Hill_Billy

I think it totally depends on your program. My insurance is through Kaiser, and their only requirement is that you NOT gain any weight during the six month bariatric program. If you gain weight, they just won’t give you a surgery date... until you get down even 1lb below you’re starting weight.

Do you guys portion out your food with measuring cups or do you weigh it? Depending on the food, 2oz by weight can be a lot more or less than 1/4 cup, so I’m just wondering how you do it. I just want to do whichever is best for my long term success!

I’m three weeks out from surgery and I continue to be amazed by the fact that I truly feel no hunger and have no cravings. At this point, I’m averaging 300-400 calories per day max and, although I know it’s hard to believe, I feel fantastic! As someone who has dieted on and off for the past 25 years, I know the misery that comes with starvation. What I’m experiencing now is NOTHING like what I’ve been through in the past.

For example, I just ate just 2 oz of tuna mixed with Greek yogurt, and I’m full and feel totally satisfied! I don’t feel stuffed but I absolutely could not eat another bite. The gastric sleeve does all sorts of amazing things to all the hormones that cause the sensations we all fear, and for me has been a godsend.

I like Premier Protein Clear. I can only find the peach flavor but it’s decent and it’s a million times easier for me to drink VS. the regular Premier Protein Shakes right now.

I have five incisions, the largest is maybe an inch and a half right over my belly button. Other than a general feeling of soreness in my belly, like I did a million crunches, I’ve basically been pain-free! Even gas pain wasn’t bad, but I did walk a TON... I did 3-4 miles the day after surgery. I’m only 10 days out but the incisions are scabbed over. My surgeon seems to have used a glue on them, so no obvious stitches. But I wish you the best of luck!

I’m a week out from surgery, and although my biggest incision is above my belly button, I’m not in any pain... my belly is just sore. Other people can jump in with their experiences, but I think the pain you’re experiencing is unusual and probably worth a call to your surgeon. Good luck!

I definitely preferred ready-to-drink Premier Protein shakes to any of the Protein powders I had tried. I did all liquid for two weeks pre-op, and by the third or forth day I felt a lot better, probably because I had accepted that this was just the next step of the journey. And, like Hop_Scotch said, this is great practice for post-op life!

Good luck!! And congrats on your surgery date!!

I had the sleeve done on Wednesday, the 5th. I was given Tylenol with Codine at the hospital, plus a non-opioid, internal pain blocker called exparel. My pain level has been minimal so I haven't even needed to take the Tylenol with Codine that they sent me home with.

19 hours ago, PerezL84 said:

So to those who have completed their procedure and are on their first 2 week liquid diet, how are you all feeling? Are you able to walk without any pain? Do you feel hungry at all? Any weight loss (if surgery was done 1 week of August)?

I had the sleeve done on the 5th, stayed in the hospital over night. I was super sleepy the day of and the day after the surgery, but by the 7th, I was feeling much more like myself. Since I had already been on a two week pre-op liquid diet, my body didn't seem bothered by the continuation of liquid, even though I was consuming less. No hunger whatsoever. Also, no issues walking; I walked a total of about 3 miles the day after surgery (I have a dog). Like a lot of people have mentioned, the only real "pain" I feel can be best described as soreness, like I just did a ton of sit-ups. I can still do all the normal stuff at home; I'm only trying to be careful not to lift anything heavy.

Haven't gotten on the scale yet, but I haven't consumed more than a few hundred calories since the night before surgery so I'm not worried about it.

On 8/6/2020 at 7:22 PM, Brekatelyn said:

Surgery date is August 24, and I will be getting SLEEVED!!
Can anyone give me advice on what to pack for my hospital stay?!

I just had surgery on Wednesday; spent one night in the hospital. Other than my cell phone, headphones, and a charger, I didn't need a thing! I brought so much crap that had been recommended on various forums/websites, like a pillow, slippers, loose clothing, etc, and I didn't use any of it. I slept so much, was so groggy, and generally felt so lousy that the last thing I was worried about was creature comforts from home.

The hospital had everything I needed.

23 hours ago, wallflower95 said:

August 5 (kinda nervous being so close)

I'm having the sleeve done on the 5th too! This may sound crazy but I'm actually not nervous at all. I've been actively working towards this for 11 months (6 month long insurance-mandated program and then COVID) so I'm just glad it's finally happening!

I'm on Day 10 of the pre-op liquid diet, and I feel your pain! My only recommendation is to drink a shake whenever hunger pangs like that hit, even if it's right before bed. This is challenging enough... you shouldn't have to suffer unnecessarily!

I'm currently on the pre-op liquid diet and wanted to use vegan Protein Powder for all my shakes but ultimately couldn't stomach them, especially since they can't be mixed with fruit or veggies during this high Protein phase. So I'm drinking Premier Protein shakes which are DELICIOUS. Cafe Latte is my favorite!

I'm in Maryland, with Kaiser insurance; my surgery is scheduled for 4/1. I called my bariatric program case manager today, and she said I should still go to my anesthesiology evaluation tomorrow and get my pre-op labs done. She said that the surgeons are taking this day by day. I'm supposed to start liquids on Wednesday and she said to proceed as normal; they will call me as soon as they know if the surgery will be postponed. This really is a miserable situation, but I've waited this long for the surgery, I can handle a couple more months if necessary.

4 hours ago, JessicaP87 said:

So exciting!!! I’m sooo nervous/excited and for some reason starting to feel sad..I hope that’s normal. I think it’s the thought of change..but I’m optimistic. What state are you from? I’m in N.C.

I'm in Maryland! I'm also nervous/excited, and tbh the fact that this was sprung on me so unexpectedly is probably a good thing... my next appt, which wasn't supposed to be for another month, is now on Tuesday, so I can't do any "last meals" or crazy binges on all my favorite junk, like pizza, ice cream, etc. Am I the only one mourning the loss of crap food?

On 3/10/2020 at 8:47 PM, JessicaP87 said:

I am scheduled for sleeve surgery April 1st. I just got my date today..super excited and nervous at the same time..I said my 2 week liquid diet next Wednesday. Any sleeve surgery twins??

Yes! I was scheduled for 4/29 but I just got a call this morning from the bariatric surgery case manager asking me if I'd be willing to move up my surgery date to 4/1! Eek!! I now have to start the two week liquid diet on Wednesday, just like you. We'll definitely have to cheer each other on!

This may seem like overkill but I love this monstrosity:

AUVON iMedassist Weekly AM/PM Pill Box, (7-Day / 4-Times-A-Day) with Moisture-Proof Design and Large Compartments to Hold Vitamins, supplements and Medication

Hey everyone! Congrats to all of you for making it this far!!

I just got my surgery date: 29 Apr! I finished my insurance company's mandatory six month bariatric program on 12 Feb, received approval for surgery a few days later, and finally met with my surgeon today. When I picked up the NINE pre-/post-op prescriptions, it started to feel very real! But I'm so excited! Like all of you, this has been a long time coming. I've been struggling with my weight since 4th grade and have lost and gained the same 100lbs. at least five times. I'm so ready to start this new chapter of my life!

A few details:

• Started Kaiser's six month bariatric program: 3 Sep 2019
• Hospital: Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Springs, MD
• Surgery : VSG

What are you worried about the most right now? For me, I think I'm dreading the two week pre-op liquid diet more than anything else!

Last summer when I started thinking seriously about bariatric surgery, I had trouble finding info on the timeline for Kaiser patients in the DC/MD/VA area. So for anyone who's interested, here's the process (and my timeline):

• Got a referral from my primary care provider (9/3/19)
• 1/2 WLS class with a nutritionist (9/19/19)
• 1/4 appt with a nutritionist (10/23/19)
• 1/2 Surgeon-led bariatric info session @ Holy Cross (11/12/19)
• 2/4 appt with a nutritionist (11/22/19)
• 2/2 Surgeon-led bariatric info session @ Holy Cross (11/27/19)
• 2/2 WLS class with a nutritionist (12/20/19)
• 3/4 appt with a nutritionist (1/16/20)
• 4/4 appt with a nutritionist (2/12/20)
• Got approved for surgery (2/14/20)
• Appt with surgeon @ Holy Cross to schedule surgery (3/3/20)

It's designed to be a six-month program starting with your referral and ending with the appt with your surgeon to schedule surgery (with variety of mandatory classes and one-on-one sessions spread out over the course of those six months). Here are some of the other requirements you have to take care of before a board will review your medical record and approve you for surgery:

• Ideally, you lose some weight, but there aren't a set number of pounds you have to lose.
• Behavioral health evaluation
• H-Pylori antibody stool test
• sleep apnea screening
• Write a letter to the surgeon about why you want to have surgery

Although my nutritionist is at South Baltimore County Medical Center, the only two bariatric surgeons currently available for Kaiser patients in the DMV are at Holy Cross in Silver Springs. My surgery will likely be at Largo Medical Center, and once it's scheduled, I'll update this post but I've been told to expect a six to eight week wait.

I hope this helps!