out on majority of my children's lives because I have been overweight. Don't get me wrong I am here in the house with them and I provide food and shelter, but I can't do much else. I can't go to the park with my 5 year old and push her on the swing or chase behind her, because this weight has me miserable physically. I stay in pain. I said all that to say this, YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOU! Any and everything that we do in life has its share of risks, (I don't know your religous beliefs) but that's when you pray about it and give it to a higher power. My family tried talking me out it as I'm not going to, but I sat them all down and I explained why it was necessary that I have this surgery. All that mattered to me though was that my children understood why I wanted to have the Gastric Bypass, and what I would be benefiting from it. The first thing my 5 year old said was " Momma when you lose weight you'll be fast like me! So you know I'm going to have to race you, so we can see whose the fastest!" Lol. That alone was enough for me, my baby will finally have a mother that can run and play with her. Even though she'll still probably beat me but it'll all be worth seeing her smile. You know? Do you research, and get on YouTube and follow some of the people that have already gone through it. Don't be scared, you are headed in the right direction. I wish you the best of luck on your journey of success!

If you want the powder protein shakes Matrix makes some good ones like Peanut Butter & Mint Cookie. Nectar, also makes a few I like-like Carribean Cooler & Perfect Chocolate. The only thing I hate that the shakes don't blend up as well as I'd like them too. So now I drink EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control (pre-made) there 100 calories and 17 grams of protein per shake. I love that I can just put them in the fridge and one I want one its already ready.

Hi Carol, its always good to have a friend and some support in whenever we have one of those big exciting events in our life. I would love to have a "Buddy" as well. Do you already have your date for surgery? I'm waiting on my approval. I'm so excited I can barely see straight. Lol.

Hello everyone! I have been on my weightloss journey off and on for as long as I can remember. Over the last few years I have seen various Bariatric Surgeons and I would do mediocre while I was on their particular program. After a while I would just stop wasting the doctor and my time, and I would just stop going to my apointments. I reached my highest weight of 435 toward the end of last year, when I saw the number on the scale it literally took my breath away. Yet that wasn't my breaking point if you will. It wasn't until early February when I thought I was dying. I had every symptom/ sign of having a heart attack. I have NEVER been so fearful in my life. All I was thinking about was my children, and if I die who will take care of them. After that long visit in the ER and various test I was sent home with no explaination as to what had just happened. I went to see my PCP and he referred me to the Cardioligist. My first visit with the Cardioligist was probably one of the realest talk I had-had in a long time concerning my health. The following weeks I went through a battery of test, I even had to have a heart cath done. Everything was good which was a blessing especially with my morbid obesity, and my severe family history of heart disease amongst other health problems. I made a promise to myself that I would put forth the effort to make the necessary changes to lose the weight. I would find myself doing good for exactly 2 weeks, but then on 2 weeks and 1 day I would find myself indulging in one or more of my old habits/ addictions. These has been a REAL struggle for me. When I say habits/ addiction I'm referring to my craving for fast food/ junk food (mainly soda). I have currently been under the care of my Bariatric Surgeon since March, and I still having a difficult time losing the weight. Again I will do really good for 2 weeks, but then at the 2 weeks and 1 day mark its as if I throw in the towel. Has anyone else struggled like this? My pre-op diet consist of (2) Protein shakes (1) Small salad w/ Lean Protein and (2) sugar free Snacks- Popiscle or Jello. I am literally starving, so this has been my biggest challenge. I'm not going to lie I haven't been following the pre-op plan fully, and naturally it was showing in my weightloss. My doctor says I should be losing 20-30 lbs if not more monthly. Though it may not seem like it, I am trying to conquer my food demon. Its just not going as fast as one had hoped. I am proud of myself though, since my last vist I have lost 10 more pounds making my total 15 now (considering I gained 14.5 back last month). I am still down 15 pounds this month so yes I am proud of myself. The main struggle was finding Protein Shakes that I liked or could tolerate for that matter. I was doing good on the Muscle Milk (pre-made) kind, but I was told I couldn't drink those. As I was browsing the internet I saw where a lady mentioned she uses the EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control (pre-made), so I deceided to try them for myself. I've been on them for a week and I have to say I doing a lot better then before. I think its mainly because each shake is 100 calories and 17 grams of protein, so in order to get my daily protein intake I can drink up to 5 of the protein shakes. Yay!! Now I don't feel deprived or as if I'm starving as much. So now my daily food schedule looks a little something like this: 8:30 am Protein Shake, 11:00 am Protein Shake, 2:00 pm Sugar Free Jello, around 4:30-5:00 pm Subway-Spicy Itailan Salad w/ Vinegar & Oil Blend Dressing (normally I'll eat half to 3/4 of the salad), then around 7:30-8:00 pm I'll eat the rest of the salad & I'll drink another Protein Shake (only if I'm REAL hungry). So my daily intake is roughly around 704 calories and around 68 grams of protein. Now looking at this as I'm writing would explain why I am having a good amount of weight loss this week. My doctor originally told me he wanted me to lose 100 pounds before he'd do the surgery, but that REALLY is unrealistic for someone that has been overweight their entire life. If I could lose the weight on my own I would have already. You know? I was talking with my consultant at his office and she said they had recently submitted my paperwork for approval. I was like but I'm no where near the 100 pounds he wants me to lose. She then said "He knows you want be able to lose that much weight on your own, he just wants you to push yourself and try to get a good amount of weight off before the surgery." I am SUPER excited right now! Did I say SUPER? I mean SUPER! Yet I am finding myself nervous as well, I haven't been under 200 pounds since my late teens. I know I still have a long way to go, but it'll all be worth it in the end.

Congratulations Cassie! I'm so happy for you! Girl I know your date is over a month a-way but I don't know how you are able to sleep at night knowing that it is so close. I'd be loopy as heck from lack of sleep. Lol. Congratulations again!!!!!!!!