PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

So I get a call from my Patient Coordinator stating that because I was so easy to work with (wonder what that means...lol) my name was being added to the new surgery schedule first and if 5/21 would work for me? Sure. I am just going to go into this with an open mind and hardened heart (for my feelings). So...5/21 it is! It's MY time!

Anyone else having surgery in April? Maybe we can find surgery twins here. I thought I could start it off by asking a few questions. When is your surgery? April 4th What kind of surgery? Revision from sleeve to Mini Gastric Bypass Height? 5’8” Starting weight? 285 Goal weight? 175

The ASMBS held a webinar yesterday for bariatric surgeons discussing the topic of how and when to resume bariatric surgery in the COVID-19 era. You can watch the webinar at https://asmbs.org/resources/restarting-surgery-issues-to-consider If your surgeon called you tomorrow to schedule surgery within the next 1-2 months, are you comfortable having your surgery?

my was first scheduled for February 25th, because I couldn't find a sleep study consult available before ,they rescheduled it for march16. Then on march 16th they postponed it because of the covid19. I just got a new date that is may 11 but I'm so nervous cause I feel like something will still happen. Hope this is the last date.

I just had my psych evaluation yesterday evening and my doctor said it will take about a week for him to get an answer to my surgeon. Is this typical? For some reason I thought I would have an answer at the end of the evaluation, but I guess he has to go over my test and do some other things? Anyway, just wondering what the average was for an answer. My appointment was around 2.5-3 hours. I had to take a 567 question personality test and also fill out another bariatric form. I met with the doctor for about 30-40 minutes after I completed all the necessary paperwork. I am kind of bummed because I was hoping for an answer last night and now I have to wait a week. It's …

I have my first appointment next week and I am struggling finding any past posts with similar questions. I am 5'3 and 216 right now with a BMI of 38. My insurance cover's the surgery with other health conditions, two that I have so I am hopeful that I will be approved. I carry most of my weight in my stomach and butt and I am wondering what people with similar size had as far as loose skin? I am 38 years old if that helps. Pre- kids I was always very thin, about 120. post kids ( got up to about 220 during pregnancy) i was able to maintain 150-165 for many years, and had mild loose skin from pregnancy. In the last 3-5 years, I have gained weight every year it seems…

I feel like something always goes wrong when things seem to be going in the right direction for me. I turned 30 this year. My husband planned a romantic trip to Paris together for my birthday weekend to celebrate. That was mid-March, so it ended up being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and our country closing the borders. I was honestly looking forward to it -- a weekend where we didn't have to worry about the kids, where we could just enjoy each other, be intimate, go on an adventure, and be able to forget about everything else going on in our lives right now (which is honestly a lot of ****). I figured that we didn't need to leave our country to do …

My friends and family have been wholly supportive, but none of them really understand what I'm going through. Looking for a surgery buddy with similar stats to be my weight loss BFF! I'm a 41 year old female, 5'5", starting weight 260. VSG is scheduled for April 7th! Anybody out there like me?!

Hey everyone! I was wondering how many started workouts/toning before surgery? My surgery is July 29th. I feel like if I start toning now maybe I will have less extra skin after surgery. Would I be correct? Can you share your stories if you've started being proactive with toning and how your results are after surgery?

Hi all, thinking of getting gastric sleeve surgery. Worried about complications post op and long term. Has anyone had complications as the result of surgery years after the surgery?? I know what potential immediate post op complications to expect but how about long term ??

Here I go, day 1, 4/29/2020 Goals: 1. logging my food with my fitness pal. 2. Tracking my weight loss in inches, lbs, BMI, and Pbf. 3. Maintain at least 3 long walks (3 miles or more) in the park each week. I hope the tracking will help keep me motivated. The logging will help me be aware. The exercise will show faster results. Challenges to overcome before surgery... not proud of it but I drink too much so tapering the number of drinks each week will get get me there. Kinda like a countdown approach. Currently 6 drinks a night on average ... hope to be at 6 per week in 6 - 8 weeks. Then there’s the smoking... yep 30 years of it... gonna start working o…

Got a NEW new date today..first...4/9 then 5/11...now 5/16.... It's MY time!

So, I've come up with a silly plan to encourage myself as I lose weight. I just had to share the idea with somebody because I'm excited about it! I have a ton of clothes in all different sizes, from 26 all the way down to a few size 6's. I'm wanting to buy a few of those rolling clothes rack and set up a little "shop" for myself in my basement. Each rack would contain a different size and would only include clothes that I'm really excited to get back in to. For X number of pounds I lose (enough to make a difference in clothing sizes), I'd reward myself with a shopping trip! Sounds fun & encouraging, right??? ?

Cheated on my 2 week liquid diet the first week a few times. Nothing crazy! Scrambled eggs, crackers, rice and chicken. All those things i had once. I've been very good the 2nd week. Drinking 3-5 protein shakes a day. Averaging less than 10 carbs a day. 120 oz of water. Feel super guilty about it and scared I might of messed up for my surgery (sleeve) . My surgery is Thursday in Mexico. Praying that I haven't.

I weighed 302 before I started this journey about a month ago. I lost 12 pounds and then had my appointment with my surgeon. He wants me to lose 10 more pounds and told me to call in after I've lost 5 of that 10 pounds to set a surgery date. I've gone from literally sitting in my bed all day, eating A LOT of whatever sounded good at the moment. Now I feel like I'm eating practically nothing and I'm walking a mile to a mile and a half every day. I've lost 2 of the 5 pounds but I CAN NOT LOSE ANOTHER POUND. I go from 290 to 288, back up to 290 and back to 288 again. I step on the scale and I just want to cry. Honestly, I am on the verge of just starving myself to lose this …

I just spoke to my bariatric center today and since my state is reopening elective surgeries May 1st they're sending me the initial packet and paperwork! I'm so bummed at myself for having an edible last week, I basically never use MJ but I was trying to relax with all this Covid stress. Now I have to wait 6 weeks to pass a drug test- what?? Meanwhile I still haven't gone through my insurance yet so I know that'll be another THING, but I'm EXCITED- and a little terrified. Maybe as soon as 6 weeks I can have my surgery?? It seems unreal. I'm just hoping and praying it's true, I really need a win right now.

After failed attempts of trying to lose weight and regaining it back, I’m now at my heaviest. I’m 5’8 and 235lbs or 106.5kg, my BMI is 35.7. I’ve been thinking about surgery, but want to collect all the info I can about it and do my research. Any advice would be great!

Looking for any CHRIAS patients! It's MY time!

So I have my long awaited first appointment tomorrow. Kind of makes me laugh thinking when I set it up over a month and a half ago I was like “wow how will I stand the wait” I guess the global pandemic kind of helped pass the time. Another minor good thing that happened is instead of having my appointment cancelled which I had reconciled myself to, it got switched to a telemedicine visit. That is great for me because not only do I still get to have the appointment but it was going to be a two hour drive each way for the appointment so that really helps. Not sure how it will work being virtual but this is just so they can submit me to insurance to find out my requirements …

Hey ya’ll, I am from Mid-Michigan, 24 years old, and have had one consult and I was 35.5 for a BMI. I was denied, then a year later came back and my BMI is 40.38. I have had my consult appointment cancelled and rescheduled for May 13th with the bariatric program in my state. I have gathered some stuff if anyone else has McLaren Health Plan (commercial) for bariatric requirements, and am posting it for others in case you need help. Also I am curious, anyone else have this insurance? If so feel free to post stuff related to the approval, pre diet, and all the stuff etc. to add, McLaren Health Plan commercial will cover bariatric procedures with a prior authorization a…

I have PCOS and insulin resistance. I am 19 years old and my metabolism is total crap. I have gained over almost 200 pounds in the last 4 years even while eating healthy. I have been trying really hard to lose weight for the past 6 months and was successful in losing 4 pounds the first month after my doctor put me on Metformin. Then she put me on birth control the month after to treat my PCOS and bring my periods back, but then I started gaining weight again. I got my period back but kept gaining weight. At first, I didn't want to go off of the birth control because I wanted to have normal periods every month but soon went off of it after 4 months of gaining at least 3 po…

How does insurance verify that you met all the requirements for surgery. Do they base it on what is submitted or do they call your PCP to verify. Just wondering the process as this may determine how long the process takes.

I have struggled with my weight since I was five years old. Late in 2016- at 28 years old at my heaviest weight- I had my first appointment with a bariatric surgeon in Akron, Ohio where I live and began the steps towards gastric bypass. I was so scared. But I knew that I would rather risk my life than live like this forever. I feared that my parents would bury me in 20 years and that my sister would become an only child. I knew I had to do something. I had tried everything. Between the ages of 8-28 I had tried everything under the sun. I could not lose/maintain the weight loss. On June 26, 2017- I had gastric bypass surgery. I have lost/maintained 180 pound weight los…

I didn't see an official thread so I started one! I finally got my date in March on St. Patrick's Day just before my birthday. I'm excited and anxious all at once. It could have been scheduled in late Jan/Feb but the bari center didn't get the Doctor's clearance that they were looking for and I had to wait until she got off of her winter break to get her to redo it, and then it took a couple of weeks for me to finally call them. They had called but either didn't leave a message or didn't leave the right number (because they are associated with the hospital) so it took a while, plus I'm too busy at work right now to take off anyway. Now that it's all set up, I have…

So I guess I'm back. was banded back in 2012 and lost weight had a baby. Lapband had issues nothing new right. I had to have emergency removal 2018 and boy was it painful. any way I thought I could manage without anything in place at all. Boy was I wrong I gained my weight back and I am actually larger than before I had lapband. So I finally threw in the white flag and decided to the another shot at it. I had my consultation for the sleeve but as you all know. everything is on hold I am waiting for the insurance to approve next step not surgery. I know that is on hold. I just hope that I don't have to suffer to long from the next step. how is everyone else holding up and …

Thinking of all who unfortunately were so close to surgery. How are you all coping with extended indefinite postponement due to Coronavirus pandemic? Are you struggling with not regaining weight? The weekend after my surgery date postponed I went on a binge, grazing all day for a few days. Fortunately, I did not have any "bad food" in my cupboards/fridge/freezer. So I was eating only foods on my diet. I gained 2 pounds over a week but getting back on track today, eating my 3 meals and 2 Snacks instead of grazing.

Hi All... Not sure if there is already a thread for March surgery yet, but if not, here’s one and ready to support one another! My Gastric Bypass is scheduled 3/11/2020...working to get my head right for 2 week pre-op?!

With so many surgeries being postponed in March and probably April, are the doctors giving you new dates, if so how long out? A month? Or are they just saying," not now"?

Hello. I've posted once before and since then, I've started my journey with the bariatric surgeon and all courses/time/insurance met-I'll be getting gastric bypass in a few months. (Or whenever COVId decide I can.) At first I was super pumped-I did a ton of research, watched youtube videos, made pros and cons list, researched surgeons and selected the best and most reputable one out of the 3 I visited (although I researched more), have accepted the reality of the situation and that I'll be needing to put more work into this after than I did before...all of which I'm comfortable and excited about. I feel like now is the time to do it. I can keep fo…

I have my surgery consult next week ( as long as they don't cancel) and I am wondering what to expect? Anything I should be sure to ask the surgeon? I am hoping for the sleeve procedure. Thanks

Good morning everyone. After months of waiting, I finally received a surgery date 4/16/2020. I would love to chat with anyone having surgery in April. my status: Insurance: changed from a PPO to an *** (due to a new job). I have emblemhealth HIP Prime ***. Began process July 2019: 6 months of checking my weight. BMI 39: mild sleep apnea and hypertension. hospital : Lenox Hill in NY Surgery : RNY but still seriously considering DS. My doc is open to any of them but encouraged me to choose RNY. I have a pre-op class next month 2/20 and must complete pre-op labs during the last week of March 2020. Paperwork to my insurance will be submitted in M…

Hi everyone! I was waiting for this to happen.. my bariatric team called and said my appointments (and everyone’s) are suspended until further notice. They will be calling me in 30 days to see where we are standing. Does this suck? Yep!! But I’m going to do my part and wait this out like everyone else. Just thinking.. anyone else have this issue yet? I’m going to be tracking my weight on an app so I can show proof that I was still doing my part, although I realize that the insurance might just say start over. Any ideas welcome! Good luck to you all while some of our journey is being put on pause.

HAs anyone experienced severe gas pain during the Pre Op liquid diet? Every time I stand up and try to move around for anything the gas pains make me want to cry. Tried GasX and not much relief. This has been going on for two weeks. Any suggestions??

With the way the C-17 or what ever they're calling it is spreading I had a thought. I've got my 2 week pre-op surgery meeting with the surgeon on Monday as well as other tests on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I was thinking about asking him to write me out of work untill surgery so I don't end up with it. I have to travel extensively as well as fly at least once per week. Am I crazy, or would this be a good idea?

With all that’s going on in the world I’m finding it difficult to not stress eat on this 6 month diet. I mess up then tell myself “I still have 3 weeks before my next weigh in appt.” I’m right at 40 BMI so that’s another game I play. “I need to stay there so I can qualify (although I will still even if I lose weight). So I need to know, how do I get my head on straight? How do I stop making all these excuses? What has helped you?

Hello. What have you found, in addition to this site, to be a valuable resource? Any favorite Instagram accounts or Facebook groups? Any preferred tracking apps? Any great cookbooks?

I'm at the beginning stages of getting weight loss surgery, and one of the requirements from my insurance is a 3-month medically-supervised diet with my PCP. My surgeon also wants me to lose at least 20 pounds prior to surgery, but the more, the better. I went to my PCP last week and told her about my decision to have weight loss surgery (which she supported) and the requirement for a 3-month medically-supervised diet, and she basically just gave me some pamphlets on healthy eating, which are, frankly, no help at all. I mean, I already know that kale is healthier than pizza. I've done a lot of fad/crash diets in my life, and as you can probably guess, they did…

I am in the process of being cleared for bariatric surgery - all that I am now awaiting is the final dietician meeting in a few weeks. I have 90-100 lbs to lose. I have done a lot of research and am convinced I do not want a permanent surgery, such as the sleeve or bypass. My surgeon is fine with providing the LapBand surgery, which is covered by my insurance. Now it looks like I'll soon be spending about 6 weeks in another country where I could legally get a gastric balloon - I know is not cleared by the FDA in the USA. I have done research about the Spatz3 balloon, which can be kept in the stomach for up to a year. (http://www.spatzmedical.com/faq.html)…

Hi all! I’m in the pre-op stages for gastric sleeve - I’m wondering how long your surgeons said your recovery would be? My MD said 2-3 weeks, but I feel like that’s a lot of time... I also realize it’s all dependent on the type of job, etc. So how long were you told for your recovery / out-of-work restrictions?

I won't ever complain about waiting 3 to 6 months. In USA, we have it easy.

Anyone else? And if you are...are you nervous? Excited? What have you done to prepare?? I'm gonna need to talk this out!!

Im scheduled for the sleeve on Feb 17th, I'm soooo excited! Just curious to know if anyone else has been scheduled for February?

Hello everyone! Has anyone else received March 10 as a surgery date? Was thinking we could all swap info to help keep each other motivated!!

Hi! I’m new to this app and I’ve just started getting my ducks in a row. I’ve turned in my 6 month diet form to my insurance, UHC, (my dr backdated as she knew I’ve been dieting forever now haha. I have my physc evaluation this Wednesday and my surgeon consultation with dr. Cahill on March 18th. I’m wondering if anyone has had experience with him? I’m so anxious to find out how long the wait will be after our first consultation. Please forgive any typos.. this is black on black for me so I’m typing blindly ? 

Met with the surgeon today. Really liked her and like that she’s a female. My insurance requires 6 months of weigh ins and I was able to count last months. So 1 down, 1 next week and then 4 more months. I got blood work labs to do, they signed me up everything I needed and suddenly I see a direct path to surgery! Hoping for a smooth process! My BMI is 41.5 and Doctor said to just maintain my current weight so I won’t disqualify myself. 41.5 BMI & high blood pressure (taking medication) is what I’m trying to qualify with. She said I was a very easy and straightforward case so we’re going for the sleeve. Taking this easy path with gratitude because I know it’s not this eas…

NP at bariatric center said a lot of patients find this laxative "Slow Tea" effective. I have tried, psyllium fiber, MiraLax and stool softeners. Fiber produces large, bulky, hard-to-pass stool. Nothing helps. My constipation is due to medications I take.

Going in on the 12th at 6AM and getting things together for my bag. I know that my pre-determined stay is only supposed to be for one night, but I know as well as anybody that things like this can change instantly. Soooo...Besides ChapStick and a phone charger, what are some of the "must have items" OR "I wish I had packed _________" items for your hospital stay?

i’m so excited! i know compared to others my wait time is basically nothing but boy has all this caused some anxiety. (my insurance requires no supervision visits but i did them anyway) i started this journey December 31st ?. at times i've felt like i was being pulled in every direction & now here i am. today i'll be doing a lab to make sure i’ve stopped smoking weed..i’ll pass that sh@# with flying colors & boom i'll be sent off.. hoping my approval comes fast ❤️

Wondering which one you chose and why? And any complication ?

Had my EGD today. One of the nurses taking care of me said she had gastric bypass 10 years ago. She looked awesome. It was great to see someone with long-term success.