Khloé

Has anyone tried it? Thoughts? Sounds interesting, like the Unjury chicken soup protein powder.

Today was the last step in the pre-op process required by my insurance. I had my psych eval, and am pretty sure I passed it because the psychologist told me, "I don't want this to sound offensive, but I don't want to see you in here again unless you come back to show me how smoking hot you are!" Sounds promising but I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch. She said she was sending the paperwork over to my surgeon's office by Monday at the latest. Then, the insurance lady at the surgeon's office will submit it to Anthem BCBS for approval. I am crossing my fingers and toes and praying like crazy that they approve me the first time within a couple of days! I have hypertension, sleep apnea, GERD, and a pretty high BMI, so I don't see why they wouldn't. Then again, I don't understand why insurance does a lot of things they do, so I'm kind of :\ about it all. I'm just glad to have the pre-op process over. It wasn't a lot by any means, just a NUT visit, psych eval, and clearance from my doctor. I started this process last Friday when my first surgeon consult was and finished in less than a week. I'm hoping the insurance people decide to work just as swiftly. If not, I may call and badger them about it daily. And, as much as I want this surgery and am excited about it, I am also afraid. AFRAID. Like, what if I'm that less than 1% in 3000 that can develop a leak or blood clots? Terrifying. The clots scare me more than the idea of a leak. I'm trying to remain optimistic about it, though. So many mixed feelings! Quiet brain before I stab you with a Q-Tip. ... lol...

So, maybe my anxiety is getting the best of me, but there is this nagging thought in the back of my mind that keeps freaking me out into thinking that my sleeve will be broken and that it won't help me lose weight at all, that the surgery will be in vain, that it'll be just like all the other times I've tried to lose weight and failed. I know how ridiculous that is. I know the science behind it all. I just can't help but fret a little over it. Please tell me that I'm not alone.

I'm in search of a good chewable Multi-Vitamin that doesn't have iodine in it. Anytime I take Vitamins with iodine, I itch like crazy. Nightmare! Recommendations? Thanks in advance.

I'm still in the pre-op phase. Tomorrow is the last step before my case is submitted to the insurance (and I just started this process last Friday!) Yesterday I met with a nutritionist and was given a reference guide of dietary directions after I'm sleeved. I noticed that Gatorade and Powerade aren't on the list, but that it says "sugar-free non-carbonated drinks" are allowed. That means that G2 and no sugar Powerade 0 should be ok, right? I have a big fear of dehydration and want to prevent it at all costs. I'm told a little Gatorade helps with that. Thoughts?

I'm keeping it as a last resort and don't plan to use it, just getting ideas. Lol... I have a 2 year old son and he never ate pre-packaged baby food, only fresh that we made.

Has anyone here actually eaten baby food during the pureed stage? Not the meats or veggies - bleh. Just the fruits, like bananas and whatnot.

My doctor also explained the soda thing to me the same way: carbonation expands way beyond the liquid and will ruin your sleeve if you continue to drink carbonated beverages.

I have Anthem BCBS of California but live in Texas. All insurance required was a nutrition visit, psych eval, and pcp clearance. That'll be done this week and then my surgeons office sends all to the insurance company. I'm hoping for an early March date! Hopefully that isn't too optimistic.

I went to my first surgical consultation last Friday, Feb 1st. As of this Thursday (less than a week after beginning the process) I will have completed all my insurance requirements. I'm curious to see how long it took for insurance approval for you all. I'm excited about keeping the bariatric ball rolling.

Has anyone here ever lost 200+ lbs with the sleeve?

I'm going through that too, except mine changes from minute to minute. Five minutes from now I'll be excited, but right now I'm freaking out over the idea of blood clots. Terrifying. I keep reassuring myself, though. Walk, walk, walk, and sip, sip, sip.

I found out at my consultation appt that all I have to do is have clearance and approval from my pcp, have one appt w/ a NUT, and a psych eval. Bless the Lord, oh my soul! My consultation was this past Friday (Feb 1st.) Today I called and setup an appointment for Monday (Feb 4th) w/ my pcp for his clearance. He requires an EKG, chest x-ray, and labs. Tuesday (Feb 5th) I have my NUT appt. All that is left is my psych eval. I'm just awaiting for the lady to return my call so I can officially setup an appointment with her and then get all this info sent to my surgeon's office. Excited! And scared. So scared. But so excited. Happy and scared. I feel semi-bipolar about it all. Heh...

Yesterday at my 3 week appt, I found out that I'm going to be on liquids for the first 3 weeks after surgery. By liquids, I mean that I can only have things that can be poured through a strainer, nothing thicker than milk. That was the exact illustration from the doctor. With that in mind, I'm trying to figure out what my options will be post-op. I'm positive the doctor will give me an exact list of ideas such as broths, bouillon, juices, and, of course, water. Aside from Unjury chicken soup protein powder (which I'm pretty sure can be used if dissolved in hot/warm water but not positive - still need to verify), what other ways can you get protein in on clear liquids?

So, today I had my consultation appointment with Dr. Nick. When I left his office, I literally jumped up and down and danced a jig of glee in the hall. My husband was so excited for me that he nearly joined in. Turns out the 6 month supervised diet I thought I have to have is NOT REQUIRED, and instead all I have to do is have a psych evaluation, schedule an appointment with a nutritionist, and get my pcp to send a letter recommending the surgery. I AM SO EXCITED, Y'ALL! You have no idea how long I've wanted this. I've gone through this weight loss surgery process before, only to lose my insurance and have all my hopes shattered. While I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, I can't help but get excited! The rest is up to me. On Monday I'm calling and scheduling the psych and nut appts, and calling my pcp to see about getting into see him so he can recommend me for WLS. As soon as that is done, we submit to the insurance company for approval, wait a response, and then schedule my surgery date. Oh, and I don't have to have another sleep study! Whew! So scared and so excited! Please keep me in your prayers through this. My anxiety is kicking in about all the what-ifs and trying to get me ahead of where I am. EEEEEE!

Thanks everyone! I have Anthem BCBS of California but live in Texas. My consultation appt is tomorrow so I guess I'll find out then. Hoping for no 6 month waiting period!

For those of you with Anthem BCBS, did you have to go through he 6 month medically supervised diet? I don't see that I the requirements of my play but was wondering what your experiences are. Thanks!

Hello, my name is Khloé and I'm new here. I'm having my consultation appointment with Dr. Nick Nicholson on Friday (February 1st, 2013) and am SOOOO excited! I've gone through the pre-op process before with another surgeon, only to lose my insurance and not end up with my surgery. I'm praying like crazy that this time I will get my surgery! The last surgeon I had kept trying to force me into having the DS, which is a fabulous surgery, but the malabsorbtion is super gnarly and not something that I want. Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm so happy to start this journey, and am hoping and praying the next 6 months fly by!