james2021

Unfortunately, most people have this requirement for insurance and most of us have to start at square one even though we've been attempting diets all our lives. I started the process in October and also started my once/month visits with a dietician then. It seemed like it would be forever but the 6 months of medically-supervised dieting passed so quickly.

wrapping day 3 of the pre-op diet. mine is 3 protein shakes, a small fruit, 1 cup of veggies and 2 tbsp low fat dressing, and 1 frozen entree under 300 cals. about 1000 cals. having much easier of a time with the hunger than i thought i would... but i'm just sad. i'm doing my best with other coping mechanisms for the comfort that food brings, but nothing is a replacement. nothing can totally offset the big feeling of loss.

Congratulations.

today is day one of the liver shrink for me... The constant thought I keep having is “I’ve done so well today, what is my food reward going to be?” no more food rewards for a while 😩

Same day as me and @Greendragonfly! 3 weeks away; we've got this. I just started the liver-shrink today and I'm trying not to freak out about how long and daunting it is. 1 protein shake down; 59 to go.

I've loved watching John Pilcher's videos! Very straightforward and he has a soothing manner lol.

Congratulations to you. I can't give perspective as a parent, just as a child. I know that my mother has made plenty of changes in her life that were not bariatric surgery but affected me a lot. At the time (when I was a teenager/in college) I was upset about some of them. But I got older and some time passed and I realized that she had to do those things for her. It might take a little while for them to get on board but they love you and they will get there. You just have to stay the course and do what is right for you.

That's awesome go you!

Oh no, that sounds so rough -- I'm sorry. Hang tight I hear it just gets better from here!

Congratulations very exciting. My surgery is just before yours on May 20th.

Congratulations! Very happy for you and glad you are here.

Surgery date twins! I just got scheduled for the 20th. Starting the liver-shrink this Thursday. Also feeling pretty overwhelmed.

Hi, I'm making a shopping list of non-food things I should get for the kitchen. Since I have always eaten a lot of takeout/frozen meals, I'm light on even very basic supplies. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am definitely getting a food processor. I am thinking about those little plastic 1 oz cups. What do y'all think? Don't have a surgery date quite yet but have approval and fingers are crossed for mid to late May.

Super nervous. My coordinator said I should hear no later than May 3!!! I AM VERY STRESSED OUT. I met all the requirements, I'm just worried they'll find some dumb little thing....

I agree with the above. If you want the sleeve they need to make sure you don't have any esophagus damage and if you do, sometimes they will have you switch to the bypass. I didn't have any damage so they were able to recommend me for the sleeve.

That's great I'm so glad it was so fast! Do you have your date yet? I should be in May. My pre-op appointment is this coming Monday 4/26, and they schedule me at that point. Receptionist told me it's usually 2-4 weeks between the appointment and surgery depending on how long they want me on the liver shrinking diet. Very exciting!

Circling back in case anyone has CareFirst in the future (isn't a lot of discussion about them on here). Care First approved my surgery in under 36 hours. So excited!

My program calculates body weight for females as 100 lbs = 5 feet and then + 5 pounds for every inch above 5 feet. I'm 5'6 1/2 so my ideal weight is 132.5. However, they said realistically I should expect to end up 195-235. If you split the difference, it's about 60% of my ideal weight loss that they are projecting. So maybe go based off the above calculation!

That's such a bummer, I'm sorry. I'm worried about this happening to me, too -- my coordinator warned sometimes they won't approve for "non-compliance." Dumb. Hopefully the letter will do the trick, don't lose hope!

I'm so glad you made this post! I agree, it'd be great to have some community here. I'm thankful to know who that community is so that I can follow y'all on here.

thanks y'all! @ChunkyCali that's so frustrating. so glad you followed up with them. hope it gets resolved soon!

You'll do great!!!

I'm opting for the sleeve for the same reason + less issues with vitamin absorption, apparently. I think people sometimes opt for bypass if they have GERD and also because you usually lose slightly more weight.

i'd go to the er if you can -- better safe than sorry, and they can do something for the pain!

I am telling select friends and coworkers. Anyone who I trust to accept the information as presented and not say something harmful. My parents and my living grandmother are the only people I absolutely, unequivocally want to keep this from. Too much trauma from childhood regarding dieting and comments about my body when I was never clinically overweight until my late teenage years. I avoid discussing any subject with them that could even potentially veer in the direction of giving them an opening to talk to me about my body. I am desperately dreading having noticeable weight loss and them praising me for it. I don't want my family's, or anyone's, praise about something that doesn't change my worth as a person. I'm also hoping to get this done before things return to normal so that I can more easily fly under the radar.