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I wore a bathing suit in public which I have not done in too many years.

Just an update. Down 32 lbs since surgery on April 3. It is funny how the weight is coming off. I lose maybe a half of a pound a day for several days and then stall for several days. I cannot predict by what I eat how much, if any that I lose. Still having a lot of trouble with solids. I have had issues with things feeling stuck and then I vomit (sorry TMI.) No dumping though. I have been good with getting in enough protein but the water is still a struggle.

I just got my bill from the hospital. Band to bypass revision totaled 64000. Aetna contracts with the hospital which lowered it to 24000 but has a life time max of 10000 for any WLS. That left me with a bill for 14000. I called the billing office to see if they had some kind of payment plan they could put me on and they said I could pay 500 a month until it was paid. No interest or charges just the amount of the bill. I would not have known this without asking. It is crazy to me that the insurance would pay so little towards this but that is the era in which we live.

I am almost 5 weeks out and still have the tummy noises.

I had a revision from band to bypass on April 3. I just received the bill from the hospital. I have Aetna and they have a 10000 cap on WLS. The bill before the insurance discount was 64000. The contract between UPMC and Aetna reduced it to 24000. Aetna paid 10000 and I am left with 14000 to pay out of pocket. When I got the actual bill from the hospital I called and asked if they had some kind of payment plan they could put me on. They were very helpful and said that I could pay 500 a month until it was paid off. I asked about interest or fees and they said I would only be paying for the bill amount. I was very relieved and so glad I asked. It cannot hurt to see if you can get something like this arranged.

I am 4weeks post op tomorrow and getting excited to leave puréed foods behind. I have been able to get enough protein in with unjury chicken soup flavored protein and isopure zero carb. The other protein drinks seem so sweet. Incisions are all healed but I still have a lot of bruising. The one heparin shot left a huge bruise the size of a goose egg and even now it is still the size of an egg. I lost 20 lbs at a lb a day but now have stalled. For the last 5 days I have not lost any. It is great to hear of other people's progress and know I am not alone.

Thanks!

Make that de-stress!!

I think stress makes you gain weight. My job is very stressful and I gained a lot of weight over a very short period of time. My eating habits did not change so I can only think it was the stress. I was converted from band to bypass 4/3. My surgeon was able to do it in one surgery which was the only thing I was stressing about prior to surgery. She warned me ahead do time that often there is so much scar tissue that she cannot safely do the bypass. You have to heal and they do it at a later time. My insurance has a dollar cap on bariatric procedures so if I did not get it converted in one surgery I was not going to be able to have a second due to costs. After all the worry she was able to do it but the surgery was very long. It took better than 4 hours. Do not worry about the weight gain and try to desires as you are able. I go for a walk or listen to music or read to help with the stress. Good luck to you!! Jennie

Make that a safe and uncomplicated surgery!!!

Hi all, Just a brief update. Had my surgery two weeks ago today. Got on the scale and am down 16 lbs since surgery and am feeling good. I will start the puréed diet today and I am looking forward to leaving the clear liquid stage behind. My one incision is still very sore and where the drain was is still draining just a small amount but other than being tired I am doing well. I hope the tiredness leaves as I am able to take in more protein. I wish those with upcoming surgery a safe and complicated surgery and those in post op phase a speedy recovery. This website has been a wealth of knowledge and a great support. Jennie

Kfhf20, Congrats on the surgery going so well. It has been very interesting for me to see how very different each doctor is in what they permit or do not permit. I had surgery 4/3 and I am still on clear liquids and will be for another week. It seems to run the gambit as to what you start off with and fast you advance your diet. As to the water I found a powdered lemon TRUE LEMON and am putting it and a pack of trivia sweetener in a bottle of water. It is very crisp and refreshing and makes drinking all that liquid much easier. As to the constipation I cannot give you any advice. My troubles are the opposite with multiple bouts of diarrhea. It sounds like you are progressing along very well! Thanks for the update!

Makes sense to me. Thank you for going through all this time and trouble organizing this! It has been very helpful!

Hope you feel better soon. Keep drinking the fluids. Being dry is what makes me light headed. Your are in the home stretch now!!!

Good luck!!

I had my surgery on 4/3 and the diarrhea started at the hospital and between the day I came home and the following day I had 12 episodes. Each day brings less episodes but when I called the surgeon the PA said not to worry unless there are more then 15 episodes. I trusted her judgement and have been having less and less. Just make sure you are keeping hydrated. She said as long as your urine is not getting darker or more concentrated you should be ok. Also you are not taking in anything solid so you cannot expect any solid to come out. Sorry if that was TMI. Good luck!

Mainman-I was told to buy a baby spoon and a cocktail fork to encourage smaller bites and thereby slowing down the process. I was trying it out prior to surgery and it does work.

Thank you so much!! It is getting easier each day. I could really use the extra set of hand from my husband though as it is hard to the dressing change on yourself! Hopefully you will not have a drain. That has been the most uncomfortable for me as it tugs when I move and last night it leaked and soaked the dressing. Tube is still in place and I cannot wait to get it out on Thursday. Jennie

Erin - I think it depends on the surgeon and what he or she has to do to you during surgery. My surgeon warned me ahead of time that she puts in a drain after a conversion from band to bypass. I would suspect most times you will not have a drain.

I am just checking in. Had the band removed and a conversion to a bypass on Thursday 4/3. Feeling so much more human today. Pain is rapidly going away. I am taking liquid Percocet just 2 x a day now. All the fluid I gained at the hospital is also going away.... Very slowly. Trying to keep up with the fluids. That is the hardest part. My day consists of drinking and going to the bathroom. Sorry if that is TMI. I go to the surgeon on Thursday to get the drain out. The drain just freaks my husband out. He cannot get his mind around a tube that is sewn into you and is supposed to leak out stuff. Needless to say I handling my own dressing changes. Wishing all who have had surgery speedy recovery and for those anticipating surgery best wishes!!

I am just home from the hospital yesterday and I got on the scale and I gained 18 pounds since I left for surgery last Thursday. Feel so bloated and gross now as well as sore from the surgery. I have not seen any mention a weight gain for people and I was curious....

Tomorrow is the big day! Good luck with everything. Let us know how it GixxergirlJust got back from the hospital. Surgeon was able to do the bypass but it took just shy of 4 hours of surgery. Might want to warn your husband of the long wait. She wanted to wait an extra day for the endo to make sure there were no leaks and there are not. I was dehydrated and required a lot of extra IV fluids. I got on the scale when I got home and I was 18 pounds heavier.......eeeeek! As I have had nothing to eat and only started on liquids yesterday I would say it was the IV fluids. I wanted to wish you a safe surgery!!

What is the one thing that you bought before or after surgery that you could not live without? I am referring to a gadget or gizmo that just makes this journey easier? Just curious...

The surgeon herself called me today. That was enought to freak me out. She wanted to tell me again that she may not be able to do the bypass after she removes the band. I guess she did not want me to wake up and be very disappointed. She said she does about 50% of the band removal and bypass in the same surgery and the other half have to have a second surgery. She explained this at the consult. But it was still disappointing to here it again. My insurance has a cap of 10,000 for. Your life time for bariatric surgery and as it is I will be paying a lot out of pocket. There will not be any money for a second one. I keep thinking if it was meant to be it will be. Still bummed though ={

Make that triplets! Mine is April 3rd also.