2goldengirl

I had a friend take measurements and photos at the end of January. She came over again last night and did the next month's set, even though I'm preop (surgery is Thursday). I wasn't expecting much, but I was surprised to learn that I've lost 1.25" each off my waist and hips, and .75" on each thigh. Today I have on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in quite a while. I've been jeans-less, because the next larger ones I have have been huge on me for a couple months now. Yay! Jeans!

No, the requirement is a longstanding one. Many surgeons or programs do require that patients see a psychologist who specializes in these kinds of evaluations. I know when I had mine, she went into things to be watchful of post-op as well as assessing my pre-op preparedness. Many evaluators use a screening tool predictive of future success, based on likelihood of following surgical instructions, for example. The physician who reviews all of our bariatric requests places a lot of emphasis on the psychological evaluation, and he looks for, and at, those screening tools. His rationale is that it isn't enough for someone to qualify physically for the surgery, they have to be emotionally prepared for a life-changing surgery. He actually delayed approving a recent client's surgery based on both his predictors showing a low likelihood of success, and the client's own statements that he wasn't sure whether he could follow the guidelines. That initial evaluation was done early in this client's pre-op process. He had a re-visit to the same psychologist, and had showed success at following preop guidelines for several months. He was then approved for his surgery. The delay was less than 30 days.

It's a real sprint to get everything done, isn't it? I four weeks between surgeon appts. to get labs, visits to two specialists, an UGI, and EGD, a sleep study, a preop visit to my PCP, and get a CPAP. I was so relieved to get it all done on time. It was during the holidays, so that squeezed things even tighter. You'll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you're done and all ready. And that's a great way to start your postop journey, no?

What?! My surgeon told me I was a special snowflake! Was he LYING to me?? Darling Babbs, OF COURSE you're a special snowflake. And like all good snowflakes, you followed your surgeons postop orders, didn't you?

Welcome and congratulations on your successes to date!

I've met Dr. Lustig, and attended a presentation he does for healthcare professionals. He is completely passionate about his point of view, but in the medical/scientific community, it's a challenge to find studies, colleagues, or statements that support that point of view. This gives me pause, because he is part of one of the best-researched, scientifically curious university medical systems in the worls (UCSF).

I've seen a very few posts about that here. Was this the facility staff who told you this? I would trust what your surgeon says - it's the doctor who determines the length of stay.

Recently I'm going mad for lipsticks! I decided that my usual "nude lip" look just wasn't working any more. I've been experimenting with brighter, bolder colors & using pencil first. So much fun, and less expensive than shoes

I'm not lying, exactly, but now that my leave of absence has been announced, several of my colleagues have asked me "are you OK?". I've just told them "I'm fine. I just have a little something I need to take care of. Thanks for asking."

This is California. The OP is in a Managed Medi-Cal plan. She has to start with her PCP, that's how it works under these circumstances. It's no biggie, I've had several clients who were referred for WLS by their PCP's on their initial visit to them. I know Dr. Shadle's work and both the hospitals where he does surgery and all should be good there.

Congratulations! I'll be joining you one week from today. Keep moving, it helps the gas move out.

Partnership is Medi-Cal, isn't it? , Anthem Blue Cross' medical policy is available online: https://www.anthem.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm If you are Medi-Cal with Anthem Blue Cross, that isn't dual insurance, it's just Blue Cross Medi-Cal. Just tell your PCP you're interested in bariatric surgery. Everything for Medi-Cal requires prior authorization. You will also need a psychological evaluation and a visit to a Registered Dietician. You will need to show documented participation in a weight loss program for at least six consecutive months within the past two years. If you already have done that, great, you're ahead of the game. if not, be prepared to visit your PCP monthly for six months. Your PCP will need to document that they gave you guidelines for both diet and activity, it isn't enough to just have weights done. You can call Sutter Medical Foundation and see whether they assign a Case Manager or Coordinator for their members seeking bariatric surgery. Good luck!

Actually, you can hope for much better results than that. The mean is the average - all participants in the study with their results, even the ones with poor results for whatever reason. I don't know about you, but I don't plan to be average

At your height and weight, you meet the BMI criteria for surgery for most health plans. Who is your insurance? Who is your medical group?

Yup, my first impression was a kidney stone. I'm sooooo sorry, they hurt worse than anything imaginable. For anyone else reading this, the tipoff for a kidney stone is the "radiating around the back", along with severe pain and the vomiting. The vomiting is actually because of the degree of pain. Feel better soon!

When I was training for 100km bike rides, I was working with an RD who was a marathoner. She really worked with me to change my thinking to "eating for endurance". Bonking once on a long training ride was all it took to convince me. I had the added challenge of hating even the idea of eating when I was training hard. On long bike rides (several hours at a stretch), eating during the ride is necessary, and I couldn't handle solids at all. It really is a whole new mindset. I don't wonder that it takes a paradigm shift.

I am over 60 and getting sleeved next week. I'm doing this specifically to have a healthier last half of my life!

Yay, you!

So glad the panic attacks have subsided! That's telling, isn't it? I mean, you left, and they subsided. Wishing you a future as bright as the spring sunshine.

East Bay. Anyone nearby, The support group at John Muir Concord, 2nd Saturday of each month, 10-11:30 is open to all and fabulous. Join us!

Anything that plugs in to the wall has to be checked out by the Engineering department. Fire laws. It hasn't anything to do with liability, except that they really would prefer not to have fires

Sixty lbs. in 6 weeks is amazing. So happy that you are feeling the joy of moving through your day in an ever-shrinking body.

@@Lisa_85, you say you "try never to finish 1/4 cup". Why?

@@NatashaSaysRawr, folks here are really trying to help you and it's a bit frustrating for everyone when we seem to be only partly understanding one another. Are you tracking what you're eating and drinking? Not just what, but amounts, and in something like Sparkpeople, or My Fitness Pal? If you aren't, please, please, please start. You will know without a doubt what you're taking in, both in terms of volume and of nutrients and calories. If you've read many threads here, you will know that you simply can't stretch your sleeve with liquids, though you can make yourself very uncomfortable. You won't feel hunger at this stage, and perhaps not for many months. I know how hard it is to wrap your brain around eating without hunger, we've all been schooled never to do this. BUT that was then and this is now. You are responsible for fueling your body, just like your car. You don't have a gas gauge for your new tummy. You have to eat and drink by the clock for a while. It will be fine, we promise. All of us.