KensingtonWalk

Insurance companies make deals with healthcare systems. So they agree to pay so much for a service and no more. It is likely that your insurance co has an agreement with your health care organization and you received a discount based on their agreement. This is a possibility.

Can someone remind me how to edit my current weight on my ticker. i want to show that 50 lb loss!

you look awesome can't wait for my surgery,

I have read a lot about that as well. In fact the hospital where I am having the procedure no longer uses the lapband. Not successful, and too many complications.
I have looked into the sleeve but I am hesitating because I have GERD and have read it can become worse with the sleeve. My husband isn't completely on board with the bypass but I am leaning toward bypass.

When I had my surgeon visit we talked about the options (our weight loss clinic no longer does the lap band due to complications-) After talking about the bi-pass and the sleeve we both decided that the sleeve would be best for me. Your surgeon wants you to be successful and is a great resource to determine which route would work best for you. Good luck- This is a great forum to get the ins and outs of all the procedures.

Hello all! I am just starting this process. Last week I had my first visit with the NP at the surgical practice. In two weeks I see the PT and Dietary. I am undecided as to which option I will choose surgically. I want the best, long term success possible and I know that will mean a lot of work. But I am determined this time to make it work and keep it off. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

Hello all! I am just starting this process. Last week I had my first visit with the NP at the surgical practice. In two weeks I see the PT and Dietary. I am undecided as to which option I will choose surgically. I want the best, long term success possible and I know that will mean a lot of work. But I am determined this time to make it work and keep it off. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

Having been thin until I was 37 ( when I had my first child), my guilt was in that for some reason I simply could not lose any significant weight anymore. So yes, I felt guilty that it took WLS for me to start losing again. I wish I'd had the intestinal fortitude to have this surgery before my BMI was 42!

I have had 8 abdominal surgeries, and the stay in the hospital is really not huge in the grand scheme of this process. You go into surgery, you go to recovery, then go to your room. They'll do post op vital signs and get you up to walk. Walk, walk, walk! It will get you out of the hospital sooner and you will feel better sooner. Walking helps get rid of gas, reduces the chance of deep vein thrombosis and helps prevent pneumonia. Use your incentive spirometer, and keep moving.

There is always that person who will tell you to 'just stop eating and do some exercise'. If only it was that easy. I wish it was!!!

Did you ask him what he feels your goal should be and how he is assessing your readiness? If he didn't communicate that goal to you it would be good to ask him that. How can you reach a goal if you don't know what it is?

I know what you mean. I am constantly hungry! Not looking forward to the next few months. I do find that not having carbonated beverages reduces that sensation. Having a hot drink, helps, and so does having something like bouillon or stock. Also eating small frequent meals helps with Protein and fruit, or veggies. Let me know if you find something that really works. Best of luck to you!!

I am also leaning toward the bypass vs the sleeve. I had my first appt this morning. I have to lose 11 pounds before they can schedule the procedure. Originally I was quite sure I would be going for the sleeve but now that I have spoken with the NP I am reconsidering. She told me the risk of malabsorption and malnutrition is much less if the supplement regimen is followed. That made me feel better.

Thanks everyone for responding! I've told the people I want to tell and the rest can just "assume" what they want. Y'all are right, If i tell them Im eating less and exercising it won't really be a lie and truthfully no one that I haven't told the truth to probably don't care anyway! If they ask Ill just tell them I had a procedure! thats vague enough!

I am also a teacher and missed the last two weeks of school for surgery. I told them that I was having a small bowel resection due to some stomach and digestive issues, both are true. I just did not tell them details or that it was WLS.

I choose to only tell my Husband, Parents, siblings and closest friends.
I figure it's **privileged** information so not everyone deserves to know.
I discussed it with my Boss because I HAD to, as far as the other people at work, I'll be on vacation for 2 weeks.

I'm just starting too. I have my consult this Fri. The one thing that has helped me through my million diets is Fiber. Like when I make a sandwich, I measure out my meat and/or cheese, grab lettuce and Tomato and use sprouted bread vs "diet bread" or that nasty whole wheat mush crap. The high fiber and living whole grains really fill the belly. Carrots or just blanched broccoli also help mean knuckle it through. The great part about carrots is you could literally eat a whole 1lb bag and not really add up a lot of calories as long as you leave the ranch alone.

Hi. I'm new. I'm just starting my journey to WLS with an RNY at the end of the road. I have a six month supervised period to get through and I'm making lots of changes. Weaning off sodas, cutting carbs and sugar, smaller portions etc.
But what has always failed me is my hunger. I'm so, so hungry. I need tips to get through this. Will this last forever? How will I make it when I feel like I'm starving.
I wish I could say I was craving something but I'm not. I just feel like a pit to be filled.
Anyone else know this feeling?

Do the rny!! Ive lost faster than sleeve patients and everyone at the docs office said its because of rny

I was planning to have the sleeve, in fact I was set on it for over a year. After I had all my appointments, the upper GI scan showed that I have reflux, which I didn't know about. I thought I only got heartburn every once in a while. I discussed it with my doctor and he told me that the sleeve can make reflux worse, so bad in fact that he has several patients who chose to have the sleeve that are no getting revisions to bypass. Since the bypass pretty much cures reflux, I changed my mind. The bottom line is, I am having this surgery to help fix problems, not create new ones, and with that in mind the bypass was the right choice for me. I finally have my surgery on Monday, June 1st! I cannot wait! Good luck on your journey.

Kensington, they were checking me for acid reflux. Which I haven't had in 13 years. Hopefully you won't need it.

Getting fluids in was hard for me because pre-op all I drank was Water and post-op I could not tolerate it. Here are some things I was doing during the early stages....
diluted apple juice, warmed in the micro
chicken broth
chocolate pudding
scrambled eggs
hummus
For the first few months eating is pretty boring and monotonous. Take this time to hit the RESET button on your relationship with food. Start to retrain your brain to think of food as fuel, not a thing to gain emotional enjoyment or satisfaction from. I believe that is the key to having lifelong success from this surgery. It's not the first few months of amazing (and easy) weight loss...it's the retraining of your brain that will make it all worthwhile for the long haul.
Good Luck on your journey!

This link will give you all the requirements for Cigna.
https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Welcome to the forum KensingtonWalk and good luck with your journey. I think for many of us WLS is a last resort after many years of problems controlling weight. It's not a magic wand but it helps enormously if you have the determination to succeed. It's great that you've got funding now and can start the process.

I survived the sleep study last night, worst thing ever. Can't stand restrictions on movement and things by my face, especially my nose. Finally got my surgery date. Monday August 10th. Last Nutritional visit on 7/10 then submitting to insurance for approval. I'm really excited.