PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I’m a week away from surgery and this liquid diet is rough!!!

I'm trying to decide between the sleeve and the RNY. I am retired and don't want to destroy my outlet of socializing with friends. Once you have healed up is there a difference between those two surgeries and being able to enjoy food and drink? Of course I expect limits on what and how much I ingest and I understand the dumping syndrome. My question is about enjoyment. I like the greater longevity of the RNY but not if I can't travel easily or go out and socialize without feeling deprived. Thank you for any insights into post WLS life.

Hi all! Did anyone have their gallbladder removed prior to their weight loss surgery? Prior to considering weight loss surgery, I was doing Jenny Craig for a bit in 2020, but dropped it after about 6 months for a number of reasons. Prior to that, I never had any issues with my digestive tract. Over the last year, about once a month, I was getting what I found out were gallstone attacks. It got really bad the week of Labor Day and I went in for emergency surgery by the end of the week (Sept 10). Also over the last year, I was researching options for weight loss surgery. My insurance does not cover any weight loss anything, but I found out that the options out the…

I'm on metformin, which I have to stop taking for surgery, and my doc wants me to get a blood glucose monitor. I don't want to spend too much since I'm not going to need it long. Anyone have recommendations for a decent inexpensive model?

Hi everyone, I had a slight weight gain (6lbs) between my very first visit with the clinic and surgeon ( I had my period and I was weighed at different times of the day) and I was told you can possibly be denied for that. I did call the clinic and they told me it was ok, you are allowed some fluctuation. I’m the same now. I am waiting for insurance approval at this point. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks in advance!

Am having a hard time with acid reflux/Gerd none of the medications my Dr given me is working and nothing over the counter is working is anyone else experiencing this problem??????

Hi all, I had VSG back in 2014, and have been good. I developed bad GERD and am converting to bypass on October 1st. Does anyone have experience with this type of surgery? I would like to lose my remaining weight too, but don’t know how much a conversation will actually help you lose. Not having regurgitation will be with all of it though!!

My first post here. Hello from Charleston SC. I'm getting nervous but cant pinpoint why. The surgery itself doesn't worry me. Fear of the unknown maybe?

Hey everyone I’m on day three of my liver shrinking diet.

I'm in the beginning process of my bariatric journey, had my information session a few weeks ago and my big appointment with the surgeon, nurse, nutritionist, etc. is coming up in 3 weeks. So excited! I've been thinking about this health and wellness renewal with bariatric surgery for several years now. I've also been on a journey with my mental health (anxiety & depression) for about 4 years and have made some wonderful progress. I have a good support system of doctors but lately my therapist is making me scratch my head. For those of you on your journey - or that have experience - tell me about your journey with your mental health along with the bariatric surge…

Sorry for the TMI I'm one week out from surgery, haven't had any problems until today. I got very dehydrated yesterday but I was back on track until this afternoon, when I started suffering the worst constipation I've ever had. I've been drinking water and taken a stool softener & Miralax but nothing seems to be moving. I'm about to break out the nuclear option - magnesium citrate. My main worry is that I'm too afraid to take my protein shake. Usually I have 2 shakes, a sf jello, a broth, 64 oz of water & a small meal of meat and veggies. I don't feel well and I don't want to add to the problem. Any advice? (It's too late to call my doc)

Hey Guys, I am getting surgery october 1 and I wanted to ask what are the things you had or wish you had in the hospital or at home right after surgery to make things easier? Thank you in advance.

Hey all. Like I’ve said before I am starting on this journey. I had my first consultation appt on Aug 31, 21. I’ve completed y lab work and psych appt. Psych has cleared me for surgery. I have my nutritionist appt after my 1st official WLS weigh in appt. I AM SO WORRIED that I won’t qualify. The doctor told me that I have to lose 15-20# before I could have the surgery. My thoughts were if I could lose weight that easily then why have the surgery. The problem… I’ve been watching what I’ve been eating, working out 2-3 times a week, eating low carb, low fat, drinking the 64 oz of water, 90g of protein, and the one meal a day; YET I’ve lost zero and gained 2. I’m starting to …

Ok everything started off ok for me but now its hard for me to drink water r eat my sugar free jello I don't even make it to 2 teaspoons because I get the tightening in my throat and chest and yes I walk and walk more am not even getting in enough liquids am still drinking out of medicine cups 30ml I tried to move on to something a lil more bigger but my body just want let me my pureed starts tomorrow if I can't even take in clear liquid how am going to complete that step someone anymore please help

Surgery 8weeks

One of the things that contributed to my stress about this surgery was not knowing what was going to happen. (What can I say, I'm a control freak.) So here is the play-by-play as it pertains to me of my surgery. Your mileage may vary! I'll try to come back and update it. Hopefully it'll be of use to someone—"and knowing is half the battle." Day before surgery Liquid-only diet; two bowls of phở broth, some Protein2O, apple juice, and sugar-free lemon jello. Got about 830 calories in. Had to take a shower with a special CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) anti-septic body wash. It made my skin a bit "slippery". Packed my bag with my CPAP ho…

Hi! I just started my journey and I am looking forward to chatting with those of you who are on a similar time-frame as myself. My insurance is Cigna so they require a 3 month supervised diet, psych eval and sign off from my primary (which I am worried about, I haven't seen him in 5 years so what if he wont sign off? should I find someone new? suggestions?) I am aiming for an early September surgery date, my Dr. said it is doable! I am excited and nervous. I have learned so much already from reading about everyone else's experience it has really helped to calm me down. I feel like I am obsessed with this and it's all I can think about. I have probably watched 200 yout…

I got my surgery date last week. It is September 27th! Barring Delta shutdown of the hospital[emoji849]

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum. I had my Weight loss consultation on August 31, 2021. I am super excited and ready for this new journey. I’ve been overweight most of my adult life and now it’s time to regain control over my life. I’ve been given some guidelines to start implementing vitamins And at least three proteins shakes a day. I’ve been monitoring what I eat, making sure I get my steps in, and being mindful of my feelings and relationship the food. I was told I needed to lose 15 to 20 pounds prior to surgery. This is kind of stressful Being that I’ve been trying to lose 15 to 20 pounds for the past year and I’ve been unsuccessful. However, I’m going to conti…

Hi I'm Linda.I live in Downey CA not far from Los Angeles.. I just joined today. I'm taking required pre op classes for WLS. I have 4 more to go. Anyone have second thoughts about not having the surgery?

I'm new here and my gastric sleeve surgery is scheduled for September 28...any one else?

It might be a waste of time since IDEALLY, I should only have one appointment left. However the psychologist I’m seeing is a grad student with a complex who loves to schedule unnecessary follow ups. I don’t vibe with him either. I’m wondering if I should just grin and bare it possibly lie my ass off to get past this or get someone I’m comfortable with. This is the only thing left that stands between me and meeting the surgeon. I’d like this done by the end of the year…

I finished on a Thursday and they called me on the next Tuesday scheduled me about 3 weeks from my last test.Good luck [emoji1696]

I am just a few week away from my surgery date, 9/29/21. Today was my pre-op visit with my primary to get the scripts for the lab work and chest x-ray. She decides to NOW mention that maybe I should postpone and try using Ozempic/Wegovy for weight loss,....wait, what?! She first said that the sleeve would be a great idea for me, recommended one surgeon but I decided on someone else. Has anyone used these meds and had any success?. I looked up Wegovy which is the higher dose of Ozempic for weight loss. Insurance won’t cover it. They would cover some of Ozempic but still super expensive and the medical code for Diabetes would be used for the claim and I am not diab…

I am really struggling with the liquid diet, scared I won’t have shrunk my liver enough. Surgery week tomorrow?

I was wondering if anyone else found themselves gaining weight during the preop process. My last appointment was a month ago and it’s been a stressful month for me and I stress ate. I have an appointment in a week and a half and I’m honestly pretty much crash dieting to try and be just what I was at my last appointment. ??‍♀️ I didn’t realize how much I had gained and I’m glad I got on the scale. Uggh. (I know I need to learn some new coping skills going forward.) just wondering if anyone else gained during the pre op process. I’m disappointed in myself. I feel like I should have my head in the game but I had extended family members test positive for covid, my husband jus…

I have been on my preop surgery journey for 116 days!! I was doing really well. I was told my insurance requirement was 4 months of weight loss, weight checked by my MD each month. I had to lose 42lbs. I also had to go thru all the test, lab work, stress test, PYSC test, the whole Nine yards!! Well I did it and not only did I lose the 42 lbs. I was supposed to lose I lost 47! I was super excited and ready….. Then my PT advocate sends me an email she made a mistake, I have to do 6 months of weigh ins for my insurance so she will need two more months 'Thanks". I mean it was like so Nonchalant an casual like this means nothing! After everything it feels like a gut punch an n…

Good afternoon all!! I had my first evaluation today. One of the requirements for approval was weight history for the past 5 years. I certainly have not gone every year for the last five years. Especially the last couple years because of COVID. Has anyone had this and it was an issue with insurance?

My husband refuses to drop me off or pick me up from the hospital. He disagrees with my decision to have surgery. I expected this but now need a plan. For those who have a spouse like mine or kept your surgery a secret, how did you arrange for hospital pick-up/ drop-off? Uber? Swear a friend to secrecy?

Though I have been following everyone's posts for the last 6 months, I did not want to subscribe until I finally got my surgery date! I got my surgery date! September 24th is the big day! The one thing I had not thought about purchasing until today was a new bariatric food journal that would specifically have a place to track my proteins, and waters. I have been keeping a basic food diary but I feel a new journal for post-surgery would be a great way to kick this off. I have been looking at different ones on Amazon but they don't give you a picture of what's inside the covers. Does anyone have a favorite food diary or food journal that's easy to use and they've found hel…

So it's day 7 of my Pre-Op diet and constipation is an issue. I am on Optifast liquid diet 4x a day. Have broth, decaf coffee (cup a day) and ofc water. I also include fiber in my drink, but it doesn't seem to help. Now they do recommend using RestoraLax. I took it 3 days back but hasn't helped much. Any suggestions? Should I be taking RestoraLax everyday?

Hi everyone! I am new here! I had my surgery scheduled for August 15 and then due to the surge in Covid, it was canceled. It is now rescheduled to Sept 14! I am hoping it sticks!!

I have yet to go to the doctor, but his "people" have told me I am approved through Medicare PROVIDED I go through a 6 month diet plan. Since it is 2 weeks until my very first visit, I wonder why and what are they requiring? Weight Watchers? Jenny Craig? What? Also, am I going to be required to lose weight that way? What's the point?

Hello, I've just joined and I have a question I'm hoping someone can help me with. I am in a program for bariatric surgery to be scheduled later this year. I just met with the surgeon and was told she will only perform a sleeve, I would like a bypass. She says that she constantly has patients coming back from bypass needing iron infusions or having issues with ulcers and she thinks the sleeve gives the same benefit without the risks. Basically, she only does bypass on rare occasions, like with people who have acid reflux. Has anyone encountered this before? I thought I would be able to choose my surgery and after much debate I opted for the bypass. I'm 53, post …

Hey guys! ? My surgery (MGB) is scheduled on Monday 30/08 and I have been on a strict protein shake + water/tea/coffee/broth diet since Monday. I haven’t cheated at all and am really proud of myself! ? NOW… the thing is… ever since a couple of days (since approx. day 4) I feel like I smell HORRIBLE. My pits REEK? Like a mix of chicken broth and sweat ? (I know.. TMI) When I asked my husband he smelled me like a dog and told me I’m being ridiculous. He couldn’t smell anything really, but I have found him significantly smellier than usual these past days too ? I am now wondering if this diet makes you smellier? Or if it increases your sense of smell? For the l…

Today I was walking through the center of town (closed to cars) and was people-watching... how easily they moved, how energetic they seemed to be. I'm having a lot of trouble reconciling the idea that a year from now, if I stick to the plan and keep working the way I know I can, I could be that way. I've been so obese for so long that I can't imagine a life where I can just... go to a store and buy pants. Or just... decide to sleep somewhere else without having to pack up my CPAP. Or just... run for the sake of running. I literally cannot imagine it. It should be a source of motivation, but it's impossible for me to wrap my mind around it. And then I get all ove…

I am in the process of preparing for gastric bypass surgery. I have my first appointment with the dietician today. In advance of the appointment, he sent me the pre-op liver shrinking diet instructions. Upon reading it, I'm very skeptical in terms of how it can possibly shrink my liver. There is nothing about protein shakes, broths or other liquids (other than drinking 8 cups of sugar free liquids per day). Rather, the instructions have me eating 3 small meals a day. There are meals with meat and eggs and veggies. Some of the ingredients seem totally contradictory to shrinking the liver but I'm no doctor. Here are some that raised my eyebrows: Shredded cheese …

I've completed my all my appointments except my egd, which is not scheduled til 9/25/21. How long does it take to get a surgery date once all appointments are completed.

Hi I'm super new here. I was scheduled for surgery on September 1. I live in Sydney, Australia and halfway through my pre-op diet all elective surgery in the state has been postponed. My dietitian isn't responding to messages and my surgeon has simply said 'go back to eating normally' but it feels like a waste of the work I've done this past week. Does anyone have any suggestions about diet for a break (they are suggesting a minimum of a month) that will help set me up for my op, and my life post op, without being own the pre-op fasting diet??

Hey I’m scheduled for bypass November 23rd. Anyone else that same time frame? I’d like to build a group if anyone is interested in going through this as a team?

My clinic doesn't require any kind of pre-op diet other than liquids only the day before surgery and NPO the day of surgery. Am I weird for wanting to do kind of a step-down diet over the next three weeks, just so that it's not all just one "AARGH!"? My thought is to replace one meal a day with a protein shake this week, reduce fruit, and step from 2 cups coffee a day to 1 cup (and no sugar in the coffee, which is about the only place I still eat sugar). Then the second and third weeks, replace two meals a day with protein shakes, and eliminate fruit and coffee entirely. If I get too hungry, I'll have something protein-y like plain skyr. (Skyr is a dairy pr…

SO let me start this by saying I have TERRIBLE anxiety when it comes to anything medical. For example, I pass out when getting my blood drawn. But lately, I have felt my health declining in a way it never has before, and I am also the heaviest (and saddest) I have ever been. I have been in a state of binging lately and have realized I need help. I have tried and failed many diets and I feel that before I develop any co-morbidities, I need to get the weight off for good. This brought me to bariatric surgery which I have discussed with my therapist and PCP. I got a referral and am scheduled for my first consult on 9/1/21. I am super excited, but lately little stupid f…

So I’m 36 and worried about loose skins so I’m testing to see how bad was loose some for those in their 30s. I think I have between 80-100 lbs to lose.

Hi all! Soooo I’ve been browsing the forum and saw quit a few people getting denied for surgery, by their insurance. I’ve done all my clearances and even have my surgery date (Sept 8!), but i’m just waiting on the approval by insurance. My question is for the people that have been denied. Why were you denied by your insurance and did you submit an appeal? I’m 80% sure i’ll be fine …I just have the pre surgery jitters i guess ?

Hi friends! I am brand new here and also in the process of WLS. My first appointment with my weight loss surgeon is on 9/1/21 to start the process! I am looking at the sleeve surgery since it seems the best from the research I have done. My concern is how much I can lose with the procedure's assistance. I know it's a tool, but I need to lose approx. 126lbs and from the calculators and estimators I have used online it says I would lose only about 70lbs with the sleeve or 85lbs with the bypass. These numbers seem really low compared to the results I see on the forums and other websites. I just wanted to know if anyone had more information on this? Is anyone similar to …

I am having VSG on July 7. Still feels so far away.

I have my final preoperative appt with my surgeon on thursday. What normally happens during this appt? thanx

Guys! I need words of encouragement please. My surgery is next week and my anxiety is off the charts. I’m doing great on the preop diet( my doctor said 2 weeks protein shakes and clear sugar free liquids only? I’m not really nervous about the surgery. I’m nervous about life after, gas pains, and not being able to keep food down. Anyone who is post op, please share your experience. Thank you

When your period starts on day 3 of your liquid diet…. Anyone else? ?????

Want to read what has been the experience of people who had either sleeve or bypass with All the comorbities (HBP, daíbetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, acid reflux and asthma) 1. what surgery did you do and why? 2. Has the surgery resolved all or some of your comorbities? I am a candidate myself but unsure ? of what surgery to choose. Looking for some feedback thank you all