DevilBlueDress

Just a quick tip for anyone who misses sweetened tea: try Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea. No caffeine or sugar but a sweet taste that gets sweeter the longer you steep it.

Quite a long day- all my pre-op appointments in one day. Met with my surgeon, his PA, had labs, EKG, chest X-ray, 1.5 hr nutrition class, then over to the hospital for admissions paperwork, nurse education (what to do the day before surgery), and pre-anesthesia appointment. Then I went to be a participant in a parent focus group on discipline code for my son's school district. I'm wiped out! I need to go to work to relax tomorrow. Next step, 2 week liquid diet starts on 9/18. Then surgery 10/2. It's now very real, but I feel ready. Molly

Thank you or sharing your story. May your revision go smoothly and put you back on track!

Jim, Just think of it as a temporary setback and that the surgery will happen! I was on track for an August surgery, but now it will be October. In the grand scheme of things, just a few weeks difference from the original plans. I'm from Madison, Wisconsin. DD, I feel very ready. I've been preparing since January. Slowly changing habits. I track food and exercise using MyFitnessPal, I've separated liquids from food, I try to chew 30 times a bite, no sodas or caffeine, protein first. I eat on smaller plates, limit my carbs and so on. I've stocked up on protein powder, blender bottles, sugar-free syrups, puddings, popsicles and instant breakfast. I've got more than a months worth of freezer meals ready for my family. I've cleared my work schedule, told my close family and friends. Now I'm just counting down the days until Oct 2nd. I guess you now know why my family calls me the city manager. 37 days to go. Molly

At my boot camp class, we tried Necter chocolate Truffle, Cookies and Cream and strawberry all mixed with milk. He also mixed them with sugar-free instant Breakfast - a generous scoop of Protein mix, a packet of IB and 16 oz of milk. Really yummy. He recommended Blender bottles rather than using an electric blender. On Amazon, I bought the Bariatric Foodies Guide to Protein shakes. She recommends using sugar free Torani syrups, sugar free pudding and Jello added to make approximations of bar drinks.

LOL!

Ok Octobers, we need a good name. I see that February call themselves Fabulous February. Let's put our creative minds together. How about Obtainable October OMG October Out there October October Oddsmakers What ideas do you have?

Could they possibly hold that date for you? That's what my clinic did until all the pieces came together. I might have a two-fer, too. Different organ - appendix for me. I had a CT scan for my kidneys (15 year history of stones) and the next day I had to see a surgeon about the enlarged appendix I apparently have. Since I don't have any pain or show any other symptoms, the general surgeon is recommending that my WL surgeon turn the camera around and look to see if my appendix should be removed. Molly

Usually I'm the chef for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year I think I'll have the grocery store catering do the feast at least for Thanksgiving. Of course, I might change my mind as the date approaches. My favorite part of making meals is seeing my family and friends enjoy them.

Just heard today that October 2nd is my day to join the losers bench. Will be a slight delay from the original August date (was supposed to be yesterday -I also learned today) due to insurance issues caused by my husband's lay off. My surgeon is on vacation in late September, so I hope he'll be well rested and ready because I know I will be! Molly

I saw my PCP in January. He referred me to a dietician, who saw me for the 6 months supervised diet. around month 4, the dietician recommended that I contact the surgeon. I happened to have an appointment with my PCP at that time, so his office made all the calls to set up the initial surgeon, the bariatric dietician (different than the one I had been seeing for the 6 months) and the psychologist. Those appointments were in June plus an upper endoscopy. Then I only had the mandatory classes given by the bariatric team before the pre-approval request to my insurance. I took the boot camp class (3classes in one day) on Aug 2, but there was a little delay in submitting to insurance because I needed to change to COBRA coverage. Everything was submitted last Monday the 12th so hopefully, I'll hear soon. After approval, they will set the surgery date. I'm expecting it to be sometime in September. Before surgery, I will meet with the dietician to go over the liquid diet and other issues. Then all the typical pre-surgery appointments and another appointment with my surgeon. Back in January, I thought it seemed like 6 months was a very long time. Now, I realize that it was time well spent. I originally wanted a lap band thinking it was less invasive. Now I am very ready and willing to have RNY. I was able to slowly change my eating habits, so many of the things I must do for the best outcome are now so much a habit that I don't have to remember, I just do it. I've had time to research, join forums, go to support group meetings and to prepare my family. I've made freezer meals for my family, so early on I won't have to cook for them. Good luck on your WLS journey! I hope that you also find the six months fly by and are helpful. Molly

Hi Christy, I participated in a one day boot camp class on 8/2. Tammy, Steve and Scott presented. I've been to the last couple support group meetings, too. I met Corrie at Monday's meeting. :-). Perhaps we'll all see each other at the Sept meeting?! Molly

Welcome new cheese heads!

You all look fantastic!

Good luck!

Good luck!

Good luck Vicki! Statistically, the odds are in your favor. You are doing this, so you don't have to live with the issues you had with the band and VSG. Keep strong, you can do this!

Hi Tilly, Yes, Dr. Campos is my surgeon, too! I'm doing the one-day boot camp class this Friday. After that, I should be cleared for the RNY either in August or September. It's wonderful to see another UW patient on this board. Molly

Wow, it's been a strange couple of weeks. Until I met my surgeon a couple of weeks ago, I had planned on lap band. He discouraged me because of his research, and that of others, that lap band was not as successful long term as either VSG or RNY. So, after going into my own research mode, I decided that I'd rather have VSG than RNY unless the EGD showed that it would be better to go RNY. Well, today was the EGD and it turns out that I have Barrett's Esophagus and a hernia. Anyone else with Barrett's? Any suggestions?

I imagine that every surgeon/clinic does things their way. My first surgeon appointment was pretty brief (about 15 minutes). During that appointment I explained what motivated me to seek WLS. I also told him that I was most comfortable with the Lapland. The remainder of the appointment was an explanation of why that would probably not work for me and that I should consider VS or RNY. When we talked about my GERD, he said that I should have an upper endoscopy to further help my decision making. (Ultimately, we determined that RNY would be best in my situation.) It was an overwhelming 15 minutes, but very helpful. I had a list of specific questions for my second appointment with him be because I was more focused, now that I knew which procedure would be best for me. Those questions were about current meds (NSAIDS, in particular), kidney stones (I have a history with those devils), does he use drains, and timing of the surgery (how long in the hospital, how long off of work). So, after this long-winded story, heres the short version: You should be ready to listen and to ask about any general concerns you have. Good luck! Molly

I love deep water running! Both as a class and on my own. When I'm on my own, I use a waterproof MP3 player to keep the beat.

Wow! You both look great!

Have her look to see if she is eligible for Questbridge. http://www.questbridge.org/

In Wisconsin, we have access to Medicaid waivers that include intensive therapy (in-home or in a school setting) and respite care. I'm not sure if New York has something similar. Look for a Katie Becket Medicaid waiver. In Wisconsin, it also qualifies your child for a county case manager who can help you navigate all the different systems (county, state, federal, school, etc.). I did find that NY has an insurance mandate for autism therapy. This is in addition to what public schools offer. For respite care providers, I put ads in the student job center at my local university.