Joisey01

Hi Noreen! I've been looking for you around here. I figured you must be traveling.

I can't just shake up the Protein shakes. I LOVE them done in the blender! I've learned to add sugar free stuff to bump up the flavor.

I have to be there at 08:30 with my surgery at 10:15. When is yours?

It really isn't that bad. I am glad that they do the test. I wouldn't want to have a sleeve if the important part of eating isn't up to snuff!

I'm not sure if everyone is required to have an EGD. Every doctor and insurance company is different. You can ask your surgeon if you need to have it.

An EGD is when the doctor goes in with a camera in your mouth, down your esophagus, stomach and part of the small intestine.

It is to check that everything is looking good and in good working order prior to having the sleeve done. It's a pretty important test considering a good portion of your stomach will be removed.

They put you out completely. The last think you remember is the anesthesiologist putting a ring in your mouth. After that, you wake up in recovery. A procedure that takes literally less than 10 minutes. The anesthesia takes all day to get out of your system, though.

My out of pocket expense is set by my insurance company at $3,000. I had a car accident in January. I met all but $817 of that. At my final appointment with my surgeon, I had to pay them that $817. Today I had my EGD at the hospital and had to pay nothing. When I get sleeved next Thursday, I will pay nothing.

$4,000 is not an abnormal amount to pay out of pocket in our area. It all depends on what your insurance limits are.

I have learned over time that bariatric surgery is not cheap. My insurance company has deemed the surgery medically necessary for me. I don't consider that to be elective in the least. If I don't have this surgery, I will die. Is that what you consider to be elective?

It's always about dollars and cents. I hope this helps you out even a little. I hope you can work this out and you have complete success!!

I had my EGD this morning. The final step before being sleeved next Thursday.

All went extremely well this morning. No problems at all. Cleared for surgery.

Not sure what juice they used on me today, but it was pretty potent. I came home and slept it off for 5 hours. Still feeling sluggish, but doing very well.

Six days to go. The liquid diet has allowed me to drop a total of 15 pounds. Another 15 would be wonderful, but I'd be ok with another 10.

Let's get this party started!

Good luck, Limalover! Just remember that if you do have sleep apnea, the chances are great that you will 'outgrow' it with the sleeve!

Good luck!

My sleep study was required by my insurance company. I passed with flying colors! One less thing. I have enough co-morbidities already!

WOOT WOOT!!!! I don't have sleep apnea either! I was surprised!

LOL BrickHouse! I've had one before. It's not bad at all. Now if you added colonoscopy to it, then I'd head right to the shrink.

Thanks, Bella! Good luck with the Optifast! Keep me posted on your progress! Good luck to you!

YAY!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is my EGD. Very excited.

Sleeved on the 20th.

6 days of liquids left pre-op.

I am so ready for this.

I agree the children's menus are not healthy. Fried chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs. I just thought that it was a nice idea as an option. I know it depends on the restaurant as to what is on their kid's menu. Those aren't my favorite foods anyway.

I'd rather have a meal and a take out container with leftovers for a few days. appetizers is a good idea.

That's awesome! I had no idea!

I have never heard this until the other day. A friend of mine said that after you have any kind of bariatric surgery, the surgeon gives you an ID type of card to say that you had the surgery. If you present the card at a restaurant, they are supposed to allow you to order off the children's menu.

Has anyone else heard of this?

I'm in the middle of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. Day 7. I've lost 12 pounds so far. I have my surgery on the 20th.

I'm sure I could lose more weight if I were exercising as well. But with being restricted to 800 calories, if I exercise, I will be hungrier.

I'm allowed popsicles, sugar free drinks that are not carbonated and caffeine free, Jello and my Protein shakes. Today has been a problem for me for some reason. I've been hungrier than I have been in the last 7 days. I have just eaten more Jello and had a couple of popsicles and am just drinking as much as I can possibly handle.

You're not going to fail as long as you don't cheat. Some weight loss is better than none. My doctor did not put an amount on the weight loss he wants me to lose. Just follow the liquid diet. One drink at a time. One spoon of Jello at a time. You can do this. You've got 5 days left and on day 6 you have surgery!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!

Go get yourself a drink of your choice and think about how your life will be so much better after the sleeve!

You CAN do this! (so can I!!)

Good luck and hang in there!

Is there a certain brand that you would recommend ? are they all pretty much the same ?

I use Schiff brand Digestive Advantage Intense Bowel Support. I also use Fiber capsules in addition. I have found that the combination of both help keep my flare-ups to a minimum. It's been a long time since I've had problems, but then I haven't missed a day, either.

I have IBS too but have noticed w weight loss I have not had a severe episode requiring meds. I have not been sleeved yet but was wondering if u had any improvements since the sleeve?

I haven't been sleeved as of yet. I go next Thursday. I am hoping that by changing my entire way of eating will help with the IBS. My intestinal tract has been my Achilles heal my whole life. All of my stress is connected to my intestines!

I am on day 7 of a 2 week liquid diet. I have not cheated but i will tell you that I do not understand what is up with today. I'm hungrier today than I have been in the last week. It's only 2:00 in the afternoon and I've already had 3 shakes, a ton of Jello and 3 popsicles. I just finished my 3rd shake and man.....I am so hungry.

I won't cheat. I've come too far to even think about it. I've lost 12 lbs already......Keep on keeping on!!! One week to go.

I have irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics is a large part of my daily regimen. I swear by them. I talked to my surgeon and he is very on board with it. I am on a regimen of Fiber as well. It is important for me to be diligent in order for me to be 'regular' and minimize my IBS flare-ups.

I'm on day 12 and nothing but liquid so far. Also, NEVER trust a fart.

Those "sharts" can ruin a good day, for sure!

My surgeon offers two companies. One is www.carecredit.com. The other is www.unitedmedical credit.com.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure of the interest rates.

My very conservative surgeon says 2 weeks.

I want to:

be off all of my medications

fit in an airplane seat without infringing upon my neighbor's space

walk to my heart's content

not sweat to death after picking up something off the floor

to have my husband be able to put his arms all the way around me.

It's the simple things in life.

I had a nightmare about this very thing. The only one who couldn't lose. I was ridiculed just as I was in Junior High. Thank you for putting this out there. You just made me feel a lot better that I'm not the only one thinking this won't work for me.