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Btw paid the first two grand with my health savings card and paying hospital off monthly. Got the rest from savings.

I have a bariatric surgery co pay of $5000 but my doc only made me pay $2000 of that. My doc required EGD $1100, sleep study, $1000, cardiac clearance about $150, hospital about $3000 so right at $7000. I got gap insurance this year, first year offered, and I don't think its thru Aetna. I will have paid $600 for the year but I will get back $2500 cuz I stayed a night. So my personal total will be about $5500.

I was sent home on 2 week clear liquid diet. The next 2 weeks were full liquids.

I have Aetna TRS. After my office submitted paper work, it took about 3 days for them to approve. I started calling immediately. Had I not, I would have received a letter about two and a half weeks later. I am glad I did not sit around and wait. According to the details of my plan (I had a choice of a three or six month deal) I had to do a Lo cal diet, exercise regimen, nutritionist visits, etc. It is ultimately the nutritionist who submits the most important details...the exercise regimen, the diet, behavior modification. Make sure your nutritionist is one who works with a bariatric doctor. The doctors office should know exactly what is needed. I kept questioning mine but man, they knew exactly what they were doing!!!! I was very frustrated with Aetna at first because of all the hoops. It overwhelmed me. They really came through for me.

Hi there! There is no way to pretty up this topic. When I crushed pills it was just freaking nasty. That's all there is to it. I bought a pill crusher at walgreens. One that you twist the cap and twist until it crushes. About $10. It's about 2-3" in diameter if I remember correctly. I would crush one, pour it in a spoon. I would then add warm broth to spoon and stick in the back of my tongue. to be honest, that lasted about 6 days and I just went to swallowing. They were not huge anyway. At my two week post op appointment, nurse told me to go ahead and swallow them. I didn't tell her I already was. You could also pour crushed pull over yogurt if you are allowed yogurt.

Congrats to you both! You will be so happy you did it. Great hearing you are both doing so well on pre op diet!!!! Keep us posted and good luck!

Oh my exercise... Forgot to mention it because it is non existent almost . I did walk 1.3 miles today. Glad yours is going alright.

@@Pea523 hi there! I am supposed to have maximum 65 g of carbs a day. I go over sometimes. I never go over 900 calories so I don't worry about it. I am on metformin too. He lowered my dose to 500 a day. I need to go get blood work in the next few days. Maybe I can get completely off. We STILL have snow on the ground. It has only been in the 30s and 40s so it has been slow melting. I am definitely tired of cold weather. How are you?

I use BariActiv. I have a prescription for B12 nose spray I use weekly and the vitamins come with it. I pay $25 a month and insurance pays the rest. The vitamins are chewable.

I love it!!!!!

I dreaded mine so very much. Freaking dreaded it. When it came time, it wasn't horrible like I thought. I could have five protein shakes a day and I was fine. The hardest part was the head hunger. I just wanted something to eat for the sake of eating. I never was starving. If I felt hungry I had a sugar free popsicle. You will do well!!!

Tina, my insurance paid for my surgery but I used dr. victor gonzalez in dallas. He and his staff are absolutely wonderful. I think you should at least give them a call and talk to them.

@@Dub I am on flight 869. Got my car rented. Took days off work. I am so there! Lord have mercy on our souls! Would we all have a great time or what!!!!!! I love the idea of hiring a cook so you can bartend!!!!!!!! Damn you would have all of us laughing our arses OFF!!!!!! Music, dancing, laughing, hot tubbing, I am so down with that! Ya I know..... I just threw the hot tubbing part in there. Ya know, that's not a bad idea...... One day all of us meeting somewhere for a WLS get together!!!!!

My Protein and Water goals for two weeks were significantly lower than they are now at 6 weeks. I remember aiming for 32 oz of water and really struggled. Hell, I struggle now to get 64. I don't ever get 64. Ugh. One weekend I felt really bad. It was the only time post op I EVER did not feel really good. Figured out I wasn't getting enough water. So I drank and drank and drank and probably hit 60. Felt better quickly after that. Get fluids first, you will build up the protein a week or so at a time. It will come . Stay hydrated.

You are an inspiration! Thank you!!!

Awesome! Good for you . Keep up the good work. ????????????

I'm so sorry. That has to be miserable. I have not been nauseated once so I don't know what to tell you. It will go away one day and you will be happy you did it . Does your doctor know??

I have had an ACL reconstruction and a partial knee replacement. For both, I have had a nerve block, I think a femoral and sciatic block for both surgeries. They last about a day and are wonderful!!!!!! You are totally numb until it starts wearing off. With my first c section, I kept my epidural for 24 hours. I was partially numbed and it really did control the pain. I was walking in the mall that weekend. That was 21 years ago.

@@Newday2015 I'm just curious how far out you are. Did you always get your protein in? If so, how much? I'm very much hoping mine does not fall out..... My docs office says it's all about the protein. I wonder if biotin really does help or not, since protein builds hair.

Wow! You are doing great!!!!!!!

@@Daisee68 I feel your pain! You live in the Dallas area? Thank goodness you are safe! Hard habits are hard to change. I am off two weeks for xmas and because of the cold weather I have been staying home most days. I don't like cold! I get bored and and stressing about a few things. My first want is food. It is my go to relief for boredom and stress. I have had so many sugar free Popsicles the last several days that I think I am turning into one. I'm glad I haven't resorted to things I shouldn't have. I really need to go work out. It's such a funny feeling, when food has been my go to for so many years. Hang in there and remember your goal.

@@Dub you are such an inspiration!!!! You look great my friend!!!! I actually thought I might hit the gym today, too. Hard to leave the house when it is so nasty outside. Thanks for being such a motivator for us and thanks for making us laugh. Did you really post a pic of a pile of wood? Omg I almost busted a gut laughing hahahaha

My doc, who is very conservative, said I could have coffee all along, as long as I'm getting my water intake and no creamer and sugar.

Mine was 20 lbs for 6 weeks.

I agree with @innersurfergirl I add some vanilla or unflavored protein to it which makes it about 20 g of protein.