songsmith

Sorry, but I laughed. Definitely will remember that line. I'm so used to my tummy stretch marks that I forget about them, but they're about the width of the Grand Canyon and have that white, radioactive hue themselves. Won't even talk about my girls. Pretty sure by the time I'm done I'll be left with stretched out tube socks with another pair of rolled up socks stuffed in the toes. I'll be able to tie them together for a fashion statement! I got nothing for the hair. People say Biotin won't prevent the loss but will help with regrowth. I had major surgery last year and did lose a ton of hair 3-4 months out, but I think it's been coming back slowly. I might notice another hair loss more than I did that one since my hair's already thinned out.

That is great Oh, I like the sound of that! Just got off the phone with my case manager. She spoke to my surgeon while I was on hold. He said come in Monday. They will only cancel if I have a fever or chest problems. (I suppose the anesthesiologist [sp?] also will have a say on that.) He also cleared me to take OTC cold medicine so long as the meds don't include aspirin or ibuprofen. So glad I don't need to extend (or start over) the liquid pre-op diet!

I believe fat people should never be shamed for who they are. It often feels like we're the last carnival freak show: "Hey, look at that guy! He's bigger than a house! Let's take embarrassing and judgmental photos and put them in blogs, magazines and newspapers and TV shows." So, yes, I believe in better understanding of the condition and less judging. I had thyroid cancer. It went for two more years because the first three ENTs I was sent to took one look at me, thought, "Meh, she's fat and looking for an excuse," and didn't do the testing that should have been done. Another friend had PCOS. It took her forever to get diagnosed because, again, she's obese. Doctors, especially, need education. But I'm saddened when I hear people in the movement claim that fat is healthy. It is not. I was a healthy young fat person. I lifted weights. I exercised. I was in great shape. Then I hit 40. Suddenly my blood pressure skyrocketed, my joints gave out, and my endocrinologist threatened to put me on diabetic meds because my blood sugar was too high. (Convinced her to wait to see what surgery does for me.) Long-term, fat is not healthy. People who say otherwise all seem to be in their 20s or early 30s. They don't know yet.

OMG - we really are sleeve buddies. I have a thread in another forum about the same thing. My surgery is also on Monday. Felt it coming on Wednesday and was definitely sick come Thursday. I'm waiting to hear from my case manager. So, yes. I definitely feel like that! (Crossing my fingers for you.) I'm trying to make myself feel better by telling myself I might have trouble getting down all the regular fluids plus the extra you should drink when you're sick. Not much, but anything to shore myself up should the news not be good.

I'm waiting to hear back from my case manager. I've come to terms with the possibility that the surgery will be postponed, namely by reminding myself that I'm super thirsty and people do have problems getting in regular fluids afterwards. Yes, I am grasping at bright side straws. Right now, I hope they'll have me come in on Monday and assess my condition then. I feel worse today, so things are not looking good for short-term cold recovery. I meant the endoscopy, which cost around $1200. Hate if I had to take that one again.

Thanks. I am going to call his office tomorrow morning before I leave for the appointment with my PCP. I so want this over with, but I also want to be healthy. My main worry now is that they'll make me take all those expensive tests over again if I can't get an appointment near my original date.

Thanks for listening to my rant, everyone. The hospital is a large, local (and I believe the county) hospital which has been around for decades. I'm limited because my insurance company forced me to go to a particular practice, and that practice uses that hospital. It's not a problem, but I do think they should have been more forthright about out-of-pocket expenses. I'm still shocked that they don't offer any sort of financing. Now I've caught a cold and need to call the surgeon tomorrow. I have a bad feeling they may cancel my surgery. /pout

I blamed my surgeon for this at first, but now I think it might be hospital policy. My insurance covers 80% of my surgery minus deductible. I was told by both the doctor's office and the hospital that I would need to pay everything up front (the deductible plus that 20% not covered) by day of surgery. To make matters worse, they don't accept Care Credit (which has always offered 0% financing for 24 mos. when I've used it in the past). No one mentioned this at the seminar or at all except when I was called about my endoscopy. Later when the hospital phoned to preregister me, I was given an additional sum I would still owe or they would not do the surgery. It all sounds so strange to me. When I've had surgery before, I pay my copay, the insurance is billed and then I'm billed for anything left over. I wondered if this was standard procedure? (I should mention that the doctor did say that if you were self-pay the entire cost would need to be received ahead of time. He did not say that about insured patients.)

Three more days till the big day...and...I'm catching a cold. WTF body? I'm so worried I'll show up Monday morning and the surgeon will take one look at me and say, "Nope." That would be bad enough, then I realized how long it would take to get another appointment and the likelihood that I would need to pay for another endoscopy and more blood work. Argh.

My German shepherd is not a jumper. However, I am owned by two cats, both of whom believe it is of the utmost necessity to jump on my stomach and check me out if they think I'm not feeling well. Now, for those who don't have cats, they are capable of changing their mass at will, exerting the force to crush diamonds in one dainty paw. In other words, I grok you.

Kansas City area. Surgery in February.

I'm also Feb. 15th! We are Sleeve Twins!

Wow. I am sorry you have had to put up with this. That last one is a HIPPA violation and they can get into serious trouble for that, both legally: fined by the government and also sued by you. Is this the best surgeon or is there someone else in your area that could use the work you've already had done and contineu from there? I wouldn't have any confidence in these bozos after all that!

Wow. You have been through the ringer! I spent 6 days in a hospital last year due to surgery (non-bariatric) complications. It's a horrible, lonely and terrifying feeling! My heart goes out to you. I'm glad you have people around you who are trying their best to get you well. Keep us up-to-date?

I read someone prepared liquid and pureed meals ahead of time then froze them. That got me thinking. What did you do to make your immediate post-op days easier or what do you wish you had done?

Woot! Congratulations!

Mine's the 15th! We're practically twins!

EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeek! I got my date! February 15. I'm so happy! (She offered the 22nd at first, but I asked if I could possibly get an earlier date since my class was on Dec. 17 and I had already had 6 mos. of dietitian visits and was more than ready.)

Congratulations! I can relate! I can be an ostrich also....I'm tempted to call my insurance company today but thought well, surgery is not until February so I can wait for it....lol Maybe we'll be sleeve buddies!

Crossing fingers and toes for you! Mine was submitted early December. I toyed with the idea of calling before the Holidays, then decided to wait in case it was bad news. (Did I mention my middle name is Ostrich?) Yesterday I emailed my case manager to see if the doctor's office had received approval. Figured it would be faster to ask her than wait forever on hold with the insurance company. The lovely woman phoned my carrier and waited for over 40 minutes to talk to someone! Then phoned to tell me I was approved. Talk about above and beyond the call of duty! I'd have phoned if she'd emailed back and said they hadn't heard yet.

I will probably be early February. Should have been this month, but my husband will be out of the country. Understandably, he wants to be here when it's done. I'd love to find a sleeve buddy! (when I'm given my date, that is)

Wow. I can't believe a doctor would perform a type of surgery you did not agree on ahead of time. You'd think they'd have you sign all sorts of papers that basically said, "If X circumstances exist, then surgeon may perform X surgery instead." Does your insurance cover that type of surgery? I don't know much about SIPS, but it sounds like it could be a good option. Even so, I don't believe any doctor should decide these things for you without your input. It's not like you were an accident and were unconscious so couldn't decide on the type of life-saving surgery you wanted.