mommykristie

My final was 205. Didn't make my goal, but not stressing since this was the first time. Now I know about how much my body can realistically lose since everything is settled into routine now On to MAY!!

My spouse likes the muscle milk, but I didn't care for the taste. I prefer Boost high protein rich chocolate. Get variety packs of Jello. The same flavor will get old quickly, plus you will need to have some stocked for the day after a fill, etc. As far as soups, buy a fine strainer and strain soups. It has a much better flavor than plain boullion cubes. Just watch the sodium! Good luck!

I understand! It helps to have others that are going through the same scenarios.

checking in at 206!

The more you walk, the quicker the gas pains will disappear. This type of gas builds up in your muscles not in your digestive system , so your body has to absorb it. The best medicine is lots of movement.

I was banded on 3/15/12. Once you move to full liquids, I highly recommend french onion soup and hot and sour broth. Great taste and very filling!!

I had my first fill yesterday. I had contemplated not having one because I have not felt any hunger between meals and have to remind myself to eat. That is until this week! I had been walking on my own and the weight loss had slowed down once I went back onto regular foods. However, slow and steady was fine. This week, I started with a personal trainer and I noticed a HUGE difference in getting hungry around meal times. I went from struggling to get in 700 calories a day. My doctor actually told me I would have to increase my calories due to the amount of exercise. Got to give the body some fuel! So I gladly chose to take my first fill. Back on liquids for a couple of days, but I am anxious to see if I can balance out this fill with my new exercise regime.

Just curious, are you talking about the liquids not tasting appealing to you? I assume since you just had surgery that you have been placed on clear liquids for a few days. If so, due to the anethesia, you probably don't feel like anything is good. However, it is extremely important to stay hydrated during this time while your body is healing. Popsicles and jello were my best friends the first few days after surgery. I didn't feel hungry so I had to remind myself to sip throughout the day to stay hydrated. It gets better!! hang in there!!

I stayed overnight by choice and it was well worth it to have access for pain medication via IV. I also felt more comfortable moving around with the nurses there to supervise. If you have a choice, I would recommend staying for the piece of mind.

Hang in there! Right now it is an emotional time and a period of adjustment! It will get easier!!!

checking in at 207

My husband found out within 24 hours and I found out within 3 days with bcbsal.

Is the exclusion just for your particular employer? I also have BCBS of AL but with PEEHIP. Have you checked around with other surgeon's offices to see if they offer financing options?

Sorry Larry that I am late! I have been swamped and forgot. Sunday's weigh in was 209.

My doctor said no soda unless it has sat out long enough to go completely flat. YUK! I wasn't a big soda drinker, but I LOVE my sweet tea. That has been a big adjustment to have unsweet tea. Probably the hardest thing for me to date. However after my nutritionist showed that my two McD's sweet teas a day was adding 560 calories a day to me, I want to have my calories in a different way!!! I won't even get started on my iced coffees.......

My doctor had me do a diet similar to Atkins for 10 days prior. Low carb, high protein. Cut out sugars. Worked great for me! After surgery, my dr said liver was small and could tell had followed the diet. Good luck!!

First of all, I am sorry about your loss. It is completely understandable to not have a record for that year. When my husband had his, he did not have a dr appointment for 2009 either. All he had to do was submit a dated photo. He had no problem at all getting approved. However he did have documented sleep apnea. For me, since I did have the appointments for the year, they used those records which had the lower number in it Once I had my denial, I simply started the 6 month all over again so that I could use 2010,2011 and jan of 2012. One visit in 2012 erased the 2009 dates. LOL! Between my dr and I, we laughed about having to play the insurance game, because it basically boils down to having to jump through their various hoops. Fortunately, I had my physical therapy appointment late in the first 6 month attempt, so I did not have to redo that. I did have to go sit through the same nutrition appt again( and pay again) because I had completed it within the first two months of my first 6 months, so it was no longer within the valid date range. Sounds like a lot, but really it was an exercise in patience. In the end, it probably worked out better that I have been able to watch my husband's progress before undergoing the procedure myself. Even though it was a pain in the patootey having to wait, I would do it all again!

I was told not to go under my BMI requirements as my insurance has denied in the past for showing success. In other words, if the patient is being successful during the 6 months then just continue to lose weight that way. Code word for don't have to pay. Anyways, my surgeon and dr kept a close watch on my weight to not let me come too close to being under. When I was providing my 3 years of records, my insurance denied me because on one dr visit during 2009, my BMI was lower than their required number. It didn't matter that it was higher before and after, but because of that one time ( when I was sick!!), then I was denied. Once I got my approval , then I had plenty of time to prepare for my liver shrink diet.

For this stage, my doctor hasn't given any specific amount of protein vs carb. He just said make sure to have a protein at the 3 main meals. I know I had worried about the protein so that I won't lose my hair!! I did the Boost High Protein shakes during the liquid phase along with the soups and it seemed to work for me.

TWI is exactly right. My insurance is one which will deny you if you lose too much during the 6 month diet. My primary care doctor was wonderful in understanding this and helped me manage those few pounds that I would lose and gain back during my six month ( or what turned into 12) diet. He said that with me losing some and then gaining, it showed to my insurance that I was making an attempt;however that I was not being successful. My bariatric office was also good from the beginning about knowing what exactly my insurance would need and amounts. In fact, during my first attempt, they let me know that I would probably get a denial because of having the one year that was one BMI point too low. Everything that they advised me was dead accurate. If your center is a Center of Excellence, then they can probably tell you down to the penny what your out of pocket costs will be along with all requirements since they perform so many procedures. I left the seminar, knowing exactly what portion my insurance would cover, what extra requirements ( physical therapy, nutrition , 6 month diet, and 3 years of records), and even down to my copay for the nutritionist .

Judych- I know exactly how you feel!! I convinced my family to go on a cavern tour today that they had been wanting to do ( I had been giving multiple reasons why not to go before, mostly due to how winded that I knew I would be). It was FABULOUS! It was so nice to have a family outing without getting out of breath. By the end of the day, it was great to see the kids dragging instead of me!!!

Great to hear!!! As much as possible, walk around to alleviate your gas pains. The first two days, if my neighbors had seen me walking around in my nightgown in circles in my living room, I am sure they would have thought I was nuts!!! I had my hubby take me to Walmart to walk around on the third day. I could go slow and hold on to the buggy if needed!!!

ChristineS- I totally understand about watching your family have health issues. My mother had a massive stroke at 52, which has left her paralyzed on one side and confined to a wheelchair. My father has high blood pressure. Both have weight issues. I lost both of my grandfathers and one grandmother to heart conditions. Not to mention the countless weight related health conditions of aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It seemed that I was destined to go down the same path. I knew I had to do something when I started having issues with GERD and back issues. I knew it was just the beginning. My doctor was very frank with me and said that although I might not have any issues now, it was just a matter of time if I did not do something about my weight. The moment that I was put on medications, I knew it was beyond time. I am already off all of my medications so first goal accomplished!! On a side note, when my surgeon came out to talk with me after my husband's surgery, he told me that based on the amount of fat build up around the organs, he was a walking time bomb for a heart attack. Not something a 41 year old man (or his wife) wants to hear. So basically , we look at it as this is the tool to save our life...quite literally.

Your story is similiar to mine. I am 5'1" and at the beginning of preop I weighed 235lbs. I have three children 12-20 years. I researched lapband, gastric, sleeve for several years before biting the bullet. I took my husband along to the seminar and he ended up actually getting banded before I did. Originally, he was just going along as a support for me. I know for him, it was the best thing that he ever did for himself. He is @ 8 months out and is two sizes away from high school pants! He dropped an amazing 85 pounds so far. For me, I was banded on March 15,2012 and so far I do not have any regrets. As far as a preop diet, my surgeon put us on an Atkins liver shrink diet. He wanted us to lose 5-10 before surgery to shrink liver. My insurance required the 6 month supervised diet. However, when dealing with insurance, be careful if you are on the borderline of BMI numbers. My surgeon and doctor's office told me the danger number of falling below. Since I had no comorbidities, my insurance will not pay if your BMI drops below their recommendation. Basically, they will say that you are doing so well on the physician diet, just stick to it. HA! Like I haven't tried that one before! So basically, I played around with 5-6 pounds for the 6 month diet. Just another hoop to go through. I was denied after the first six months, went through everything again and BINGO!! Kept the weight at that "magical insurance number", and was approved within 3 days. Good luck with your journey and ask lots of questions at the seminar!

I had hot and sour soup strained, wonton soup without the wonton and strained french onion. Worked great! Much more filling than the plain broth plus the taste was 110% better!!!