PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

So these past few days I have been so anxious. I started my liquid diet, 5 shakes a day, on Sunday. I feel good, I have lost about 8lbs since I started. But I can't stop thinking about surgery and how my life will change and it is making me so anxious! I am just so excited to start this new chapter in my life. My brother was a diabetic and had VSG 2 years ago and he looks amazing and is now diabetes free. So I know this works and I can't wait to see my results and really be able to look back and see the transformation. I am so humbled that I have a great support system in place and they are in my corner rooting for me.

I've been watching a bunch of YouTube on things people have be consuming during this getting ready but I'm hitting a wall of not finding products I like. EVERY Protein Shake I've tried is so nasty! And I don't like hello or popsicles... so would love anyone's suggestions EsP on the Protein part !! Thank you !

It just got real guys! They submitted my paperwork to insurance this morning. Fingers crossed ? it's a short and easy approval & I can have my bypass by the beginning of June !

Hey, So my jobs insurence don't cover the gastric sleeve. I have tried every diet possible and it never works. So I gping to have to pay cash for the surgery.... can't afford the 10k-16k here in the states so I have considered going to Mexico for the surgery it's only about 4k cash.. which I have... has anyone done this and have a recommendation? Thanks[emoji2] [emoji2] [emoji2]

Our company admin came around this morning asking our sizes for the company tee-shirt she's ordering. I said I wanted an XL. She asked me if I was sure because the are kinda form fitted. I stuck with an XL, I'm having gastric sleeve surgery 5/2. I hope the next time they see me I'm an XL!

Omg I got my surgery date today!!! I'm feeling so many emotions! Like I'm excited nervous and I wanna cry at the same time!

Curious to know how long it took from submission to approval for some of you? Seems like 10-12 days is standard..

Really expected this to be so damn exciting, I'm more so still upset with the lack of communication I've been having with my surgeon's office. On to good news, I GOT MY FREAKING DATE!!! early birthday present to me bday is 06/28 .. now the happiness is creeping in lol yaaaay!!! Shyt just got real!!

Just found out today that I will have to do a 2wk liquid diet prior to surgery. Any tips and suggestions to make this a not so awful experience would be greatly appreciated!

Hi. I am being sleeved in June (scared to death) I have lots of aches and pains (knees, feet, back, shoulders) I was wondering if anyone else had these problems, and did the pain go away as you lost weight? The pain is one of my reasons for having the surgery. Ty

Omg.. so everything is submitted and today I called my insurance and they said it is being reviewed!! Im sooooo nervous!! Anyone else have United Healthcare?? Are they fast? Do they call or send a letter?? Ahh!! Sent from my SM-N920R6 using BariatricPal mobile app

I am so excited I have finished my classes and dropped 10% of my weight and been doing my protein shakes and vitamins already. I got the call that my referral had been approved and I have a date for my surgeon evaluation and to set my surgery date so I will know my date in 2 weeks when I meet with him. I just can't wait I'm so happy to finally get this journey into the next stage! [emoji2]

I tweaked how I was eating on my first visit with my surgeon (April 5th) and went back today and I lost 11 lbs! So exciting. I'm on day three of pre-op diet hopefully I'll lose even more.

My surgery is Tuesday may 2 and I feel like I am getting a sinus cold, a little stuffy in the mornings this past two days and have to keep clearing my throat like there is something in it . Wondering if we can have zicam preop

Can anyone tell me why some surgeons use a drain and/or catheter for the sleeve surgery and some do not? I'm looking at a surgeon who does use either and I'm wondering if I should be concerned that he does not. Thanks!

Hello everyone, In about a week I will have my 4th supervised weight loss doctor's appointment. As the reality of having surgery looms closer, I am really waffling on whether or not to proceed with the surgery. My husband and my family are really against it, they think I should be able to lose the weight on my own. I am really scared of having bad reactions to certain foods after surgery....What if I want to have a macaroon in Paris one day? Or some of my (hypothetical) children's wedding cake? I'm really worried about doing something that is so permanent when I still have doubts. To make matters worse, I really don't like my surgery coordinator. I think she …

The surgery coordinator told me 3 weeks ago that I should have been keeping food logs for the entire past 4 months for my nutritional evaluation today...and they have specific forms that they want them on....so Im scrolling through my online food tracker for the past 4 months and writing everything out by hand and my arm hurts.....ugggg.

My surgical consult was postponed today. Because I am in a power chair and must rely on Missouri Medicaid Transport to get to my appointments I am again at the mercy of bureaucracy. They chose to decline my transportation request today which in turn forced my to reschedule my appointment. I was heart sick of it. I begged and pleaded. I ended up crying myself out and talking a long nap. What I have not done is eat over it! That alone is actually progress for me; I am an emotional eater. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using BariatricPal mobile app

I attended a webinar last night with the surgeon, called them today to schedule my consultation...they verified insurance...now, just hoping some of the things I've already done will count toward the 12 month waiting period...consult scheduled for May 12 with Dr Fitzer.

I have my cardiac stress test on Tuesday, then the last of my 6 month weigh ins next Monday.... sooo clooooseeeeeee[emoji23]

Okay So I went to see my Surgeon March 30th. He gave me a pre-op diet to follow for a month because of my high BMI. April 13th I went to weigh in to check progress and I had lost 18 pounds in 2weeks! I was excited because I only have 40 more to lose before I get my endoscopy and my date. However, I don't feel like I have lost anymore and I have been doing the same thing as I was doing when I lost the 18. I exercise but Im limited to some things. Should I try and do more? My surgeon is leaving the current facility in a month or 2 and going to a new one where they aren't so proficient in bariactric surgery so I don't want to have surgery there, so I'm trying to lose all I …

Has anyone gone through Kaiser Hawaii for their surgery? What is the process like? I need Hawaii peeps to pick their brains.

Can anyone tell me how they handled all the meds, I know for a few weeks I have to crush my pills, or capsules I have to empty into applesauce. Does anyone have any idea on how I should handle all these meds and what would be best to mix them with. Also I heard that omeprazol tastes horrible and I have to take that everyday. Someone please help me I'm freaking out about all these meds and how to get them in on top of all the vitamins.

I am on day 2 of my PreOp diet and I guess due to all the vegetables, gas has become a bit of a problem. I have never had any luck with simethicone, any other suggestions? Thanks! Larry

I'm pre-op for the sleeve surgery.. I still need to lose about 3 pounds until I can make my appointment. But sometimes I'm afraid that I won't be able to do it even though I really wanna. Had anyone else experienced any doubt?

Oh my goodness! My surgery was approved! It Legit was submitted to my insurance on the 19th of April and was approved on the 24!! I can't wait to get my surgery date!!! [emoji813]️[emoji813]️[emoji813]️[emoji813]️[emoji813]️[emoji813]️[emoji813]️[emoji813]️

I'm at the hospital nervous but ready for surgery! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

On day two of pre-op diet and I feel really sick to my stomach. Has anyone experienced this? How long does it last.

"My surgery countdown is on. I have 7 days until "Go Time" Of course, I am reading a whole bunch and getting prepared with the shopping list and mentally as much as I can... But I was wondering if everyone is sent home with an abdominal binder ? I keep coming across it on some the sites that I visit and some people saying that it works really well and helped them. I was wondering if it worked for anyone else ? Also, are you sent home with one or would I purchase this separately ?

has anyone had or going to have surgery with Dr Baker at Baptist Health? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgery date is 6.9.17. Any others in June? Follow me on instagram if you have one to follow my journey! Same user name.

What can expect before and after up to the 1st week (now moving into post op?)

Anyone else on Humira, Methotrexate & steroids? I'm having surgery 5/31 & I have to come off all my meds 2 weeks prior. I'm wondering how long the doctor will keep me off them.

Has anyone had a high TSH level? What did your surgeon say?

Hey everyone! So excited to be here with all of you amazingly strong and inspirational VSGers I just started my pre-op liquid diet on Sunday and have my final apt with surgeon on May 8th. No one really knows other than my close family and I plan to keep it that way. But I also know that I need a support system. I have been reading everyone's success stories and advice and I am so excited to go through this journey with you all!

I was looking into using this brand because I have celiac disease and cannot have gluten soy or dairy. It only has 20 grams of protein per 2 scoops. Has any one else used this brand?

Hey guys. I just wanted to share this with you all. My surgeon recommended the ProCare chewable vitamins because it's one a day and only other thing I'll need to take is a Tums a couple hours later. I was advised to try some ahead of time to be sure I liked the taste. While looking on their site and getting ready to order... I saw they have a disclaimer to "try before you buy". No refunds/returns on opened bottles if you don't like the taste. Nowhere did it say click here to request sample so I went to their "contact us" page and entered the required info and told them I was wanting to request a sample. They messaged me back the same day and in less than a week I had a…

Im a nurse. I work in a nicu so I work with small babies but still some babies are 8lbs or more and I was wondering how long I should request off. I know some people are good after a week. I was gonna do 2 weeks but im worried that wont be enough?

Well it's day two of my pre-opt liquid diet and I'm starving. I can hear my co-workers crunching away on food:(

First day on pre-op diet wasn't so bad. I hope the next 13 loooong days will be the same. Wish me luck! ?

So I made the first step today and called the surgeon's office. My insurance officially takes over January 1st of next year so I have a little bit of waiting time to go but they said I could fill out the paperwork. The woman who helped me was really nice and I'm really excited. She said with my BMI I did not have to do the weight loss program but I do have to do the psychiatric evaluation. I've heard some people say that they go back to work within one week but are not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds. I'm a teacher preschool and I'm wondering how long did it take or how long did they say for it take before you could go back to work? Has your d…

Im not getting my sleeve done until august but I've been trying some protien powders. I just noticed the Body Fortress Isolate Protein powder contains betaine anhydrous. Is this a bad thing??

Having my sleeve done May 17th. Anyone else have the same surgery date??

Does anyone know which band this come from? I had 2 bands put in and removed and this was broken off in me so I would like to determine which one was the broken one.

So today I got the call for my ultrasound results saying that YES my gallbladder will be coming out during my surgery, and in addition they would be doing a biopsy on my liver during my surgery.... Anyone experienced this? Also I have seen a lot of people talk about having to have an EGD done prior to surgery, and I asked if I would have to have one and they said no... Just curious on what the stigma would be for having or not having one... I am about 6 weeks pre-surgery and really trying to get all my questions answered. Thanks for the help!

Everything was finally processed and I called my insurance company, and they said I had been approved. Today I got a denial letter. Anyone have this happened? Customer service is closed, I even have a approval number.

I'm on the bubble trying to decide which to choose........i would appreciate your thoughts

I feel terrible!!! The weekend was so hard is have 9 days and I'm completely back on track but i'm so worried!!! (my pre-op liquids is for 14 days) I already feel like i failed...

Hello all, I found out through my insurance that they will only approve VSG as an outpatient surgery going forward. They used to approve 1day inpatient at the same time as the surgery review. I'm feeling nervous as I don't think it's reasonable to expect people to go home on the day of surgery, plus, when I spoke with my surgeon he told me to expect a 2 day inpatient stay and that he usually does not find himself discharging patients on POD1. Like most people, I've read case after case of VSG surgeries and I have yet to come across a person who went home the same day. My impression was 1 day inpatient was reasonable, and of course I'd understand staying inpatient fo…

Sorry if this has been asked a zillion and one times... I'm so nervous about drinking the protein shakes. Shakes in general (unless legit milk shakes from restaurants) make me gag. I am pre-surgery and would like to start trying shakes now so that I can find one or two brands and flavors that I can tolerate or might actually like. Anyone have any suggestions of brands?