OilSooner

I would like to get an idea of how much people exercise post op. I will be four weeks post op next week and hope to begin exercising this weekend. I'll probably be slow at first, but hope to make progress pretty quickly.

Almost 4 weeks out, and HELL YES. I'm already off of my diabetes meds (blood sugar normal) and blood pressure is already normal. Can't wait to get off the CPAP, but I am confident that will come in time. The process is a pain, but its WELL worth it.

Clots can kill you. I'm willing to take a few $5 shots to minimize that risk. I had three blood thinner shots while in the hospital, and I HATE shots...but given the risks, I was happy to get them.

Honestly, I eat about 1500 calories per day, and am at 3 weeks two days. I try to eat all healthy foods, but have had a piece of chocolate or two. I am down nearly 30 lbs since surgery, and have yet to hit the three weeks stall. I cant imagine the people who eat only 5-600 calories per day, and I'm sure they are staggered that I eat 1500. Its a crazy world, and we are all different!

My Doc didn't say when I could eat lettuce.... When did you give it a try? Like a chicken Caesar salad? Thanks.

Everytime I see this thread title, it makes me crave chinese food!!

I tried it at two weeks, and it made me sick. So, I am working with 5 hour energy for now, until I can get the courage to try coffee again!

Had it pre and post op. Looks pretty common since there are no "didnt get any" replies. I also had bruising at the injection site. I was told this was common.

So, tomorrow I am officially two weeks out from surgery. I go back to work tomorrow as well. As far as eating, I have restriction, but have no digestion problems other than lactose intolerance. I can eat anything, only in small portions, and very slowly. My surgeon didn't use a bougie, so I wonder if thats a factor. Anyway, I had chicken pot pie last night ( the small Marie calendar oven kind), and even a mcdouble (the dollar menu one) for lunch today. WAY less than I used to eat, but I'm still clearly ahead of most people I read about on here. I'm sure some will be angry and shocked, but surely I can't be the only one. If you are or were in my shoes, please let me know. I am actually very happy with how the surgery worked out and with the restriction I feel, but am a bit worried that I can eat what I can. Weight is still coming off (I'm averaging about 1000 calories per day), and there was no real post up diet from my surgeon, so I'm basically winging it by just going with what feels ok. I plan to start crossfit next week. Anyway, ready for people to start flaming me.

Def agree on the McDs food choice...it was bad, but my choices were VERY limited. One thing I realize I have little knowledge on is how to prepare a healthy meal....I know what health foods are, but constructing a healthy meal is a whole other thing. Any good ideas or websites for this? Maybe a cooking class?

I got the pills and bought some lactaid milk today. I just hope this isn't a permanent problem. No dairy forever without first having to take a pill would suck....but I guess its a fair trade in the grand scheme of things.

It's been four days since surgery for me, and still a no go. I started miralax on day two, but it hasn't helped. I have been able to pass gas, but that's it. At what point should I become worried? Thanks, and sorry if TMI.

I had a rash from the binder as well. And, I still have another rash from the pain meds. I just stopped wearing the binder (solved that problem) and am using a topical ointment for the rash from the pain meds.

Congrats to you! My Doc took me off the Diabetes meds as well, and this morning (4 days out from surgery) my blood glucose was 121!! Only one point above normal! Its just incredible!

So glad to see youre home and doing well! I was wondering how you are doing. Keep moving and hydrated, and keep us updated on your progress!

I know mileage will certainly vary from person to person, but I couldnt be happier with how things have gone for me thus far. Today is the second day after surgery, and my Doc said its usually the worst for people because thier bodies finally start to realize what happened, but I still feel pretty good. I am taking my Multivitamins, and pain meds, and am trying to stay on my feet. Laying down seems to make things worse, so I am trying to stay moving.

Just a few more hours until we are officially there! Its 4:45am, and I am leaving for the hospital in 10 mins. Extremely nervous, but ready to get this part over with! I'll try to post after surgery, and if not, I will for sure tomorrow when I get home.

thanks vance. got it done, and am waiting ok the Dr to come and check on me so I can go home! really glad I did this so far!

I'm right there with you Joiebean. I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 5am. Thats great to me, because I get up early anyway, so I will be happy to get there and get it done. On my preop Dr appt, the dr said "the surgery after you will either be 45 minutes or 3 hours." I said, "How long will mine be??" "Oh, you'll be 45 minutes." He said. I was relieved! He said it would be an hour an 15 minutes from the time they take me back until my wife can come in and see me!

On my liquid diet I am only allowed 5 sugar free carnation instant Breakfast drinks per day. WTF!!! I have been going to therapy as a compulsive/binge eater, so this diet is unbearable! Why do some people get to have salads at night, or protien shots/drinks, and we only get these stupid instant breakfasts??? My BMI is 40, so i don't know if that's too high or what. Anyway, just venting... btw, I HATE THE LIQUID DIET!!!!!! Surgery on the 17th.....cant get here soon enough.

Jan 17th for me. Liquid diet starts tomorrow. Boo!

Those that have Aetna, how long did it take you to get approval once your paperwork was submitted?

So, I found out I have to go to a conference for work (read all day meetings) for two weeks in Feb. I was planning to have my surgery in Jan. My surgeons nurse says I can have the surgery Jan 12th, and then should be okay to travel Feb 19th to the conference. The conference will require a 3 hour flight, and I will be away from home for the entire two weeks, and will have to live on food not coming from my own kitchen. Can this be done, or is it a bad idea? There is always the option of waiting until I return, though I hate to wait until late March or early April, as this process has already been soooo long. Those that were sleeved....am I asking for too much, to try to travel just 5 weeks out from surgery? Or, should I be okay by then? I wont be doing anything more than sitting in meetings all day, but I do need to be mentally sharp. And, could I be able to make mushies (or whatever you are on at 5 weeks) work from a hotel room setting? It will be a 4-5 star hotel, and I will have a rental car and access to grocery shopping, but likely no fridge or kitchen utensils, etc. Thanks in advance for all advice! I'm really torn here and look forward to hearing perspectives from those that have been there.

So, I have been to all of the pre surgery appts, and have a tentative surgery date of Jan 12th (yay me!), but am wondering how "co-insurance" works on my insurance (Aetna POS II). On the website, I show a $200 deductible ($91.83 remaining) under just my name, and $600 deductible for family (oddly $91.83 remaining here as well). Then, it shows $4000 for coinsurance ($3981.99 remaining) for the family, and there is no co-insurance showing under just my name. My wife and daughter are on my insurance as well. I am the account holder though. Does this mean I will have to pay $3981.99 for my surgery when I go to the hospital?? Its odd that only $18.01 has been used on coinsurnace, because I have had MANY claims from all of the psychiatrists, nutritionists, pulmonologists, etc. Its all very confusing. How does co-insurance work? If I have to have $4k when I check into the hospital, do they take a payment plan, or do you have to write a check right before they will admit you? Thanks in advance for all replys!

No. I am wondering what the cost is that insured people have to pay (I assume self pay people pay less). I am trying to figure out what my out of pocket expense might be. I have approx $100 left on the deductible, then have 10% coinsurance after deductible is met. So, if the surgery is $25000, I'll probably owe about $2600 out of pocket. So, I am wondering what the surgery generally costs for insured patients (in Oklahoma if that helps) so I can calculate my part.