Ms. Brightside

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Yes, I received one at my pre-op appointment today.

However, I have never had a problem ordering off of the kid's menu in the past. Most restaurants do not seem to mind. The only exception that comes to mind as a potential problem would be a fancy high end restaurant. Even then, you could always get a to-go container or order a couple of appetizers.

15 hours ago, SEAHAWKS FAN! said:

Found these today on the website. There's a list of stores that they say will ship on request. No Beef & No chicken flavored broth/soup base. The vegetable broth is delicious! Can't wait to try these. Will be great for pre-op post-op & liquid diets.

http://www.betterthanbouillon.com/products/default.aspx?catid=3

I haven't ever had this brand, but I really do like these vegan bouillon cubes:

https://www.iherb.com/pr/Edward-Sons-Not-Chick-n-Natural-Bouillon-Cubes-8-Cubes-9-g-Each/32711?gclid=CjwKEAjwxurIBRDnt7P7rODiq0USJADwjt5DAIbCjJfyRaWU2vimTIosuwoFh69rQ-jzDyZH7t93VhoCf7bw_wcB

I have found them at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger, so just another option for you!

9 hours ago, Navigating the Wilderness said:

They look good, and I truly despise chicken broth, but I don't see any Protein in them and post-op EVERYTHING you eat should have Protein in it. Just wanted to point that out. Maybe you have a protein you can add to it?

I've been plant-based for a long time now, so I don't know the answer to this, but...does animal-based broth have protein in it? My first three days post-op are Clear Liquids only and that is what my surgeon wants me to focus on. Protein starts on day 4.

22 hours ago, rosstheboss said:

Wow. My dr will do sleeves for 10k. It's done at a really nice surgical facility they were just day surgery but have started to keep people overnight for Bariatric surgery

The cash option (vs insurance) is always going to be less expensive. Most surgeons in my area will perform a VSG for around $10-12K, but the insurance rate is easily three-four times that amount.

Bravo!

I received the estimate from my hospital last week (surgery is next week). $32-36K for the hospital only. This does not include the fees for the surgeon, surgeon's assistant, or anesthesiologist. This is for the sleeve and is not a revision.

I had my pre-op at the hospital last week. That consisted of testing (upper GI & EKG; would also normally include blood work, but I had that done previously), pre-registration (with the expectation of payment (or a down payment) for the hospital's services), and a mini-appointment with a pre-op nurse to go over my medical history, etc. There was no hospital tour, nor did I ask for one (what's important to me is the hospital's ratings, not what the room I'll be spending one or two nights in looks like. And, of course, I had already researched that info online).

I have my pre-op with my surgeon this week. I have been told that he will review my test results with me and I will be given the chance to ask any additional questions before surgery next week.

On 5/14/2017 at 9:52 AM, Dashofpixiedust8 said:

@teacupnosaucer Yeah, I live with my parents...They are also both overweight. They are happy I am making this change for myself but are not ready to make the change for themselves...So they buy all sorts of crap. they have, after much begging, stopped putting it in the kitchen. But I know where they keep it. I try not to think about it but I know it's there and when I'm having a really bad day it's hard to just be like, there's nothing there.

That's true about the head hunger vs actual hunger. I will try the whole waiting 20 minutes thing. Thanks for that tip!

@Ms. Brightside Haha! pampering is always nice! I like to get my nails done and that is my pampering though I can only do that every couple weeks. I can't now though because I will be having plastic surgery on my extra skin on June 5th...I will just have to get it taken off so I figure I might as well wait! I might get a pedicure though. I have never really done one of those bath bomb things...I'm not even sure I fit in my bath tub yet! I am pretty tall ( a little over 5'10) so bathtubs aren't really comfy lol

I"m 5'6" and I have to scrunch down to take a bath, but the Lush bath bombs and bubble bars are so worth it!

On 5/13/2017 at 10:01 AM, rosstheboss said:

5 weeks liquids! That's crazy
! I'm on day 8 of 14 post of liquids and it's driving me crazy. Not that I'm that hungry. But now eating Soup, Protein drinks and Water. Soup a bit salty, see the dr thurs so hopefully can start mushy foods next.

Well, 5 weeks of full liquids. Basically, anything that can be blended and/or put through a strainer: yogurt, pudding, soup, Protein Shakes, even liquidy oatmeal or cream of wheat.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Congrats!

Surgeons are all so different in their recommendations. I would venture to guess that it has something to do with their education and/or experience in the field.

Both my pre- and post-op diets are quite different than most others.

Pre-op: low-fat/low-calorie diet for 2 weeks (no "liquids only" phase) - veggies & salads with low-fat dressing strongly encouraged!

Post-op: 3 days of Clear Liquids only, then FIVE WEEKS of full liquids only

Pre-op's not been so bad for me, but I know post-op is going to be a different story!

Bravo!

Some people will never notice or say anything for a variety of reasons. They may be too wrapped up in their own lives to care or notice or they may be fearful of offending you.

Another distraction: pampering time.

My favorite for pampering at home is Lush, but it is somewhat pricey. I buy my favorites and to make them last longer, use other products in between. A brand called Enfusia is my second favorite. It is more budget-friendly and more readily available (Lush is available at Lush stores or through their website only; Enfusia is available in my area at Whole Foods and Central Market).

After my pre-op testing last week, I stopped into the Lush store (which just happens to be about a mile from my surgeon/hospital) and treated myself to some goodies, instead of indulging in food (a typical post-medical appointment activity in my previous life).

Nicely done!!

How are you feeling this morning?

I am well-aware of how metabolic syndrome works. I've been keeping a close eye on my blood work (which is done annually), as well as my blood pressure, as my mother and father both suffer from this syndrome. I've had a large waistline, however, as of last year's blood work, everything else was good. My consultation with my surgeon uncovered borderline hypertension (which has continued at several other appointments since then). My pre-op blood work (they took 10 tubes of blood) reflected low HDL Cholesterol and fasting glucose levels in line with pre-diabetes.

My amylase level was low, as well, which further indicates MetS.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3102610/

Anyway, the point of this post (and as @Berry78 also pointed out), is that "perfect blood work" does not = "perfect health", as I've seen posted in these forums (and as I thought for years...I've been kidding myself!). If you are overweight, you are unhealthy and, basically, a ticking time bomb.

I was also wondering how those who had the syndrome were doing post-operatively. Thanks for sharing your experiences, @OutsideMatchInside & @PatientEleventyBillion.

12 hours ago, Berry78 said:

Just because a doctor never officially diagnoses a patient with the condition doesn't mean the patient doesn't have it. Doctors don't TREAT metabolic syndrome, they treat diabetes, or high triglycerides, or high blood pressure instead.

Yes! This is the problem with healthcare, as a whole; doctors treat symptoms, not causes.

On 5/10/2017 at 11:40 AM, teacupnosaucer said:

You can also scroll all the way down whatever page you're on on the forum and on the right side under the magazine articles there is the "TOGETHER WE HAVE LOST" counter with a handy spot to update your current weight if that's all you want to do.

Does updating in that spot also update your ticker?

Well, the timing on this couldn't be more perfect. After years of being overweight and yo-yo dieting (with PERFECT blood work), my pre-op lab results (surgery is scheduled for 5/22/17) now indicate that I am in the beginning stages of metabolic syndrome. And I had perfect labs just a year ago! This is a warning to those who thing that they are "overweight, but healthy". Overweight does not = healthy in any way!

So, my question: is it possible to reverse metabolic syndrome through bariatric surgery (and adhering to the post-op guidelines, of course)? Has anyone been through this? My main motivator in having this surgery was to avoid high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, all of which runs in my family.

Thanks for any input you may have to offer. I will be researching this like a madwoman over the weekend!

15 hours ago, PatientEleventyBillion said:

For me the issue is popsicles. I have no issue whatsoever having Water, and I especially drink tons of ice Water every day. I love water to death. I don't need any flavoring for that.. however, popsicles, they need some flavoring for me to eat. I just can't tolerate sucralose (i.e. splenda type sugar), the taste makes upchuck, literally.

And because I'm financially conservative, for my brain to justify spending the money on the stuff to freeze my own pops, I absolutely have to hedge against tossing the stuff out and being wasteful, because, as a bonus, then my wife will endlessly nag me.

Ah, ok. I'm a big water drinker, too, but sometimes enough is enough. That's why I like the hint waters.

You can buy individual bottles of Vitamin Water Zero at Target to try. That's what I did - one of each flavor to try, before buy the large multi-packs.

13 hours ago, deanalyn said:

So I've been lurking for a while and finally created an account yesterday. I didn't want to say anything until after my pre-op appointment today so I wouldn't tempt fate and something go wrong today to postpone surgery.

BUT... All pre-op complete. Final class, meeting with anesthesia, and final office meeting with surgeon. I'm first on the OR schedule for next Thursday, May 18th!

YAY!

I'm 4 days behind you! I can't believe it's so close!

20 minutes ago, PatientEleventyBillion said:

Thank you for this, I will check it out for sure.

You may also be interested in Hint Water. It doesn't have any added sweetener at all, just a "hint" of real fruit flavoring. I don't know that the flavor in them would be strong enough to come across well in a popsicle, but they are good for drinking without adding calories!

So excited that one just opened up in my town! Once the "newness" dies down, I will likely be a regular shopper.

Stopped in to ALDI while killing time this afternoon. I was surprised to find cases of Hint Water (still, not sparkling) for $9.99 (typically $16-22, depending on where you buy). Also, they had organic no-sugar-added Apple & Eve juices (33 oz for about $2.60). Both approved by my surgeon for the post-op liquid phases.