Sosewsue61

Requirements for surgery approval vary widely, as do the testing and evaluation appointments. Rushing or delaying isn't the issue here.

What I hear in your posts is a lot of anger and denial. Doctors see an issue and offer the options, they look at it logically and not emotionally. We all have emotional experiences related to our weight and doctors do not usually address it from that standpoint, especially surgeons. You do need emotional support, I suggest counseling to investigate your relationship with food, everyone that is obese has a distorted relationship with food. It is also physical, our body responds chemically to food, more sugar and starch = more cravings. You have to know why you want the surgery.

Try getting the book 'The Obesity Code' by Dr. Jason Fung. View his youtube videos, as well as Dr. Cwyes. This is a very intense journey that you need to be sure you want, it takes a lot of head work. Good luck.

Cruises are easy-peasy. I went on one 4 months out and there are plenty of choices at both the buffet and dining in. I could not eat steak or salad until 9 months out, I cannot really eat rice or Pasta as it expands - 1-2 tablespoons of rice will do me, more and it comes back up. Lettuce slimed, chicken breast was too dry. I could eat half a roll at dinner on the cruise, the bread is too good!!! I was on the cruise for square dancing, so when in-port it was sight-seeing, when out to sea it was daytime dancing and evening dancing every night. I did not have to worry about the bread causing me to consume too much with all the activity.

I have no experience in Italy. Have fun, it's not ALL about the food. Enjoy some food, but do activities too.

This is just my opinion, but going back to basics resets the cravings many of us have from eating higher starchier sugar-laden carbs. It really does reduce that desire and make it easier if you can tough it out for two weeks. But... that is a form of dieting, and can set up a cycle when it's meant to get you physically and mentally back to noticing what you have been consuming that causes the regain. It's mental for sure, but physical too.

Yes it felt like drinking aquarium gravel for the first couple weeks. Bone Broth, tea, and also sugar free popsicles.

This surgery changes hormone levels, and it's a bit rocky for awhile. Our bodies have over 300 hormones, when one or more are altered our moods are greatly affected. And it's used to being insulin resistant - most everyone that is obese is suffering from insulin resistance and inflammation. Now add to that our abuse of food to alter mood, cope, and to socialize and it's a perfect storm. You have to replace those previous 'behaviors' with something else that satisfies those 'needs'. I believe exploring this in therapy or group support is a constructive option everyone needs to do. It is a HUGE process to make these changes, both in your head and physically as we have arrived in this situation after years of living with our collective experiences and relationships with food and people. Be gentle with yourself.

Sometimes it also takes medication, ongoing therapy, exercise, and time. And you can't look back, push on and know that the physical health you get with this surgery is amazing. Good luck.

Dr. Earle states right in his videos that FL has limits that other states may not have.

The take away is that with multiple procedures (abdominoplasty), FL does not allow much Lipo.

And yes I did a copy/paste, and did not check the math, it was a PS site.

Tennessee has different guidelines, etc.

Just do a Google on state restrictions on liposuction w/wo other procedures.

Most NUTS give Protein, carb and liquid goals not necessarily calories. Mine was 80gr protein, 20gr carbs, and 64oz of liquid in whatever stage of texture you could tolerate. Liquid, pureed, soft, minced, etc. Most surgeons only see you in person the first couple months after that you get the NP and the NUT. The surgeon already did his job, and he is on to the next group.

In Florida, only 4000cc of fat may be removed during liposuction, which equals approximately 7-8 pounds or 3.5 liters. Additionally, if a patient is having more than one procedure, such as a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) and a Tummy Tuck, only 1,000cc of fat may be removed.May 5, 2021

Wahoo!🎉

Yay for new boobs!!

With a job loss, you might qualify for state insurance, and most medicaid insurance covers bariatric surgery now.

I wish you hugs and luck, hang in there it is just a bump in the road, but the road is still there.

Congratulations. Job well done. Keep enjoying life as a healthy kid, the world is at your doorstep.

Did you ask for a PPI, sometimes it's acid reflux, and medication can help?

And sometimes it's hunger, prior to this episode were you getting in all your Protein goals, and liquid goals? Your body is in a deficit compared to your prior caloric intake

We need more info in order to help.

But what you did was a binge. Your head was in charge.

Were you preparing food for your family, what set your mind in motion to eat this food? If you planned this meal for your family - next time eat YOUR food prior to fixing their food, or ask someone else to fix their food. This food was planned, you don't suddenly have all that appear out of thin air. The Beans and cheese are okay as soft food, the meat might be a little harsh, you are not completely healed yet. The beans and cheese would smoosh down pretty good, and the 4 bites of taco meat maybe did not put you over your limit?

I am sorry you had this slip, I am surprised you didn't get sick, or 'slime'. Count your blessings, and take heed, you might not be as lucky next time.

An endoscopy will determine if you have a stricture or something else going on, you don't mention what has been tried so far, or tested? Or if you are on a PPI, or anti-nausea meds.

I hope you keep calling your docs and team.

Honestly, you will be occupied with drinking enough Fluid so you don't get dehydrated, and walking off the gas from anesthesia.

I walked, rested, and did a little needlework ( hand embroidery, or cross-stitch). Take up a new hobby.

When I was able to get enough liquids, I shopped resale shops for smaller sizes, just a few things. LOL

If it feels stuck, you have to just wait it out if you can't puke. You might try taking a walk, do not lie down it will turn into acid reflux.

Aren't you still on soft foods at this stage? You likely took that one too many last bites, we all have done it. You learn quickly to eat very slowly and stop after 4 bites and wait 5 minutes or more, then see if you are full at that point before taking more.

You might also keep using Protein Shakes to get your Protein requirements, and high protein yogurts.

If you don't keep up the protein levels, you will lose muscle, and more hair. Also our bodies use starches first before it burns our body fat, but it is not the same process as when you eat dense protein, your body uses the stored fat for fuel, you become fat adapted instead of running on glucose. And that is what corrects insulin resistance, we correct our metabolisms and hormones.

|You might need to see your nutritionist, and a therapist.

Yes, we all have to follow the plan given to us in the pre-op appointments. Starches and not much different nutritionally than ice cream, it all turns to sugar. Most of us that have been obese for decades are insulin resistant, and that means we need to severely limit those types of carbs and eat non-starchy vegetable carbs, not even fruit - as it has a higher glycemic index.

Tough love here, if you want success you follow the plan, period. That is why I suggest therapy and an 'honest' NUT appointment.

You are doing fine, no one loses at the same rate. We are so hard on ourselves.

Just think in two more months you will be below that 200 mark, start planning that celebration.

On 7/2/2021 at 9:11 PM, dlmorris80 said:

Thanks guys! Lettuce bothers my tummy right now and I love me some lettuce. Every thing is trial and error with this tummy of mine.

Lettuce bothered me for about 7 months, just made me 'slime'. I shudder just remembering those episodes. It did resolve itself. I could only do toasted bread months out, and steak was just harsh until 1 year out. Maybe skillet toast the wrap just a bit if it seems too 'gunky' when filled. It's all so hard to predict until you try something - one small bite and wait 5 minutes. Enjoy the journey!

Nowhere I have ever weighed in in a clinic setting has anyone ever asked me to remove anything, even shoes. It was left up to me to take off my shoes or not.

It's an insurance game, and insurance companies are a numbers business nothing more. If I had jumped through all their hoops and went under the bmi and lost that 'game' by a couple pounds how is that honesty going to work then? You do you....

Join something. Learn to play golf, tennis, kayaking, dance lessons, biking, rowing, the gun range, archery, bowling. The more you widen the circle the more people you meet, go one town over for some of these.

Or volunteer somewhere, habitat for hummanity, the humane shelter.

Rolls of quarters in your pockets, bra, wherever, heavy jeans,etc.

But inquire in an email to your insurance company, and te insurance coordinator at your surgeon's office. Sometimes the person at the surgeon's office can mess up that paperwork. Always in writing.

The EGD is nothing to worry about, it was part of the whole program.

The state of Illinois requiresbariatric surgery to be covered by insurance.

Yes, I really only paid the deposit for surgery of 1,000, doctor co-pay, and the psych exam and nutritionist which was around $400. It depends on the exact policy, and what your out of pocket max is, etc.

But the whole bill was around 50,000 which is ridiculous.

Hoops were 6 months of NUT appointments, psych exam, and no gaining.