jjinWA

When you can put your wedding ring back on! I have not worn my ring in many years cuz I was too heavy and refused to resize the ring. I was always going to lose weight! Well finally I have. Put it on for the first time today! Sooooooo happy.

Encouraging words for sure! Thanks for taking time to respond. I will just keep on doing what I am supposed to do and progress as time warrants. It is nice to know that normal will come. May be a new normal, that is I am ok with. I just want to feel like I can enjoy my day with others and not have such a focus on my digestive track. ha. Right now when my family sit at the table to eat, I go outside. When they go to a restaurant, I stay home. Once I get on solid foods, I expect that will get better.

OK, so I spent 6 months jumping hoops for insurance and then focused on preop dieting, then finally had my surgery. I recently completed by 1st week liquid diet, and trying to process myself through the puréed stage. I eat 2oz and I am miserable from being too full! I struggle getting in my required water and protein numbers. I am managing about half of what is should be getting in daily. So here is my question? Will life go back to normal where what I eat and drink is NOT the focus of my every minute? I signed on for the new lifestyle, and eating healthy is truly my goal. But I want to just go on living too. Will I get there?

I added PB2 to my cream of Wheat this morning. It was a nice change. I was surprised how good the peanut butter taste was with this product. It was the first time I had tried it.

I worried about eating anything with seeds while in the puréed stage so I have not eaten the gorgeous berries that are in season now. Glad to hear they went down ok for you. I blended a pot roast supper tonight! 1/2 oz was max. Full full full!

No but I just had a very ripe fresh peach blended with SF peach yogurt. That was heaven. Banana would be good to.

I too lovely fit bit one. It is a SUPER motivator. Before surgery I made it a daily goal to at least reach my 10,000 step reqirement. Since my surgery I have progressed from 2,000 to 4,000, to 6,000 and today I have already reached 9,000. It may be close enough that I may be motivated for one more walk to get that 10,000 step level. I had surgery on the 17th of June. All of my family members are using the device too and we have fun competitions. Love love love my fitbit one tracker. My scale is also tied to this fitbit program. Received a 20# loss badge today! Made me smile.

Ok, what is a ticker?

Though but for the grace of God go I.

Really, just self pay here in the US? Try looking into that option. My friend just had her surgery in the US. $28,000. That is not even an option for my daughter. We both live on limited budget. I am retired with fixed income so I am unable to help her. She is single so only one income. Not sure how we can pull that kind of money out of the air. In the mean time others... the ins company, decide who can and who cannot have the surgery. This is not even a patient doctor decision as to the necessity of surgery! So what are the other options beside Mexico? Just not have it? I see my daughter live a lonely and unhappy life because she feels like an outcast due to her size. She has no energy to even get out and walk or do other exercise because her feet, knees, and back hurt so bad. It has become a vicious cycle. I am proud that she wants to make a better life for herself, starting with this surgery. Unfortunate, yes, that she could not afford to have the surgery here, but we have done what we can to make the best educated decision based on information available to us, and we will be heading to Mexico. As far as after surgery, whether it be the surgery was performed here or in Mexico, self pay is deemed elective surgery. So complications, if they occur, must be addressed for either patient. The location of where the WLS occurred should be irrelevant in regards to follow up care here in the US.

I love my fit bit. It is such a motivator. I earn " badges " as I complete certain levels. It updates my data via wifi to give me weekly stats on my computer. I also have my fitbit scale tied to this program. It is tracking my weight losses each time I weigh myself. Got my first 10# loss badge today! It presents a visual scale for steps, weight, etc. I don't track food cuz I am so limited right now having just had my surgery. I may update and activate that section later on.

I had no energy either. Moving to the puréed stage has helped that a great deal. I used to work to ensure I got in at least 10,000 steps on my fitbit each day before surgery. I got in 6,000 steps yesterday, 7 days after surgery. Before puréed stage I was lucky to get 2,000 steps in. So I am on the way up!

I understand HW means heaviest weight. This is likely what you weighed before the preop diet. Surgery weight is the weight you are once you complete the preop diet and head into surgery.

I started puréed food yesterday. What a relief. I was ready to move to stage 2. Had cream of wheat thinned with milk. Very thin! Had 4oz. No problems. Then had sweet potatoes puréed with chicken broth ( Apple sauce texture) , 2 oz in the eve. No issues there either. Will continue to expand my choices today. Problem I had though was cuz I was so full, I did not get the protein in that I should have.

I went through your same emotions a few days ago. Not for me, but for my daughter. She and I were going to go through this journey together. My ins approved but hers did not. We were truly crushed! I had my surgery few days ago. All going well and as expected. I see the disappointment everyday in my daughter's eyes even though I know she is happy for me. We wanted this sooooo very much for her as well. Basically she was denied for a very simple clause. We applied in June 2014. She had to be over 40bmi for past two years. Our facilitator did not tell us that until too late. Anyway, she was 40.1 dec 12 and 40.3 dec 13. They asked for weight from dr chart in June 12. She was 38.9. With no comorbities her 38.9BMI in June 2012 eliminated her ins approval and coverage. That is something we cannot argue. It is fact. So now the next step. After much research, thought, and prayers, we have determined that her health, well being, and happiness should not be determined by some arbitrator working in an insurance company! We have decided to self pay and have the sleeve surgery in Mexico with dr Illan. She is scheduled for July 22 and I will be going down with her. Nervous. Yes a bit. But I have to be honest, since I recently went through this same surgery a few days ago, it does not carry the stigma that it did before I had the surgery. Serious surgery, yes.... But surgery that has been done by hundreds and hundreds of people before me. I love my daughter more then the. I can express. She is truly my best friend. I must weigh the risk of surgery and her current quality of life to determine the course of action to take. Do nothing or move forward and go to Mexico. $4600 and 2 plane tickets and we will be on our way to getting her on the other side of the journey where she can join me on the losers bench. This decision is a personal one that we had to make. Your decisions are personal as well, but do not rule out Mexico surgeons. Search the posts here. There are many positive posts here on this site about several of the surgeons in that area.

I'm from the US, not Canada, but the questions and concerns remain the same. I personally and currently see three scenarios paying out here. 1st patient (me) had sleeve surgery a few days ago here in the states, with ins approval. Second patient (my daughter) having been denied ins approval is booked for surgery with Dr Illan in Mexico, in July (cost around $4600 plays flight). Third patient (my good friend) did not want to take the Mexico plunge and having no ins WLS option, had the surgery last month here in the states for $28,000. I have had no complications and on July 1 will follow up with a new PCP that I selected based on a personal reference that says he is compassionate with those who have had this surgery. My ins will pay for the follow up visits. I will discuss with him then if he is willing to also accept my daughter as a patient. If he declines, I take my business elsewhere until I find a dr that will see us both. Interestedly my friend who self paid in the US has been to the ER twice with complications and nothing was ever said about denying her service, AND her insurance paid for both visits! Following up for routine visits, if you have no PCP can always be done at urgent cares. They are located on almost every street corner! Anything more serious can be taken care of at any hospital ER if that is the only option. And if in the end medical bills become out of control due to any major complication ( not paid by ins), well bankruptcy is always an option. Many have taken that route because of some major illness that was not covered by ins. Question that I really have here is what are the choices for those that do not have ins coverage? Not having the surgery, having the surgery in the US for $28000 or having the surgery in Mexico for much much less $s? I really see my friend and my daughter in the same situation. Both having surgery with out of the safety umbrella of insurance coverage. Both are thus self paying. One is just paying a Whole lot more then the other. But irrelevant they are both having the same surgery, and likely by very qualified surgeons in full service hospitals. So WHAT is the difference? One was done in the US and One was done in Mexico? That is the only difference? Why and whatever would the reason be that an ethical dr here in the states have cause to deny his/her services simply because the surgery was in Mexico? Yes, it is considered an elective surgery, but so is the person who did this same elective surgery in the US. Would he/she deny the same person if the surgery were done in Europe? So the fear of getting followup care after surgery in Mexico is mind boggling! I guess I would wonder if there are actual true life experiences where a patient was ACTUALLY denied services because of having the surgery in Mexico. Or is this more the US/Canadian medical staff putting the fear of God in you first so that you eventually choose to pay out the big bucks as my friend did. That certainly was the case with me. My facilitator was very quick to tell me that I should NOT consider having my daughter go to Mexico because she may not get a dr to take her when she returns. I will be discussing that with my surgeon (her boss) when I see him on July 3rd. If he even acts one bit incredulous I will be all over his website with negative reviews! Sorry so long here, but had to rant a bit and get this off my chest!

I get my protein "stuff" from amazon. The nectar comes in packets or tubs. I love the packets because I can carry them with me wherever I go. I bought 4 flavors the first round. Have not tried them all yet, but loved the 2 flavors I mentioned before. They really are a nice break from the thick shakes premier shakes.

Interesting.... No, I am not on Facebook. Never used it. Omar promised me only 3 that day. Can you confirm with others that it is definite date for them?

I have to keep focused in that as well. I got tired of the milk based shakes. Went to syntax nectar and drink something call fuzzy navel, And another called Caribbean Cooler. I also go to the Click decafe expresso protein powder. I put that with ice and blend in my nutri bullet. Tastes just like Starbucks frappacino..... Well kinda. :-) ha

Sosola, you and my daughter will have surgery the same day with Dr. Illan. Omar said a third is scheduled who is from Mexico. We look forward to meeting you! We booked our airline tickets today. Are you coming with a companion? Countdown begins for both of you. Mine was done here in the states on the 17th of June, so I am already on the other side of my new life. You both have nothing to worry about. It will all go well!

I am beginning to question if I even had the surgery. No pain, no nausea, can once again sleep on my stomach...just weak from very little food and always hungry! Starting stage 2 today, so cream of wheat was good. Cooking potato and fresh peas and will purée together for lunch. Sweet potato for supper with a bite of tuna fish. See if that helps.

I had a hard time getting enough energy to even get my walks in. I am hopeful that now that I am stage 2 I can get a bit more nutrition in. I can't believe they have you on liquids so long.

Had cream of wheat this morning, thinned down with lucerne protein added milk. OMG...... So thankful for such little things. I feel like a million bucks. Wonder though.... Sippppped slowly through 4oz. Was that too much! I don't want to stretch my sleeve right at the get go.

We have booked my daughters surgery with Dr Illan for July 22nd. Anyone else have that date?

You are certainly not alone in dealing with your hungar. I have been starved! My surgery was the 17 TH. I called my NUT and she said as long as I got the first 50oz of wager in I could introduce Protein drinks in that first week after surgery. That has helped a bit, but honestly, not by much. My stomach, little as it is, still growls like it did in its much bigger version a few short days ago! I go to state 2 tomorrow and I can introduce puréed foods. I expect that will appease the hunger gods! I certainly hope so. This has. Even a very uncomfortable week. No more pain, nausea, gas, etc..... Just very HUNGRY!