SarahG0417

my surgeon told me I can't take them because there is a possibility they could get stuck

I went to my surgeon't appt. yesterday. I had lost 10 lbs according to her scale in the last 5 weeks. I have had all my tests, my psych already sent my surgeon her approval, so the only thing I need to get done is my EGD. My surgeon said if i can get it done fast then I could potentially have surgery in 2 weeks. The office assistant said it would be closer to 3 weeks in her experience with approval time, also there is a possibility that they will ask for 3 months of documented weigh ins (have that) or even 6 months. So I was crazy excited. Then I found out that my insurance most likely won't cover the sleeve with a civilian surgeon (military insurance). CRUSHED! Then I found out that there may be a loop hole. I am on required extended release medication so I can't have the Band or Gastric bypass. So slight possibility of approval. Also found out if I go to a military hospital they will cover it 100%. Closest military hospital is 300 miles away. So lots of good and bad...having trouble not being a little emotional about the whole thing. I am just going to stay on track, get my EGD and just hope the insurance will approve. If not I will talk to the military hospital to see how much I can do locally before I can have surgery.

I am just finding out that Tricare won't cover the sleeve through a civilian surgeon. Balboa in San Diego is the closest military hospital to me that does the procedure. It is 5 hours away from me but I guess that is doable. Does anyone have any experience with them, I would really love some help with this process. Who I need to talk to, what questions to ask, how much I can get done locally so I don't have to drive that far a bunch of times. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me out.

it is a common stomach and intestinal bacteria they test for. Possible you were already tested.

you only have to wait 4 weeks after treatment if you get another blood test. They can do a breathe test or stool test after treatment to check if it was successful as soon as antibiotics are finished.

Well I went this morning and had my blood test for H. Pylori and my ultrasound of my gallbladder. It was pretty pleasant over all. The girl checking me in for my tests is planning to have WLS as well and has the same surgeon as me so we were chatting it up about that. Then I went back for my blood test and I got a newbie (my veins are small and hard to find) so I got stabbed several times. I was ok with it, he wasn't hurting me, and he has to learn somehow. So he finally found my vein and got blood. Then all of a sudden the top half of my body went cold and I felt like I was going to vomit. I nearly passed out. They had cold rags on me and had me put my head between my knees and it took about 5 minutes for me to feel better. I was able to walk out just fine. Then I went down the hall to have my ultrasound done on my gall bladder. That was super easy, and the tech said that my gallbladder looks normal and no stones. I came home and was home for about an hour when I got a call from my surgeon's office. They had already received the results from my blood work and it came back positive for H. Pylori. So now I have to go to my primary doctor to get treatment for H. Pylori. I was amazed by how fast the hospital was with the test results! Happy that my gall bladder is fine, and only a little bummed about the test results. At least it is fixable.

It depends on the insurance....my insurance approved me before I even met with my surgeon....other people have to get everything don with tests and the surgeon before they are approved. So lots of factors to consider.

I don't have a surgery date yet, I have my second consult with my surgeon next week, and my first NUT appt the same day, I have lost 6 pounds so far. I am really emotional. I don't mean a little teary and upset. I mean hard core crying at everything (worse than pregnancy), depressed, and I just want to go to bed and sleep until this all gets worked out and I am going to surgery, or better yet wake up after surgery in recovery. I don't know what to do, I just feel hopeless and alone, and I don't know..... Has anyone else gone through depression and hopelessness pre-op? What did you do?

it is another test for H. Pylori. Most places do a blood test but the urea breath test is another option. You can look it up, it is quick and painless.

I am doing great with my pre-op diet. My surgeon doesn't require a liquid diet but she requires a loss of 5%-10% of your body weight. So I decided to keep my calories between 1,200 and 1,500, cut out caffeine, cut out all soda, cut out all candy and sweets, and strive to get in 60-80oz of Water a day, and 80 - 100g of Protein a day. It sounds difficult but if you stick to fresh whole foods it is not a problem. Here is a sample day for me (I lost 4.5 pounds this week) Breakfast: a Protein shake, or 2 scrambled eggs with a little salsa and a peice of low cal whole grain toast with 1 tblspn of Peanut Butter Snack: large glass of decaf green tea, and low cal string cheese Lunch: 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese, and small salad with green lettuce, cucumber, chopped broccoli, red bell pepper, and light dressing Snack: small apple with or without PB for dipping Dinner: 4oz grilled fish (ahi tuna or salmon), steamed or sauteed green veggies Also make sure you are moving, even if you can't get to the gym, go for a long walk after dinner, or if you have time, go before Breakfast. If you have trouble drinking water (like I do) set a timer on your phone to go off every hour or 2 that says "DRINK 8oz. OF WATER NOW!!!!" and do that every time your alarm goes off. Good luck!

My doctor says for her smoking patients they have to be smoke free for at least 6 weeks and she tests urine at the pr-op appt for nicotine. She says there is a higher risk of bleeding, healing is slowed, higher risk of leak, and higher risk of death. That to me is scary I would let them know when you quit and if it pushes your surgery back a little but means you will heal faster and be at less risk then isn't it worth it? Good luck, and congrats on quitting!

In the first 6-8 weeks post-op how often do you eat? I know a lot of people say they aren't hungry at all so they have to make themselves eat. Do you set a timer and just eat at meal times....or do you nibble a little here and there all day to get in your Protein and some calories?

Ok I am just curious what a typical day looked like as far as food and exercise.... Before looking into the sleeve______ After your first doctor visit______ Once you had a surgery date______ During Pre-op diet______ During Post op recovery_____ 8 weeks+ past surgery_______ Just out of curiosity

Ok I am just curious what a typical day looked like as far as food and exercise.... Before looking into the sleeve______ After your first doctor visit______ Once you had a surgery date______ During Pre-op diet______ Just out of curiosity

They also sell it on Amazon