BitterSweet*

I agree with @@Elode's suggestion.

We're all going to suggest you contact your surgeon, but your problem does sound a lot like reflux. Even if the reflux doesn't rise all the way up into your throat, doesn't mean it's not problematic. If you're taking a PPI, sometimes the dose needs to be increased (either in miligrams or times per day), or may need to be changed to a different and stronger one entirely. Good luck!

I've seen prices posted by others that range from $4,500 up to $6,500. The surgeons who are on the lower end do charge more if you have a hiatal hernia that needs to be repaired. I'd suggest requesting information from the surgeons you're reserarching and omit your phone number. Communicate with them via email until you make up your mind. Some groups are a bit pushy and will ring your phone a lot.

Good luck!

@@Countrygrrl, details please.

@@Lacowgirl72, I don't know about that specific situation but I think when people are extremely obese, they can lose even 200 lbs, still be morbidly obese, and have a massive amount of skin that is very problematic. Sometimes they'll have skin removal surgery (which really is plastic surgery) to remove lymph edema masses and mounds of excess skin.

Appealing to the insurance company won't do much. They either cover bariatrics or they don't. If they did cover weight loss surgery and you were denied, then an appeal would be suitable. Lots of people have done self pay and went to MX. I think there are specific forums just for that. Good luck to you!

Awesome, thanks a bunch. Heading to the health food store tomorrow to check it out. I'm willing to explore every viable, healthy option to eliminate compliance issues after surgery. The more options the better.

Thanks for the tip about the powder vitamins; I'm going to check that out. Are your vitamin panels / blood work normal, and what does it taste like? Cost?

Yay! Good luck tomorrow!

The only advice I have is to not let problems linger for 2 months. The vitamins are essential for your health (as I'm sure you know) and if you can't tolerate them, an alternative needs to be found. There are different view points on whether gummy vitamins are suitable, but if that's all you can tolerate, it would be better than nothing - especially if what you're taking is inducing vomiting. Good luck; I'm sorry you're having a rough time.

@@BLERDgirl, I like that nutrabullet idea!

Yum! Love egg drop soup!

@@wannaBthinsoon, soon we'll be strutting in our heels and crossing our legs, looking absolutely fabulous!

@@FrankiesGirl, yup.

@@imsoglad56, Ikr! Walking like a new born deer trying to get its footing. ????????

Those are odd symptoms. Have you contacted your dentist?

Typically the day after surgery.

???? So sorry. Gosh that sucks. Are they going to try a lithotripsy to break up the stones?

Yep.

@ *Lexie*, do not, and I repeat do not use extensions while experiencing hair loss. Been there done that. Made it worse. The tension that extensions place on the hair just makes more shed out. It's not as bad with clip ins, but glue ins are a total no no, and sew in weaves will cause extreme matting. I've experienced hair loss 4 times and I've tried it all. Cut it into a new style or wear a wig if it gets really bad.

I think people have different experiences and therapy may not be everyone's cup of tea. For me, I don't have a problem losing weight. I'm great at that. My issue has been reverting back to the same bad patterns that got me obese in the first place, and I'm under no delusion that a VSG will fix that. Making the decision for surgery was difficult because of that. When I began researching surgery last year, I felt that if I could successfully address and move past the mental aspects / hangups that surgery wouldn't be necessary. I still struggle with this at times especially because I've lost a lot of weight and kept it off for years.

This is a good post. Perhaps it would help to write down a short list of the top possible complications and then list the signs and symptoms based on info from your surgeon. If anything were to come up, you could easily and logically refer to your list, determine if you in fact have any of the symptoms, and then do as instructed by your surgeon. Having a plan like this would hopefully ease your mind a bit and provide reassurance if and when you should seek medical help for any problems (God forbid). Even without the diagnoses that you have, others like myself have the opposite problem. I try to solve stuff at home and only go to the ER when I have exhausted all other options. So, I appreciate your post. It shows that we should have a good balance of healthy worry juxtaposed with treating ourselves at home.

@@CowgirlJane, LMAO!!

Yep. As a nurse I can tell you that patients who lie about having a cold and still proceed with surgery have a rough time. Chest congestion combined with anesthesia puts you at a higher risk for developing pneumonia or atelactasis. Coughing violently after abdominal surgery will suck and can potentially cause other problems. I hope you feel better soon and I'm sorry you got sick. =(