Luvin_Life125

Congrats!

Great list! I would like to add a few things I have put on my list. Fleece lined leggings warm winter socks sport arm band for my iPhone ear buds made for running and will stay put gift certificates for local thrift stores to keep me clothed until goal personal training gift certificates work out clothes in assorted sizes new fitbit moisture wicking ankle sport socks pajamas in assorted sizes to keep me clothed as I drop weight. THat is all I have related to my sleeve. The rest re just girly gifts.

I hope you feel better soon!

I take hydrocodone regularly and was swallowing the pills whole on the day of discharge from the hospital. I was given hydrocodone in liquid form while I was in the hospital. I suggest calling the surgeon's office and double check with them to see what they want you to do. Honestly, if you need pain medicine at home, it will most likely be in the first 48 hours after you get home. You can buy a pill crusher at any pharmacy to help make life a little easier to get them fully crushed. Good luck with surgery!

Lol I used to run 3-5 miles a day 6 or 7 years ago at 4:30 am outside every morning before work . I physically hate running! I hate feeling my body jiggling and hate that my boobs get in the way. However, I loved the mental aspect of running. It was my quiet and alone time where nobody needed anything from me and I could mentally shut down for a while. My body slimmed down rapidly once I was running regularly and didn't have quite as much jiggle after a while. I got injured and haven't run in years and I do truly miss it. It does grow on you after a while! On another note- if you need a high compression sports bra try Enell brand. They are absolutely hideous and ugly, but your boobs Do Not move at ALL. I wear a g cup and had never found a sports bra that would keep them still. I used to wear multiple sports bras and then wrap an ace bandage around over the top just to keep them somewhat still. I just had to share that little piece of advise too.

OMG there is nothing wrong with you, your surgical and recovery path, or your success! That doc needs a lesson in compassion and a few in verbal communication. You have lost the weight, successfully maintained your loss, and kept your sanity through it all. As far as bariatric Pal is concerned, it wouldn't be the same without you. Please don't let other peoples doubts affect your choices. ((((Hugs))))

I am so sorry your surgery was denied. Unfortunately, it happens more often than it should. Appeal the denial all the way. Your best bet when you appeal is to first get a copy of your plan's bariatric surgery coverage guidelines. Make sure you read and understand the guidelines. Also, get the exact reason for the initial denial from your insurer not the doctor's office. Once you have all of this information write your appeal using the coverage guidelines as a blueprint to show you meet a,b,c,d, etc. Keep the appeal factual and without emotion. Your best bet is to fight the denial with logic. Good luck and please let us know how the appeals process goes.

I am trying to work up the courage to attend my first yoga class at the gym. The women are so petite and flexible, unlike me. I think I will bite the bullet and just go for it on Friday. Thanks for having the courage to give it a try and to tell us about it !!

Drinking is tough for the first couple of weeks. I am just 4 weeks post op and wasn't able to regularly get in 64 Ounces of liquid daily until last week. I still come up short on my fluid goals once in a while , but it only happens every 5 or 6 days now. It is so hard to retrain yourself to constantly be sipping on something. Once you get used to always having something on hand to drink you will get closer and closer to your goals. Good luck!

Woo Hooo! Wonderful NSV!

You will be nervous the day before or day of surgery and that is normal! Don't let those last minute fears talk you out of a surgery you rationally decided to have and have worked for months to get to. Nervous is normal because it is a big change. Also, the first week after surgery you likely will not be able to meet either your Protein intake goals or your Fluid intake goals and likely both. Do the best you can to work on both every day. Every day it will get better but don't panic if you can't get x grams of protein or x ounces of Water. Your primary goal the first week is to heal and get enough fluids to keep hydrated enough. Sip constantly when you are awake and as long as you are really trying to stay hydrated, you probably can stay hydrated enough. You will be tired, have little stamina, and probably be frustrated by it. Remember you just had major surgery and your priority is to heal. sleep (especially extra sleep) is almost as important as fluids. Cut yourself some slack and let your body do what it has to. Constipation is a common concern after surgery. Please work on easing the problem sooner rather than later. If you need ideas to help ease the constipation do a quick search on these forums. The subject has been discussed many times and there are some great suggestions available to help. Remember we are all here to support you! If you need anything ( support, questions, to vent) ask here or reach out! Good luck and can't wait until you join the loser's bench!

I am 4 weeks post op. The first photo is the front of my belly. Please disregard the stretch marks I have had 2 huge babies. The second photo is of my drain site that was left to close on its own with no stitches and no glue.

Congrats on the approval!!!

Not vain in my eyes. I think I was so unhappy with myself that I did nothing for myself for so long. I just joined a gym and have an appointment scheduled for a haircut and perm. I have also started buying makeup again which I haven't done in a few years. We just haven't done much beyond the basics for ourselves in so long, it feels weird to be buying things and doing things to make our selves look and feel better.

I am very open also about surgery. I haven't posted it on Facebook , but I don't post much on there. I will be completely honest with people when they ask how I lost weight. I will also be sure to tell them about the strict diet and the hour plus I spend in the gym 6 days a week too. I would never want to mislead anyone about what the sleeve surgery will and will not do for you. I know not everyone is comfortable sharing that much info and that is ok too. Different strokes for different folks as my Granny used to say! Good luck finding a middle ground that is comfortable for you. You look wonderful. Great job

2 nights for me. The doc wanted to send me home after the first night but I was having trouble with pain control and getting enough fluids in orally. I asked for the 2nd night because I live over 3 hours from the hospital. I was really glad I stayed the 2nd night because it made a world of difference.

I drink smooth move tea regularly because my sleeve, iron, and daily narcotics do a FABULOUS job of stopping the works up effectively . I have never had a problem with it causing cramping or explosive issues. The tea is one of the more gentle methods I have found to help alleviate the constipation. I hope your experience is not a bad one! Please keep us updated as to what your experience is.

Good luck! The first appointments are just to educate you, set up expectations, and discuss options . Please don't be nervous. Ask any questions you might have that you haven't found an answer to or that are specific to you and your medical needs. Please let us all know how it goes.

Congratulations to you both!

My husband thinks I was in there for close to 4 hours. Of course, I didn't know and didn't care

Take it slow and keep working on fluid and protein. You probably won't hit your protein and fluid goals for a few weeks yet and that is fine. Your #1 priority right now is healing. Give yourself time to heal while getting as much protein and fluid in as you can. It gets better everyday and your intake will gradually improve too. Don't be too hard on yourselves! Keep up the great work and congratulations on your surgery!

You should submit every claim along with your primary insurers EOB to your secondary insurer. You never know what they might cover or what balance may be written off by the secondary payer due to their contracted allowed amounts. Absolutely worth the try!

Do the best that you can with your fluids and protein. Chances are you won't be able to hit your goals yet and that is ok. It took me until about 2 weeks post op to hit my fluid intake goals and another week to hit the protein goals. The first couple of weeks are about healing and recovering. You will be able to get more fluid and more protein in every day and it does get better . Give yourself some time. You are doing great and keep up the good work!

I was surprised by how little I would actually be able to eat. I know the quantities would be small after surgery and have seen in mentioned many times. However, actually having it happen to me after eating half of 1 scrambled egg was a shock to the system. Compared to how much I was able and did eat before surgery to what I eat now is shocking!