cindym44

I was a nervous going in...I had followed my pre-op diet pretty well, limiting my carbs to almost nothing and lost 11 pounds. After my surgery, my surgeon told my husband she was sending a biopsy of my liver for screening because it was enlarged. She could tell I followed the diet, but my liver had not retracted enough. Results of the biopsy will come in about a week. After recovery and reaching my room, I was in pain. I was hooked up to a drip which provided pain medication and I pushed that button faithfully. I can remember thinking, "What did I just do?" My mouth was so dry and I couldn't even have ice chips - not until tomorrow. First day after surgery was the worst. I could not move without pain, I could not stand up without pain and I was full of gas - which caused even more pain. I was very, very tired, but at least I could wet my mouth. I was told by the nurse to drink 1 oz. of Water per hour for 4 hours, then increase to 2 oz. of water per hour for 4 hours, then 3oz. for the same 4 hours and then 4 oz. Another doctor came in and said I would be discharged as soon as I was able to take 3 oz of water per hour. I told him I would be there forever if I had to wait 4 hours before moving up to the next ounce. He said I could move up as I felt comfortable. By 5pm, I was taking 3 oz of water per hour and my discharge papers were being signed. First night home, I was still so tired. I went to bed immediately and stayed in bed most of the next day. I did weigh myself when I got home, but my weight had not changed from the surgery weight so I then decided I would do a weekly weigh in, on the anniversary of my surgery, if possible. I will have an in home nurse visit me twice per week. My nurse had the by-pass surgery 10 years ago and gave me valuable information. He said when I move to pureed foods, to try canned chili - it has a lot of Protein and isn't as nasty as pureed chicken. I can tell you that a lot of things were going on inside my body and I really wondered what I was thinking, but as the days go on, it does get easier. I am only on day 3 from my operation and I can feel a difference. I still have some pain and some gas, but it is improving. The first 2 days were the absolute worst, but the end result is so promising. I will post my weekly weight loss (hopefully) amounts. Hopefully this will help a newbie or help someone decide (or not to decide) to have this operation.

I had my surgery last Wednesday and quite honestly, I am sorry I told them I would be out for 2 weeks. By this Wednesday, 1 week from surgery, I will be ready to go back to work. Now that I told them I was having "surgery", I can't come back without a doctor's note. I am good to go...no pain, except for a little gas. I am calling my doctor on Monday and trying to get back asap.

Could it be possible that you are still carrying Fluid from the surgery? Are you urinating frequently during the day and at night? The first day I came home I didn't lose any weight either, but on day 3 home I lost 4 pounds. Be patient though...give it some time. You still may have a lot of fluid in your body from the surgery.

Different insurance companies require different conditions for approval. I had to have the 6 month structured diet program and it couldn't be a personal statement, but I didn't have to lose 5% in those 6 months, which other insurance companies do require with the structured diet program. My approval was in 1 day too. Your surgeon's office should make sure all of conditions are met before submitting as it can be difficult to overturn a denial.

I started the entire process by setting up a consult with the WLS surgeon. From there, I followed all of the requirements and one of the last things I had to do was blood work...which I had to go to my PCP for. The surgery was scheduled, and he didn't have time to tell me I could do this on my own, as he had casually mentioned in the past. Interesting bit of information though...My surgeon said everyone has a built in weight number in their body. When a person loses weight, their body actually fights to gain it back. This is why I would lose 30 lbs and gain back 40. With the sleeve, this doesn't happen because the sleeve resets the weight number. Think about that preset number...we all know people who don't have a weight problem - they can eat anything they want and they don't gain an ounce. Then there is us, another group who all we have to do is walk by a bakery and we gain 3 pounds. So, as for all these doctors saying you can do it with WW, or do it on your own, and you won't be successful, they don't have a clue. I am looking forward to being one of those who can speak from experience!

I am understanding that I cannot ever have caffeine again. Why? I just love iced tea (with splenda, of course) but have not been drinking it. I was hoping to be able to resume my love for iced tea again after surgery. May I do this?

Love this thread! I can't add anything....YET. I get sleeved on Sept 14th and I am beyond excited. But here are the can't waits for me: 1. I can't wait to stop shopping in the Plus Size Dept. 2. I can't wait to wear more form fitting clothes. I hate the loose fit that is supposed to hide my fat! 3. I can't wait to shop for a bathing suit....and like it! 4. I can't wait to wear dresses and show off a little leg! 5. I can't wait to wear tank tops in the summer!!! 6. I can't wait to wear boots...the ones that don't have the extended calf. 7. I can't wait to be able to run up and down the steps at work instead of taking the elevator. 8. I can't wait to get a new hair style...another phase of my complete makeover! 9. I can't wait to get off my blood pressure medications. 10. I can't wait to stop snoring....my husband will be forever grateful too! And finally.... 11. I can't wait to shop for sexy undies and show them off to my husband! These are just a few of my favorite can't waits.... It's almost here!!!

I started my pre-op diet on August 31st. I have cut all carbs out of my diet and am having a Protein shake for Breakfast or 2 scrambled eggs. I am then having a small cup of Greek yogurt for a mid morning snack. lunch consists of green Beans. Then another Protein Shake for an afternoon snack. dinner is a protein and a salad. I am eating sugar free popsicles like they are going out of style...but these are on menu for after my surgery so I thought they would be okay for before the surgery. My surgeon wants me on all shakes and then a small dinner at night - no carbs. I am now concerned that the days I am eating eggs, yogurt and green beans, plus the popsicles, might affect my surgery. Has anyone had to have their surgery cancelled on the table, due to a large and fatty liver? If so, what did you eat the 2 weeks before the surgery? My BMI was 35.2 to start...and my surgery date is September 14th. Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Please tell me all about your 2 week diets. Thank you.

Thank you both....I am just worried that something else will delay the surgery. Sounds like if I stay as carb free as I can, that will work.

i know this is a difficult question, but I am a clearance shopper and would love to shop for some new "after" clothes. Right now, I am heaviest in my upper body...from the waist up. I really hope to lose this upper body weight and hope to have a body that is all in proportion. My current size is 2XL top and size 14 pants, but the material has to be somewhat stretchy. How did you compare in before and after sizes? Thank you!!! P.S. Surgery is 9/14!!

I am sorry that this surgery wasn't for you. I haven't had my surgery yet, as I am scheduled for 9/14, but I can tell you I cannot wait. I would almost do anything to get rid of this extra weight. I have been struggling for years - going from one diet to another - only to lose the weight and gain it all back plus a little more each time. For once in my life, I can finally see that normal sized person at the end of this journey. There are a lot of people who are reading your story and wishing that they could be you because they aren't fortunate enough to get approved for the surgery. This doesn't mean that you should be thankful you got the surgery, it just means that people would love to be in your shoes. I have researched this operation every which way I could...from pre op, to post op, to 2, 3, 4 and 5 years out. I know I am in for major changes, but to me, it is worth it. I am truly sorry you are having regrets and hope you will be one of those people who can eventually eat like they did before the operation.

My BMI was just 35.2 and I got approved because I have high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. My surgeon's office did tell me not to lose any weight until I was approved though. Usually if you have other issues besides a BMI less than 40, you can get approved. In addition to high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, they will also consider sleep apnea and gerd. Some insurance companies also require a structured 6 month diet plan and want to see at least a 5% weight loss. This plan must be done within the last year too. I got lucky -- my insurance (BCBS) required the structured diet plan, but did not have a weight loss requirement. Pick a surgeon who has experience in submitting to your insurance because denials can be difficult to overturn. My surgeon's assistant has never had a claim denied and that was reassuring to me. She studies the guidelines for each insurance company and submits when they are all met. Good Luck.

Me too! September 14th!!! So excited...can't wait!!

Get the guidelines from your insurance company and read them. Have you completed everything that your insurance company requires? Are your 6 months of a structured diet program documented correctly? Does your insurance require that you lose 5% on the weight loss program? Some do, some do not. Have you completed your psych exam and nutritional appointments? Most insurance companies require a psychological exam plus visits to a nutritionist. Is your surgeon requiring that you attend a support group before surgery? Best thing is to read the insurance requirements and talk to your surgeon's assistant if you have any questions. Hopefully your surgeon's assistant is now doing her homework too - obviously they didn't do it before they submitted the first time. My surgeon's assistant has NEVER had a patient denied. Good Luck.

Pick an experienced surgeon...by that I don't mean one who has a lot of experience with the sleeve operation, although that is a good thing too, but I am talking about an experienced surgeon who knows how to document and submit to your insurance company. My insurance company required 6 months of a controlled weight loss program. My surgeon's office told me that Weight Watchers would work. Trouble was, everything I read online said that I had to show at least a 5% weight loss on this program. My nutritionist also said I had to lose 5%. I panicked, but submitted the Weight Watchers booklet anyway. I then drove myself crazy thinking I was going to be denied because I didn't have the 5% weight loss during my Weight Watchers membership. I didn't want to bring it up with my surgeon's assistant, thinking that maybe it wouldn't be noticed. I couldn't stand it anymore and finally asked "Will I be denied because I didn't lose 5%?" My surgeon's office said that that was not a requirement of my insurance. I about died. I had been driving myself nuts over this for nothing. Another thing my surgeon's office assistant did was insist on a nutritional class. She said even though it wasn't shown in my insurance guidelines, it would help me get approved. She was right. I was approved in1 day. My surgeon's office assistant then told me that she has never had a patient denied, no matter what insurance company they use because she makes sure everything is done before submitting. She went on to say that once someone is denied it is difficult to get the decision over turned as she has seen others struggle. Pick your surgeon carefully and ask lots of questions about the submission process.

My surgeon recommends Flintstones complete. Make sure they are NOT the gummy type. I will be taking 2 a day after my surgery. These are made for children and they really taste pretty good.

I am set to have my surgery on September 14th and have been reading everything I can, but I don't find many posts about how much weight people are losing and how soon after the surgery. For instance, after the first week, how much did you lose? Then after the 2nd week, how much weight did you lose? Then after each month, how much weight did you lose? When did you stall? I am thinking that the weight comes off in the beginning pretty quickly. I am anxious to estimate how much weight I would lose during the 4th, 5th and 6th months after surgery. My BMI is relatively low...35.6 and I am hoping to lose a grand total of 75 lbs. Thanks for any help -

I decided to opt for bariatric surgery in May 2016 and called to make an appointment with a surgeon. The first available appointment was over a month later, so I took it. The appointment went well and with a BMI of just 35.2, I was told not to lose any weight until I got approved. I did all of the required steps - the appointments with the nutritional dietician, the psycological evaluation and documentation from weight watchers to show my previous attempt at losing weight. I could have easily chosen Medifast or Nutrionsystem, but Weight Watchers was the most recent and the program had to be within the last year. When I was tryiing to schedule the dietician and psycological evaluation appointments, the first available appointments were not open until July and August. Bummer. I wanted to get this ball rolling as quick as possible, and practically begged for earlier appointments, but was not successful. I had to wait. During this time, I did my own research with my insurance company and found that even though my surgeon was requiring a nutritional appointment, my insurance company did not. I was excited that we actually didn't have to wait for this last appointment and called my surgeon with this good news. My surgeon's assistant promptly informed me that if I opted to have her submit without the nutritional appointment documented, she could not assist me if I got denied. She said I would be on my own. I trusted her and told her we would wait for that documentation after the August appointment. After all, she was the professional and certainly knew more than I did about all this. My claim was submitted on August 9th and I received approval on August 10th. My surgery date is September 14th. Words of advise...work with a surgeon's office who has experience with claims and let them tell you what documentation is needed, not matter what your insurance company says. I am glad I did.

I got my approval in 1 day! Blue Cross Blue Shield....

September 14 in Maryland for me. So excited!