Kelly G

Just sent the message! Thank you in advance!!

Can I be added to the FB group please?

I am currently on day 5 of the pre-op diet. My pre-op diet instructions from my surgeon are 800-900 calories per day of any food they sell in their store in the surgeon's office. It's all specially formulated food that's low carb, low cal, high Protein. I have been following it TO. THE. LETTER. I haven't even had some of the "allowed" things like sugar free popsicles, sugar free soda, etc. I've been getting in OVER my required 64 fl. oz of Water a day. But I'm not losing any weight. I haven't gained anything, but I haven't lost anything. I am sitting at the same weight - to the decimal point - as when I started. I'm starting to worry. My surgeon has specifically said that if, on the day of surgery, I haven't lost any weight, my surgery is cancelled. I could see if I was cheating or not following the diet and not losing weight that I'd have no one to blame if I didn't lose weight but myself. But to be following it EXACTLY (even being more strict than the actual diet states!) and still not losing weight on day 5 is really disheartening. Not to mention I'm worried of getting my surgery cancelled! Anyone have any advice? Did this happen to anyone else? Does it take a delay to start losing weight on the pre-op diet and I'm just not seeing it yet? Is that common? Help!!

The pre-op diet isn't to lose weight, per se. It's to shrink your liver so it will be out of the surgeon's way when they are performing the surgery. Losing weight is just a bonus

The surgeon makes the difference. Some surgeon's go full liquid for 2 weeks, some full liquid for 1 week, some mix liquids and meals, some do optifast, some do a restricted calorie/carb diet (the one I'm on) and some do no pre-op diet at all! It all depends on the surgeon/practice...

Thank you for the reply, Erika! I am not explicitly supposed to exercise with the pre-op diet, but I have been getting on my recumbent bike and doing 30 minutes every other day (as my body tolerates - I find I have been so drained of energy the first few days of the pre-op diet). I did my first Protein shake this morning. My stomach did NOT like it. I'm hoping that it's just a matter of my stomach getting used to it because it will be a REAL long 2 week post op if my stomach can't tolerate Protein shakes. I am going in for a weigh in on Wednesday with the surgeon's PA. If the scale hasn't moved (or even if it has...) I will let them know about my struggles. But I'm hoping that you're right and it's just my body adjusting and the lb's will start coming off soon!

I haven't had my sleeve yet, but I have read a ton of stories of people who have been sleeved here on these forums and one theme I have picked up on is that the first stall can happen between 3-5 weeks out. Which you would be hitting three weeks so it's not outside the realm of possibility to already be hitting your first stall. Good luck!

I just wanted to weigh in on this (heh heh...) I was feeling the same way before the diet. I was thinking, "Oh jeez, how am I going to do this??" Days 1-3 of the pre-op diet were REALLY rough. I was craving carbs like you wouldn't believe. All I wanted was a big bowl of fresh pasta and some friggin' saltines! We had some leftover pizza and cheese sticks in the fridge and I wanted them SO bad that I could barely stand it. I was standing in the kitchen sniffing the cheese sticks!! BUT - I pushed through it (drank water every time I felt the hunger pangs and curled up in bed and watched TV and read books to distract myself). Now I'm on day 5 and I can honestly say that today has been SO much better. My carb cravings are much less frequent, I'm staying fuller between meals longer, and actually finding that I'm having a hard time finishing my meals because I feel full! Point being - I know it seems impossible. And for the first few days, it will REALLY seem impossible as your body screams for those easy carbs we've come to depend on! BUT if you can get through those first few bad days, the rest will NOT be bad!!

DirtyHarriett - I'm glad I'm not the only one not seeing results on the scale (yet, hopefully!). I just feel so frustrated when I am following this diet exactly (and even NOT having some of the more lenient stuff on the diet just to be sure) and still not seeing results. And yes, I'm drinking my minimum of 64 oz each day! I have a big 64 oz gatorade bottle filled with water that I drink throughout the day in addition to the 2 cups of Water I have with each meal. So I'm getting plenty of water (and going to the restroom every hour to prove it!!)... Hoping my last weigh-in (before the actual day of surgery) on Wednesday shows some movement on the scales! Until then I'm going to TRY not to obsess over it...

Hi Beeegs! Firstly, congrats on the approval! Second, I'm only on day 5 of the pre-op diet, so I'm not an "expert" or anything. But definitely some great advice to be found in the "Do and Don'ts" thread that's posted at the top of this board. Any idea when you'd like to schedule your surgery? Mine is scheduled for Nov 21st. I did it on purpose so I wouldn't load up during the holidays. I would greatly recommend doing the surgery before the holidays instead of after!! Good luck and welcome to the board!!

I'm on the pre-op diet and I will definitely admit to being a little testy! Normally I have a lot of patience with my six year old son, but for the past few days it doesn't take much to get me mad! Poor kid, lol. You're definitely not the only one!! Hope it gets better for both of us real soon!

Hi Susan! I completely agree on your take of the foods: the soup is gross, the oatmeal is okay but it's got that real obvious "artificial sweetener" taste which I can't stand. Also, artificial sweeteners give me migraines, so I stay away from them at all cost. So I haven't had any sugar free popsicles, drinks, pop, etc. It's been strictly water and the food. My surgeon is Dr. Kemmeter and I really like him. But I've also heard GREAT things about Dr. Foote so I know you're in good hands, too! My last pre-op check up with the PA is on 11.13 - you will already be sleeved by then! I will definitely keep you in my thoughts this coming week and hope for a speedy and easy recovery for us both! Kelly

Any Michigan Sleevers getting sleeved in November? I'm set to be sleeved Nov 21st at St. Mary's in Grand Rapids by Dr. Kemmeter. Any other GHP patients that can relate the 2 wk diet? I know so many people are on a 2 wk liquid only diet and I know GHP doesn't do that so I wanted to get some tips from people who might be able to relate! I am on day 3 of mine and feel like I have been starving 24/7 but have only dropped a couple of pounds. Am I going to lose enough for surgery? Do they make you lose a certain amount? I know on the paperwork I received it says if I "maintain or gain weight" by surgery day that the surgery will be cancelled...

I'm on day 3 of my two week pre-op diet and it's so tough!! It's not liquid only - but it's super low carb, super high protein. I went to the grocery store to get some things for my husband and son - boy was THAT a mistake. Never have I felt so tempted!! But I've been doing REALLY well and sticking to the diet. I'm only down a few pounds since the first day of the diet. They said that if, on surgery day, you "maintain or gain weight", the surgery is cancelled. So that's been a huge incentive right there! But I will admit to sniffing the cheesebread sticks from pizza hut my husband got. Just a sniff! I'm getting sleeved Nov 21 in Grand Rapids, MI. Anyone else a GHP patient here?

My surgery is scheduled for Nov 21st in Grand Rapids, MI!

Hi everyone! I'm due to have my sleeve on Nov 21. My son has just started to show the first signs of getting sick. Does anyone know if they will delay my surgery if I am sick? I am hoping I will either a.) not get it or b.) get it and be over it by surgery time, BUT if it does turn out that I'm sick with the cold or flu at surgery time, does anyone know if they will still do it? Thanks!

I'm Nov 21, too!

I'm getting sleeved on Nov 21st, provided they don't postpone it for some reason (my biggest worry is about getting sick with a cold or the flu!)

Thank you, scooter girl! I am really hoping that, even if I get something between now and then, I will at least not be too sick for surgery. Between all the juggling at work I had to do to get the time off for the surgery in the first place, and getting the time off paid, I'm really needing this surgery to happen on the 21st!! But, obviously, my safety will come first!

I have an appt on Monday to get my insurance paperwork submitted to Blue Care Network. For all the Grand Health Partners sleevers, about how long "out" were your sleeves scheduled after your insurance approval came through? I am concerned that my insurance will approve around the beginning of October but that when I go to schedule my surgery I'm not going to be able to get in for weeks! I guess what I'm asking is... how long did you have to wait from insurance approval to the day you actually got your sleeve?

So I'm back on track! Still going with Dr. Kemmeter at GHP. I won't be able to actually have my surgery until October because that's the earliest I'll be able to take 2 weeks off of work (we are extremely short staffed and currently working on training someone). So right now it's a "hurry up and wait" situation. But in the mean time I'm saving up every extra penny I can to help take some of the financial burden off of me when I am off work!

I'm glad to hear that you had such a great experience at St. Mary's with Dr. Kemmeter. I'd really love to have mine done at St. Mary's with him as well. Unfortunately, my life has been turned upside down recently. My mother died very suddenly of septic shock on May 22nd (the same day I went to the orientation). I didn't even get the chance to tell her about the surgery (she would have been so happy - she has been concerned about my weight for years. She was so young, too - 56. Anyway, this has understandably thrown a monkey wrench into all of my plans, but I still set up my first appt at GHP for June 18th. I still really want to get this done, but with the time off from work I had to take and helping my dad with the unexpected expenses of my mother's funeral I'm unsure now if I will be able to afford the surgery. But I'm going to go forward with it as far as I can for now!

Hi everyone So I went to the seminar today and got a breakdown of the costs. Then I called my insurance provider (BCBS of Michigan) to ask what "tier" this surgery would fall under (I get my insurance through my provider, which is a hospital, so more of my insurance pays for services done at the hospital where I work, and pays for less for services done at other hospitals). I won't bore you with the details, but BCBS says that the surgery will cost my $400 dedictible and after that co-insurance will kick in. I will be responsible for up to $3000 maximum before BCBS will kick in and pay for the rest. But according to the packet I got at my seminar, it says that the hospital requires the payment of all dedictibles and co-insurances to be paid in full prior to the surgery taking place. And the practice that does the surgery also requires $1000 to be paid 2 wks pre-op that covers all pre-surgery testing (psychological evals, dietician and exercise physiologist appointments) and post-operative visits for one year (2 wks post op, 6 wks post op, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months). Has anyone had to do this before? If so, have you been able to finance that co-insurance/deductible portion through a third party? Does financing that money mess up the insurance at all? Thanks for any and all input in advance!! Kelly

That's exactly what I'm afraid will happen, MMOL! But if they MAKE me do it...I don't see a way around it. Can I call the hospital and tell them I don't want to pay up front? LOL I suppose I could do some research. The hospital I work at is (relatively) small and they don't perform any bariatric surgeries here except lap band (which I DON'T want). And when I went to my PCP he said that he sends ALL of his bariatric patients to this practice because they're so good. I don't know that if I tell them I can't afford their up front costs if he will refer me to some place else. But I'm guessing that most other places will operate similarly, since it would take place at the same hospital... Well here's where I get confused with the deductibles and whatnot. As of now, the only doctors I've ever seen are "Metro" doctors, so they all fall under tier 1 of my insurance. And they've all been simple office visits with a $10 co-pay. This will be my first time going to a "tier 3" doctor that has a different "set" amounts of deductibles, co-insurances, etc. But I don't think I've met my annual deductible yet. I get so confused with insurance. For example. My tier 1 deductible per year is $100. My tier 1 co-insurance maximum per year is $1000. I have only seen tier 1 doctors and paid my tier 1 co-pays of $10 per visit. Question one: Do the office co-pays go toward my deductible? Otherwise I have had some expenses go toward the deductible (chest x-ray cost, etc) My tier 3 deductible is $400/year. My tier 3 co-insurance maximum per year is $3000. If I've paid some expenses toward the tier 1 deductible, does that also lessen my tier 3 deductible or are they separate? So like, say for example that in seeing my tier 1 doctor I paid $150 for something that went toward my tier 1 annual deductible. Does that mean if I go to my tier 3 doctor and get a bill for $500 that I am working with a $400 deductible fresh because it's tier 3, or that I'm working with a $250 remaining deductible ($400 tier 3 deductible minus $150 paid toward my tier 1 deductible). Does that even make sense? I feel like I'm talking in another language, haha.

I'm not sure how many Dr. Kemmeter has done, but I would like someone who has done a lot! Right now, being as I'm right at the beginning of the journey, I'm more worried about the financing and money aspect than the complications of surgery lol. Probably because it seems so far away!