PainInTheGlass

I also added u as a friend. Something else you can do to calm your nerves....Hang out in the chat room for a while and make a few friends. You can also join a forum for Aug 2013 Sleevers and make friends there too. I urge you to do these things because you may have questions after your surgery--prior to your follow up appointment with the surgeon. Or someone may have had the same problem that you are experiencing and they will be able to give you a solution that worked for them.

My insurance was very quick about sending back my approval letter. I think it only took them a day to approve it. My doc's office was very good about making sure I had all of the necessary documentation before they submitted it for approval. Hope your approval letter comes quickly!

I'd worry more if you weren't a bit anxious about having surgery! This is a big step to a healthier you but it doesn't come without risks. Try channeling your nervous energy into something productive like cleaning out closets, the attic, etc. or better yet, doing more research about your surgery, side effects, complications, etc and also preparing your house / cupboards with the correct post-op foods. (I went into my surgery having read a 400+ page book about it. I totally knew what to expect and I was calm and at peace with my decision.) Also...Your insurance company has up to 30 days to approve your surgery once submitted but it rarely takes that long to hear back from them.

My first visit to the surgeon was April 16th and I was sleeved June 3rd. I didn't have to do a 6 months supervised diet, a visit to the pulmonary doc, etc. so I had very few hoops to jump thru to get the surgery. My docs office said that once they submitted the paperwork to insurance, the insurance company would have 30 days to decide if they would cover the surgery. My insurance approval came the following day. I still had the EGD to complete, and then I scheduled surgery for 2 weeks later!

My doc put me on Ursodiol for 6 months post op to keep me from getting gallstones. (Ursodiol is also called Actigall)

My surgeon said that if you eat and drink at the same time, it flushes the food thru your system faster allowing you to eat more food / calories which in turn equals slower weight loss. Also, I tend to think that pushing your food into your intestines before your new stomach has time to break down the food will cause some unintended side effects (constipation or more likely diarrhea).

I'm in Louisville...and was sleeved by Dr Weiss's old partner from Bluegrass Bariatrics (Dr Oldham). I was sleeved a month ago so I'm not sure I'll be able to answer your questions, but I'll give it a shot. Adding you as a friend....KY girls gotta stick together!

I tried it too with the same results as vegasneon. Although the taste was the same as a fuzzy navel, it didn't mix well in water. Unfortunately, I purchased several flavors but didn't have the heart to try another flavor after the fuzzy navel experience. At my surgeon's office, they say that one of their clients gets the lemonade ones and makes them into slushes. I purchased a few lemonade ones too, but haven't tried it either.

Be careful with the wine intake until you see how it affects you. With your smaller stomach, you will get drunk MUCH faster than before! (My doc recommends 6 months post-op before having alcohol!)

I'm almost 4 weeks post-op and craving tomatoes. When can I have them? If I took the skin off, I could make it a mushy food, but then I worry about the seeds. Guidance anyone? I have been eating tomato Soup for several weeks, so not so concerned about the acid in the tomatoes.

I too watch the scales way too much. I didn't used to be this way, until I was on weight watchers. They teach you that the scales are a way to stay on track. So I faithfully stand on the scales every day. However, I realize that when the scales don't move downward, my body is trying to catch up. In the 4 weeks since I was sleeved, I've stalled for a solid week (week 2), dropped 4 lbs...and stalled again (week 4). Still stalling at the moment, but the scales will move soon. My clothes are getting bigger again. I did manage to take measurements before surgery....and haven't even checked to see how many inches I've lost.

No regrets here either! I'm 4 weeks post op now...and losing slower than most, but more than I could have lost on one last serious diet alone. To be honest, I was taken off my diabetes meds (the day of surgery) and think my blood pressure meds will be the next to go. Is there anything I miss about my old eating habits? Yes and no. Yes I miss drinking sodas but I know they were killing me. I was drinking about 6-8 real cokes a day (with all the sugar and caffeine). But this is a trade off I'm glad I made...no cokes=a healthier me.

I have the exact same insurance...and with a BMI of 35 you need at least 2 co-morbidities. I was worried that I wouldn't qualify because the docs office never told me I was diabetic (in those exact words)...but they were treating high blood sugar with meds. I was also on blood pressure meds and at one time I had elevated cholesterol (treated by meds but then I was taken off of them due to side effects). So I wasn't sure if I would qualify or not. Turns out my primary care submitted all three to insurance and I was approved with the first submission to insurance. When I went back to see my pcp at 4 days post-op I was taken off of the diabetes meds!! and I expect to be taken off blood pressure meds in the very near future. I'm guessing that my cholesterol will also be back in line the next time I test. And the best part....I've lost 18 lbs and I feel GREAT!

I'm 4 weeks post-op and I have told many people at work and of course I told my family and a few friends. I have only had a couple of negative comments (both pre-op expressing their views that they didn't want me to have surgery). I'm now down 18 lbs and feeling much better about myself. Kinda funny, I didn't tell my managers til after I returned from the surgery (I had on vacation) and now they are all concerned about how I'm doing with it--to the point of asking how I'm feeling on a daily basis! Tell who you are comfortable telling...or who you think will keep your secret if you choose to not tell many people. But remember, people LOVE to gossip and others will find out from the ones you trusted.

Keep up the good work! Remember that you have a choice of who you want to associate with. If they didn't give you the time of day pre-op, I wouldn't associate with them post-op. However, if you did not know them pre-op, give them the benefit of the doubt post-op.

I had a drain that was left in for my overnight hospital stay. (It didn't hurt, but it did make walking interesting.) Anyway as they were removing my drain and the end of the tube was "whipping around" inside my body (much like the wet noodle example above), I couldn't help but think that this was almost what it would be like if I were pregnant and the baby was moving inside my body. Having never been pregnant myself, I told my nurse friend and she thought that was a great analogy. My friend had 4 drains after plastic surgery and she said it was very painful to have them removed. Seems that the longer they stay in the body, the more tissue begins to form around them and the more painful their removal.

If you use the ice pack, remember that it's 15 mins on, and 15 mins off. Last thing you need is frostbite / hypothermia on your tummy!

I had a headache the first day on the pre-op diet too. I just figured it was due to no cola's, carbs, caffeine, etc. Funny side note...I got the same headache when I went on the Atkins diet--except it lasted 3 days! Stranger yet--I suffer from chronic migraines, but I haven't had one since the sleeve surgery. Now I'm wondering if it was something I'd been eating that was causing the headaches. Anyway, once the headache passes, you'll be well on your way to the new you!

I have the same problem ....but found a link to my head hunger and driving past restaurants at dinner time. The smells are wonderful..and then the craving starts! I have quit driving around at dinner time...and doing better.

Surgery was June 3...so still an apple here. Anxious to see the other replies to your post.

I didn't get the week 3 stall....I got the week 2 stall. I was at 206 for 7 days...gained a couple of pounds back...and then dropped to 204 and two days later to 202. I can still tell that inches are coming off though. Been at 202 for 3 days now, but not freaking out about it. I've found if I don't drink enough water, the scales will stay the same.

I bought a dehydrator and have made my own jerky at home. Turns out pretty good--and you get to control what seasonings you put on it. (Got my dehydrator at Wal-Mart for about $45--takes a while to dehydrate meat--about 4-6 hrs)

I was having a lot of trouble swallowing the first few days after surgery (Mon June 3). My doc prescribed Reglan at my follow-up appointment on Friday. I took the med a couple of times and found that I was able to swallow better within a couple of days. The first week, I lost 10 lbs....the second week nothing (gained a couple back that week even) and then the scales started downward again. I've lost 18 since my first visit to the docs office....and 13 in the 3 weeks since surgery. (My ticker includes the 5 lbs that I kept off from weight watchers for a total of 23 lbs from my highest weight)

I drink a lot of PowerAde Zero (like Gatorade) to stay hydrated. I think I've also eaten my weight in popsicles lately. Even in week 3, I have trouble getting enough fluids / protein. Someone in the chat room suggested Isopure ready made drinks (about $4 a 20 oz bottle at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe). Some people don't like it mainly due to the slick "aftertaste" but it has 40g of protein in it!! and only 160 calories and zero carbs! Because it's a clear liquid, you get to count is as 20 oz of water and 40g of protein. (Note: I am not a spokesperson for this product)

Same story here. (Sleeved Jun 3) I'm finding that I have episodes when I try to advance my diet before it's time to do so. (ie: eating a week 3 food when still on a week 2 diet) Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I start week 4 foods on Mon and tried mashed potatoes last night (a few days early) and my body didn't like it. I've told a few of my friends that I've had a "sh*tty day" when I mean that I have had episodes of diarrhea all day (up to 5 times in one day). My doc says Immodium is ok to take (so I'm thinking I might need to buy stock in it!)