MrzSongbird

Congrats, and so happy to say I was approved as well! It took 6 days for approval. I have pre-op testing chest x ray, abdominal ultrasound and ekg on the 23rd and egd on 28th. Looking at early september....yay!

Congrats, and so happy to say I was approved as well! It took 6 days for approval. I have pre-op testing chest x ray, abdominal ultrasound and ekg on the 23rd and egd on 28th. Looking at early september....yay!

I hope that you won't experience it as well, Song bird. It's sad, but it's not our fault.
Littlebits

Welcome and I agree about the suppurt and information available here. So I have my Nut assessment on the 31st then off to Cigna for approval.
What is this 5 day turn around you are talking about? My surgeons office keeps saying 2-4 weeks. Please tell me more, inquiring minds want to know!

Radiant Danielle, congrats on the NSV and all the others to come!

Ok I'm back!!!!

I have Cigna too and my approval only took 6 days after submitting paperwork...I had BMI 39, and high BP, diabetes, high cholesterol and degenerative disk disease in my back. I had to use opti- fast liquid diet pre- op though and lose 9 lbs.... Cucumbers and celery a negative calorie foods, somewhen you need to crunch something try those ..it helped me through some weak moments when my willpower wasn't as strong as my stomach. A tbsp of peanut better on the celery is a good Protein snack too. I found a book on Amazon before and after bariatric surgery that has some yummy protein smoothie recipes too.

Agree heartily with Lissa's suggestions. Also, I want to chime in that you must keep in mind that if you lose a significant amount prior to surgery, don't expect a huge drop in your first month. The norm is to lose a big chunk if you didn't do a pre-op diet, and a more moderate amount of weight if you did one.
Good luck, and my advice is not to beat yourself up too much if you don't achieve your goal of 30-40 pounds, because anything you lose over 10 pounds is a bonus victory. But learning to track your food and eat in moderation now will be very useful to you post sleeve.
~Cheri

30-40 pounds in one month is not exactly healthy. I suggest you push your surgery out one more month in order to give yourself time to learn to eat more correctly. Less of a shock to the system that way. 30-40 in TWO months is still tough, but much safer IMO. To get there, you MUST 1) make sure you get enough Protein every day, every meal if possible, (it really helps with the hunger), 2) limit quantities at EVERY meal (you want to shrink your stomach some) and 3) REALLY cut back on the carbs, ESPECIALLY sweets and any beverages with sugar or alcohol. You CAN do it, but this whole process is as much a mental thing as physical. Good luck!

Thanks so much Lissa for the helpful info. You always have great advice, yeah I see you on other posts lol. You are so sweet and helpful, you should do YT vids I think they'd be great.

You are smokin hott and the hair just puts the icing on the cake!

Atkins pretty closely mimics the post-op diet anyway. I suggest you use My Fitness Pal and aim for 70 grams of Protein daily, along with 64 ounces of Water. Give yourself a calorie cap as well, something like 1200-1500 calories, at least for pre-op. You should drop weight like it's a bad habit if you follow that!
There are several posters here who did self-imposed pre-op diets and lost incredible amounts of weight. Paola and Patrick Curl come to mind right off the bat. Paola dropped 80 pounds pre-op doing a liquid diet for several months.
I dropped 13 pounds on my pre-op two week, doctor-required, liquid diet. You will probably drop that 10 pounds in a huge hurry if you do liquids pre-op, but every pound you drop is a step in the right direction.
Good luck!

Mishy, is that the only thing you've had that you shouldn't other than the Soup? The cake and ice cream is not going to damage your sleeve. I think some of the responses to your post are alarmist. Obviously, its not good to go for that so soon after your surgery, but you are probably in the same state I was at that point where you are feeling a little depressed and resentful of what you have done to your body. You just need to follow the post op diet to a T, especially the liquid part. If YOU feel that you need counseling then by all means, call your Dr and see what they have to say. I found that the best thing for me was to drink my shake with my family and then when I was done, take a little walk while they were finishing up. I ate a french fry less than 2 weeks after surgery, just because everyone else had them. It didnt kill me, but I didnt feel so well afterwards. You just need to take care of yourself right now. Good luck to you

I know several people who have had bypass. The average experience among them is that they love the early/initial weightloss, but do not love living with RNY long-term (I think they're all 6 - 8 or more years out, I don't think any of them are newly RNYed -- or Roux en Y). One of them is my "second mother" (just a good friend about my mother's age) and I can tell you that she does not look healthy. Her coloring is off, she's gaunt (despite gaining about 30 lbs back from what she initially lost), and she has lost 2 teeth related to malnutrition/vitamin deficiency. A few years ago she called me, unhappy, and basically said, "I'm just now starting to see the long term effects of living with this thing."
But to be fair, I'm sure there are people out as far - or farther - than she is who love it.
This is probably one of the scariest posts I have ever read on this forum. I truly am not trying to steer you toward one surgery or the other - different procedures are right for different people, and only you will know what's right for you. But please let me appeal to your sense of self-preservation:
You've basically just said the only reason you want a SERIOUS surgical procedure is because other people have told you that you lose weight faster. Not because you want surgery, or you've researched all options and think one is best for you over another, or feel confident that you can make ALL the necessary changes for a healthy lifestyle. Wow, I truly am reeling over that statement -- out of conern for you and your not-great filtering of data.
I'm going to suggest you forget what "other people" are telling you and do your own research. I could tell you that injecting bleach into your eye makes you lose weight faster than RNY or VSG, but that doesn't mean there's anything accurate about that statement, nor does it mean it's something you should consider doing just because someone told you it works.
The initial weight loss between RNY and VSG is about even. As a matter of fact, IIRC VSG is now about 4% ahead for initial weight loss (occuring within the first year). But let's say I just made that up, and you lose 200% faster with RNY. Does it matter, when you consider regain stats? If your goal as to be thinner for about a year, and then gain a lot more weight, then "faster weightloss" is probably a good motivator for RNY.
Have you considered looking for a sleeve surgeon to do a sleeve, instead of using an RNY surgeon? They are different procedures, and unless you have some kind of unusual restriction - most people would seek out the surgeon skilled in their procedure of choice. Unless there's a reason why you have to use a particular surgeon, shop around.
Not interested in a lot of hair loss? Surprise - none of us were interested in it. It's certainly not like a motivating factor or fringe benefit. But it happens to just about everyone out there regardless of procedure. Did you realize that? Even the "harmless" lap-band. If you make the changes you will have to make for any WLS, you're at least 95% guaranteed to have hairloss.
Maybe I'm interpreting your messages incorrectly, but here's what I'm getting: I want whatever quick fix is the easiest
You really, really need to research life at 1, 2, 5 years post-op. Objectively read stories from people who are there. Research the stats (reading message boareds does not equal researching stats -- pull up medical journals and periodicals, look over complication charts and rates, even if you're just reading summaries read something, preferrably not from the internet). See what issues people are most frequently dealing with. Then compare the procedures. DO NOT make a decision based on "whatever will give me the fastest loss in the least amount of time". A decision like what might make you happy for a few months. Those better be really good months if you find you then start to regret making an uninformed or impulsive decision.
Procedure aside, just do it smart.

After I had my two boys, I had a breast augmentation and Tummy Tuck. I shared it with my friends and family. From that point forward whenever I would get a compliment - especially in front of my sister - she would be sure to let everyone know I had help from a plastic surgeon. My best friend likes to tell people the same thing swearing she would never stoop to such levels - well 5 years later she is trying to find the money to make it happen. I don't need to be the fodder for their own issues. I made this decision for me... not to impress anyone else. My kids deserve a healthy happy and content mom. I feel I must add that I've had a little fantasy about wearing something stunning in front of ex-husband and leaving him drooling.... that feels petty but I am only human
K.

Welcome and I agree about the suppurt and information available here. So I have my Nut assessment on the 31st then off to Cigna for approval.
What is this 5 day turn around you are talking about? My surgeons office keeps saying 2-4 weeks. Please tell me more, inquiring minds want to know!

I am 36 and getting ready for surgery. I hv 3 boys and a girl

This all stinks, I was prepared for a long fight, but it took less than a week for my approval. Sending out some good vibes for you guys!

I'm with the majority. Take him with you. Mine went, and it went a long way to answer his questions and aleviate any fears he had. The dr., dietician and physical therapist were all great about answering both our questions. He even walked the hallway for 6 minutes with me when the physical therapist wanted to test my oxygen levels! The nurses were even surprised I was ok with them saying my weight outloud with him in the room. I want him to know everything so he knows exactly what I'm going through, and doesn't think I'm making it up.

MIne could not make it in for my initial visit, so the doc scheduled him one on his own (which I could not then make, grrrr!) It would have been nice to do that part together.

If it's not worth it to your husband, or if he is less than supportive, it is important that you explain to him, before surgery, that you are going on a journey and you woud like him to go with you. If he is not ready, tell him you are leaving on that journey, and he can either catch up, or consider his options. I think it is always important to support your spouse and their feelings, but to also make a clear statement of your intent. Later this may be a valuable thing to have done..... {:>} rd

Started preop diet on July 26, 2011. Had sleeve surgery Aug 23, 2011. Started at 370lbs on preop diet. Today I weigh 161lbs. I have lost 209lbs. I am living proof that it can be done.

I am 5'7 as well, and personally I think 130 sounds a little too low. I am shooting for 150, which should put me at about a size 8. I think 150 would be easier to maintain, I think you would have to work awfully hard to maintain a weight of 130 at your height. Just my opinion.
Good luck!