kczar

Mine was probably around that much, plus all the ancillary stuff they get you on. I should have had zero out of pocket because I had two other surgeries during the plan year, but the anesthesiologist wasn't in network. They told me I should have specified when I was doing my pre-admit paperwork. Silly me, I figured since they certainly checked my insurance before admitting me, they would handle that. So for those in the process, make sure to confirm with the hospital and your surgeon that everyone involved is in network. But I guess a $300 bill isn't too bad for a life changing procedure.

I personally haven't used it. What were you planning to use it for? Just remember that even though it's low carb, there are still carbohydrates in it and that can make for an uncomfortable sleeve. When in doubt, check with your surgeon's office.

Are you still on liquids? If so, try finding some Torani syrups. They have a lot of sugar free options that aren't too bad. They're at Target, WalMart and World Market, to name a few places. If you're on solids, try making Protein bars with them. I've made a few different kinds and they've turned out pretty good. The protein taste isn't as pronounced. Also, search this forum for recipes. It's been a while, but I remember a great thread that held something like 40 Protein shake options. Good luck!

You'll need to try and find something that you can tolerate. You should be on a liquid diet for at least a couple of weeks post-op. You'll be so limited on how much you can take in that you'll have to rely on the drinks to get enough nutrition. Search the board for samples. Many websites will either send you a free sample or have variety packs for a reasonable price. I personally use About Time because there are very few ingredients and I like the taste. Good luck!

Agree with other posters. The first step is to check with your insurance company. Ask for the bariatric specialist and speak with that person. They will know all the requirements and can provide you a list of approved surgeons. Then go to at least one seminar to learn more about your options. I was firmly in the lap band path until I went to a seminar and then spoke with my pc. I switched to the sleeve and am 100% glad I chose that option. Make sure you follow all the requirements laid out by your insurance company. You can also rely on your surgeon's insurance coordinator for guidance. The surgeon may also have requirements that they will want you to meet in order to have the procedure. No matter what option you select, go for it and never look back!

I'm about a year and a half out and I rarely eat salad. Mainly because it's very bulky, doesn't provide a lot of calories and little Protein. I do enjoy some raw vegetables but try to stick with dense Proteins. I didn't drink anything for about a year after surgery (I'm a very occasional drinker) and it went down fine but I felt the effects very quickly.

Just stick to your diet from now on. The main concern is shrinking your liver. The last thing you want is a knocked organ. Think of this as a test run of your new life. Believe me, you will get to a place after your sleeved where you'll be able to cheat again. Get in the habit of rejecting fatty, carb filled foods now. You'll appreciate it a year or two down the road. Good luck!

Congrats!

I work in an office so I took a week off. Well, I worked from home. If you do move around a lot, two weeks may be better. However, you can have some extra pain two to three weeks after surgery when you start moving around more because you're pulling on the stitches.

Hang in there. It's frustrating dealing with these delays but they want you in the best health possible. Being sleeved is tough on your system and your doc wants to set you up to succeed. You'll get there.

I bought a couple of things of baby food (fruit only) but didn't really care for it. They're pretty bland. I still have a couple of them in my pantry. So yes, some people do eat baby food immediately post-op (I wouldn't recommend it pre-op just because they're not filling and you could eat too much). It's a personal preference thing.

Thanks!

Agree about checking with your surgeon. He/she will probably just remove it at the same time. A lot of people wind up having their gallbladder removed anyway. Or shouldn't delay getting sleeved.

If you're like me, French fries won't have the same appeal. Ketchup too. It's nice that the things that aren't great for you tend to lose their appeal.

More than likely it's trapped air. They pump you full during surgery so they have a clear view. Try walking as much as possible to dissipate it. Some people swear by gas-x strips but they're really for bowel gas. Don't worry, it will get better. After that, you'll probably feel some pain in your left side where the biggest incision is. That's where they removed the excised part of your stomach and the above muscles will start stitching together.