Sandi73

After two and a half months of working hard toward the goal of sleeve surgery, things have taken a bad turn. I had been doing so well cutting out carbs including my love affair with Dr Pepper and I was very ready for this change. Unfortunately, I was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly Thursday evening. I went the the ER with abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a portal vein blood clot. I'm still in the hospital and have been told I'll be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. Surgery is now out of the question this year and my insurance changes to an even worse policy next year, so there is really no way for me to work this out. I'm not only exceedingly depressed about not being able to have this surgery that would have changed my life, but am also now looking at a life on blood thinners and with constant blood draws. I just thought I'd give this last update since there have been a few very supportive people who've commented on this post and I wanted to say thank you before I leave. Good luck to everyone. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've had a DVT and a PE, so have a lot of experience receiving Lovenox injections. It has always been something I dreaded because it feels like burning lava spreading under my skin and I get dinner plate sized black bruises every time. I thought this reaction was normal until my most recent visit with a new hematologist who informed me I must have an allergy to it to have such a reaction. I have an extremely high pain tolerance, but I would cry for a solid hour before every scheduled injection. I'm glad that someone finally listened to what I was saying and figured out I'm not just being a baby. If you have a similar reaction, know that it is not normal and that there is an alternate drug that can be used. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks Jamie, I keep telling myself the same thing. I attended the first NUT appointment. I had no idea it would be such a long appointment. We were there for over two hours. People were asking questions that they could easily have answered themselves through research and I was surprised by how little some of them knew about this process having already decided to have surgery. One woman asked about drinking every individual type of diet soda and the NUT kept saying over and over, nothing carbonated. I learned a few things about my particular surgeon's process. He allows puréed food immediately after surgery and won't require a liquid diet before surgery if you are close to dropping below 40 bmi. I'm currently at 40.6 and am very worried about dropping below and no longer qualifying. Somehow I have to manage to maintain this weight without gaining an ounce or losing more than a couple of pounds for an undetermined amount of months. I also got more bad news. They handed out papers stating that we have to see the NUT for four months for the three month requirement. I thought the initial visit with the surgeon counted as the beginning and that was a month before this visit with the NUT. That puts me at not being able to submit paperwork until the beginning of July whereas I thought it would be the beginning of June. Considering how often Cigna denies the procedure, I figure it could take an additional two months to obtain approval and then the surgeon's schedule is apparently generally two months out. This puts me out to November. I was hoping to be 60 pounds lighter by Christmas, but now I have to maintain this exact weight all the way through November. Not sure if that is even possible. So many things keep stacking up against me. It is getting frustrating. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Had my hematology appointment today. As I dreaded, I will have to go home with Lovenox shots for 10 days. I told the doctor about my past experience with Lovenox feeling like liquid lava spreading under my skin and the dinner-plate sized bruises the shots always leave, and she thinks I'm allergic to it. She's going to try to get an alternative injection approved, but it's more expensive and she's worried Cigna may not be willing to cover it. I have an extremely high pain tolerance, so the burning lava sensation is not me being a wimp. I'm not afraid of needles, so I am fairly certain I can inject myself, but I'm not sure I can do it with burning lava. My first NUT appointment is this week and apparently it's a group appointment. I also go to the required support group this week. After that, the only appointments I have left to check off are the two additional monthly NUT appointments. I haven't come up with a plan to cover the deductible and OOP yet, but I'm not giving up. I need for this to happen. I want to actually live some of my life. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Two starbursts isn't too bad. I wish that's all I'd had! It's not so difficult to avoid chocolate if it isn't in the house, so I'm glad there isn't another candy holiday until Halloween. Were you able to hop back on the wagon? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's wonderful!! It's great that your insurance doesn't require you to wait. What are you looking forward to doing after the 100 lbs are gone? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Something I've used to motivate me in the past is listening to audiobooks while I walk/swim/etc. I purchased a waterproofed iPod shuffle from Amazon to listen to books in the pool. I truly hate sports and most exercise, but adding something I enjoy, made it interesting. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That is adorable! I have considered what I will do with all of my 4x Modcloth clothes, and I think I might be able to put a belt around the middles of the tops and wear them as tunics/dresses with leggings once I get thin. I don't want to get rid of them! The dresses will just be too big, but I'll try to save the tops. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I love Modcloth! Be careful though, the sizes run VERY small if you are used to US sizes. When I was a size 18, I had to order 4x. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My eval was last week. I had to speak with her for an hour and then spent a long time doing fill-in-the-circle tests. She was the only option I was given and she was herself quite overweight. I felt throughout that she was judging the choice for surgery and she made comments that though there was no psychological reason for me to be declined, that she thought the insurance would reject. I have a BMI over 40, but have no comorbitities. I've been upset ever since. I'll also be below 40 if I lose 15 pounds, so there's another worry. Overall, the psych eval, which should have been a simple thing, has now caused me great stress that I won't be able to get rid of until I can actually submit for approval. Just another worry to add to the list. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

A friend of mine owns a vintage dress shop and I always look longingly at the amazing vintage beauties she sells. I can buy vintage-inspired dresses since she caries them in 2x and sometimes 3x, but I want the actual vintage. That's my goal. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today has been rough. I had several mini chocolates while filling Easter eggs and then had coconut cake at my sister's BBQ. I haven't had chocolate since my birthday on the 14th and I'm worried I've opened a flood gate. I've been saving all of my receipts for medical visits for both my son and myself. Do copays go toward deductibles or OOP? If so, I could end up having at least the deductible covered by the end of the 3 month process. My son has been going to multiple appointments per week lately and I've spent a couple hundred in office visits this month alone. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I live just outside of KCMO. I've been to Kentucky once. I can't imagine being able to comfortably be out there after that one visit, but maybe different areas of Kentucky are more progressive. It sounds like you are well-prepared for your procedure. That's so exciting! OOP is out of pocket. My insurance has a deductible and an OOP, so my surgery will be quite expensive. I also need a hysterectomy, so my hope is that I can get both this year to meet the OOP max, but I have to be able to come up with the money first. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I have Cigna. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

KCMO At the beginning of the process. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

How did your appointment go Chae? Hi Tiney. I was surprised about the LGBT forum as well. It seems pretty dead, but at least it's here. I have only told two of my friends and am single, so I don't have much support either. I just started this process, so I don't have any idea when or if my surgery will be scheduled. I'm currently stressed about coming up with my deductible and OOP expense that they require I pay upfront. It's much more upfront than I had hoped. I haven't had any problem so far with the medical establishment with regard to being a lesbian, but I've spent over a decade having problems being obese in the LGBT community. I've had many harsh judgements and comments made to me by perfect strangers as well as by people I know concerning my size while socializing in LGBT venues. I've also found that despite the fact that I am well-educated, creative, and generally a thoughtful person, that other lesbian women judge me to the point of exclusion. I've been told directly to my face by a woman who absolutely loved my personality that she could never date me because of my size alone. She continued to tell me about how much of an amazing connection she felt to me for a few years, but never once considered rethinking her stance. While I have certainly dated and had relationships, I find it very difficult to get my foot in the door so to speak because of weight judgements. The last time that I went out to a gay bar, someone wrote "fat bitch" on my car window in black marker. If I had done anything remotely rude, I could understand, but I am very aware of my surroundings and ensure that I am polite and don't negatively affect those around me. I have manners. Honestly, I've been more hurt and mistreated based on weight than I ever have been based on sexual orientation. Those are only a couple examples of many. I'm sure you are very excited about your surgery date coming up soon. I haven't been on this app long at all, but there is a massive amount of good info here. I would love to hear how your surgery goes. Keep us posted. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App