kitty1392

Discuss this with your surgeon. Extended release medications are a problem with gastric BYPASS patients as their intestinal path is shortened. Gastric SLEEVE patients have no change in their ability to absorb medications, including extended release, as these drugs are absorbed in the intestines. It sounds like your psychiatrist isn’t familiar with the difference between the different forms of bariatric surgery (which isn’t that weird, your psych probably hasn’t seen the inside of an operating room since med school). It sounds like your psychiatrist needs a consult with your surgeon regarding how your metabolism is and isn’t affected by your surgery. By the way, consults happen all the time, you wouldn’t be asking for anything out of the ordinary.

I was hungry on the liquid diet. Now a month later I have no interest in food. I have to psyche myself up to eat anything. I don’t think the liquid phase is an accurate representation of how you’ll feel long term. Your body is still trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Seriouslyyyyy doubt it. You need 3500 calorie deficit per pound. There’s also Water weight, but losing 20 pounds of water isn’t something that happens accidentally. It would take extreme measures and you would feel like crap.

My standard pre-op instructions said no nail polish. I asked a pre-op nurse (when I was having pre-admission testing done) and she said it was fine to leave my gel manicure on. It’s worth asking!

I was a nervous nelly. And suddenly I was waking up, surgery was over, and everything was fine!! The risks are low, and the rewards are high!

That seriously sucks. But here are my two cents: I had a hard time sticking to my pre-op diet. I then had a super hard time with my post-op diet. To the point of cheating a few times and putting myself at serious risk of complications. I assumed post-op would be easier but it wasn’t, and the stakes are much higher. I got lucky and nothing happened, but in retrospect I should have sorted out my issues with food before I had surgery.

I had BCBS of Texas and it took two weeks... I actually had to push back my surgery date because of it. However, my surgeons office told me my insurance company is their least favorite to work with because they always take the longest. Ironically, my insurance was also through the hospital I work at, and where I was having my surgery. You’d think they’d give me a break!

Fatty2fitty, I was taken off my blood pressure meds in the hospital (I was on a diuretic type med, so they were worried about dehydration) and my BP improved so quickly I never had to restart it. It’s crazy how quickly you will start to see your health improve!

I did mine through BCBS of Texas. Equally annoying. Only required 4 months of a weight loss program, but they dragged out my approval for so long it took me 6 months to get a surgery date anyway [emoji849]

Fatty2fitty, I was taken off my blood pressure meds in the hospital (I was on a diuretic type med, so they were worried about dehydration) and my BP improved so quickly I never had to restart it. It’s crazy how quickly you will start to see your health improve!

Ask your surgeon how they manage pain. I am young (28) and have a high pain tolerance. I ended up with six incisions, one about 4 inches, and all I was given in the hospital was Tylenol. I have several doctors and nurses in my family and they were shocked. I was unable to even stand to use the restroom without crying. This really hindered me from getting up and walking after surgery, which is recommended to speed the healing process. Within about 4 days the pain diminished and Tylenol was more than enough. However, I do wish I went to a different hospital where my post-op pain would have been treated better.

Ask your surgeon how they manage pain. I am young (28) and have a high pain tolerance. I ended up with six incisions, one about 4 inches, and all I was given in the hospital was Tylenol. I have several doctors and nurses in my family and they were shocked. I was unable to even stand to use the restroom without crying. This really hindered me from getting up and walking after surgery, which is recommended to speed the healing process. Within about 4 days the pain diminished and Tylenol was more than enough. However, I do wish I went to a different hospital where my post-op pain would have been treated better.

I like Isopure unflavored. It was a lifesaver in my liquid phase. I put it in hot chocolate, Soups, you name it. I was never brave enough to try it with just Water though [emoji38]

The only reference to staple line issues i've ever seen....are tiny hard seeds like strawberry seeds very early on in healing. We don't eat strawberrries before six weeks for this reason in my group. (A lot of people are tempted to put them in a smoothy in the pureed stage...and people react poorly to this because the seed grit is irritating...nausea,vomiting, etc)
Nuts don't work for some people, but work well for others. My group advises to wait until six weeks to try reintroducing them...and to do so carefully. Chew them well, and try a small amount at first to see if you get any unpleasant symptoms.
I have no problem with nuts:) Really glad about this, cause I eat a lot of them:)

Ok, I think this last line is the most important. Keep that at the top of your mind when you go in next week - hopefully sooner!!! Because the fact that you've already been in the hospital for dehydration makes me even more concerned. Just and FYI, you can skip your surgeon's office completely and just go to the ER. You could be having a gallbladder attack as we speak and they would probably be much more concerned and perform tests right there. I have some serious doubts about the quality of your surgeon based on what you are telling me he's conveyed to you. You've already been in the hospital for dehydration and he's not more concerned????!! I'm still stunned at that.

Yup! Mine got a lot worse when I went back to work at around 2.5 weeks. I’m currently 4 weeks out and a few days ago it just disappeared. It went from crippling pain to normal almost overnight. My surgeon told me today that’s pretty common. I do recommend a binder while you wait it out. It didn’t cure my pain completely, but it did cut way back on the number of times I got a sharp pain at that incision site. It worked the best for me if I put it on while I was laying down. I figure that’s the position I was in while they stitched up those muscles, so if I bind my stomach in that position it will lessen the pulling.

I wear an ab binder to help with pain. It holds my stomach tight so that when I sneeze, cough or laugh in public it doesn’t hurt as much. It allows me to sleep on my side and reduces my pain when getting up, sitting down or going for a walk. I love mine, I don’t have any expectations that it will help with sagging skin or anything though. I have no idea about shape wear, wish I could help more.


Have a great day!
Amanda
HW 248 CW 230 SW 231 ASW 239
Surgery Date: 11/21/2017.
Goal weight 150’ish 🤞🏼

I don't believe this will make any difference at all whatsoever.
Nor would anything in the post below.
Honestly most of your options is putting on muscle after (which is extremely limited in its usefulness), surgical/laser based, and just staying healthy and hydrated.
Most articles on treatment/prevention options expose them as gimmicks designed to steal your money.

If it were me, I'd err on the side of caution and have the doc or nurse take a look sooner. If nothing else, will put your mind at ease. You could also email that photo to their office and ask if you need to be seen....that might be a good compromise.

As of yesterday I'm officially APPROVED with BCBS Federal!!! I am soooooo happy! I feel so blessed for this opportunity! Currently waiting for my surgeon's office to schedule a date!!! I just wanted to post all the requirements and stats for anyone going through the insurance process with BCBS Federal. I had a ton of questions and this website was a god send, so here it is... GOOD LUCK!
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Height: 5.6
Weight: 236
Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield-Federal (Basic)
Surgeon: Dr. Lloyd Stegemann (The Better Weigh Center)
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Requirements:
2 year history of being overweight
February 2014-204lbs (excluded fell below 35 BMI) * All they need is ONE record for that year*
October 2014-214lbs
January 2015-215lbs
September 2015-220lbs
February 2016-236lbs (Current)
Co-morbidity
High Blood Pressure (Lisinopril with HCTZ)
Pre-Diabetic (Metformin)
Nutritional Counseling (3 months prior to surgery) *Must be 90 days*
11/18/2015; 12/16/2015; 01/13/2016; 02/18/2016
Evidence of Failed Weight Loss
Just a list of diets I’ve tried/failed
Psychological Clearance
1hr meeting with Bariatric Counselor
No Smoking for 6 months
Easy I don’t smoke
No treatment of substance abuse 1 year prior to surgery
Easy I don’t do drugs! (LOL)
11/04/2015-PCP ($25.00) Diagnosed with High Blood Pressure (I already knew I had it, just needed to get diagnosed)
11/18/2015-The Better Weigh Center ($35.00) 1st consult with Surgeon
11/18/2015-NUT ($50.00) 1st meeting/1st weigh in (227lbs)
12/04/2015-sleep Rite ($100.00)-Sleep Apnea Testing
12/16/2015-NUT ($20.00) 2nd Meeting/2nd weigh in (227lbs)
12/30/2015-Psych Evaluation ($25.00)-Passed
01/13/2016-Pre-registered at hospital for Endoscopy and had Blood Work, Chest X-Ray, EKG at hospital
01/13/2016-NUT ($20.00) weigh in (230lbs) GAINED
01/18/2016-Endoscopy ($100.00 COPAY plus 30% of Drugs, Agents, and Supplies)
*Received an additional bill for $156 from Surgeon*
*Received an additional bill for $60 from hospital*
01/26/2016-Biopsy revealed H. Pylori (Must take anti-biotic)
*Will NOT affect surgery date*
02/18/2016-NUT ($20.00) Last weigh in (236) GAINED
*Package COMPLETED*
*Insurance received and uploaded forms 02/18/2016
APPROVED!!! 2/25/2016
*UPDATE*
02/29/2016-Surgery scheduled for March 15th!
02/29/2016-Registered at Hospital ($350.00) 2 days minimum at hospital
03/01/2016-Started Pre-Op liquid diet
03/08/2016-NUT ($20.00) Post Op instructions
03/08/2016-The Better Weigh Center ($40.00) Last appointment with Surgeon
*Surgery Copay for Surgeon ($200.00)*