dhales

45K is most likely the insurance cost. I always thought it was crazy how much the insurance is charged versus what cash pay really is. I know my ex-husband had his gall bladder removed and the cash price was 15K (day surgery) however they accidentaly sent us the bill as if they were billing insurance....42K!!! I panicked and called them and they adjusted it back to 15K. Crazy huh?!?!

Judy - I guess they take swabs of your stomach enzymes when you get your EGD and test you. I was all set to go and 7 days before my surgery they must have gotten the results back and told me that I have this stomach infection that has inflamed my stomach. I had absolutely no symptoms. It is called H. Pylori and apparently you can get it in child hood and have it your whole life and not even realize it. Some people it never affects while others it can cause ulcers and maybe stomach cancer if left untreated. So Crazy. I did spend sometime in a small town in Mexico when I was a toddler and again when I was 11 at my grandmothers house. Maybe that's when I got it. But I have read on here that apparently there are others that this infection was found in their EGD as well.

April 3rd!!!!

Amanda - wow...I am exhausted just reading your post. Poor thing....you are working so hard. Kudos to you for doing this for yourself in the grand scheme of things and good luck in your journey.

loseit.com is a good program and it has an app for androids and IPhone. it helps you log as you go. My pre-op diet isn't really counting calories...but more of two protein shakes a day and a decent dinner. I am actually counting protein and should get in 60-80 grams a day. Seems hard to do.

Ready - this is my second attempt at the 2 week pre-op diet. I was supposed to have surgery on 3/20 so I was on the two week diet and gorged before that diet. When I received the phone call that said I had stomach inflammation and would have to take 14 days of antibiotics...my surgery was bumped to 4/3...I have been eating bad for the last few days. I start my second pre-op diet on Monday. I'm making tamales this weekend. I have never made them before and thought I would give it a try and that will be my last bad meal before my pre-op diet again. However I wish that I would have just stayed on my original pre-op diet. A lady at work today said I looked like I was loosing weight and some guy hit on me when I was grocery shopping...that hasn't happened in years. It was a real boost to my self-esteem...and hear I am still eating crap...it should be an incentive to stay on track. But I just keep thinking about all the stuff I can't have after the fact and I want to have it one last time. Like....pancakes....lol

I was a diet coke addict and I kicked the habit during pre-op. I have a pretty lax doctor but one thing he was adamant about was no carbonated beverages as the carbonation overtime could stretch the pouch. I don't want to go through all of this and then have that happen...so I gave it up. I used to drink 10-12 cans a day. I don't even miss it just two weeks later. Of course you wouldn't have wanted to be around me on day 1...I was grumpy and scary.

Speak with your patient advocate...because the answer is Yes. Your insurance should cover a part of the surgery because of the Hernia. They have a Hernia/Lap band program for self pays with insurance. So basically they charge you $5500 in stead of the full fee since your insurance should pick up the rest.

Thanks ladies!!! It makes it that much more bearable thinking about what if they didn't find it. It also would have been awful to get banded and then have it removed because of this. I am self pay...so I know I couldn't afford it a second time around...it is taking all I have the first time. I agree things happen for a reason and maybe there is a reason we have been delayed Brokenwings.

Thank you for putting it that way. I would have been disappointed beyond imagination if that would have happened. Put it in perspective. I will just my medicine and keep going and be grateful they didn't decline me and only postponed me

Deb - I am in the same boat and feel your pain. I was supposed to have surgery on 3/20 and I have been on a two week post-op diet. I was called today and told that I have some kind of stomach inflammation from tests they took during my EGD and I have to be on antibiotics for 14 days and then have surgery on April 3rd instead. I restart my pre-op on March 20th....so dissapointing

Glove - I echo everyone else and I asked myself that same question. But I asked it of my husband who said...always calls it like he sees it...I've been there before. I am always starting good on diets...but follow thru is where i lack. I need a diet that I can't start on Monday and quit by Thursday....

My doc took a before pic...but I think I may take one at home to...just so I can have one. LIke a few others mentioned...I think I will wait until there is a little difference before I post my before...so I can put an after with it.

Violet - what?!?! That is horrible....especially after you have waited a month already. Hopefully they will work you in priority since the Friday appointments are being rescheduled. Poor thing...looks like we are in the same boat.

Awww Thanks Violet... I technically have to start my 2 week post op diet on 3/20...the day that i should have had the surgery. Disappointed...but need to get over it.

Update - I just heard from the nurse...My surgery will be April 2nd Sniff Sniff

Dang! I knew everything seemed way too easy. I kept waiting for something to pop out to prevent or delay my surgery and it did I guess when they do an EGD they do a biopsy for other stuff too and my results came back today with an infection in my stomach. I don't feel bad...so I guess it is asymptomatic but they want to make sure it is gone before surgery. My doc only does surgeries on Tuesdays...and it is a 14 day treatment. I will finish the day before March 27th...I just sent an email to the surgeons nurse to see if we can do the surgery on March 27th...if not it won't be until April 3rd...which would make me an April Bandster. Nooooo....I hope not. But it also means more pre-op dieting!!!! Please wish me luck that I can get it on the 27th versus April

Dang Bayougirl! You have lost quite a bit of weight already. I think you are right in that they feel secure and us changing (even for the better) makes them uneasy. I know my husband is trying to joke about it...but I can tell he is hurting a little. I will support him in this struggle just as I hope he will support me in mine. I kind of see it like this...he loved me at my absolute worst. What better testament of love? If I were to leave him because now there are more "options"...."options" of men who wouldn't have looked twice at me before...how crappy would that be. I mentioned that to him and he seemed to feel better. I think life changes in the ones we love - forces us to look at things we need work on personally and sometimes it isn't a pretty picture. I love my life with him...why would that change? Silly man!

My doctor doesn't do the liquid diet prior to surgery either. He just wanted me on a high protein/low carb diet (kind f like Atkins). He also wanted me to get in two shakes a day. However 48 hours before surgery I will be on liquids as the doctor's nurse said he would have to "hand express undigested solids" from my stomach if I am not on liquids 48 hours in advance...so gross. So I will comply...I don't want the poor guy to have to do that.

Paul - good luck to you today. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

It's funny...I actually feel like a gold fish bowl...lol I swear people can hear the all the water I have drinking in my tummy when I move around. I noticed a good side affect of drinking plenty of water...it makes you full. Imagine that...lol

I've heard of unjury before. I might give that a try! Thanks!

Thanks Steph!

Thanks D! I was just curious...thinking maybe to add it to soups...etc

I will check on this end as well. I am curious. Also - does anyone know where to get a good protein powder without flavor to add to food to ramp up protein intake?