GiGi3

Just FYI...I was told in my pre-op education appointment that there is a direct correlation in adequate Protein intake the first few weeks after surgery and the amount of Hair loss in the 3rd and 4th months. I tried really hard to get that protein in the first few weeks. I am hoping for the best.

As the other poster said, "Enjoy the Journey". Why put so much worry on something that may not happen? I am big on following everything thing your surgeon has outlined. Do not veer off.
Some of your hurts you have cured,
And the sharpest you still have survived,
But what torments of grief you endured
From evil that never arrived! ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am Day Four post op and I am overly excited about my new journey!!

As the other poster said, "Enjoy the Journey". Why put so much worry on something that may not happen? I am big on following everything thing your surgeon has outlined. Do not veer off.
Some of your hurts you have cured,
And the sharpest you still have survived,
But what torments of grief you endured
From evil that never arrived! ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am Day Four post op and I am overly excited about my new journey!!

Finally here. Finally. I just have to get through today. It has been a horrific week! I am so sick of the sweetness of everything. I practically gag just thinking about having to drink my Protein Drink.
Did I cheat? I had a few bites of turkey on Thursday and Friday. Turkey is Protein, so I didn't think it was horrible cheat.
I guess what prevented me from cheating is that I like my liver. I don't want it to be in the way. I am keeping my eye on the prize--my new body in around six months. This is a pretty drastic weight loss solution, I am not going to screw it up.
Tomorrow morning a doctor will put my stomach back to where it was when I was twelve~~ It is going to be a good day, a new beginning, a new start to the rest of my life. (I am 55 years old.)

I feel your pain. My pre-op diet was only 5 days long but I was also in the middle of my stop smoking requirement. It was, to say the least a train wreck.
What sucks even more is you do you liquid pre-op diet, then the post op one is worse. I was miserable.
But....4 and a half months later here I am, weighing 75lbs less, still smoke free, and feeling the best I can ever remember feeling. It's worth all the struggles.
You can do this!

My coordinator originally told me that I'd have to do 6 months of medically supervised dieting, per the insurance company. I called the insurance and there was absolutely no mention of "6 months." They did say that I had to have "actively participated in non-surgical methods of weight reduction" and that the doctor had to "fully evaluate" that, but nothing about 6 months.
I spoke with my coordinator the other day and mentioned that, and she said, "oh we'll just have you do the 3-month that also incorporates an exercise program." I still won't actually get sleeved until December (I haven't even had my first nutritionist appt yet), but at least it's not 6 months of dieting because the coordinator *assumed* my insurance had the 6-month requirement.
I have Anthem Blue Cross Select H M O in California -- maybe you can ask?
Good luck with everything.

In order for the insurance company to count it, your monthly participation and weight has to be documented. Unfortunately, online diets do not count...even weight watchers because you are not having your weight documented. Trust me, I tried! I belonged to and followed the Jillian Michaels diet online. It did not count. Other programs besides Weight Watchers would be Quick Weight Loss Centers or any other weight loss centers or medically supervised diets like Medifast where you were monitored and weighed either weekly or monthly.

Time will fly...I just went to the doctor once a month and the nutrionist once.

I think it has to be officially documented in some way.

I have to wait 3 months. I'm using the time to get in the habits of exercising, even mildly, every day, trying to increase my Water intake, and maybe even lose some weight before my surgery.

I know how frustrated and dissapointed you must feel right now. Once you make the decision to go ahead, you just want to DO IT! I went through the same thing. I can tell you a few good things about it though. The time flies by. I know six months seems like an eternity but in the grand scheme of things, it is pretty quick. Take the time to really get a handle on your issues with food, like emotional eating etc while you are going through this mandatory period. Also, take the time to start practicing some of the habits you wil need post op, like taking small bites and chewing really slowly. Also, get all your required appointments like the psycholgy visit, the PCP letter of medical necessity etc rolling for the sixth month so that when you have your last nutrition appointment, they can just go ahead and submit your paperwork. Look back on your prior supervised weight loss, because it can count as long as it is consecutive and not too far back. Like Barisaxilady said, Weight Watchers counts if you have documentation. Good luck!

Have you ever done Weight Watchers? My insurance accepted 6 months of continuous weigh ins from WW. Mine were almost a year old too. Good luck. Insurance companies are such a joke. Mine will cover weight loss surgery but not a nutritionist to avoid the surgery. shesh!

It's somewhat common. My insurance required me to go through 9 months of weight management appointments and support groups as well. I think some companies make you jump through hoops to prove your comitment. Thats the only thing I could think of.

Enjoy it! It will be awhile before you eat "real" food again, and I promise you there will be times when you're going to want to give in, or you may begin to doubt if this was the right decision. But I also promise you that if you tough it out, you will discover that this was one of the best choices you ever made and it will all be so worth it. Your whole life is going to change, starting tomorrow! All the best to you!
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Sounds like he may also feel threatened. You are going to look fabulous and feel great. He already knows he is a jerk. Let's face it, feeling good is going to give us all more confidence. He probably feels you may leave him afterwards.

I hate the little voice. He lies. Tell him to buzz off!