2goldengirl

@@prettyCali916, Congratulations on your surgery! I see you're in the Bay Area, if you're in the East Bay, the support group at JMMC in Concord is next Saturday (13th) at 10AM. It's a super group, we'd love to have you join us!

Some people do report headaches from artificial sweeteners. If you did not withdraw yourself gradually from caffeine, it could also be lack of caffeine (I'm not sure how recent your surgery was, that usually occurs within 24 hours postop). Try the massager again, do you use a shoulder heating wrap to loosen the muscles?

Your stages look very like the ones I have from my surgeon.

This issue has been resolved. Your surgeon should be added in a few days at most. No, it hasn't. I still can't add my surgeon. This is my third request. 12 days and counting.

I'm curious - just what is a "mild alcoholic"? True alcoholism is an emotional and physical dependence on alcohol and there isn't anything "mild" about it.

I've always had vertical ridges in my nails.

I wonder if the "ban on carbonation" issue has to do with GBP mechanics. An awful lot of the diet guidelines for sleevers are adopted directly from guidelines for GBP. It's possible that gas/bloating are more an issue for GBP patients.

This is not a race and you simply can't compare your situation to anyone else's. In the initial four to six weeks after surgery, your body has one goal: to heal. You had major abdominal surgery. Your body isn't about to let go of what it needs to repair and heal from surgery. Most people do have an initial loss of 10-15 lbs. and then stall for a week or so. It's just your body trying to catch it's breath. Don't fret. Put the scale away. Follow the postop diet instructions you were given. Drink your Water, Hit your Protein goals. Move your body. Rest when you need it. Everything starts with this. Good luck!

It varies. Some people can eat anything they did before surgery, though in drastically reduced amounts. Others find that their tastes change and that foods they once loved no longer interest them. And still others find that some foods that caused them no trouble pre-op are harder to digest post-op. Those who are successful long-term identify those foods that trigger old eating habits, and either avoid them entirely, or find other ways to manage when and how they eat them so that they limit their exposure to them. You really won't know going in which way it will be for you.

Wait, you were sleeved in January and you think you're going to eat a taco? Your sleeve may be very, very unhappy with this idea. Try the pintos and cheese and see how they do. Leave the others. You did not have surgery to keep the same eating habits. Hang in there!

I'd have a long hard look at the crackers - typically they don't have much nutritional value. With small capacity, every bite needs to be nutritionally sound. It may also be that you aren't eating enough. Have a look at more nutritionally dense foods that stick with you longer - Greek yogurt for breakfast is a great place to start.

You are two weeks out from abdominal surgery. Your body has one overriding goal right now: healing. Your body will do what it has to to make sure you have what it needs to heal. It isn't likely to let go of weight quickly right now when it needs everything you've got to repair itself. Relax. Stay off the scale, Get in your Water, and your Protein. Rest when you're tired. Keep moving. This is not a race, it's the rest of your life.

There is a clothing exchange thread...

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/bariatric-surgery.html I don't see here anything about the sleeve. As for whether Medicare pays if primary insurance doesn't: https://www.medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/how-medicare-works-with-other-insurance/who-pays-first/which-insurance-pays.html#collapse-2436 I hope this helps!

@@Alex Brecher, I just tried, and my surgeon still isn't in the database. t's been ten days. Thanks! This issue has been resolved. Your surgeon should be added in a few days at most.

Lots of food for thought here! For those of you who went to Mexico for your plastics, how do you handle the postop follow ups? Thanks much!

Bezoars are quite rare; I've only seen one in 30+ years, and that one was am emotionally disturbed young woman who was eating her hair and other nonfood substances.

@@pr_pitbullgrl, if you're into the Victorian period, I read that there is a BBC series on Victoria & Albert that will be taking Downton Abbey's timeslot, but I believe we have to wait til January. In the meantime, "Outlander" returns this spring, and this is the second book, so they're going to Paris. I've seen photos of some of the costumes and they're simply to die for.

The OP was icked out by everything being sweet. A palate-cleanser, if you will. I assume that was the case, otherwise what is the point of it?

@@Valentina, I love it! Gazpacho, or the postop equivalent thereof! I suppose you could sneak some unflavored protein powder in there as well.

If you haven't seen the article done about how they filmed that scene, it's totally worth finding (I'm part of a Downton FB group and it was there). Just imagine - they film the interiors at Highclere Castle with their priceless antique furniture and carpets and they had to deal with prop, uh, fallout. If you're a fan of what happens behind the camera, it's a don't-miss. FWIW, the surgery scene on this week's "Mercy Street" was fantastically well done. I'm loving that series, too.

So, did you dance around the store, singing "I'm a 6, I'm a 6"? Cause you totally should have. Go ahead, dance around the kitchen. You're a 6!

Here is a link to Anthem's medical policy: https://www.anthem.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm "The individual must have serially documented active participation in a non-surgical weight reduction regimen for at least 6 continuous months, in the 2 years prior to surgery, to enable both behavioral changes and adequate assessment of anticipated postoperative dietary maintenance. These efforts must be fully appraised and documented by the physician requesting authorization for surgery;..." So it's six months within the past two years. If you have that, you're good. And a tip: it isn't a claim until the service is provided; beforehand it's a request for authorization before a decision is made, an authorization once it has been approved. Good luck!

Stop freaking out, it isn't necessary. If you read theough these boards, you will find that it's very common not to feel much restriction while you're on liquids and semiliquids like yogurt. Relax. Breathe. You're fine.

I Googled the name of your health plan and it's available in several states. Google "nameofhealthplan State medical policy bariatric surgery" and you should be able to find the requirements for your plan in your state. Medicaid plans typically do require a 6-month supervised diet and exercise plan but without seeing your plan info I can't say for sure.