Amanda 3.0

I would definitely go the insurance route. You really do have to read your policy to see what is covered and what is not. If insurance is paying at 50%, then yes, the doctor and hospital will bill whatever they please, but will have to settle for the contracted amount. I do see a problem with not having the surgery at a Center of Excellence. I am guessing that your surgeon does his procedures at a surgery center for which he is an owner or part owner. So yes, it is in his best interest if you have your procedure there but is it better for you? It just sounds like maybe more money in his pocket. Some of these surgeons are owners or part owners in the sleep study centers, surgery centers, etc. and they might require procedures that benefit their bottom line. As for the actual amounts paid, I am sure those are all over the place. My surgeon billed ~$16,000 for the surgery but received a little over $2,000 between me and insurance. The hospital billed ~$30,000 for three days but received around $20,000 from insurance (I was already at out of pocket max). Good luck to you. I would definitely try to go the insurance route and check out the plan documents with my own eyes.

Hmmmm... is Dr. Kim your surgeon? I think I heard that about him regarding the Protein Powder. My surgeon is Dr. Cribbins of Plano, and it has been a great experience. My surgery was at Presbyterian Plano, which was a great hospital experience. Very hotel-like and accommodating for my husband, who stayed with me the whole time. I highly recommend! I see you are in Granbury. My family and I love to visit the Brazos Drive-In when we can! We were out there just last month. Your signature in your post, about being in pictures: That is my goal too. I can totally relate!

Yep, the eating plans are all over the place. My pre-op was vegetarian, very low fat for two weeks, then full liquids for five weeks post op. I've had no problems though, so I'm okay with it.

I also like the Laughing Cow "cheese" but keep in mind that (at least the wedges I bought) are not real cheese and don't have much Protein. Still, I buy them and enjoy them. Some of the new flavors are really nice although the original swiss is my favorite. But a Laughing Cow low fat wedge has only 2g protein, while a Baby Bel for the same size is real cheese and has 6g protein. I didn't realize that Laughing Cow was not real cheese until I noticed that it does not require refrigeration! Holy (laughing) cow!

Refried beans were a lifesaver for me at that point. Also, mashed up canned chicken mixed in with tomato basil soup. A little cheese is good, I second the Baby Bel cheese. Also maybe break up some turkey meatballs in a tomato sauce.

I was not in much pain either, but people will advise to take the pain meds so that the pain never comes on. In retrospect, I shouldn't have taken it. I have some Lortab left over from my surgery, and my PCP gave me a refill with a dosage of 8ml (not 15). This is because from time to time I get bad headaches and the adult liquid tylenol was taken off the market, supposedly due to people taking too much and suffering liver damage. Since surgery, anything even slightly bad tasting is TORTURE. If you think Lortab is bad, wait until you need some Nyquil (lol). Blecccchhhhh! You can at least mix liquid meds with some juice or follow up with a little warm Water.

I don't think it would be a problem. If you are having a few drinks nine days out, it shouldn't be a huge issue. I had a few during my pre-op diet but my surgeon was very liberal with the pre-op diet. I would guess that you will be able to drink again after surgery, don't write it off just yet. You might just have a lower tolerance. Be safe and call your surgeon's office to be sure. You don't want to jeopardize anything, for sure!

I have heard good things about buffalo/bison, and I see it on the menu in restaurants, but I am kind of scared of it! I am not adventurous with meat or fish. I may just have to try it though because ground beef isn't working for me yet. Thanks for the tip, Dooter!

I hate to get too far off track from the OP, but turkey meatballs are great and one of the first meats that I could easily tolerate. I buy the butterball brand, 12 in a pack, and use my food saver to make packs of three for the freezer. I am still a little wary of ground beef, but soon I hope!

I didn't have a hard time taking the whole dose in a short period, but I kind of sipped it. I was very cautious and scared right after surgery. One thing to be careful of is taking 15ml of Lortab. That was way too much for me, I hallucinated. I cut it back to no more than 10ml and that didn't make me as loopy.

I did not vomit for three months, and then it was with the flu. My husband gave me some Crystal Light and I threw that up, and then a few hours later I threw up bile. It scared the heck out of me. I thought I might have hurt myself but all I had was some reduction in stomach capacity for a few weeks (bummer). I don't think most people are throwing up. Also, I've yet to experience the slimes.

I know this is no help to the original question, but I don't take an acid inhibitor. Am I in the minority?

I was in three nights. It was supposed to be two but I had a hard time getting anything down until late the second day. By the time I left I was a happy camper.

I haven't tried toast or bread yet, just crackers. I am afraid of bread for two reasons: First of all, because I have heard that it can hurt. Secondly, I am afraid that it won't hurt (lol). I am just staying away from the bread for now although I have tried bits of flatbread and bits of wheat tortilla. Both are more like cracker. Maybe eventually I will try some toasted seeduction bread (Whole Foods).

Most Slimfast is full of sugar and is off limits for me now. My stepdaughter loves it though and she is finishing my old Slimfast stash. I had weaned off my sweet tooth prior to surgery but accepted a lot of products for the sake of getting Protein. I am looking forward to natural foods again within the year.

Is anyone else having a hard time with eating with their family? I have to say that my family has, since surgery, turned into a pack of hyenas at meal times. Where did the manners go? Even before surgery, I was the one who ate less than everyone else, and took longer to eat it. Now, it seems like since I can't eat much, the assumption is that I don't need any of the chips and salsa, or the other shared items that come with restaurant eating. And, my food is fair game for my stepdaughter, who has taken up the habit of actually putting her hand in my plate, or eying my plate for the split second I might be done. Argh! And my husband is not much help. A couple of weeks ago, I nearly lost it. We were traveling, and went to eat at a Mexican restaurant. I have told them, please just slow down and for the sake of simplicity, since there are three of us, consider taking 1/3 of the chips, and 1/3 of the salsa. I have pointed out that they will get more than enough food. Well, within three minutes, the bowl of chips was gone. I am not exaggerating. I got exactly one chip. When I said something about it, I cannot even explain what my stepdaughter did, it was so rude. I was stunned and I even stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Another thing my husband does at times is "clean up" before I am done eating. This is more so when we go to a more casual food place with counter service, which is kind of rare, but still, he has made me cry doing things like standing up and cleaning up before I am done eating. Today, we were at the airport and we shared a salad that came in a plastic "clamshell". While I was still eating, he piled the trash, including his empty drink container, into the container I was eating from. I looked at him and he realized that he had hurt my feelings again. I told him that it was probably the only food I would be eating today, why did he need to do that? We weren't in a hurry. If anything, we were just hanging around with a couple of hours to spare. He obviously felt terrible, but still! I don't even know how to address some of the rude behavior. It was not this way before my surgery, at least not as bad. I don't want to be the food and manners police, but things have really gone downhill. I don't even want to eat with them anymore. I don't know why manners went out the window just because I cannot eat as much as before. What to do?

I actually agree with you 100%. I do not like artificial sweeteners at all. I have accepted them for the time being in Crystal Light (one glass per day with Protein supplement) and many of the protein supplement powders have them. Long term, I plan on using lean meats, cheeses, and legumes as protein sources. I have a hard time accepting that we need sugar substitute forever. Yogurt and cottage cheese can be added to other things. If you can manage sour cream, you can probably add plain yogurt to your diet in similar ways. I am planning to make a lasagna with vegetables and cottage cheese this week. I am not saying that this would be palatable for you, but sometimes using ingredients in different ways can help. I am looking forward to any help with getting off the sugar substitutes, so I am right there with you.

I know it is frustrating. My surgery was pushed back for hours, and while I was given valium to deal with the ensuing anxiety, my poor husband was stuck sitting in a very uncomfortable pre-op area for about five hours. That was the only major negative of my surgery experience, well that plus shoulder gas pain, but since I was accommodated last minute at the very end of the year for insurance purposes, I suspect it was a small price to pay. Still, it let to a very frustrating day of waiting. My surgeon did have an emergency surgery that day (he does other types of surgery), and they accommodated someone else, if I remember correctly. I hope by this time you are either in progress or recuperating!

I love vegetables and I miss them. I've been adding small salads to my day with arugula, my favorite green. I am using up my canned chicken and turkey in these small salads, as the canned poultry doesn't sit that well on it's own, and I bought way too much. Today, I bought a bag of fresh brussels sprouts, which I am going to cook and probably add chicken. Today, I also bought a salad kit with broccoli slaw, carrot, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, a little bacon and cole slaw dressing. I added a whole can of turkey to that and I will eat it over the next few days. It was supposed to be just 2.5 servings or so, but it will last me a few days. As for fruits, I am buying those again and freezing some in chunks for later, either in shakes or as a snack. I can't eat a whole banana or a whole package of berries. I love grapefruit but I understand the membranes can cause problems so I bought the grapefruit in cups. One cup will last two days. Unfortunately they have sugar added.

I consider myself to be a slow loser, but it is relatively steady outside of the usual stalls. I am keeping active with Water aerobics three times a week and also walking. I do consider this a marathon and not a sprint (are those the right terms?) and so I am being very patient. Perhaps get back to basics - I think there is a "bootcamp" posted by Lilmissdiva here. If you are eating chocolate, maybe other things are slipping as well. That is not judgmental, as we all do it! Maybe, Like Iowaandy says, go back to liquids for a week. Definitely up the Protein. I think that is our best weapon against hunger and potential bingeing. I don't see your stats, but did you start at a lower weight than most? I think some of the lower starting weights may not drop as quickly. Also, when I get a little discouraged, I look at my progress since surgery and I think to myself how there is no way in hell I could have lost that amount of weight and kept it off before surgery. Some of us are going to go a little slower but it is still better than where we were on our own. Good luck you you!

I believe that overweight people are passed over all the time for jobs. The only difference is that this hospital put it in writing. I would guess other companies have similar policies.

Same thing for the big lady styles. It was always the same three types of tops in different fabrics. Ugh. Now instead of size appropriate, I will need to be careful to be age appropriate. I found things that fit but were a little too frilly for this 47 year old. I feel young, but not that young!

Yes, a flour tortilla will work and you can even use the whole wheat type or other flavors. You can also make a pizza using the "Flat Out" whole wheat products. I see them at the grocery, but have purchased them at costco. They are like a thin bread wrap for sandwiches. You can crisp the Flat Out in the oven and then add your favorite pizza toppings and bake. The Flat Out is very thin. If you can eat a cracker, you can probably eat a Flat Out. We used them for pizza even before surgery. I've been meaning to make "pizza" again, but it just seems like too much trouble for a few bites. :-(

Hi there, just "weighing in" here. When I was leaving the hospital, the nutritionist told me, "No more counting calories", which was a big relief to me. I know I am not the most successful loser on the board, but I am relieved to not have to log and count food anymore. Otherwise, I am pretty sure I would obsess, obsess, obsess. Maybe take a break from the logging, as suggested? I do confess to weighing each day, but I don't care too much what it says anymore. It is coming off slowly, but surely.

No, ma'am, you just have some hurdles to cross. Heck, you are already on the losers bench, you've lost 40 pounds! Hang in there!