iowagirl

I recieved my approval for VSG today! Got a letter in the mail. I have Federal BCBS Basic administered by Wellmark of Iowa. I know the Dr. that is doing my surgery had never before submitted for federal bcbs coverage and they were unsure as to whether or not it would be approved - in fact they even had an appeal plan in place in case it was not! Something interesting to note on the approval form: "Prior approval is not required for this procedure for FEP however; a medical necessity review has been completed. Medically approved 43775" So federal employees in Iowa - Wellmark is approving VSG based on medical necessity. I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before coverage spreads to their other policies also. Keep the faith and don't give up! I know there are other federal employees being denied - so feel free to pm me with any questions - I'll help if I can!

I'm right there with you! I love, adore, worship (and whatever other endearment you can think of) my coffee! Straight up black with nothing added. In fact I told my surgeon in no uncertain terms that I was willing to sacrifice and give up many many things but coffee would not be one of them - unless I could absolutely not tolerate it. She got a very good laugh out of me because she said in all the years she's been doing surgery no one had ever chosen coffee as the one thing they wouldn't give up. That being said...... Bariatric literature says that caffeine can increase gastric acids, which causes heartburn and gastro esophageal reflux. Caffeine also increases urine production, which can lead to dehydration of the body. So we compromised - no caffeine until I was 6 weeks out to allow my stomach time to heal properly. But I could have decaf during this time (I'm 2 1/2 weeks out). After 6 weeks I could have it if I could tolerate it, it caused no heartburn and I could drink 64 ounces of clear fluids a day (I've been able to do that since day 5). And now that you've brought it up my mouth and head are salivating in anticipation of real coffee in.....oh about....3 1/2 weeks!

OOOPs My bad - thought you were talking about having no outside the body cutting done. Sorry! lol

Yep - it's called orifice surgery. Google the following: gastrectomy through orifice and a couple of articles will pop up. Be aware that the first one done in the U.S. was just done in August so I would hazard a guess that very few doctors are doing this. In fact the one who did the first one actually specializes in orifice surgery - fascinating what he has managed to pull out of natural body openings.....lol

I am 10 days out from my sleeve. Took me a week to lose the 15 pounds of IV Fluid pumped into me and the scale finally moved down from surgery weight by 6 pounds! Yay! I can swallow all my pills without breaking them open, get all my Protein and liquids in and walking well. BUT....... Starting about day 5 I could drink liquids like before I had surgery - 8 ounces takes 15 minutes, 20 minutes max, same with Protein shakes. This is not gulping or guzzling - I just take a normal drink, set the bottle down, swallow and in a couple of minutes take a drink again. I have no feeling of restriction, no discomfort, no chest tightening nothing......is this normal? Can we stretch our sleeves with liquid? My surgeon says to consider myself lucky that I'm one of a few who have no problems with fluid intake and drink away - that restriction really comes with food. Anyone else like this with fluid? Can it hurt my sleeve in any way? And the exhaustion! The last 3 days have been terrible. I get up and need a nap within 4 hours. Does it get better the longer out from sugery I am...or perhaps when I can start on mushies and actually get some food in? Not to mention the emotions! Heck I feel like I could literally jump out of my skin....nervous, anxious - thank god for Xanax....LOL...or I would be a mess. Handling it ok but wanting these feelings to go way far away......and soon! Feel free to tell me I'm paranoid.....or wierd....just tell me something.....I can take it:cool0:!

So I had my surgery one week ago today on Sept. 1st. Can't say I enjoyed the two days in the hospital although they do have very good drugs! Came home moving just fine (even up flights of stairs), was able to sleep on my side by day 4 and last night slept on my side/stomach position which I favor. Swelling and gas is now gone (YEH!). Was back to drinking on day 4 in the same way I was before surgery - I can finish and 8oz Water in 20-30 minutes and thankfully I still like my Protein shakes (Max Muscle - 30 grams per 6 oz shake). All in all I feel absolutely normal, not hungry, drinking well and walking well. The only bummer is I have not dropped a pound - nothing, nada, zilch! However I did come home 15 pounds heavier from all the IV Fluid that was pumped into me and just got back to my pre-op weight today. Anyone else have this problem and if so please tell me that the scale will now start to move downward!!!!!:cursing:

I was sleeved one week ago today on Sept 1st and have had coffee every single day since - although I switched to Decaf coffee. In fact I was given decaf coffee in the hospital even. My nutrionist counts it as part of my daily Fluid intake so long as it is decaf and anything added to it is either sugar free or fat free and limit it to 2 cups per day. But really I prefer mine black anyways. In fact when I went for my first appt with the nutrionist and we were going over my list of can and can't haves coffee was not listed and I specifically asked her about it. Truthfully there was nothing on the can't have list I couldn't live without but I was upfront and told her there was no way I would give up coffee. Over the last two years prior to surgery I had given up white carbs, Desserts, cigarettes, candy, soda, alcohol (except for special occassions) and fried foods. There was simply no way I was giving up my coffee because I was having surgery to be healthy, not be deprived of every single thing I enjoyed and she agreed. She even pointed out studies that show regular coffee drinkers, regardless of whether it regular or decaf have lower rates of colon cancer. My stomach tolerates it no differently than before surgery - thank god! Cause I LOVE the stuff! However she told me no alcohol until 4 months after surgery

I'm not feeling to darn bad! Carrying around alot of fluid that they pumped into me so very swollen. Battling a little bit of gas but luckily I can burp well...lol! I'm soooo thankful that fluids are going down well and I've been cleared to swallow capsules, have to crush anything large though. All in all I'm doing the same as you....sip, walk, rest, sip, sip, sip. Hang in there!

Just had surgery on Wednesday Sept 1st and came home Friday. Truthfully I am sooooo suprised to be feeling so good! Had some bad gas in the hospital and that Holy Crap! what have I done feeling....lol. But I'm already sleeping on my side the first night home, taking stairs, drinking well (although I do need to increase it a bit) and overall not feeling too damn bad! However I LOOK terrible....LMAO! Bruises from 3 IV spots plus bruises from 3 blood thinner shots and very puffy and swollen from all the fluids pumped into me. In fact this is the one time I have ever laughed about gaining weight....went into surgery at 219 and came home at 234.....can you say water weight? Oh well - I hope this is the only time I ever gain 15 pounds in 3 days....LOL!

Branc1 - you and I were sleeved on the same day. Just checking in to see how you are doing and if things are going well.

I'm having my VSG on September 1st. I'll be in the hospital 2 nights, so long as I have no complications, and then home on the 3rd. I have a neice who will stay with me through the Labor Day weekend and then I'll be on my own after that. Being single I don't have to worry about taking care of anyone else but myself and my cats (yea I'm sure they'll still want fed....LOL). So I figure the general around the house stuff will be no big deal as it can all wait until I feel up to it - an advantage to being single! Anyway - did anyone else finish their recovery after the first 3 or 4 days alone and if you did how did it go? Any advice or suggestions? Thanks!

Hi WVLoser! I have federal BCBS Basic (administered by Wellmark Iowa) and they approved my VSG upon first submission and within about 2 weeks. I will be having surgery on September 1st. PM me with any questions! Good Luck!

Saw my surgeon today and have a date of September 1st! Anyone else getting sleeved around that date? Sooooo excited...Now to get everything done before....LOL:blink:

September 1st here!

Sometimes as I read through the board I find a super interesting thread and respond. I'll admit it usually has to do with body chemistry in some way (remember the tannic acid in red wine? LOL) So for those of you who are having trouble with plain Water this may help you understand why better: Every solution is either acidic or alkaline. (Alkaline is often called "base.") These solutions can be anything from body fluids, such as stomach acid and blood, to beverages, such as wine or coffee, to sea water. Acidity and alkalinity are measured in pH (potential of hydrogen). The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 0 the most acidic, and 14 the most alkaline. The pH of stomach acid is 1, wine is 3.5, water is 7 (neutral), venous blood is 7.35, arterial blood is 7.4, sea water is 8.5, and baking soda is 12. Ideally, our pH should stay on the alkaline side: between 7.35 and 7.45. So take a plain glass of water with a pH of 7. You drink it and it enters your stomach which has a pH of 1. Your stomach immediately sets to work to produce more acid to bring the pH of that water down. Common symptoms of an unbalanced pH in the stomach include heartburn, bloating, belching, stomach ache, or that feeling of heaviness that the plain water is just not sitting well. So now take a look at the ingredients in those little packets we add to water: Crystal Light, propel, etc, you'll see that the ingredients include things like citric acid and ascorbic acid - both which are natural acids. What these do is bring the pH of water DOWN closer to the pH of the stomach. Your stomach recognizes this as more manageable so does not produce extra acid which results in no heartburn, bloating, belching, upset stomach or that feeling of heaviness. Ummmm yea.....so that's my stomach chemistry 101 lecture.....LOL!

Definately get an attorney! Also if you get worse you need to go to an emergency room pronto! Know this: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a U.S. Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions. As a result of the act, patients needing emergency treatment can be discharged only under their own informed consent or when their condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment. Also you since you can't get any answers file a complaint with the Joint Commission on Accredidation of Hospitals at www.jointcommission.org The infection you contracted while undergoing a procedure/admission is called a nonsocomial infection and is considered a reportable sentinal event by JCAHO. Go to their homepage and on the bottom left hand side there is a tab that says report an event. DO IT! You will type a 1 to 2 page narration of your experience. Give the Dr.'s name and the hospital name. They will lauch an investigation and it will be fast tracked if the hopital failed to file a voluntary report. You may do this anonymously or submit your name. If you chose to submit your name they will contact you with further questions and also inform you as to the outcome of the investigation findings and any sancations they impose. Also know that Joint Commission is NOT a government agency. They are an independent agency founded to ensure hospitals meet standards of care. They are an agency made up of medical professionals and their goal is to ensure protection of patient care. They will not ignore your complaint or sweep it under the rug. Also if you go the attorney route the final report from the commission will strengthen any case you have. I hope this helps and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

Dansha - from submittal to approval date was 18 days counting weekends and a holiday in there. They must have sent me the approval letter immediately because I got it two days after that. Good Luck!

Even though I introduced myself quite some time ago I haven't posted because I just haven't had anything to add.....LOL....however, I work in a winery so I'll try and shed light on the red wine issue: Red wines contain higher amounts of a natural preservative called tannis If ingested in excessive quantities, tannins inhibits the absorption of minerals such as Iron which may, if prolonged, lead to anemia. Tannic acid does not affect absorption of other trace minerals such as zinc, copper, and manganese. Also coffee and tea have high amounts of tannic acid. Foods rich in Vitamin C help neutralize tannin's effects on iron absorption. Adding lemon juice to tea will reduce the negative effect of tannins in iron absorption as well. Adding milk to coffee and tea has very little to no influence on the inhibitory effect of tannins. In sensitive individuals, a large intake of tannins may cause bowel irritation, kidney irritation, liver damage, irritation of the stomach and gastrointestinal pain. My surgeon pointed out that some individuals develope a sensitivity to tannic acid after VSG and Bypass - hence the advice to stay away from red wine. Have no idea if you wanted to know all that but there you go!

Just wanted to introduce myself and tell you how great it is to have found this board! While I had already decided on VSG some time ago, it has been great to read personal stories and experiences here. I'm already in the middle of my process - one appointment away from setting a surgery date which I will probably schedule sometime for May. So you have another newbie on board! Robbie

I'm a newbie here and so glad I found this forum. Have my first consultation next week. I also from Iowa - Central Iowa in fact - so i'ts great to see others from Iowa on here. I look forward to reading and learning more on the forums!