NettyD

hace you been checked for reflux/silent reflux?

I have pretty swollen legs from too much Fluid build up, so I've told my co-workers I need surgery for that, but I haven't told them what type of surgery. I am sure they will figure it out when I start dropping weight. That being said... sorry for the loss of your mother. Congrats on going back to grad school. I am knee deep in my dissertation right now, hoping to get approval any day from my university to start my research so I can finally get my degree finished. I am not even thinking about how I am going to juggle all that too once I finally get approval. Your timeline looks much faster than mine, which is frustrating, as I was told my insurance is the "easiest" to work with (as in least amount of requirements). Grrrr. I wish I could this process to move faster. Honestly, it SUCKS having to diet for months, only to lose a small amount, knowing that once the surgery happens, dieting will work so much better. Wishing you the best on your surgery and success of the weight loss.

Hey there. It can be a process. I met with my surgeon on Dec. 2, 2022. Dec. 4 I ended up in the ER with a gallbladder that was about to rupture Had that removed on the 5th, and out of the hospital on the 6th. So I wasn't even thinking about WLS at that moment. Then the holidays happened, and then the new year. On Jan 9 I started back to grad school to get my MBA. On Jan. 11 my Mom passed away. So wasn't in the forefront of things again. But a little time passed and I started back with my requirements. I have my bloodwork next week with my PCP, and my final nutrition class on 5/3. I already got the final approval letter from my insurance, so I'll schedule right after that, and the coordinator said it would just be a few weeks (like she made it seem like I would JUST have time to do the 1 week diet before) and I'd have surgery. I'm just trying to time it correctly with work, school, etc. Plus, I'm NOT telling my coworkers, as they are, well, not nice people and are nosy and want to be in your business.

I am wondering how long it took everyone from the time you initially talked to your doctor about wanting to get the surgery to how long you had to wait.
I started this journey at the beginning of the year. My first conversation with the surgeon was on January 5th. I did not like her, as she was pretentious and rude. She kept saying, "Someone of your size" cannot get the gastric bypass, so I debated just not doing any of the procedures. I tried to explain to her (as we were doing this as a telehealth visit) that she was misjudging my size by only looking at the numbers. I hold my weight way too well. In high school, I outweighed girls my height and clothing size by 60-80 pounds, but was a state-placing cross country runner. My actual body fat composition was low when tested, versus weight/height ratio. Came to find out that she doesn't like doing bypasses, so she tried to convince all her patients to do the sleeve. After reading up on both, I decided I would actually prefer the sleeve, but not for any of the reasons she gave. I have had three visits with my primary, done the blood tests, and am now waiting on the surgeon's office for my psychology appointment and my final dietician appointment (which is over a month out.) Once I have those, along with an EKG from my primary and getting my paperwork signed off, I then have to wait for insurance to give the final approval. After that, I then wait. So what started on January 5th will take until a minimum of May 15th (final appointment) to even have everything completed... and then two to three weeks for insurance. Then, as my surgeon explained in January, it takes up to 6 weeks for the surgery to scheduled. I am a school teacher with my youngest heading off to college in August, so I am not going to miss taking her. I am majorly concerned that by the time I finally get the surgery, the summer will be over and I won't be able to get time off at the beginning of the school year for this surgery. I am debating talking to my doctor and telling her that I just won't have the surgery because this process is just taking way too long. I have already lost 22 pounds since I first weighed in at the beginning of the year from changing my diet. I am thinking I will be down another 20 by the time I finally get this surgery... or if I can get this surgery.

I've had my sleeve surgery on March 23rd. I was 326 lbs before the liquid diet, dropped down to 310 just a day before surgery and now I'm between 271 and 275.
Today (April 20th) kinda marks my 1 month post op and I've been hospitalized twice! The first time happened was when I was switching over to a Multivitamin pill from a chewable. (2 weeks post op) Once I popped that pill and swallowed it, I felt it opened in my stomach and left a extremely bitter taste and threw up all of my medication and made me weak. Went to the hospital and they said that I was dehydrated. Thank you multivitamin pill for making me feel this way. They gave me IV and sent me home the same day.
The second time, which was last Saturday (4/15), I was sitting on my couch taking a little nap because I was a little tired. I woke up and left my plate from my lunch on my table. I got up, took it in the kitchen and right away felt so exhausted! My partner saw me and said what's wrong? I remember saying help me to the couch. 15 seconds later and I was on the floor by my bathroom. I've actually lost consciousness for 15 seconds and let's just say that I didn't make it to the toilet in time... Went back to the hospital for test and lab work and my red blood cells were at a all time low. They gave me IV and magnesium. Stayed overnight. When my levels were somewhat normal, they sent me home.
Today, had an appointment with my regular doctor. He said that I'm mild anemic and things will slowly get better overtime. I have another appointment to go to tomorrow and that's with my bariatric surgeon. Almost everyday, im having nausea. Making it a little difficult to take my medication/vitamins and eat/drink. If I knew my body would be going through this, I never would have did this!

I think the problem of traveling is sitting in one place for a long time. The doctors worry about blood clots. But I think 6 weeks is okay. You're just not supposed to sit around for more than 2 hours at the time I think. Also you're assuming everything goes okay with your surgery., I wish I hope it does!

I know I personally would have been okay to travel by that point, but if I were you I would make sure that you're not doing anything too physically taxing. I developed an Iron deficiency after surgery that absolutely took all of my energy, but I started to feel better after about 2 weeks on iron pills (so 4 weeks after surgery.) If you develop anything like that you should know by your post op appointment with your surgeon.
Everyone's recovery is different, but even with the iron deficiency mine was incredibly smooth and surprisingly less painful than I had imagined (I've had colds that have made me feel worse honestly.)

I am planning to have my surgery date on June 8th. I have a trip across the US mid to end of July. How soon did you travel post op? How did you feel traveling so soon? Any recommendations on requesting to postpone my surgery date until after my trip?
Sent from my SM-N970U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

You go girl! I couldn't imagine doing my surgery so soon. I do wish my insurance required 3 months instead of 6 though. I think 3 months would be a good time for to wrap my head around everything. Commit to lifelong changes, and start building my new wardrobe.
Ah well, I'll be able to accomplish all that in more at 6 months. I just hope my surgeon isn't in demand so I can get in quickly once my time comes.
Keep us updated ThickGirl

I'm in Texas and these were my requirements with BCBS except I ended up NOT having to do any supervised anything. Got approved in a week and my surgery is on Monday.

I'm in the Metro Detroit Area and will be going with Mclaren per my surgeons recommendation. I am havin Dr Pesta at Mclaren Macomb do my surgery. The program there is great, they hold your hand from start to finish and make sure you have everything you need done. All my records from the doctor, psych eval, nutritionist and everything go directly to the program coordinator and she prepares the file to send to insurance.

I was wrong, BlueCross Complete is going to be it. Aetna Medicaid is 12 months, not 3. After consideration, I'd feel better about a 6-month wait. There aren't many hoops to jump through either. I've got a 41 BMI, the only thing they want from me is 6 months and a drug/alcohol test.

So after a tiny bit of digging, I find that Aetna may be the best choice. Aetna no longer has a requirement for how long you've had to be morbidly obese (gods I hate even typing that word) (before it was 2 years) Like the other health insurances, there is a required pre-surgery weight loss program. But unlike the others, Aetna has the shortest. If you enter a multi-disciplinary surgical preparatory regimen like the one offered through Beaumont’s bariatric surgery program you only have to do it for 3 months before you're approved (assuming you meet all the other requirements. This is opposed to the 6-month requirements I've seen or even the 12 months that my current insurance offers. Bye, bye, Molina!

Just in case I'm going to wait until the seminar on Wednesday so That I've had a chance to talk with the surgeon. His name is Daniel Bacal. I don't know anything about him, but his picture makes him look like a straight up dad he has great bedside manners.

Yesssssss… Congratulations 🎉

June 1st! Brand new on here, so glad I found this site!!

Hey Netty I'm okay I'm at a stall now. I'll be back to work next week

Sent from my moto g power (2022) using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello my July Buddies. I am 49 and I had a rue n y on July 13. So far I’ve lost 78 pounds. I lost 115 prior to surgery starting back in 2018 so I’ve lost a total of 192 pounds since June 2018.

I was in a car accident in 2018 that started me on this weight loss journey. I weighed 415 pounds before the accident, which left me with a spinal cord injury at T 7/8 incomplete. That makes me a paraplegic restricted to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I immediately started eating differently and like I said prior, I was able to lose 115 pounds in about 3 1/2 years.
Right now I weigh 222 pounds and my goal weight is 180. I have attached a before and after (taken at Thanksgiving). I appreciate all of you sharing your stories, and I sure thought it was time to share mine. Stay strong and diligent my friends. May GOD bless you all.

This will likely be the surgical gas they pump into your abdominal cavity so they can better see where they are operating. It slowly rises up behind your lungs putting pressure on nerves. It escapes your body when you exhale. Very little of it is actually in your digestive system so farting & burping doesn’t really help.. It takes about a week to pass.
Walk, walk, walk little & often as you physically are able. March on the spot or pump your arms up & down to get the gas moving & you breathing more deeply. Long deep breathing helps too. Heat pads can help with the discomfort.

Hi everyone,
I got my surgery on Friday. I had laparoscopic RNY. I have been so full of painful gas. My stomach looked pregnant in the hospital and has gone down since, but it’s still swollen. I am passing gas and burping regularly, but it is still painful, I get burps stuck like in the center of my chest and then have to force them up. I’m sipping Water slowly throughout the day but it sometimes feels like it gets caught in my esophagus/upper chest. Is this all normal? How long before I can feel normal?

Were prescribed anything for it? you have gasX I was given prilosec in the hospital and given gasX. I had surgery on Wed. but didnt leave the hospital until Sat. My dr prescribed protonix for a month. Are you walking a lot. That will help but that pain in the chest is a killer. I hope you get some relief soon

My surgery is on June 12. Where is everyone going? I downloaded this app not knowing if this an overall or a specific company

Hoping for June as well!!! good luck!!

I’m so excited to start my chapter


COUNT DOWN 64 DAYS

My surgery is on June 5th. I pray that this is the right decision and that I will be healthier. For me it was between this surgery or heart surgery so the choice was clear. I am excited and scared at the same time.

Congratulations on your progress and this is so inspiring. Keep up the good work 🥰🥰🥰