The Greater Fool

Congratulations? When I had my RNY I had a hernia. I think they claimed I had GERD, but I honestly don't remember. They also took out my gaul bladder. Everything went swimmingly. Other than they couldn't get to all my gaul bladder, so I had to have a drain for a week or so. I understand the fear of complications. I won't share my litany of horror stories here. You'll be fine. Tek

It was my last 'real' meal. Haha, look how I talk, like I'm not eating real meals now. Tek

Congratulations. Success breeds success. Stay on plan and your mind will associate your plan with your success. Good Luck, Tek

Your second paragraph pretty much sums it up. People either give up or think they can do it without surgery. Your first paragraph I don't think is true. I don't think most people have an easy time of surgery. I know I didn't. Further, it's a fair bit of work to get approved. Honestly, insurance creates as many obstacles and work as they can because it will cause a certain percentage to quit. Others are scared of surgery, doctors, hospitals. Some rightly so. I hated going to doctors when I had a problem because it was always my weight. Further, as you say people are judged for being MO, so it's hard to go though a program to admit you need help. In many of our minds we BELIEVE it is a character flaw to be fat. And, again, giving up all that food. OMG, A 16oz Prime Rib, loaded baked potato, mushrooms, a good wine, that I will NEVER have as much as I want again! is a tough row to hoe for some people. Don't forget all the dieting competition. WLS is the enemy product, so it is villainized. WLS horror stories, I know I read many and had to accept it could happen to me. Many can't. Boy, I can go on an on, can't I Tek

I'm always a nudge on this, but what does your plan say about snacks? Especially at 6 weeks, all of our plans are different. For example, my plan does not include snacks at all. My Doc believed it was a bad habit to develop. Other plans insist on snacks. But, every plan I've seen than includes snacks has a concept of what they should be. So... what does your plan say? Once we know this, folks can come up with options that would work within your plan. Unless, of course, you've opted to go off plan, then... nevermind. Tek

I expected just such a reply. Good luck, you'll need it. Tek

I would contact my Doc pretty quickly. While you may be correct about it being your GB, it could also be referred pain of a heart issue, GERD, Hernia, or who knows what. I am not a Doc, but I watched HOUSE recently, so I can say this for sure: It's never lupus. Good Luck Tek

Welcome to the forums. About the only advice to offer is to get back on your plan. Religiously. It worked before, it can work again. If you aren't active or even exercising, perhaps do some of that. 1,000-1,200 calories may or may not be appropriate, it depends how those calories are made up. 1k of carbs <> 1k of protein. Good Luck, Tek

What is your plan at this point? What others eat is beside the point because we are not on your plan. Knowing your plan, I'm sure folks can come up with good suggestions. Tek

Definitely a Doc question. Tek

Welcome to the forums. Good luck on your preparations and surgery. Tek

Congratulations on making it through surgery. I don't recall feeling particularly chipper on day 3, of course I was still in the hospital. For context, my surgery was open and other things were also being done. By about day 4 I was afraid I was going to die. By day 6 I was afraid I wouldn't. Then it got better tolerably well. Effectively not eating for 3 days after a difficult surgery it would be amazing if you didn't feel like crap. Just focus on getting protein (drinks?) and fluids. Do the absolute best you can. It's all you can do. You will do better quickly. Don't expect to feel less that yucky for several days yet, but each day you should marginally improve. Keep plugging away. Tek

If it's on their website, it's their current policy.

I looked this up for you: https://www.azcompletehealth.com/content/dam/centene/policies/clinical-policies/CP.MP.37.pdf Tek

Knee and back issues would be comorbidities. WLS is *NOT* cosmetic, especially with a 50bmi and comorbidities. It is literally a life saving, health restoring surgery. Your insurance and surgeon are going to require all kinds of tests, history, likely documented weight loss efforts. You don't just sign up and get a date. You may have to take classes on the program. Every surgeon and insurance have different requirements that *YOU* must accomplish. They will tell you what and how. You need to RESEARCH (Interwebs work well) on the different surgery types. You need to understand each of them. This is important so you can advocate for the best choice for you. You will not succeed if you don't educate yourself. You found this site, you went through others. Now READ them to educate yourself. Again, your surgeon will help you with a road map. Your Customer Service at your insurance can help you also. *IF* you don't find what you think you need, keep trying. It's on you. Learn, learn, learn. I spent several days, all day, reading sites, journals, sites that explain the surgeries. Don't let them do something to you that YOU don't understand. It's all up to you. Good Luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. My bet is that if your insurance covers WLS a 50 bmi is the beginning of the things you need to get surgery. Your surgeon's office will know what all the requirements are, so presumably when you talk to them they will give you a roadmap. If you want to get a jump on it, your insurance has a website that likely addresses it. If you can't find it, the Customer Service folks at your insurance can help. You also need to start researching the different surgery types, their plusses and minuses, and which will suit your situation and habits better. It's best if when you talk to your surgeon you are informed and defend your preference. You have to do a lot of your own work, and become your own advocate. Sitting back and waiting for it (not that you are doing this) will not get you WLS. Good luck, Tek

I recommend having a good book handy. Good luck, Tek

Be sure to take the rock's feelings into account. Tek

Good luck. Have a good time. Tek

They all work for at least some people (as much as vitamins 'work' for anyone). It's a matter of what works for you, which unfortunately, may be a trial and error affair. Good luck, Tek

OK, I am 17+ years post-op. At about your stage, though most of you is healed, the insides take up to 6 months to heal completely. During that time things can still get a little testy. Even now, I find if I don't drink enough I'm gonna get nauseous. If I don't eat well, it will make later eating more difficult because of nausea. But, another feature of my RNY is relatively early I learned that when I think of a particular food my stomach either says 'yes' or 'no' via a nauseous lurch. Initially I didn't pay attention which was invariably a mistake. Now I pay attention. Even now, though, I have to be careful to eat appropriately. It's a habit to build early. If you are following your plan religiously and still having such issues discuss it with your doc. If you are not following your plan religiously then you know what you need to do. Good luck Tek

A time will come when you can easily eat all your old comfort foods, like pancakes, if that is the choice you want to make. Though, this is how a lot of post-ops gain their weight back. The period you are in now is often called the Honeymoon period because your intake is so restricted you almost can't not lose weight (3 negatives there, be careful). It is also the perfect time to change your habits and preferences. This is the time to change what you think of food, particularly what your 'comfort' foods will be. What you learn in this early period will stick with you your whole life if you work at it now. Making pancakes with substitute materials (which someone will be along to tell you about) helps many folks. For me, not so much because, for me, it would be too easy to return to the original version. I had RNY, so sugar and fat are right out for me. For VSG it's a choice. But again, for me, proteins were most of my comfort foods, cheese being the rest. So, I could still do what I liked only in vastly smaller quantities. I hated veggies, but I learned to like some in the honeymoon period and still now choose them as part of meals. You will figure out what works for you, but be careful you're not figuring out how to repeat your pre-op issues. Good luck. Tek

AZHiker (hi neighbor) is spot on. My additional strong opinion is: Masks protect the people we are around. Anyone that refuses to wear a mask, aside from legitimate reasons, is being selfish and self centered and purposely endangering those around them. Wear a mask. Don't be a putz. Tek

I actually worked more before surgery. First, I had to make changes to several applications to ensure I was not going to be needed for them to work properly; Second, I didn't want to be sitting around doing nothing but worrying about surgery and my pre-op diet or anything else. I kept myself busy. After if I recall I was home for two weeks. The first week I did some noodling for work but I just couldn't focus well. Second week I was more able to focus. I think I prepared the company for 3 weeks just in case. But I only intended to take 2 weeks. To note, I had an open RNY with Gaul bladder removal and a hiatal hernia fix. I ended up with a drain for a week or so. Not the average surgery. I was in hospital for 3 days. Good luck and enjoy the ride. Tek

Congratulations on your surgery. When I read about them finding an issue with your liver I couldn't help but think how lucky you are. Now, the Docs can evaluate what's going on and take appropriate action. Hang in there. Tek