Mz_Elle

Well I had my surgery on 07/03 and UHC has paid 59K to the hospital as of today. That's a pretty quick turn around and a pretty darn good reimbursement rate. I know the facility is a Center of Excellence hospital for my plan, so that may explain the quick turnaround and high reimbursement rate. I can only give thanks to my doctor's staff for ensuring everything was precerted timely and covered. They really did an awesome job. I even got to keep my DME equipment for my leg compression machine that was to assist with reducing my chance of blood clots in my legs.

I'm officially 3 weeks post op and have been assigned the puree stage of foods for about a week. I've had an OK time and at first I LOVED having the new textures and being able to tolerate pureed meats. I've kept my calories low and I"m still losing. I've been doing my walking too. I've had no real problems with my restrictions. My sleeve seems to be OK with the foods and I'm playing within the rules regarding portion size. I've not had any real issues with nausea, vomiting or just overall discomfort with my sleeve. Other than gas, which does not seem to resolve, I'm doing very well by all accounts. I found pureed meats and veggies to be a chore. I have broken the rules during this stage for the past two days by just eating soups and meats, but chewing them really well in my mouth versus blending them to pulp. Nothing too tough and, like I said, calories still low and portion size fine. Is this really going to cause an damage to my sleeve if I chew the food to a purree texture before swallowing? It's taking me a very long time to eat my cup of a meal, but I find it more enjoyable and I really don't think I"m doing any damage. Should I really turn on the blender and pulverize my food? Is this cheating? If I was to be really honest I'd say I'm really doing mushies and soft foods about a week ahead of time. If the sleeve can take it... why not? Again I ask the question....is this cheating? Can I cause damage to my sleeve by doing this? I feel fine and I notice my energy levels seem to be improving.

This it too funny....I just got my eob notification from myuhc. I was flabbergasted too. So far I've paid about $950 out of pocket. My hospital bill for the 2 day inpatient stay was 73K! Not to mention the pathology, anesthesiology, and radiology fees that are mounting. I think I'll be in the 125K range after all is said and done. Also my out of pocket is increasing per the EOB to about $3500 for which I'm now VERY GRATEFUL.

Lol. It's your hormones and you changing your diet. It will pass. My doc warned me about it when I was on my pre-op diet too. Just consider these next two weeks an extended period of PMS and your husband will understand. It's very common to be snappish during this time.

Yes. Especially if you are on blood thinners for blood clots. You will find you bruise very easily. I was on a 10 day post op regimen of blood thinners in my belly. I went to the dentist for a cleaning and bled something awful. My hygenist was taken aback and commented on it, then I realized what was going on! Note to all: do not have dental services when you're on blood thinners! I totally forgot to tell them, but I was still able to complete the cleaning.

For me sugar-free jello helped a lot. I lived on SF popsicles and Vitamin water. I was partial to jello because it had a little texture (over just plain fluids). Also creamy chicken broth did me good for flavor. Also there's a little cheat with the creamy chicken broth because they have very small bits of chicken in them that you can push to the roof of your mouth and swallow

80% of your stomach has been stapled together and ripped out through your belly button. You have to let it heal and learn to work again. It's swollen and recovering. A fellow poster summed it up as best as I've heard.... You have a baby's stomach. Would you feed a 1 week old fish? I'd hope not. At least at the liquid stage, please try to stay on course for those two weeks that the doctors (or most doctors) recommend. You don't want to face a bowel obstruction or some other complication by moving too fast. Stay strong and just don't beat yourself up for making a mistake. Just correct it. I'd encourage you to follow the doctor's orders!

I admittedly was a "last dinner" pre-op sleever and and I had a couple of them about a week into my pre-op diet. After that I stayed on course and got to the magic 15 lbs the surgeon requested. I'm hoping to hit my stride with the workouts after my 6 week check up with focus on building lean muscle by weight training. As of now I'm just walking 6 days a week every morning to get my energy up and get my body going. I find AM workouts suit me better. I'm just taking it day by day. The energy level is becoming a BIG issue. I'm struggling. I hope that turns around. I do see a difference though in that, while still LOW, I seem to do better when I work out in the AM. I am not a gym rat and have NEVER been a exercise enthusiast so I don't think I'll ever be able to do a true 2-3 time per day routine. I just don't have it in me. More power to all yall who can keep it up. I'm hoping my seeing the results will help me like it more, but I've seen results in the past and still DO NOT HAVE A LOVE FOR WORKING OUT. Sigh!!!! :wub:

@Mina, thanks for the clarification. I figured you'd just miskeyed the day and you really meant June 2011 or something.....LOL.

Has anyone used 5-hour energy or any of those no sugar energy supplements / drinks? Are we even allowed to use them? Those who may have used them, post-op, what are your thoughts/recommendations? What about those pre-workout drinks that are usually orange flavored. Do you find them helpful? I'm still focused on getting my protein and staying hydrated but I'm dying from the lack of energy even while meeting my bench marks and exercising daily. (OK. I will cop to the fact that I did not work out today and tomorrow is my official rest day).

Thank you for sharing. This really helps motivate and let us know it's possible. Keep up the hard work. You look great!

You may want to modify the bread to a low calorie, multi grain cracker or maybe a multi-grain, high Fiber tortilla wrap too. Other alternatives: Maybe almond butter versus peanut since peanuts are so high in fat. Almonds and pistachios are a little lower. If it's truly a treat, then I'd go for the sugar-free versions and just modify the portion size to maybe a 1/2 a sandwich (on whole grain wheat vs white bread). You gotta treat yourself every once in a while. As long as your sleeve can take it.... press on.

My boobs have always been my best asset. Plus my hubby is a boob man. I'm only 24 lbs downs and they are deflating at a rapid pace. I could bet 20 of my LBS were lost in my boobs! A good push up bra? Something's needed. I'd hope that maybe the lbs would redistribute to my butt or something. I've always wanted a big, shapely butt. Got boobs instead. Now my proud girls are singing a swan song. Hard to adjust to seeing the gyrls leave town.

I was thinking about buying the new Brazilian Honey Nair product. I use regular Nair for my beard as I call it. I alternate between waxing (OUCH) and using nair. It helps cut on costs as waxing hurts like heck. I have been doing it for years and it still hurts! The nair gives me a little more time between waxing. As a woman of color I'm scared of lasers and scarring, Although I have several friends who attest to it, I'm always the weirdo that has every reaction possible to a new procedure. I'm too chicken. Vaniqua? I've never heard of, but I'm definitely going to inquire about it with my DERM. Thanks ladies.

I'm sorry, but, personally, I would not have surgery for 70 lbs. It's just too invasive a procedure (all of them - LAP Band, Sleeve and Bypass) for 70 lbs. I'd get the post-op diet plan and have a go at it w/o surgical intervention. I would only suggest a WLS for someone with >100 lbs to lose or someone that has a lot of commorbidities making the surgery the best option. Commorbidities meaning Diabetes, sleep Apnea, Hypertension or past personal history (or extensive family history) of stroke, heart attack or something like that. In the end it's your personal happiness and health at stake so I would encourage anyone to research thoroughly and make up their own mind.

Thanks Amy. That makes more sense....Non-Scale Victory! NSV.

Mina your weight loss is draw dropping. Already down 100 lbs in 7 weeks! How are you doing with loose skin and hair loss?

Thank you!

@ Justine13: Well they go up to a 3X so I'm hoping I can realistically be in a 1X-2X by November. That would be at least a 50 lbs total weight loss for me. I have a lot to lose. I have my "skinny" clothes on hand in the house and I don't foresee buying anything new except bras, underwear and pants as the weight comes off. I have a whole stable of black pants and leggings on hand, but none have belt loops or zippers.They truly are my "big girl" pants with the elastic waist. I just can't wait to feel comfortable in my own skin. Just comfortable being able to cross my legs like a lady, wear a mini-skirt on "date night," sit comfortably at a booth in a restaurant, not have to request a seat belt extender on the plane, and sit Indian style on the floor w/o effort. Little rewards like that, I want to experience. I think the lingo on the forum is NSV (non scale victory). I think I got it right?....LOL. I just look forward to what I will be able to accomplish with this new tool (The Sleeve) to help me with my weight loss and health. Sigh...Lots of work to do!

I never considered the LAP-Band because it just seemed too scary. To have a foreign object inside of you and having to get a fill every few months. It just creeped me out. Also I have several friends (at least 5) who've had the Lap-Band and I've seen their struggles 1st hand, many have had to get revisions. Some have sustained the weight loss but they advised me not to do it. To me the sleeve was a no-brainer when compared to the Lap Band and Bypass procedures. It made the most sense to me.

I had a hiatal hernia repair with my sleeve and my upper back was the most painful of all my post-op pains. After about a week it got better. A lot of it was also gas pains. Other than that I feel fine. My boobs are deflating since the surgery so a lot of my back pain has subsided. (I was an F-cup prior to surgery). I've been walking daily too and I'm surprised that my new, deflated DDD aren't causing back pain.

Most of mine are "quick melts" which dissolve in your mouth and/or under your tongue. I use Bariatric Advantage vitamins and biotin over the counter pills for hair (trying to be proactive with the hair loss thing).. I think chewables will work too. Some ppl have trouble with pills during the initial post-op. But I take the biotin w/o a problem. No nausea/cramping at all. They are small pills though. I think it's just a matter of how you personally respond to them.

I had the same issue during my pre-up. I did the Atkins mocha latte Protein shake and added a little bit of instant decaf crystals to it to taste. Heat it up and it's a decent fix, plus you get 15 grams of protein in the serving. Now I am successfully weaned off coffee altogether (by choice). I just don't think I need it any more. I think that may be part of the taste bud change some ppl experience because I was a slave to Wolfgang Puck's Jamaican Me Crazy coconut coffee singles by Keurig. I drank at least 2 cups per day....(with Splenda!).

One of my goals is to fit my hiney into a pair of Pajama Jeans! I've been wanting a pair since I 1st saw the add and that's one of my goals. To look good and show off my assets in a comfy pair of jeans. I hope to reach that goal by November 2012. LOL. I know its kinda of kooky, but I have not worn a pair of zip up jeans in years. I want to just slip on a nice pair of boot cuts and strut a bit.

I was diabetic (Type 2) and taking metformin at the time of my consult. I had done A LOT of research and decided that the sleeve fit my needs best. I went into the consult w/o sharing all the research I'd done and just shared my story and let the doctor give me his recommendations. He recommended the sleeve. So I felt very comfortable with my decision. He was very thorough to in explaining the choice. I then came clean with my research and all the work I did. He seemed pleased too that I'd done so much research. My husband was there and it sounds like your husband and his behavior were very much akin to each other. After a over 2 hours with the doctor, my hubby came out of the consultation telling EVERYONE about his biggest takeway.....The human stomach can hold up to 5 liters of Fluid. He just kept going on and on about it and I wanted to really punch him after hearing it for the 10th time. LOL. (There was no domestic violence though...). I weighed more than you and I found the sleeve to be the best choice for me.... 1-I'm not trying to get pregnant anytime soon. That store is closed. 2-I didn't want to face malabsorption and the complications of re-engineering by intestinal track like the bypass does. 3-Bypass just seems too scary and invasive for me. 4-I know at least 3 ppl who've had bypass and still put the weight back on. Quite possible with the sleeve too, but at least your GI tract hasn't been sliced to heck. I'm less than a month out..... After 2 weeks post op my follow-up visit with my PCP went so well.... My diabetes has improved so my PCP took me off the metformin to follow-up in 30 days. I still check my sugar and if it rises above 200 then I'm to take a 1/2 dose and call the doctor. Haven't had to take anything. PCP also took me off the high blood pressures meds at 2 weeks but I have to monitor it daily and if the top number reaches 150 then I have instructions to take 1/2 dose and call the doctor. Haven't needed to take anything yet. My BP since discharge hasn't risen above 130. It's still early, but so far I couldn't be happier with these results.