DreamsOfSkinny

And she said the insurance is just trying to find anything to not approve me. The Med. Dir. Called their office for a peer to peer at lunch time and left a message with the answering service. When my ins. Coordinator called back the ins. Said the peer to peer was already done. She was livid when i talked to her today. Coordinator said she scheduled it for Thursday an gave the Dr's cell phone to make sure they are reached this time. I am really not hopeful at this point and it'll probably go to an appeal but the coordinator said theres no reason they shouldn't approve me by their criteria bc I meet it all. So I'm just praying! I do have a a follow up appt with my surgeon this Friday which we were hoping to use as pre op so I guess if it gets approved I'll be ecstatic as I'll have pre op appt done and can schedule!!! Prayersssssss

I just got the call today and am scheduled for January 7th! I have to be there at 11:00am! The bad thing is Ill b on a 2wk diet and I can't drink on new years. But its worth it!!!! 7 weeks to go. And yea its 100% free.

I agree with you about getting out of the 200s. I remeber thinking to myself a long time ago when I was 190 or so how I was sooooo fat. And now i am 270 and would do anything to be 190 again. The day I get out of the 200s I am going to celebrate! :laugh:
Rose

Those are great results. You should average a loss of 10 lbs a month. You're doing great. Everyone losses at their own pace. The slower you lose the better your skin will get back.

You look so happy and amazing!! Congrats on all your hard work!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Good luck, I know how hard it is to get approved!

never trust a fart....

really pleased for you, and especially pleased that you are male, I will explain, when I saw the pic I thought oh dear,the poor lady has got an hairy belly, loops, :-) x

Hello November Sleevsters,
I'm a late OctoSleeever less than one week out and I thought that you guys might want to hear some of the details of what "little things" to expect as surgery day approaches. I remember how I was constantly flipping between excitement and nervousness as my day approached. Fortunately with this site and my doc's office I felt I was fully informed as I could be, but still, there was much "unknown." I'm posting this on two different Nov Sleever threads I have seen so sorry in advance for the repeat.
Obviously bear in mind each doc and facility is different, and each person's circumstances are different, but you all already know that!
First: my personal stats: mid-30's male, borderline diabetic, sleep apnea, hypertension, very high BMI (59 at highest weight)
Pre-op: No specific liquid diet other than days pre-op clear liquid only, NPO after midnight night before surgery. But my doc required 5% weight loss pre-op, and NUT recommended min 2 weeks of high protein/lo-carb diet consisting of 2 protien shakes a day, one 4-6 oz lean Protein meat dinner with some veggies, and "healthy" snacking (greek yogurt, cottage cheese/string cheese, tuna, etc)
Day before surgery: Pre-op hospital check in with administration (ID card, insurance, any pre-payment if needed, etc), and Nurse (review medical history, meds, allergies, planned post-op care, weigh-in).
Day of surgery: Check-in pre-op 2 hours before surgery, led back to a curtained bay where I was instructed to "take it all off" and put on hospital gown, compression stockings, and non-skid socks. Instructed to use the bathroom to empty bladder, met briefly with surgeon and anesthesiologist, nurse took vitals, started IV, administered a heparin shot in my belly, and placed a scopolamine patch (for nausea) behind my ear and administered an anti-nausea med Iv as well (either phenergan or reglan I think), and also an oral zantac for acid reduction. I waited in the bay on the gurney watching TV for about an hour as all this was going on, and then they came to wheel me back to the OR. I slid over to the OR table and they put some warm blankets on me. The anesthsiologist gave me some "happy juice" through the IV and I really think I was out in less than 10 seconds.
When I woke up in recovery all I felt was extreme pain all across my abdomen and rising up to my ribcage. I'm pretty sure I heard someone say "Dilaudid." The next thing I really remember I was already in my room. It was about 4 hours after my surgery start time. A nurse was standing over me and I felt I could barely talk because of extreme dry mouth and dry/sore throat, but I was extremely nauseous and in pain. They gave me Dilaudid for the pain, Phenergan and Zofran for the nausea, and some glycerine swabsticks for my lips and mouth. For the next three hours I was in and out of sleep, waking up only by the gas pressure/bloating. That was really the worst part, the extreme sense of fullness/pressure in my abdomen.
The surgeon visited with me that afternoon and told me it went well, that he also removed my gallbladder because it showed a lot of scarring (I already had known gallstones and this was a possibility going in), and told me he did not visualize any hiatal hernia or ulcers. I had four little wounds for the ports, the largest of which was at my belly button and barely visible. No sutures or staples, as all were closed with Dermabond (surgical glue).
Finally around 5 pm (surgery was 9 am) I got up to walk around the nursing unit with a nurse's aide, used the restroom (they measured all urine output - my first was 600 cc which they said was good enough. I did that two more times that night, about 8 laps total. I was told that walking was the best way to relieve the gas pressure. They wouldn;t allow Gas-X strips that first day.
The next morning they gave me a tray of clear liquid to try after the PA came around to visit me. broth, Water, tea, and crystal lite with Juven mixed in. I really couldn't tolerate even two sips due to the ridiculous pressure I felt it placed in my stomach. I felt SOOOOO Full. I did many walks that day and they tried several different anit-nausea meds. I didn;t really ask for any pain meds because it was not that kind of pain, just extreme fullness. Finally after my doc saw me they gave me Decadron by IV, and within a couple of hours I was starting to feel better. But by that time it was late evening and they had decided to keep me an extra night because I couldn;t tolerate the liquids. The next AM I was able to tolerate about 4 oz of fluids and they allowed me to be discharged. FYI no "leak test" performed -- I know docs vary on this nationwide.
Meds at discharge, in addition to the multivit, Calcium, and Iron, was liquid Lortab for pain. I've only used it once. It makes me groggy and really doesn;t help the bloating/gas pain, which is the only pain I really had. I declined any nausea med.
Things I brought to hospital and used: Toothbrush/paste (which also made me dry heave after gargling the first 2-3 times), Gas-X strips, iPhone, deodorant, change of underwear/socks.
Things I brought but didn't use: cell charger, biotene rinse, cepacol throat spray, house slippers, headphones, a book, robe.
Post-op course so far: No complications, just getting fluids in is the hardest thing. Combined with the diarrhea (sorry), risk of dehydration is greater. Doc recommended at least 64 oz Fluid and 60-70 grams protein. First day home (post-op day two), I only got in about 6 oz (plus the leftover IV in the hospital), next day 14 oz, next day 28 oz, and yesterday 36 oz. I have to force myself to keep sipping and keep walking, but every day is getting a little better. I have no hunger whatsoever. I drove post-op day 4 for the first time (since I wasn;t taking pain meds), just to the pharmacy and back to get a liquid calcium since the chewable I had was making me nauseous. Showering was fine as soon as I got home, just told no soaking in a tub and pat the wounds dry. No creams or lotions on the wounds for at least a week.
Fist post-op visit is next week, but had post-op phone call with the nurse already. Full liquids only until post-op check. I'm off work for two weeks.
Hope that helps some. Sorry it was so long. Good luck to all of you!!!!

11-8 in baton rouge la

November 5, in Baton Rouge,LA excited and nervous .......

Mentioning the best rate, My doctor only charged me around 9,500, because he knew I was self pay

I'm seeing a lot more Ariel Ortiz patients here lately!

OMG! Can we trade bodies?? I want to look like that at 200-215 lbs! You look GREAT! I would have guessed you were much lighter. You wear it so well.

Well I just found this group--which is fabulous!!-- and wanted to ask for prayers for God's will. Yes, although I have what I think I want, I'd rather ask for His perfect will for this journey. I've gone through what I need to to submit my first try into the insurance company. I am hoping that they don't require a 6 month diet or if they do they will take my previous documented 2, 3 month diets. I really want/need to have my surgery before the end of the year as I am already off of work for another surgery.
Prayers please for Oct. 31st when I have hand surgery. I hope it helps me.

Whoooooo Hoooooooo!!!!!!!
Tomorrow marks 5 months for me. I'm officially in Onderland in under 5 months!!!!

Hello all I'm from Oakland and will be having surgery with Dr. Baggs at Kaiser Richmond. i am already at goal weight, have my psych eval next week and just took my pre-op blood work. I'm guessing ill have a surgery date in the next week or so!

My confession is I look for photos to watch amazing progress to reinforce my decision to have surgery even though for my health I know its the best thing. Also, ladies & gentlemen, you all look fabulous. Thanks for the encouragement from your photos.

I love this topic! Thank you ouroborous for bringing this up! Not to get too graphic here, but one thing I have really enjoyed during sex is being able to watch what is going on down there! I have lost 131 lbs in my journey and in fact just hit my goal (yea me!) while my wife has lost 30 lbs and is at her ideal weight range. It is amazing being able to see what I missed for so many years. It is such a turn on to see my wife "work her magic" as well as watch "the action" of the "motion" down there! (That's as non graphic as I can get.) And yes, it's true...IT GETS BIGGER!!! Woooohoooo!!! I've read about the hormones in both men and women get released into our system that were previously stored in our fat cells. I believe this! Sex is better than ever!

I am a Christian and my faith influences every aspect of my life! I could not have gone through this process without believing God was withe in it as well as believing that he is helping me find freedom from over eating!

Good for you and i like that you've put God first Because with out him none of this would be possible keep up the good work sounds like your doing awesome!

Here's my currents:
   
And my Befores:

Highes Ever / Around 300 Lbs / and just Pre Sleeve

  

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