MeMeMEEE

At 9 weeks is when all my restrictions were lifted.

As for limits the 2nd 2 weeks on my diet - there was a limit - I could have a few of certain things and I thought it would be a challenge to limit. It didn't end up being - you get full so quick that what sounds like a little amount is more than you can eat. One egg? Are you kidding - I was a 2-3 egg person. Now I can't barely eat half of one! Yogurt that seemed like nothing before takes 2-3 sittings. I know the farther you are out you can eat more though. I still salivate over the food commercials and smells of foods - if I could eat right now I would be allowing myself small amounts of things I love or want. Sometimes they are as good as they smell but mostly they weren't the way I remembered or expected them to be. I lost my hunger so that is good but it doesn't stop the cravings

Let me check with my husband on the program he uses - you can do it with CD's too. My hospital provided socks too but I just disliked them LOL

I was not allowed to use gas-x per my Dr. Waste of money for me - when I finally could, it didn't help (gas from beans). Things I wish I had brought - deodorant, brush. You could always rip your DVD's and put it right on your laptop if you don't want to have to drag them along - my husband did that. Also, you can watch all CBS shows on their website the day after they air for free. Definitely take your own slippers if you have some already.

Sounds like you are doing great! Congrats!!

They seem to think it is a space between staples, maybe a missed staple. It is up high which I guess is the common spot for it to happen. My surgeon does a scope before you come out of anesthesia so no barium swallow before leaving the hospital. It doesn't sound like it would have showed at the point anyway if it opened when the swelling went down. My only pain was the left shoulder which wasn't mentioned as something to go to the ER about but I have since learned it is referred pain from the diaphragm (abscess was pushing on it). If I had been running a temp or sick they would have known leak from the beginning. My surgeon said he couldn't believe I wasn't sick from it but it would make me sick so they had to get in a drain it. My body took that to mean "You should be sick" and I woke up the next day with full blown pneumonia. What I had to do for the 2 leak tests after they discovered the abscess was swallow Gastrografin and have and xray sort of thing - I think that is the barium swallow thing but not sure. Nasty stuff. I've had to take it for 2 of the CT's too. They let me wash it down with Water with the last one - heaven since I hadn't had anything to drink in a month LOL Felt like I was cheating so bad. I was so upset at first, thinking I had somehow done it to myself - they insist I didn't but it's still hard to not blame me - after all I did this to myself, had this surgery so ultimately it is my fault - guilt ugh. Working on that. My big symptom is the shoulder pain - had it with the abscess, then had Fluid around my lungs and this last time a different infection from the abscess drain. I have learned to make them listen when the shoulder pain gets bad. I did have a very low grade fever with the fluid on my lungs - talking 1-2 degrees. I would say my abdomen was tender for several weeks, at least 3. I often think it's warmer than the rest of me too, usually what prompts me to check my temp. Then of course I remember I am sitting here with a laptop on my lap - of course it is warmer! haha. I'm pretty paranoid but they always remind me if my incisions aren't very red and hot to the touch it is ok. So far so good on no incision infections for me! Staying positive is the main thing through this journey - keep it up! It's ok to worry though too - it is your body and your health! Again wishing you a great visit Tuesday, may you be bumped up on your diet and assured that your abdomen is all normal!! Keep us posted!!

Haha GI Jane! That would describe my Dr's nurse as well - on the phone the woman scares me but she is nice in person although still stern and scary. My office has two NUT's and unfortunately I have the stricter of the two but have learned that the program manager is also a NUT and so technically there are 3 - sometimes they conflict and that causes me so much frustration.Think crying fits. I'm a "by the book" person which has always worked for me but not with this - ugh! I'm telling you I have a pdf of my program and would diligently check it before I ate anything in the early days moving through the stages! I'm far enough out now that I can have anything - but guess what?? They discovered a leak when I was 3 months out - jokes on me, I am now on tube feedings and nothing by mouth. Thankfully I also lost my hunger otherwise I would be going a little nutty right now. I was so worried I did it to myself, my NUT was not happy that I didn't eat as much as I should and I pushed for her. In reality, it was the abscess from the leak (discovered 3 weeks before the leak) that was pressing on my sleeve and giving me even more restriction. Once they drained it I was able to eat much closer to where they wanted me to be. Then boom, the leak was discovered (didn't show on the first leak test, standing, only when I was laying down). Sorry no more food for you! They say it was there from the beginning, when the swelling went down it opened. The only symptom I had was left shoulder pain and they - including NUT, Surgeon, PA, nurse and primary - all said it was from acid reflux. I had no temp, wasn't sick with it. It was all found because of a bad Iron panel that sent me to the hematologist. Pfft. So over it all. Hoping next year is better. I am glad your appointment is Tuesday!! I'm worried about your abdomen being warm - tender is pretty standard I think though. Hang in there and keep drinking your flavored water! Isn't it weird how things taste so much stronger - sweeter or saltier now?? My smell is on overdrive as well. I can't do a whole flavor pack either! My husband thinks I am nuts. Some days I wonder myself.

I have encountered very few people who attack but it is here - and other support places as well. That's life I guess!

I tried whole wheat toast at about 3 1/2 months - it was fine for me but not really worth the space it takes in my sleeve. Good to know I can do it though!

Rosy - I am sorry if you took what I said as "You should do this because my Nut said it was ok." My intention was just to say if you hadn't spoken with your Nutritionist at your Surgeon's office you should, as you hadn't mentioned speaking to anyone except your Surgeon. Believe me, my program is far from lenient and I have believed it to be one of the more stricter ones I have seen on this board so I would never suggest you not follow your own programs directions, just wanted to mention I had all the "papers" for mine and that wasn't the whole picture - in my case. Have a good Sunday.

Well, shoot!! I'm sorry! We were given all of our guidelines at the very beginning but the first step (full liquids for me) we couldn't advance off of until we saw the surgeon so I understand that. It was probably my 2nd nutritionist visit after surgery where she told me I was placing too many rules on myself and I was really struggling. Hate to wish away the weekend for you but I hope it goes by quick!!

I am glad your surgeons office sent you the new diet to start next week! I will say, if you think something should be on the list that isn't - ASK! I was told by my nutritionist I was putting too many rules on myself - all I was doing is following what I was given! I mentioned a few things I tried that weren't on the list that I thought should be and she was fine with them all!! So my list at least is not all inclusive!!

Just checking in, no weight loss, actually on the upswing, gaining what I had lost in the hospital, but feeling so much better, more energy, even with the feeding tube and drain in. Looks like I will get to cheat through Christmas and my 40th birthday too - I don't go back to the Dr until after the first of the year so NPO which means no holiday calories

I was also vitamin D deficient and asked if that would affect my surgery date and was told no.

My shoulder pain got to a 10 - that's where I was when they finally discovered the leak. I had went to my regular Dr 3 times in a week for it and he made me an appointment with my surgeon to check for acid reflux. In the meantime I saw a hematologist for an odd Iron panel result (high ferritin, low saturation and low something else). He did a CT scan and saw the abscess. I was scheduled for surgery 2 days later (exploratory) on the day I was suppose to have the acid reflux appointment. I woke up with full blown pneumonia the day before surgery. I was told at some point I was septic when I came in. They still waited another day to do surgery which is when they put the drain and feeding tube in. I don't know why they don't sew it up right away but I have spoke with others who have had leaks and this seems to only be done when the drain has made the leak "pucker." I don't believe I was oversewn, no mention has ever been made of that. After being out of the hospital from the drain/feeding tube surgery for a week I started having trouble breathing and my daughter insisted she take me to the hospital. I had Fluid around my lungs (infected) and was in for 3 weeks that time, leak officially seen during this visit. I keep hearing how bad off I was from Dr's and family. I don't remember the first several days of that stay. Very scary. I just knew I would sail through the sleeve and have no problems - boy, was I wrong! I know I am a very small percent and I am hoping in life this is the only bad turn I have.

I think leak risk is like 1%. I think you can make a leak by overeating or eating the wrong thing but also it can just happen - my Dr suspects mine was there from day one and when swelling went down it opened up. My Dr told me today he had another patient who had a leak at 3 months but was a smoker - he said all bets are off with smokers, much higher risk of everything. (I don't smoke)

I'm 4 months as well and noticed it bad about 3 weeks ago. It seems to have slowed some as of yesterday or maybe I am just hopeful. I am on a feeding tube right now so I can't do the biotin. I agree it must come from the early months because right now I am getting everything I need from the tube feedings but before this I couldn't get my protein and some vitamins made me sick. I did decide to cut my hair shorter and may get some layers in it too.

If you don't feel right stay on it!! I had left side pain and left shoulder pain intermittently from the beginning - at about 9 weeks out I was diagnosed with a leak, then immediately went to pneumonia and was septic before the surgery to put in a drain 2 days later. A week after being released I had trouble breathing and back to the hospital - fluid on my lungs. All caused from the leak. I went 9 weeks having my Dr's say it was acid reflux, not able to eat or drink as much as they said I should be able to. I had CBC's, chest xray, sinus xray, my 1 month labs, more labs at 6 weeks - it was the 6 week lab that finally got their attention - my ferritin was high, saturation and something else low so they sent me to a hematologist who ordered a chest CT which happened to catch an abscess in my abdomen. I didn't ever feel well, but felt better at 2 weeks than at 1 month and it just went down hill. I wish I would have pressed my Dr's harder so it didn't go this far. I am now on a feeding tube until it heals. So long story short, listen to your body!! I never had a fever, my cbc's were fine until the pneumonia hit.

I think that is a common feeling - I know I felt the same! Hang in there!

Hmmm wouldn't have thought of the pre-x. Are you on your own insurance now? It's been my personal experience that if you have no lapse in coverage they don't consider pre-x - say you have Aetna now and change to BCBSIL when you get married - no lapse. As for it being from your PCP - that is what I was told but I have heard of others being approved with visits to nutritionists and one lady who had BCBSTX who got them to accept 6 months of weight watchers. Do you know what plan your fiance has? Like PPO or ***? If you do, the website has a provider finder and you can see if your current Dr is with them. Hope that helps! Interesting on the 7th visit... I will say I hated the 6 months but it really did go by quick. My program has all sorts of classes I had to take and nutritionist visits which helped me prepare for after surgery.

I was in this time for 19 days. How are you doing since surgery?

Just read the article cited - I am confused because it talks about pre-op weight loss - they don't require weight loss now, only that you go through 6 months of a weight reduction program. No mention of actually losing while doing the program...

Hi! I am actually employed by HCSC in IL. Here is a link to pending medical policies and I don't see anything there at this point. Second link is to the current medical policy for bariatric. Keep in mind, some companies have their own medical policy so it is possible that your company might have different guidelines. I don't work with giving coverage info so I don't see medical policies often - I didn't know about the change in March till a few weeks before - but a girl from work who does work with coverage info is the one who told me about it. My advice is this - follow the guidelines you are given when you call - and it can't hurt to keep checking back! You say you are getting it in February so make appointments for December, January and February - if the 6 months still stands you will be half way there! 6 months really equals 5 months from first to last visit. And it goes quick! Can you say where you have seen this info? I would be interested to read it!! http://medicalpolicy.hcsc.net/medicalpolicy/home?corpEntCd=IL1&cat=PENDING&TARGETMED=PENDING&ctype=DESCRIPTION&pageSize=20&select=PENDING#hlink http://medicalpolicy.hcsc.net/medicalpolicy/home?ctype=POLICY&cat=Surgery&path=/templatedata/medpolicies/POLICY/data/SURGERY/SUR716.003_2011-03-15#hlink

No weight loss this week - they don't want me losing while my leak is healing so I guess I am where I need to be for them. I wanted to be 10 lbs lighter by month end but I would rather be healed and off the feeding tube so I'll tough it out.

My NUT told me 300-500 isn't even enough to run your body systems, heart, brain, lungs. It is hard to eat more when you aren't hungry so I do understand. I had to add in nuts to snack on all day to bring mine up.