AuDBall

Hi all, I'm new to the process, so I was hoping to see if y'all could help me with a few questions. 1) My insurance requires 6 months of documented weight loss, but not only would the end of the 6 months be an inconvenient time for me to get surgery as I'm a student, but it would also be a really long time to wait. I started on this in March, but skipped the last two appointments because I was having doubts about surgery the longer I had to wait. My parents have offered to pay for the surgery out of pocket, and I would be able to get it done in a couple of months after I have been able to learn more about the process (nutrition pre and post surgery, what I need to do after, etc) and it will be at a more convenient time for me. What do you guys think about this? I feel like if my insurance will cover it that I should wait, but that is so much time to talk myself out of it. I want this change, but I'm the type of person who goes back and forth on everything if I have a lot of time to think about something. Anyone else have this experience? 2) With self pay, what happens if you have complications? If this happened to you, did insurance cover the cost of complications? I will contact my insurance about this at some point, but I wanted to get a feel for what others have experienced. 3) I also need to get a hernia repaired that the surgeon said he would do during my gastric sleeve surgery. Can I submit the hernia part for insurance coverage if I do self pay for the actual sleeve part? Again, I will contact my insurance, but I just wanted to see what others have experienced. Thanks for any insight!

1) Being able to go in most stores and find my size! 2) Not feeling sick and tired all the time! I have so much more energy now.

I've only thrown up twice since surgery, and both times happened immediately after taking a Celebrate chewable multivitamin. Needless to say, those were the first and last Celebrate chewables I ever took! I'm wondering if the high concentration of vitamins has anything to do with it? My nutritionist said that not all vitamins agree with everyone. I now take 2 Flintstone complete multivitamins, 2 Alive b-complex gummies, and 2 Bariatric Advantage 500 mg calcium chews every day as well as 2 Vitafusion extra strength b-12 gummies once a week. I also make sure to take them 30 minutes to an hour after I've eaten. This works well for me, so I've stuck to it!

I get things that are form fitting or a little snug (even though I prefer loose clothes) because I know they will last me much longer!

One serving of Miralax every other day keeps me regular! I do try to incorporate high fiber foods, too. Another thing worth noting is it took a few weeks after surgery for it to regulate, at least for me.

I had that a lot in the very beginning. I still have it frequently at 3 months out, but it's not with every other bite like it used to be!

Tried a couple flavors. Coconut and blue raspberry I think? Didn't like them at all. Wish I did, though, because they have so much protein!

Hope you feel better soon!! I don’t have any advice, just my personal experience. I was terribly nauseous and could barely eat for the first 4-5 weeks. It eventually just went away. Some people don’t get nauseous at all. It’s just a completely different experience for everyone. Hang in there!!

String cheese, peanuts, Quest protein chips, Power Crunch bars, and Greek yogurt are my go to snacks.

I take flinstone Multivitamins, Alive B-complex gummies, and Bariatric Advantage calcium chews. I don’t care for capsules, so I opt for chewables/gummies. I don’t love the Flinstone multivitamins, but they meet my nutritionist’s standards. Love love love the B-complex and Calcium chews. I tried the Celebrate multivitamins, but they made me vomit almost immediately! They just didn’t work for me. I get everything from Amazon.

Work out at least 5 days!

I had surgery on 12/13/2018, and I eat around 750-900 calories a day. That keeps me satisfied. I can only eat around 3.5 oz in a sitting. Some days I have 50 carbs, some days I have 80. It just depends on my food choices that day. My doctor’s office isn’t concerned about carbs. They said to eat my protein first and if I am hungry for carbs after then I can eat them!

For me, it was a year long process of going back and forth. I had a consultation in January to start the process. Around May, I thought maybe I could do this on my own, so I stopped seriously thinking about surgery. Well, come fall, I jumped on the scale and saw 300 lbs for the first time in my entire life and freaked out. I didn't want to continue down that path, so I knew that bariatric surgery was the route I needed to take. It was the best decision I've ever made, but it did take me a while to come around to it. I'm so glad I did. If not, I'd likely still be 300 lbs and miserable.

Plastics! Mama's getting new boobies and a flat tummy.

I was told no NSAIDs for at least three months post-op. Even then they still prefer tylenol.

I tell people who don't know that I'm eating smaller portions and working out more. Honestly, I've only had a couple people ask, so it hasn't been difficult.

Any support groups near Indianapolis?

Here's my breakdown so far! I started my pre-op liquid diet at 303.7. I weighed 262.2 today. Surgery on 12/13/2017. Pre-Op: 13.4 lbs Week 1: 10.3 lbs Week 2: 3 lbs Week 3: 4 lbs Week 4: 3.2 lbs Week 5: 3 lbs Week 6: 0.3 lbs Week 7: 4.9 lbs

AmyEatsPlants!

Pizza. I’d have it 3-4 days a week with jalapeño Cheetos. It was a nasty habit, and I didn’t quit it until I had to start my pre-op liquid diet!

I was soooo nauseous the first 3-4 weeks! It eventually resolved itself. Hope you feel better soon!

THIS! I’m going every few days with a combination of Miralax and fiber gummies daily.

My doctor has wanted me walking since I woke up from surgery! They really push the fact that exercise and diet combined play an important role in losing weight and maintaining your weight loss. They suggested to start slow and work up to more strenuous activity when I am ready. They said no strength training until 6 weeks out, though. I've been doing a variety of things, like the elliptical, treadmill, and Arc Trainer. I even play Just Dance if I don't feel like going to the gym. I just don't go super hard.

I've been on birth control pills for 6 years, so I have a very predictable cycle. Had surgery on 12/13 and am now 4 days late.

Hi December Sleevers! Hope you all are well. I was sleeved 12/13. Including my two week pre-op diet, I am down 31.9 lbs. So exciting! Still having a really hard time meeting my protein goals. Eating just doesn't sit well with me. I'll feel sick while eating and about an hour after, so it makes me not want to eat. I also can't eat a lot; I am eating around 2 oz a meal. I was really nauseous there for a couple weeks, but that has gotten better with taking Zofran. I am doing pretty good with water now, but it's still a struggle, too. Sometimes I get discouraged, but since I'm only 3 weeks out, I'm hoping it can only get better from here. Anyone else struggling?