Over and Out

I think the place to look for answers is your weight loss surgery center--make sure they accept Medicare and see what questions they are willing to answer. Or call a couple different centers if you haven't decided on where you want to go yet. My clinic put me through to their insurance coordinator. That person might also be able to give you a Medicare number to call so that you can call them and ask some questions. (Rather than the number on back of the card, where you get people reading the Medicare book back to you, no matter how many "supervisors" you are supposedly talking to.)
I have Medicare and my clinic says they usually approve everything without a problem, as long as you have met their criteria. One of their criteria is 6 months of consecutive, "successful" appointments with a Dietitian. This is a requirement of my surgery center anyway, so no big deal. But Medicare will not pay for those appointments. My center knocks the price waaaay down so it's affordable. Those are the types of things I would want to know in advance, because otherwise when I got my explanation of benefits from Medicare saying I owed over $200 for one visit, I would have freaked out.

I was "interviewing" a friend of a friend via email about her experiences with RNY (she and her husband both had it) because I only know one person who's had it who is alive and well (and I hadn't yet discovered these forums).
This lady was a very matter-of-fact 50-ish woman who basically said "why on earth are you worried about THAT?" to every question I asked about possible side effects. She and hubby had no side effects.
She has very thick hair, and when I said I was worried about Hair loss she asked why! I told her it was a common side effect, and she says nope, neither one lost their hair. She didn't even know it could happen. Her guess was it was because they were very adherent to the nutritional requirements.
After reading endless accounts of winning and losing the hair loss games, my guess is that they won some genetic lottery.

I was "interviewing" a friend of a friend via email about her experiences with RNY (she and her husband both had it) because I only know one person who's had it who is alive and well (and I hadn't yet discovered these forums).
This lady was a very matter-of-fact 50-ish woman who basically said "why on earth are you worried about THAT?" to every question I asked about possible side effects. She and hubby had no side effects.
She has very thick hair, and when I said I was worried about Hair loss she asked why! I told her it was a common side effect, and she says nope, neither one lost their hair. She didn't even know it could happen. Her guess was it was because they were very adherent to the nutritional requirements.
After reading endless accounts of winning and losing the hair loss games, my guess is that they won some genetic lottery.

I agree completely. I wouldn't trust a ride that would take all sizes.
https://saferparks.org/safety-tips/one-size-fits-all-ride-design

Here's a little tip I discovered last summer when I was too nervous to have the surgery:
If you still have time before surgery, look at your local ads for garage sales and find the ones specifically advertising "plus-size clothes." Those can be big bonus buy places: I've found a lot of sales where the seller seems to have had WLS (I don't ask unless she/he is talking about it) and is selling a range of plus/XL sizes of clothes and also WLS books and the types of smaller tupperware, dishes, scales, measuring cups, and other handy kitchen items folks like us can use. Plus, it's like clothes shopping for the future!
(Here in MN we only have a small weather window for these types of sales, and we're not even there yet--so it's get it while you can. . . and I've got some lovely clothes awaiting me from previous bargain hunting! :))

I agree completely. I wouldn't trust a ride that would take all sizes.
https://saferparks.org/safety-tips/one-size-fits-all-ride-design

Danke sheon! I go forth to wreak electronic havoc on a very recalcerant medical personell. Coward Delete#!

I am the one who mentioned the books you are referring to,I believe. I AM preop. I have already read them. I just suggested them as items to buy when preparing for surgery if you haven't already. I also like to have as much info as I can get my hands on. My doctor, though at what is considered a center of excellence, does not give more than a few hand outs and includes links to various websites with information. As much as I would love a binder with all of HIS actual protocols on each subject, I have managed to educate myself. That being said, I feel the people here, having personally lived it may be able to give suggestions maybe not thought of as necessary. Certain things that may seem trivial to some but have an added comfort or somehow improved their experience in some way.

Here's a little tip I discovered last summer when I was too nervous to have the surgery:
If you still have time before surgery, look at your local ads for garage sales and find the ones specifically advertising "plus-size clothes." Those can be big bonus buy places: I've found a lot of sales where the seller seems to have had WLS (I don't ask unless she/he is talking about it) and is selling a range of plus/XL sizes of clothes and also WLS books and the types of smaller tupperware, dishes, scales, measuring cups, and other handy kitchen items folks like us can use. Plus, it's like clothes shopping for the future!
(Here in MN we only have a small weather window for these types of sales, and we're not even there yet--so it's get it while you can. . . and I've got some lovely clothes awaiting me from previous bargain hunting! :))

Here's a little tip I discovered last summer when I was too nervous to have the surgery:
If you still have time before surgery, look at your local ads for garage sales and find the ones specifically advertising "plus-size clothes." Those can be big bonus buy places: I've found a lot of sales where the seller seems to have had WLS (I don't ask unless she/he is talking about it) and is selling a range of plus/XL sizes of clothes and also WLS books and the types of smaller tupperware, dishes, scales, measuring cups, and other handy kitchen items folks like us can use. Plus, it's like clothes shopping for the future!
(Here in MN we only have a small weather window for these types of sales, and we're not even there yet--so it's get it while you can. . . and I've got some lovely clothes awaiting me from previous bargain hunting! :))

I was "interviewing" a friend of a friend via email about her experiences with RNY (she and her husband both had it) because I only know one person who's had it who is alive and well (and I hadn't yet discovered these forums).
This lady was a very matter-of-fact 50-ish woman who basically said "why on earth are you worried about THAT?" to every question I asked about possible side effects. She and hubby had no side effects.
She has very thick hair, and when I said I was worried about Hair loss she asked why! I told her it was a common side effect, and she says nope, neither one lost their hair. She didn't even know it could happen. Her guess was it was because they were very adherent to the nutritional requirements.
After reading endless accounts of winning and losing the hair loss games, my guess is that they won some genetic lottery.

Yes, the mayo Clinic is spectacular. It is nice to live close enough where there is always that last chance when all your local docs just can't seem to get it right.
A question: I see that there is a ton of information online. And a diet you can do online (for a fee), plus the book you can purchase. May I ask which method you use?
thanks!
p.s. Funny story (at least to me): Around 1987 or so, when I was first out of college, I worked at Mayo Clinic for about a year (secretarial stuff). When I worked there I had their insurance plan--which paid for absolutely everything, as long as it was done at Mayo or an associated hospital. I had no idea how incredible that was. So when I left, they offered me COBRA coverage at $100 a month. I refused because it was "too expensive." I thought I was so smart in not letting "the man" take advantage of me by squeezing that $100 out of me each month. Good Grief.

Oh, don't be silly. I asked them because I wanted to make sure I wasn't wrong. It's been a while since grad school, and science is always expanding its knowledge.
Plus the biology teacher is my brother so I talk to him daily anyways (My other brothers? Engineers. Weird). It just sounded better to say I talked to a biology teacher than "I asked my brother. . . ." or "I asked my dad. . . ." (Context, ya know. )
No stalking here, I assure you.
(Although I just realized the post I responded to on the mayo Clinic diet was yours--no stalking intended, I am genuinely curious.)

Not happening. Right now that guy from NCIS and his friend from New Orleans are living rent-free in my head, so there's no room for you.

Not happening. Right now that guy from NCIS and his friend from New Orleans are living rent-free in my head, so there's no room for you.

I asked our local (masters-level) biology teacher about your logic here. I also asked my doctor, since I had an appointment today. Both say we share a common ancestor, from which point we took divergent paths (which is what I've been saying all along). They made me feel quite silly for asking. I was using your words, which you now say you did not mean.
You are very specific and seemingly scientific (not "conversational") when talking about your diet and human biology; why not do the same when talking of evolution?
I also resent your clear implication that remembering "who your audience is" means that I am somehow of lower intelligence. Though I will say I don't see a bit of humor in your tone, if that's what you were going for. This conversation is over. I suggest you spend 10 minutes talking to a biologist instead of cherrypicking internet articles to support your presuppositions.

Oh, don't be silly. I asked them because I wanted to make sure I wasn't wrong. It's been a while since grad school, and science is always expanding its knowledge.
Plus the biology teacher is my brother so I talk to him daily anyways (My other brothers? Engineers. Weird). It just sounded better to say I talked to a biology teacher than "I asked my brother. . . ." or "I asked my dad. . . ." (Context, ya know. )
No stalking here, I assure you.
(Although I just realized the post I responded to on the mayo Clinic diet was yours--no stalking intended, I am genuinely curious.)

Not happening. Right now that guy from NCIS and his friend from New Orleans are living rent-free in my head, so there's no room for you.

I suspect we are splitting hairs. But thanks for giving me something to think about besides my terror of gastric bypass! I don't work, so it's fun for me to be challenged a bit rather than surfing the web and watching TV. Stretching the brain feels good!

I suspect we are splitting hairs. But thanks for giving me something to think about besides my terror of gastric bypass! I don't work, so it's fun for me to be challenged a bit rather than surfing the web and watching TV. Stretching the brain feels good!

You are misquoting me. I did not say that; I was quoting the article you posted to prove your point. But it specifically contradicts what you say.

Hate to add to the anthropology rant. But great apes are not our ancestors. We share a common ancestor that lived 5 to 11 million years ago.

Hate to add to the anthropology rant. But great apes are not our ancestors. We share a common ancestor that lived 5 to 11 million years ago.

Thank you everyone for your help and ideas! It is really nice to have a sounding board and have ideas flying at me for what to do. It helps so much for me, because there is no one to talk with in person.
Happy Monday, everyone!

Alas, it does. It may sound weird, but milk is my favorite food. I grew up on a farm where all the kids just guzzled it like Water. I drink it with everything! So I had a loooong talk with the nutritionist about it. She said it is liquid calories and they fill up the pouch too fast. We can't drink with meals anyway. And nothing caloric between meals, so I would have no chance of drinking it.
Your idea of checking out a different surgeon is a possibility. I did have another post on here about just that, based on geographical distance and lifetime follow-up appointments. I am seeing a physician in the "other" place this week, to talk about their non-surgical weight loss program. I'm going to see if I can get a quick walk-through their bariatric surgery section and answers about their eating plan.
Thanks for your help! I do appreciate it.