Izuri

It's completely normal. I'm glad you're up and about - it sounds like you're doing great!

It's fun to think of all the things we'll be able to do comfortably =) I want to: - Go rock climbing - Skydive - Go to Cedar Point and be able to fit on the rides - Participate in a marathon - Buy jeans at a regular store instead of a plus size store

Any type of ground meat - I have made some lean hamburger stroganoff, chili, ground turkey patties. Any shredded meats - chicken w/salsa in the crock pot, canned shredded chicken w/a little turkey pepperoni, pizza sauce and ff mozzarella, chicken salad. Any soft fish - Tilapia w/ steamed veggies, tuna salad. Other Protein sources - made weight watchers cabbage 0 point Soup but added cannellini Beans for protein, egg salad, scrambled eggs. Any mushy vegetables - steamed a mix of veggies (zucchini, tomato, green beans, etc) in a little light olive oil/garlic/onion. I think in the soft phase there are a lot of recipes you can alter just a little, like changing the type of meat that can make it fine to eat. I still have my Protein shakes for Breakfast, string cheese, Isopure, and other high protein things for Snacks.

It will fly by! It seems like it will be long right now but you're gonna look back and wonder where the month went. Hang in there =)

Give yourself a few options - it doesn't have to be all one or the other. I love the vanilla Eas 100% whey powder, because I don't like the strongly flavored ones much. I tried a few of the Syntrax Nectar flavors and they were really overpowering. If you don't like the muscle milk, by all means stop it and switch to another type, unless your doctor wanted you to have this specific one (Though it seems like most give you plenty of choices). I have some muscle milk but so far have not really enjoyed it.

Keeping busy helped me a lot the few days before surgery. I worked up until the day before surgery and that really helped. I had spent the whole previous week worrying so much about surgery that the night before I just kinda passed out early, it worked out well. If you don't have to work, maybe spend the days getting prepared - clean your house, do the laundry, go shopping, etc. When you're done with that spend some time with loved ones or doing things you enjoy. At least, that's what I did and it worked pretty well.

Good healthy choice, it must have been hard with all that candy near you! Look how strong you are already having all that willpower - you can do this!! Before you know it the pre-op will be over and you'll be so proud of yourself for doing so well on it.

Maybe take a day away from it all and focus on you, do a couple things you love, get a pedicure, see a movie. Try and get some of the stress off your back for just a bit of a break, cause it sounds like you need and deserve it. The calls and worries about insurance and stuff can wait a day while you get a chance to relax. The insurance and all the things that have to be coordinated for it can drive you just batty - I agree! You will get through this though, one step at a time. Make a list and every time something goes right, you get to cross it off, maybe that will help, feel like a success every time you get through one of those pain in the butt requirements. In the mean time, feel free to vent, we're here to listen and we get how much all the pre-op requirements can be frustrating. I will keep my fingers crossed that everything falls into place for you soon.

I can see a pretty big difference in your stomach!! How exciting =) You're doing awesome!!

I hit a stall about 2 weeks ago (Am 4 weeks out now) and have been on it since. I have not lost anything in 15 days, but have been continuing to follow the plan. I would be thrilled with any pounds. Your loss will probably pick back up. Don't let it get you down, our bodies just need time to adjust. You're doing awesome, keep it up! =)

1. It was about 4 days before I had a BM. They said if I went 5 days without to use a dulcolax suppository. 2. I slept in a chair the first few nights and it really helped. I just couldn't get in and out of bed easily, and I was very uncomfortable when I did get in bed. 3. I didn't have a drain, so I can't really comment on this one, but I would feel uncomfortable going back to work with a drain - but I stand all day at work, so it might be a bit different.

What a nice surprise =) Congrats!

Not saying you did, but I have had patients mix up stool softeners and laxatives before, which can cause them to go because laxatives are a stimulant. When I was having trouble pre-op I would use some generic benefiber every morning and it helped without being too strong. I hope it starts to resolve soon.

I would definitely call your doctor to at least make sure they're aware of it - fever can be a sign of infection/leak. It's probably just a bug/gas, but it's better safe than sorry and this way at least they're aware of it. Feel better soon!

You could call your doctor - sometimes they can prescribe something like toradol for short term. I know I had a shot of it a while back when I was having problems with headaches and it helped a lot. Also heating pad/ice pack/exercise (though I know that's the farthest thing from my mind this time of month!)/warm bath. I hope you feel better!

I had this same issue. I switched to centrum chewables and they are great, no nausea at all.

Size 4?! Goodness, that's awesome!!! Congratulations =) Go out and rock those size 4s, you deserve it!

I just thought I'd give you an idea what my soft foods diet has been like so far. I am on soft foods for 3 months before moving to regular, so I've got a while to come up with stuff =p In the morning I always have a 6oz Protein shake or smoothie w/greek yogurt, skim milk, fruit, 1-2 scoops Protein powder. Morning snack: usually something simple like 1/2-3/4 cup of cabbage Soup that I make over the weekend. I have been trying to add in fruit as Snacks too, so sometimes I'll opt for 1/2 a banana or a couple strawberries. Lunch: Some kind of meat - Usually leftovers from the night before. I really like shredded chicken thrown in the crock pot with some salsa and stuff. I will have about 2oz of meat and sometimes a veggie/a couple fruit slices if I have room Afternoon snack: Often I'll have a small protein shake/smoothie because I have trouble getting in all my protein, but sometimes I'll have something like a couple ounces of tuna salad with a little bit of cheese on top Dinner: Ground or flaky meat - 2oz with either steamed veggies or some kind of veggie/sauce that it's cooked in. If I don't have anything made I will usually have scrambled eggs or tuna. Evening snack: I don't always get this one in because if I wake up late I throw the timing off, but I will sometimes have fruit slices, milk with a tsp of no sugar added hersheys chocolate syrup (I love chocolate milk), or a little bit of juice. If I've really been craving something sweet I'll have a small amount of carb smart ice cream, but I've found the less I have it, the less I even want anything sweet. I have been getting about 500-700 calories most days, 60+ grams of protein, and 50 or under carbs (I try and aim for under 40 on good days), Most days it seems to give me a decent amount of energy. I really miss crunchy, I can't wait to try some of emilybites recipes once I finally get back to regular foods.

I was told to do 6 small meals a day - about every 2 hours. I don't always get them in, but I usually get in 3 meals and 2 snacks. I don't feel hungry, so I set a timer on my phone when I finish eating so that I will realize when it's time to eat the next meal.

Woohoo! Glad to hear you're doing well =)

I was not as big of an eater as you'd think from my size. I would go through periods where I'd have a really large meal, but on average I ate two meals a day, usually normal sized, maybe a little bigger. I would sometimes go back for seconds, never for thirds. I ate the wrong kinds of foods even though I was usually eating normal. The sleeve has been great. I was completely addicted to food and now I really have a lot of control. I considered bypass when looking, but am so glad that I settled on the sleeve.

You look amazing =) Congratulations on your little one!

I'm glad to hear you're doing well! I couldn't do without pain meds the first few days home, but I'm glad that you're feeling good enough to =)

Good luck! You'll be waking up in the recovery room before ya know it =) Let us know how everything went.

Insurance requirements are based on the insurance's policy because they don't want to give out a ton of money for a patient that they do not feel will be able to comply post-op. Different insurance companies have different requirements, and some allow the employer to have some say in it (especially as far as whether bariatric surgery is not covered at all). For some companies they feel the possibility of health benefits (decreased health risks from obesity) outweighs the cost of surgery. For example, my insurance would cover BMI 50+ with no 6 month classes. If I had been under 50 BMI, I would have been required too. It's all weighing cost vs benefit. If we lose weight and do well, they actually save money in the long run too. Doctors determine which tests you need based on your health. If you have no significant medical health problems or indications of issues, it cuts down on the number of things they feel you are at a high risk for. My cilnic had pre-op assessment days where they have people from outside clinics come in to do testing in their facility. For me this included 2 chest x-rays, EKG, blood work, gallbladder ultrasound, and a health assessment by a nurse. Since they have it all in the same facility I had it all done within about 4 hours. I haven't been to other clinics, but it sounds like many other doctors have you do each test with another office, rather than coordinating with an office in the same facility. I had never had problems with sleep or GERD so they didn't order an endoscopy or sleep study. I think most doctors order a psych eval too, which was the only thing I didn't have done in office. I have no clue about the diet differences. I assume it's just the doctor's opinion based on their experience and research.