Deegirl31

I do love Atlanta also, same here about the commute though. Lol. Ya I don’t drive in Orlando especially with the I4 Ultimate project, the construction is crazy and confusing! I will surely wave as you come through. Winter Park is beautiful, especially down town. We take the Sunrail sometimes to Winter Park when family comes to visit. I never use the site. I call them directly and leave a message and the Dr calls back directly or whom ever you are trying to reach there. The nutritionist actually gives you her person cell to text her with any questions or concerns you have regarding weight or diet. I just saw about the gas. Yes, you will have gas and it is painful, I was only in pain for about 2 days that’s it. They do encourage you to walk, walk and walk. That’s what I did and it really helped. I have had ZERO complications since the surgery. Just now dealing with the hernia complications.

I actually was shocked with the insurance, it’s not through our regular health plan, its like an add-on that my husbands company has. Every procedure they cover is based on The Dr’s recommendation and not insurance guidelines. The only requirement is our deductible has to be met. It’s really a nice benefit. I was supposed to see Dr. Gorjala but he only sees patients on certain days. I was nervous about Dr. Lytle but ended up completely at ease. A little back story, I did not want the surgery, but all of my local doctors said I needed it. My BMI was only 32 I weighed 188 and am 5’0” and had been on weight watchers after a botched hysterectomy. I had gotten up to 201. I developed a large incisional hernia and no one would fix it until I was down to my ideal weight and weight watchers and gym was not doing it fast enough. My regular insurance would not cover it because my BMI was to low, I was only borderline diabetic, and no cardiac issues or high blood pressure. I was going to file a complaint with the health insurance and our insurance advocate told me about the program. Dr. Lytle reviewed my medical records and had to convince me that my local Drs were right and that I needed to have this surgery to get the hernia fixed. I just met with a local surgeon for the hernia, through the same program and found out how bad things really are, but because I had the surgery I can be fixed. All of my large and small intestines are outside of where they are supposed to be and I have no stomach wall so they need to rebuild it. I will lose my belly button. I live in Central Florida half way between Daytona and Orlando. My next surgery will be in Orlando at ORMC. Atlanta is huge and I do not miss driving around there. Thankfully we were staying in Sandy Springs around the corner from the hospital. We did travel to Centennial Park when we were there for consult. The traffic is horrible there so I can understand your concern. Lol. I want to wish you luck with everything. It sounds like you have been through a lot yourself. I know everyone at Bariatric Innovations will take great care of you! The trip was well worth it. I wanted Dr. Lytle to fix my hernia also and he agreed to do it, but I needed to consult with a local surgeon first. If it wasn’t so far I would have gone with Dr Lytle but because of the seriousness of the hernia I decided to go with a local surgeon to avoid all the traveling.

I’m rooting for you! Keep me posted, you will do great! 🤗😊

Actually my insurance company paid for my flight and cost of the surgery. My husbands employer carries an umbrella policy for medically necessary surgeries with tops surgeons all over the United States.  Anyway, yes I needed a cardiac clearance, which was an EKG, required by Dr. Lytle. I was 2 weeks away from my 50th birthday 8/15/19. Congratulations on quitting smoking so long ago. You will love Dr. Lytle, he is easy going but open and honest. His requirements are not super strict in my opinion. 

Hi Bezy, I have extenuating circumstances so there was no medical insurance requirements because it was strictly for medical reasons. The office required the following: Testing: EKG, colonoscopy, endoscopy, psych evaluation, support group. They also give you information to watch videos online to understand the procedure and the transition. Diet: Depending on your weight at your meeting with the nutritionist, the pre-op diet (for me) was 2 weeks soft, 2 days liquid. Yours will be based on your specific situation, so it may be longer I believe. You MUST BE SMOKE FREE and they will test you, No carbonation and no caffeine. I hope this is the info you needed and it helped. They will give you a packet once you meet with the surgeon and nutritionist.

Dr. Lytle is an AMAZING Dr!! You will love him and his staff at Bariatric Innovations of Atlanta! He is kind, compassionate and very honest about everything from beginning to end! He is quick with responding to any questions you have at any time. The entire staff is friendly and helpful. They truly saved my life emotionally. I have had no problems at all getting in contact with the nutritionist, or Dr. Lytle for any follow-up care needed over the phone. They will work with your local doctors as well, being that you are out of state. I have NO complications from surgery, he is very careful and thorough. I am 6 months out. Good luck with your upcoming surgery, you are in excellent hands. I hope this helps. PS since we will be surgeon sisters, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I’m very happy for you!

Today is surgery day! See those on the losers bench soon

Deegirl, another thing we have in common. I'm flying to Las Vegas for my surgery! Whoohoo!! Together, we got this!!!

My surgery is August 15th I am having the sleeve. The rest of this week and next is going to fly by. We are flying to Atlanta for the surgery, so I have lots going on. I have a phone pre-op this week for the hospital. Then dr pre op next Tuesday and hospital pre op next Wednesday then surgery Thursday.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For sharing and updating your experience after surgery. I’m so exciting for you and that all has worked out well so far for you. Best of luck on the rest of your journey and positive thoughts that it’s as smooth as possible.

I know you got this! It’s interesting to read the different ways the doctors do things from pre-op to post-op. I wish you the absolute best on your surgery and will be watching and supporting you!

Hi nssmia, this is just my personal input. I am having the sleeve strictly for medical reasons. I am 50 pounds from goal, I too was on WW and I still do Walking CD’s with Leslie Sansone. It is low impact but works! The WW and exercise is just not enough to lose the weight to fix an incisional hernia, which is getting bigger. Ultimately the decision is yours, however if I did not have this issue, I have no doubt I would have lost the 50 pounds between WW, the Walk CDS and Gym. I know you can do it too! You got this! BTW I will be 50 on 8/31 my surgery date is 8/15.

That's awesome! We're like Surgery Sisters! Have you started the preop diet yet? I did and it's a killer! The only thing keeping me going is knowing what good lies ahead. Good luck!! Hey! Gosh it took forever to find your response so I could respond. Not sure how the site works. Anyway, I love that we are Sisters now and we can certainly go through this together! Yes I have started the diet, not to bad right now. Low calorie, low fat high protein for 7 days, then liquid diet for 4, the 3 days clear liquid. There has to be a way we can keep in touch easier than searching through pages of comments. Lol

Hi everyone, newbie here and reality is setting in that my surgery will be scheduled really soon. I am 50 pounds over weight and 5’0, I will be having the sleeve at the recommendation of my doctors. My story is long, but I first want to say that you all amaze me! To do what you have to do and be brave enough to go through surgery to get your lives back! In my readings here, you are all beautiful inside and out and I congratulate you all for taking care of yourselves, not only physically but mentally as well that is no easy task but you’re doing it!! I never in a million years would have opted for surgery before facing the situation I’m in. Yes, my surgeon had to convince me that this was the best option for me. My story begins back in December 2017 when I had an open hysterectomy that became severely infected and put me in wound care for 7 months, in February the wound vac was removed because it was deteriorating my skin and had wet to dry dressing changes and I was told that I needed to be careful for the rest of my life because I would be prone to hernia’s, fast forward to March 2018, my Dad was sick with pancreatic cancer and he had taken a very bad turn for the worst within a week, I helped my Mom get him to the Dr. When we got him home he was so weak he almost fell and I caught him. He passed away the next day. I was still under wound care with dressing changes. I saw pictures from when family was here and was shocked by how much weight I had put on due to my limited mobility. I decided in May to join Weight Watchers and was doing well and lost 35 pounds after being cleared in July 2018 to start walking and light exercise. In December 2018 I felt a bad burning sensation in my belly and thought it was my skin disease flaring up. My Dr ran some scans and low and behold I had a large hernia that developed. I was sent to a local surgeon who told me that I needed to lose 50 pounds fast, that WW was not good enough and that my stomach is in such delicate condition that he would not fix my hernia, that I needed a specialist and he referred me to a bariatric surgeon locally. They to refused to help me because my BMI was to low and insurance wouldn’t approve. This completely derailed me and on went 20 pounds! If they didn’t care neither did I!! My saving grace came when my husbands company told me they carry an insurance plan for situations such as mine! The heavens opened up and I began my journey to bariatric surgery. I was sent to Atlanta to consult with a specialist that will not only do the bariatric surgery but fix my hernia as well! The hernia will not be fixed until 3-6 months after the sleeve to ensure the sleeve holds without complications and no infections due to my condition and being prone to infection. Needless to say, I am having this surgery to get to having my hernia fixed, and to prevent any further hernias recurring. I am petrified of what I’m going to look like, as my belly is pretty deformed now from scar tissue, fat and the hernia. I am scared of the complications that can happen and the risk of infection. My surgeon has reassured me that the sleeve is the least risky, but there is still a risk. I am back down to only needing to lose 50 pounds to put me at 135 although my weight for my height should be 110. They would like me to maintain between 110-135 wherever I’m comfortable. I feel that I will become under weight and get sick, or look sick. I’m not sure how to address these fears because for me it is the fear of the unknown. I was given the option of continuing with WW and exercise and he will fix the hernia at 135 but there is the possibility the weight will come back and I will be right back where I started so backing out is not an option, the pain of the hernia is too much. I’m sorry this is so lengthy but this is how I got here and facing my fears have really hit me and I needed to get this out somehow. Thank you to those that read it and thank you for being an inspiration to many like me. Best wishes on your continued journey. 😊

Thank you! I have decided to move forward and surgery is August 15th. I am very happy with the way things are going and feel it is absolutely the best decision I could make for myself. I know in my heart it can only get better from here. Thank you for your encouraging words and best to you on your continued journey. 😊😊

Deedee12 you are kinda lucky. I have been struggling with what to buy. I have bought and returned so much to the store already and I’m 4 days in. I have to be on low calorie, low fat low carb diet for 7 days, then liquid diet for 4 then clear liquids for 3.

Hi I’m in Central Florida near Daytona. I am having surgery in Atlanta GA with Dr. Nathan Lytle. You?

I started mine today also. How is it going for you? I’m doing okay slightly hungry.

Me also! We can go through this together if you want. I’m nervous but making the best of it. Good luck with everything on your journey ❤️

Deedee12 thank you! I honestly didn’t know why it was happening. I try to read as much positive information as I can and I do feel this is the best decision for me. I love looking at the before and after and reading all the success stories. I’m not trying to seek attention or be self-serving I’m just more nervous than I thought I was I guess. I’m trying to get as much information I can. Having any more surgery is terrifying to me and I have to have one more after the sleeve. Which is the reason for the sleeve. I am very confident in my surgeon, he gets my history and understands my situation so much I cried. It’s hard to find a dr that “gets it”. I noticed our names, and it’s really neat we are a day apart! I will be watching out for you and praying for success as we go through this together. Thank you for your great advice, I do feel better about what’s happening. ❤️

I’m scheduled for surgery on August 15th. I had a bad experience the last surgery I had. Not with anesthesia, but had a bad infection after. Lately I have been having dreams about going under. A few days ago I woke up yelling no and felt like I couldn’t breathe. Last night I had another dream I kept trying to take the mask off. Is this normal? Should I reschedule until this subsides.

Thank you! Me too! My plan is go into this head first and to just do what I have to do! The eating thing just got me. Thank you for the advice!

Hi again, I am nervous nelly... I have been reading A LOT of support groups and many people are saying that after surgery they hate food, food makes them sick, water makes them sick, certain foods they loved they now hate, certain drinks they loved and now hate. Is this a normal thing? What causes this? I have a plan and am preparing by trying different things and trying to figure out for example which protein shake I like best, which water flavor I like best, saving recipes to try from purée foods, to Frozen slushy drinks ( I live in Florida) to have to still get my water intake and help with nausea. I’m just worried all this effort will be for nothing? Am I wasting my time? Should I just wait until after? Do your taste buds change? What is happening?

Oh great! I will get some for sure! Thank you for the suggestion I had no idea!

Thank you everyone! I definitely will not be stocking up on anything until after. We will be traveling out of state for the surgery, will they provide samples or what should I try while in Atlanta? I won’t be able to bring it back on the plane.