Diana_in_Philly

I'm required to do 3 months pre-op. Third visit is in early July. My docs office says 4 weeks to get approvals and final clearances, so I'm looking at August. I can't do early August, as we have a pre-planned vacation visiting colleges with our daughter who is a rising high school senior in the first week of August. So, probably toward the end of the month (I hope.)

Start 263.1. Goal 250. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Our scale is very unreliable. (It is one of the $19.99 Weight Watchers scales). If you get on it three times in a row, you have three different weights. If you move it two inches on the tile bathroom floor and stand on it, your weight changes. So, as I'm making my way toward my surgery (no date yet but likely in late August or early September), I'm looking for a new scale. While I'm willing to spend a good bit, I'm skeptical of these scales that are $150 or more. If it is that expensive, I'd love for it to be able to send the data to my phone. Any recommendations? Thanks, Diana For what it's worth, I've been using the scale at the Y to compare and confirm. I'm down 8 pounds since my first visit with my surgeon on May 11.

Photo taken of me with oldest daughter headed to junior prom in April. I'm always the one taking photos. I was mortified when I saw it. And I've felt like crap the last few years. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@jennmcd623 - You go girl! 73 pounds. Wave a flag! Blare a trumpet. You are moving in the right direction. As to your co-worker - I'm not good at diplomacy -- too many years of being a trial lawyer. I would after listening quietly, say "And what medical school did you go to?" Oh, you didn't? Well, my medical team thinks differently, so STFU!!!!!" Be loud and be proud, girl. You are mighty and a warrior who is winning this battle.

The BMI chart has me "normal" at 130. I say I'm 5'3" but on a good day I'm 5'2.5" and will probably be shorter when this is all done. The last time I weighed 125 was when I was competitively figure skating pairs in the late 70s. I was in my late teens and training 4 hours a day. I could eat no more than 2000 calories to stay at 125 with that training regimen. (My partner complained of lifting me if I was over 125). I'll be happy if I get to 150, which I haven't seen since before I was 30. You have to do what's right for you and your body and what your docs think will work for you.

Keep a detailed log of your phone calls, including the date, time and name of the person you speak with at the insurance co or their TPAdministrator. Keep copies of everything you send. Ask who specifically the information must be sent to, either by email or fax, and then keep the "receipt" from the email or the fax. Call 2 hours after sending to confirm receipt. Get the names and titles of each person you speak to. Make it clear to them that you will hold them accountable. If you are in a plan provided by your employer (and your employer has more than 50 employees and is not a local or state entity) feel free to say something like "I really don't want to have to get an ERISA attorney involved."

I'm in. Diana Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

United offers this for "chronic" conditions. I was offered one for my asthma when I had UHC. I refused. I have a perfectly good team of physicians who have examined me and know my situation. I don't need a nurse on the phone five states away to tell me to call my doctor to answer a question she couldn't possibly answer. Carriers do this to try to cut costs, because many patients with chronic conditions (asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) wind up costing the carriers significantly in unnecessary ER visits and hospitalizations because they do not understand their condition or work consistently with their medical team. It really is up to you. If it were me, I'd say thanks but no thanks. Just my opinion.

In all likelihood, an individual insurance plan that covers it would cost more in premiums than the surgery. Since your husband has insurance through work, you aren't eligible to try to buy through one of the Marketplaces. Do check all the written materials for the plan -- often it is covered but buried in the fine print. Many plans require one or two additional conditions in addition to BMI over 35 -- high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Go to the website for the plan and check your plan documents.

@@jane13 - it is louder but quicker than my standard blender which could never handle ice and fruit like this. I'm going to donate my old blender to our church rummage sale. I've only at the Ninja a week and I do love it.

@@csawesome - I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I have sort of been there ((no kids). GET THEE TO A LAWYER TO PROTECT YOU AND THE KIDS. I can't state how important this is. Find out what your rights are in the event it all goes to hell in a handbasket. The fact that he was the one who had the affair affects things legallay in divorce in most states. (Not offering legal advice for CO where I am not licensed. - but do talk to someone.) That being said, spend some time with your therapist determining what you want. Take care of you and the kids first. He's a grown ass man who can take care of himself. That being said, the easiest 180 pounds I ever lost was when I divorced husband 1 in 1993. It was the best thing that ever happened to me because it put me in the place were I met the wonderful man who is now my husband and the amazing father to our 2 kids. Try to be open to whatever the universe (or God - depending on your beliefs) is telling you.

I have had an immersion blender for years for soups and sauces and would have never used it for smoothies. This weekend I bought the NutriNinja with Auto IQ from costco. (Way cheaper than anywhere else). I'm pre-op, but trying to lose and have been using it for fruit/protein and/or greek yogurt smoothies. I love it. I love that I can just put the lid on the cup and head out the door to the office. Yes, it is loud, so if everyone in the house isn't up they will be after I make my morning shake.

They probably won't let you use your own socks -- hospitals (for safety reasons) like patients to wear those socks with the grippies on the feet. Maybe a pair of slippers instead? I travel with my own pillow because I'm particular about it. Sounds like you've got everything covered. Best of luck!

I'm working with a wonderful nutritionist and a personal trainer. I find when people get too personal, turning it back on them shuts down the conversation. I can't think of any this early in the morning for weight loss, but when people would ask me when my husband and I were going to have children I would respond with "Did you have sex last night?" They would look at me shocked and I would remind them that was what they were asking me and it was none of their business.

Just tried a FitCrunch Peanut Butter -- it was PB and chocolate with some crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside. 30G Protein, 6g sugar 190 cal. Really tasty. I found it at GNC. I'm sure they are elsewhere, too. They had lots of flavors including birthday cake, Cookies & cream, double (or triple) chocolate.

Hi, Guys! I'm fairly new - still in pre-op. I'm 5' 2.5" -- can I still come out to play? When I first saw my surgeon I was 271.2. I hope to get down under 150 (a weight I haven't seen since college.) I'm approaching 55 and want to be in better shape to see my kids (13 and 16) grow up and have lives of their own.

Tina - My insurance does not require a waiting period, however, my surgeon requires 3 months of supervised weight loss. The first visit counts as part of the three, so my July visit will be my third. Then, they will submit all the paperwork to my carrier for approval. My upper GI and chest x-ray are set for May 31. My psych evaluation is in mid-June. I have to stop at the lab tomorrow afternoon for my blood work. I still have to make an appointment with my primary to get a letter of support from her. Then, it takes anywhere from a week to a month to get an approval, depending on the insurance carrier. They will schedule me once approval comes in. So, I figure I'm looking at late August or early September for my surgery. My girls are 16 and 13. I'm planning on being back in the office within a week after surgery (I have a desk job). My surgeon does these generally on Tuesday. So by the following Monday, I'll be ready to roll. (I went back to work part time 2 weeks after my c-section with my second child). I'll likely be in the hospital only overnight, so my husband and the girls will survive one night without me. (They have before!) If you think she may be negative, wait as long as you can before you say anything. You don't have to say precisely what the surgery is -- just abdominal surgery and leave it at that. Keep me posted on how you are doing.

Hi, Tina! I'm just at the start too. I met with my surgeon last week and have started (again) eating more Protein, watching calories, cutting sugar, reducing carbs, etc. I have met with my NUT once so far and will see her again at the beginning of June. There is a whole thread about "who should I tell". FWIW, here's my two cents: I am 54, soon to be 55. I am more than 100 lbs overweight and have fought my weight all my life. Making the decision to see a surgeon was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I discussed with my husband and after we made a plan, with our 2 teenage daughters. I have told 1 friend who I knew would be amazingly supportive. My mother will not be told. She is not supportive, she is hyper critical and I don't need that. I will just tell her I'm on a very specific diet recommended by my NUT and am exercising more pre-surgery, only if she asks. If you will need her help after surgery, you may want to say something within the week or so before. Do not let her pressure you to stop doing what is best for you in your life. Hugs and good luck.

costco near Philly has Banana and this weekend they were sampling Caramel -- OMG -- the Caramel was sooooo good. This morning I threw a Vanilla in the Ninja with about 1/2c of strawberries and some ice -- it was wonderful.

For the most part, no. You may need to bring in a note from a doc saying you had surgery and need to be out for a certain period before you can return to work full duty, but generally no. It depends on a lot of things (e.g. size of company, state you live in, public vs. private employer).

I'm early in the process. I have been to the info session, met my surgeon and NUT and in the 3 month supervised phase. My Upper GI is next week and my psych eval is in June. I'm on target to have surgery in August or September depending on approvals. So far, I have told my husband, my two teenagers and 1 friend who I know will take it to the grave. I'm still deciding about what to say to others. Most who have known me have seen me gain and lose weight frequently. I just haven't decided yet. Right now, I can just say I'm watching what I eat and exercising more (which I am) and decide after surgery if I need to say anything. I'm unlikely to have to take time from work because I'll be in the hospital one night and my surgeon usually does these on Thursdays. So I can be back in the office on Monday. (I was back in my office part-time 10 days after a c-section - I'm one of those nuts.) But I'm only in the office 2x a week and work from home the rest of the time.

I'm following this discussion because I'm just starting down this road (meeting my surgeon tomorrow) and have only discussed this with my husband and two daughters (16 and 13). I've told 1 friend who is very supportive, but I don't know if I want to tell others -- I think its because I'm afraid of the reaction.