honk

My hospital gave me this special disinfectant soap that I am to use to wash the belly area for the 5 days before surgery. There have been alot of posts on here about TOM the day of surgery. Which will probably be a reality for me and I am not happy.

I have a knee issue and the ortho surgeon gave me these injections that some kind of viscous/padding in the joint. Think it's called Orthovisc. I would speak to a specialist. It has made all the difference for me. I wish I had done it YEARS ago. You would need to go to a specialist though I'm sure not just PCP.

I feel your pain. I bought two flavors from Bariactic Eating, Chocolate Peanut butter, and Peanutbutter. They had a nice texture but the flavor was very bland. I gave them to my mother. She blends them for breakfast with a bananna. I also bought the chocolate version of Jullian Michaels from Walmart; and also gave it to my mother.

Hi. I have Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. While I expect both doctors will be covered. The fact that my insurance company brought this up is what bothers me. As mentioned previously there have been people on here that mentioned ended up with an Anesthesiologist out of network. True I don't know what insurance they had but I am details person and this is now a concern for me. In general I have never found a doctor that did not take Blue Cross Blue Shield but I don't want to find an exception to the tune of thousands of dollars.

When speaking with my insurance today they said to confirm that the Anesthesiologist for the surgery took my insurance. My surgeon and the hospital are both covered. I called the office and they tried to fob me off "Well we are all under one umbrella". I told them that the insurance specifically said to check. I have heard on this board that others have had problems getting the Anesthesiologist paid. I was persistant and was transfered to their insurance specialist. She tried calling the PreOp Nursing Manager and someone else both of whom had gone for the day (at 3:30!). She promised to call me tomorrow. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences to share? Thanks

Did your doctor give you an actual plan? The closest I've ever heard to having sandwiches on a preop is 2 Protein drinks and one sensible high protein meal. Personally I would not plan on sandwiches being part of my preop. My surgery had to be postponed (due to treating a bloodclot) so my journey has been longer than most. Since I have been losing having 2 shakes and a small meal the doctor just told me to continue. In regards to protein find good quality protein with more grams for fewer calories. whey Isolates are what my Nut. recommended. You can buy it online or at Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, and even Walmart. I really like Gold Standard 100% Whey (Isolates is the first ingrediant Cal 120, Fat 1g, Carb 3, Protein 24). Personally I've found Vitamin Shoppe to have much better pricing than GNC. And I did'nt enjoy GNC's Whey Isolate 28G. I do make my shakes with fat free milk (yes adds 90 calories and carbs). I also freeze non calorie fruit flavored Water into ice cubes and blend it it to make more of a "frappe" like texture. I also add splendra. If you have not started yet than I recommend begining an exercise routine. Swimming is I think the best exercise for an overweight person. You move at your own speed and we float really well:thumbup:. Since 10/08 I have lost 84 pounds from diet and swimming. I try to burn off all the calories I eat during the day by swimming so that my body is forces to fuel the "lights" per say using fat.

After comming of Coumadin my first period was kind of back to normal for me. Harsh on the third day and after the third limited. Keep in mind I am still on a 325mg of Asprin.

Can you make the shakes with fat free milk? Yes I know there are carbs; but carbs from milk in my opinion are not the sames as those from Doritos. Also could you add suger/fat free pudding powder, and/or suger free davinci syrups found in the coffee isle?

I have more of an issue with this when I am alone. Since I am single and live alone then yes I have problems with it. Have you done a eating/food choice seminar through your surgeon? I had to go to 3-4 group therapy sessions with a Psychologist. At our first session they had us take one raisen or dried cranberry and chew the living daylights out of it. What I learned from that exercise was that I tasted that one cranberry way more than I would have a handful. I am preband but I try to take a bite chew it and then put my fork back to pick up more food. This forces me to experience each chew. There are times that I have to mentally remind myself to practice "thoughful eating" or I just rush my lunch along. One of my sisters who has always been the thin one often has waiters reach to take her plate becuase everyone else is done; and even though she still has food they figure she must be done too. I think this is something that I subconsiously learned from my mother. She will jokingly say "Where's the other half of my sandwhich did you eat it?" She eats so fast that the food is gone and she did'nt really enjoy it.

At five he is old enought to stop being rude. You need to sit him down and tell im it is not nice to make fun of people. Does he laugh at people in wheelchairs or children with Down's? Someone needs to teach him manners. Rude behavior in chidlren is just rude, not funny, not cute. Just wait until he says something about a stranger he and or his parents may get a lesson they were'nt planning on. And yes I have 3 nephews and not one of them every made comments like that to me. EVER. I certainly would not baby sit for this child until he learns manners and if your brother/sister in law ask why not tell them.

I recently asked this question at my doctors office becuase I am currently on BCBS Cobra and am looking for a new job. The nurse said that if the new insurance coverage includes the surgery all the office has to do is submit to that carrier. In my case they would have shown that I had been on their program for over 6 months (in case that was a requirment) and that I had done all the required test. They had done this many times before and it was fine.

I did not have a six month required program but if my surgery goes forward in August it will have been 7.5 months. Not easy for a zero patience person such as myself. One thing to keep in mind is that most surgeons' require you to loose 5-10% of you weight before they will perform the surgery. One of the reasons is that this leads to your liver shrinking which who knew gets fat too (And the liver is your second largest organ.). It took me 3 months to loose the required 30 pounds that my doctor ordered. I had to postpone due to another health issue that I am hoping is resolved so I can go forward with the surgery. So six months might not be that bad. I think the doctors office sends in your initial weight and they just make sure you are loosing/not gaining weight in that 6 month period. Talk to your doctor's office for details. In my case I am down 54 pounds from the consult and have 14 days till the surgery.

Sorry, but calm down. It's her job. And if she does'nt under stand English she can't tell that you want her to stop. Jesshh. Find something else to complain about.

I can understand your concern. Having done 50 however is not like doing 5. And I'm sure you don't feel this way; but it's not like they pulled him off the grocery store bagger line to do the first band surgery that he did. To make you feel better I will tell you a little story. Last year at 39 I had a mini stroke. 39!!!! Anyway I was transported from a local hospital to Massachusetts General. While Mass General is the 3rd best Neurological Center in the country they are still are a Teaching Hospital. So the day after I get out of intensive care the doctors come around for rounds. So 1 grown up doctors and a room full of "Grey's Anatomy" type doctors. They are asking me these quick fire queestions and I am trying to keep them all straight. One would point to an object and as I was answering ( I was able to talk normally at this point), another was quickly pointing to another object. I guess they were trying to see if I could process information quickly/normally. Which I was. The whole time though I'm thinking is that chick at the back asking Merrideth if she has a date with McDreamy?

I found your post interesting. When my doctor wanted to put me on a 500 calorie presurgery diet; I mentioned I had the same issue. He looked at me like I was crazy and said "you're not really hungry your just dehydrated". Ummm No. One reason I knew this would not work for me is that I had already started a pretty strenous exercise plan. I do an hour of cardio a day. I find that now that I eat small high protein based meals with sensible (hate that phrase) snacks like greek yogurt, low fat string cheese I have less of these events. Other members of my family have this same issue, yes even the thin ones, so I know this is not a figment of my imagination.

If you need to go every three months I would make the next appointment as you leave. Like you do at the hairdresser. I would tell them the quarterly and fill appointmnets must be on the same day. They may tell you there is a break between the two. As long as it is only a hour it's better than taking a second day off from work.

FYI one of the people in my presurgery class's second fill was like 3 CC's and they ended up in the emergency room and had to have a complete unfill. This taught me the lesson that I would rather have smaller fills and not be sick. While I think you have a right to your medical information; it's possible the doctor doesn't want you to get caught up in the size of the fills. If you knew you had 5 CC's and heard someone else had restriction at 6 would you demand to be moved to 6 because you knew that was a magic number?

Costco sells a type of protein shot. They had them as a sample one day so I tried them out. Not bad. Definately better than Isopure which I thought to be disgusting. My nephew (who like Mikey will eat anything) thought Isopure was gross to.

I am preband and I told the surgeon that I am a right side sleeper; so he said he would put it on the left side below the ribs.

I told my immediate family, mother, two sisters (and by default my brother in law because I would'nt expect my sister to keep secrets from him.), though I have'nt told my brother. Mostly because he's a guy and we don't talk as much as my sisters and I do. To be truthful I think he would understand my decision because he is a recovering alcoholic. So we both have issues but mine is food and his is alcohol. I've told a former male co worker who is gay (I have not told any of my other former coworkers). The guy I told also has weight issues so I think I felt more comfortable telling him and he has been very supportive. You can't unring a bell and my concern is I don't need someone questioning what I eat (I would'nt dream of telling someone "they should'nt eat that". But some people feel it is by natural law their right to be the food police.) I also don't want to deal with unrealistic expectations of how much weight I should be loosing.

My mother had a hip replacement last year and the doctor's office gave her a surgery date that was like 2 months out. So frustrating. One day they called and said "Oh by the way we've had a cancellation do you want to move up your surgery 3 weeks?" Ah Yes! So I would ask to be put on a "stand by list" if you can do the surgery on short notice. I would get your class room ready so that you can do the surgery if they call you. If could'nt hurt to call them weekly as well to check on any cancellations. They may claim to put you on a cancellation list but never really plan on calling anyone.

For a prework out snack (time between lunch and dinner is often 7-8 hours so I need a snack before I go to the gym); I have a Chobani 0% Fat fruited yogurt to which I add appr. 2 tablespoons vanilla Whey Protein powder and Splendra. Mixed together it is a really thick satisfying snack. Sure there are carbs but for about 200 calories your getting around 25-28 grams of Protein. Can you make your protein shakes with fat free milk? I freeze milk cubes and mix them in a personal size blender. Two cubes equals about 1/3 cup milk, so I then add 2/3 liquid milk to the Protein Powder. Gives the drink more of a "frappe" like texture. I also add non fat/suger pudding mix as well you could talk to your Nut about that. Also if you are buying the Protein Powder on your own read the label on the back. Whey Isolates are the best kind (which I researched on my own and the Nut also recommended). For a 110-140 calories you should be getting 25-30 grams of protein. Whey Isolates cost more but are easier for your body to break down.

I work from home but you might consider looking at a "personal blender" like magic bullet, or the Hamilton Beech version. Mine cost $15 dollars. It's small enough to fit in your desk. You could premix and carry the wet and dry ingrediants and mix them together at work.

What kind of diet will you be on: Medifast, HMR, Protein shakes? My surgeon "suggested" I do the HMR 500 liquid diet. Yes 500 calories. It was very difficut, gave me allergy like reactions and I did not loose any weight in 5 days. Since I had been loosing weight on 1 or 2 whey Protein Shakes and 1 or 2 low calorie/fat/carb meals; I went back to that plan. Today when I met with the surgeon for my final consult he said "Well since you are loosing weight on your current plan just continue it." I have been doing this eating plan for 4 months and have lost 25-30 pounds. I do an hour of cardio a day, 7 days a week. FYI my sugeon does not weight you after the last appointment with the nurse. Mine will be 2 weeks before the surgery. Not that I plan on going crazy in those two weeks

If possible have your appointment in the afternoon. Drink a large bottle of water (32 ounces or more.), and have a large lunch or breakfast right before the appointment. Water weighs a lot. If possilbe don't have a BM before your appointment. As mentioned previously were heavy clothes. Even with summer clothes some are heavier than others. Also not sure if you are female. I usually gain 2-3 pounds during PMS.