Mommabird

No hummus for me. I will get "mashed" pinto and black beans starting week two. Along with low fat cottage and ricotta cheeses, low fat shredded cheese, eggs and fat free Greek yogurt with one protein shake a day.

Yes, I will get to have three meals a day, no snacks. At six weeks, I'm expected to be able to get all 60 grams from eating protein, not from protein shakes

I am still pre-op, but my trigger foods are starchy carbs. Crackers, chips, breads of any kind, potatoes, cookies, cake, you get the idea. I was given a copy of my post - op diet and am glad to see that I won't have to deal with any starchy carbs for at least six months after I have my RNY. I'm still in my mandated weight loss program and have one more weigh-in to go. I have to tell you, I could practically taste those sugar cookies!

We don't give out candy any more. All we seem to get is babes in arms (the parents want the candy) or teenagers that don't even bother to dress up. I buy two big bags of candy to donate to the YMCA's "Trunk or Treat" party. It never even comes into the house, I take it straight to the Y. Halloween is movie night in our house. The outside lights stay off, the inside ones stay dimmed. Much more relaxing for everyone (especially our dog!).

My classes said that we digest about 30 grams of protein at a time. I'm using Unjury protein powder and mixing it with a store brand of skim milk sold at a local grocery store that has 12 grams of protein per cup. I mix 1 scoop of protein powder with 1 cup of milk.

michellew1, I am SO happy for you! I also have Aetna and have one more weigh-in to go. Following this thread has been extremely stressful for me as my final weigh-in gets closer and closer. A week after the weigh-in, I see the surgeon to make sure everything is done before it's sent to Aetna. After reading your story, I am very much toeing the line diet wise and will until the day of surgery! Good luck to you and hopefully I won't be too far behind you!

I live in my Berkinstock sandals. Several years ago I could hardly walk due to plantar fascitis. My sister is a nurse and suggested the Berkinstocks. Told me that wearing them had stopped her problems. I don't have any problems now. Sandals in warm weather (which is most of the year here) and Berkinstock clogs in cooler weather. They were expensive, but worth every penny. I've even had them re-soled . Sam's Club sales a version of them at the start of summer called "Betula". Same shoes but much cheaper. I don't even have to wear them all the time now but usually do as they're so comfortable!

I'm with you, gwunderle! My 59th birthday is near the end of December and I'm hoping to have surgery that month also. I've already told my husband that I'm planning on being close to goal if not at goal by the time I turn 60!

I am so thankful that all of my encounters with the medical profession have been extremely positive in regards to my planned WLS. My GYN told me that so few people are willing to do what it takes to take back their health. Then told me that she was proud of me for being willing to fight for mine.

@@Kitt3000, I lost my mom in 1986 and as I was reading this thread, I started wondering just how she would react to my having WLS.You hit it on the head with the "food=love". It very much did with my mom. Four months before she died, when I was about three months pregnant, the doctor told me that if I didn't gain weight in next two weeks, I'd be hospitalized until I did (I had severe morning sickness). My mom and dad showed up the next day with an ice chest full of my favorite foods including seven T-Bone steaks (there was supposed to be eight steaks but their elderly dog helped herself to one) I don't know how she'd react to the surgery ,but I do know that she would have filled my freezer with tiny meals!

With my insurance (Aetna), I have a six month mandated weight loss program with monthly visits to my pcp.

RNY was recommended to me partly because of my reflux. It doesn't disqualify you.

Thank you MrsB. That takes some pressure off. I was hoping that was the case from the wording of Aetna's policy. I've lost 25 pounds with 2 weigh-ins to go, but the amount I'm losing each month gets smaller and smaller. I have to admit that the stress of it all is starting to get to me somewhat.

I have 3 kids and as of last night all know that I'm planning on having WLS. My 27 yo daughter currently lives at home while back in college and has known from the beginning. She's a little apprehensive but very supportive. My 34 yo daughter had a lot of questions but was very neutral on things. My 24 yo son came straight out and told me how proud he was of me for making this decision. He was full of questions and very excited for me. However, my husband doesn't want his side of the family told unless they out right ask if I have had surgery. If they do, I'm not going to lie. If they ask how I'm losing, I'll tell them that I'm working with my doctors on diet and exercise. Which is true now and will still be true after I have my gastric bypass.

I'm interested in this topic also. I had to get the surgical notes from a laparoscopic hysterectomy with umbilical hernia repair due to the surgeon using mesh for the repair. I am very concerned that my surgery could become open.

I have Aetna but am on the six month diet program. I've heard that if you gain weight you can be denied. That being said, their Clinical Policy Bulletin 0157 about WLS says no net gain. To me that says that if you lose more than you gain, you should be ok. I, however, have two more weigh-ins and am not going to take any chances.

I don't have gout but I do have bad arthritis and have used the unsweetened tart cherry juice. It worked great for me. I recommended to my brother in law who has severe gout and now he swears by it. I buy it at a local health food store.

When I first started approaching my doctors about surgery, all were very positive about me having WLS and all three (two endocrinologists and a Gastroenterologist) recommended bypass based on my history of diabetes and GERD. I still did my research and decided that they are right. I 'm four and a half months into a six month insurance mandated weight loss program and in that time haven't changed my mind. (the surgeon also agreed this was the best choice)

Hmmm. I also have Aetna insurance and their Clinical Policy Bulletin 0157 on their weight loss surgery policy says "no net gain". That being said, I will have to agree with winning_by_losing. After spending six months losing weight, why not keep moving forward instead of backwards. I 'm about to have my fourth of six weigh-in and am thrilled with the old eating habits that I' ve managed to break. I don't want to take a chance of regaining both the habits or the pounds.

Once again, I'm having doctor problems. First I lost my family doctor and my endocrinologist that I had first spoken to about RNY. Found replacements for them and and started my mandatory weight loss per insurance. Both doctors were good with what I was planning. Then had my cardio. appointment all set up. Got the phone call, appointment had been made with the wrong cardiologist. New appointment, new cardiologist. Then another call. The cardiologist wouldn't be in the office that day. New appointment. This morning, I get a phone call. My family doctor (the new one) is moving to an out of town clinic.All other doctors in the clinic are booked for months out. Will a physician's assistant work with my insurance? I don't know so I call the insurance. Hmmm. they aren't sure either. But go ahead and weigh in with the PA. Nope, not gonna until somebody is sure it will count. I call another clinic in the system, explain what's going on. Put on hold for ten+ minutes. Comes back, gets my phone number and tells me she'll call back. Less than ten minutes later, I get the phone call (I'm starting to twitch every time the phone rings) She was concerned that if I switch clinics, my weigh-ins might not count. She had called the original clinic and had managed to get me in with a doctor for my weigh-ins on the same days as my original appointments and at the same times. Just a different doctor. Why couldn't the first clinic have done this to start with? One thing I do know. I really need to do something nice for Ann at the second clinic!

I'm just wondering what is happening to all the doctors!

Has anyone here used the Bariatric Surgery Center at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas? Or anyone from the Waco area? I'd love to hear about your experiences. Robin in Hewitt, TX

I don't finish my mandated weight loss until mid November but gave up sodas in May (my easiest thing to do) and coffee in June.That wasn't as easy as I love my cup of coffee in the mid afternoon. Next up was caffeine, Towards the end of my first week with no coffee, I decided to go ahead and stop the caffeine. Had the headache irritability, etc. That Sunday, my husband and I took our son and his girlfriend out to eat, I was so proud of myself...I had made a healthy choice for dinner, had unsweetened tea with my meal. I commented on the way home that I thought I must be about detoxed from all that caffeine as my headache was gone. Then it hit me, I had two glasses of caffeinated tea with dinner!! So, I started over again.But the second round of headaches was not nearly as bad and only lasted a couple of days. Now when we go out to eat, I only drink water! And if you knew how bad the water tasted here in Waco, you'd know what a big deal that is!

I know that I'm only half way through my insurance mandated weight loss, but I am getting SO excited! I had my third weigh-in today and lost another five pounds and was able to get all but one appointment made. The last on (for my endoscopy) can't be made until after I see my GI Dr. at the end of September. One of the best parts of today was all the encouragement I got from everyone at the family practice clinic I go to. My Dr. and all the staff are very happy and excited that I am having RNY. They have worked hard to make sure that I have all my weigh-in appointments when I need them and are more than willing to work around all the Bariatric clinic appointments. After losing my two most encouraging doctors at the first of the year, I never expected to end up with two doctors willing to do everything they could to move me forward on this exciting journey!

I'm hoping for early December. Appt to go over everything before submitting to insurance is Nov 17th.