caroless

sugar: prilosec is part of the post op procedure for every WLS done at duke. one whole year of taking it daily. as far as actually eating, it is hit and miss. sometimes i get 1-2 oz i and am stuffed. sometimes i can do 4. it is weird.

things went well with the surgery (9/10). i was in and out quickly. they did find that my liver was way larger than normal, so they took a biopsy. came back and i have early fibrosis/non alcoholic steatohepatitis (fatty liver disease) that could lead to cirrhosis if i dont get/keep the weight off. in the hospital overnight, couldn't sleep. was on an 8 minute dilaudid pain pump, which i thank heaven for. just don't let them take out your IV/pain pump til they are actually ready to walk you out the door, especially if you have a long way to get home. i had mine out too long and got very agitated because the dr took 2.5h to write my discharge orders... i felt horrible and then started running a fever and my blood pressure and heart rate (things i don't have issues with) skyrocketed. the nurse had a horrified look on her face when she took them right before i left. on the ride home, every bump was horrible. i just wanted my own bed. and it felt like years before my husband got home from the pharmacy with my pain meds. other than that just poking and prodding. went home the next day, pain for about a day and a half, only gave my oxycodone. phenergan did not touch the nausea, so they called in some zofran. if you have nausea, DEMAND the zofran. much more effective. turned out to have been pain mainly from the nausea from pain meds. i was fine w just zofran the 2 or 3 days after that, then i felt just fine. within the week, i actually felt GOOD. weird. i did have one night where i laid in bed and felt like there was electricity going through my body. i couldn't sleep and was just restless. it was horrible. i think it was related to an anti nausea patch they gave me to put behind my ear? not sure, but i stopped using it and it hasn't happened since. so far, down 25 lbs and 25 inches. mostly in my arms, legs, and face. coming off slowly on the abdomen, which is where i carry everything. was initially scheduled for 3 weeks off work. i feel good. was cleared for soft food, sex, and exercise today, THANK GOD. walking wasn't cutting it. i did get approved for another 2 weeks off of work though. i want to be less exhausted from healing. my sleeve doesn't hurt. it cramps a little in the am when i am empty and haven't taken my prilosec, but other than that, no pain. no nausea otherwise. i think i am eating too quickly bc i am overly full when i am done. take the time to listen to your body. eat super small bites VERY SLOWLY and you'll avoid getting too full, which feels gross and can make you cough out the extra. it's really not fun. matrix mint cookie protein and i are bffs. the best flavor! and not too thick. so glad i did it! best decision i have ever made! questions? lol

it'll just make it worse then.

either way, it's high in calories and stalls weight loss.

if you want to lose the max amount of weight in the least amount of time, heck no.

*not losing. I would love to have a drink but I figure I have the rest of my healthy life to enjoy a cocktail, whereas post op weight loss doesn't last forever.

Is it worth not listing weight for an indefinite period of time? I know I want to but I also know it'll halt weight loss completely for weeks....

i would contact someone at the insurance company again to find out that info... that person sounded like they were having a straight bitchy day. mine told me where to find the entire 20 page list of technical coverage information on their website, so surely they can tell you whether it is covered and what is required. there is no reason they should tell you to ask your dr to ask if it is covered. that is nonsense, and you aren't paying them to give you smoke and mirrors.

I have BCBS of NY and I had the 6 month requirement but had already been on phentermine for 3 out of 6 months prior but they took it with just a letter from my Gyn who had prescribed it. I had my first consult 6/29 and I am a week away! It was submitted and I got approval about a week later. But I do know they need to have all psych/nut/blood/xray/barium swallow/EKG and whatever is required by the surgeon and by the insurance company done and an actual surgery date set before they can submit it. Good luck! Don't stress!

trader joe's has TONS of premade sauces from all parts of the world. their tikka masala (indian) sauce is great. they have a green coconut curry that is good also. you can just dip your chicken or whatev if you are worried about the digestive reaction, though typically the chicken is actually simmered in the sauce til cooked to absorb the flavor.

it's the rice. have some sashimi! bonefish grill has great tuna sashimi with no rice. i'm not sure about the sesame seeds though?

it seems like it is just trying to get you some lower calories with a good mix of proteins carbs and nutrients... likely a normal lower cal balanced diet to keep you from the "last supper" mentality

the endoscopy and colonscopy are necessary from the dr depending on your med history. they arent for insurance. but the dr needs to make sure you dont have polyps or a hiatial hernia or anything before he will agree to do the surgery. it's his requirement to make sure you are good to go before he will set a date. from here, a date must be set before any preapproval can be made by the insurance. they won't even look at it without a surgery date.

i'd also call the insurance board in your state. make a report.

will they do the sleeve at the same time as band removal? it'd be less risky to go under less times... ? maybe? lol

regardless of what they may think, you ARE doing this ON YOUR OWN. just because a surgical procedure happens does not mean you are not putting in hard work or struggling. i have crazy judgemental family too. they would be more trouble than it is worth. let them see the progress with their own eyes. you are working for it either way! screw em!

share the techniques! lol

i'm sure there are plenty of dummies who see this as an easy way out and skew the success rates for the rest of us.

i'm still preop but i've always been told NEVER TRUST A FART! lol

fantastic! thanks for the info! and we are surgery twins! good luck!

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/49805-study-results-about-bandsleevebypass/ this is a good study I saw on another post. I have a very supportive family, thought my mom is pretty apprehensive simply because her baby its having a surgery that is somewhat elective.... My extended family though... I have very judgmental grandparents and such that I don't feel would support me. I'm letting them think I am doing it on my own because, you know what? I still AM. I can remember being a child at their house for dinner and then telling me and my siblings to count how many times we chewed. That's effed up. I was a skinny kids and put on the weight in about fourth grade at puberty, likely with pcos contributing. It's a tool. But you are likely saving your life. And doing it now target than when crippled from arthritis or slowly dying from diabetes or hbp... You have a far better recovery time and body than you would if you waited. You were supporting you. That's all you really need in the end. Also, it's just like a bad experience at a restaurant. Human nature makes people more prone to talk about a horrible experience than a great one. For every one bad thing that happens, there are probably hundreds our even thousands of good. Take stories with a grain of salt.

muscle takes up less space than fat, and it weighs the same!

i'm 9/10. good luck!

but again, if and when you can get the protein in, even better.

every surgeon is different and not every one puts protein on the liquid part. the focus is on healing for those weeks, and if you can do liquid, fine. but stay hydrated. most people will not get to their goal amount of protein until a few months out at least. all in all i think the OP is referring to handling the taste/texture of protein shakes at any time.