Chele H

I ate half of a new choc chip cookie dough for Breakfast this morning. No stomach issues but it just didn't taste as good.

I made a point of using the word "healthy" rather than "normal" during my WLS journey.

@ladylkyba......exactly, what is normal?

@soxgirl....is your surgery scheduled? You will be on your way to "healthy" afterwards and your only tears will be tears of joy and amazement at your new self!

Ok....don't know what happened in response.....I only typed it one time!

Yes they do....often they are discontinued samples. A large chain like David's Bridals should have a decent selection.

Yes they do....often they are discontinued samples. A large chain like David's Bridals should have a decent selection.

Yes they do....often they are discontinued samples. A large chain like David's Bridals should have a decent selection.

Yes they do....often they are discontinued samples. A large chain like David's Bridals should have a decent selection.

Yes they do....often they are discontinued samples. A large chain like David's Bridals should have a decent selection.

I couldn't find one that wasn't disgusting. I used Flinstones Complete and took double the dosage for the first month post op. After that I started with regular Multi Vitamins.< /p>

Call your insurance company and tell them that you use CVS Minute Clinic and do not have a primary and ask what they suggest. Bummer that your OB/GYN won't write a letter for you. Maybe your surgeon can refer you to someone who will write a letter for you.

Good luck!

You must get this answer directly from your insurance carrier as it pertains to your particular policy. Please do not rely on anyone else's experience. I barely squeaked by with a BMI of 40 and my surgeon told me not to lose a single pound. All of your visits are documented and submitted to the insurance company and I was advised to NOT "give them any loophole to deny you"

Call your insurance company and ask for specifics in writing.

You should get the requirements for your particular plan with Aetna in writing and work with your surgeon's insurance coordinator to get through the process. The insurance coodlrdinator should know exactly what to do.

I'm at a conference right now and when I get home in a week I will look into this more but my surgeons office called and told me they just want me to go through their 3 month pre op program (monthly weigh ins, psych, nut, meet with surgeon, support groups etc) that they make everyone do and then just submit to insurance and see what they say! Surely they have to say why they are denying me at that point, right? Lol

Absolutley DO NOT do this....you could be wasting your time and money.

Ok...let me try this again. I am 4'10"...started at 200lbs. Now 125lbs.

I amIIII am 4'10"

I would call again and ask for WLS requirements in writing to be faxed, emailed or mailed via USPS. If this request is denied, ask for a manager. If your health insurance is through your employer you might be able to get your HR dept. to help.

You or your employer basically have a contract with the insurer and you are entitled to see and know what your benefits, exclusions, requirements, etc. are. Someone, somewhere has a copy of this contract. When I call my insurance company with questions, they actually access my policy on the computer screen in front of them and read me the answers to my questions.

Call again, don't give until you have answers. Good luck.

Are you working with a surgeon right now? Does he/she offer an informational seminar or support group? Can you take your family members with you to a seminar or support group? Or take them with you to an appoinmtment with your surgeon?

Maybe if they see other people who have had surgery, listen to the struggles, etc. Maybe if they can ask questions to ease thier minds about your safety it would help.

If none of that works my advice to you is to get the surgery anyway if it is something you want for you. It may be difficult without your family's support but you have to take care of your health.

If I am reading the original post correctly....the OP is looking for "medical clearance" not a referral. Totally different. Medical clearance is your primary physician telling your bariatric surgeon that surgery will be safe. I had to have blood work, chest x-ray and EKG. Has nothing to do with a letter recommending WLS.

OP.....do you see any other doctor that can order these tests? Gyno? Endocrinologist? Maybe your bariatric surgeon can recommend a doctor who can help you. Your primary doesnt have to agree with your decision to have surgery, he/she just has to agree that your are health/stable enough to undergo the procedure.

Hope this helps!

Go to Amazon.com, search sugar free Gummy bears and read the reviews.....HYSTERICAL!!!! Don't eat too many.

You can try mixing it in creamed soups....cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, etc.....strained of course.

Do you heat yours in the microwave? Do you add the Protein before or after heating it up?

You have to careful with Protein powder and hot beverages, it can clump. Heat your Soup first,let it cool a little bit then mix in the powder. I only did this once or twice. I drank Protein drinks for what I needed. I was never really able to get past the taste of the Protein Powder. Unflavored does not mean tasteless.

You can try mixing it in creamed soups....cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, etc.....strained of course.

Are you taking an acid blocker? How about something for nausea? If not, call your surgeon and ask for them.

Have you tried sugar free ice pops? They helped me get my fluids in. Have you tried drinking other things besides Water? Different temperature Water? Bottled water? Decaf tea? Vitamin Water Zero or G2?

I could not get plain water down for months. I mixed Apple juice with water. It had sugar from the juice but I got my fluids in.

You may be dehydrated by now if you are not drinking. Please call your surgeon for advice to get your fluids in. If you have headaches, fatigue, dizziness, dark urine go to the ER for IV fluids. Dehydration is no joke.

Good luck....baby steps.

Sorry....VSG post op diet......damn auto correct!

Did your doctor or nutritionist not give you a meal plan to follow? You should be measuring everything and not relying on feeling full...which you may not feel due the healing process. The nerves in your stomach were cut and are still healing. Also, you may not feel full until you eat dense protien. My surgeon discourages eating until you are full, he feels if you are full you ate too much.

Sorry, I can't remember the amounts but I think I was eating 1/2 cup at meals for quite a while. Puree your food and measure out 1/2...eat no more than that rather than waiting for the full feeling.

Call your surgeon or nutritionist for more guidance or Google BAG post op diet if you can't call your surgeon.

The pain between the shoulders could be gas, walking is good. Hopefully the doctor can prescribe you something for the nausea. My daughter had surgery recently and she was nauseous from the anesthesia and Zofran helped her.

Hope you feel better

Hiatal hernia ......which you may have anyway.

Do you have a food plan and/or list from your surgeon? I had a specific list and meal plan spelled out for each week post op and if something wasn't on that list I did not eat it......for optimum weight loss, healing and safety reasons.

If you are not sure....call your surgeon or nutritionist.

I tried Isopure Unflavored and banana Orange pineapple...both were terrible to me.

Gold Standard brand is OK, my son likes it, but the only thing I can drink every day is Premier Ready to Drink.

FYI....if you from GNC or Vitamin Shop you can return things you do not like even if the are open. You may have to try several brands and flavors until you find something you like.

Where do you get Quest bars?

GNC, Vitamin Shop, Quest.com, Amazon