LindsJ83

Omgosh how funny is that!! I start mine on Thursday and then my surgery is on the 22nd!!! 17 days girls!! 17 days til I stand up on the bench and shout "I'm herrrrree!!!" I'm so happy we are all connecting. Makes it SO much easier for me to get through all of this with you!! And I know I said it before but the 22nd is also my 30th bday! It will be my birthdaysurgiversary each year then!!

I have NEVER heard of an insurance company denying someone because they lost weight/gained weight. Insurance companies aren't worried about the little things (like dr offices are) they want the big picture. Have you met all of their requirements? They go through a checklist. It's not about gaining 5 pounds here or losing 10 pounds there. When I was waiting for my surgery to be approved, I was fine the first day and then a wreck for the next week!! I really truly think your surgery will be approved - especially if you have finished all of the requirements! From May to October (my 6 month diet) I lost 8 pounds and I swear 5 of those pounds were just from stopping soda/carbonated beverages. I really do believe you will have a surgery date soon!!

My barium eval showed a mild hiatal hernia. My dr hasn't said anything about it (I actually just found out about it a few weeks ago and my eval was months before) I think it's a much more common thing than what people believe. It makes sense if the dr wanted to fix it to just do it then - one surgery versus two is better! But, it's a pretty common thing in obese people.

Wow! That's awesome! I know what you mean about the constant headache. It will be 2 months on the 9th that I have been soda and caffeine free and the first 2 weeks were HORRIBLE. I'm SO HAPPY I don't have to worry about that but I know the headaches that come from carb-withdrawal and I am not looking forward to it. I figure if I make it through the first week then I only have a week left. LOL - Makes me wonder why I ever decided to stuff my face with bad food from the beginning.

I am starting a pre-op ketotic diet on the 7th for surgery on the 22nd. It's high protein (105g protein) low carb (20g) per day. Pick 4 proteins at breakfast and 1 fat, 5 at lunch and dinner with 1 fat. Plus, you get a small snack. I add a large portion of non-starchy veggies at each meal. You get to choose 1 carb per day - piece of bread, small piece of fruit, etc. If I feel dizzy or light-headed, I can have a 1/2 cup of applesauce to elevate my blood sugar. Nutritionist told me that most people lose between 10-20 pounds on this particular diet. It's like a re-vamped Atkins. I've seen half and half on this website. Half seem to be doing this particular diet, another half seem to be doing the liquid diet. I have seen both good and bad regarding both. I think it is more dependent on what your doctor's protocol is and also, what will benefit you.

Madds - how are you doing on your liquid diet? How much have you lost so far? I just re-read all of my pre-op diet papers last night (I start the 7th) and I said to my husband "Oh my gosh! I almost wish I was doing the liquid diet instead." LOL - I know I shouldn't say that but I'm really nervous that I'll be really hungry and miserable with nothing but eggs and meat.

And to add to that, my nutritionist said once I started the pre-op diet that she would estimate I would lose another 10-20 pounds before surgery. I know it seems like a lot all at once, but if you consider that you are starting at 344 pounds or around there and lose 15 pounds because you are exercising a bit more and then lose another 10 or 15 because of a pre-op diet, you're already closer to 300 pounds than you thought! I'd say - no "crash dieting" needed. Just stay on a healthy path and make good food choices (even though we've all thrown a couple bad ones in there, too)...

My highest weight was 344. When I started my whole process back in May, I had the same questions you did. Once I met with my nutritionist, she put me on a 1700 calorie plan. I really didn't change how I was eating, just HOW MUCH I was eating. I stopped drinking soda and caffeinated stuff and cut out about 95% of sugary drinks. I am at about 330 now and am getting ready to start my pre-op diet on the 7th for surgery on the 22nd. I was worried that if I lost TOO much or was TOO successful that insurance wouldn't cover it but that isn't the case. I would say talk to your PCP about things you can do NOW until you get an appointment in January, that way you are already implementing healthy eating.

HAHAHA. UK-SLEEVER is hilarious! That's everything I was going to say. If someone can't be happy for you, then keep it moving! He should be a little more worried about his grammar than anything else...

Thanks for the well wishes and congrats everyone. I woke up today and it was the first time I realized I have a date and am just waiting for surgery day! What an odd feeling! I have heard Chapstick too for the hospital bag. Loose clothes, socks, maybe a laptop if you can get to the internet? I have a question for all of you actually...I am starting to get stuff on my shopping list regarding vitamins, protein powders, etc. I'm having a difficult time finding a calcium supplement that meets the surgeons requirements. It needs to preferably be a citrate not carbonate. Liquid or chewable, without any sugary stuff in it. What have you guys found out there? I am on a Flintstones Iron Chewable and will start Natures Valley B-12. Each time I look at these vitamins and powders, I get really overwhelmed. Anybody wanna share??

Oh jeez! Isn't it so strange how different doctors do different things? The diets are all so different! I'm grateful that I don't have to do a strictly liquid diet but I have heard that those are pretty brutal to get through. You can do it though - it's only 12 days before your surgery so that's amazing!!! It will fly by I'm sure! Have you lost any weight before your surgery yet? I had to do the 6 month diet with insurance. I started at 345 and am down to 331. I haven't had soda or caffeine in almost 2 months! I swear that was like 5 pounds in itself. The nutritionist told me that 2 weeks on this diet will bring me down another 10-20 pounds.

Thank you!!!!!! When is your surgery Madds???

Did your surgeon's office/nutritionist give you a list? My nutritionist gave me a 3 page handout on the 2 week diet I am supposed to be on before surgery. It's basically like a revised Atkins diet. I know for the ketotic diet they have me going on I choose 4 proteins and 1 fat for breakfast. 5 proteins and 1 fat for lunch. 6 proteins and 1 fat for dinner. I also have "free foods" so I'm supposed to add "leafy greens" or "greens" to every meal that I can have an unlimited amount of. I can choose 1 carb per day. I know each is different for everyone but I think this is a pretty typical pre-surg diet.

YAY! I'M ECSTATIC! I just got approved for my surgery a few days ago and officially got my date. I'll be having RNY done on November 22nd - which also happens to be my 30th birthday!!! I can't ask for a better present. And, I'm so excited to be sharing this journey with all of you...

Hey all - Just had an endoscopy. It's the last thing on my journey to surgery. I submitted my paperwork to insurance today also. My surgeon's nurse mentioned something about H. Pylori and how they tested for it during the endoscopy. I'm just wondering - how many of you actually had it? Here I thought I was almost done and now the possibility of having to wait longer (I've already waited 6 months) has me a little bummed. Thanks all.

I wouldn't rush into any diet plan/protein shake stuff just yet. I can tell you from personal experience! First, you need to find out what your insurance company requires you to do. It sounds like your appointment with your doctor was to discuss Gastric Bypass (was this the only reason?) The reason I ask is because when you do your 6 month diet and you meet with your PCP each month, it HAS to be coded under "obesity" or "dietary counseling" so insurance can see. It can't be for a sore throat AND a weight check, etc. Does your surgeon require you to go to an informational meeting? I just finished my 6 month diet (per insurance). Usually surgeon's offices have registered dietitian's on hand. You will more than likely meet with the RD (the only reason you would want to wait on that diet) in which you will spend about an hour going over your typical foods and then the RD will give you a certain meal plan to follow. It's always best to start trying to eat healthy anyway but I wouldn't go too far to the other end just in case you end up on a particular plan that is drastically different from what you are doing. Every surgeon is different - just make sure you have a good one! LOL. In hindsight (I'm not going to lie, it was painful hearing that I had to wait 6 months) I'm glad it was 6 months. Between having to go for a barium series, an endoscopy, psych eval, dr checks, surgeon checks, nutritionist visits, blood panels and ekgs - you'll be grateful if you have to wait 6 months!!! Anyway, I hope this helps and good luck! Feel free to message me if you have any questions about the process. I'm submitting to insurance in a few weeks!

Hi all. I am *almost* done with my 6 month diet per insurance and I have (had) an impending endoscopy I need for clearance from gastroenterology. Basically, here's what happened: I was scheduled to have an endoscopy on the 11th and although I was a little nervous (I have never had anesthesia before) I wasn't freaking out. I show up at the hospital at my scheduled time and start to get prepped. Sit down in the hospital bed and as I am talking to the nurse she starts taking my BP. I think it's important to note that I normally DON'T have high BP - so I'm surprised when she looks at the machine and says - Do you normally have high blood pressure? It's 197/99. Strange I thought but the machines aren't the most accurate things. So she proceeds to take it another 6 or 7 times alternating my lower and upper arm. All high. Now I've got 3 nurses in the room - and one is trying to insert an IV on my other arm at the exact same time they're on my other side taking BP. Enter another nurse. Now they're saying my pulse is at 166 (I'm stressed at this point because of my BP) and they decide they have to do a STAT EKG. (I couldn't even make this up if I tried.) So now I've got somebody putting leads on me, the nurse is trying to get my IV again and I'm being asked questions about my medical history. Can't get the IV, now we have to call IV Therapy to come down. At this point, I start to have a panic attack which I haven't had in years. I end up NOT even having the procedure. I was SO frustrated and angry. I think most of the apprehension came from the dr who was supposed to be performing it. I wanted nothing to do with this guy to begin with but I figured it was only an endoscopy and I may as well just get it over with. I was wrong. I have a call into my surgeon now to see if I can be recommended to someone else (I'm in awe that with as phenomenal as the surgeon and everyone has been with the hospital I am affiliated with this dr SUCKS!) I have never had anesthesia and while I am a little nervous, I don't know WHAT it is about the endoscopy that makes me feel like I'm petrified. I'd rather have the surgery than the endo done. I know that sounds ridiculous. This is something that I need to have done in order to have the surgery (per my surgeon) and I just don't know if I can do it because of the horrible experience I've already had. I don't know what to do so please help!

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone. I think all I needed to hear was from people who are going/have gone through this process too so you really helped! My surgeons office sent a new referral over to another GI doctor for me so I just need to call and schedule an appt now. I appreciate all your kind words and I will take the Valium suggestion into consideration!!

Hey, I don't have my date yet however, I am pretty sure I am submitting to insurance the first week of October which would put me at about November for a surgery date. As part of my insurance requirements, I have to do the 6 month diet prior along with weigh-ins. I have my very last one with my PCP on the 1rst. This can't come quick enough is what I say!!! (I can't believe how fast the last few months have flown by when I thought they would go slow).

I'm going through this feeling too! I haven't submitted to insurance yet but the closer it gets the more panicky I get. I've never had surgery before but know I need it to be healthy. My little girl is almost 15 months old so I know what you are feeling. I can't offer any advice but I can tell you that you aren't alone.

When I attended my informational session my surgeon had told all of us "Everytime there is a get together with my friends, my work and my patients always come up. Many people wonder about the people who choose to do these kinds of surgeries and whether or not they have the willpower because they are heavy, obviously can't lose wait and don't seem like they have tried. I tell them this: my patients are incredible people with incredible willpower. This surgery won't make them look like supermodels. But it will give them the confidence to believe they can be. This is more than just a few bad diets. This is a genetic problem. This isn't about success and failure." I wanted to share that with you because when I heard that, I wanted to shout from the rooftops that I was having this surgery. For the first time in my LIFE - I felt proud for trying. And knowing I would succeed. If you change your way of thinking now, and embrace what a wonderful decision you have made - you will go so far! Xo.

Hi All - I met with my surgeon's office RD today. She was very thorough (what a way to feel REALLY crappy about yourself - listen to someone talk about the food choices you make). I was a little surprised. I thought I'd be put on something like a 2200-ish calorie plan a day, according to weight - things like that. I was taken back when she showed me the sheet for 1700 calories a day and went over a sample meal plan with me. Obviously I plan on sticking to it: I have to lose a little weight before my next appointment in September when I will get her clearance however, I'm worried that it is almost TOO extreme. I'm worried that I will starve (even though it seems like a pretty good amount of food) and I haven't even had the surgery yet. I know that my surgeon's office only wants me to lose a bit of weight (like 10 pounds) before surgery but I look at this meal plan and I'm already getting frustrated! Have any of you had an experience like this? What did you do to compensate for your frustration/worry? Did it work? What are some of the things that have helped you with food issues?

Hey loving - my RD recommended Flintstones with Iron. And make sure you get your $ back at CVS for the yucky ones!

LOL, I agree Sheri! And thank you for easing my mind. The radiology tech told me after that the gi series is worse than the endo - but I have a hard time believing medical professionals when they say "ohhh, no big deal." There were two interns in the room as well and I told them part of their graduation requirements should be drinking a cup of barium. It was horrific! I spent the rest of the day in bed with a migraine, so sick! If all food tasted like that, I wouldn't need surgery!!!