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It surprised me too! I had to be the first one to reach out to even know that I was on their radar and that left a bad taste in my mouth to begin with. Thanks for the advice!

@FloridaGal1976 - My knees are almost as bad as yours. I'm bone on bone in both knees - similar height - weighed more and am older. Here's why I opted for going with insurance. (First - find out what your insurance requirements are - it may not be the six to 8 months you think - call and ask to speak with a nurse manager or case manager to get the answers.) My team required attendance at a group session (I did that end of April 2016) and had my first appointment with my surgeon on May 11, 2016. My surgery was on August 23, 2016. That was just enough time to get all the pre-op crap done - endoscopy, barium swallow, cardiology clearance, orthopedic clearance, pulmonary clearance and psych eval. All of that was required by my hospital group and not my insurance, although my insurance covered everything (except co-pays) except the psych. HW 271.5 SW 246.9 CW170-177 fluctuating right now. So I'm somewhere between 95 and 100 pounds down in 10 months. Pre-op - I was good for at least 1 Vicodin a day to control my knee pain along with regular cortisone shots and Synvisc for my knees. I've taken maybe 3 Vicodin since August - one was a result of running 2.5 miles without warming up well enough. As I'm sure you've read - a sleeve is a tool. So getting your head in the right place and understanding what's going on is important. It's not a long wait and while I was impatient at the start, I'm glad I had the three or four months. I spent time learning to eat better and making peace with a number of things. What can I do now that I couldn't before - I fence (as in en garde) about 5 hours a week. I strength train another 2 hours a week. I do pilates. While I had the surgery to try to speed up having bilateral knee replacement, based on my last conversations with my knee surgeon, I'll be able to put them off at least another 5-7 years. Wait it out. You'll be fine. I understand the impatience, but this is a learning process. Good luck.

It is odd. I called my coordinator and told I need a date on a specific week because I had commitments. She gave me the date I wanted. You are paying them thousands. Call and make them give you want you want. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

I guess I shouldn't have complained, I was fortunate to have a private room and they kept the door shut.

Congrats on taking the next step! Everyone has wide arrays of emotions before surgery, and I can say after four months that my new 'normal' feels as comfortable as my old 'normal' did. Regarding the meat and veggies, as long as you make it a priority to get as much protein in as possible after surgery you should be fine. There are other sources of protein instead of meat including vegan if that is what you prefer. Enjoy the healthier you and best of luck with your surgery!!

I healed just fine. [emoji846] It's just this nausea that's bothering me. I didn't have a job after I got the surgery. I will after I feel normal again. ---------------------------- HW- 273 Pre-op Wt- 230 SW- 226 CW- 197 GW- 130 Ht- 5'2.5" DOS- April 26th, 2017 "Only those who try will become." ~FFX

It will take a few days for a bowel movement. Then you may only have one every few days due to your liquid & puréed diets. I put a some Miralax everyday in my coffee. Try Milk of Magnesia before bed if you begin to get too bloated and have not had any success after 3 days. Good luck on your journey!

Thank you everyone for the kind words. I went through a rough patch and couldn't bring myself to think about this. Its been over a year but it still hurts every single day. I know my friend has had a rough go at things, and I know she just had major surgery and could have been on an emotional roller coaster, I am just sad the way she took this out on me. I tried to explain to her that I wish she had talked to me about the issues she perceived in our relationship before cutting me out like this. Because I know I was going through a tough time and maybe didn't realize that I was complaining because chronic health issues tend to do that. I actually found this site because after her surgery I was researching things she could eat and sent a huge care package her way. I even told her i could visit her post-op if she didn't want to be alone. But I guess the truth is she didn't want me around, and used my health issues and depression to manipulate me into getting angry so she could make the end of our friendship my fault. In some warped area of her brain, I guess I was a "repeat offender" of something I didn't realize was a problem. And she projecting her insecurities onto me, that people get to where they are because they choose it. I feel she has also been victim to the cult of positivity, that nefarious meme generating cult that sucks up those with chronic medical conditions, surgery, etc. The truth is my friend is not the person I thought she was, and she is not a nice person. She probably has a personality disorder like her family members, and her difficult childhood and subsequent weight issues tipped the scales and shes gotta figure her life out. I am still hurting because I trusted this person. I wish I had just been given a chance. But, it is healthy for me to be away, to not have to listen to her complaints and anger and blaming others for her unhappiness. I bore the brunt of it for a decade. My advice to anyone getting surgery would not be to write off your friends and loved ones forever. Some of us want to be supportive and we just didn't know how. We don't know how we are supposed to be either when this new person emerges. I didn't know how life altering this was going to be for her, and I had no idea the extent of her pain and suffering and what she perceived to be my role in her pre-op negative lifestyle. Now its too late, she has removed me from her life, blocked me on social media, phone, etc. I thought it was my fault for a long time but through talking with people I realize this is not on me. I don't know if she will get in touch years down the road. I know I am not the first person she has done this to, many friends and family have had it happen....some deserved, some, maybe not. In the end, I guess it is her loss.

I'm so excited only 3 days till my surgery!!!!! Oh and this pre-op diet has been easy.

Speaking of. "Poop party" try some Smooth Move hot tea. I get mine in the tea/coffee aisle in the grocery store. It's a senna herbal tea. 50 year old me!!