Amanda 3.0

I am so worried about you. If you don't get better you'll have to go back! Like I said, we were sleeved the same day. I am still doing clear too. Can you look online at the sites for the protein powders and get some ideas? unjury has some recipes on their site, one example is Jello. I did that today and it worked great. Now I am trying it with crystal light. Please try something and control your pain. Suffering is not going to help you get better! Thinking of you!

I am not there yet, just came home from the hospital today. On the way home I wasn't hungry but I kind of wanted something. I think it is habit whenever someone comes out of the hospital we stop for something to eat on the way home: a milkshake, etc. Other than that I wanted a piece of turkey lunch meat today while making my husband a sandwich, but alas I am still on clear liquids. And at the grocery today, there were samples out and I was unable to partake of course. I think I am about to learn exactly how much picking at food I have been doing!

Are you taking little sips and allowing them to go down? Are you on Clear liquids? Did they give you the little one oz measuring cups to help you gauge your intake? Those really helped me. The best thing though, was the bariatric coordinator's advice to change my posture - to put my shoulders back and stick those boobs out, head straight up - and that helps things move smoothly through the new little stomach. Man, I wish I had seen her earlier. That didn't fix everything immediately, but that was the beginning of the end of the terrible pain of day one and two! I am here thinking about you and hoping things will get better. Try the posture thing for sure.

I also like the Premier Protein ready to drink shakes from costco. I like their vanilla much better than the vanilla powder mixes I have tried so far. And, they are a good price! I think we pay about $25 for 18 11oz shakes. I like that they are ready to go and do not have to be refrigerated. The bariatric coordinator told me to take only 15g protein at once so one of those shakes is good for two portions of protein. Jasleeve, I think you should go get some of the chicken unjury and some plain so you can mix with the Clear Liquids like juice. You can't go without your protein. Maybe it is too soon for the "shake" type and you can concentrate on clear? I am on clear liquids until Sunday, so far no problems after day one and day two.

It is interesting how everyone seems to have a different recovery rate. I was sleeved the same day as you and it was rough trying to get anything down, and I did have very bad gas pain for the first two days. But that is all gone now and I am climbing around like a spider monkey! lol I have no abdominal pain whatsoever and really never did. That sounds like an anesthesia issue. They tape a tube in one corner of your mouth, I think? I didn't have that either but I did get dry lips so lip balm was much appreciated.

It's funny because I have had several surgeries and I have never made it to the operating room with my eyes open (except for my eye surgery - lol). But for the VSG, they took me in awake and had me move to the operating table myself. That was weird, but kind of cool. I just got "sprung" from the hospital, no drains left in, I am so excited to go home. Just waiting for pain meds that probably won't be needed and for my husband to get the car. What a turn around from a few days ago.

In spite of the six month work up prior to my insurance approval, I was not really prepared for how quick this surgery happened. I got my insurance approval less than two weeks prior to my surgery date. So, I only got 13 days of my two week pre-op diet. I was very excited, until we got to the hospital. Once in the hospital, I was so scared and full of doubt. I was crying in the waiting area (quietly, to myself), and then when we went into the pre-op area, my surgery was delayed. During that time I broke down in tears and considered calling the whole thing off. My husband said he had never seen anything like that from me. I was so frightened of the pain I was expecting to happen. The doctor came in and offered me some valium, which I was so happy to take. I went to sleep, which was good because my surgery was delayed from 11:00AM until 4:30PM! If not for the valium, I don't know that I would have gone through with it. I am glad that I did it. The surgery itself is a piece of cake. I had some complication with stuff not moving through the sleeve and a lot of pain from that, and oh my gosh, I had horrid gas in my shoulder. I've been walking since a couple of hours after surgery though. The actual pain of the surgery (incisions, etc.) are negligible and now that liquids are going through, I am so happy.

I am headed home in the morning after three nights in the hospital. Today was really a great day! I even had a shower this morning (although only lukewarm, it was still wonderful). I am practically running my laps around the ward, with my squeaky-wheeled IV stand in tow. Two days ago I would not have expected this. And I probably did not properly convey the magnitude of the hissy fit I threw prior to the surgery (although it was just my husband and me in the room).

Just remember what a difference a day can make. I couldn't even eat ice cubes this time yesterday and now I am eating broth and sorbet for dinner (still in hospital). They took my morphine pump away, and I don't even think I would have used it except for the gas pain and out of desperation for the pain after eating ice chips. Last night I was up almost all night walking the halls while eating a popsicle, the first thing I was able to get in since Monday. To change your ticker, click on it and update it on the website. Then, copy and paste the code from your new, updated ticker! Hang in there, hopefully tomorrow you will be so much better.

I hope you are feeling better by now! The nutritionist here at the hospital approved my bean soups, which are high in Protein. You can use one pound of dried black Beans that you have soaked and pre-cooked, and drained, or you can just use the approximate equivalent in canned beans, rinsed. I take 2 cups chopped onion, 2 cups diced carrots, 2 cups diced celery, and a little garlic, saute in 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the carrots are cooked a bit, add the beans, and any seasoning that you like (I like some chile powder and a little cumin). Add approximately 6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, bring to boil, lower heat and simmer until the carrots are tender. Puree to your liking in the blender or if you can have more texture, use the immersion blender. You can freeze the leftovers if you make a big batch.

Hi Pammie, we are practically neighbors. I am two days post op, in Presbyterian Plano. I was supposed to go home today but they are keeping me another day because everything hurts going down (like it's not going down). I think it's spasms. But I can walk laps around the ward like no one else. I am glad to hear yours has been no trouble at all!

I am nine hours away... eek!

I am really surprised that hospitals charge for TV. I don't think they do around here, they didn't when my husband had his back surgery. That seems so silly. How much is it?

Just curious, why is there not much time for computering? With walking, etc.? Computer stuff (social) is what I do all day! lol I am taking my big screen laptop and hope to watch movies on Amazon Prime (free) and I hope the hospital's internet will allow for that. I have a lock for the laptop which is probably not necessary but better safe than sorry.

Estella, I am so sorry that you and others in our shoes have experienced these terrible feelings, but at least there are people here who get it and can understand. People like my mother have the right to hate any group they want, but when they start treating other people poorly because of their own problems, that's not okay. My parents won't know about my surgery because we don't talk at all, about anything. Their opinions mean nothing to me. I given it a lot of thought and I don't think the demise of the relationship is my doing, because from what I see, they are lonely and judgmental people, and I have my friends rallying around me for my success. You are right about the complications of obesity being risky. Fortunately, I haven't had any of the comorbidities (YET) so I am a very active and seemingly healthy fat gal. But in the last year, my knees are really starting to feel it. I really worry what will happen if I don't get this handled now. My husband is supportive of the surgery, he just wants me to know that he loves me so much, just the way I am. I am so lucky to have him!

This post is so on target, in my opinion. I am not ashamed of my upcoming WLS, and I have shared my intentions and surgery date with the people who matter to me in my day to day life. Several of them have had WLS of one sort or another, and so far I have not had any real negativity. I am, however, ashamed of letting myself get to this point. I don't post photos of myself online, I don't want anyone from my past to know (Facebook, etc.) that I have done this to myself. There is no way I could go to a reunion like this. People love to hate fat people. My own mother is like that. My being fat has been a big disappointment to her. We do not communicate anymore. My brother knows, although we are not close and just talk twice a year by phone, because he happened to call last week and I am prepping for surgery. He was very supportive as he shares the "family" value that being fat is terrible. My husband is concerned about my well-being during and after surgery, but I am the luckiest lady in the world in that he is totally supportive anyway, even though he loves me just the way I am. He knows that I am tired of starting each day with the fat cloud hanging over me. He knows I want to be his new wife who will be proud to go places on his arm instead of being terrified that his fat wife is going to limit his career, or cause snickers or mean talk. I'm proud that I am brave enough to go through this process! Even though I am a tad scared!

Hmph! These people selling supplements are just seeing dollar signs for their pockets and do not have your best interest in mind. I am so weary of people who are selling anything, especially MLM. I have to wonder if the person posting about the complications is even a WLS patient or relative, or if they are just trolling for potential suckers for their MLM supplement. Because I guarantee they were looking for their "downline" or whatever it is called in the MLM world, when they offered to help you set up a business. Again, just looking to line their own pockets with no regard for your well-being. I've told a few people, almost everyone is completely supportive. Two people were quite vocal that I don't need the surgery because I am not that big, but the numbers don't lie - I qualify. Since they are not selling anything, I think they just care for me. I am actually surprised because while I haven't really told many people, I have had more support and no judgmental attitude at all. Just do what you have decided is best for you and pay no mind to people with ulterior motives!

I am having mine the same day as you and I also have some fears. I was planning on getting a lap band, perhaps seven years ago, and chickened out. This time it feels more right. So I think it is natural to feel this way. Odds are that everything is going to be great. We're going to be okay, I just know it! But yep, still a little scared!

What a great list, thank you very much. I would like to add from past experience that if you take your own pillow(s) from home, use a brightly colored (or at a minimum, non-white) pillow case so that they don't take your pillow accidentally. When my husband had surgery (not WLS), the hospital tried to give him at huge cost every medicine, Vitamin, and supplement that he listed on his admitting paperwork. The list of everything that you've taken recently and assume is for them to avoid complications, NOT so that they can give it to you and charge you! I had to send them away with the overpriced Vitamin C tabs, etc. every single day. Plus, we took his meds from home, and they still tried to bill our insurance hundreds of dollars for meds we did not receive, or meds we brought from home.

Well my paperwork was sent to the insurance on Monday and I was surprised to receive my letter from the insurance administrator in my mailbox yesterday stating that I am approved! I had given a copy of the insurance requirements (directly from the insurance policy) to the surgery coordinator at the surgeon's office, and we were sure to meet each requirement exactly. Now, I just have to figure out the date and also decide if the first of next year would be better than the end of this year.

I do have to prove a 5% weight loss with our plan, which is written by the employer, which is a very health conscience organization. I was able to get several years of documented weight from my primary care physician, which was perfect!

Hello there, I am actually in the same boat as you. I am on my husband's insurance. His employer is actually self-insured (they pay all the medical bills, not Aetna) but they use the Aetna network and the Aetna reimbursement schedule. There is a third party administrator who writes the checks and sends the explanation of benefits, and does the approvals, all under the employer guidelines. The employer actually has requirements different, and more stringent, than Aetna. I was required to be at 40 BMI (without comorbidities) at the start of the process and to lose 5% of my body weight during the supervised weight loss six month period. Losing 5% bumped me just below the 40 BMI which led to some upset as I was told by the plan administrator I would no longer qualify for the surgery. I basically pointed out to the administrator that if one dipped below the 40 BMI during the six month period before surgery, and was then disqualified, the guidelines should really require a BMI of 42 or above to start the process. A person starting out with 40 BMI and required to lose 5% simply cannot qualify according to their own guidelines. After checking with the employer, the administrator came back and agreed that it was okay to fall below 40 BMI during the six months. However, this is the first year that the WLS has been offered, and so no one has gone through it yet! My paperwork has just been submitted to the administrator for approval, so I am hoping that this will become a reality. I think if you lose weight conservatively (not too much), they can deny you with the stipulation that you lose more weight. However, if you drop a boatload of weight, and they deny you, what can you do? Like I said, I have just had my paperwork submitted, and the decision-maker is not actually Aetna, but I hope it works out for the both of us. I will try to update here when I hear back. Hope you are doing well!

Hi, This is a question I did not think to ask! I am glad that people are tolerating spicy foods well, because I love them and I would be so sad to give up my Tapatio sauce. In the past few years I have been getting "swollen taste buds" after eating peppers, but I love them so much that I just deal with it. Fitting that I make my first forum post in a spicy food thread. Hi everyone!