makemyownluck

I was in for 2 days. The doc said that's what I should expect and that's what it was... I'm surprised your insurance would pay for all of that.

I second that vote - FIDDLEMAN!! my 2nd vote: Butterthebean!

Me too... I gave away closets FULL of clothes in recent years because I was down sizing to a new home with less closet space. I WISH I had those cute clothes back - but they are gone. I held on to a select few things and I don't know how long they will last me. Can't wait til it's all too big!!

looks like bruising to me - and since you have the glued incisions, sometimes the iodine they clean you with during surgery is stuck under it as well. As long as it's not red or draining pus, you're good.

It seems to me that lately being on this board is a waste of my time... sad to say because this used to be such a great place to meet people, talk about issues and feel like I was with "my people". It's a lot of negativity lately - people dissatisfied with their weight loss - ANY loss should be a point of pride for us!!! And if it's not negativity about some aspect of this surgery, it's newbies who really don't seem to know what they are getting/have gotten themselves into. I seem to just answer the same questions over and over again, get no support for myself, and then come back in a couple of days only to see the exact same questions posted by different newbies. I mean, can't you READ the forum so you're not just repeating the same stuff over and over? And it honestly shocks me how little research people have done on this for themselves. That said, I keep coming back, hoping to see something that will help me or at least entertain.

I'm 3 1/2 wks out and still can't sleep on my side - haven't even tried sleeping on my belly yet because it's so uncomfortable on my side. I'm a side sleeper and sleeping flat on my back hurts my lower back, so I'm still sleeping at an incline! I'm getting used to it now, and maybe that is what keeps me from having reflux issues? Not sure... but like Will said above, everyone is different. For me, I have a big gut, and with as much as it moves when I do anything, I think that's what keeps me from feeling healed 100% at this point. I can do anything, but I do get some dull aches and soreness when I do too much for too long, As far as shakes - those gave me gas quite a bit in the beginning. I took gas-x strips to help with that, it helped it settle down better. Nothing gave me gas like the Protein shakes. I've adapted to them now and don't need the gas-x anymore. Since shakes are so dense in protein even tho they are liquid, you should really take your time when drinking them - smaller sips and take more time to get through it. I don't have issues with the size of the bites/swallows I take with anything, but the shakes do still require some patience! Good luck!

I have PPO with bcbs IL and was approved in 2 days. Call and ask EVERYDAY! I knew before my doctors office did!

ricotta bake - basically lasagna w/o noodles. I also enjoyed mini-quiche - I started with just cheese in them, but now I make them with deli meat, cheese, avocado, whatever is soft that I like. I made sugar free pudding with Protein powder also. I also had lots of yogurt, cottage cheese and hummus. bananas mashed w Peanut Butter... use your imagination!

That's where I'm at. I've lost a lot more than 15 and no one has really noticed. A friend of mine said she did, but she's one of the few who know about the surgery so I don't know if she would have noticed without that knowledge. I'm 3 1/2 wks post op and I'm supposed to participate in a food day on Thursday at work to Celebrate some birthdays. I was all worked up about how I'd survive it because my coworkers don't know why I was off work when I had surgery. I just remembered that I have to go to traffic court that day, so I'm gonna miss the luncheon anyway. It's a relief! I don't think I'm ready to eat in front of people who don't know about my surgery yet. Not just yet.... I've never been so glad to have to go to traffic court!

I'm 3 1/2 wks post op, and I don't feel that way at all... what else is going on in your life? Were you depressed pre-op? Is it just depression about food? It might be helpful to be on a mild anti-depressant or see a therapist, or both.

I feel FANTASTIC. I haven't felt hungry, I have no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.. I did get constipated a couple of times, but I have Colace now and I've been fine. I don't have any issues with gas or how I eat. I make sure I chew more than I did before, but the size of my bites and size of my sips feels pretty close to pre-op. I know some people have gas issues and have to sip/eat in much smaller portions, but since about day 3, I've been pretty close to normal. The only things that bug me is that I still get some soreness from the incisions if I try to do to much. It's not so bad that I can't keep doing what I'm doing, but it's there. Also, I'm a side sleeper and it's still not comfortable for me to roll to my side yet. I've been sleeping upright because laying flat on my back all night makes my back ache. Other than that, I'm feeling really good. I'm down 25lbs in 3 1/2 wks... maybe a lil more, haven't weight myself in a few days. I'm still amazed at lunch when a little 4 oz container of cottage cheese fills me up! I think this has really gone as good as can be expected, and I'm so grateful for it!

google "ketosis breath" there are lots of remedies it usually passes on its own after a few weeks.

Hi! I'm out in aurora - 3 1/2 wks post op. I had surgery at Rush University, where are you having surgery?

I just wanted to add - to anyone who may need to hear it - chewing food and spitting it back out is NOT a solution to an eating disorder. It IS an eating disorder. Anorexics and Bulimics do this allll the time, it's part of their illness, and I would not encourage anyone to ever try this tactic, even in your most desperate hour. I understand that we are all food addicts, to varying degrees. But please, don't start any new behaviors that are unhealthy in attempt to rid yourself of other unhealthy behaviors. We all need to get better - not find new ways to 'cheat'. I've realize from reading posts like this that been fortunate - VERY fortunate - that so far, nothing has tempted me like that. I'm 3 wks post op and right on track with my diet and feeling satisfied. I attribute that to being single and living alone, so I don't have to sit at the table and watch the family eat something delicious. I also attribute this to being proactive and finding ways to make these stages more delicious! Ricotta bake, mini quiches, Protein pudding... I have lots of delicious options available, so I'm not feeling deprived. That said, UPDATE US, Jeffie! Is all well?

I think it has to do with your body shape sometimes too. I have a high pain tolerance as well, but my gut is where a lot of my weight is hanging around, so it moves when I move. It's not "solid" if you know what I mean... so when I laid down I was okay, but I stood up and it felt like everything was pulling... anyway, the abdominal binder helps A LOT with that, and it does eventually go away. Overall, the pain wasn't THAT bad. I used meds regularly the first day home, then only a couple of days after that. I was on my hydrocodone for about 3 days total when I was home. I took it at night so I wouldn't wake up in pain.

Awesome!! You should post some pics, I'd love to see the transformation.

I have the same concerns, and really there is no definite answer on this. Some people snap back, others don't. Since I've always been heavy, I'm expecting to have excess skin. However, I've also read quite a bit about how after you lose the weight to wait a year before having surgery to remove skin because the skin can shrink up a bit if you keep toning with exercise. Again, not true for everyone - genetics plays a role as does your personal history. I already have a bunch of stretch marks - but I'll happily use Spanx than carry around the extra weight!! Good luck! I'm using Palmer's Shea Butter lotion and Bio-Oil. I'm only 3 wks post op, so I don't know how well it's working, but my skin is nice and silky feeling!

I got mine at the hospital. I just asked them for one and they brought it to me. They make lots of types - mine was pretty simple, just a long stretchy piece of fabric with velcro. I still use it occassionally, I'm 3 wks post op. It helps when I'm cleaning the house and moving a lot. When I move around for longer periods of time, I get a little achy in my belly and it really helps. Ask your doc if they would give you one in the hospital. I also got one in the hospital (a different hospital) when I had my GB taken out. It's not an uncommon thing for the hospital to provide.

JEALOUS you don't have a preop liquid diet! That was honestly the hardest part for me... it's been smooth sailing for me since surgery. I have had no complications, no nausea, no vomiting, no food intolerance - everything tastes the same... it's been great. Had surgery 3 wks ago yesterday, I'm down 25lbs since surgery. That's over 8lbs a week - never lost that quickly before!

I totally get what you're saying about the tiers. I work in health insurance, and I actually understand their wonky rules! lol But part of the benefit of having insurance is so that the bills go to them first. Here's the problem with paying up front: You give X amount of dollars to the hospital when you have the surgery. The bills come into the insurance company and you don't know what's going to be paid first - so that by the time that claim from the hospital is processed, the insurance has already applied other things to your deductible, and now you're the one stuck trying to figure out the mess after the fact. Having worked in insurance, I know there are a lot of instances like these where the hospital required payment up front, then DIDN'T include the patient payment on the bill when they submitted to insurance. So now, the hospital has been OVERPAID, and YOU have to go back and try to fix all of it. Also, I'm assuming you've met part of that deductible already, right? And with the pre-op testing and visits, that should gobble up a lot of that deductible as well. I have a $1500 deductible and I met all of that long before I made it to surgery...

TRUTH! Why wouldn't a high BMI'ers opinion be just as valuable to you? We're all in the same boat.

It helps with the surgical gas!! I had some issues with my heart rate/very low bp and so they didn't have me walking around in the hospital as much as other people usually do, and those helped SO MUCH with the gas. Definitely pick some up if you can! Good luck!!

Good luck! It gets better every day post-op - you'll do fine!

Time passes so fast post op! I'll be 3 wks post op tomorrow and I feel good. First few days aren't the greatest, but they give you drugs to sleep most of the worst off. You'll be okay!! Try to get a good nights sleep - use some melatonin if you have it!