Diana_in_Philly

One of the things that always makes me vomit is eating too quickly. It should be taking you 30 minutes to consume that 3-4 ounces of dense protein. You should not be drinking for 30 minutes after you eat. That, for me, definitely makes me vomit. If you h ave reflux, talk to your primary care doc about getting an Rx for Protonix or another PPI to help. Reflux can add to the nausea situation. I'm 13 months out and I can sometimes eat 8 ounces total at one meal. Not often. The other night I ate about 2/3 of a 6 ounce salmon portion and about 1/4 cup of zucchini noodles for dinner and thought I was going to die I was so full. Take your time. Chew well. Do not rush eating. I know as a teacher you have a limited time to eat, so maybe make lunches at school softer foods that you tolerate more easily like soups and yogurt. I would also find a registered dietitian in your area that is part of a bariatric practice and pay out of pocket for a visit -- it sounds like you need some help planning menus to fit your dietary issues and an RD can help with that.

In April 2016, I was 271.5. Surgery day (8/23/16) I was 246.9. I committed to getting my head in the game and eating better and exercising. I'm 13 months out and 102 pounds down. I found a personal trainer I liked in my pre-op stage and worked with her until I hit my 1 year mark. (She moved to Colorado for graduate school, so I'm working on finding someone new currently.)

Let's see if I can remember all the questions -- I'm 13 months out and down 102 pounds. No 2 week liquid diet - however, I had a 2 week very low fat, 1000 calorie a day diet with the suggestion of 60 grams of protein a day. So I did a shake for breakfast, a salad with protein and lemon or balsamic vinegar for lunch and lean protein, salad and veg for dinner. It wasn't horrible. My insurance had no wait period, but my practice required three months - which was basically long enough to get all the testing taken care of - I had to have pulmonary clearance (I have asthma), cardio, chest x-ray, barium swallow, endoscopy and psych eval. I had to meet with my nutrition team (registered dietician) once a month and learn about my post op eating plan and talk about any challenges pre-op. I had to attend at least 1 support group meeting. I had to do a 1/2 day education session on the post-op eating phases (I had VSG) in the week prior to surgery. I had to track my foods during the process. I had to attend an information session before scheduling an appointment with my surgeon My first visit with the team was 3 hours. I saw the nurse practitioner every month to follow up on blood work, etc. My first appointment was on May 11. My surgery was on August 23. We didn't get to surgery dates until after we were confirmed approved by insurance. I was the first procedure on a Tuesday and was home by 1 pm Wednesday. Best of luck! This is the best decision I've ever made (after marrying my husband and having my two wonderful daughters.)

If your insurance is provided by your employer, getting a supplemental plan is unlikely. Unless you have a spouse and can be added to spouse's plan, which does cover WLS. Your best bet is to wait until the next open enrollment period and see if any of the plans available to you offer WLS as a benefit. If not, there are lots of folks who have done Mexico as self-pay for about $5,000. (I was covered by insurance but there are whole threads on self pay) Good luck.

Quest Caramel Powder (comes in single serve envelopes if you just want to try one), 1 cup of cold coffee. Ice. 28 G protein caramel frappucino. You're welcome. (I add sugar free chocolate syrup to mine.) (I was allowed regular coffee, but you can use decaf.) I use a lot of coffee house type syrups (sugar free) to flavor vanilla. This morning, I had 8 ounces of Fairlife Skim milk, 1/2 cup frozen tropical fruits, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder and a couple squirts of coconut sugar free syrup. Blender. 31 grams of protein. Using 1/2 cup of frozen fruit should be OK with your plan, but check with your team. There's a great frozen mix at my supermarket that is blueberries and pomegranate. I use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of that with vanilla powder and water or milk, depending on mood. I still drink a shake for breakfast most mornings and I'm 13 months and 102 pounds out. It is easier for me when I'm busy and I can drink it in the car while dropping kid at school and commuting to office. My other two go-tos are Chocolate powder, water, 1 tablesppon of PB2, caramel syrup, ice. Snickers shake Vanilla powder, coconut milk, frozen mango and pineapple (about 1/2 cup) coconut syrup. Tropical delight Take a look at pinterest - there are so many ideas there. It does get better.

The best way to find the requirements for your surgery is to go to the web site for your policy and search "bariatric" to see what comes up. There should be policy guidance which lists the requirements. Some require a history of trying to lose weight (doctor's records can be enough), others require a monitored weight loss plan - often your surgeon's office already knows the requirements because they do this. Do make a list of questions you want to ask your surgeon. Consider bringing a trusted relative or friend with you to the appointment. My first consult was 3 hours and had to be done after attending an informational seminar at the hospital. There was a lot of information to digest (no pun intended) at that first meeting, so having another set of ears around doesn't hurt. best of luck.

Are you getting enough water in? It sounds like low blood pressure which can be due to dehydration. Try upping your water intake and adding a little salt to your diet -or drinking some Powerade Zero or G2. Were you on BP meds prior to surgery and have you continued them? Have you checked your BP lately? My BP always has run low (even at 271 pounds I was 110/70). These days I run 80/60 with a resting heart rate in the mid 50s. If I'm not active about getting my water in, I get woozy easily. Check your BP and chat with your team, but it could just be needing more water.

I didn't use Dr. Williams, but I can say that everyone I have interacted with in the system is great. The registered dietitians are amazing and I've been to the support group over at HUP as well. (My surgery was at Pennsylvania Hosp at 8th and Spruce). Best of luck!

Some people worry before surgery, others don't. That being said, I have had many operations/procedures which required general anesthesia or an epidural anesthetic (10 at last count). I get nervous before each - I think for me its because I am completely giving up control of the situation and putting myself in the surgeon and anesthesiologist's hands. And that's tough for me because I'm a control freak. So, it's ok to worry. But know that the likelihood of a surgical mishap is incredibly small. There is a calculator put together by one of the surgeon's groups using all kinds of statistics. Put in your surgery - I made some assumptions - that you were under 65, and had a BMI over 35 (therefore qualifying for a sleeve) and it came up with a 0.1% chance of death due to surgery. So, by that calculation - it's more dangerous to cross the street. Be careful going to your car! Or flying home. It's ok to have anxiety. It will be fine.

An exclusion is an exclusion, however, you can change policies during the next open enrollment and find a policy which does cover surgery. Work with a navigator or broker. I'm in Philly. Had my surgery done at Pennsylvania Hospital, which is part of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania - which is a Center of Excellence. They see patients as far west as Valley Forge. Surgery is in Philly at either Presbyterian, HUP or PA Hosp. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this group is. Best ofluck.

A diagnosis of reflux from the upper GI or endoscopy appears to be enough to trigger it. But I would speak with the insurance coordinator at your doc's office and not the NP - she doesn't do the insurance paperwork. Those folks generally know how to word things to trigger coverage.

My plan was fine with 0 calorie beverages - regardless of fizz or not. If there are no calories and no sugar - enjoy. Best of luck.

I'm a consultant/attorney - if I don't bill time I don't get paid. So, my surgery was on Tuesday. I was out of the hospital on Wednesday. I billed 3/4 of a day of time on Friday from home. I was back in the office on Monday. (I'm in the office 2 days a week.) I'm a desk jockey - no lifting, etc. All I do it work a computer and shuffle paper. It really depends on your recovery - your tolerance for the anesthesia, pain control, etc. I didn't use pain meds after I left the hospital. I was able to keep my fluids down with no real problem. Then again, I was in court 4 weeks after a c-section so, I have a pretty high tolerance for discomfort on so many levels. I think you'll be managing stuff from your home office by day 3 post op. Best of luck.

To show you some light at the end of the tunnel. I am 56 years old and almost 13 months out of surgery. I have been bone on bone in both knees for a long time (as in since my 40s). My orthopedic surgeon has wanted to replace my knees for the last 10 years. But I was too heavy. So I was getting by on the combination of cortisone and Synvisc (if you haven't tried Synvisc - do discuss it - I have found it helps.) Fast forward - I'm down 102 pounds. I know I'm still bone on bone, but I no longer have to take narcotics for the pain. (As in my knees were so bad I was at least 1 Vicodin a day to control pain.) I use Mobic (meloxicam) for my pain (it is a Cox-II Inhibitor - like celebrex) daily. Know what else - I fence 5 hours a week (as in en garde). I do TRX one hour a week. I do yoga and pilates. I have run a 5k (i won't do that again because I don't like running.) I can walk 15 or 20 miles before my knees really start bothering me. Really, it gets better. Down the line will I likely have the replacements done -- sure. But I'd love to make it 10 more years before I do. You can do this.

Take your measurements before surgery and monthly - chest, waist, hips, biceps and thighs. Sometimes the inches come off when the scale doesn't move. I would weigh weekly and not monthly. Monthly is too long a time to go between. If you decide to weigh daily (as I do) you have to be committed to not letting the plus or minus 5 get you down. (You can fluctuate that much in a day's time.) Best of luck.

I think walking through the door of the seminar was the hardest thing I've ever done. (I'm a lawyer, I try cases for a living - really - that walk through that door was harder than anything I've ever done professionally or personally.) I think, for me, the nerves were from finally admitting I could not win this battle with obesity on my own and needed help. I'm the one people come to for help - I don't ask for help. I was admitting that I was weak, and vulnerable and broken. And it was the best thing I ever did (other than marrying my husband and having my two daughters). I understand your nerves. Go, listen. Ask questions. Take time to think this through. But I have never regretted my decision to walk through those doors, no matter how scared I was at the moment. You've got this.

Are you meeting your protein and water goals? For me, I don't think I was at 1,000 calories until I was about 8 months out. I'm still at around 1,000 calories - 1,200 on days that I fence which burns about 1,000 calories. I make sure I don't eat the calories I burn. Try shifting your diet around to bump up your protein and drink more water. I wouldn't add calories. At 3 months, you should still be weighing and measuring and logging every bite you eat. (I log everything at 13 months, weigh or measure when I'm home.)

I have IBS-D - which has gotten better since surgery - fewer flares. As to working out, the important thing is to listen to your body post-op. I h ad my surgery on a Tuesday and was in the gym on a recumbent bike slowly pedaling on Saturday. As I started to feel stronger, I started to do more. By 3 weeks out, I was back to my cardio/weights routine with no real issues. But there were days when it was hard, so I took it easy - listen to your body.

I'm 13 months, almost, out. I'm down 102 pounds. I don't want my old life back. That was the life where I had to be sitting and could only walk short distances because of the knee pain. Where I couldn't help my daughter do college tours (or now move into her college) because I was tired and winded. The old me couldn't go ziplining in Jamaica, and horseback riding and tubing. The old me couldn't fit into size 8 pants. The old me couldn't be a competitive fencer in my age group. What the new me can do is all that and enjoy dinner and a drink, provided I've made an allocation in my calories for that alcohol, and enjoy the company of people. Went to a big picnic/party for my husband's running club last weekend - was able to eat a few things, have a glass of wine or two and enjoy the conversation. Give yourself some time - you are mourning the loss of a person you were and a time in your life to which you will never go back. You're doing great. Keep up with your plan and another six months from now, you'll look at that pre-op photo you did and go - crap - did I really look like that and feel that awful all the time. You've got this.

We love our Ninja.

Since my surgery last year, my hubby has lost 40 pounds, started running (did his first half marathon today) and our relationship is no different - it was good before and is good now. I think the status of your relationship before is the key.

I have lost 101 pounds. I have massive bat wings, but am not ready for surgery. I use ace bandages on my upper arms to hold them in. I wear either Fila or Nike workout bottoms which have some compression in them because the thighs are a jiggling. I understand Spanx makes some mid-section stuff for working out but I haven't tried it - the tummy is the least of my problems. I took up fencing. I work out in the gym regularly - using both a trainer and taking classes. So my attitude has been, I'm trying to make myself healthier and I don't give a hoot about what you think about how I look. Make an appointment with a trainer to help develop your routine with weights and figure out exercises which help with cardio but help you avoid the jiggle. Best of luck!

I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 am on a Tuesday for an 8 am procedure. I went home Wednesday at about 1 pm.

Starting somewhere between 5-6 months, I would have 1-2 glasses of wine a week, only if I had met my protein and water goals for that day and had extra calories to "spend" on wine. My team was OK with it. I'm 13 months out and enjoying a Kentucky Mule right now (bourbon, fresh lime juice and sugar free ginger beer). People have very strong feelings about this, so be prepared for a ton of responses.

I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 am Tuesday and left at 12:30 pm Wednesday. I didn't sleep well the one night I was in because someone was in every hour to check something - BP, Temp, etc. I got up everytime someone came in to walk a lap of the floor. I didn't talk to anyone and didn't want to. I wanted to sleep and did fitfully. Why would I make my husband sleep on an uncomfortable hospital couch or chair and have him not get any sleep either. He was at the hospital until about 5 pm and then went home to be with our girls. He came back after I called him to tell him I was being discharged. (We only live 10 minutes from the hospital.) I really don't know why anyone would want their spouse to stay over. It's not like when you have a baby and you don't trust anyone else with your newborn. You aren't going to sleep and neither is he, which mean the kids will have two, tired, grumpy parents when you get home.