Maggie Journey

@@kmorri, I am so sorry!! When will you know you're approved? I think that there is a time requirement that the insurance company must come back with an answer, one way or the other. For me, it was 15 business days from the time the surgeon submitted my paperwork. Hang in there, girl!

@@evette305, I'm so jealous! Lucky girl. I've got 2 full weeks of liquid diet.

@@adrinanna, I haven't been told exactly how long to take off yet but I had to give my employer some idea this week, so I said 2 weeks. I think that's probably plenty for a desk job. If the doctor tells me different, I'll just let them know.

Monday 5/2, the beginning of my 2-week liquid diet. Who else has started doing liquid diet/fast? How are you doing? I couldn't imagine how I was going to get through this. I expected to be starving, woozy, brain fog, crazy-cranky, etc. So far, I've been surprised. I wasn't even hungry today. Whaaaatt? I haven't even met my quota of Protein shakes and it's 8:00 at night. I'm going to have to chug tonight just to get in shake #2 and 3. Tomorrow might be a different story, but so far this is not as difficult as I feared it would be.

Hi Dira, that sounds brutal. Are you approved now, and did you get your date scheduled?

My heart goes out to all of those Biggest Losers who did this in front of the whole world and are under the scrutiny of everyone. They probably feel shame over their regains, and maybe even self-loathing. As a lifetime dieter, I can relate to those feelings. I wonder how many cruel comments they've had to endure for not being able to maintain the initial loss. I noticed that in a brief mention of bariatric surgery in the article, it wasn't negative. They didn't exactly promote it, but they also didn't bash it.

@@numeby2017, I'm really sorry you had that kind of negative treatment at work, and that "entrapment" line of questions. I get it. We don't need the judgments and the stress from these gossipy hags at work. The one that questioned you about everything.... I've got one who is exactly like that. I've already been drilled by this one over a thyroid growth a few months ago. They've already watched me drop 20 lbs through diet since I started this journey, and I've been treated weird by them over that slower loss already. Why does everyone have something to say about our weight? I used to go to lunch with them but I avoid it now.

@@bellabeans, I understand the yappers. I work with a lot of them too, including the one that I share an office with. Actually, even my new supervisor gossips with this one that's very near me all of the time. The one that's very near me (we sit 5 feet apart) is also a very jealous one. I hope that they don't put 2 and 2 together after they rejected your request for medical leave. Good luck! Please keep me posted. <3

complications from the hernia surgery......... hmmmmmm......seems that tangled web weaving is startin early...... Just tell 'em you adopted a tapeworm.... LOL!!!! That should work. They'll never come within 10 yards of me again.

I actually do have a hiatal hernia. They have said they may or may not repair it, depending on what they see when they get in there. I really hope they do fix it, because I have GERD really badly and I'd love to get off of that med. That's my plan, make it all about the hernia (to explain being out for surgery). But then, there is the rapid and ongoing significant weight loss following right after surgery, and the "weird eating". Any success stories of deflecting the attention and comments?

@@Megall9, I am right here with you! I'm about to start the 2 week liquids on Monday. A couple of days ago, knowing I was going to get the phone call at any moment with the date and I thought I'd be told to start fasting the very next morning after the call, I went out for a very fantastic Italian dinner with wine. Now, I hadn't had any starches like Pasta, bread, or even any wine in a long time because I've been Paleo for several months. The 1 glass of wine made me as high as a kite, and the food felt like lead in my stomach the next morning. Then yesterday, I ate the leftovers, including the tortellini my daughter had brought home. I still don't feel so well. Now, I'm thinking about this fantastic ice cream at a certain ice cream shop on the beach that was always our fave- I haven't had any in a really long time. I'm thinking about driving out there to have it. I feel like I'm never going to have any again. Most of all, I'm thinking about the fact that very soon, I won't be able to eat any actual food for a really long time. I didn't think I was going to be this crazy, but I am! You got some really good replies here and they're helping me, too.

May 16th for me. After this very long process to finally get to this point, it's such a relief to finally have a date! I have to do 2 week totally liquid fast beginning this Monday. It's hard to wrap my head around 2 weeks of pre-op liquid-only fasting, but I guess I'll just have to take it one moment at a time and just get through it.

@@FabFemale, thank you! I saw that on Etsy and love it. I ordered it weeks ago and haven't received it. I'd love to get it before my surgery!

@vonphillips, we're on the same diet! I'm not looking forward to this, either. Like you, I also don't do artificial sweeteners at all. Blech

Yes, it's funny how different doctors have very different requirements about the diet! Spreadsheets & tracking... I love it! I have that kind of personality, too. I recently got a Fitbit Blaze and I track everything on my Fitbit app and the site. I track all my food/macros and exercise, steps walked, stairs climbed, etc. Also tracking my weight. I've only had it for a week, but I'm loving it! Gives me total sleep, sleep patterns and quality of sleep reports, too. We are all going to rock this!

They told me it's for lab work. I'm used to getting fasting blood work regularly, and asked the scheduler if I needed to fast that morning. She found out no, they didn't need me to do that for this one. I've already had chest x-ray, too. Also EKG, stress test, etc.

@@kmorri, thank you for starting this thread. Real food, you are so lucky! I've got the 100% liquid diet for 2 weeks. 4 Protein shakes + sugar-free popsicle, broth, Jello, things like that. I'm going to use Premier Protein Shakes. Most stores around here charge $8.99 for a 4-pack. I just found a great deal for these on Walmart.com including free shipping and very fast delivery. I'll have it this Tuesday the 10th! Only $7.62. I ordered enough for 30 days' supply of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. I've been eating very well for months, Paleo with high quality Proteins and all sorts of fresh produce. My fridge is full right now. On Sunday evening I'll take the rest of the produce, zap it all in the Ninja to make green smoothies out of it, then freeze into cubes. I figure I can start using these during the puree post-op phase. What is everyone else doing this weekend to get ready?

I just got scheduled this morning for Monday, 5/16/16 and I am ecstatic! I had to do the 6+ months of nutrition, psych and other classes for insurance requirements, and it's finally here! I'm to start liquids this Monday 5/2, get labs done and pre-op visit on 5/11, then surgery 5/16. Happy Happy Happy!

I just got my date today, and we have the same date! 5/16/16. Yay!

I had expected/hoped to have an April date, but now it's probably going to be May? My Anthem BCBS insurance required the long route including all sorts of tests, recommendation letters from PCP, psych visits & psych clearance, and 6 months of nutrition visits as well as other required classes. I've been at this diligently since October 2015. Finally, this week on 4/7/16 was my last #6 of 6 monthly nut visits. I was so excited, I barely slept the night before this appointment. Now I'm DONE with preliminaries! My PA was so excited with me at that appointment, and I had the impression from her that everything would be fast-track now. I checked in that day with the coordinator and they're preparing to submit everything to my insurance company. They weren't talking about surgery dates or giving me any info about what's next, so I asked questions. They said it will probably take 2-3 weeks for the insurance company to review/approve, and THEN they'll talk to me about starting the 2 week pre-op diet and schedule a surgery date. That feels like they've just added about 5 more weeks to this process?? I went from euphoric happiness on the day of my last appointment, to emotionally crashing. This is such a roller-coaster of emotions. I called my insurance company yesterday to see if they got the paperwork yet; they hadn't. I'll call the coordinator at my surgeon's office on Monday to see if/when they sent the paperwork. I feel like I'm going to have to ride everyone to push through this paperwork and approval stage. I hope that the rest of this process isn't really as long as they seem to be saying. Not having a date is the most frustrating part. I will have to plan around my job and prepare to be out. My daughter has to notify her job also, so that she can take some time off to help me. Once I have a date, I know I'll be able to focus on that and will get through. Has anyone else at this point in the process (in limbo), and able to make things move along better? Any ideas or advice will be much appreciated. Thanks. <3

I have GERD and have been on med for it for years. I can't miss a dose or it's really bad. My PA told me this week at my #6 nutritional visit that my sliding hiatal hernia will be repaired during surgery, and then I can expect to be free of GERD.

I'm sorry you didn't get the support you needed. The two co-workers that have been closest to me (lunch buddies, etc) are the two that are the least likely to be supportive of me. They don't know about my surgery plans, but having already lost 20 lbs with healthy choices over the past few months, they're now avoiding me. At first, it was looking at my food at lunch and commenting (what's the big deal about a big salad with chicken?). Next, it was going to lunch without me. It hurts, but I kind of get it. Both of them have higher BMIs than I do and one has all the same co-morbidities that I have. They just don't want to make any changes for themselves. I would never suggest that they do, but it's not what you say, it's what you do that bugs them. You and I are doing the hard work and making changes. They only see how your changing reflects on THEM, rather than choose to be supportive. When you lose weight (regardless of how you do it), the people around you show their true colors, especially those who have weight to lose themselves. A lot of people close to us can't be supportive and encouraging, and that's a shame. I'm sorry you didn't get the support you needed. The two co-workers that have been closest to me (lunch buddies, etc) are the two that are the least likely to be supportive of me. They don't know about my surgery plans, but having already lost 20 lbs with healthy choices over the past few months, they're now avoiding me. At first, it was looking at my food at lunch and commenting (what's the big deal about a big salad with chicken?). Next, it was going to lunch without me. It hurts, but I kind of get it. Both of them have higher BMIs than I do and one has all the same co-morbidities that I have. They just don't want to make any changes for themselves. I would never suggest that they do, but it's not what you say, it's what you do that bugs them. You and I are doing the hard work and making changes. They only see how your changing reflects on THEM, rather than choose to be supportive. When you lose weight (regardless of how you do it), the people around you show their true colors, especially those who have weight to lose themselves. A lot of people close to us can't be supportive and encouraging, and that's a shame.

Hi Kimber, I'm sorry, 2 more months added. I guess that BCBS is one of the slowest ones. I'm glad to hear that you're scheduled, at least. Does it feel a little better to have a date to count down to?

Wow, it's been three whole months, since January 7th, since I checked in with any update! So, the thyroid issue I wrote about in post #8 - during the biopsy appointment I learned that it was a growth covering the entire right nodule of my thyroid. Very scary. The lab work came back okay, non-cancerous. Doctors want me to just let it be and they'll check it for any changes down the road. I'm now 3+ months into my Paleo way of eating and still going STRONG! One of the brightest moments these past few months is that my most recent bloodwork showed that I have REVERSED my borderline diabetes! Thrilled beyond words. My chronic head-to-toe pain is greatly diminished. My gastric issues are at least 75% improved. I don't have a scale and only weigh at the doctor, but I've lost probably about 20 lbs now. I've dropped about 2 sizes and I'm getting back into some of my old smaller clothes. It hasn't been rapid weight loss, just steady. I'm very happy. I keep checking in at my monthly required NUT visits, and they are very happy with what I'm doing. I was anxious at first and deliberately tried to lose weight a bit slowly because I was afraid that I might disqualify myself for surgery. They keep reassuring me that the weight and BMI that I started with is what they will submit to insurance. I still have co-morbidities that I'm taking meds for, and apparently that will get me in, for sure. Tomorrow morning is my #6 of 6 nutritional visit, the LAST requirement to get approved for insurance. After 7 months of working this bariatric pre-op process, I'm super excited at the prospect that I might soon have a surgery date and soon be getting ready to change my life!

Hi All, I'm pre-op, but this question is for everybody. Is anyone here practicing a way of eating, like Paleo or Wheat Belly, that eliminates grains, gluten & sugars, and focuses on high-quality Proteins (no hormones, no antibiotics, no steroids, grass fed and free range) + organic veggies and fruits? I'd love to get to know people who want to eat this way. I have a lot of inflammatory and gastric issues that I want to heal from (all of which help me qualify for the surgery). Health is my #1 concern and my main reason for wanting to lose the weight. I know from experience that grains (even whole grains), sugar, and junk make all my conditions worse, especially the arthritis, inflammation, gastro issues. I'm already feeling better. I believe that for my best health for life, I'm going to want to stick with Paleo style eating, even after my surgery. I've already spent a lifetime failing at dieting. I believe that everything I put into my body has an impact, good or bad. I'm done with just counting calories. Most diet foods are full of junk, too. Bariatric Protein drinks & products: I see a lot of ingredients that I don't want, including sugar alcohols, other artificial ingredients, and whey. Do bariatric patients have to use these pre-packaged Protein Drinks that the doctor's office is promoting? Does anyone know of healthier options? The issue for me with WHEY as the primary ingredient in a Protein Drink is that whey is dairy from milk -- and the dairy industry is pumping their cows full of hormones, antibiotics, steroids, and feeding them with genetically modified grains. However, it seems that most NUTs say that whey protein is better than plant-based protein for bariatric patients. I've found and have started using an organic whey Protein Powder that's made from the milk of grass-fed cows (organic pasture) and given no steroids/antibiotics/hormones. This product contains just the organic whey protein and nothing else (no added sugars, etc). It's got 100 cals, 1g sugar, 2g carb, and 21g protien. It's the best organic brand I've found. I've been using it in green smoothies. It has no taste at all, so I can add it to anything. The stuff my NUT recommends, Premier Protein, not only has protein but a lot of other Vitamins. Is this what we are required to drink especially during the fasting pre-op and post-op? Or, can we take pure organic protein like the one that I like, and just take supplements for the other vitamins? I'm going to ask all these questions at my next appointment in a few days, but I'd love to get info and thoughts from you. thank you!