2goldengirl

Thanks, everybody. I've coached more than 60 people through the process, and I've been taking care of postop folks for more than 30 years. It's different when it's YOU that's doing it. I've never lost more than 30# at a go before. It's going to be an adventure.

No advice except to stay off BP! You just had surgery. Rest. Take your pain meds, Take your anti-nausea meds (ask for them if the nurse doesn't offer them). Wait til the nausea meds kick in and then try to walk. It will get better, promise!

No. The reason you are told to take small sips is that big gulps are often downright painful with a new sleeve. I guarantee you have not stretched a brand-new sleeve by drinking water.

Next time add some water or broth. The soup would have thickened as it cooled even without the protein powder.

Back from my second visit with the surgeon after RD, psychology evals, visits with gastroenterologist and pulmonologist, upper GI X-ray, EGD, and sleep study. Surgery is scheduled for March 10, woot!

In answer to your question "how would I know if I have a leak?" - You wouldn't. That isn't something you can self-diagnose. That's why the number one answer in ALL cases where you are worried, the answer is always "call your doctor". Day or night. Weekday or weekend. No foolin'. Any advice you find on the internet, no matter how well meaning or well informed is no substitute for a conversation with your doctor. Sorry to hear about the gall bladder!

Scumbags are scumbags no matter what size you are. Unfortunately, society has encouraged men to treat all women as hit-on-able, which is stupid and sad. Just come up with some snappy take-downs and have done with it.

That's fantastic! I feel the same way you did (and I get these approved for a living, I think I know what will be approved and what won't, y'know?). Good luck!

I'm following along with you. I'm at the age and stage in life where the shelf that walks into the room ahead of me is gonna deflate big time. I won't have anything left but pancakes. I have a friend who has lost 150# and she talks about "folding 'em up and sticking them in my bra like socks". I do know from what I've researched online that adding implants isn't uncommon - evidently once you remove the excess skin, there isn't tissue left to make them perky. As someone who is currently an H cup, the idea of needing implants is mind-boggling.

I agree, make sure you have a local PCP and fill them in on your surgery and progress to date. Get your records from your surgeon. It isn't uncommon for people to relocate and need to find a new specialist. If there is a bariatric support group in your area, attend a session and let folks know that you're new to the area and need a new surgeon for f/u.

In many cases, you can identify your health plan's medical policy concerning requirements for bariatric surgery by Googling "nameofhealthplan State medical policy bariatric surgery". Then you have in writing what the requirements are for your health plan. Make note of the date of the policy. In my particular case, my health plan made the requirements easier after I'd gotten started on the process. This led to lots of confusion, as the member services and provider services people answering the 800 numbers weren't always aware of the change.

Have you asked your mom why she objects to you going to Mexico? Perhaps you could allay her fears and overcome her objections. I'm presuming that it would be your own $ you'd be spending, not hers.

No, it's good information for the anesthesiologist to have, and if insurance is paying, sleep apnea is a qualifying comorbidity for most insurance plans.

I tried to change something in my profile this morning. I got an error message that I had an invalid surgery date. I don't have a surgery date, there was something else I was trying to change. I can't get the change to stick. Help, please. Also, my surgeon is "not listed". How do I get Diane Kwan MD added?

My process would have taken much less time, but my insurance changed their requirements and didn't do a good job of communicating that, so there were some delays as I had to educate everyone along the way. So in order: 1. Initial appt. w/ PCP to get referral. 2. RD consult 3. Psychologist eval 4. Initial consult w/ surgeon 5. Visit with gastroenterologist to schedule EGD and upper GI 6. Visit with pulmonologist to schedule sleep study 7. Labwork 8. Upper GI X-ray 9. EGD (duodenoscopy) 10. Sleep study (to rule in/out sleep apnea) 11. Second appt. with surgeon to review results of labwork and diagnostic tests. My insurance doesn't require these, my surgeon does. Before I had my initial PCP visit, I attended an orientation session, and I'm attending a monthly support group of pre and post op bariatric patients. It took nearly a month to get an appt. with the gastroenterologist and with the psychologist, because the holidays got in the way. The truth is, it's hard to be overprepared if surgery is your choice. Long-term success is all about the choices you make postop. The preop process can be nerve-wracking, time consuming, and all of that, but all along the way, you're forced to face that this is a serious, life-changing decision.

These comments are most assuredly in very, very poor taste. I love Lipstick Lady's approach! Sometimes I think people are so surprised at change in others they simply neglect to engage the internal edit button. Keep on keepin' on. You are absolutely beautiful and deserve your success!

Excellent! In my hospital days, I asked one of our plastic surgeons how long following a weight loss someone ought to wait before considering plastics. He said that after about a year, someone would have benefited as much as they could from their skin's own elasticity. He also said that sometimes someone with a significant weight loss has some up and down as they settle into maintenance. So I'm thinking that's what I'll do, wait til a year after goal. I know for sure I want a boob lift, heck, I need one NOW.

Fantastic progress! Hope you feel even better than you look!

Most immaediately, I'm looking forward to the end of the pre-op required testing phase of this journey. Second appointment with my surgeon is on Tuesday. Postop, I'm looking forward to wearing a white shirt or tee without feeling like a headlamp!

Congratulations! Your loved ones must be so happy to have you healthy!

The one thing from Popeyes I never touch are the biscuits! Their mashed potatoes and gravy, though? Heaven. And their chicken is kryptonite to me.

They asked me to be there 90 minutes ahead of time, and I was, and they moved my case up. I was in the procedure room by about 2:20. First thing I asked for was a glass of Water, and the lovely nurse even asked whether I preferred it cold, or room temperature. I'd have had to wait longer to have it done to get an early-morning case, and this way I didn't have to take a day off work for it.

It shouldn't matter what your BMI was, only what it is. The policy doesn't say you must have had a BMI > 40 for any timeframe. As far as the documentation, remember this: your surgeon submits the request. They do this all the time. They want to get paid, so they want you to be approved. They will ask you for anything you need. and yes, you did spell "comorbidities" correctly!

Well she's certainly a lap dog!

My EGD is this afternoon at 3, so I haven't had anything to drink since 6:30 this morning. Yes, I would like something to eat, but more importantly, I am dying for a glass of Water here! OK, Whinge over. Carry on.