RainbowBrite57

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday I had my final dietician appointment & my paperwork was submitted for insurance approval. I was told it would be 2 weeks before I knew anything.
So, I wake up this morning in terrible pain with my back completely locked up. I have no choice but to call in to work. I end up leaving a voicemail so I’m waiting for my boss to call me back. That’s when I noticed the accident my pup had on the floor (stupid bladder cancer 😞). I’m trying to gently get down on the floor but my slippers end up forcing me into a very awkward version of the splits. (ouch!) Now I’ve got my hand full of tinkle-soaked paper towel, while doing the splits, when my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number but it’s 7:30am so it has to be my boss. I answer & it’s not my boss, it’s the surgeon’s office. The lady says very blasé “I’m calling to let you know your surgery has been approved, congrats.” I proceed to internally freak out & start doing a happy dance, or I guess I should say happy wiggle since I’m still doing the splits. 😄 I try to remain calm & take in everything she’s saying since I can’t take notes because I’m still holding tinkle-soaked paper towel! I finally get off the phone, ungracefully remove myself from the floor, WASH MY HANDS, then I do a proper happy dance all over the house!!! (to the extent my back will allow, anyway)
This was my very long way of saying I’VE BEEN APPROVED, Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we were told to stick to whey Protein isolate early out because it's the most easily absorbed, and many of us needed the shakes to meet our protein goals (I sometimes use protein blends now that I'm in maintenance, since I get most/all of my protein from my food). Anyway, Apollo is a blend - so if you were told to have whey protein isolate, this won't work for you - or at least while you're early out.

I always avoid any powders or drinks that are sweetened with Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) or Sucralose. Although both dont act to increase blood glucose, they do act at the pancreatic level to increase insulin.
So measuring blood glucose will see no apparent increases, but insulin levs will be elevated.

Thanks, y’all! I feel better now. I’ll have questions ready when I have my pre-surgery nutrition class then I’ll be sure to listen to my body after surgery. I’m a natural worrier so I really appreciate y’all’s input.
@mattk53, I can easily see your experience happening to me! I’m happy everything went good for you despite the curveball!

This will give you more options. Remember the puree diet includes everything in the liquid diet so you still have the option to continue consuming those things you like in your liquid diet. I did liquids only for 10 days post op.

Hello! I’m currently waiting for insurance approval for gastric sleeve surgery. The dietician gave me the post surgery food guidelines from week 1 through 18 months+. Weeks 1-4 are listed as pureed foods. Almost every article & forum post I read about this topic says puréed foods don’t start until week 3 in order to let the sleeve heal. I’m really worried that my stomach is going to stretch out right away. Can anyone else who’s been told to immediately start puréed food tell me how your recovery went?
Thank you!

I was given some strait forward guidelines. Day 1-2 clear liquid diet, Day 3-14 full liquid diet. Day 15-week 6 to 8, pureed and soft foods. It was very clear and very spelled out.
Well, in the hospital that all went out the window. Day 2 the nurse brought me pureed chicken noodle soap. At my "two week" Zoom meeting (which was actually on day 12) they told me to eat ground meat, flaky fish and basically anything but tight grained meat. (steak, pork, etc.) They just seemed to rush me along on that aspect of recovery. Everything is fine, but they have been so meticulous in every other direction it was just a little surprising.

--- Morning Update 7/10/2020 ---
I was on my way to getting discharged. However my wife trusted her instincts and requested them to do another x ray. Thankfully she did because it looks like the Fluid is back. Tomorrow they are going to be putting in a chest tube to continually drain the area and I will be here a few more days. Trying my best to stay positive, I'll admit a few tears have leaked out though.

plans are all over the board. I was on purees as soon as I left the hospital (in fact, they had me eating purees while i was AT the hospital...). And no, you won't stretch your stomach. That takes chronic overeating. And besides, you're not going to be able to eat enough to do that for the first few weeks ANYWAY.

Don’t worry you won’t stretch out your tummy. You’ll barely be able to eat much at all. For my first two weeks it took me all day to drink half a cup of Soup & 300ml of Protein Shake. Thank goodness they counted to my daily Fluid requirements.
Listen to your body. It will tell you physically (& not always pleasantly) & audibly what it can tolerate. Go slowly. Yes, your body is healing & it does take weeks. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor. I doubt they’d say no if you wanted to start on liquids only before purées. (When you do go to purées think sloppy though it’s not all that appetising.)
Good luck.

There are a variety of post op guidelines. Some start purees/soft foods quicker than others some later than others. You don't need to progress through the stages if you don't feel up to it and can delay the stage for a week or two (or more) if you want.

Those who have gone through the surgery did you deal with a lot of pain? I know a few folks and they said no.

Had it 7 years ago and never thought it was all that painful, though gas pain can be a beast at times for a while. Hurts in the shoulders. However it’s a journey for a few months for most people. Highs and lows. I had dehydration issues, low blood pressure, times I thought I broke the sleeve and on and on. But 7 years later all is well and I’ve kept off 63 of the 85 pounds I lost. It could be all 85 but the surgery was on my stomach not my brain. Stomach sends right message but brain sometimes ignores. None of it is easy but it’s sure easier than trying to do it all on your own.

Hi, I want to warn you the easiest part is to get approval. The toughest part is putting your new tool to proper use. Make sure your mental health and eating patterns are addressed. You only get this tool once.!

I can’t believe it but my last dietician appointment is in the morning! My insurance required 6 mo. of appointments before anything could be submitted to them. I’m so happy & so nervous I won’t get approved. I’m trying to get to sleep but had to come tell y’all this first! 😴

I can’t believe it but my last dietician appointment is in the morning! My insurance required 6 mo. of appointments before anything could be submitted to them. I’m so happy & so nervous I won’t get approved. I’m trying to get to sleep but had to come tell y’all this first! 😴

That is wonderful that you have quit smoking. I can relate to quitting diet coke, I too am quitting the diet sodas and I think I'm addicted to the caffeine more than anything. Walmart sells Water with caffeine in it now, so I am drinking that to help with the headaches and wean myself off the caffeine. I just joined the forum today but everyone seems very nice and willing to share their experiences as well as share suggestions etc. Congratulations on deciding to do this for yourself. I think as moms we tend to put ourselves last alot and making the decision to put yourself first and start this journey is a wonderful feeling!

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi! I'm a 48 yr old mom of 3. I've been wanting to have GB surgery for almost 25 years!!! I chickened out the first time.....I'm kicking myself because at that time I had insurance with no prereqs and paid for it 100%...but I was scared and not ready. Fast forward to 2013...dying gall bladder, botched gall bladder removal, bile duct repair surgery. I lost 35 lbs in a month because of that...it was inspiring. Decided to 'clean eat' and joined Beachbody and jumped in with both feet. I was doing FANTASTICALLY, losing a total of 78 lbs, not quite to my goal weight but I felt so fantastic!! But then.....the hubs got hurt at work and was off for 3 months. I had to go back to work. My little bubble of getting to be a stay at home mom, with oodles of time to meal prep and exercise burst in a huge way. The only job I could get was at pizza Hut....I was angry that he got hurt, I was angry that I had to go back to work. So I punished myself, I ate a shitton of pizza. I very quickly gained weight back and fast forward to today, I'm almost back up to where I started. Recently I've done some selfwork and am in a really good mental space right now. And have set the wheels in motion to get the surgery....FOR REAL THIS TIME. I could have had it a couple years ago, but allowed my husband to talk me out of it. I told him, this time, he doesn't get to say. I've tried to do it on my own and I failed. I need this tool to keep me focused and honest. I truly believe that 25 years ago, I wasn't ready to get this done and would have failed. I'm ready to do this now! I'm not the most patient person, but let the 6 months (or hopefully less) begin!!!! I've gone through seminar, I meet with the surgeon in July. My PCP is on board. The hubs is actually on board. I've quit smoking (sooo hard!) and next is quitting Diet Coke. Thanks for letting me share!!!

... but not for the reasons you might think.
I questioned whether I should make this post in the preop section or here, but since it's my first post on the forum, it might as well serve as an introduction as well. My apologies in advance for the verbosity, as I have a tendency to ramble.
At age 54, I've been morbidly obese since I was a teen. I have no personal frame of reference as to what it means to be fit or eat healthily. Sure, there's the cognitive recognition of what those concepts are and what they should mean, but nothing in my own life experiences that are relatable. I'm 6'1" and at my heaviest weighed 410. Five years ago I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which medication has fortunately kept under control. In June of 2019, when I weighed 385, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. It was at this point, that I realized I actually needed to do something about losing weight beyond paying lip service.
I've been feeling it more in my knees and ankles the last few years, and the notion that should I ever need a knee replacement or other major joint surgery, that I would likely be denied due to my weight wasn't an enticing prospect.
I've made token efforts at points in my life to dieting and exercise, but nothing consistent; nothing that "stuck". So I spoke with my primary physician about bariatric surgery options and started down this road. After consultations and doing my own research, I decided on the sleeve gastrectomy. Over the several month "trial period" (not sure what the technical term is), meeting with dieticians, the surgeon, the psychologist, etc., my surgery was approved and scheduled for mid April of this year... well, you can guess what happened. Thanks to COVID-19 everything was put on hold.
I freaked out a bit at that point. My work schedule is such that certain times of the year are no-go as far as being away for extended periods. What if my recovery takes longer than expected? What if due to the quarantine and stress eating (believe me, it's a thing), I gain weight again and they kick me out of the program? Having all this uncertainty on top of all the uncertainty going on in the world... being in a high-risk group for COVID, the business I work for having to completely retool how it does business, the financial market crash (at the time), the civil unrest in an election year, etc.,put my head in a not very happy place.
I'm also stressed by the fact that I have no immediate support structure in the event things go wrong (either medically or if I slip with respect to eating habits). I have no family, no significant other, and I live alone. Under normal circumstances, I'm perfectly fine and dandy with all three of those things, but for the first time in my life, I'm faced with the prospect of not having support when I might need it. I've never head surgery in my life, outside of two colonoscopies, which all things considered, I've been blessed in that regard, but again I have no frame of reference of what to expect and what to do in the event things don't proceed as planned.
I've avoided reading many of the threads here simply because I don't want to read about worst-case scenarios, as I know that my mind will tend to drift there, and I don't want the negatives of what *might* happen to dominate my thoughts right now.
So back to the present... at the beginning of June things started to open back up in the state, at least as far as allowing elective surgeries to be back on the docket. I'm scheduled for surgery on July 13.
The 14-day preop diet (which I started on June 29) that my hospital prescribes is more restrictive than many others. No meat in addition to no carbs or fats. It's a 1000-1150 calorie per day diet. As someone who normally would eat 3000-5000 calories per day, that's effectively a snack.
So I'm in the middle of day 6... and everything is fine.
And I have no idea why.
I *SHOULD* be frothing at the mouth, hangry, threatening to eat the neighbor's cats, etc., but for some reason I'm not hungry at all, and this cognitively makes no sense to me based upon my "normal" eating habits.
I've been actually eating less than 800 calories per day, not even up to the recommended 1000-1150 calories.
Breakfast: Protein Shake (30g Protein, 140-160 calories depending on brand) Morning snack: Yoplait light yogurt (90 calories) Lunch: 12-oz pouch of steamed vegetables with garlic and pepper (80-140 calories depending on what mix I use) Afternoon snack: apple slices (50-80 calories) Dinner: Another protein shake (140-160 calories) Evening snack: another yogurt (90 calories) I'll mix in sugar-free Jello (5 calories) throughout the day or some celery sticks as needed, and if feeling peckish will do an extra pouch of steamed vegetables.
What's freaking me out is why I'm not freaking out... if that makes any sense. It shouldn't be this easy, and I worrying that I ma be lulling myself into a false sense of security/complacency.
Or is my brain somehow making this easier on me, as somewhere deep down in the depths of my subconscious I fundamentally realize that I *have* to make this work?
I don't know; it's hard to convey.
I was at 351 on Sunday prior to starting the diet (and yes, I pigged out on Saturday and Sunday knowing what was ahead) and am now down to 339 as of this morning, which is a good thing.
Just trying to get a handle on why my brain is operating the way it is...
At any rate, good to be aboard.