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Got approved! But don't know where to start



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So I received the letter and also got a phone call that I have been approved.. they are just waiting for me to get my blood work and upper GI as my last medical clearance steps. But I find myself eating everything in sight as a last goodbye to food. I know it is not a good way to go but I can't seem to get into the right mind set. Like I am not mentally prepared. I don't know what to pack for the hospital idk I just feel lost lol. I need like a set schedule and to start working out before hand, I'm not one to schedule my life so I don't know where to start ????

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I did the same. If your anything like me I am a food addict. Four days before my surgery they put me on. Mandatory clear liquid diet. That helped but my real motivation kicked in the day of my surgery. I was sleeved September 13th. I walk/jog three miles a day and am sticking to my diet. You'll find your way.....good luck

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You got a letter and a call from whom to say that you've been approved? If you mean your insurance plan, I'm guess I'm surprised that approval was given before labs and upper GI results.

I need like a set schedule and to start working out before hand, I'm not one to schedule my life so I don't know where to start


You don't need "like" a set schedule. A schedule will do nicely. To say that you're not one to schedule your life can be followed with "I'll start now." Surely you've had appointments and assignments to keep track of before now. Don't inflate this into a larger thing than it is. The ideas are big, but the preparations can be made to fit into your hand. Deep breath.

So that you really really really take charge of each step, try a couple of sheets of oak tag. Make huge calendars on which you'll fill in every detail. Include appointments, Vitamins, days to buy things you'll need as you go along, when to start any pre-op diet you may be given, etc., etc., Put these calendars up on a door. If two sheets, one month each, aren't enough, turn them over when you get to the third month. I used only one, but it worked for me when I felt overwhelmed pre- and post-op.. Picking up the magic marker almost daily gave me something to do -- sort of an anchor.

I thought I'd do a "last supper" thing. While I was deciding how long it would run and what fooods would be on the days' menus, it occurred to me that a last gorge would serve no purpose. We don't remember the things we eat. Instead I used the time to wield my magic marker and make lists in a notebook. That was productive.

Pack clean underwear and a toothbrush and toothpaste. If you forget the last two, a nurse will provide. The rest will occur to you. It's an overnight hospital stay, not a cruise on the Danube.

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The only thing I needed in the hospital was a toothbrush and toothpaste and my phone and charger. Everything else was provided.

I didn't do a food funeral, but if you're going to, don't gorge. Count calories and limit yourself. Looking back, cutting myself off during my mandated 3-month diet was the best thing I could have done. It gave me a head start and the confidence to gain control over my eating before surgery.

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Mine won't even submit for approval until after I do everything. So that's pretty great!

happy Llama sad Llama... big fat mama Llama.

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I just remeber the insurance lady from the the place I am going saying the psychology report is all they need to submit to insurance so I can be approved, I got the letter from.my insurance and a couple days later the hospital called me and said they will schedule a date once I am done clearance. I did my cardiology and pulmonary test before but once I did my Psych it was submitted and I was approved in a couple days.. it was weird to me too how they approved me without finishing my clearance.

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You got a letter and a call from whom to say that you've been approved? If you mean your insurance plan, I'm guess I'm surprised that approval was given before labs and upper GI results.

I need like a set schedule and to start working out before hand, I'm not one to schedule my life so I don't know where to start

You don't need "like" a set schedule. A schedule will do nicely. To say that you're not one to schedule your life can be followed with "I'll start now." Surely you've had appointments and assignments to keep track of before now. Don't inflate this into a larger thing than it is. The ideas are big, but the preparations can be made to fit into your hand. Deep breath.

So that you really really really take charge of each step, try a couple of sheets of oak tag. Make huge calendars on which you'll fill in every detail. Include appointments, Vitamins, days to buy things you'll need as you go along, when to start any pre-op diet you may be given, etc., etc., Put these calendars up on a door. If two sheets, one month each, aren't enough, turn them over when you get to the third month. I used only one, but it worked for me when I felt overwhelmed pre- and post-op.. Picking up the magic marker almost daily gave me something to do -- sort of an anchor.

I thought I'd do a "last supper" thing. While I was deciding how long it would run and what fooods would be on the days' menus, it occurred to me that a last gorge would serve no purpose. We don't remember the things we eat. Instead I used the time to wield my magic marker and make lists in a notebook. That was productive.

Pack clean underwear and a toothbrush and toothpaste. If you forget the last two, a nurse will provide. The rest will occur to you. It's an overnight hospital stay, not a cruise on the Danube.

I got a letter from my insurance and a call from the hospital, i am surprised too. Thanks! That was helpful information ????

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I just remeber the insurance lady from the the place I am going saying the psychology report is all they need to submit to insurance so I can be approved, I got the letter from.my insurance and a couple days later the hospital called me and said they will schedule a date once I am done clearance. I did my cardiology and pulmonary test before but once I did my Psych it was submitted and I was approved in a couple days.. it was weird to me too how they approved me without finishing my clearance.

ain

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Every insurance company and surgeon does things differently.

Some people have a surgery date scheduled before they even get approved.

Mine was much like your's. I went to the surgeon's office, we talked about the options and decided on the sleeve, they gave me a check sheet of what BCBS Texas requires for approval. All that was missing was the psych eval. I did that, and once the report was sent to the surgeon everything got sent to BCBS.

It took about 3 weeks for the approval to come back from BCBS. After that the scheduler from the surgeon's office called me. I will have an EKG and upper GI (scan not the scope) and blood work on 10/20. Then my surgery is on Halloween.

My insurance did not require the EKG, GI scan, and blood work, my surgeon did. That is why I got approval without those things being done.

From what I have read and heard you don't need much for the hospital. I have another appointment with the surgeon just a few days before my surgery and they will give me more info on pre and post op diet. I only have to do a 3 day liquid diet before surgery.

I have an idea for you, go to YouTube and search WLS, VSG, RNY, etc. There are hundreds of people who have made videos documenting their WLS journeys and MOST of them have done a "these are the things I brought to the hospital" video.

As far as food funerals, I plan to take it easy. I have a couple of things I really want to eat (German food and chicken and dumplings) that I may never eat again because they are SO heavy. But most things we will eat again, eventually. Seafood is my favorite, I know I will be eating that forever!

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@@laGata15 Your so not alone. I found out by insurance I was approved Monday. I have been doing the same, eating as a one last time thing. I feel really confused on where I should start. I'm waiting on a pre op appointment which I should get Monday since the lady is out this week.

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    • BabySpoons

      Sometimes reading the posts here make me wonder if some people just weren't mentally ready for WLS and needed more time with the bariatric team psychiatrist. Complaining about the limited drink/food choices early on... blah..blah...blah. The living to eat mentality really needs to go and be replaced with eating to live. JS
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      1. Bypass2Freedom

        We have to remember that everyone moves at their own pace. For some it may be harder to adjust, people may have other factors at play that feed into the unhealthy relationship with food e.g. eating disorders, trauma. I'd hope those who you are referring to address this outside of this forum, with a professional.


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        Seems it would be more compassionate not to perform a WLS on someone until they are mentally ready for it. Unless of course they are on death's door...

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      Question for anyone, how did you get your mind right before surgery? Like as far as eating better foods and just doing better in general? I'm having a really hard time with this. Any help is appreciated 🙏❤️
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