Mommabird

hicksfamily, I asked the insurance company to fax the approval letter to me and then I faxed it to the surgeon's office. I got my date quicker than if I had waited for the insurance company to contact the surgeon.

My surgery is also on the 10th! My patient's handbook says to wear comfortable clothes that we can wear home and toiletries. I will also take my cell phone and my Kindle. I'm day 7 of 14 on the pre-op diet. I get 3-4 Protein Shakes and up to 3 servings of non-starchy veggies a day. I am staying busy prepping for my sister's arrival on Sunday. She visits for two weeks every two years. Good for me as she is a nurse!

Hiedie, it amazes me how people's experience with Aetna differ so much. My surgeon's office cleared me for surgery on 11/17. My paperwork arrived at Aetna the afternoon of 11/20. I had been calling Aetna twice a day and managed to call that Thursday just after they had arrived. I was approved that same afternoon. Aetna called me early the next morning 11/21. I requested a faxed copy of my approval letter and then faxed the letter to my surgeon's office. I was told today, by the nurse practioner, that the only reason I'm having my surgery in December is because I faxed them the approval letter. As of today, the surgeon's office hasn't received anything from Aetna. I actually got the last open surgery spot on the 2014 schedule!

little_mrs, I'm still pre-op (surgery on the 10th) but my surgeon also says three meals with no snacking. This appears to be a set in stone rule for this office. I was told no more snacking from the first appointment six months ago.

With your knee injury, you might consider Water aerobics. I have arthritis and had to quit conventional exercise. I've been taking Water aerobics classes for over three years. I move so much better now than when I started. You will definitely burn some calories without putting stress on your knee. I go to the YMCA for my classes but I know many health clubs offer water classes.

Good luck and stay positive!!!

I'm on day 7 of 14. I am finally reaching the point that I'm not starving all the time. Today, I've actually had to remind myself to have a shake! :-) My surgery date is the 10th.

You might try calling your insurance company and asking where in the approval process you are and how soon you can expect an answer. Congratulations on finishing your MBA! So exciting!!

It really is. I was so excited the day, just a few weeks ago, when I tied my sneakers and the bows were in the middle instead of off to the sides!

I don't currently have a primary care physician. I went through three of them just to get my six months of weigh-ins for insurance. The hospital system I use just merged with another health system and a bunch of the doctors have left.

Now, to top it all off, I got a message from the surgeon's office saying that my pre-op Calcium levels tested high and I need to go in for more blood work. On the good side, I'm betting that the stress over the lab work results has raised my blood sugar levels!

That break down of carbs, fat and Protein is per shake.

I'm on the pre-op diet until my surgery on the 10th. I get to have 3-4 Protein Shakes and 3 servings of non-starchy veggies each day. I'm getting about 9 grams of carbs, no fat and 33 grams of Protein. So, really low on carbs. Also, starchy carbs are the last thing added back to my diet post-op. So, I'm looking at at least six months after surgery before I get to add them back.

Hi, Robin! Good luck Wednesday on getting you surgery date! By the way, It's great to find another Robin here!

Robin

I look forward to that day! it will take me longer than you as I have to sit even closer. I'm only five feet tall!!

I'm an Unjury user also. I tried several different kinds, but didn't like them. I ordered Unjury's sample pack. I have to say, I didn't care for the unflavored or the chicken Soup ( never a favorite of mine). When I placed my first order, I decided to try a canister of the chocolate Classic (it doesn't come in the sample pack). I like it better than the Chocolate Splendor. The Splendor is a little to sweet for me. I even like the strawberry Sorbet and strawberry flavored drinks have never been one I like! The Vanilla is excellent!

I don't have my RNY until the 10th, but, my blood sugar levels are low enough that my surgeon has pulled me off all my diabetes meds!

I am still pre-op, but have a question for those who had Type Two diabetes before your gastric bypass surgery. I have always maintained good control of my blood sugar. My last A1C was 5.7. Since I started the six month weight loss program for my insurance my blood sugar has dropped to the point that I have been taken off my meds. Since I started the pre-op diet, they have dropped even further. To the point that I have had to give up my Water aerobics class. Will this stabilize after a surgery? Will I be able to go back to class? Right now they are running in the low 70s and each day they seem to get a little lower. I'm no longer comfortable getting behind the wheel of a car.

While I was dozing in bed this morning, I started counting pre-op days. I've been having twinges of guilt for eating Mexican food and pie even though I didn't find out I was supposed to be on the pre-op diet until mid afternoon that day. When I got done counting, I realized that the surgeon's office started me a day early! So, I get my fourteen days of pre-op diet without the guilty twinges now! ????

I'm already doing the pre-op diet ????and have my pre-op appointments on the 8th and 9th. I find out my surgery time the evening of the 8th. I get the being excited and nervous at the same time. Every time I post and see my surgery ticker, my stomach does flip-flops! ????

ga_ kathy, Thank you for adding me to your friends list. I noticed that you live in Raleigh. I lived there for six years while in grades fifth-tenth. Moved back to NC when I was married, that time to Jacksonville ( Marine husband). My sister currently lives in Macclesfield, about 20 miles from Wilson, where she works.

The only reason that I managed to lose weight for insurance was because I started using Protein Shakes. I cut carbs out of my diet also. I had plenty of energy to get done what needed to be done and even took a Water aerobics class! I lost the weight that I needed to. I hope this helps.

Good morning! I'm on day 6 of my two week pre-op diet. Unfortunately, you are going to have hunger pains,headaches and mood swings. That's just part of pre-op. That being said, there are, at least for me,things that help. For the headaches, I take Tylenol. Remember... no NSAIDS. Tylenol doesn't always work but it seems to take the edge off the headaches. As for the hunger pains, I drink hot Decaf tea. I can have artificial sweeteners, so I put some Splenda in it. For me, the tea eases the hunger pains. It doesn't always get rid of them, but it makes them easier to deal with. I drink a LOT of hot tea! Doing these things seems to help with the mood swings. Also, keep yourself distracted, if you don't focus on them it's easier. I read a lot, and I am still going to my Water aerobics class and will until I have to stop for my surgery. I don't know if you had to lose weight before you could qualify for surgery. I had to do a six month insurance mandated diet. I just keep telling myself that if I could do that to qualify for surgery, then I can certainly do two weeks of pre-op!!! :-)

Good luck to everyone! I'm scheduled 12/10

Hi, Shari71 I'm also scheduled for 12/10!!

Vabeachlady, you're making me so hungry! I wish I had had more time before starting my pre-op. I really thought my surgery would be later in Dec. By the time I was notified of my surgery date, I was most of the way through the first day of pre-op. Today, I get to go to a family reunion where all I can eat is a Protein Shake and a salad with nothing but vinegar on it. And of course, my sister in law is bringing three of my favorite dishes including the Apple cake that I told my husband I married him for to get the recipe. ????

I found out after lunch on the 25th that my pre-op diet was to start on the 25th. So what did I do? I went out for Mexican food that night! I figured that since I had already eaten two meals that day, I might as well get the last thing off my "have to have it before surgery list" Luckily, my list wasn't too long! I also ate some of the pies that my daughter bought from the culinary school for Thanksgiving. She had picked them up that day. A nice finish to the Mexican food ! Since then, I've been toeing the pre-op diet line!

Thank you! I needed a good laugh today!