Cervidae

Something to do with my PCOS. I believe it helps keep my skin-related issues from PCOS to a minimum. My specialist seemed to swear by it, and I actually have noticed a difference since I started it.

my insurance actually required the same thing, and I had the same issue you did, no insurance for a long time before I started this process. All they ended up needing was paperwork filled out with my primary care doctor and signed by her in which I tell her I have been obese for about ten years. Some things need documentation but a lot of insurances will take your doctor's word for it, and your doctor will take your word if you are open and honest with him/her. Hope this helps and is the case for you! Good luck, keep us posted.

Generally the documentation begins with your first doctor visit at the center you are having the surgery. Some insurances will take primary care physician data, but usually, in my experience, it starts with the bariatric center. Good luck to you! Keep us updated. I know 6 months seems like a looooong time but I had about a year between my decision to look into surgery and about 8 months from when I first went to the required seminar at my bariatric center. And 8 months, in retrospect, went by insanely fast. I am now 4 days post-op and I am still feeling a bit surreal that it has happened, the surgery is over, and I'm now beginning my new life. Hope this helps.

Congrats! It must be a wonderful feeling. I just had my bypass on monday, and my first follow up is this coming wednesday. I hope everything looks as good as yours does. Keep taking care of yourself!

I would highly recommend sleeping on a recliner or propped up on a couch. The very idea of laying flat makes me hurt/uncomfortable right now, and I had surgery one day before you. I've been sleeping in a recliner, mostly reclined, but having my abdomen not laying flat really, really helps. also it's much better support for your back right now, and that helps too. One more thing, about the gas - my boyfriend went out and got me Gas-X Thin Strips, they're less than $5 a box and one or two dissolved on the tongue reduces or eliminates my tummy gas almost instantly, and makes it a thousand times easier to drink liquids. It's been a huge comfort. Hope this helps!

I'm 4 days post-op. You are all going to do fantastic.

Oh wow, I will definitely look into this, thanks a lot for the info! This could be a huge help to me.

I've been searching for smaller pills but can't seem to find ones that would suit my needs. We have checked a couple different drugstores, walmart, wegmans, etc. Maybe I'm just missing it?

ah, yes, I'm in New York. Though it is still possible you could call your doctor and see about some kind of gas relief. Best of luck to you, feel better!

Thanks @@axlr8n, I will definitely look into that. Anything but the fishy applesauce, blegh! >.>

Hey, I'm four days post op too! Surgery buddies. I too have these sort of "stitch in my side" pains, and I realized yesterday that they are tummy gas. Not the gas pumped into the abdomen during surgery, but air trapped in your stomach and intestines. My boyfriend went out and bought me Gas-X Thin Strips, they melt on your tongue pretty quickly and work within 3 minutes. I felt almost immediate relief after dissolving one or two on my tongue. I would highly recommend them! I haven't really felt that fullness that is so common of new pouches, partly because I sip very, very tiny sips, wait about 30 seconds, then take another teeny sip. Spacing out the small sips but keeping them consistent has pretty much eliminated all discomfort I had the first couple days of getting used to drinking with my new pouch. I'm about to try a sugar free pudding cup for the first time, so I have no idea how that's going to feel, but my Protein shakes and Water have been working just fine with this method. Feel free to friends me and message me any time if you want to talk! Congrats on your surgery and good luck on your recovery. I'll be right here with you. ;D

I'm still in the liquid phase, as my surgery was on this past Monday the 17th. But I can tell you that I am able to easily finish an 8 oz protein shake, as long as I take tiny sips, wait a minute, take another sip, and so on. It usually takes me about 20-30 minutes to slowly sip them, but I haven't had any pain or even a full feeling yet, really. It's all about pacing yourself and listening to your body, from my limited experience. So don't sweat it.

How much was that altogether? And you you mind linking the site you got it and the nutrition info? Please and thank you. also have you tasted them, and are they good or at least not awful? My sense of taste is super sensitive since surgery 4 days ago... XD

Feels amazing, doesn't it?! Indescribably, to finally have proof that it's happening. I cried too the day I went in for the last surgeon meeting and scheduled my surgery. Just had the actual surgery this past Monday the 17th. Could not be happier and more hopeful about the future! Congratulations on your approval! Everything is about to get crazy, stressful, and completely wonderful! Keep us updated.

I'm rather gassy and bloated too. Walking helps but i also found that using gas-x strips that melt on your tongue do the trick for tummy and intestinal gas. It works almost instantly too so it's pretty great.

I was not required to do a pre-op diet (only two days of clear liquids right before surgery) but I put myself on one with my surgeon's blessing. It consisted of 3 low or sugar free protein shakes a day, as much water and tea as I wanted, and a small meal of mostly protein three times a week. I didn't think i would lose a lot of weight from only one week of this diet, but I actually lost ten pounds, much to my surprise as I stepped on the scale on monday, the day of my surgery. I have no idea what i weight now but I am very curious.

@@zackly, I just had my RNY on monday, three days ago. I got home today around 4 pm. They sent me home with oxycodone for pain, a nausea med, an antacid, a stool softener (which I truly do not need but I will follow orders and take it anyway), and a chewable Multivitamin to be taken twice a day. The first day was honestly terrible, but I spent most of it sleeping and on some heavy duty pain medication, so I barely remember it. The second day wasn't fun, but immensely better than the first. I had a bit of a problem with my drainage tube touching a nerve that was causing a fair amount of pain, but other than that, no complications. Today, the third day since surgery, I feel great. I'm sore, and walking is still a slow and mildly painful endeavor, but I can sit and stand by myself, take in fluids rather easily, take my medication with no issues, and I am generally feeling a LOT better. My advice to you would be don't push yourself too hard, it's not a race, but definitely try to walk, even if it's just a few feet from your bed to the bathroom, as often as your body allows. They say the gas pains dissipate the more you walk and I found that to be completely true. Every day has been and probably will continue to be much, much better than the last. You've got this. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me any time. Take care or yourself and allow the nurses and doctors to help you every step of the way. Soon, you'll be healed up and ready to start your new, awesome life. Congrats!

I just had my RNY three days ago, on Monday the 17th. Even only three days out, I don't regret it at all. In fact, I have this content, hopeful feeling that I've done the right thing, the worst is behind me, and my new life is now beginning! If you have any questions or just want to talk, feel free to add me as a friend and/or message me any time. Congratulations on your first steps towards a healthier, happier you.

Good luck! Keep us updated. It's a long process but totally worth it.

My med instructions say to continue my fish oil capsules (two enormous ones daily). I'm three days post-op and can barely swallow tiny pills. How do you guys take you fish oil? I tried emptying them into an ounce of unsweetened apple sauce but it was so disgusting I almost vomited for the first time while trying to down it. any suggestions? thank you!

Just got home from the hospital! I'm feeling soo much better than I was yesterday. Walking is still a little difficult for me but I'm doing it as much as I can. Liquids seem to be going down alright, including the skim milk they gave me (so happy I can still tolerate milk! I love milk). I have a ton of gas, though. Any suggestions on how to relieve it? I'm talking about intestinal gas, not the gas pumped in during surgery. That gas is slowly going away from walking.

Thank you for your well wishes everyone... I am leaving for the hospital now! See you all on the other side.

I've been so impatient, and so excited, and suddenly it's time to go. I wouldn't say I'm nervous, but I am feeling so overwhelmed, with so many different emotions. Ahhhhhhh! Wish me luck everyone!

All of the different surgeries have their merits, and what is best for one person may not be best for the next person. Really it comes down to how much weight you need to lose, your medical history, current health issues, your own preferences, the list goes on. I chose the RNY (my surgery is early monday morning! yikes!) for many reasons, namely because my surgeon recommended it, I have a LOT of weight to lose, and I am willing to risk more and do more to alter my digestive system because I perceive that it is the right choice for me. I would recommend watching some youtube videos of the different surgeries, perhaps watch some peoples' experiences with the different ones, and ask you surgeon what he or she recommends, as they have a lotttt more experience than any of us. This site is a great resource too, hopefully some other people who have had the various surgeries will be able to tell you some of their own experiences with them. Good luck! Keep us posted.

My bariatric center gave out a list of 15 or so doctors and what insurances they took. I chose the closest one that took my insurance, which was about 20 minutes away. The appointment lasted less than an hour. She took notes, asked me a few questions about my history with food, emotional eating, why i wanted the surgery, where I wanted to be in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, and that was that. No muss, no fuss. Sorry yours seems to be crazy. An IQ test? That's very, very strange... The whole purpose of these evals are to make sure that you're not crazy or that you don't have an eating disorder that surgery won't be able to help.