The Greater Fool

How many posts does one need to make to achieve member level "god"? Asking for a friend. Tek

Welcome to the forums. Even with the exact same insurance the length of process depends on a lot of things, no least of which is your weight and health situation now and what and how recently you've done mitigation (diets), and more. It should be a simple matter to get all of the requirements Kaiser has to approve surgery. I'd go to Customer Service to get this, then try to ensure you do everything in the appropriate time frame. Once you get to tests, they can mostly be done concurrently rather than sequentially and if you manage it well you can reduce time. The "options" classes(?) are a Kaiser thing, so us non-Kaiser folks don't really know what it is or how it falls into the process. Good luck, Tek

I would put an asterisk on your positive RSVP. (* Safety and pain thresholds allowing). Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. I can't help with your questions with any sort of informed opinion. This is rather a specific set of questions so I imagine it might take a minute for the folks that know to see and reply. Just wanted to you to know you've been heard. Good luck, Tek

Oh. Crap. Sorry for the misunderstanding. The site had an issue at that moment also, so perhaps that's what happened to the post. I'll edit to clarify the error in my original. Tek

Welcome to the forums. Hopefully, you've learned what your post-op program looks like and how it works. Depending on the requirements it will make sense to have at least a few options available for the first week. Your tastes may change a bit for a while, so variety may help find something you like. Have a comfortable chair/recliner, or minimally pillows that can prop you up. Sitting up was often more comfortable than laying down. During your 3 day liquids, protein drinks, broths, soups (only liquid part), are anything comparable. I was never on a liquid diet preop or post-op, but when I do such I go for big flavor. Good luck. Tek

ETA: SAS11's reply was to a post that is no longer available, which I didn't see. I naturally assumed it was directed at me, Thus my reply was totally out of place and unnecessary. Sorry for the misunderstanding Tek

That is exciting news. Perhaps you could move Thanksgiving to a week or three earlier? We've done that before. I hope everything works out as you imagine. Good luck, Tek

First, if someone tells you what you are doing is inappropriate and not to your benefit and you may regret your choices, it is true. You want to think someone is being a jerk for telling you this, it's on you, not them. By the way, what is said in the first sentence is true, so I am a jerk. I've been called a jerk before so you may join good company here. I stuck completely and without flaw to my pre-op diet. My Doc was clear that if I didn't hit the required loss of 10 more pounds he would cancel my surgery. I was scared straight. Well, except for those one or five, well ten, or so, times I didn't. I gained 7 pounds. I was scared I was screwed right up until I talked to Doc before being wheeled in to surgery. If Doc weren't using my surgery as a teaching opportunity I'm sure he would have cancelled. I lucked out. Having said this, don't do what I did. Or at least as bad. It's not worth the terror. Do your honest best. Good luck. Tek

Welcome to the forums. Sorry your having issues. My uninformed impulse is to say it's not the sleeve. Even leaks or worse would not do what is happening to you. I suggest continuing to find a medical cause. Doc's still have an issue believing these types of symptoms from women so if your current doc has given up looking, find another. Get referrals to specialists. There are a TON of things that have the symptoms you describe. Try to get them to do all the tests now while you are having active symptoms. Good luck, Tek

This is definitely a Doc question. Tek

Welcome to the forums. VSG is purely restriction, so: 1. If volume isn't an issue, you should be ok(ish) if you a) don't do it often; b) don't learn to eat around the restriction; 2. This is totally your call; 3. VSG won't stop sugar much; Seems like you may need to think things through a bit. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. Be sure to follow your plan. Killing the scale is optional though helpful. Good luck, Tek

If you're in pain, get the referrals and do what they ask, and maintain that your pain levels are problematic. AZ is one of the worst states for narcotics, but go through the steps and they can and will help... eventually. They will take imaging which will show issues, and PT only goes so far. BTW, I do PT every week. Basically a message with wet heat after. It doesn't help, but it feels good. Just like WLS, there are steps to follow, tests to be done. good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. Unsolicited advice follows: Be sure to do your research. Learn about your surgery and WHY you want THAT surgery. What you expect the surgery to do for you? Do you know the rules? Not just what is listed as edible, but WHY so that when you are in a new place you know what you can eat. Once you decide on your surgery you should already know every answer to every question you would ask. Otherwise, how did you decide appropriately? Put your scale in a bag. Put the bag in a box. Put the box in a safe. Throw the safe in a lake. When you want to weigh, just get it out of the lake, safe, box, and bag. Good luck and enjoy your ride. Tek

OK, I had almost 1/4 ton to my goal weight and I lost 41 points the first month. Of course, my Doc didn't care much about my weight, he was more interested in my health and happiness. Not once did he comment on how much or little weight I lost unless I did. Doc was focused on me staying on plan. The rest will happen on it's own. Get rid of your scale, that way you can't compare. Tek

My hips also hurt at night now. My hip bones are actually visible. Pain generally got better as I lost weight but I knew it was only a temporary reprieve as 20 years of carrying several hundred pounds extra took it's toll on my body. I had about 5 good years before my knees said no more. I'm still in far better shape than I was 18 years ago. I'll take the pain (with narcotics). Tek

That's about what I am eating now. You seem to be doing well, keep doing it. Good luck,Tek

Welcome to the forums. Which surgery will you be having? Good luck on your ride. Tek

Welcome to the forums. You already know the solution, as you discussed in your post. So far, you haven't done it consistently. You know this is the problem. You need to figure out a way to do your plan consistently. Get rid of all those things you already know are you problem. Good luck, Tek

I just wanted to lend my support to your situation. I should think the pain meds of surgery would help. Sometimes, it's good being an old man. Good Luck, enjoy the ride. Tek

Welcome to the forums. I would contact my insurance provider Customer Service folks. Be persistent. I would also contact a local WLS surgeon and see what their experience is with your provider. They would know if it's covered and what the providers requirements are. Good luck, Tek

Actually... Our 'pouch' is made from our stomach and is all that is in use of the stomach now. Since we have no pyloric valve, everything goes straight through the pouch into the intestines starting immediately. VSG folks have a 'sleeve' that is like our 'pouch', but VSG still has a pyloric valve which is the gatekeeper out of the sleeve/stomach. It can be quick or slow. It would probably be quicker than a normal stomach, so I'd say a few minutes. Tek

Your plan is what you should follow. Plans are so different that something that was my 'go to' thing may not be allowed on your plan. If you are eating food, then protein should be the primary ingredient. Some Doc/Nut's have preferences that are vast different than others. My plan, protein meant 'meat.' If I went out to eat, it was always easy to find a dish with cooked meat, of which I could take a few bites (AFTER the 6 week puree post-op). My plan never included protein drinks until I was binge running. Good luck, Tek

1. Get rid of your scale, it will be your undoing; 2. Evaluate closely your food. A 1/2 cup protein and carbs can mean mostly carbs or mostly protein. Protein should be the lions share. In my plan it's 3oz protein, 1oz veggies. Also, not all "proteins" are equal. 3. Activity. Are you moving around, walking, exercising? I didn't exercise, but I started walking more and more. 4. Get rid of the scale. They lie. And they have you wanting to abandon your plan for a 'quick fix'. Has that EVER worked for you in the past? Good luck