LosingItForMe2011

It will be here before you know it. Congrats!

Nice news! congrats!

Don't know how long ago your surgery was but, if it's recent you may not want to take benedryl because your tummy would still be healing. An external ointment would probably be better Best bet you can ask your doc to see what they suggest. Good luck with it...nothing like having an itch that you can't scratch. yuck!

Congrats! You're doing terrific!

Glad you're doing well. Congrats

Any news? I hope you're doing ok!

Hello David and welcome to the boards. Good luck with your surgery!

congratulations!

Hello Crimzon....seems every bariatric center has a different diet to follow pre-op. Some don't have one at all. I was given the direction to replace one meal with a Protein shake a day in order to lose weight before surgery. But I wasn't given anything additional to do the week or two before surgery I was only told NOT to gain weight. If you started with your bariatric center ask your nutritionist what she/he recommends. That would be your best bet Good luck and welcome to the boards!

Well....I couldn't get in to my PCP's office today. I was told by the secretary that I couldn't see a NP and the covering doctor couldn't give me the medical release that it HAD to come from my PCP. She's on vacation until 6/12 and even then I couldn't get an appointment until June 22. So....I called my Bariatric center again, they said they were going to look into a few things and get back to me. Never got a call but, then received one from my surgeon's office. In the end I was given a date of 7/11 and no one else got back to me so I have to assume now that that is my new date. I'm upset but, nothing I can do about it. I"m at the freaking mercy of "one line" that was missing on my PCP's letter to my insurance. The medical release line. I guess saying I was a long standing patient of the practice who suffers with morbid obesity and hypertension. I feel she would benefit from Gastric Bypass surgery at Tufts Medical with Dr. Abeles..wasn't enough. Unreal! I can really say I HATE Cigna Carelink! I thought I had Tufts Medical insurance but, nooooo I have the plan that is Tufts but, goes through Cigna Carelink. (sigh) Sorry for complaining.....Its just that I had all my ducks in a row with work, home and help with care and now I have to figure it all out again. Talk about having to practice the DON'T EAT YOUR EMOTIONS stuff! Thank God I've been able to keep that at bay......many months of working that out...at least that's something positive

Was it good Vamp?

Ok so I'm really upset tonight. Surgeon called....for the 2nd time my insurance denied my surgery. First time they needed more information and it was provided. This time it was denied because they said I need a supervised diet for 3 months...my surgeon argued with them saying they already gave me the clearance on that by counting her first consult with me as the start time. They changed their mind and agreed to accept it but, she has to write a new letter of some sort explaining that first visit and the care I guess afterwards to equal up to 3 months. The second thing they denied was my surgeons request and explanation of the surgery because they said it didn't include a CPT/Procedure code. So she's re-writing that and including the CPT/Procedure code. The 3rd thing they are denying is the letter of med release from my PCP because she stated I've been a long time patient and would benefit from gastric bypass BUT she didn't put that I was medically released for the surgery. So my surgeon called her office to get a new letter, she's on vacation and the doctor covering for her said I haven't been seen since January so they won't give me the release until I'm seen. I called today to be seen, was given an appt with a NP and thought I was all set. Got a call 3 hours later, 8pm from that office saying someone made a mistake. I can't be seen by a NP because NP's can't give medical releases. That they cancelled my appointment and would leave a message with the office manager to call me. I know that office well enough, I won't get a call until it's too late. I'll have to try calling at 8:15am tomorrow to see if I can get in there, get someone to see me and have them write the letter for med release. Then that letter needs to be faxed to the surgeon's office and then to the insurance in hopes that I get the approval. My surgery is set for next wednesday but, if this stupid appt and letter don't get done tomorrow, I'll probably have to have it postponed. I already have everything in place so my mom can come down to help me out, the hotel across from the hospital is booked so I don't have to travel during rush hour to get there and my friend is staying with me Sunday so my husband can travel to pick up my mom to bring her to our house. UGH! I pray this all falls into place.

They say you should have one so that if you're unable to talk after an accident or other incident the EMT can read it and know about the surgery. It should say you've had RNY/Gastric bypass and DO NOT blindly incubate. You don't want them to do it blindly because they could miss your air way and go into your stomach and keep pushing the tubing down. That can cause issues because you now have a pouch not a full size stomach. SAme with pumping your stomach...they need to know you have a pouch not a full stomach. I plan on getting one.

I think in general being in our 40s its harder to lose weight. I know diets only worked so long for me. I'm hoping this will work for me..I've done my work with my therapist for emotional eating and nutritionist and will keep with them after the surgery. I guess after 48 years of dieting and also having the lapband and it all failing...it's sort of natural to worry if this will work as well. My surgeon said she's never seen it not work if the patient follows the program and recommendations of the nutritionist so I'll be doing that!

Hello everyone, I thought it would be a great idea to start a thread to find out some helpful hints on how to slow down our eating after bypass surgery. Are there any tips you can give? Here are mine: Use baby utensils - they're smaller so you pick up less food. Put your utensils down between each bite. Sit only at the kitchen table so you're paying attention to eating and not other things around you. Use small horderve size cookie cutters to cut lunch meat, cheese etc - fun and it cuts down the bite size Any others people can suggest?

it sure does. I've been trying to practice that. My Nutritionist also says each bite should be pea size and put your utensils down between bites.

nope but, I'm from Taunton

My provider recommends 50-60 grams of protein for the day. Each serving of protein should be less than 5 grams of fat. They've basically told me to concentrate on protein and fluids first. I don't think calories come into play unti farther out so I can't help you there. My surgery is on 6/6

I too heard the protein shots had the wrong type of protein in them. It's not easily digested and used by your body. I was told the protein should be soy or whey based. Mami you might want to check with your provider to see what they recommend.

HI Everyone...glad to see folks popping in Liz I haven't had my surgery yet but, I did have the lapband for 4 years and as you lose weight you do lose it in your feet as well. I know for me a lot of the swelling that I used to have in my feet because of excess water weight went away pretty quickly. I had to use wide sizes but, then I was able to wear regular shoes.

Hello Pug and odie, It's my understanding that stalls do happen and it seems that around 5-6 months folks seem to have it happen. My provider and nutritionist say if it lasts more than 3 weeks to get an appointment to see the nutritionist. They can help with ideas to break through that plateau.

114 pounds is amazing! It's inspiring! I'm getting so nervous...my surgery is a week from today. I pray I do as well as you have.

HI aarval, It could be something in the supplements you're taking. Have you had your surgery yet? How far out if you have?

Sounds like we can get a buddy system going here. The countdown is on RNY friends. We have 8 days left. I'm having issues giving up my responsibilities at work. (sigh) Hubby says it's time for me to take care of me and not worry about what's going on at work. That folks at work will take care of it until I get back. I know he's right and it is time for me to start taking care of myself for myself but, old habits are hard to break. I guess it goes back to when I was living on my own at 18. I've always had to be responsible and make sure I'm always working so I could keep a roof over my head and food on my table. It's just difficult. I was told by my surgeon I'd probably be out of work 3 weeks. I've never even taken 2 weeks together off never mind 3. Zoiks! But, I'm going to follow my surgeon's recommendations and just do it. This is something I need to do for me and it's going to take time to heal. How are you folks doing?

Cool. Is there a way to save it as an excel file so we can add more to it if we'd like to?