2goldengirl

No, it isn't just because of the dumping. Sugar can cause you to crave carbs, and, in addition, your primary need three weeks postop is for enough protein for you to continue to heal.

But you didn't answer what sort of plan you have. Usually CalPERS offers Health Maintenance Organization coverage. If that's what you had, and will continue to have, then so long as you remain with the same medical group, you should be fine. Your insurance company pays for the hospital, your medical group pays your surgeon. So long as Dr. Higa is contracted with your medical group, you shouldn't have a problem. Addtionally, if you have written authorization for your surgery from Blue Shield, you may be able to get Anthem Blue Cross to honor that authorization. Don't panic. This may all work out just fine.

You mentioned CalPERS. What sort of plan were you with, and what sort are you with now? If this is PPO, that's one thing, but if it's HMO, staying with the same medical group ought to work.

Is the NUT at your surgeon's office a Registered Dietician? If not, it's worth spending the $ to find one and meet with them. An RD has a Master's Degree and ceetainly will have better advice than simply "eat 1000 calories". Good heavens, that's appalling.

I think so long as you hit your Protein goals, and meet your Vitamin requirements, you can use whatever products work for you. Premier Protein is often recommended because it's easy to find and many people find they like the taste and texture. Remember that any bariatric center is working with individuals who may not have much education about food and nutrition. They can often be very precriptive for just this reason. Your situation is quite different, you have digestive issues that have meant lots of trial and error for you. You know what works, and what doesn't. Your RD or NUT will certainly work with you on making sure that you don't exacerbate any of your digestive issues. Good luck!

I am between my initial and pre-op surgeon visits. Not on a preop diet yet, though the surgeon would like me to lose 5# between the two appts, which are a little over a month apart. I'm not trying to diet, I decided that I was going to allow myself to relax and enjoy the holidays and the foods we usually have at this time of year. I know that's it's likely that I won't enjoy eating some of these foods in the future. So you want to know what happened? I just threw out almost half of a pie I made for Christmas dinner. I didn't have any. Not on Christmas, and not after. I'm not interested. Huz bought my favorite chips for New Year's. I haven't had any. I'm not interested. I have tins of Christmas goodies I made for when the kids were here for Christmas. I haven't had any. I'm not interested. I was completely unaware that somehow I've gotten a brain transplant

First of all, why would your doc prescribe anything that would impede your weight loss? Second, your body has had major surgery, and it needs to heal. You actually have an increased need for protein while you heal because protein is the stuff that new cells are made of. You can't make protein in your body, and the only stored form is your muscles. Later on, when you have healed enough to eat solid food, you won't get all your protein in the form of shakes. But in the immediate postop period, you can't eat enough food to meet your body's needs.

Your staples will show up on X-ray.

It sounds as though he is resistant to change. You having surgery will mean changes in your life and he doesn't like it, either because he plain doesn't like change, or he doesn't like that you took the initiative and made a decision that will change his life as well as yours. And the notion that sleep apnea is a government conspiracy is just way, way out there. You need to do what is right for your life and your health, whether he likes it or not. And I do not agree that you owe him an apology. Given his reaction, I can understand why you didn't want to put up with this kind of attempted sabotage for the past four months. When two people in a relationship have unhealthy habits in common, once one of them decides to change, it unbalances the relationship. Your husband will either get on board (with time) or he won't. I'm guessing that he overall isn't the supportive type - which is a shame for both of you.

People forget that not so very long ago, people used to smoke everywhere, including in hospitals. I took care of many, many smokers over the years. Many of them did just fine. Others didn't. However, smoking does have a significant negative effect on healing. I really encourage you to continue to work on quitting entirely before your surgery. Use Patches or pills or whatever you have to. Choosing surgery is a significant investment in your health. Quitting smoking will only help your success. Good luck!

Congratulations! Your smile says it all.

Well, first I suggest you start tracking your food and Fluid intake. And I mean track - measure, don't guess. It sounds as though you don't have a clear idea of what you should eat or how much. You should have gotten that preop from your surgeon, NUT, or RD. Second, are you exercising? How much? Third, stop trying to set your bar for success based on this many lbs in that amount of time. Focus on goals you have control over, like whether you exercise a certain number of minutes each week or track your intake X days out of seven.

Go to the Fitbit website, there are help forums there. You did mean "Fitbit", not "Misfit", didn't you? I have a Fitbit Flex, and I sometimes put in in my pocket or inside my bra when I don't want to wear the band.

I'm really sorry you don't have any support at home. Do the best you can and come hang out with us here, we're supportive!

Hang in there. Don't let people try to talk you out of following through on a decision you've made that will mean a healthier future for you and for your daughter. Stick to your guns and do what you need to to take care of yourself, and her. Are your family likely to be supportive?

That may get you in to Mexico. It will not, however, get you back in to the US.

Yes, you need a passport: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/mexico.html

Here's my question: Why would the demands of "the guy I'm with" or anybody make your doubt your decision to of yourself by having surgery? You have (I'm certain) done a lot of work to get this far in the process. You've been the kind of patient and persistent that is necessary to get this far. Please don't let anyone derail you now, or at any other point in the process. You are doing this to become a healthier you, which will benefit everyone around you, most especially your daughter. You don't say how old she is, but you are modeling for her taking responsibility for your own health, and, moving forward, living a healthy lifestyle. Based on what you've heard from others here, here is another thought: If this relationship isn't the kind of partnership you want your daughter to have in her future, give some serious thought to the example she is learning from you and your choices. Those of us who struggle with obesity often have trouble choosing life partners, because we feel we have to settle for less than what we deserve. And that isn't true, not for you or any of the rest of us. Every human being deserves a life partner who loves us for who we are, not for what we do (or don't do) for them. Do the best preparation you can for your surgery and your new, healthier you.

With a CA HMO, you start with your PCP. Their office will work with your medical group to get you to a surgeon and facility that takes your insurance.

I'm preop, but I wonder about this myself a lot. I have a friend who was sleeved a little over a year ago. She's lost 150#. I asked her how she dealt with the mind piece of it, and she said that even after a year, she is still a ways from being able to wrap her head around it. I think that part of it is that we've had so much longer for the "I'm fat, etc." messages to sink in, and not nearly enough time for the "whoa! Look at how much smaller I am" to sink in.

Everyone's surgeon has a different set of guidelines. It's pointless to worry about what someone else's doctor tells them, you just pay attention to what your doctor is telling you.

I'm SO GLAD you pulled them aside and told them to cut the crap, and gladder still that your hubs stood up for you not once, but twice. Fabulous choices of yours on both counts. The downside is that the more unperturbed you get about their nasty comments, the more outrageous they are likely to become. You and hubs just keep doing what you're doing, their smacktalk will only hurt them both in the end. Just wait til next Thanksgiving, when you're a year and nine weeks out from your surgery, and totally rocking some cute outfit and collecting compliments. Living well is the best revenge.

I've never heard of your insurance company, but the best way for you to know is to contact your insurer, and ask to speak to a supervisor. Ask the question. You can also ask your surgeon's office to see whether they have been successful getting waiting periods waived.

I'm going to be straight up with you on this, it's understandable that you're tired of your choices on liquids. But here's a fact. You worked hard to get this surgery. Why shoot yourself in the foot so early on? Being bored on liquids for a finite period of time is a drop in the bucket in the overall rest of your life. You're investing in your healthy future. That is worth sticking with the program when it gets, boring, inconvenient, or othewise a PITA. You're worth it. Act like it.

Four months isn't very long for your head to learn the new you. You've had how many years of looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing your "before" self. Your brain has to catch up before you learn to see yourself differently. Are you measuring yourself, say once a month? Something else that can fool you is wearing the same clothes. Have you gone somewhere and tried on clothes, especially clothes that aren't made from stretchy knits or with lots of extra gathers, etc. for "give"? Try on a pair of jeans and a woven shirt and I'll bet you'll be surprised with how much smaller you really are. You've made remarkable progress, own it and be proud!