kmorri

I think these are really good questions you need to discuss with your surgeon.....but I'll add my 2 cents worth. As far as a leak the risk for developing a leak is only during the first few weeks while the staple line heals....once it's healed that risk is gone (as far as I know)...... The risk of ulcers I really have no idea. If I were you I would want to ask my surgeon about his experience with his patients with these complications..... Through the research I did prior to my surgery I found that the risk of being obese was much worse than any risk the surgery had..... good luck to you!

@@JennAsVSG Have faith! I've heard several folks have really good results when the surgeon does a peer to peer review.....that's when your surgeon actually talks with a doctor who works for the insurance company......Most any time I've heard folks on here that had the peer to peer they were approved. I suggest waiting for your surgeon to get back from vacation and let him do the peer to peer first.....then if it's denied file an appeal. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!

after

@@doingitmyway I don't believe so for the Auth request......once the claim is filed yes, the denial from the primary would need to come first.

That will be tough. You should check with your surgeon....the first thing that comes to my mind is the weight lifting limitation...mine was no lifting of over than 10lbs for the first 4 weeks. Good luck!

I didn't weigh it but rather measured it by volume..... 4oz = 1/2 cup......

@@doingitmyway Remember that each state has a different BCBS plan....just because a plan in one state has that feature on their website doesn't mean yours will.....that is unless you two are in the same state...... :-) However, you can always call customer service and check the status of your approval.....and if it's been submitted for over 5 business days I suggest you call to check....you may be pleasantly surprised. I retired from BCBS of Floirida in September after working there for 29 years....they don't mind you calling to check. Just call and tell them you want to check the status of your authorization...they will probably ask what the surgery is, who the surgeon is, and what facility it will be performed in....Good luck!!!

My doctor prescribed 40mg Omeprazole. It works great for me. You may want to ask your doc to prescribe you something stronger than what you currently take.

it's very normal for your stomach to be making all kinds of sounds....this is not hunger....it's your stomach healing and gas. I am a little over 5 weeks out and mine still makes crazy sounds and it's exactly like you described.....just drink some Water and don't mix it up with being hungry. My stomach actually makes more sounds when I've eaten or drank something.............going for a walk sometimes settles mine down as well. Good luck!

yeah you'll start to feel the restriction once you start eating solid foods....

what kinds of food are you eating?.....full liquids?....Normally you won't feel restriction until you're eating more solid food.

Did your doctor prescribe a PPI? Mine prescribed 40mg Omeprozole. He wants me to take if for 3 months post op. I haven't had any issues. If you're didn't prescribe something you may want to call them and see if they will call something in for you. Reflux will have a negative impact on your recovery

Unfortunately there really isn't a trick to it......you really just have to force yourself to drink constantly.......focus first on fluids. You can get by for several days without getting enough Protein, but you must get in all your fluids, otherwise you could get really sick..........for me it was much easier when I focused only on liquids and got that up to where it needed to be and then started working on protein...I like using the MIO drops in my Water. Good luck to you. It gets better!!!

I had VSG with hiatal hernia repair.....surgery was on a Monday and I was working again the following Monday....but I work from home so I have a pretty easy time of it..............If I had a regular job I would have wanted one more week.

"Restriction" refers to the feeling of fullness after a few bites of food.

I retired from BCBS after 29 years and currently work for UHC. Nurse case managers are there to help you navigate all your requirements and ensure you know what to expect...and get all the proper follow-up care......They can answer all the questions you have about the pre and post op diets......I know you hear people say all the time that insurance companies are just trying to find reasons to not pay claims...............but it just isn't true. Now they do absolutely want to reduce the costs, but how they do that is by trying to ensure patients are educated and providing them with information that will help them make educated and informed decisions.....and hopefully prevent unnecessary cost due to a patients not being properly educated. I would absolutely take them up on the offer.

Once you're able to have pureed the Progresso Lite soups are great......I would open a can run it through the blender and put the rest in an ice tray and freeze it.....put the cubes in a freezer bag to use later......then once you're past needing pureed food the cubes are great to use for seasoning when baking chicken...

I did know about those things before my surgery but it was because of my own research not because my doctor or NUT told me.........It is something that needs to be clearly explained as part of the process.

I just went back and reread your post.....did you have yogurt and cream of wheat at the same time?.....I assumed you meant two different meals....I can just barely get a whole yogurt down.....I don't eat things like cream of wheat because I'm staying away from carbs while I'm in the weight loss phase.

It sounds like you're doing great......As long as you're in the full liquid stage you're not going to feel too much restriction....I can eat a whole yogurt as well and that's normal.......Once you move to soft foods things like ground meats you'll feel the restriction.....once you start that you'll want to start measuring your food and staying between a quarter to a half a cup of food at a time....Things like yogurt, pureed Soups and Protein drinks go down a lot easier because they don't have to sit in your stomach in order to be digested.... Keep doing what you're doing and asking whatever questions you have.

It's probably just swelling. did you also have a hernia repair? I had a hernia repair and everything felt like it got stuck in my chest area for a few seconds for about the first two weeks...........now it all seems back to normal. I can eat all foods now and the only difference is I can only eat tiny amounts..........which is GREAT! it's exactly what I wanted and needed! Good luck to you.

The one weird thing I no longer like after surgery is sugar free popsicles ......I loved them for years! Ate them every evening....now not so much! But another weird thing I've been craving since surgery is Mexican food! Before surgery Mexican food was okay but was not my favorite......I made some healthy burritos using ground chicken, fat free re-fried Beans and low carb tortillas for dinner last night and it was fantastic!!

I think everyone is different with healing times. For me once I got home from the hospital I was only taking over the counter pain meds......I still had pain when I'd first stand up or move the wrong way ......but at about 2 weeks out I'd say it was all a lot better. I had more trouble with just sort of feeling lousy, sort of weak and sickly feeling.....and that didn't get better until I was able to start eating real food..........Once I started the pureed stage I started quickly feeling my normal self again. Just hang in there and make sure you keep moving. the more you walk the faster your will heal!!!

I'm so happy it is helping you!!! I know it helped me. It will get better each day. I wish you the best. Please continue to post and ask any questions you have.

You want it to be be pretty tight......but I know for me it felt better on my lower abdomen rather than higher on my waist.....Good luck to you and let us know if it helps when your daughter finds you one.