PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hello, my name is Jaimie. I am 25 years old, I weight currently 349lbs and I am 5'7". I was told before the surgery I need to be below 337. It is hard. I did the 20grams low carb diet (Atkins) and it made me physically sick (Weak, nauseous with vomiting) and I had lost 17lbs then last month, but then I ended up stalling and gaining it back despite the diet. I was told to go on a liquid diet, and this is week two of it, and it sucks. I only lost 3lbs, plus aunt flo came. Because of my weight, I have been getting sick a lot, and I was told I am within the high risk. My surgery is supposed to be next month, though wasn't given a date. (I am on my parent's insurance…

I want to up date everyone about my bariatric surgery. I met with my surgeon Dr. Pod yesterday. I told him that it would be my birthday tomorrow and I wanted good news. I wrote you all about a week ago saying I had Achalasia. My endo. Dr. gave me this info and lead me to think I could not have my bariatric surgery. Well I have good news. I have to have surgery on my esophagus it is called Heller myotomy. Dr. Pod is going to do that surgery and if all goes well he will do the sleeve. If I have a lot of inflammation he will not do the sleeve at that time. I will have to wait 6 to 8 weeks for my esophagus to heal. Please pray that he can do both surgeries at the …

I have my second visit with the surgeon on Friday. getting nenvoys and excited Sent from my SM-J700T using BariatricPal mobile app

Went to my consultation today. Dr said he would do whatever surgery I decided on, but he did recommend bypass surgery. I had first been interested in the sleeve....now I'm doing more research....anyone else been told this?

Big question out there to all of you Post Surgery folks. I am not scheduled for surgery until June 20th. I thought I had made up my mind that I would have the RNY bypass surgery, but now I'm wondering if anyone else out there had second thoughts about switching to a Sleeve surgery. I have read how so many of you have done so well and have lost a lot of weight with the sleeve surgery. The main reason I decided to get the RNY bypass was it, according to the staff at the Mayo Clinic, I would loose considerably more weight that I would with the Sleeve surgery. I want to loose about 110 pounds and maintain. Anybody out there have an suggestions while I still have time to chang…

I'm pre-op. I just made cloud bread today and I like it. Since it has cream cheese in it, is it allowed post-op?

Surgery time is 12:30!!!! So exciting!

Didn't go well first time

My gastro will be doing an endoscopy on me tomorrow. Sounds wonderful. Not too thrilled with being put down. It's my first time going under. I really hope I don't end up as a viral youtube video! HAHA!

Getting a bit closer not sure what im suppose to do

So I've been lurking for a while and finally created an account yesterday. I didn't want to say anything until after my pre-op appointment today so I wouldn't tempt fate and something go wrong today to postpone surgery. BUT... All pre-op complete. Final class, meeting with anesthesia, and final office meeting with surgeon. I'm first on the OR schedule for next Thursday, May 18th! YAY!

My surgery's at 7am. Slightly nervous but more excited than anything. Will check In when I can. Happy Friday !

My Dr won't send the paperwork to insurance until you have a surgery date. I had my last meeting with him on Thursday (6 days ago) and he scheduled me for 13 days out. I got a call last night from the hospital about my pre-admission testing. I have to go on Friday morning. This morning I called my insurance (BCBS Federal Employee) and they said the authorization is still in process. I'm going to be really upset if I go through the 2 week pre-op diet and pre-admission testing only to find out insurance said no. Did anyone else do it this way? It seems kind of backwards to me....

I am looking to get started but need all the help I can get in order to select the best center for Lap Band placement. I am an Illinois reside and looking for a cheap and but good facility. Willing to travel within US. Looking for recommendations, experiences, etc. you can share with me. TIA.

Hello, all! First post. I have decided to have a sleeve gastrectomy, and I've told my parents, brother, and a few very close friends. (Of course, my spouse knows too!) Should I tell more people to help build my support network, or would that invite criticism from people who will just say I need more diet and exercise? Who did you tell before the surgery? Why did you decide to tell them, and what kind of reactions did you get?

My surgery is on May 19 (woo!) and I'm starting my pre-op diet tomorrow. I wanted to know if anyone knows if homemade blended smoothies were included in the liquid diet?

Over the last 2 months since being referred to RNY by my PCP, I've slowly changed from being a food consumer addict to a food controlling addict. Or weight loss addict. Awesome [emoji52] I've been so obsessed with a self made goal before surgery. I've lost 36 pounds in 2 months by sticking to my dr monitored diet + exercising and hate the idea of not losing a total of 60 before surgery. I didn't have a weight loss goal by my surgeon so this is all self induced. Lol. My fear is - an addict has mental punishments for themselves that will make it easy to get so down over one mistake that you give up and take the easy road. For me, being a food consumer addict is a heck of a …

I'm thinking about bypass surgery but one thing I am concerned with is what to tell people. I am probably a typical male, I don't want to tell anyone. I don't even want to tell my 22-year-old kids. My wife has convinced me to tell them (and the rest of my family) but honestly, I don't want to discuss it with other friends or co-workers. Last year I lost 65 lbs (gained half back) and from that experience, people are really nosey. "Tell me what you are doing", "Are you OK", "Are you sick"? I mean seriously if I was sick like that do you think I would want talk about it? How do others handle that? Some people are right up front which is fine. How do those of you…

I had to reschedule my first appointment because the north east decided to get hit with a blizzard, so I was overdue to see her. I don't know if she is trying to prepare me for the worst, but she said some things I wasn't expecting at all. Like a lot of people get stuck at the mechanical soft phase and cant move past it. Also that fresh fruit or vegetables may never be an option again. I guess the thought of never being able to eat a salad again may seem weird to some people, but oddly that was one of the foods I thought I would be able to consume for the rest of my life post recovery. I also know every nutritionist gives different advice, I just wish there was a standard…

Hello all! So i was just wondering about the dietary supervised period (generally 4-6 months for most insurances). Has anyone used their last four weigh-ins from their PCP visits? Hoping i can cut out those four months with my previous monthly visits, lol Can't blame a girl for trying!

I'm curious how soon after surgery have some of you drank coffee again? I love my coffee. I don't drink it all day, maybe two cups at most a day, but am sad that this might be it between my delicious warm beverage and my morning hands. Also, if you drink coffee, what do you use instead of half n half, or do you use half n half still?

Hi friends, Just wanted to share that I'm so excited. After 3 years of the stages of grief over paying for VSG, to the point of getting ready to cash out my 401k to pursue surgery, I finally became employed at a company that has insurance that covers bariatric surgery. My insurance coverage was immediate, so I wasted no time getting my initial consult done. I'm doing my surgery with Dr. Spann at Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss. Per my insurance, I need to complete 6 months of a doctor-supervised weight management program, so I'm going to do it with Vanderbilt...it'll be with the nutritionists and specialists I'll be seeing for the duration of m…

My Dr's office submitted paperwork to insurance on 4/24 and it has been an uphill climb since then. Paperwork fell through the cracks for over a week despite my calls to check status. I'm not going to get into details, but if there is one thing I recommend is to be your own advocate. If I had not called as many times as I did, who knows how long my paperwork would be sitting around untouched. Unfortunately, you gotta double and triple check what you are told. Anyway, I got the news today that I'm approved by insurance...yay!!!

I started this process on Jan 18th of this year. 3 month weight management for the insurance requirements is ALLLLLL DONE!!! I am scheduled for surgery on May 30th. Im scared yet excited at the same time!!! do I have any surgery twins out there???

I just started my 6 month journey! Yesterday was my first appointment with my dietitian and surgeon, and I'm a little overwhelmed. My surgery is going to be in November, but there isn't a date set in stone yet. What should I expect from here on out? Should I start drinking Protein shakes now? We talked about them but I forgot to ask when I should start them.

What's the first step? I've spoken to a center that does the surgeries. We've confirmed I'm eligible. The center has 3 months of meetings/classes (monthly) that take you through the process but t they can't fit me in until the end of August. The other option is to go through my PCP. I could be done with the 3 month required supervised diet/weigh in by then if I do it outside of the center. What does everyone do? I risk my PCP not submitting info correctly if I do it through him....? Thanks! (I'm 38.4 bmi, high bp, looking at RNY due to suspected GERD)

I'm considering bariatic surgery. But I'm curious if its worth it? Any regrets? Would you recommend it? Sent from my SM-G850W using BariatricPal mobile app

I was just wondering if there is anyone that bought weight loss books....specifically the big book on gastric sleeve that they no longer are using and would like to sell

I am really afraid I am going to have a hard time swallowing all my pills plus all the vitamins after surgery. I asked my doctor about it at my pre op visit Friday and he told me to just coat them in vegetable oil. Really? I hear just getting your food,water and vitamins down is hard enough and not something everyone can do. I can't come off them because they are to treat my Chiari Brain Malformation Symptoms and my Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome , which is also why I have gained all this weight. I spend about 15 hours a day in bed. Can anyone give me any insight on swallowing pills and vitamins after surgery? Or is anyone else out there scared of thi…

Anyone having surgery Jan 19th? I am having with Dr. Ferrari in Houston, Tx! I am so excited! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So my surgery is June 2.... I am having a hard time trying to get a passport... what do I do? Also wondering about the plane seats... will I fit? Sent from my SM-G928T using BariatricPal mobile app

I am just curious. I have saw that these portion/bariatric plates are encouraged by some. Has anyone used these plates after gastric sleeve? Were they helpful or a waste? Any suggestions on a certain set? Sent from my SM-G930VL using BariatricPal mobile app

OMG my surgery is one week from today! I'm so excited and nervous!! Maybe just a little scared! Does anyone have any advice for me?

Hi Everyone! I'm having gastric bypass on April 17th. Would anyone like to be my buddy? Someone understanding but strict would be super helpful for me! Starting to feel a little nervous. Thank you! ~Shannon

I of course have many questions and would like for February Sleevers to join together for this adventure and life changing decisions we have made to better our health and lives. I think it would be awesome to find other February Sleevers to share our experiences good and bad.

Hello! I've been lurking here for the past 2 weeks or so. I'm scheduled to have RNY on May 24th, but I'm still waiting on insurance approval. I went to a weight loss seminar the last week of February and had my first consultation with my surgeon on March 21st. Current weight: 265

So after 7 long months I went for my final clearance today from my PCP and he wouldn't clear me because my white cell count was high....I feel fine...I don't have a cold, no sore throat nothing. He re did the blood test and now to wait until Monday for results. I am so upset. My surgery is scheduled for May 15 and I've done everything I just feel defeated right now.

So as the title states, I'm getting a bit impatient! We were supposed to submit to insurance on March 13th, but we still haven't! My primary care nurse practitioner still needs to write a letter of recommendation (I gave her all the info, she just needs to write it) and send over my last diet visit information to my bariatric coordinator. Everything is done, just being held up by my primary care office. I spoke to my coordinator on Wednesday, and she said she would follow-up with them, and let me know when she submits to insurance. Hopefully soon!!!

Hello everyone Everything has been going good so far Only Thing I'm struggling with now is getting funded for my sleep study that's the last pre test I have to pass for a date I have done everything else I have 10lbs left to meet the weight requirement but since I'm close he will do the surgery so now I just have to do a sleep study but I have to get funded because I haven't met my deductible yet meaning I would have to pay out of pocket which is over $500 so I keep missing my appointment with the funding agency due to work so I Pray I'm able to make the next appointment which will be probably next week I just want a date already I'm ready for a new me I'm tired of having…

Day 6 of the pre-op diet and it's going well! The first day was really hard and both weekends, this past one and the the next one, we will be at lifecycle events with buffets, dessert bars, etc. Managed to get through the first one with just one small piece of lean turkey and veggies. Hard to believe but I've lost 10 pounds already on this diet. I triple checked on the scale and wore the same clothing from my last weigh in just to make sure! Weekdays are really easy since I'm working all day and making sure to have non-starchy veggies at home during the nighttime and plain broth. Anyone else having their operation at NY Columbia Presbyterian? Did you have it already?…

I think I am getting close to the end of the 6 month program (fingers crossed) ... I just wanted to know what to expect next . This has been a long process. Help!

So, I have pretty much decided on going to Mexico for surgery. I just wanted to see if I can get some input/advice from people who have gone to Mexico. I am scared and nervous and thinking about everything that could go wrong. I know a lot of people do it but it's so scary to think of having something like this done so far away from home. Is there anything you guys can tell me to help me make my decision? I haven't found anything negative about Tijuana Bariatrics but I just want to make sure I make the right decision.

I'm nervous about my appointment with my surgeon, do you get weighed I think I may have gained 2 pounds! Should I reschedule?!

I am considering surgery here and would love to hear anyone's experience. Specifically with Dr. BAGLOO.

OK Sports fans, this is the skinny on my surgery and subsequent days. starting weight at first doctors appointment was 250. Whizzed through the appointments and requirements within 3 months. Surgery weight was 238. My doctor required a two week liquid diet before and after. That was a tough two weeks, prior to surgery. I can't say I got through it without cheating. My cheats consisted of a few pieces of bacon, 4 bites of chicken salad and a handful of potato chips. I was able to meet my water goals daily. That's important. Doc said my liver was just fine. My surgery was this past monday. Items I took with me. my phone and charger and my i…

I've met with the surgeon I'm going to use. I have completed my 6 month diet. I will have my psychiatric evaluation on Friday. I have the cardiac tests, upper gi, and nutrition/ fitness/well-being classes on June 07 after my husband as returned from school at Camp Shelby. My insurance coordinator and surgeons office feel confident about my approval. But, I will feel more comfortable about being excited once I am (or am not) officially approved by insurance. I was told not to lose too much weight because I have another weigh in on June 07. And my BMI is only 41.5. I feel like I'm at a stand still. So, any tips on other ways I might can prepare are appreciated.

I just received my surgery date for June 5th and I would like to begin chronicling my journey. Does anyone have recommendations for a free blog site? I would like to add pictures too. I've never blogged before, but I want to start so I can look back on my progress, especially during the days I am sure I will struggle. Sent from my LG-LS997 using BariatricPal mobile app

I've been done with my pre-evaluation appointments and testing since 2/23/17. I have been calling the office about 2 times a week to see what is going on. It took most of March to just get my surgeon to look at everything and medically clear me. Once that was done, I was told that now all this is to go to my insurance company for approval (that was 4/4/17). I was not contacted about this, and after a week I called the office, spoke to the manager, and was told that everything is at my insurance and I just have to wait. Ok, after another week I called and was told my case is pending. Again, I wait. I do this 2-3 more times and keep getting told its pending. Today, 4/27/…

Is there anyone that is 5'4 and around 214 lbs. I would like to chat with you. I started this last year and was suppose to had surgery Jan. 18th I chicken out . I am now in the process of doing it again. didn't have to do everything over but I am waiting on my insurance to ok it again.

Hello friends, I'm curious if anyone can tell me how long it took for you to get approved for surgery from your first Orientation Meeting? I had my first meeting with the doctors on March 8th and still waiting for all the follow-up appointments. Thanks.