ShutterGirl1829

Hi! I just decided a couple of weeks ago to start this journey, although it is something I have considered for many years. I have my 1st informational session on July 14th and my initial consultation at the Saratoga Bariatric Center with Dr. Baranov on August 11th. My 1st question is, does anyone have any experience with CDPHP during this process (I have a very general policy.. EPO National, no deductibles co insurance etc.), do they require the 3 month diet etc? I was also wondering how long the process was from your initial consultation to the day of surgery? My next question has to do with Saratoga Bariatric Center. How was your experience with them? Thanks in advance!

If you have a BMI of 40 you need to have at least 2 comorbidities but 60 and over you don't need any. The surgeons will usually work with you to find comorbidities in order for you to qualify.

I had CDPHP EPO not medicare or medicaid and CDPHP in general covers bariatric surgery with tge only requirement being a psych eval and meeting with a nutritionist. No extended diet plan etc... I had my initial consult with my surgeon on 7/17 and surgery less than 2 months later and the only reason it took 2 months was because my surgeon wanted me to lose 50lbs before surgery, and i thought 2 months woyld be enough time

I was really torn about whether to stay or leave. In the end I wanted to leave because I was just getting tylenol and nausea meds which wasn't anything I couldn't take at home. Plus in tge hospital I was getting lovanox and/or heprin injections which were getting rather painful. lol I did end up back at the ER tonight but only because the site where my IV was was very swollen, and red. I wanted to be sure it wasn't a clot. All is well though

I hope you get to go home tomorrow... I had surgery Monday too and I was released yesterday afternoon. I personally think I went home a little early but I just couldn't rest there with them constantly sticking me with insulin, heprin, checking my sugar etc. I realize it was for my own good but holy crap.. lol So I pushed myself yesterday to get all my water before the surgeon did his rounds in the afternoon so that he would let me go home.. I struggled with my water because of nausea but had a reaction to my IV and had to have it removed yesterday morning so, I was kind of forced into drinking my water. Though I felt very uncomfortable, the walking helped the gas which ultimately helped the nausea. I hope you are feeling better and able to be released asap!

I am currently preop although I have done all my clearances and have my surgery date (9/21). Just looking for some preop friends to talk with up until (and after) surgery. We could help keep eachother on track diet wise, and could help ease any fears we are having. (we all have those fears that our non-overweight friends or spouses just don't quite get). I am located in upstate NY but I am open to talking to anyone from any location. I do have facebook etc if you prefer chatting that way. Who knows, we may become great friends!

Congrats on the date @@DeLiGhTfUlLy DeTeRmInEd! You can find me on facebook under Tiffany Alicia Ball

@@mlmanney congratulations on the date!! My preop diet is technically only 3 days but I have tge last 10lbs or so that my surgeon has asked me to lose before surgery that no matter what I do, won't go away (I have lost 30 so far). I talked with my primary Dr about it yesterday at my appointment for surgery clearance and she told me that I am at the point with fast weightloss that my body is trying to play catch up and I will likely struggle to lose the last bit of weight. She recommended that I start my preop diet now in an effort to lose that last bit of weight... Soooo I figured I would start it on Sunday, no part in starting it today because we have a day trip planned to Boston on Saturday.. Would be kind of difficult to do just liquids when traveling... So it looks like we can be preop diet pals.. lol

Welcome @! I am scheduled for RNY on 9/21 as well. Just had all my preop testing done yesterday and got the results today, just have to start taking Vitamin D because it was less than 1/2 of where they want it to be.. lol I agree this thread is getting extremely long and hard to keep up with.. I keep feeling like I forget to get back to someone because I didn't see their note or something..

@@Barbara Doyle that is great news! So nice to see so many others with the same (or close enough) dates...

@@EllasMom I am from Lake George area.. Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat... I would love to talk with someone that is semi local, could be a great support system! @@tami1970 I feel terrible that I am a couple of days late to this but congrats! I have a very good friend that went to Dr Hill as well and loved him as well as had zero complications in the year and a half since her surgery.. Thinking of you!

Yayy!! I have been following a very low carb diet and I will say I was not at all prepared for how grumpy this would make me. I don't know if it's tge lower carbs, hormone changes or what but I do know I have 0 patience and want to smack people a majority of my days.. LOL

@@RKS1983WI I can totally relate! I have a mix of emotions ever since getting my surgery date. I was one of the very fortunate ones that didn't have a diet to follow for an extended period of time. So I had my informational session, consult with the surgeon and got my surgery date and all other appointment dates in the matter of 4 days. I didn't know what to expect, but I certainly didn't expect that! So since then I have been predominently excited but I do randomly burst into tears over concerns, or over the idea of just how different things will be. Overall though I am sooo excited and can hardly wait. I don't have a w week preop diet, but I do need to lose another 10-15lbs before surgery so I am basically sticking to a liquid diet for the most part. My surgeon only requires a 3 day preop diet, but I figured I would do it for a week.

Congrats @@RKS1983WI are you getting excited?

Hi @@trudycarle4! I am from Lake George NY. Glad to meet you.

Don't beat yourself up over it. This whole experience is new to all of us and there will definitely be some learning curves. It isn't really a failure, but more of a lesson learned.. At least if you had been struggling with hunger, you know why! haha

YES! I finally got it! I spent the day crying and smiling! I was very full of emotions. Thank you girl! I am SO happy for you!! I know they say that your life changes the day you have your surgery, but honestly I feel like mine changed the day they handed me that paper with my surgery date on it. It all felt so final and I was excited up until that point, but then it was like you really start thinking about just how different everything will be and excited doesn't even begin to explain it anymore.. There have been MANY times since given my date that I have just burst into tears randomly for one reason or another. Most of the time it's because I realize one more reason why this surgery is so important to do and succeed at, other times it's "what if" fears... The next few weeks will definitely fly by, but also be filled with emotion for you I'm sure..

congrats @@Sajijoma that is so exciting!

@@mlmanney yes, I was surprised by how quick the process was too. I definitely am not complaining, but I was also shocked and a bit in awe that I went from an informational seminar to having surgery and post op appointments booked in less than 4 days.. They move with a quickness.. I have to say that while I didn't have to go through it, and I would probably be really irritated if I did have to; I'm not so sure that the 6 month diet is a horrible idea for surgeons to require. I feel like it is much easier for some to change everything and lose the 20lbs required, have surgery, drop the weight and then fall into old bad habbits vs. losing weight and having to keep it off for a period of time before surgery. It is kind of forcing you to retrain yourself although I do totally get the frustration because like I said, I would be so irritated if that was my program too.. lol The thyroid thing is sooooooooooo annoying..I was diagnosed with it in 2009 and only because I was sleeping like 16 hours a day, always tired, and couldn't keep any type of food down although I suspect I have had it much of my life because I have been heavy my entire life and never had a thyroid panel run on me until 2009. I actually made them test me not just because of the sleeping, but because I was doing weight watchers, I was working at a gym at the time and working out like 3 or 4 hours a day but gaining weight. Not like gaining muscle and losing inches kind of weight either.. It didn't matter how little I ate or how much I worked out, I wouldn't shed a pound. I am still very much like that now as well up until following my surgeons diet. I would lose 5lbs one week and gain 15 the next and not have changed anything in my diet or regimen. I still have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism eventhough I am on meds for it, so I recently just got switched to synthroid (brand) vs Levothyroxine (generic) by my doctor hoping that that would make a difference. As far as the symptoms go, it has but as far as levels go, it hasn't done much. It seems like everytime I have bloodwork done, they have to raise my dose. For all intensive purposed I am on a pretty low dose (100mcg) but I started on 25mcg... It is just annoying, and I definitely go through spurts of getting mad at my medicines and refusing to take it because it "isn't making a difference" which of course as you can imagine, doesn't help anything either..lol I don't know about the meds just yet, I was due for bloodwork about 3 weeks ago and went to the hospital to have it done for them to tell me that my doctor forgot to call in the order the month previous... So at this point in time, I am frustrated with her and called asking for it to be sent to me at home, yet haven't received the order. So, it is possible that she will need to change it if I ever receive the order, we will know for sure. On a side note, I was taking metformin 3x a day for insulin resistance (eventhough I wasn't technically diabetic) and I have had to lower that to only 2x a day because I was getting blood sugar drops and getting light headed... So that is a plus I suppose.. We ALL have days like you described... I had 2 pieces of fricken cheese pizza on Sunday... I didn't even care... lol BUT I tried to make up for it on Monday with a clear liquid/protein shake fast. I didn't gain anything from it, and still lost 3lbs so that's a plus. I was also still under my calorie goal for that day, carbs not so much, but who's counting those pesky things anyway.. I totally mourn food too... Like I really thought about rescheduling my surgery so that I could have cider donuts in September LOL!!!! Sweets have never been my thing, but cider donuts... ohhhh man.... Especially after finding the best cider donuts in the area last year... It will be torture, nothing short of it come September/October.. I'll be sitting there sipping my broth while everyone is eating donuts, and I'll secretly be hoping they choke on it.. or not so secretly depending on my filter that day...hahahaha...

@@kaplanlyn congrats on the completion of your nutrition classes! I am looking at a surgery date in the 4th week of September too. (I am scheduled for 9/21). I was pushing to have it done before year end because in my field of work year end and/or the 1st quarter of the year is never a good time to be taking time off (I work in accounting). So I am very grateful that it has worked out the way it has.. Best of luck to you!!

I am really interested to see what suggestions you get @@Cervidae because my surgeon also doesn't require a preop diet really other than the 3 days of liquid prior to surgery. I too planned on doing at least a week, just to be safe..

@@mlmanney thank you! I know I can get the last little bit off within the month, I think I was just irritated with her because of how underwhelmed she was by the loss thus far. I went into this program saying that I wanted to be 1/2 way to my goal (which was to lose 50lbs) by the time I went back in for my follow up, and I hit that goal, I technically exceeded that goal not by much; but still. I was so excited because I have struggled with my thyroid medications for YEARS and I have never been able to lose weight. I'd eat healthy (for the most part, portions and carbs were definitely my issue) work out every day, sometimes twice a day and still never see the scale move, yet everytime I had bloodwork done they would have to increase my thyroid meds. I was just amazed that these last 3 weeks actually worked. Yes, I cheated a little in that I didn't follow the doctors instructions exactly but my schedule doesn't always allow for me heat up a lean cuisine at the drop of a hat. Sometimes I am in the car, or on the run and I would try to make the best decision or most healthful decision for me at that point in time. Were there a couple of times I had to go through a drive through and grab something in the last 3 weeks, absolutely! BUT, I would pick a grilled chicken salad with no dressing and only eat 1/2 of it, or I would choose a wrap loaded with grilled chicken and vegetables but not eat the tortilla. I found substitutions for things. I went into this saying that I refuse to deprive myself of anything, if I want it I will ultimately find a way to have it (even if I have to create a healthier version of it myself) or else I am going to fail at this whole thing ultimately. That is where my substitutions come in, if I want coffee; it is unsweetened with a vanilla Protein shake in it as creamer or the Yasso greek yogurt ice cream bars, or the Arctic Zero ice cream, SF pudding made with Protein powder and almond milk (because regular SF pudding has aspartame which I can't have). I have found ways to be able to still enjoy things without it effecting my losses. If I choose to have a greek yogurt bar, well then it has to be a low carb, low sugar lunch etc.. It's give and take really.. Like you said, I know the doctors have seen it all, but I got the impression yesterday that she just didn't get how much we all really turn our lives upside down to make this work. Sure, eventually we get used to it and it becomes second nature but it is soo not second nature for me at this point. I never realized how hard it would be to figure out how to fit in a gallon and a 1/2 of Water everyday, or how I'd have to stop at rest stops every single time we are out because I drank a gallon and a 1/2 of water today.. lol My program wasn't very long. Fortunately, my husband is the insurance holder for us and his company provides amazing insurance. Our insurance company doesn't have any prerequisites other than a single meeting with a nutritionist and a psych evaluation. My surgeon said that they are actually one of the best insurance companies in our area to deal with. So I had my informational session on July 14th, my initial consultation on the 17th at which point he told me he would like me to lose 30-50 lbs to be able to get the surgery I want (I think it's because I have scar tissue or something from previous abdominal surgeries). He then had me sit with the coordinator that day who booked every one of my appointments right then included surgery and my 3 week post op checkup. I go on the 25th for all of my preop bloodwork, I have the clearance for surgery appointment with my primary on the 3rd and then my consent signing with the surgeon on 9/17 and I start my liquid diet on the 18th with surgery on the 21st. I get where you are coming from though, it would be nice to have a date because it requires so much preparation and planning.

Congratulations @@Barbara Doyle! That is great news!! I have all my preop testing on August 25th, I'll be thinking of you recovering and sip, sip, sipping your water while they are draining me of all my blood for the ridiculous # of viles they need.

@@Knitchic omg I am glad my questions weren't like that because I would have been way too tempted to answer them with crazy answers like "yes, aliens control my mind." "the voices in my head follow me everywhere"... The fearful of the wind one is interesting... lol I wonder if they have ever actually met anyone that was afraid of the wind, is that even a real thing? lol I think the worst question I had in mine was the psychologist asking me something about a recent struggle with food that I had, and I had to explain how my husband and I went grocery shopping the previous weekend and all he did was stand in the cake mix isle pointing out every cake, cookie, brownie and muffin that looked amazing to him and he wanted to try. I told her it took everything in me not to punch him in the throat right there in the middle of the grocery store.. As soon as I said it, I thought "huh, I probably shouldn't have said that" lol but luckily she found it hilarious... whew!! I am sure you passed with flying colors! How frustrating about the scheduler though! Fortunately my surgeons office booked my surgery and every other appointment the date of my 1st consultation, but I will also say that that was a lot to take in at one time as well. It felt a bit overwhelming until I got it all written down on calendars etc..

@@mlmanney apologies for the delay in getting back to you.. I had a SUPER crazy day at work yesterday with it being the day I do payroll and having to miss 3 hours for my appointment.. The appointment went good I think. I am down 25.5lbs in the 3 weeks since my initial consultation. I met with the NP this time instead of the surgeon and I have to say, I wasn't a real fan of hers. I expressed concern about my migraines getting more frequent and nausea being more frequent due to the migraines and she pretty much said that isn't their problem, I need to talk to my primary. I know I caught a bit of an attitude with her when I said it does become their problem when I can't keep Water down after surgery because of these stupid headches..lol (oops, I try to behave myself, I really do.... I just think my "you probably shouldn't say that" filter is broken or non existent). Basically she gave me a list of things that my primary doctor could give me for the headaches, which is what I wanted. I have to say I haven't been super crazy about my primary doctor lately, she's really been dropping the ball on pretty much everything from bloodwork orders to calling in my thyroid prescription as brand instead of generic when she is the one that told me to take the brand.. BUT I don't want to switch doctors until after all of this surgery stuff is done and over with. So all I ever wanted was an idea of what I could have her prescribe vs what I couldn't have after surgery and I did get that. So, I suppose the appointment was a success. I was a little disheartened when she said my loss was "okay" but that I need to lose another 15 or so lbs before 9/17 (which is my surgery consent signing). I wanted to scream because I have been literally killing myself to be able to even get that 25.5 lbs in 3 weeks. Considering I have an under active thyroid and work crazy hours, not to mention I have never lost more than 20lbs and not gained it right back, I am happy with my progress so far whether she is or not.. lol