Bwa

I started at 629 lbs (per the bed scale at the hospital; I was on a ventilator for 8 days with what, in retrospect, was probably Covid-19) on 12/26/2019.

I weighed 501 lbs at my consultation with the surgeon on August 14th, and 460 lbs on my surgery date of 10/21/2020, and last week when I weighed myself I weighed 428 lbs.

So to date, I have lost around 200 lbs. It's so much, but I still have so much left to go. I feel so much better, and I can do so many more things, but I can't wait to see what the future holds. I know I can do this. I have proven to myself time and again that I can.

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The Medicaid denial is based on your state Medicaid guidelines, not whether Medicare is primary. Since it is a Medicare covered service, you will be liable for the 20% Medicare coinsurance, and it can be pursued all the way to collections even though you are a Medicaid patient, specifically because it is considered non-covered by your Medicaid plan.

I mean obviously I'm a stranger on the Internet so take this info with a grain of salt. But my career is in Medical Billing, specifically Medicare and Medicaid.

Best of luck to you!

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Are you taking small bites, chewing thoroughly, and giving yourself plenty of time to feel how each bite feels in your stomach?

When I have that kind of uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, it's usually because I've taken too big of a bite or haven't chewed well enough.

Could that be the case for you? It is happening with things like soft foods and liquids too?

Sorry for all the questions, was hoping to help narrow down possibilities! Best of luck to you!

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The first pic is from before surgery: a turkey burger on a bun, with fettucine noodles in cheesy cream sauce. The second pic is from after surgery: ground pork taco meat with a little shredded cotija cheese and sour cream. It was probably about 1/4 cup of meat; the perspective is a little and it looks like more than there actually was. I find that ground meats sit better in my stomach than whole cuts.  

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Turkey sausage to serve with scrambled eggs.

Thank you very much, that sounds delicious!

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I really think i had an advantage when it comes to this having been a previous LB patient. Its a whole lot different when you CAN'T eat it vs SHOULDN'T. As the band got tighter, bread, rice, grits, some potatoes, drier meats like port, white chicken, veggies like asparagus, fruit like apples.... just would not go down. If i even tried it would get stuck and have to "uneat" it. So i just stopped. I really thought it would be harder, but after a few times of throwing up... you learn to stay away. Now with the sleeve, it's super easy as i have just gone back to that way pretty much. a few weeks ago i found myself dipping my toe in the deep part of the pool..... realized that it was/is a dangerous place to be. So back to the kiddy pool so to speak. Last night i cooked one of my favorite meals..... smothered chicken (boneless thighs) green Beans and rice.... I sooooo badly wanted the rice.... but i stayed away.
I found the wanting of these things never go away, but the acting on them can.

It happened to me the first time after taking my morning medication with sugar free Powerade, on an otherwise empty stomach. I haven't had a problem with fat, but I eat very little carbs or sugar. I was quite dismayed to have had a dumping episode without eating a "forbidden" food.< br>
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That's awesome! My surgeon told me I don't need to take insulin unless my blood sugar goes over 200, and it hasn't yet! So I am pretty stoked!

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I am having this issue as well, 2.5 weeks out. I think it's just going to be an adjustment to deal with. I worked on my food issues over the years, but this is a problem that only started after surgery so there was no way I could have prepared myself for it. I think I'll talk to the therapist at my surgeon's office to see if she can suggest any way to jump start the process of getting my head right, rather than waiting for it to pass on my own.

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I drink sugar free Powerade and use sugar free drink mixes like Crystal Light. It's helpful for me to drink flavored water. I used to be a gulper, which was easy with unflavored Water but I have a hard time sipping it. Oh, also, broth is a good way to get more water in if you don't care much for the sweeter flavors. Another thing that helps me is having an insulated cup that will keep my drink hot or cold, that I can just sip on all day. I also count everything water-based toward my water intake for the day.

Best of luck to you!

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I'm two weeks out and I have only had an issue with taking my morning medicine too fast on an empty stomach.

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I am two weeks out from surgery. I dumped for the first time Sunday (Nov 1) after my morning medication and some swigs of sugar free Powerade. It was god awful. I thought I was dying.

I had an episode of SVT (of which I have a history that started long before surgery) with heart rate in the 160s, then my bowels got super loose all of a sudden. I got lightheaded and dizzy and I thought I was going to pass out. I broke out into a cold, clammy sweat. Then I dry heaved for a few minutes.

The dry heaving made it click for me that it was dumping. I was surprised to have that happen on a basically empty stomach. I hadn't had any issues before, but I guess I just took my pills too fast and it freaked my body out. I have been more careful with how fast I take my pills since and I haven't had that issue... but it was scary. I really did not expect it.





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After two weeks I was able to start eating soft/moist foods, which is the stage I am still on right now. I am allowed to have fish, poultry, Beans, cooked veggies, canned fruits (without sugar added), and things of that sort.

Reached out to the team, they have said its 'dumping' which also happens with gastric sleeve. I am now 16days after surgery; I started trying soft food but no good. I can barely take a spoon before I get tired. But hoping things will get better before the 1 month mark.

Reached out to the team, they have said its 'dumping' which also happens with gastric sleeve. I am now 16days after surgery; I started trying soft food but no good. I can barely take a spoon before I get tired. But hoping things will get better before the 1 month mark.

I didn't have any issues with the scopolamine patch but the anesthesiologist warned me about it. He said it contains atropine which is what they use to dilate eyes but in a much more concentrated form. So not surprising that happened to you.
How are you feeling otherwise? How is your pain level? I took some Tylenol on Thursday but none yesterday. So pain hasn't been an issue for me. Just the soreness, but it is a little better every day.

I had my surgery on 10/27/20. Spent the night in the hospital and came home yesterday afternoon. Other that being stiff and sore there hasn't been much pain. Tylenol is plenty. They sent me home with oxycodone but I am super sensitive to narcotics and prefer not to take them unless it is "have to" situation. Many have caused vomiting and who has time for that kind of nonsense?
Dr. Hu said my surgery went well with no complications. But let me tell you what, folks, post op nausea in NO JOKE. I never did throw up but lawd I wanted to so bad! They were rotating through 3 different anti-emetics plus I had a scopolamine patch behind my ear and the nausea wouldn't let up. Once they got that under control it's been so much better. They sent me home with Zofran and Reglan but I haven't needed them so far.
It is surprising how long it takes to drink 4oz of liquid! And you have to be careful because you're going along, sip, sip, sip, and then BAM! You feel like you're going to vomit. Then about 15-20 minutes later you can resume...sip, sip, sip.
I hope everyone is well. Sending all kinds of good vibes your way!

Hello everyone! I'm brand new to the forum.
My surgery date is October 21 and I feel like am going crazy! I've got so many thoughts and feelings and it's just all the same stuff going around and around like socks in a dryer!
I'm trying to be proactive and get some things ready, like cutting up and bagging some chicken to make food prep easier on my fiance and son while I am in the hospital and recovering. But even doing helpful and usedful things, while helps me feel helpful... and useful (lol), it doesn't stop the relentless screamingn in my head that's just going EEEEEE SURGERY SURGERY SURGERY IT'S REALLY HERE IT'S HAPPENNIIIIIIINNNNNG!!!!!
I've wanted this for so long but I never had insurance that would cover it and now I do and I've jumped through and waited so anxiously and now it's almost here! I'm not scared, I'm not anxious about it going well, I know it will, I'm just so ready to get through it so I can get on with my life!
Any surgery twins?

I am exaclty one week post op and I was surprised and disappointed to be hungry within this time span. It's easy to fix it; I'll have some broth typically it I'm between meals. But it's definitely hunger. I'm already taking Prilosec so I know it isn't stomach acid. You are not alone.

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44 minutes ago, BrendiLuWho said:

@Bwa, congrats! My surgery is scheduled for 10/27. I totally get where you're coming from! I've started doing what I call a "Brain Dump" in my journal. Sometimes the thoughts come so fast and furious its overwhelming. So I just write them as they come. Its not meant to be a coherent entry but a way to get what's swirling around in my head out and onto paper where I can see it. Sometimes I see things I need or want to do and other times its just ramblings of a mad woman. But it helps. At least it helps me. Maybe give it a go!

What a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion.

Hello everyone! I'm brand new to the forum.

My surgery date is October 21 and I feel like am going crazy! I've got so many thoughts and feelings and it's just all the same stuff going around and around like socks in a dryer!

I'm trying to be proactive and get some things ready, like cutting up and bagging some chicken to make food prep easier on my fiance and son while I am in the hospital and recovering. But even doing helpful and usedful things, while helps me feel helpful... and useful (lol), it doesn't stop the relentless screamingn in my head that's just going EEEEEE SURGERY SURGERY SURGERY IT'S REALLY HERE IT'S HAPPENNIIIIIIINNNNNG!!!!!

I've wanted this for so long but I never had insurance that would cover it and now I do and I've jumped through and waited so anxiously and now it's almost here! I'm not scared, I'm not anxious about it going well, I know it will, I'm just so ready to get through it so I can get on with my life!

Any surgery twins?