Maggie143

Hey there - I had BCBS too. They require the 6 month classes which are really good (1 a month and 3 life skills). You learn a lot about living healthy and how to take care of yourself. Each class is about an hour. You get a referral from your primary care or what ever doctor suggested this to you. They send that letter to your surgeon. You don't need written proof of your diets and the surgeon discusses this with you and decides if the surgery is right for you. Then you start your classes, see a psychologist who makes sure you are doing this for the right reasons and mentally healthy, you get a stomach scope to make sure you don't have any other issues, you visit the sleep/lung doc, the heart doc for a check up of your heart to make sure your body will be able to withstand the surgery and the weight loss, then to the nurse practitioner for blood work, then back to the surgeon for your final appt and more blood work and pick up your preop diet materials. After that the insurance company approves your surgery after a letter from the surgeon stating you have completed your requirements.
It sounds like a lot of work but its not and its worth it. It goes super fast.

I agree - the pre diet is important. now that you will be flying home take good care of yourself! Welcome to the other side!

You are going to do great and smart to get that massage in tonight. Remember what your surgeon told you - walk, sip and sit up. IV will make you pee a lot so every time you get up to pee walk, then pee again before you get back in bed as then they will be taking vitals. You will have to get your rest when you can. Can't wait to welcome you back here with all your good news. Don't forget we want to hear everything! Kick butt tomorrow. xo

Good luck! Even with all my little complaints, I'm still so happy I took this step...I feel like my new life has started, too!

Hi Magoos mom! We might have to start a thread for 21 June sleeve patients! I only take a few small pills, so that's not been as hard for me as it is for you. I'm using melts for my Vitamins to avoid those big old pills! I'm envious about you and the Protein shakes...they're just not sitting well in my stomach at all. broth and water are my favorites, I'm going to add some unflavored Protein to my broth tonight and see if it's still as palatable. I can't even describe how much I would love some fresh fruit or vegetables right now!
I weighed myself the day I came home (post-op day 2) and I'd lost 10 pounds, I've deliberately stayed off the scale since then. I'm a Weight Watchers veteran many times over and I know what that scale does to my head! I figure I'm swollen, gassy and I'll wait another week before I climb on it. Good for you for walking! The days I was on narcotics for the surgical pain were so fantastic for me, I normally have pretty significant knee pain when I exercise and the morphine and codeine completely got rid of it, so I was walking a LOT. Now I'm pretty much off meds and the pain is coming back, and I can't take my NSAIDs yet. I'm toughing it out but it was a lot more fun pain-free I can't wait to go for my post-op appt on 6 July...I'm hoping I'll get released to soft foods and can start on my Celebrex again. There will be no stopping me then

Best of luck

Thank you!

I use PB2 and organic Peanut Butter powder in my chocolate shakes... Its really good!

You are going to do great and smart to get that massage in tonight. Remember what your surgeon told you - walk, sip and sit up. IV will make you pee a lot so every time you get up to pee walk, then pee again before you get back in bed as then they will be taking vitals. You will have to get your rest when you can. Can't wait to welcome you back here with all your good news. Don't forget we want to hear everything! Kick butt tomorrow. xo

You are going to do great and smart to get that massage in tonight. Remember what your surgeon told you - walk, sip and sit up. IV will make you pee a lot so every time you get up to pee walk, then pee again before you get back in bed as then they will be taking vitals. You will have to get your rest when you can. Can't wait to welcome you back here with all your good news. Don't forget we want to hear everything! Kick butt tomorrow. xo

Today was my tough day - I woke up and didn't have anything on time and I felt like I could get sick. It was the first time I've felt that bad since surgery day. I hope the flavorings help you too! Let me know which ones are your favorites and I'll get those too. Now you're helping me! Thanks for that. I didn't realize they had them here and cheaper. So happy about that. Dont forget on these low calorie days to get substance in like Protein Shakes and broth. They are only 70 calories so that is really too low to just have the waters in a day but it does help when you want nothing. Tomorrow going to put it in the nutriblast with milk, ice and Protein Powder and see if it tastes like a milkshake. That would be a good way to get in a lot of protein. 24 from the powder, 15 from the mix, 7 from the milk. That would be pretty awesome.

In my entire pre op week I only lost 8 pounds. You're doing great! Your body is likely just holding onto weight as it slides into survival mode.
Erin - 35 - illinois
HW:262
SW: 228
CW:219
Surgery date - 6/22/16

I had my surgery on June 21. First postop day was rough. I was nauseous and nothing sat right. I basically drank Water for the first couple of days. Everything tasted terrible those first days home. My tongue was coated with gunk--ugh--and I think that contributed. Pain was tough at first but now mostly just twinges. My biggest battle is trying to get all my pills down. I have to crush them based on dr instructions and I take a few things. That has been a real challenge. Overall though my energy is better and I can eat a bigger variety of things than before--broth is acceptable again lol, plus teas, Water, and I actually don't mind the Protein Shakes. They always make my stomach feel full and almost soothed. Trying to get all my walking in each day. I think I am down about 20 pounds total but my scale is a real pain and keeps giving me different numbers (like get on it three times in a row and come up with weights with differences of five pounds or more...ridiculous). Good luck to those just starting!
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My surgery is tomorrow. I check in at 5:30 a.m. for 7:30 a.m. surgery time. Trying not to panic and instead focus on why I made the decision to do this. I'm half packed for the hospital, and am looking forward to my 80 min massage tonight at 7:30!! Then going home, taking a shower, finishing the packing, and going to bed. Tomorrow starts a new life, right?
OMG...OMG.......

Thanks for this suggestion, Maggie143! I had my sleeve surgery on the 21st of June as well, and I am not interested in eating anything still I hope the water flavorings help. Everything I eat (drink, whatever!) seems heavy and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Sipping water is the only thing that appeals to me at all. What a difference from a couple of weeks ago when I couldn't WAIT to eat! I just ordered the NutriWise water flavorings here on Bariatric Pal (well, they're Bariatric Pal brand, but exact same flavors and packaging) for less than at Amazon, BP also has a sample box of the different flavors plus a sample bag of all the Syntax Nectars that so many people like. I ordered them, hopefully I'll like some of them! I hope you're doing well, I had kind of a 'blah' day yesterday so I got up this morning and am going about my day with a bit more purpose...I've got to shake this yucky feeling from the lack of food.

Mine too - same day. Yes everything did taste yuk for a while. When you get hungry you start not caring. Water is lovely now, with or without flavoring, my chicken broth is lovely but mostly everything else is gross. I bought this very yummy Protein for your water on Amazon. Its Lemon Razzy by NutriWise and you put it in your water and it has 15 grams of protein. The pink lemonade has 17 grams. Its really helped me since I have not wanted anything. For your information...
https://www.doctorsbestweightloss.com/shop-by-brand/nutriwise/diet-cold-drinks-juices-tea.html

Thank you. I have had to do the six month with the nutritionist per my insurance so since January I have lost 21. During this pre op so far I have lost 10.4. Today with losing zero on day eight it just threw me off. I think I do need to increase my Water and cut back on the crystal lights.
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Thank you Maggie I found the drink mix you mentioned and will try it.
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You are doing great! The cold water helps your swollen stomach but I do agree the room temperature was easier to get down. Keep us updated on your progress. We are learning a lot from each other here.

Thank you Maggie!!! Well yes maybe because I'm starving!! I will see my doctor tomorrow hopefully he will change my diet

My doctor requires a week of Clear Liquids to allow for healing. He is very conservative. Every doctor is different and you can always call to see if you can start your Protein Shakes early. I've been pretty woozy and faint so I started mine today instead of tomorrow with permission.
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Had my sleeve on the 27th. Stuck to the pre op diet too the t even though I really wanted some real food. Ended up losing 25 lbs in the 2 weeks before surgery. Surgery only took 45 mins! Afterward there was a little pain but not too much. I was up walking the halls of the hospital within hours. I was released from the hospital yesterday and it was good to be home. Have been walking alot and drinking my Water. Found that room temp water will go down alot easier than cold. I second the idea of sleeping in a recliner for a couple of days. My pain has controlled by only Tylenol since I was in the hospital. Found some liquid Tylenol at CVS where I take 30mls every 6 hours. Good luck to everybody out there.
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I had my sleeve surgery on June 21st. Everything tastes bad... Even Water. Has anyone else had this problem.
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Some people have doctors that tell them no Protein for a month or no Protein shakes at all. As surgery is becoming more popular, and there are more quack doctors out there. Expect more dumb questions.
Even if the questions are annoying, it is better people ask than suffer alone.
This is a support forum. Every topic isn't going to be about low self esteem, bad spouses, and gossipy co-workers.

I use PB2 in my chocolate Protein shakes. Tastes like a Peanut Butter cup.
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