PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I'm having my surgery on the 24th of January and I start my liquid diet on the 10th. Any advice on how to make it more bearable?? Also, Is it just me or is anyone having or had bad anxiety before the surgery?

Today I had my first session for 6 month documentation for sleeve. The doctor office was unclear really how blue cross would treat the process. My lap and was done under my old insurance but the sleeve would be under blue cross. They have a one lifetime approval. I talked to them they stated it should be approved. I hope so as I press on.

So nervous, just on my way to the hospital now. I can’t believe I will be going in alone. I’m sure everything is going to be fine, I’m feeling so nervous, but this is going to be so worth it! I’ll update you all as soon as I can!

I have GERD. One surgeon suggested bypass as GERD can worsen due to increased stomach pressure with the sleeve. But, while bypass often cures GERD and often results in greater weight loss, there is major concern regarding mal-absorption and health issues with Bypass, including the pain of DUMPING SYNDROME, Can anyone speak to acid reflux and the struggle to choose between the two surgeries? The second opinion surgeon suggested I do the sleeve and can always move to bypass if acid reflux worsens....but that's another surgery...UGH. I'm nervous and confused as there are drawbacks to both options. Is gerd worse than the pain of dumping? Anyone suffer from this issue?

I have wanted to have surgery 20 years ago! My insurance wouldn't cover even with my comorbities. My new employer (22 years later) covers bariatric surgery! Went to my consultation today. My insurance requires only 3 months medically supervised program! No sleep study since I already have a cpap machine. First appointment is with the nutritionist January 19th!! Here we go! Hooray for me!!

I was scheduled to have surgery on Monday. But yesterday, I received my results and is diagnosed with COVID19. I am going through the proper protocol to get retested and hope for a negative soon. However, this is a chance once I am negative and restart the liquid diet, my surgery is pushed to January. If the surgery happens as planned, my insurance was going to pay for it 100% since I reached my OOP max. Now that it’s pushed back, that would mean I will have to pay for the deductible and possible coinsurance. Anyone had gone through this? What is happening now is making me change my mind about surgery after going through the process since August.

Hi I just finished my last nutritional class and have completed all the requirements. Do I wait to hear from the hospital or should I call? I’m not sure what to do at this point. Any advice would be great, I have BCBS NJ by the way.

Has anyone else had surgery and went home the same day. My surgeon said he was going to have me home the same day of surgery. I actually want to stay overnight so I can make sure everything is ok. I dont think Ive read anything on here about going home the same day of surgery.https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1295-pre-operation-weight-loss-surgery-qa/?do=add#

Hello all. I am brand new to the site and looking for insight and advice. I have been researching various surgeries for a couple of years now. I am 5'2" tall and about 193 lbs (36.5 BMI). I have yo-yo dieted my entire adult life but have found that since turning 45 it just doesn't come off as easily anymore. Now that I am 48, I can go on any diet you can imagine, stick to it perfectly and lose 6 pounds in a month. If I stop the very aggressive diet, everything comes back and them some. I have somewhat settled on the gastric sleeve at this point although I am very interested to hear what my surgeon recommends. One of my biggest concerns is living long-term with the sleeve.…

Hello everyone! I am new to this site and I am so happy I found it! I began my wls journey on September 1st and I am nearing the end of the line. I’ve had my bw, GI, Endoscopy, psych eval, and I have 1 more nutritional class on Monday. I am hoping that everything goes through and my insurance provider approves the surgery. I am just so ready for it. I was kinda nervous about the approval because although my insurance doesn’t require me to lose any weight I did gain about 4 lbs since my initial weigh in and I thought for sure when they submitted my paperwork I would automatically get get denied because you aren’t supposed to gain any weight. I asked my nutritionist about …

Hi all, I'm just starting the journey so I've been reading and researching a lot! I attended a seminar and I have my first individual consultation later this week. My concern right now is with my husband. He's technically overweight on the charts, but has never been obese and hasn't gone through that experience--he can shop in regular stores, sits in middle seats at concerts, and actually prefers booths at restaurants. My experience is pretty opposite, as I've been big since I was 15 (25 years ago lol!), and have ballooned up to a BMI of 51, the highest ever. When I first brought up the idea of WLS, I positioned it as a tool to give me a head start on the weight …

Hello, I won't go into the whole story, but basically I'm a self pay patient because my insurance sucks and would have to travel pretty far out of state to get my surgery. Problem with this is that I don't really have anyone I can bring with me on such a trek. Does anyone know if there are any services (nursing, caregiver, etc) that I could reliably hire to help have me discharged from the hospital post-surgery so I don't have to sign an AMA?

My surgeon wants me to lose 9 more pounds by the 16th. My fiancé suggested that I continue juicing to lose the pounds, but all juicing does is make me hungrier. Any suggestions on how I can get down those 9 pounds?

Hi, I'm new to this. Today I just got the call that I've been accepted into molina's bariatric program. Lots to do within the 6 month period! I'm trying to decide which surgery would be the safest way to go and less invasive gastric sleeve or gastric bypass?? Also does anyone have any tips on losing the 15 lbs required for the surgery?

So I am prepping for my robotic VSG on December 14th. Mentally I’m good so far. But I will be alone due to Covid, and will be spending the afternoon into the next afternoon at the hospital with out my rather large family. So I was wondering what you all brought with you. Things you brought to kill time, things to make recovery easier or things you had really wished you had brought with you but didn’t. I didn’t look to see if this had been posted before, but I am interested in knowing what you might suggest I bring and not forget to bring.

I’m on Day 7 of my Pre-op liquid diet and about two days ago started breaking out on my face really bad. It hasn’t been this bad since puberty ? is this common? is it all the toxins being flushed out? if so, Im thinking it’ll clear up soon. there’s only so much greasy toxins that can come out- i’ve been strictly only liquids and taking this whole process extremely serious. praying for the best!

Finally!!! Yes, I've been waiting for awhile to get my date and I'm so excited. I was hoping for December, but at least January the 12th is just around the corner.

I was provided the Robard diet by my doctor but it feels like it's overpriced and pointless when there are others like the other one posted. Could I do that liquid diet or should I stick closer to the one I was given. It just feels like I'm being taken for a ride because my doctor sells the Robards products.

I am approaching my clear liquid day and have nectar roadside lemonade and fuzzy navel powders. Are they considered clear liquids? I don’t want to buy a clear bottles shake if I already have something I enjoy in my cabinet.

I was doing great lost 26 lbs 4 wks out of surgery. Am eating and tolerating everything I am averaging 700 cals a day Taking linzess for irritable bowel syndrome but I havent had a complete bm in a week am showing a 5 lb gain very frustrating been stuck here anyone else with this problem

Hi, I'm getting my gastric band surgery in 3 days! I cannot wait to stop drinking all this milk lool. Is there anyone getting surgery on Monday too?

Is there a site where I can look up to see if Medicare approve my surgery ?

Hello everyone I’m new here. Hope everyone is well ? I’m just wondering if anyone can offer any tips before I go into surgery. I’m having the sleeve procedure:). Still awaiting a date but I just completed my last steps with pre op in order for them to give me a date. Thanks in advance . Much love and blessings ?

The esults of the biopsy during the scope last Friday showed there are a few h. pylori critters nesting in my stomach (“several” specifically). ☹️ I have not had any GI symptoms other than some minor increased gas in the last several weeks and there were no ulcers found. I would love to know your experience if you had the same happen to you. My Gastro ordered the 3 usual meds - amoxicillin, claritbromycin, and Protonix (although I do not yet know how many days it’s for, it could be 7, 10, or 14). 1. How many days were you prescribed the medications? 2. Did they get rid of the bacteria? 3. Did you feel rotten or was it not that big a deal? 4…

Has anyone had gallbladder removal, hiatal hernia repair, and sleeve all at the same time?

My Dr and I talked about 3 types. Roux en Y but he said I didnt have acid reflux so I didnt need that, the sleeve w duodenal switch and just the sleeve. I chose the sleeve w the duodenal switch bc i would lose more weight and get off my prescriptions. But i guess the nurse misunderstood and scheduled me for the Sleeve on Dec 2nd. If I want the sleeve w the switch i would have to wait til Jan and start my deductible all over? What do I do?

I have been scheduled for November 12th for my sleeve. I am ready to finish what I have started. If you have any tips for the first few weeks after surgery.

Did anyone start the VLCD for pre op early? My doctor has asked me to do it for 3 weeks. But I have put on 4kg since I saw him. Now I am thinking maybe I should do it for 4 weeks.

So, I'm scheduled to have my EGD done this coming Friday (October 30, 2020). I'm a little nervous about it and also full of questions. I feel like I'm in Limbo. Does anyone know what the the step after the EGD is? I was told by my surgeon to try to lose 10 to 15 pounds and while he did not put me on a specific diet, he stated that I should go low-fat and increase my protein intake. He said that he wants me to shrink my liver as it will make it easier for him to navigate and move around. I currently do not have a surgery date, but I'm hoping that it's not too far off. Can anyone help me understand the process?

So I am just waiting on approval for my surgery but I was wondering what I should be doing now to better prepare myself. For those who have already had the surgery what? advice can you give? If you could go back what are some things you wish you would have worked on more before getting the surgery? I research and what vlogs everyday but I still feel like I am missing something. Instead of stressing about if I will be approved or not or worse stress eating I want to do something productive with my time while I wait.

I'm 11 months post OP and have lost 120 LBs. Overall it's a great experience but my calcium and Vitmain levels keep dropping. I'm finding it more and more difficult to buy supplements. It was a cost that I wasnt warned about during my consultations. I work full time and have been raising my brother and sister because my parents where deported to Mexico in 2010. I made the decision to raise them when I turned 18. It's a difficult journey and unfortunately my supplements go on the back burner because of how expensive they are. Anyone have advice on how to get supplements cheaper. I'd greatly appreciate any helpful information.

I met with my Dietician today. She was unbelievably lovely. She walked me through the pre op diet, and it is so much better than I thought. She calculated that I was aloud to have a small amount of lean protein. When I was shocked at that, she said “not everyone is aloud to have that, but I have calculated that you can” That made me wonder why I was allowed it but others weren’t. Is it because I am heavier than others, was it my BMI or age or something? does anyone know? thanks

Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

My surgery is on Monday. I'm supposed to bring two bottles of clear liquid protein with me for after. Can I purchase this locally. I can't find premier clear. Any ideas on where to get it locally. Too late to order online i think.

Hola! Busco companeros que se someteran ala manga gastrica en DICIEMBRE 2020. Necesito un grupo de apoyo!!!

My insurance has denied my surgery twice. Once because there wasn't the PCP doctors letter in there, though they had it. So they resubmitted it. I'm not sure why it was denied this second time. I called them friday morning and they said my dr office could set up a peer to peer with thier medical director.... so my insurance called the doctor office and set it up. Anyone ever have problems like this? I mean my BMI is near 45... that alone should qualify me according to my work insurance!

Hello! Just got my surgery date and now Im prepping for that day. What are somethings you would take in your overnight bag for surgery day?

Holy crap, December 7th y'all! I am equal parts excited and terrified. [emoji51] My preop diet starts the 23rd{2 weeks of either just protein shakes or protein shakes with a small evening meal}. It includes Thanksgiving so I will be looking through the guidelines to figure out how best to enjoy my holiday. Insurance approved an outpatient visit, so that means if I recover uneventfully I get to go home that afternoon! I like that. [emoji16] Also have a preop visit with the nutritionist, surgeon and finance(I have to pay the remaining amount of my out of pocket max) a little more than a week preop and then a covid test 72 hours prior to surgery. It just seems like a dream …

My surgery is tomorrow, it doesn't seem real. I did the liquid diet for two weeks no problem, no cravings, lost 26lbs. The only part of the post-op diet that bothers me is pureed. The thought of chicken or meat in a blender makes me ill, not doing it. I will live on applesauce and cottage cheese. If anyone has other suggestions, I'll take them. I am not telling anyone about my surgery outside of two extremely close friends and family. I was hired work from home in April, the camera in my laptop doesn't work (Alleluia!) so no one at work has ever seen me, my manager hired me without an interview. So they do not know how huge I am and they certainly aren't goin…

Hi Everyone, My surgery is on Nov. 10th and I have started my liquid diet. It's Day 2 and I never though I would get through Day 1 without eating my arm off! I was sooooooo hungry. I had a headache (I took tylenol) and I went to bed early to try and sleep through the hunger. I don't know how many times I opened the fridge door and stared inside. The funny thing is there is next to no food in there but ...........mannn.......I could have eaten anything! I'm glad Day 1 is over with. I've had my first shake this morning and I'm drinking coffee and water. I am currently working from home because of the pandemic. I'm trying to keep my mind on my work but as y…

My surgery is about a month away: November 3. I’m trying to work ahead so that I can get major projects and other life obligations taken care of before then so that I’ll have a bit of time to let myself rest. For others who have had the roux-en-y, what did your recovery look like in terms of ability to do things? Not very active things, but work that can be done from a desk and projects that require mental effort and thinking but minimal physical effort (particularly if working from home). How long were you completely down and unable to do anything? I’m interested in knowing the best, the worst, and everything in between.

I’m about 6’ tall and weigh 300lbs. I’ve always been a big guy and I wonder if I’m “big enough” to consider the sleeve. Also worried about becoming “too skinny”. Was wondering how similar sized guys did after the surgery ?

Did anyone think twice when your doctor discussed the risks of the surgeries with you? I had my first appointment with the surgeon on Thursday and it just set me back a bit. I know the overall risk is low, they shared the data with me. I guess it was more just hearing the reality of the surgery, etc. Just looking for how others felt. I’m not saying I may not go through with it, but it makes me think twice.

Guys...I got my approval letter! Just waiting on the finance office to receive necessary insurance documents and then the surgeon's office will be in touch to set a date!! Now, how many of you posted on your social media after surgery? I have every plan to, my friend's list are all people I have met in real life and I'm not overly worried about negative dumb asses but I plan on cleaning house if they show themselves. Anybody highly recommend against posting about your surgery due to horrible blow back? Just curious. Long story short, just waiting on insurance finalizing with hospital and a date!!![emoji3060][emoji3060][emoji3060][emoji3060][emoji3060][emoji3060][emoj…

Hello. I’m in Boston Ma. I started the process to have weight loss surgery October of 2019. I completed the meetings, workshops and medical clearance in February of this year. While waiting for insurance approval the pandemic hit. Now things are opening back up I hit a road block. I’m 10 pounds over my required weight. I’ve been told once I reach my required weight to contact the hospital for a date. I started drinking protein shakes and exercising. So far I’ve only lost 3 pounds. Any suggestions?

Any tips on getting through. I'm struggling. Today is day 4.

I'm in my 3rd month of 6 months of prep for GB and am terrified of gaining even a single pound for fear of insurance turning me down. Wondering how Ohio Medicaid is on this. Anyone else had/have this issue?

Hi! I was sleeved 10 days ago and I still feel horrible. I have already been back to the hospital for dehydration. I just seem to ache everywhere. I hate the taste of protein shakes. I drink one sip of water and immediately have gas. I'm wondering if I have a leak. I also have a high heart rate (115-125) everytime I move. Any suggestions?

I can’t believe surgery day is tomorrow, I’m a little anxious about what’s to follow after surgery. (Mainly the pain)

Just seeing if anyone is scheduled already for August 2020 with all this COVID stuff going on and people being pushed back farther and farther.