caroline2

Would you be able to sub a shake for a protein bar? My doctor let me. I get Pure Protein bar, peanut butter and chocolate. Tastes like I'm cheating! They are very filling! I wish you luck!

You look fab! If I looked like that, I would prance all over town with those shorts! Congratulations!

I was dreading the pre-op diet. I'm in my fourth day. I can't believe how good I feel. My energeny is up, walking without huffing and puffing. Feels great to feel good

I am told insurance gets billed around 50K for everything. The hospitals have agreements that the will pay x for surgery. You usually have to pay the difference of the negotiated price...not the difference of the actual cost. I'm very fortunate. Our insurance pays 100%. No cost to me. Cash pay usually gets a discount. I wonder if you got cash price billed from surgeon. Did you negotiate with with hospital and others that billed you for a cash price? I would call everyone you got a bill from and ask for cash price. Good luck to you!

My favorite is Premier ready made shakes. I buy mine at Kroger, but others say you can get at Costco and Sams.

How are you feeling? I hope your health issues resolve soon. You are in my prayers.

Congratulations! You've done great! Congratulations. Great tip about the pants. I wish you continued success.

What a fantastic story! Very inspirational. Keep up the good work. Congratulations!

Your story is very inspirational. I wish you much continued success. My surgery is in 12 days. I will be very happy if I have the success you are having!

I take anti-depressants, along with other psychiatric meds. My psychiatrist had no problems with WLS. Depression is a medical condition just like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. I would think as long as you are stable there would not be a problem. Good luck to you!

I've not had surgery yet, but my favorite is zero calorie Vitamin water. My favorite flavor is Dragonfruit. Wonderful! I'm on pre-op now and when I have it, I feel like I'm cheating. Good luck to you!

Good luck! I'll be thinking about you. Darn insurance, they make us jump through so many hoops!

I have not. Premier and EAS are my favorites. 13 days from surgery. I have not stocked up, as everyone on this site says tastes may change after surgery.

Good luck to you! I don't know about Aetna. My insurance reqired 6 months visits weighing in with my PCP. I understand...waiting is difficult!

Good luck! I know waiting for insurance approval is very tough. Hang in there. My process from start to surgery date was about 7 months (had to have 6 monthly weigh ins). Now that surgery is 13 days away, every minute was worth it. I got my surgery date about 7 weeks out, seemed forever, now that I'm so close, it seems like it flew by!

I'm from Memphis. Surgery date 11/22, Dr. Virgina Weaver, St. Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss.

Wow! Wow! Wow! You are beautiful! Your smile is so much bigger in the after pictures. Congrats on you weight loss and your hard work!

Started pre-op today. I'm one of the lucky ones... Breakfast, protein shake or bar, 1/2 c fruiit Snack, 1/2 c fruit Lunch, same as breakfast Snack, 1/2 c fruit Dinner, 3 oz meat, green vegetable, 2 sliced low cal bread Snack, 1/2c fruit Also, I have a list of green vegetable that I can eat at anytime I just had a Prue Protein bar...chocolate chip..for breakfast. OMG, I felt like I was cheating. It was very good! This was my first protein bar ever, so there may be better ones out there,

I have not been sleeved....two weeks to go. GERD can cause vommiting. I almost always vomit when I lay down. Good luck yo you!

I keep seeing PB2. What is this? Thank you!

So encouraging to hear good things! I'm sooooooo looking forward to feeling better, looking better will be a bonus! I love there is a section for mature people!

Hello all. My name is Caroline from Memphis. I have three grown children and two of them are considering having babies. I have to get in shape! I've been steadily gaining weight for about 20 years. I'm 5'3", 263 lbs. I start pre-op diet Friday and surgery is scheduled 11/22. I'm so tired of being tired, my knees hurt all the time, acid reflux stinks, COPD and asthma are worse with weight gain, depression is worse, on days off I just want to sleep. Something very strange...since I got my surgery date I've realized how weight gain has affected my life for so many years. It's been very depressing. I want to be able to put socks and shoes on without huffing and puffing. I'm glad to have found this group and the segment for 50 and over. I look forward to starting my journey!

Good luck everyone. My process from first informational seminar to surgery date (in two weeks!!!!!) was about 8 months. Very emotional times. I've always said you have to work very hard if you want this surgery! Insurance company (Cigna) made me jump through lots of hoops! Hang in there, seems like it takes forever, but your time will be here soon!

Bless you. I feel for you. I'm a former smoker. I quit cold turkey the day I started having trouble breathing a rushed to hospital. Diagnosis: COPD. Trust me, you want to quit before ths diagnosis. I wish I had quit earlier. It has been almost a year and there are times I still want to smoke. I don't. I'm convinced I will die if I take up smoking again. please get all the help you can. Have you tried Chantix, nicotine patches. I will pray for you. I know your pain.....but please stop before you know my pain of COPD.