Nancy E.

Hi Dena, I'm about as close in age as possible, 59 yrs and 6 months. My surgery is scheduled for November 12, (this Wed.). I am on day 5 of my pre-op diet of liquids only. I will be happy to keep you updated as I go along if you wish. So far my 5 days on liquids only has gone well with no cheats. For me, day 7 will be the worst because I have to drink that bowel cleansing stuff and it must be pure salt Water because that is what it tastes like. I've had it before and just the thought gags me. I've never heard of anyone else with this problem though, so don't worry about it. Once I am past that I think I will be fine. I don't know if I will be in the hospital only 2-3 days with laparoscopy or if it will be 5-7 day stay because the surgeon may decide to do open surgery, he said it is a 50/50 chance for either. What I am longwindedly getting to here is when I get home from the hospital I will post my experience as well as ongoing progress or setbacks...which I do not expect any of those though! I hope this will help you. Feel free to ask me any questions you like and I will answer as honestly as possible. You will do great, I'm sure. What you are doing is for your health and it is NEVER too late to do something positive for your health. I'll see you on the other side!

Hi Sandy, I am on my second day of the pre-op diet and I understand what you are talking about. I feel pretty weak today but I didn't get enough calories in yesterday. I am trying harder today. Wish I could have some meat! I heard after the third day it gets easier. I really hope so. My surgery is Wednesday the 12th. Good luck to you!

Hi Kerry, Looks like we are on the same track! My surgery is the 12th. I am excited but also nervous. It would be great if we could share this journey together. I have two grown children and three grandkids. I am also blessed with a very supportive husband. I know we are both going to do great and it will be so exciting to be on the losers bench in the very near future. This time next year we will be our new, healthier selfs! Best wishes for an easy recovery!!

Hi, sounds like we are about the same. I too am 5'5 with highest weight at 236. I have surgery on November 12th. My insurance required a little higher BMI UNLESS there were co-morbidity issues, like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. I'm not a doctor but it sure sounds like you have a few. Unless you are paying cash your insurance will more than likely make the final decision. My surgeons office worked with the insurance company sending and resending paperwork until they finally approved it. For me, the process has taken about 7 months, with that including a 5 month doctor supervised diet. I felt like I was never going to get to this point, but, here I am, ready to start the pre-surgery liquid diet. I see my surgeon tomorrow and then I will begin the final countdown to the other side! Just hang in there and before you know it you will be "on the other side". Best of luck! You will do fine.

I don't have the same date, but close, November 12, and I am excited AND scared at the same time!!! I'm in Northern California. Do you have to do the liquid diet prior to your surgery? I see my surgeon this week to get final details. Good luck and best wishes to you!

I have had one almost yearly for Barrett's Esophagus and they have always used propofol and once they put the "block" in your mouth you don't remember a thing, just waking up. No pain at all. You will do fine!

Once again, Jonathan, you have great advice! I know in my head why I am doing this, but putting it on paper is a great idea. I imagine when we are really feeling down in the dumps, we are not going to be thinking of all the positive "whys". So, having it in writing and just pulling that piece of paper out at the right times would be very benificial!

Another great post, Johnathan Blue! I see my surgeon next week and then will begin my Hell Week except mine is two weeks. How does anyone survive 2 weeks of Liquid Hell??? Not looking forward to that, but I am determined to make it through, knowing that I am trading 2 weeks of hell for a lifetime of health. My surgery is November 12. Can't wait for that day to be over! Thanks for sharing, Johnathan Blue!

Thank you Jonathan for the great advice. I will see what my local gym charges and see about starting up water walking! Thanks!

Tamg26k, thank you for the information! I will check them out!!

Wow! Thank you for writing this! I have a surgery date of Nov. 12, just a little shy of a month. Perhaps I can begin to swim tomorrow. I don't know how to swim so would have to use a life jacket (and look like a dork, but that is ok with me!), would that still work? My ankles and knees hurt far too much to bike or walk anymore. I am looking forward to reading your future posts. Thank you!

Would you mind sharing the name of the whey isolate protein that you mention here? Thanks

I was wondering the same thing. My surgery is the 12 th of November. Scared but excited. I want to lose 105 lbs. but curious how long that will take me. Does there seem to be an "average" that people loose a month? And does your body know when to stop losing??.

Keep up the great job!!! What type of surgery did you have, the bypass? I am scheduled for my bypass on November 12. I am nervous and excited at the same time. My surgeon said he will try to do it laparoscopicly but due to excess scarring from 2 previous hiatal hernia repairs he may have to switch to opening me up instead. He won't know until he is in the process, so I won't know until I wake up. I think that is what I am most nervous about! I really want to get the surgery part over so I can begin getting healthy. I am determined to do whatever it takes to reach my goal and stay there. I hope I do as well as you have!

Thank you for explaining, jrotondella.

Thank you LilMs Diva Irene! I think the staying in my room is probably going to be my best option! I'm not a happy camper if I'm hungry and I don't want that to overflow onto anyone else! I know I will just have to "bite the bullet" and get through it like everyone else but I can't wait to be on the "other side"! Thanks again!

Wow! Great job! My surgery is set for November 12. I can't wait to get it over with and start toward the downward side! Thanks for the tips! I'm a little confused. I hope you can help me out with this. You said drink only liquid protien in the beginning, not shakes. What would that be? All I can think of when I hear liquid protien is protien shakes. Also, what is ND Muscle milk and where do you get it? Is that a protien shake or the liquid protien you are talking about. Like I said, I'm confused. I hope you can help me understand the difference a little better. Thank you. And you really do look FABULOSE!!!!

Congratulations! I finally got my approval yesterday and now have a surgery date of November 12th! I too am excited and scared but ready Tom o this thing and start my new life! Good luck and God Bess!

I'm so excited! I was finally given the green light from my insurance company after several months of frustration. My original surgery date was early August but insurance never gave me an answer until now. SO, my new surgery date is November 12th! I'm nervous but excited. My husband and most family members are against me having this surgery but my husband says he will support my decision. I'm so glad he love me! I feel my biggest hurdle is going to be the pre-op liquid diet for 2 weeks. Any suggestions out there on how to make it through that time in a "graceful" manner??? Anyway, I'm thrilled to finally have approval and a date!

My experience with the surgeons insurance department, so far, has been great. If I am put through to that department and get a machine to leave a message I have always been called back the same day, usually within an hour. They have been working with me to get approval from my insurance, who has been stalling the whole thing, from the beginning. I'm sorry you are experiencing difficulties with your surgeons insurance department. Perhaps you should mention it to your surgeon. Maybe he/she could help get the insurance department to contact you. It is not right that they are not keeping you updated. I wish you luck!

Has anyone gone into surgery expecting laparoscopic and come out having had "open surgery"? My surgeon told me it is a possibility due to scar tissue from two previous hiatal hernia repairs. If you have had open surgery how long was the recovery versus laparoscopic? Still waiting on approval from insurance. I'm getting anxious because I just want to get this done and start my new life. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

Is he regaining his weight back? Does he eat anything he wants or specific foods on his plan?

If and when my insurance ever approves me, I've been told by the surgeon there is a STRONG probability I will end up with an open surgery for my gastric bypass. Reason? Scarring. I have had two hiatal hernia repairs and he feels there may be too much scarring to do laparoscopically. However, I won't know which is done until I wake up from surgery. Surgeon told me probably a 6 to 8 inch scar, which, at this point, doesn't bother me..I'm past the days of wearing a bikini! Has anyone else been "opened up" for the bypass and how was the healing process? Did you have any complications due to this form of surgery? How long of a hospital stay is needed? Does it take longer to start eating foods other than liquid? Any advice you could pass along? Thank you in advance to anyone who can help with these questions.

I have Tricare Standard (West) before starting this process. I asked specifically what requirements I needed to meet to qualify for the by-pass surgery. I have completed everything on the list and expected a surgery date first week in August, as did the bariatric center I will use. Well, it is past Aug. And I still have not been given the green light. I've called tori care twice this past month as was simply told I didn't qualify. Say what? I pointed out that I had called in the beginning of starting this and have fulfilled all the requirements including the ones the surgeon added, yet could not get an exact answer out of them. The bariatric center called twice and have appealed for me. Early last week I called insurance again and got same results so I called bariatrics who called them too. We should have heard back today but have not. I am so bummed out I just don't know what to do. My hips, knees, ankles, feet hurt so much I hate to stand up. I'm sick of being out of breath after just a few steps. I hate using a bi-pap machine with oxygen every night (real sexy, let me tell you!) and I hate going out of my house because of how I look. I'm sorry folks, I guess I just needed to get this off my chest because tears just don't cut it. If anyone has any ideas I'd appreciate them, if not, that's ok. Thanks for reading and letting me vent. Feeling sad in the west.

We all have so much to look forward to in our "new" life! I can relate to just about every goal listed here. We are all beautiful inside and it's time to let it shine, with our smiles, laughs, new feelings of self confidence, and just feeling alive and energetic! We will each get there and sharing our thoughts and feelings with each other is part of that process. I am so happy we are able to do this. I look forward to watching each of you reach your milestones! What an awesome journey!! <3