Dogmom68

Hi!! Congratulations on your surgery! I understand what you’re saying! I had esophageal spasms after surgery and they hurt like the dickens!! I thought it was my heart! Fortunately, it wasn’t but it still didn’t make the spasms any less difficult to deal with. They eventually subsided after a little while.

I’m so sorry you got postponed, too! My surgery was supposed to be on 8/8. Talk to your surgery scheduler at your surgeon’s office. They have a lot of experience dealing with denials and approvals with insurance companies. I used to be a surgery scheduler for the doctor I worked for for many years. Sometimes it’s just a records issue (they need) or another test needed to document the medical necessity. My sleeve was initially denied until my sleep study records were sent. (I had horrible sleep apnea.) Now I’m having to jump through the hoops to get my hiatal hernia repair approved and my gastric bypass conversion. I’m not too concerned at this point; just annoyed with having my surgery day postponed. I had an EGD on 7/19 and I’m scheduled for an Upper GI/ barium swallow on 8/15. I’m hoping this test will help get the approval.

After my VSG, I had to do clear liquids for about a week or so and then two weeks of regular liquids until my follow up with my doctor. After that appointment they released me to move on to very soft, puréed foods. I found the puréed stage difficult because I wasn’t sure what to make! I watched lots of YouTube videos about making foods in different stages. And trying to get a lot of protein was very difficult (still is for me!)

Don’t panic! The same thing happened to me!! My heart rate is really low now since I had surgery a year and a half ago. My heart rate will even drop to the high 40s! I spoke to my doctor and he said as long as I don’t feel dizzy or weak then I’m okay. It’s just a side effect of the weight loss. I feel perfectly fine! I would still touch base with your doctor though and discuss it with them. Better to be safe! 💕

You could be getting dehydrated and your electrolytes are off. You could try combining Pedialyte and water or Gatorade and water to help with that. Some people say to try and sip a little dill pickle juice. I haven’t tried it but I hear the brine has a lot of electrolytes. I tend to sip on Swansons sipping bone broth (chicken flavor) with a little salt in it since it’s so bland. It has more protein AND you’re hydrating yourself in the process! If you start feeling really bad you might need an IV to rehydrate. Don’t hesitate to go to the ER if you feel really bad.

Welcome, Amanda! What type of surgery are you considering? I had a VSG a year and a half ago and am getting ready to have a revision to RNY. There are a lot of really great and knowledgeable people on here so be sure to ask questions that will help you on your WL journey! You’ll find that once you decide on the type of surgery you want to have you should join more specific groups. People are very happy to share their thoughts and answer questions. So…. glad you’ve joined us!😁

Hey! I have BCBS. I was fortunate when I called my insurance company to get a representative who had just recently had gastric bypass surgery so she was incredibly helpful! She said it was not uncommon to be denied initially and that my doctor could either do a peer-to-peer call with one of their doctors or my doctors office could order some other tests to document the hiatal hernia further. Once that was done they could re-file and most likely I would be approved. So I haven’t given up hope yet! 😁

I had to research vitamins myself, too! I watched a lot of YouTube videos about bariatric surgery and nutrition. Very informative stuff out there! I decided to go with Barimelts vitamins since I’m horrible at taking pills. I like the Barimelts since I can just chew them up. And they taste pretty good, too! I’ve had excellent bloodwork since my surgery so I know they help. I adjust what I need based on what my bloodwork results are. I also decided to add the chewable probiotic since I figured it couldn’t hurt.

I feel your frustration! I’ve only lost about 60 lbs in the past year and a half since my VSG. My dietitian isnt very helpful in my trying to get my grams of protein other than adding protein shakes which definitely slows down my weight loss! I’ve resorted to eating (and tracking!) an all protein diet (eggs, fish, chicken, etc..) and adding in small amounts of green veggies. To get to my protein goals I have to add a protein powder like unflavored GenePro to my food and drinks. I only weigh myself a few days a week. Now I’ve developed terrible acid reflux and a hiatal hernia so I’m going to be revised to a RNY. I’m hoping it will fix a multitude of issues!!! Hang in there! Take a look at MyFitnessPal to track your food and macros!

I started to have GERD symptoms about six months after my VSG. They’ve continued to worsen and now bother me in my sleep a lot. Even though I take esomeprazole in the AM and Pepcid in the PM. To be honest, I wish I would have just had the bypass to begin with! I only lost about 40 to 50 lbs with my sleeve, as well. I still have 50 to 60 lbs to lose so hopefully once I can get my hiatal hernia repaired and the bypass done then I’ll be able to work on losing that extra weight! 🤞🏻😁💕

Some of you may already know my surgery got pushed from 8/8 to 8/29 due to an insurance authorization issue. My doctor and surgery scheduler are working hard to try to get me approved for the hiatal hernia repair/ bypass. My insurance said it wasn’t medically necessary. So after already doing one week of pre-op liquid diet I get to start over around the 15th! I also have to have an upper GI to document the hernia. Fun fun! Please keep your fingers crossed that I can get through this!🤞🏻😊

Yes, my doctor is deciding whether or not to appeal or just submit a new request for authorization for repair to my hiatal hernia (and I self pay the bypass portion.) I have BCBS and they said my revision was not medically necessary. I’m afraid if my doctor submits paperwork for an appeal (and the whole thing gets denied again) then that’s the end of the road for me. I don’t mind paying the bypass portion since it’s very doable ($2600.) I almost feel like the hernia repair is more likely to be authorized. What do you think??

Well, I’m pretty disheartened. My surgery was pushed from 8/8 to 8/29 to give my doctor’s office time to resubmit paperwork for an authorization for a hiatal hernia repair. My insurance didn’t approve the bypass revision so I may have to pay that portion of the surgery myself. I had already started my pre-op liquid diet so now that’s on hold for a few more weeks. I was so ready to have my surgery next Monday and now I just feel disappointed and frustrated. If I could afford to pay for the entire surgery, I would just to avoid the hoops I’m having to jump through to get this approved. I could use some words of encouragement right about now. 😢

Wow! 8 lbs! I’ve actually gained 2 lbs 🙄 and I’m not sure why considering I’m following instructions for my pre-op! Very frustrating! Maybe my body is just fighting to hold on to weight since I feel like I’m starving. I still hate drinking Protein Shakes and eating yogurt since I don’t know how I’m supposed to lose weight doing that. 🤷🏼‍♀️ If they would just let me eat natural, non-processed, non-artificially sweetened Proteins like egg whites, chicken, ham, etc.. then I know my weight would begin to drop some. Maybe I’ll just call my dietitian on Monday….

Hey! How’s the kitchen clear-out going? Anybody else getting prepped and ready? What else have you all bought to prepare for after surgery?

Kudos to you for sticking with your pre-op diet! I understand how difficult it is to stay strong and I feel the same way you do about wanting to eat something different. I’m so sick of protein shakes and yogurt I could cry! And I have one week to go. We can do this!!!😁

Continuing from my previous post…. One more thing I purchased was a multi-compartment pill organizer for my vitamins!😁

I ordered a pack of the 2 ounce plastic cups with lids from Amazon so I can prep food in small portions to keep in my fridge. I also picked up a small (tiny!) food processor at Target so when I get to the puréed stage I can make different kinds of food (tuna, chicken, eggs, etc..) I got a new, small battery-operated food scale and a small hand-held strainer for soups (to take the chunks out) both from Amazon. Oh, and a tiny glass measuring cup that measures in small increments (ounces.) I found that at my grocery store. Food wise, I have Swanson sipping bone broth (chicken and beef) and Better than Bullion in chicken, beef, and vegetable - that’s all the food right now other than Premier Protein shakes. I’ve watched loads of YouTube videos about post surgery food preps so I feel pretty good with what I have so far. I hear some people pick up unflavored Pedialyte to mix with water, etc… to keep electrolytes up. 😁🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

That’s great! The chewable vitamins really make things so much easier! Because they’re so easy to take, I never miss a day! We’re you able to find a good coupon code? The one I always use is KIMH20 for 20% off my orders. Be sure to subscribe to the emails and they’ll send you coupon codes, too. Let me know what you think when you get them. 😊

Thanks! I should be able to try making a smoothie from the yogurt. Good idea! I’m still waiting to hear from my surgery scheduler about the hernia repair, etc.. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will all work out!🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I’ve been on my liquid diet for the past four days and I am sooo hungry! I’m limited to protein shakes and high protein yogurts. I’m so sick of them already! Also, I found out yesterday that my surgery authorization didn’t go through so I’m supposed to find out today if my surgeon will do the hiatal hernia repair; that way I can self pay for the bypass part of the surgery. My surgery scheduler quoted me $2600 for the bypass portion and that’s very doable for me! Now I just have to wait and see if my doctor will go ahead with the hernia repair! 🙏🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Hi! I’m so sorry about your obstruction!! Holy moly! My surgeon said my sleeve failed me, as well, so I’m having the revision 8/8. Im not on clear liquids but I did start my liquid diet today! Im looking forward to moving on with my weight loss and getting rid of this horrible acid reflux!

Barimelts!!! I can’t take those large horse pills, either! Barimelts has been a lifesaver for me. I get the Multivitamin with iron, the Biotin, the Calcium, and the probiotic. They’re all soft and chewable/meltable tablets in fruit flavors. If you Google Barimelts for coupon codes you can usually find some! I always use a coupon code when I order! They ship quickly, as well.

Yes! Swanson Sipping Bone Broth is a staple in my cabinet! I like just the plain chicken flavor even though I have to add some salt to it.

I’m having my revision done by Dr Joey Jarrard at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. His office does accept self pay. When I was getting ready to have my VSG, my insurance initially denied coverage so they quoted me a flat amount to have the surgery. Eventually my insurance did cover my surgery but it was good to know that they were willing to work with me if I needed to self pay. The staff in his office is really great and they communicate very well with their patients. The surgery scheduler keeps me informed of every step in preparation for my revision. If you want to talk to her, her name is Samantha and she’s very nice. I think she would be able to let you know about self pay options. Their office number is 850-877-6212. Best wishes and I hope you can get scheduled for surgery soon! 😊