Sharon1964

Hang in there!

I would say put down the chicken and just drink chicken or beef broth for Protein. I wasn't allowed chicken or beef even if it was pureed until much further out than a week. My surgeon doesn't worry about protein intake until you're on regular foods at around 6 weeks. Especially if you can't eat soy or dairy. What about smooth Peanut Butter or other nut butters? You can also puree bean Soups, although I couldn't handle Beans that early. I'm at 4 months out and I feel normal - although it is a NEW normal. My new normal is to order a hot artichoke appetizer with celery sticks instead of chips, eat maybe half of it depending on the size of the dish, and take the rest home. My new normal is half of a small chicken breast. One egg with cheese. Most of a greek yogurt. Four or five small meatballs or one large one. A three-inch piece of kielbasa instead of a 12-inch piece.

I have one pair of "fat calf" boots I can wear. I bought a different pair online some time ago and I couldn't zip them all the way. I tried them on this weekend during The Great Wardrobe Cleanout, and now they zip all the way, and there is room to spare! Also, I noticed there is room on either side of me in my recliner, which has never happened!

Okay that makes more sense. It's inpatient for my surgeon and my insurance.

Yesterday was a busy day. It was supposed to rain in the afternoon, so we started early and got the tree and the decorations out of the garage (my garage is not attached to my apartment). We also pulled out a lot of bags filled with clothes that either I or my older daughter had grown out of, and some winter clothes I had put away in the summer. After putting up the tree, I started going through bags of clothes, keeping whatever would fit my younger daughter now or in the near future, and donating the rest. For my clothes, some of them I would now fit in, and some were too big. My mom was folding the clothes for donation and putting them in new bags. At one point she holds up a dress that was a size 30/32, the largest size that Avenue carries. She says, "OH MY GAWD! THIS IS HUGE! THIS NEVER FIT YOU!" :: :: "Mom. Not only did that fit me in the past, but I got too fat to wear it." A few minutes later, she holds up a 6x top. "Okay, there is NO WAY this ever fit you!" Sigh. "Yes Mom, it did. Do you want to see pictures???" Now remember, this woman lives with me and has for several years. After I gave her the stink-eye, she says, "I guess I don't remember, I only see you as you are now." Good save, Mom.

Almost every insurance plan requires advance notice of elective surgery. "Day of" is allowed for emergencies only.

My surgeon rarely does drains. It was one of the things I asked him at my preop appointment. Ask your surgeon.

I was walking several days a week until about 3 weeks ago. I've having difficulty with a nerve that goes into my leg (unrelated to surgery) as well as plantar fasciitis in one foot, so I've backed off for a while. I'm also 5 ft 7 inches tall, which helps me carry the weight in a "thinner" looking way. I saw some friends tonight that I haven't seen since before my surgery. I got lots of "oh my gosh, you're skinny!". I had to laugh, since I'm still in the 300's.

Then $3500 is going to be your cost. My max out of pocket is $6650. Between all the doctor visits and testing I had this year, by the time I got to surgery in August, I gave the hospital $3,000 on admission, and the balance due was less than $100, because I had met my out of pocket max.

@@TodayItEnds Any news?

If it's a Medicaid plan, which I think it is because she said "Medical" (or "Medi-cal" as it's called in California), then they have their own requirements set by the state, that have nothing to do with the regular Blue Shield benefits.

If you're on Blue Shield Medi-Cal (Medicaid), your requirements may indeed be different than regular Blue Shield. The regular plans don't have a weight loss requirement.

@@bayougirlmrsc Thank you! Yes, I'm becoming quite the "pic ho" now... always wanting my picture taken!

As I said, YMMV.

My surgeon doesn't do the "liver shrinking" diet. Recent studies show the shrinkage is so miniscule that it makes no difference in the surgery. Not saying it's like that for everyone, just saying what I read and he told me.

Call your doctor.

Have your blood sugar levels been checked?

I had the same thing. I'm four months out now, and it's been a couple of weeks since I've had one of those dreams. I wasn't gorging, but I was eating things in my dreams that were definitely off-limits.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I did it! Four months and two days... ONE HUNDRED POUNDS DOWN! My next goal is a short four pounds away - to be in the two hundreds!

What's your max out of pocket?

There was a time not that long ago where people did not ask such intrusive personal questions of others. Sigh. Now I feel old.

I was down one more pound today.

I started off a lot heavier than you, which means I lose faster than you (generally speaking, there are always exceptions). Three meals a day, no Snacks. Each meal is 1/3 cup (measure unless it's something like an egg, then it's one egg). No Protein drinks (this is how my surgeon rolls). He doesn't worry about protein until you're eating regular food. 90 ounces of beverages per day (usually crystal light). sugar free popsicles (I like the tropical flavors) also counts as liquid. Pureed... no-sugar-added applesauce, greek yogurt (about half a container), mashed potatoes, hummus (eat with a spoon), half an avocado (mash it in the shell, add a dab of mayo, salt and pepper, and mix it up). I think at that stage I could have scrambled eggs (well, one egg). Wedges of laughing cow cheese.

On August 8 I had sleeve surgery. That's four months ago today. I went into this with no expectations; I was pretty much convinced it wouldn't work. Then the weight began to fall off. As I passed 90 pounds gone, and got closer to 4 months, I thought, wouldn't it be awesome if I lose 100 pounds by four months???? Did my body cooperate??? Nooooooooooo. I'm at 98 pounds down. The biatch is hanging onto those two pounds for dear life. STOMP RANT FUSS STOMP RANT FUSS!!!!! STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before: 4 months and 98 pounds down: