Grace55

Hi Susie,
you are balancing so much in your life, it is humbling. I will address your chronic pain issue, as a chronic pain patient it is important you receive the attention which is warranted. No one should ever be allowed to live in pain, it is inhumane & unreasonable. Some people cannot understand the diminished lifestyle, planning and multiple limitations chronic pain, not acute pain, inflicts on a person. You were given an appointment, 2 weeks away? Is there another Pain Management group or Pain Management Dr you can contact? I can appreciate and validate your pain and the frustrating process, however, if you are in intractable pain, call your primary, tell him or her what is going on. Your primary can treat you for a few months, long enough until you are able to see this Pain Management Group. Your primary will understand if you are an established patient. To wait 2 weeks is unacceptable. Please feel free to contact me if I can help with resources.
Moist heat is more penetrating than dry heat, if you have not tried it, you may find that it offers more relief. To compound matters, your Dr thinks you have an auto- immune disease. I am so sorry all this is happening to you. For stress relief, would you consider massage therapy? A 60-90 minute massage from a certified massage therapist. The massage will relax your muscles, no doubt you probably have many muscle spasms which is a response to the body part that has been injured & in pain. Meditation? This may help but trying to relax while in pain can be a challenge. I agree, do not exercise or engage in physical activity until you see a Pain Management physician. A warm bath is also helpful, relaxing muscles and reducing spasms which can be very painful. Soft, calming music...sounds of the ocean, can be very tranquil, it will relax you. You mentioned a therapist. Is this a therapist trained in pain management? It is not a big deal but often this type of therapist understands your daily struggles that many never think about, only because planning any type of activity, even a trip to the grocery store must be planned. There are Pain Management support groups in most locations. This will help emotionally and mentally. Please feel free to write. I will be thinking of you - Grace

If anyone has MEDICARE...federal government insurance at age 65 or because of a disability, Medicare pays 100% for Bariatric surgery. However, check with your providers and with Medicare. UHC, also pays 100%, again you need to confirm with your provider as well as the insurance carrier; it is managed differently depending on region and type of insurance. I am a novice in the insurance arena. The only reason I know this, I checked with my insurance carrier and MEDICARE. This may not be accurate information for others. I suspect there are many on this forum who can answer this much better than me. Good luck -

Hi Susie,
you are balancing so much in your life, it is humbling. I will address your chronic pain issue, as a chronic pain patient it is important you receive the attention which is warranted. No one should ever be allowed to live in pain, it is inhumane & unreasonable. Some people cannot understand the diminished lifestyle, planning and multiple limitations chronic pain, not acute pain, inflicts on a person. You were given an appointment, 2 weeks away? Is there another Pain Management group or Pain Management Dr you can contact? I can appreciate and validate your pain and the frustrating process, however, if you are in intractable pain, call your primary, tell him or her what is going on. Your primary can treat you for a few months, long enough until you are able to see this Pain Management Group. Your primary will understand if you are an established patient. To wait 2 weeks is unacceptable. Please feel free to contact me if I can help with resources.
Moist heat is more penetrating than dry heat, if you have not tried it, you may find that it offers more relief. To compound matters, your Dr thinks you have an auto- immune disease. I am so sorry all this is happening to you. For stress relief, would you consider massage therapy? A 60-90 minute massage from a certified massage therapist. The massage will relax your muscles, no doubt you probably have many muscle spasms which is a response to the body part that has been injured & in pain. Meditation? This may help but trying to relax while in pain can be a challenge. I agree, do not exercise or engage in physical activity until you see a Pain Management physician. A warm bath is also helpful, relaxing muscles and reducing spasms which can be very painful. Soft, calming music...sounds of the ocean, can be very tranquil, it will relax you. You mentioned a therapist. Is this a therapist trained in pain management? It is not a big deal but often this type of therapist understands your daily struggles that many never think about, only because planning any type of activity, even a trip to the grocery store must be planned. There are Pain Management support groups in most locations. This will help emotionally and mentally. Please feel free to write. I will be thinking of you - Grace

start tracking your intake, increasing Water intake, eliminating caffeine, sweets and alcohol, start meal prep research and invest in any needed tools, try a variety of Protein Shakes and powders, research recipes and phases....the more you do to prepare the easier the transition will be after surgery.
I personally invested in glass meal prep containers, measuring cups, shaker bottle, personal blender, 1/4-1/2 c storage containers. I also had a variety of premade shakes available, Protein broths and Soups, hot chocolate and chai tea (from BP store), and a vanilla, chocolate and unflavored Protein Powder for adding to food to supplement protein. Also, get in the routine of being active everyday if you are not already. Hope this helps and good luck!

Just got my date 12/3. A little sad to be on a preop diet for Thanksgiving but we gotta do what we gotta do.

The foods are so aesthetically perfect, they could be commercials. No doubt they are as delicious as they look! I applaud the Chefs, you guys are incredibly talented!

Hello,
I am responding to “ 3 months, angry.” I am new to this site so forgive me if I stumble, I welcome your feedback. I do not know the history of our “ angry friend” I just wanted to comment, that nothing is wrong with you. We all get angry, impatient, frustrated, disappointed, & on top of that...sleep becomes a precious commodity. There is nothing wrong expressing your rage & communicating your disappointments. Please tell me how can I help? You are not alone. I do not know where your anger originates, no doubt it is legitimate and valid. It can be a challenge learning how to use this emotion so it benefits you rather than beat you up, robbing you of energy. My name is Grace. I am grateful to be part of this forum. Thank you.

The foods are so aesthetically perfect, they could be commercials. No doubt they are as delicious as they look! I applaud the Chefs, you guys are incredibly talented!

Hi Susie,
you are balancing so much in your life, it is humbling. I will address your chronic pain issue, as a chronic pain patient it is important you receive the attention which is warranted. No one should ever be allowed to live in pain, it is inhumane & unreasonable. Some people cannot understand the diminished lifestyle, planning and multiple limitations chronic pain, not acute pain, inflicts on a person. You were given an appointment, 2 weeks away? Is there another Pain Management group or Pain Management Dr you can contact? I can appreciate and validate your pain and the frustrating process, however, if you are in intractable pain, call your primary, tell him or her what is going on. Your primary can treat you for a few months, long enough until you are able to see this Pain Management Group. Your primary will understand if you are an established patient. To wait 2 weeks is unacceptable. Please feel free to contact me if I can help with resources.
Moist heat is more penetrating than dry heat, if you have not tried it, you may find that it offers more relief. To compound matters, your Dr thinks you have an auto- immune disease. I am so sorry all this is happening to you. For stress relief, would you consider massage therapy? A 60-90 minute massage from a certified massage therapist. The massage will relax your muscles, no doubt you probably have many muscle spasms which is a response to the body part that has been injured & in pain. Meditation? This may help but trying to relax while in pain can be a challenge. I agree, do not exercise or engage in physical activity until you see a Pain Management physician. A warm bath is also helpful, relaxing muscles and reducing spasms which can be very painful. Soft, calming music...sounds of the ocean, can be very tranquil, it will relax you. You mentioned a therapist. Is this a therapist trained in pain management? It is not a big deal but often this type of therapist understands your daily struggles that many never think about, only because planning any type of activity, even a trip to the grocery store must be planned. There are Pain Management support groups in most locations. This will help emotionally and mentally. Please feel free to write. I will be thinking of you - Grace

If you met all the criteria & your Surgeon’s office completed all requested paperwork, they should be able to answer this so you are not in “ limbo.” You can also contact your insurance carrier and inquire about your status. I doubt you would not be accepted, most insurance, not all, is paying for bariatric surgery. If you have not already done this to prepare for your new life, an excellent resource for now & in the future: “Obesity Action Coalition.” You May already know about this organization, the website: www.obesityaction.com
When you access this site there is a lot of information preparing for Bariatric surgery, the resources offered are excellent for everyday, but also an excellent support system. They list 10 ways to prepare, I won’t list them all as it’s probably easier for you to read it on the website: 1. Start to Think about why you eat, 2. Keep a list of non- food ways to cope w/stress, 3. Don’t compare yourself with others, 4. Follow up, Follow up, Follow up, 5. Prepare to feel a little left out at dining & social gatherings. I referenced 5 items from the 10 Ways to Prepare for Bariatric Surgery. With each item is an explanation how to manage each one. You are not alone, there are many resources and groups on line & in your community. The OAC Community is an excellent, one of the best resources. You are in NC? I am from NC, excellent health care, exemplary hospitals in NC, whether it is Duke in Raleigh or Winston Salem - Wake Forest/Bowman Gray Center, UNC, Vidant Medical Center... You are in good hands with exceptional hospitals. Good luck, you will do great!

you look great! And yep - no one's going to notice that AT ALL when you've got clothes on!

Wow such a difference

Pre and Post...I eat the same omelette just 1/2. Three eggs, two slices cooked uncured bacon, fresh organic spinach and baby bella mushrooms, a sprinkle of shredded cheese cooked in about 1 teaspoon butter.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

@Tealael Great idea!! Since I have not had my surgery yet I am going to start taking pics of what and how much I am eating now so that when I have a stall I can look back on how much I used to eat versus post-op, that way I won't be so hard on myself. You're the best!!

Like weight loss before and after photos but of your new diet !
I'm especially interested in before and after meal photos (take a pic at the point you feel restriction) but it can be of recipe substitutions, your refrigerator/pantry/shopping cart/etc
VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

If you met all the criteria & your Surgeon’s office completed all requested paperwork, they should be able to answer this so you are not in “ limbo.” You can also contact your insurance carrier and inquire about your status. I doubt you would not be accepted, most insurance, not all, is paying for bariatric surgery. If you have not already done this to prepare for your new life, an excellent resource for now & in the future: “Obesity Action Coalition.” You May already know about this organization, the website: www.obesityaction.com
When you access this site there is a lot of information preparing for Bariatric surgery, the resources offered are excellent for everyday, but also an excellent support system. They list 10 ways to prepare, I won’t list them all as it’s probably easier for you to read it on the website: 1. Start to Think about why you eat, 2. Keep a list of non- food ways to cope w/stress, 3. Don’t compare yourself with others, 4. Follow up, Follow up, Follow up, 5. Prepare to feel a little left out at dining & social gatherings. I referenced 5 items from the 10 Ways to Prepare for Bariatric Surgery. With each item is an explanation how to manage each one. You are not alone, there are many resources and groups on line & in your community. The OAC Community is an excellent, one of the best resources. You are in NC? I am from NC, excellent health care, exemplary hospitals in NC, whether it is Duke in Raleigh or Winston Salem - Wake Forest/Bowman Gray Center, UNC, Vidant Medical Center... You are in good hands with exceptional hospitals. Good luck, you will do great!

Being prepared by doing lots of research is a good move. If you haven’t yet, look at your current diet & start making small changes. You could cut back on your portion sizes, reduce your caffeine, alcohol & sugar intake or reduce how many carbs you’re eating. Look for healthier food choices & cooking methods. Add some exercise into your daily routine if you don’t now. Introducing some of these changes will make it easier in the long term.
You could start thinking about why you’re eating - habit, boredom, emotions or actual real hunger. What do you crave - sugar, salt/savoury, caffeine, carbs, ... This is part of the head work we all have to do.
Start making new habits now. Even if your approval is delayed, the changes will be of benefit to you.
Good luck. I hope you hear positive news soon.

So I am just waiting on approval for my surgery but I was wondering what I should be doing now to better prepare myself. For those who have already had the surgery what? advice can you give? If you could go back what are some things you wish you would have worked on more before getting the surgery? I research and what vlogs everyday but I still feel like I am missing something. Instead of stressing about if I will be approved or not or worse stress eating I want to do something productive with my time while I wait.

it's probably just a stall. I had several on my journey. Just stick to your plan and the weight loss will eventually start up again. And stay off the scale for a few days if you need to.

This is very common. Remember, you’re not eating much & your body is using every bit if it so you’ll have a lot less waste for your body to excrete. If I went every second day I was happy especially in the first few months when I was consuming so little. If I got to day 3 or 4 without any movement I’d take a stool softener.
I was advised to add benefibre to my diet every day to help with bowel movements. Avoid the fibre supplements that swell in your tummy. Keep your fluids up.

I stayed one night, but COVID definitely changes how hospitals operate. They need to keep as many beds open as possible for COVID patients, especially since the disease surging right now. The other thing that can happen is that all elective surgeries are cancelled indefinitely. If you can get surgery now - get it!
As far as COVID, you are not likely to get it at the hospital. The COVID patients are housed in a different unit than the surgery unit. All the surgery patients are tested and the nurses are screened. There are more precautions being taken in the hospital than just about anywhere. Once you get home, just stay put and don't congregate with a lot of other people, which is what you should be doing now anyway.
Usually only people with history of blood clots or several risk factors are put on blood thinners. I was not. That being said, even though I was walking as soon as I woke up and doing 10,000 steps by the end of week one, I developed several clots in my legs! I was feeling soreness along some of my varicose veins, and the ultra sound showed some deeper clots. My doc told me even soreness and swelling at the IV site can be an indication that a clotting disorder is happening. Anyway, I went on Xarelto for 3 months and that was that. Done. However, if I ever need surgery again, I will be put of blood thinners as a precaution.
Complications are rare, but they can be dealt with. Staying obese has a lot more lifetime risks than surgery. This may be a window of opportunity for your surgery that could close, so take advantage of it and take each day as it comes.

As we all know, Bariatric surgery is a tool. We are still responsible for nutrition, diet & exercise. I had a friend who went thru a gastric bypass. She thought she could eat the same amount of calories at her former weight & continue at her reduced weight. I can understand that; your brain has not caught up to the change. What helps me is a strong support system, I need accountability. Post-Op support is critical for long term success. It is as vital as the surgery being performed. Bariatric surgery is very emotional, support is key. Ensure you have an exemplary health team, to guide you. This includes a therapist to understand your specific behavior & relationship with food, and a nutritionist. There is so much going on, biologically, emotionally & mentally. In time, fitness\exercise will become part of your regime. You do not need to join a gym or lift weights, or walk on a treadmill. Exercise can be walking, it can be gardening. So long as activity is a daily occurrence. The Health Team will guide you thru something which is new for you. Ultimately, developing new eating habits to last a lifetime. This is important to ensure your success. Change in regards to behavior does not happen in weeks or months, it takes time. Be patient with yourself. Usually, in 6-8 weeks you can resume a normal diet, it depends on the directives of your Surgeon. Each person is different. For me, I plan my meals, consume nutrient dense foods, Protein in every meal, I exercise. Speak w/your Surgeon, nutritionist to understand the plan for you. You will get to where you need to be -

Congratulations & Good Luck ♥️

Best of luck to you!!! There are quite a few guys on here who started out at a similar weight, and they have crushed it! Just like you will do!!!
Welcome to the rest of your life!!!

Hi everyone!

I’m having my sleeve surgery tomorrow at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles and I am so excited! I’m a bit nervous about the recovery process, so I was just wondering what tips or tricks you all may have for getting through the post op pain?

I’m going to stay positive and strong but sometimes pain is pain.

I’ve been on a pre-op mainly liquids diet for almost a month now and have dropped 25 lbs! So my weight going into surgery tomorrow is going to be 322 lbs. I’m a 6’1 31 year old male. I’m not sure what my goal weight should be, but ideally I’d love to get down to 225 lbs and in a dream world, be 200 lbs but I have a large frame so not sure if that’s doable!

Any advice for the recovery would mean a lot!

Thank you for your support,

P