jenuinelygenuinely

2 hours ago, I Am Enough! said:

I wanted to update everyone on my mock trial of the liquid pre-op diet. I had been doing full liquids for a couple of weeks and eating solids on the weekends. I discovered a couple of things.

1) Adding Protein to everything you put in your mouth helps with hunger. Water, Soups, shakes, smoothies, etc.

2) After not eating solids and then eating solids, I would feel uncomfortable in my stomach, especially if I ate a large portion. I do believe the tummy shrinks a bit.

3) Once I started the clear-fluids-only diet, more weight started coming off faster. I started the clear-only yesterday, and last night was the very first time I was hungry before bed. I actually had to get up at 10 pm to drink another Protein Shake because I could not get to sleep.

4) Liquid Protein is my friend

Overall I'm so very glad I did this mock trial because I tried a bunch of different recipes and combinations of things and learned what I liked and what I didn't. Taking the time to do this has calmed my mind so I don't have to worry about going into these next few weeks before surgery.

I'm down 10 pounds already in July, and I hit my goal weight I wanted prior to surgery. Now I actually have more time to get lower. So now, I'm going to set it for 10 more pounds before surgery since I'm going into the clear-liquids-only stage.

Thanks for giving us the run down of your mock trial! I may have to do the same! You did a full liquid diet right before your clear liquid diet?

Whats your go-to for Protein Drinks?

8 hours ago, Tomo said:

I had a sleeve to bypass revision this past August. If it is anything like my experience, I think you will love the bypass. I wish I went straight to the RNY too. I had developed severe gerd and esophagitis with my vsg in the later years. I feel far more normal physically with the bypass than I did with the sleeve because I don't have any side effects. I feel similar to before any WlS but have better appetite control and therefore, good weight loss. I wish I was like the others who never had problems with my sleeve but sigh, here I am.

I agree!!! I feel like the sleeve was commercialized. I use to follow the huge Instagram sleeve communtiy and saw all the success people had with the sleeve which steered me getting the sleeve instead of bypass. I cannot deal with GERD anymore! It was so bad one time I had to sleep sitting up and even then acid came out of my nose! Cheers to revision!

13 hours ago, Tufflaw said:

As for any negativity towards any form of WLS, you can safely ignore 100% of people who have never gone through it because they have no idea what they're talking about.

Regarding revision, I had the sleeve done in Dec 2016 and did very very well at first. I lost about 120 lbs. in about 6 months of so, reaching my goal. Then after some personal and professional setbacks, I stopped paying attention to what I was eating, stopped tracking, stopped weighing and measuring, started eating junk again, and over the next few years regaining almost everything.

In Nov 2021 I had the revision to sleeve. My doctor did an endoscopy and said my sleeve was dilatated and therefore I could either resleeve to tighten it up, or revise to bypass. He recommended bypass because I also had GERD, and I took his advice.

I'm down nearly a hundred pounds now since November and very happy. Still doing what I'm supposed to do, and I know the pitfalls to watch out for from last time. The GERD is gone too which is very nice.

This sounds like what I went through!!! I hear a lot of people say the revision makes you stall on weight loss! Is it true? Did you have to work harder after your revision??

2 hours ago, LMac67 said:

I’m scheduled for my ESG with plication on August 9th! I’m excited but also nervous. As I’m going through the paperwork and making sure I have everything prepared , I noticed no Peanut Butter is allowed , even after the 45 day mark? I live on Peanut Butter and coffee lol. I will do whatever it takes but was just wondering if I’m going to have to learn to live without the 2?

Have you tried PB2? For me its coffee! I live off of that stuff plus the cream!

On 6/27/2022 at 12:36 PM, I Am Enough! said:

Yes! I have American Eskimos and they are my sweetest babies! I never knew how much love I could have for them

I have 3 fur babies! I love them so dearly! I have a Great Dane/Shepherd, Shepherd/Red Heeler, and a Malamute/Siberian. They all have different personalities but the most misbehaved one is my husky LOL!

1 hour ago, MrsSuit said:

My plan lists 3 months of medically supervised weight loss program and nutrition classes, nutritional counseling, as well as psych eval. It was the 1 year @ BMI 40 and evidence of attempted weight loss which threw me.

I think I found a good program, but will wait to see how the first consult goes and see if I need another. I just got a new PCP and didn't discuss with her... but also doesn't say a referral is required soooo 😬

No referral is needed but if your new PCP is all for it, it is good to have it on your health records. Hope everything goes well on your consult! Let us know how it goes.

4 minutes ago, MrsSuit said:

Thats a relief, I reread it all and started to worry. I'm not on medication for it, but topic was discussed a while back with my doc. I have an autoimmune disease which is currently in remission, and a host of other issues, but nothing major. Every diet under the sun I've tried. But I don't have documented with the doc's office at my highest BMI for a year.

Find a Bariatric program that is right for you. Research all possible programs in your State. It took me 2 programs to find the perfect one! Do you have a primary physician that is positive towards Bariatric surgery?

Same with trying every diets! I saw a specialty center to see a endocrinologist and he prescribed me Phentermine which was $100! That stuff made me feel so sick and emotional I had to stop. This was wayyy before my gastric sleeve. I tried Alli diet pills, that stuff makes you do the unimaginable LOL. I believe with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance you have to do 6 months of nutrition education as one of the criteria.

Hi love! It sounds like my insurance and I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. They're pretty lenient on what considers a comorbidity. Mine is PCOS and just having the disease of being obese. I basically told my program "Throughout my whole life I have tried numerous diets and it is always the yo-yo effect of an up and down weight" Not really evidence I had to show but a good amount of backstory of why different diets and other weight loss program didn't work.

Do you take any medication for high cholesterol?

Thanks MikeC19 for the post. I start my pre-op diet on August 15th and super nervous! Mine is two full weeks! What does your diet look like?

Welcome!!!! I had the sleeve in 2018 and now getting a revision to a Bypass at the end of August. Personally I wish I got the Bypass in the very beginning. I have severe GERD and a twist mid stomach of my sleeve.

I started the revision process March of 2021 and now getting the surgery. It was a long process because they have a program for revision patients called "Back on Track" and it requires 12 weeks of dietitian visits.

I have PCOS and have super abnormal periods. I was spotting for almost a year (sometimes heavy) before surgery. When I was losing weight rapidly post-surgery in the first month my period stopped and became normal for the first time in my life.

Now I have an IUD to drop my estrogen levels down so I don't end up having uterine cancer in the future. I don't have any kids and would love to be able to get pregnant so my doctor recommended the IUD for hormonal purposes.

This happened to me and I had a horrible hemorrhoid which I had to go to urgent care. Yes try increasing your fiber. What helped me with bowel movements are chia seeds. I add chia seeds to my yogurt and to any smoothies. I also eat yellow dragon-fruit as a natural detox which makes me go.

Praying everything is ok and the pain goes away for you!

46 minutes ago, Tami10 said:

I'm in California and my insurance covered it just had to pay copay. Had to jump through but I'm surprised that a lot of insurances don't cover it because when I was looking at insurances when we could change all the ones I was looking at covered it

Sent from my SM-A716U using BariatricPal mobile app

I agree!! I am super surprised some insurances don't cover it...it can be under a different procedure possibly? I feel like with the right doctor they are able to deem this a medical necessity for insurance to approve.

You will still be able to enjoy food you like but in moderation! Some foods you won't be able to tolerate and it'll make you sick. Post surgery I was in phase 3 of my diet which was soft foods. I scarfed down a soft hard boiled egg and my stomach did not like it! I have not liked any type of boiled eggs till this day.

I had the sleeve in 2018. My stomach will feel full but my mind will tell me I am still hungry. The pain from overeating is definitely unbearable and super uncomfortable. It is truly a mind game. If you have a really good nutrition team you will do awesome!

Welcome!!!

I say call your current insurance and get more information. If it doesn't 100% cover, I agree with you, research insurances and apply during open enrollment. I live in Minnesota and work for Blue Cross Blue Shield, wish I can help you over here!!! We cover bariatric surgery but under a criteria and the process is 6 months of education. I've heard other insurances only need you to do 3 months. After you have found an insurance that covers it, call the benefit customer service and get the criteria of what you need for insurance to approve your surgery at the end of the 3/6 month bariatric education.

How mine started I found a Bariatric program at a hospital/clinic and scheduled an appointment. They gave me all materials I needed and also a forum for me to ask my insurance questions. If I recall the questions were about the specific bariatric codes used for the surgery, the deductible/copays/maximum out of pocket. After the first appointment then starts your 3/6 month dietitian visits as well as visits to a therapist. Along the way of the appointments you may have to do required procedures like upper endoscopy, sleep study, and other blood work. It kinda sucks because you wouldn't know until the end if your insurance will approve/deny. Hope this helps!

5 hours ago, JellyBeanz said:

Hi everyone. My sleeve is scheduled for the 16th of August and I started my pre-op diet today. I on 3 shakes a day, 1 piece of fruit and unlimited non-starchy veggies (plus all the diet drinks, black coffee and diet jelly I can eat). I'm extraordinarily lucky as my husband volunteered to do the diet with me in solidarity. I hope we don't kill each other!

My fiance said he will do the pre-op diet with me but how strict my diet is I don't think he will be able to survive especially because he works in the hot sun! I am going to have to sneak him a couple of regular Gatorade's and hope for the best LOL! He doesn't even like Premier Proteins and I have to drink that 4 times daily. LOL

2 hours ago, suzannethemom said:

I cannot believe that the we have such similar stories! I also went to Park Nicollet first. The dietician was overly focused on my previous eating disorder, even though I completed two years of intense therapy and group BED therapy. She wanted me to resume therapy and postpone surgery. I also went home crying. I scheduled a new consultation with Ridgeview Clinic three weeks later and successfully had sleeve surgery two months later. It’s crazy the amount of hoops some doctors make their patients jump through. I am so thankful that I ditched Park Nicollet, lol.

Yes!!! I am so happy I wasn't the only one that went through that. I am surprised at others who actually got through the process at Park Nicollet. I also ditched Park Nicollet and got a second opinion on the ED. It is super weird how other programs work!! Fairview-Your first appointment/meeting is with a group of people who are interested in the program and then at the end you add your name on the list if you want to make your first appointment with a nurse/dietician. Mayo-you see an endocrinologist/dietitian/therapist all in one day. Till this day I feel like the provider who denied me was trying to get more money in by referring her patients to the Emily Program.

1 hour ago, Denise7M7 said:

I feel your pain on the state fair, I'll be having my surgery right as Kentucky's begins. I usually compete and I'm going to miss that this year. Homemade candy is my specialty so that was *right out* this year lol It will give someone else the chance to win those ribbons this year I guess And next year I'll be in much better shape to walk around the exhibits!

OMG YUM! Homemade candy? !?! I am going to have to try that next year.

I know this is an old thread but I live in Lonsdale. I use to live in Lakeville and even though mayo is a long drive it is well worth going to the Bariatric program there. I am getting a revision August 29th. I am pretty use to driving to Mayo because my little cousins live out there and I pick them up occasionally.

I had my sleeve done with Fairview and I did not like the nutrition program there. Funny story when I first started my whole journey back in 2017 I went with Park Nicollet first, and with their program you first see some sort of therapist. She denied me for any surgery and told me I had a eating disorder and I needed to do the Emily program for 12 months!!!!!! I went home crying! There was NO WAY I had an eating disorder! So I made an appointment with Fairview's Bariatric program a week after that and got my sleeve done. Couple months after that I got a piece of mail saying that provider is no longer employed with Park Nicollet.

I am getting a revision from Sleeve to Bypass at mayo Clinic.

1 hour ago, SHORTY_ said:

I'm scheduled for Aug. 2nd. My Birthday is next week and our state fair is a week and a half after surgery. So I 100% feel your pain there. I've decided I wasn't going to let that get to me though because I know it will all be worth it "sacrificing" all the delicious food for this next chapter of my life. My pre-teen daughter had a group of friends over this past weekend and decided to order in pizza, I made sure to order enough that they would eat every last bite and no leftovers sitting out. Cake is gonna look like sugar-free popsicles this year and as far as the state fair I think I'll be ok. I'm not really craving sweets or any "bad" food really... I'd honestly really like some grilled chicken or something other than what I'm continuously eating in the last week. This has been such a mind game. But thankfully I have my daughter to help me laugh it off and humor my way out of and food-loss depression I may have.

You got this!! You're almost there!! I might have to separate myself from my family until I get through the pre-op. We have about 8 birthdays this August and it will have to be zoom calls. LOL Tell your family you will need a birthday party planned for after your post-op phase. When I had the sleeve we had a picnic type thing and they were serving root beer floats, I opted in getting diet root beer with ice cream. I was literally on the floor in the bathroom from dumping syndrome. It was the worse feeling! It truly is a mind game! I did a liquid diet last month but not a clear liquid diet and I was already feeling tortured.

26 minutes ago, karakent said:

Oh my goodness. The ONLY thing I remember about the Minnesota State Fair is the delicious food! My heart goes out to you. But you can do this! Just keep moving through it and if you can’t skip it (which would probably be the easiest thing) then make sure you pack your Water and maybe bring a shake with you!

These pre-op diets are so different! I’m surprised you get orange juice. You’re the first person I’ve seen mention that, as part of their pre-op. Maybe you can also pack a little container of orange juice as well. Instead if a purse just carry a little lunch tote w/ ice packs to keep it all cool. Minnesota in August is HOT! I know I did the liquid diet when I got my band put in, but its been over 10 years since then, so I don’t remember how I made it through. I’m praying for you and hope it goes smoother than you imagine.

Thank you so much love! Yes it is going to be soooo hard! That is such a great idea!! I will definitely pack a lunch tote.

I am doing my surgery at mayo Clinic and they said the pre-op diet was introduced again this year. I'm almost wondering if the orange juice is to break the weakness of having low blood sugar. When I heard others can have lean meat and non-starchy veggies I was surprised! These diets are crazy different. Thank you for the prayers!

On 7/22/2022 at 2:33 PM, Dogmom68 said:

All my paperwork was submitted today to my insurance company to get the prior authorization needed for my surgery. I talked to my insurance company yesterday to make sure the bypass was a covered benefit and (thank you Jesus) it is. Because I’m having a revision from VSG to RNY a lot of my requirements had already been met. I had the VSG 18 months ago so I’ve kept up with all my post op appointments with the dietitian since then. My psych evaluation can be used from the VSG surgery for the RNY. I just had my endoscopy this past Tuesday. The only thing left is the prior authorization and I feel pretty confident I’ll be approved based on my medical diagnoses (GERD, hiatal hernia, sleep apnea…) I start my liquid diet on Monday. Only two weeks to go!!!😬

I also have severe GERD and my endoscopy showed a twist in the middle of my sleeved stomach! Which causes mild obstruction. My surgeon told me the surgery failed me and a revision is needed to get it fixed. I started the new bariatric program with a different hospital March 2021 and my surgery is scheduled for August 29th. Are you on a strict clear liquid diet?

I had super bad Constipation with my sleeve back in 2018! I had three horrible hemorrhoids! and yes like others said its worse than having the actual surgery. I would wake up and scream at my fiance that I needed to go to the ER, but he would tell me to relax and put cream on for me. I went to a rectal doctor once and they prescribed me pain medication and told me the next day the inflammation should go down and that I had a chance of it coming back which it did. calcium chews is what made me constipated. I switched to pills.

I am scheduled August 29th for a revision from sleeve to bypass! I start the clear liquid diet August 15th and I am beyond nervous for that! My sleeve back in 2018 required no strict diet other than drinking magnesium citrate the night before. August is such a busy year for us as well! Birthdays and the big MInnesote State Fair. I am a faithful state fair goer...and it always runs from August 25th until Labor Day. I am contemplating on going just for the walk and to keep myself busy but the smell of food will definitely torture me!

I've been reading a couple of member's liquid diets and it is far more flexible than mine. Sample menu is 4 Protein Shakes daily, 32 oz of Liquid IV, and 16 oz of regular orange juice. That is required for a daily meal. Then between is Water, broth, sugar free Jello and popsicles. I can have Decaf coffee and tea as well as sugar free drinks but a lot of sugar free drinks still has 5 calories.