JustBeth13

I'm at the very beginning of this process and reading everything I can get my hands on. I've been concentrating on researching the surgical options. I was wondering if anyone would share the reasons they chose gastric bypass over gastric sleeve. Would you share your decision process? Are you happy with your decision?

Hi all! I am 56 years old, wife, mother (of 2 college-age kids), dental office manager, Episcopal deacon, and sick of my weight. Sick of pain in my knees and feet. Sick of missing out on so much that I want to do in life. I've struggled my whole life long. Lots of dieting, lots of weight loss and then weight gain. The frustrating thing is that every time I lose weight it finds me again, AND it brings friends with it! So I was only 15 pounds overweight the first time I went on a diet when I was 15 years old. Now I'm 150 pounds overweight! I started thinking seriously about WLS more than a year ago when my husband and I met with a retirement planner and his first question was, "Tell me what you want your retirement to be like." I had a million ideas - all of which involved me fitting into airplane seats and hiking all over exotic locales. I was in so much pain (knees and feet) I realized that, unless I made a signifiant life change, in 7 -10 years I wouldn't be hiking exotic trails but I'd be in a wheelchair! I spent six months working out with a trainer and watching my eating (tracking every bite, etc.) and only lost 10 lbs! Seemed like I was going to be fat forever. Then, one day, my daughter finally came clean with me and tearfully told me how worried she was that she was going to miss out on having a mom for important events in her life - like college graduation, wedding, children. I realized I had to do something drastic or she would be right. I had VSG on June 2, 2015 at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, after having completed the 3-month medically-supervised diet required by my insurance company (lost 17lbs in the process!). So far, I'm doing well - 63 lbs gone from my highest to now, 40 since surgery. I feel AMAZING - knee pain is gone! I keep thinking, "If I feel this good now, IMAGINE how I'm going to feel at goal!!" Can't wait to experience that because exotic locales are waiting!!

Can anyone tell me how long it took BCBS FEP to approve your surgery once everything was submitted? I'm trying to figure out if I'll be able to have surgery the week our office is closed in June. My last day of the 3-month medically supervised diet is May 12 so I'd have just under a month to get approval and scheduled! Yikes!

Hello Oregon! I live just south of Portland a few minutes. Was sleeved at OHSU on 6/2/15. All went swimmingly until I hit soft foods yesterday. Overdid it - I swear I didn't think I was overdoing it! I thought I was following all the rules and doing what I should, but I just ate too much I think. Going to have to learn about listening to my body! Heaving this morning and am back to fluids for a couple of days. I go to the support group at Legacy once a month (Thursday evening group). Hope to connect with people! Beth

Isn't it funny how different doctors do it differently? I was on clear liquids for the first 24 hours, now I'm on "full liquids" for 2 weeks. Basically, that means anything that will fit through a fine sieve. Best of luck to you! We can do this!!!

Remember, fluids are the most important thing for us right now (I was sleeved 6/2), but there are good ways to get protein in without the shakes. Do you have any of the protein powders? I have two different powders: Isopure Zero Carb vanilla - 25g protein per scoop, and GENEPRO tasteless powder, 30g protein per scoop. The Genepro is really spendy, so I use it sparingly - mostly using the Isopure. You can get them both through Amazon. Here are three of the things I've been eating: Super Milk Pudding: SF pudding (I like cheesecake flavor) make up with 2c skim milk and 2/3 c powdered skim milk. Makes 8 servings 1/4 c each. You can add a scoop of vanilla Protein Powder if you want to amp up the protein. Without the powder it's 3g of protein per 1/4 cup (which is a great amount, I've found). If I add the protein powder, it doubles the protein to 6g. Cream of Wheat or Cream of Rice: Cook Cereal according to package directions. Dissolve 1 scoop protein powder in 1/4c milk. Stir into hot cereal. Mix in 1/8 t cinnamon and one MINI squeeze of Stevia (if that - I found it too sweet so next time I'm leaving out the Stevia altogether). This makes 2 servings 1/2 cup each. It slides right down and has 15g of protein in each of the 2 servings. Broth: Heat 1 c broth (homemade or canned low sodium) and mix in 1 scoop Genepro tasteless protein powder. 30g protein in the one cup. Anybody else have any good ideas / recipes for "full liquid" recipes????

You're right about every place being a little different. I'm on chewables or cutting meds in pieces for 6 weeks! Not interested in trying to swallow one of those big things so that's fine with me. I just cut them into two or three pieces.

Better each day. Strained one of my incisions on the first night home (day after surgery) by trying to get into my bed - which is significantly lower than the hospital bed was. I've been sleeping in my chair/ottoman for 2 nights now. Just reached for something and it didn't hurt - so there's progress there. Got 92g protein and 62oz fluids in yesterday (day 3) so I think that's kicking it! Also walked "laps" around my downstairs. Each one takes about a minute and I keep having to add furniture to circle around so they continue to take a minute as I'm speeding up. Anyway, did 52 laps altogether yesterday. Hoping all this pays off and I'm off these pain meds soon.

EnglishDan - I think we may have been on the same day! June 2? I also had to sleep in my chair as the hospital bed was way, way higher than my bed and I strained one of my incisions trying to get into bed at home last night (my first night home). I think I'll stay in the chair again tonight. Congrats on the pounds lost - I haven't weighed yet and think I might not until my appt on June 12. We'll have to see if I can hold out!l

You are not alone. Seriously, on the way home from the hospital I was looking out the car window and spied a KFC. "Hmmmm, chicken...that sounds so good," was what I thought. I could almost taste it! Ridiculous, here I was in a car with a pillow pressed to my abdomen and afraid we'd hit a big bump and thinking about fried chicken!

Me too, DebiDoo - how are you feeling??

Thanks! I'm going in TOMORROW! Yikes - I'm freaking out. Show up time is 6am; surgery at 8am. Wow, it seems like it took FOREVER to get here and then, all of a sudden, it's time to go! Praying for courage!!!

I'm up on June 2 and roller coaster is a great word for it - I'm hanging on for dear life!

How are you jane13??

My oh my - approval came in and I'm on the schedule for June 2! Yikes - this is getting very, very real.

It's official!! Approval came in and I'm on the schedule for June 2! Yikes - this is getting very, very real.

Tomorrow morning is my last appt with my PCP as part of the 3-month medically supervised diet my insurance requires....yikes, why am I getting so nervous about this whole deal??? It seemed like such a great idea 3 months ago, but I can feel my feet getting colder with each passing day. PLUS the stress of it is showing up in my eating so my pre-surgery weight loss has stopped! Gotta get my mojo back!!!

Thanks, scout mom. I have been discouraged - odd given that I was originally aiming for May 12 as the day my 3-month diet would be finished and paperwork could go to insurance. Somehow, moving it up got my hopes all up and then CRASH. When I had May 12 in my sights it didn't seem so far. Now it seems like I've been doing this "try to lose weight the old way that I've tried a million times before and not had much success with" FOREVER. Grrrr! This is such a mind game.

Good for you scout mom! I got a call from the insurance coordinator on Tuesday (6 days after submission) that BCBS wanted proof that I've had a BMI > 35 for at least 2 years (not a prob, since it's been since 1987) and saying they are not seeing the completion of the 3-month required diet. All of this is material the coordinator was sent and knew was req'd, so why it did't go in the first time, I don't know! Back to waiting......

@@kheartskat, I'm going through the process at OHSU. I initially made the choice because my insurance considers it a "Blue Center for Excellence" (BCBS) and covers the cost at a higher percentage there than Good Sam. I am VERY pleased with everyone and how well they do their jobs. It's easy to get to, easy to park at, nice people, they each know what they're doing, the program is comprehensive (surgeon, nurse practitioner, nutritionist, physical therapist, etc). Love the materials they give you - an entire notebook of information. Really helped me both understand the process and explain it to family. They work with me and my insurance, keeping track of what I need to do. I do have to say that I have been very proactive about it - working with them. Best part is they have been very clear that I am now part of the OHSU family - they will be with me though the surgery and beyond, following me for the rest of my life and standing by with support and resources. THAT is a huge relief for me. The only drawback so far is that their support group meets in the middle of the day in the middle of the week. No way I can get up there for those meetings (and still keep my job). I started going to the evening support group at Good Sam and was made to feel very welcome! My case has been sent to ins co for approval, so hoping that comes through lickety split and I will be on the losers' bench by early June!! Best of luck.

My paperwork was submitted to BCBS FEP yesterday! Now the waiting begins.....

Same set-up here. My paperwork was sent in to the insurance company yesterday (yikes!) and I still have not even met the surgeon. Weird.

I'm exactly where you are! I have about 3 weeks left in the insurance-required diet, then they'll submit for approval, THEN they'll give me a date. HOPING for early June....

MrsRoboto said: If this is how I feel only a few weeks into the process, I really feel like this is going to be hugely successful for me. I am feeling so excited and ready. Wow! I think you're doing great - laying down habits now that will help in the future. I'm in there with you!!

That's great! Way to advocate for yourself. I'm going to take a page out of your book when it comes time for me.