ladykrisgraff

I just had my surgery on the 21st, and I went through Cigna.
My doctor handled all of the preliminaries, I'll admit, but I was going through the bariatric surgeon to begin with, and he knew what they needed. I will say this, Cigna only required a 3-month medically assisted weight loss (I went through my endocrinologist) in which I could show that I was losing weight, if only a pound, between visits. It was tough. My doctor also had me go though a lot more, which I don't know if they were requirements for the insurance or his MO. I had to undergo a sleep study, a psych evaluation, an endoscopy, a visit with a nutritionist, a whole round of bloodwork and pap smear, mammogram, and clearance from a cardiologist.
Not sure if this helps or not, but I'm sure that if you call some bariatric surgeons in your area, they'll be able to check for you. I know mine has a couple of women dedicated just to insurance verification/communication. My advice is to let someone who knows what the insurance companies typically ask for and who has experience in dealing with them do the legwork if you can. If there is no one nearby, maybe go to someone in a bigger city nearby. (I was fortunate enough to already live in a big city, so I didn't have to do much digging.)
I hope all of this helps. Let me know if you need anything else from me.
I wish you the best! ❤️

I've got a question for you WLS and bypass vets out there.
I've been told by my surgeon's office that I can't have caffeine in any form for an entire year after surgery due to it causing additional acid reflux.
But most everything that I'm reading online is saying 30 days after coffee is all right, so long as it's limited to maybe a cup a day.
I'm one of those that HATES decaf (it's got the worse aftertaste ever for me) and I only drink a cup a day in the morning to get me going. My job is very, VERY boring. (Data entry, sitting there inputting new accounts all day, no listening to music or anything to make the time go by faster.)
My question is, is my surgeon's office just trying to be super-safe? Is their demand a little ridiculous, or would I be okay with a cup a day on weekdays at work?
Thanks in advance! ❤️

Hello Everyone!
I had my surgery February 21, 2019. I guess I'm here to stay. ❤️
Looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Hello Everyone!
I had my surgery February 21, 2019. I guess I'm here to stay. ❤️
Looking forward to getting to know all of you!

You must have got the same model pouch as Fluffy Chix, hers is very cast iron, gave her hardly any trouble. Gosh I wish mine had been the same instead of a more tempermental model but Precious and I will still make our peace. Just had my 2 oz of pureed down "Not so Sloppy :sloppy Joe mix with lean meat. And I think she is going to accept it, happy 6 month Surgiversity to us both. Yeah tomato isn't the easiest thing to handle but if you could do it, Hurray for us both! Going to wait more than 30 minutes to drink anything just in case. See my path has had briars, bumps and twists to,it, in some respects I am 6 months , in others 3 maybe 4 but I will get there to the finish line?I'm a jalopy where many of you younger ones are Ferraris, Like the old time Timex Watch commercial " I take a lickin' and keep on tickin': so I guess I'll still be okay.Talked to one of my bariatric nurses today, told me to stop having "diet envy",that I am still doing just fine, maybe I am slower through stages but I have a great weight loss to show for things, can't compare oranges and apples, but sometimes I feel like a gnarled old crabapple. But maybe God likes all kinds of fruit in his Garden,yeah I LIKE that thought! And your restriction may hit in other ways, if not you're still doing your thing, just your way! My Proud moment, down to 242 from surgery weight of 319, n9w that I think is Good! But it has been in fits and spurts although I never really have stalled. Remember, a jalopy, that's me. I guess I chug a chug along.

Chicken Salad
Crab Salad
Eggs (Poached and Egg Salad at first, later scrambled with a little cheese)
Smoked Salmon
Refried Beans
Baked Ricotta
Mashed Broccoli with a little cottage cheese mixed in
Pureed broth-based soups

For me, it was August of last year until February 21. I had some hang-ups with the process, simply because my blood sugar was so uncontrolled, but I was still able to get the surgery quicker than they expected. Then again, my insurance (Cigna) only required 3 months of medically assisted weight loss.
I wish you the best of luck, honey! You got this! ❤️

For me, it was August of last year until February 21. I had some hang-ups with the process, simply because my blood sugar was so uncontrolled, but I was still able to get the surgery quicker than they expected. Then again, my insurance (Cigna) only required 3 months of medically assisted weight loss.
I wish you the best of luck, honey! You got this! ❤️

For me, the post-laproscopic 'air' pain was absolutely terrible. I was up and walking a little the day after the surgery, but I couldn't seem to fully get rid of that pain until like, day 3. I had my mom and fiance rubbing my shoulders while I was sobbing from the pain at some point... not fun at all.
I also wish that I'd known how much of a pain it would be being in the hospital. Nurses and technicians coming in at 4 in the morning to get my vitals, not letting me sleep, (Can I get an amen here?) And one of the IV pain medications that they gave me caused these horrible, painful knots along the path of the vein that the IV was in.
I'm also struggling with craving real food at the moment, since I'm now on my 4th week of liquid diet. Needless to say, I'm sick of protein shakes and broth.

All of the above and I would add, encourage her to join this site herself so we can support and love on her and let her know she’s not in this alone ??

I'm 10 days post op, and I just now started to see some weight loss. I think that your body is still going through a big 'holy crap what are you doing to me?' and holding onto everything that you put into it until it finally realizes that the calorie intake isn't going to change. I also believe that everyone's body is different, and that this is especially true of diabetics. Tell her to not get discouraged, to keep doing what she's doing, and as everyone else said, to move as much as she can, even if that's just doing laps around the living room.
We all wish her the best!

I'm 10 days post op, and I just now started to see some weight loss. I think that your body is still going through a big 'holy crap what are you doing to me?' and holding onto everything that you put into it until it finally realizes that the calorie intake isn't going to change. I also believe that everyone's body is different, and that this is especially true of diabetics. Tell her to not get discouraged, to keep doing what she's doing, and as everyone else said, to move as much as she can, even if that's just doing laps around the living room.
We all wish her the best!

Welcome Kris. It will get easier. Just take it one day at a time. I'm 5 mos post op and social media still sucks with food pics. I still want to eat but thankfully my body doesn't allow it. I'm still learning what foods my body will tolerate. It's great you have a fiance that is being supportive. You will be skinny with him soon enough. No need for him to hide eating though. You have to get used to everyone else eating things you can't. Like the pizza and soda my family had without me tonight. The fat chick in me wanted to eat it but the fact that I don't want to be the "fat chick" anymore helps me make better choices. The craving are always gonna be there some days more than others. Everyday gets a little better especially when you can actually chew on something that crunches.
YOU GOT THIS GIRL!!!! Other than walking as much as possible I would stay away from any real exercise for a few months. Give your body time to heal. You are not eating any real calories so there is none to burn. Summer is around the corner. Try swimming or walking in a pool for the resistance.
Try a stool softener every 3 or 4 days if needed. Try to get in as much water as possible to help also. Others have tried miralax or MOM.
Good luck on this life changing journey.

I had my surgery on February 21, and I started the 2-week pre-op liquid diet at 381.
I'm only down 18 lbs so far, but we'll see how I do!

I had my surgery on February 21, and I started the 2-week pre-op liquid diet at 381.
I'm only down 18 lbs so far, but we'll see how I do!

Hi everyone!
I'm Kris. I just had the surgery (gastric bypass) on February 21.
I know that I'm going to need some support other than my family and friends, so here I am!
So far, I'm still healing, and I'm still on the full liquid diet. It's so frustrating, since everybody and their brother posts pictures of FOOD on social media, and my fiance is back to eating real food along with the protein shakes. (He did the 2 weeks pre-op diet with me.) For the most part, he's been not eating in front of me, buuut it's a 1-bedroom apartment and I can smell/hear it. It doesn't help that he's a skinny guy.. probably 150 lbs soaking wet and ex-army to boot!
I'm still weak from the surgery, and my incisions still look ugly but are healing well. I'm looking at hopefully going back to work at the 2-3 week mark. My two week follow up is March 5, and I'm hoping I'll get moved to the 'much' diet then. Anything other than protein shakes and pudding and broth would help at this point! I've been having a little difficulty with bowel movements happening, and pain from them not happening. I have yet to start going back to the gym, but we plan to soon.
Any and all advice from those who have 'been there' would be helpful at this point. I feel like I'm going crazy from craving food. Does this part get any easier?