honeybadger

I start my liquid diet in two weeks. I've been stocking up on Protein powder and canned things I'll need for purée in the first weeks after. I ordered Opurity chewable Vitamins for bariatric surgery. I ran out of my normal Multivitamin and started on them. They are huge!!!! I hate chewable vitamins and these the five times the size of the typical chewables. I don't know how I'm going to choke them down. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

They offered me June 20th. I told them to pencil me in. Now if my supervisor would get back to me on having the time off......geeeeez......how long does it really take to check the days off calendar and email me back!!!!??????!!!! Yeah. I'm excited and anxious to confirm the date.

@@betterme38 and slightly terrifying!!! Lol. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, and I already had those three months because I was documenting weigh ins monthly with my provider. I work in the office she's in. She knows about the surgery obviously, but she knows my desire for privacy so it's all being kept quiet. She has referred several patients to this surgeon and knew the procedure. Most insurances require more than three months. So we started the weight counseling. My insurance only needs three months. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Your doctor can't tell them what you don't want them to know. The doctor can very easily tell them you had general laparoscopic surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My first appointment was at the end of January. My last appointment was April 8. My insurance approval only took a few days. It was submitted April 26! It was supposed to be submitted April 11 but the office has a lazy person in charge of it. I waited a week and a half and then started bugging her to death. She finally sent it in to shut me up. I guess I have enough co-morbidities to make them think surgery is cheaper than all the meds I take. I hope they call to schedule soon. I'll give them another day, then I might start bugging them....lol

I'm very private. I don't want people to know. My mom and my kids know. My mom keeps telling people, and that has upset me very much. Fortunately, we live far enough apart that nobody I see daily is in her circle. I've already been losing weight ahead of surgery because my thyroid is finally being treated. Since I work in healthcare and run volunteer rescue squad, I'm telling them it's hernia repair. As an EMT, I'll have a lift restriction for a good bit. Hernia repair will cover that. I don't like to lie, but I will to protect my privacy. I don't want to tell my business. I see people on TV and online judging us for having surgery, like it's cheating. Whatever. Not all of us are able to keep weight off like other people can. I think it's my business and nobody else needs to know. My continued weight loss will just be more weight loss and if anyone questions dietary changes, it's just a new thing I'm trying to get healthier.

Well, my insurance said yes. Now I'm waiting to hear from the hospital to schedule my pre-op appointment and my surgery date. I'm excited and terrified all at once.

My insurance didn't tell me to lose, but wanted me to have weight loss consults with my PCP for three consecutive months. I've been losing anyway. I have to make lifelong changes, might as well start now. The surgeon wanted me to lose ten pounds before surgery to prove I'm willing. I think the 61 pounds I've lost in the past 15 months should count for that!?! Lol. I lost the ten and a few more, so it's fine. I'm still waiting to hear if my insurance has approved. It's been in process one week. They have 30 days to decide. I'll have a preop visit with the surgeon when (if) I'm approved and then surgery. I have to schedule around coworkers too. I'm sure that will postpone me. I'm really excited for all of you with surgery dates!!!! Yay!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had my psych evaluation Friday and received an email from the NP that my information is going to my insurance company for approval by Wednesday. I'm terrified and excited at once. The informational seminar I attended in December stated that I would have to do a diet beginning two weeks prior to surgery, Protein Shakes for Breakfast and lunch and Lean Cuisine for dinner. My big issue right now: that little voice in the back of my mind saying "eat all of the (insert trigger foods/drinks here) you can now, while you still can!" I've come too far already to cave into my stupid emotional cravings. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@betterme38.....I have Cigna. The policy specifics I have are very WLS friendly. It's odd. I've had insurance in the past that is not. Of course, the nurse practitioner could be full of it...but I'm hopeful. I'll be having surgery in Roanoke, Virginia. I work in my PCP's office, so I've been able to kind of push the paperwork through on this end to the surgeon's office All of the referral information and labs have gotten to them very quickly. I've also done everything they've told me to do. She said that really helps.

Are you able to get around by yourself? I think that may be the largest issue in determining how long you'll need an assistant handy. If you're ambulatory, you may be able to handle things on your own after a day or two at home. My surgeon seems to think I'll be okay after the first day at home. I guess he's planning on giving me some good pain killers!!!

I have my psych eval tomorrow. I was told if that is completed in one session, it will go to insurance approval mode. Insurance approval for my insurance typically takes one to two weeks, according to the nurse practitioner, but they have up to 30 days to respond to the request. I have butterflies in my stomach!!!! I'm so ready to get it done already.

My doctor asked me what the last weight was when I felt good. I told him that was around 190, at the very lowest end of the obese section of the BMI chart for my height. He told me that was realistic and absolutely doable. I'm okay with that. I think my body will do what it needs to do and get me where I need to be. My hope is to get under 30 BMI, but I'll be completely okay with weighing less than 200 and being active and healthy feeling again. My highest weight was last year at 320. I'm so scared of ending up there again. I was miserable. I see the shrink tomorrow for the psych eval. I could potentially be having surgery in a month or so. *fingers crossed* I'm so excited and terrified at once. I really think that in the end, if we end up happier, healthier and feeling much better than before surgery...it's a success.

I'm still pre-op. My biggest fear about the whole procedure is vomiting after surgery. I have this irrational fear of ripping the staples loose.

I think each program has their own criteria. Some places will have you see a therapist, while other places are more concerned with the liability aspects. I have counseling in the past, during a nasty divorce. The surgeon's office gave me a huge book of questions to answer for the psych eval. I have that eval next Friday. I'm hoping they don't try to make me go back to counseling. I'm all good these days....just sick and tired of being sick and tired and fat.

I just met my surgeon last week. I go back for a follow up, nutrition counseling and the psychological next week. I'm hoping to get a surgery date shortly after. Best of luck to you!!

Hi! I'm hoping to learn a lot of information as I begin this process. I had my first appointment at the surgeon's office this week. I'm having the required tests completed as I wait for my March appointment to speak with the surgeon directly, but the nurse practitioner seemed to think I am a candidate for the surgery. I'm excited and slightly terrified. I'm primarily considering the sleeve because I'm concerned about malabsorption along with the restricted caloric intake. I'll consider whatever options the surgeon offers, if any, but will make my decision based on what I feel is right for me. I've been working hard this year to lose weight. It's more difficult with each passing year. I've been a yo-yo dieter all of my adult life. I'm hoping this surgery will be the tool I can use to stop that cycle forever. I've always been an active person and the gradual weight gain over the past 15-20 years has really slowed me down. I just want to feel like me again. When I topped out at 320 pounds, I cried for two days. Fortunately, my blood work at that visit showed my thyroid that had been barely functional for years had decided to stop working altogether. The addition of a thyroid medication has helped my energy level and so many other issues. It's also helped me lose some weight since starting it. I have no desire to be a Barbie doll. I'll be happy to be healthier. I just want to feel better and have my life back...to not feel like I'm judged when I go out to eat...to not hear other people's comments behind my back...for people to stop asking me if I've ever tried losing weight. (Why didn't I think of that!?!) I had a patient recently tell me "You're such a pretty girl if you weren't so fat." She honestly thought she was giving me a compliment. I cried in the restroom after she left. In the past few years, I've been diagnosed with several co-morbidities- diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol and triglycerides. Depression and anxiety have been sneaking in as well. I don't want to die too young. I want to see my kids begin their adult lives and maybe be a grandmother some day. So....I've told a lot of my story. Probably more than many of you wanted to know, and most likely similar to many here. I'm looking forward to gaining some insight from the posts here. Thanks for your time.