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My surgery date is March 19th and I got my insurance approval yesterday Feb 19, 6 working days after submission of all my paperwork!!!! Aetna HCA.

Yesterday Wednesday, Feb 19 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1.33 yrs PO Sleeve / 115.1 lbs ---------------------------------------- Didn't get a chance to go grocery shopping yesterday... You know how we say sugar begets sugar, and when you eat more, it becomes easier to eat more? It works the other way too. When I eat less, it becomes easier to continue to eat less. Its been like a day and my late night sugar cravings were nowhere to be found last night. However. Sub-1000 cals is NOT a level I want to be at for long, so I reeeeeeally need to go grocery shopping today. ---------------------------------------- 9:00am - black coffee w/ stevia 2:00pm - skinny tea latte 4:30pm - Soup (1 cup dashi broth, carrots, 1/3 cup Chinese broccoli, 1/2 package shiratake noodles, 3 shrimp balls + 2 oz boiled shrimp) 8:30pm - Soup (1 cup dashi broth, carrots, 1/2 cup Chinese broccoli, 1/4 package shiratake noodles, 4 shrimp balls) + 4 oz roast chicken + 2 tbsp tzatziki 10:00pm - 1/2 cup cottage cheese + 1 scoop Isopure Protein powder + 1 tbsp almond butter + 1 fl oz pumpkin seeds + 1 oz blueberries --------------------------------------- Totals: 875 cals - 98g Protein 23g NET carbs - 32g fat

Perhaps my expectations are low, but I think 11 pounds in 2 weeks is quite a lot! Plus you came back from surgery full of fluid, so you had to get back to the starting point. I was sleeved on 2/10 and I have lost only 6 and a half pounds since my surgery weight, and that seems ok to me.

I had started this post and abandoned it out of, I don’t know, fear? Of putting it out there? Or maybe just knowing it is too long and wordy. And I thought should I try again? I came back to try again and to my surprise it was still there. So I will bore anyone whom decides to read it to tears. And add in some new information. My surgery was April 29th 2019, I also had my gallbladder removed due to chronic inflammation. I guess nothing was quite normal due to lifelong chronic illness. I had two other pelvic surgeries before and after my RNY. It’s likely my surgery and subsequent pneumonia shortly after ended up revealing a existing condition that was slowly but steadily getting worse. My chronic conditions muddies the waters when it comes to any possible issues with my RNY. I had an early one year follow up at Cleveland Clinic, at nine months. There are four follow up appointments but they got smashed closer together due to some issues along the way. It’s confusing sometimes and exhausting. I’m working hard at it, I am grateful for the tool this offered me that I would not have had otherwise to combat metabolic disorders and inability to exercise. Even though recovery was complicated and revealed a lot of issues and some things have gotten worse along the way. On my second follow up the doctor wanted a Upper GI fluoroscopy and endoscopy for stricture, it was severe stricture so I doubt one dilation was enough. And didn’t abate the symptoms. By the third follow up I was needing to deal with my gastroenterologist wanting to do a colonoscopy that was postponed from before my surgery. It had been scheduled but then my gastric bypass surgery ended up scheduled first. My bariatric surgeon said that my gastroenterologist could do the endoscopy since I was having the colonoscopy. I won’t repeat the story. But I was pissed since it was never discussed that he would do a dilation. Only check the status of the stricture and ulcers. If possible dilation were on the table it should have been discussed. I followed up with the gastroenterologist physician assistant. She glazed over all the problems with the procedure. Downplayed my symptoms like dark sticky stool (sorry tmi) which indicates blood. And other issues. And continued pain. I brought up sharp stabbing pain and spasms in my chest on the left side under my rib area, and some crushing pain, was suggested to see a cardiologist even though she didn’t think it was anything to worry about (still waiting to get an appointment) I do need to do this no matter what due to other issues anyway. she stopped the proton pump inhibitor medication since according to the dr. there were no ulcers and it contradicts my medication for muscle spasms (makes it not work) and I need that. Just carafate as needed. at this early one year appointment he called me a star patient (no one has ever said that about me before) and was surprised at how much weight I’d lost in nine months. He asked if I was still losing and how fast. I still need to lose a few lbs for my height he seemed to imply I should stop. (Was he concerned? I couldn’t tell, I can’t read people) But yet I never got to see my nutritionist even though I was supposed to. The appointment was muddled and confused even though I gave him my written notes with questions he didn’t answer some of them. And I was too exhausted from the long wait (my surgeon wasn’t available to see me personally) I brought up the endoscopy, the pain. That I cannot take proton pump inhibitors. Discussed concerns about the remnant stomach. My history of ulcers in that portion of stomach and small intestine. He referred me to see another gastroenterologist in the hospital and then have a different kind of test/ procedure called a double balloon enteroscopy. Has anyone here had a procedure like this? I’m a little upset that they expect me to see the new doctor first before they will schedule the enteroscopy leaving me in pain. And it’s very difficult to travel to the clinic . i wanted to discuss another issue and get referral for a neurologist in Cleveland clinic but he didn’t acknowledge that at all. i asked the nurse and asked him about referral for plastic surgery for skin removal and any possible coverage if there are skin issues involved. They implied that my insurance would cover it in Florida due to skin issues. well I did find out that A. I’d have to go through the process of seeing another gastroenterologist prior to having this double balloon enteroscopy. It’s hard traveling to Cleveland Clinic. And B. They lied about the plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. They accept no insurance at all. My thighs are so bad that just trying to shave my legs and I have to catch 22 if I don’t it’s irritates my skin. But I shaved my legs and my thighs especially the one leg was downright bloody. The skin is just so horrendous. has anyone used BariatricPal MX Hospital and used their financing? I am getting close to goal (the doctor thinks I’m at goal probably) and want to start looking into the possibility of thigh skin removal, tummy tuck at the least ... I’m grateful to finally have lost weight but being bony as heck in some areas and all the loose skin and chub in some areas especially where my skin is bloody raw just doesn’t feel good at all. And I wonder if the tummy tuck would help my core strength whereas I cannot strengthen it through exercise? (Due to my chronic illness) on a side note. Someone important to my mother went to see my surgeon regarding gastric bypass surgery. My surgeon is such a great guy. So I referred her boyfriend to him he needs to lose weight for knee replacement surgery and his health. I just worry her boyfriend will not be serious about it. It upsets me when people have the opportunity and choice to get healthy and they make the choice not to do it. He has diabetes, high blood pressure and needs knee replacement surgery. He could be healthy if he made the choice to do it. I have never had the choice. Even surgery can’t fix me. It helped give me a tool to fight my weight but can’t cure lifelong chronic illness and disability. He tends to question and judge what I eat or don’t eat or what I do. But my situation is very different than the norm. I want to be supportive but I see him making terrible food choices and not being willing to change even small habits. Like eating a lot of bad carbs. I’ve been there myself in the past. So,I, not judgmental. A sugar carb addict will find lots of reasons to justify what they eat. But also needs to admit the addiction and break free of it. I just wonder, Do I try to help, or do I step aside and not get involved? I just went to my pcp for throat pain and need thyroid ultrasound and tests. And at some point need to address some issues. Like inability to drink without dysphasia of liquids. I know it’s neurological but have no diagnosis. My pcp thinks even with a diagnosis nothing can be done. But as it gets worse I can barely drink enough water ... ive rambled enough and I’m hoping my long message is not a mistake. If you have read this far. Thank you. Any opinion/advice on the skin removal surgery is appreciated (Mexico) as well as the double balloon enteroscopy.

I was sleeved on Oct 15, 2019. I lost 50 lbs in the 6 months leading up to surgery, and weighed 242 on surgery day. This morning I weighed 176 lbs: 115 lbs lighter than I was at this time last year 🤩, and down 66lbs since surgery four months ago 😍. My BMI has gone from 55 to 32, and I'm physically able - and have enough energy - to do everything I want, including being active 7 days a week with hill hiking, race walking, distance cycling, squash, cardio, weights, sea kayaking, downhill skiing, etc. Currently I’m training for a triathlon (5km race walk, 400m swim, 20km cycle) in August, and will be walking the Camino de Santiago, a distance of 800km (500 miles) for 35 days in June. Though the surgeon set a goal for me based on the fact that I always weighed somewhere between 117lbs - 125lbs up until I was in my mid-30's, I don’t have any real expectations about how much I'll lose overall, nor do I have any specific timeframe in mind. I don't compare my loss to anyone else's since everyone's journey is different. Instead, what works best for me is to concentrate on being strong and fit and healthy, enjoying a whole foods plant-based diet, taking good care of my mind as well as my body, keeping a positive attitude, and looking for NSV's for validation and encouragement rather than at numbers on the scale. Happy sleevedom to all!

I wore 3/4 sleeve shirts. Men’s T-shirt’s have longer sleeves so I bought men’s t-shirts for the gym. My arms are really wrinkly. They are bad just hanging at my side and you can see it from 10 feet away. Surgery is pending!!

During my stall I lost 10”!!!! This it totally tru the scale and inches don’t move together as per my PA. I do love my exercise. But I always have and gym memberships here are cheap 9.99. I don’t utilize personal training my husband is very fit so if I have any questions I just ask him and we research together. I was in stall my week 4 and it broke. After 7 days. I’m now losing about 4lbs a week. How is eating going? Can u tolerate more foods?

9 days post op! I start "smooth" foods tomorrow and my vitamins. My hospital divides the 3rd stage in 2; 3A is egg whites, cottage cheese, ricotta, tofu, refried beans for protein, and soft bananas, cream of wheat, canned in own juice peaches or pears, sugar free pudding. I do that for 10 days. Then I add in more foods for 20 days (e.g. whole eggs, soft fish, etc.) I am strangely kind of nervous! I am afraid once I get to eat real food I'll overeat. I am sure this is nonsensical, but it's funny how the mind works. I had a stressful work related call today, and found myself, phone in hand, heading toward my kitchen thinking about crackers. It was one of those "AHA" moments. I have a feeling I have many more coming.... On the upside I feel really good! I got 8000 steps in yesterday, and all in all I'm feeling good. I seem to be able to drink my glass of water more quickly, and it does not feel like a full-time job getting myself hydrated. I have been able to get over 65g of protein; the bone broth really, really helps. So we'll see what tomorrow brings.

9 days post op! I start "smooth" foods tomorrow and my vitamins. My hospital divides the 3rd stage in 2; 3A is egg whites, cottage cheese, ricotta, tofu, refried beans for protein, and soft bananas, cream of wheat, canned in own juice peaches or pears, sugar free pudding. I do that for 10 days. Then I add in more foods for 20 days (e.g. whole eggs, soft fish, etc.) I am strangely kind of nervous! I am afraid once I get to eat real food I'll overeat. I am sure this is nonsensical, but it's funny how the mind works. I had a stressful work related call today, and found myself, phone in hand, heading toward my kitchen thinking about crackers. It was one of those "AHA" moments. I have a feeling I have many more coming.... On the upside I feel really good! I got 8000 steps in yesterday, and all in all I'm feeling good. I seem to be able to drink my glass of water more quickly, and it does not feel like a full-time job getting myself hydrated. I have been able to get over 65g of protein; the bone broth really, really helps. So we'll see what tomorrow brings.

You won't be able to do a bariatric diet as after surgery you can only get about 500 to 600 calories per day which is waaaaay to low with a normal stomach. I just did a reduced calorie diet using MyFitnessPal to track everything I ate. I started out with 2400 calories per day suggested by MFP to lose two pounds per week in July of 2019. After about a month I dropped down to about 2000 calories per day and was able stick to that. By November I was able to go to 1600 to 1800 calories per day. I did have days where I had a ton, I went to Vegas in September and took a break, but I got back after it when I got back home. I also started exercising 4 to 5 days a week. That also helped. Working on good habits prior to surgery will help you after surgery. So do what you can and build off of that.

there are about a billion different policies - all different - some are provided by your employer, or if your employer is small enough and doesn't legally have to provide it, then you can buy your own. costs are all across the board. Deductibles are all across the board. What you have to pay once you've met the deductible is all across the board. This is what makes US health care such a nightmare. as for mine, I have a $500 deductible. Once I meet my deductible, I pay 10% of whatever the cost is. There IS an out-of-pocket limit meaning whenever you get to that point, everything is paid 100%, but I almost never get that high (I think one of the few times I did was the year I had bariatric surgery) I don't think there's a "typical" health insurance policy, though, so there's not really an "average". as far as bariatric surgery goes, some policies cover it, some don't. oh - and most people have to pay a monthly amount, even if the insurance comes with their job. I think ours is around $250 a month. We didn't have to pay anything per month originally, just the deductible, but that was YEARS ago. for example, if my surgery was $30,000, I would pay the first $500, plus 10% of whatever is over $500. I can't remember what our out-of-pocket limit is, but let's say $5,000. So once I've paid $5000 of my own money, then insurance pays 100% of anything over that.

Welcome Crystal, I'm new as well, just found the forums. We are on similar journeys. I had my surgery on 11/26/19. I didn't really have much pain, but I had a horrible open gallbladder removal surgery done in June of '19 so any pain I did have would have paled in comparison. So sorry you had so much pain. Hope you are doing well on your journey. I've lost about 66lbs to date, but I've hit a horrible stall for the last few weeks. So very frustrating, but apparently very normal. So glad I found these forums so that I don't feel like a complete and utter failure.

I am now 10 days into the full 3mg dose. The side effects, if any, have been minimal for me. I have had some general sour stomach, other than that, not much negative from it. My appetite has decreased substantially, but my late night cravings for a sweet snack have not left completely. With the medicine, I've also started the intermittent fasting, not eating anything until 10AM. Once I eat my lunch, I am ready to eat dinner at 6PM and typically the late night cookie or jello cup goes down. Overall I feel good having dropped 26 lbs in 6 weeks, but most of the loss came in the first 4 weeks with the new medicine and reduction in alcohol. I'm still having a glass of wine or two, but not the daily 2-4 drinks prior to the new year. Overall, I like the appetite suppressant....yet it's the lifestyle change that has me wanting more.

I'm a June June 2019 sleever. For some reason this week every time I eat I feel sick. Anyone else ever experience this?

I had my sleeve done in Tijuana in November 2019. I know of couple of people in my town who have also gone there and had no issues. Unfortunately, I'm having issues with GERD and it's become unbearable. I reached out to one of the Dr.'s on my surgeon's team and am not feeling very hopeful about any aftercare! She said what I'm experiencing is common and to try some stronger medication but also told me to go have an endoscopy done and send her the results - as if I can walk in anywhere and get an endoscopy. I asked her if I could travel there to have the endoscopy done and she said I could make an appt. with a gastroenterologist but said nothing of coming to their clinic. Absolutely, I want to see the surgeon or his associate who performed my surgery if I'm having issues from the surgery - that makes the most sense to me. I'm wishing I would have researched this in greater detail before having this done.

I actually had to have my surgery postponed from Feb. 3 to Feb. 10 because I had a pretty bad cold which was probably the flu. I was sooooo disappointed, but in retrospect between the fever, chills, body aches and constant runny nose/sneezing, recovery would have been miserable. The week went by pretty quickly; because I was pretty sick I had an easier time with the pre-op diet (which extended for that week, although they had me eat on 2/3 to get some calories in), and I was down a full 10 pounds by surgery day. I hope you don't have to postpone, but if you really aren't feeling well it might be the best thing.

I had my first appointment about getting the surgery in December 2019. It was just starting a medical journal for me. I was offered surgery during my second meeting in January 2019. During my first appointment with my dietitian (yesterday), I was given a date for surgery, which is April 27th. I live in Denmark, meet the state's requirements of having it done for free, so I am only on my surgeon's program, I assume. The jumping through hoops part for me was simply getting blood work done, an EKG taken, a stool sample given and some weight loss. I also still have to do my 1-on-1 patient seminar thing in March, but I've got the date regardless for surgery. I think I got my date so soon because I was pretty confident in my meeting about what I needed to do before and after surgery since I had researched a lot, had my current diet habits ready to be shared, and talked about what my support systems through out this are and would be.

I started my journey in April of 2019. I had to do 6 months of supervised weight loss and then had to get a million different clearances from hematology, cardiology, pulmonology, etc. I finally have my date set for March 20th.

Mine was 6 months of appointments and all the other tests I had to do, so I started in May 2019 and finally got my date in Jan for a March 3rd date. I was a smoker and had to be 3 months without cigarettes in order to schedule my surgery . The one I can tell you the time went by very fast so, read read read and ask questions and before you know it your surgery will be scheduled, wish you the best of luck!!

That's what he said at my 6 week appt. I would LOVE to sit in a hot bath though! I'll ask him again this afternoon. I want some sort of butt attention too! Fat transfer was out of the question pretty much. My doc said he usually needs about 10 lbs of fat to harvest which he said may prove difficult on me. Which left just a plain butt lift cuz I didn't want implants. Now that I am spooked on the idea of further surgery, I did a bit of research and read about Sculptra which is an injectable that is used in the butt. Results up to 5 years, but total cost is comparable to an actual butt lift. Have you done any reading on this? Thoughts?

My insurance required 3 months of supervised weight management. Nutrition appointments, labs, meeting with the support group. My first appointment was October 31st, 2019 - my surgery date is February 25th. But there is no exact time frame. Its completely up to the insurance company and your surgeon's office. Good luck 👍

Yesterday Tuesday, Feb 18 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1.25 yr PO Sleeve / 116.9 lbs ---------------------------------------- Attempting to go lower carb this week...funny how if I cut the desserts/chocolate/cookies/ice cream there isn't much left that I eat (actually that's probably not so much funny as it is obvious). Granted, my fridge is pretty bare...need to go grocery shopping today to replenish it with some good stuff. ---------------------------------------- 9:00am - black coffee w/ stevia + 1 oz cheddar cheese + 1 slice hot Genoa salami 3:00pm - Shrimp Ball Noodle Soup (1 cup dashi broth, carrots, 1 cup Chinese broccoli, 1/2 package shiratake noodles, carrots, 4 shrimp balls) + 3 oz pan fried brussel sprouts in bacon fat 6:00pm - skinny tea latte + 1/4 cup geek yogurt + 1 oz blueberries + 1/2 fl oz pumpkin seeds 8:30pm - 4 shrimp balls + 1/4 cup Chinese broccoli 10:00pm - Protein shake (2 scoops Isopure Dutch Chocolate Powder + 2 cups cashew milk + 2 tsp instant decaf coffee) --------------------------------------- Totals: 787 cals - 78g Protein 25g NET carbs - 30g fat

Ok ...sooo interesting! Re-silver swabs ... how I found my surgeon was very prolific participant here on BP, and elsewhere who had multiple surgeries w my surgeon (and eventually soured, but it seems to be a complicated story). But she had wound healing issues in her armpit after an arm lift. He sent her silver swabs, but it seemed to exacerbate the problem. Which I think explains when I told my surgeon I was using silver gauze his initial reaction was negative. Yeah, my surgeon is completely fine with open wounds. Totally f'd with my mind as well! But I googled it, and it seems like even the nastiest wounds heal very well without much intervention, as long as their is no infection. My surgeon says I will mostly likely need some scar revision in a year, but can do that in office under local anesthesia. I'm working on trusting that 😂 Are you sure you can't go in the water? One of the thing my surgeon prescribd is hydro therapy, i.e sitting in my hot tub. I have used my hot tub more in the past month then I have all year. Re: Ambien ... It is amazing! I also usually wake up everyday on my own. For me usually between 5:30 to 7. I also don't set an alarm unless there is something I need to do, like get on a conference call, or catch a flight. I don't take it every night since my insomnia is different. I only take it if I wake up between 1-3 am and can't go back to sleep within a 1/2 hr or so. No hard time waking up at all. What really impressed me about it is one morning I woke up about 3, couldn't go back to sleep, and took an Ambien. I kept emailing while waiting to get sleepy, and east coast peeps started responding, called me, I started earnestly working etc. I was able to work through the sleepiness. I could have slept if things were calm, but I was able to push it aside as needed. It felt so different then narcotics, that give you that grogginess you can't shake. I have a face lift, and potential arm lift planned on 10 yrs or so. But I am seriously considering a butt implant for next December. As hard as this recovery has been at times, I feel like I need the butt implant to complete the hourglass figure I aspire to

From 256 pounds to 189 pounds you must be experiencing some change, at the very least your pant size.? I have a very large frame also, I am also 5 foot 10, my chest is 56. When I was 389 pounds, I was wearing 56 x 32 dress slacks. At my current weight of 365, I am 54 x 32 dress slacks, can probably do 52 x 32. I know from experience that when I am under 300 pounds, say 280 pounds I am at 48 x 32. At my goal weight of 225 I hope to be 40 x 32

I know 4 people I see almost daily who have had WLS within the past 3 years and I keep open communication with 3 others from my WLS support group from last year. The question of loose skin is a complex one, as someone already mentioned in a previous message there really is no consistent diagnosis, simply to many factors that are involved. So it’s nearly impossible to come up with a pre-surgery answer to the level of loose skin you may have to deal with, however you do have some options to consider when you do find yourself with that extra skin. Obviously, a man’s situation may be different then a woman’s when it comes to dealing with loose skin, also one’s financial resources will be a factor. If you think of it, you only have two options. You either deal with the loose skin and consider the weight loss a major positive over the negative of loose skin or you have it surgically removed. Here is a quick survey of the people I know and what they have done: Female - 46, lost 85 pounds, spent a boat load of money on plastic surgery. I must be honest and say it was money well spent, she looks fantastic, totally different person. Female - 62, lost over 175 pounds in 2 years, her plastic surgery to remove loose skin at the stomach level was deemed a medical necessity and was completed. However, the loose skin on her legs and arms was not and currently she is trying to save money for a future visit, she will be heading to Mexico to get it done I am told. Male – 55, lost 79 pounds year 1, gained back 45 pounds in year 2, struggling to get back on track, schedule to revise sleeve to bypass later this year, no loose skin issue currently. Male – 60, lost 103 pounds year 1, gained back only 20 in year 2, history of gaining and losing weight over the last 10 years, does not care about loose skin at the moment.