2goldengirl

Welcome aboard, Kelly! Sounds like you've got all the preop stuff roped and tied. We're here for ya!

@@UltrarunJohn, you have five kids and a wife. If I'm doing the math correctly, you're considering surgery in order to lose 35-40 lbs. Honestly, don't. The sleeve won't mean you don't have to clean up your act around food. Model for your kids taking responsibility for your own health and commit to making better choices. All of you will benefit. Good luck to you.

Twice, initial consult and then a followup after I'd done the visits to Pulm. and GI specialists, and had UGI, EGD, sleep study, and preop visit with my PCP. I also have the ability to email her at any time, which is great.

Sparkpeople has been working just fine, chocolate or no.

I'd LOVE to eat something - I'm two weeks postop and had to go back to clear liquids. I am going to try some milk today. I'd really love to eat something I can chew, but I really don't want to go back to vomiting 7-8 times a day when my sleeve is telling me it hates protein shakes, KWIM?

@@HanSolo1977, I don't know that the psychologist would know anything about how the surgery could affect your voice. Definitely a surgeon question. There is a thread here for singers. As I remember, many who posted said they actually improved after surgery, either from hernia repairs or just being able to move air better without fat getting in the say.

I love the honesty of this post. I also love that you're on the mend! One thing to consider is, as sucky as being sidelined due to medical issues has been, it's given your hip a chance to rest and heal. So that's a fortunate payoff from several very unfortunate situations! As many times in my life that I've returned to fitness, once I reach a certain level, I feel absolutely great, and resolve not to let myself forget the feeling - and then, one thing or another happens, and my fitness plan falls off the rails. Who was it who said "it isn't about how many times you fall, it's about how many times you get back up"?

Trust me when I tell you, an experienced fitter has seen everything. Get yourself professionally fitted, it makes such a difference. I have a friend who lost 150# post GBP. She tells me she "rolls 'em up like socks" to get them into the bra.

I'd go ahead and file that Grievance. It IS true, however, that most surgeons won't submit for approval until you meet requirements, including their own requirements. Good luck!

Didn't your surgeon and/or NUT give you guidelines? Are you tracking your intake? If you aren't, either go back to it or start. Really. That's the only way to know.

Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

@@JamieLogical is spot-on. If you look through these boards, you will see that preop nerves, anxiety, and second guessing oneself is the norm rather than the exception. After all the appointments, tests, and nerves about insurance approval, there isn't anywhere else for all that energy to go. Kinda like pre-wedding jitters, now that I think about it. Take a deep breath. Know that you made this decision to take control of your health and improve it. You took this step to make life better for you and those you love. There are no guarantees that it will be smooth sailing from here on out - but that's true of life as a whole, isn't it? Good luck!

Remember, you just had another surgery. Your body has the same goal it did when you were sleeved: to heal. Give it what it needs to heal before jumping off the couch and launching back into a lot of exercise. Walk some, for pity's sake don't do any running until your hysterectomy is healed. Your body has been through a lot in a few short months.

First, I'd contact your medical group and complain about this little obstructionist. Every medical group has people who work exclusively with medical offices on issues and you may well be able to get somewhere that way. If that doesn't work, it's Grievance time.

Sorry, who is bmc? What state are you in?

So if you have a DOI product, I'm guessing you have P P O coverage. As I understand it, no matter the product, in CA you definitely have the right to IMR.

No appeal policy? Wow. What state are you in?

I've identified that my new tummy definitely hates my protein drinks. It loves chicken broth. I'm going to tinker with milk-based protein drinks I make at home tomorrow and see if that goes better.

There is something about being on a bike that just makes you feel like a kid again, isn't there?

Well, it's been my experience that your friends are people who don't have to be paid to hang out with you

I'm so sorry to hear that even with insurance, the surgery will be so cost prohibitive. I don't know what your solution will be, but I applaud your efforts to do what you can to take back your health. Hang in there!

Document, document, document - and report. You may decide you want to work elsewhere, but that doesn't mean your employer should get away with this, it's against the law.

Of course you're disappointed! Who wouldn't cry over that? It may be that your policy only considers comorbidities that aren't well controlled with medications. Some health plans do that, I can't speak to yours. Hang in there, your surgeon's office sounds like they're going to bat for you.

I actually had my surgery on March 10, but I got readmitted to the hospital until the 17th because I couldn't keep anything down. I'm really struggling to get Fluid and Protein down. I do the best in the morning, shortly after I get up. About midday, I start vomiting, small amounts, and I have to stop trying to swallow anything. I have to wait several hours until anything will stay down again. I am being able to make progress day to day, but the midday vomiting doesn't change, even though I'm taking zofran every four hours. Does this kind of thing seem familiar to anyone else?