docbree

Good afternoon. I am submitting a suggestion for a subforum. I would love to see a category for sales, discount codes and clearance discounts for bariatric related products. I am very frugal and I bet I am not the only one who would love to know when a discount or sale is available on items we may need pre and post op (ie: Vitamins, supplements, Protein powders, etc). The supplements and other items related to bariatric surgery can get expensive quickly and sharing information to save some money would benefit many forum participants. Thanks for your time and consideration!

I will be following because I would like to know what you find out. I am so sorry that you have RA. My mom has severe RA and it is terrible! BTW, my surgeon told me that NSAIDs are okay with the sleeve too. I specifically asked because I wouldn't want to live without my daily Celebrex. I hope you get answers quickly and are able to proceed.

Hello all. Opened up my mail just now. I'm approved.

@@VSGAnn2014 and @@lose4life - thank you for your replies. The NSAID question is one I've had several conversations with my surgeon about. In my particular case, he is allowing them. I know everyone's situation and surgeon are different. The reason I said I'm getting the VSG is that it can possibly make esophagitis worse, but I'm not a candidate for bypass.
My biggest concern right now is the polyps. I'm over my shock now and am confident they will come back benign .

Thanks @@JustWatchMe - I really appreciate it! I can't have lap band because not recommended with autoimmune disease (and definitely no NSAIDs).

If you have insurance, and your insurance won't cover bariatric surgery. Dr David Kim is doing a special for $4900. You have to go get checked for a Hiatal hernia which most all overweight people have. Then your General insurance pays for the test for that and the repair of it during WLS, and the bariatric cash price is 4900! Great deal!

@@docbree don't give up. I don't remember why you ruled out LapBand but unfortunately no NSAIDs with those either. LapBand with plication has been successful for some folks here. Your polyps will be benign: good thoughts. Keep pushing for a solution. You are a tough lady!

Same here. No NSAIDS post-op with VSG. Says my doc and everything I've ever read about it.
I hate to add to your disappointments though.

My reply would have been something along the lines of..."He's kind of struggling now, he is a chubby chaser!"
In all seriousness, where do people come up with this stuff? "Your husband must love it!" Like you were unloveable, unattractive, unworthy of attention...Ugh!

You aren't going to want the sleeve. No NSAIDs after the sleeve. I hope all biopsies come back decent.

I'm worried. Had my endoscopy this morning. My surgeon discovered small gastric polyps. She put me on omeprazole. I have no symptoms of acid reflux. Has any one had this and still gotten sleeved. Hellpppppp

Please don't worry! My EGD was on 8/13/14 and I also had no symptoms and didn't expect the EGD to be any more than another line on a checklist. They found an ulcer, gastritis and many, many polyps. I was undecided between RNY bypass or the gastric sleeve. My surgeon told me after the EGD RNY was no longer an option for me due to the polyps and I was going to have to have the sleeve done instead. He said the sleeve would actually resolve the polyp issue because it would remove all of them. I suggest double checking with your surgeons office just to make sure his medical opinion is the same. Good luck and let me know what happens. Hang in there and keep working your way through the pre-surgical process. You will be joining the Loser's Bench before you know it!

@@docbree, you're one smart cookie! Good luck and let us know how things go for you!

Bree, I'm nowhere near smart enough to offer any opinions, but I wanted to wish you the best. Hopefully your docs will have some good advice for you, and you'll be able to proceed!

An endoscopy (EGD) is done under conscious sedation / moderate sedation / twilight sleep; all interchangeable terms. You are given Versed through an IV, which acts as a sedative and causes intentional memory loss.
I've started noticing that many surgeons are omitting EGDs as a pre-op measure and I don't think that's a great idea. An EGD is really the only way they can get a good look at your anatomy and diagnose / treat problems. Many people do have "silent reflux" which can cause Barrett's Esophagus (precancerous lesions). They also take a biopsy to check for H.Pylori, which would require 2 weeks of treatment on 2 different antibiotics. Serious GERD issues makes you a poor candidate for a sleeve, so an EGD also helps determine the appropriate surgery for a patient. Sleeve vs. Gastric Bypass.
EGDs are also done to assess general stomach and esophageal anatomy; checks for hernias; checks for and can remove polyps; checks for ulcers; and checks the health of the gallbladder. If you have a hernia or gall disease, the surgeon will fix the hernia and remove the gallbladdder during sleeve surgery; they should at least.
When you think about all that is accomplished by an EGD, it makes you kind of wonder why a surgeon would choose to omit it as a pre-op requirement. Makes you wonder.......

Thanks guys! I swear, I don't know what I would do without this site.
I am going to support groups again. I made an appt with the psych that approved me for surgery. I ordered more books on bingeing. I'm facing this head on...even though it sucks.
I bought Crystal Light again too. Distraction via liquid and this new 5 calorie gum that tastes like chewing Listerine are new strategies too. After this gum, nothing will taste good. It's a body slam to the taste buds.

@@Kindle, very well said. To the OP, this issue is one of the reasons it was hard for me to make up my mind about surgery. I know I have an eating disorder 30 years in the making, and once I acknowledged that and took steps to get help, I began wavering & wondering if I could 'fix' my disorder, then I wouldn't need surgery. The mind is really what needs more fixing than the belly. So, I'm doing both. Getting help and having surgery. Good luck to you.

No WLS will fix eating disorders. To think it would just "go away" wasn't very realistic. Did you discuss these things in your preop psych eval? If you have been totally honest with your doc and nut I'm surprised they haven't addressed this issue earlier. They should have advised you that Surgery is easy, the mental aspect of post-surgery life is the hard part. And yes, it's something we have to deal with for the rest of our lives. No different than an alcoholic or drug addict.
I regained my appetite and hunger after about 4 months. I've had to deal with cravings and find things to distract me from food. I've established new ways of dealing with stress, boredom and other emotions besides turning to food and alcohol. Cynthia Alexander's book, "The Emotional First Aid Kit- a Practical Guide to Life after Bariatric Surgery" was very helpful for me. I researched the hell out of this whole process before having surgery, so I knew what to expect. Since I had surgery in Mexico, I've dealt with all the " head stuff" on my own, but you should take advantage of any resources you can.....therapy, counseling, support groups, etc.

I had said this in another thread, but I was sleeved August 22, and felt the same way you do. I even thought "Did the doctor even DO the surgery? I'm not feeling full" Once I started on purees, the full feeling came with a vengance! I ate one to many spoonfuls if refried Beans and was miserable for about 20 minutes! Liquids are liquids and they will go right through your little tummy. Be patient, and the full feeling will come once your tummy starts healing and you move onto more solid food

Another one. This is fun!

I just bought this LBD to wear out to dinner for our 1st wedding anniversary tomorrow. This time last year, I was 218 pounds and wore a size 18W. My LBD is a 10! Best gift I ever gave myself and my husband!

Here's mine I was sleeved oct 21st 2013. My surgery weight was 231 and my current weight is 135.

Thanks guys.....it's just frustrating. I'll keep my eye on the prize and heck.....I've lost 20 lbs since starting the process in June so I shouldn't complain at all. I think I'll stay off the scale the rest of this week and see what happens. As they say, a watched pot never boils......lol!

@@cchapman6
i also hate to cook
chili is easy for me to make too
I use hamburger - I don't like the different taste with turkey (even though its better to use )
tomato sauce, kidney Beans, l pkg of mc cormack powdered chili mix
i also let chicken cook all day in crock pot with veggies
bake fresh salmon in the oven - yummy and easy (for me)
all above contain a lot of Protein
happy cooking
btw - when should i come over for dinner?
i'll bring my own small plate and Water
28 lbs lost!!!!
keep up the good work!!!
kathy
congrats

The "nutrition test" is a test that the bariatric team makes us take 2 weeks after our nutrition class to make sure that we understand what and how we can eat before and after our surgery. It's 50 questions and we have to score at least a 90 in order to be scheduled for surgery.