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Today I finally got a surgery date, Feb 25th! I imagined I would be jumping around but today I was informed of an obstacle. Apparently my physician's letter is not all that supportive of the surgery. She crossed out the part where it said "I recommend surgery" and wrote I would like for him to meet with a nutritionist. My doctor said that it's not great that she did that but it's not all that bad either because i have met with the nutritionist and multiple times. He said if my insurance denies me he will work to fight on my behalf. I'm very upset that she would write that. She is the one who told me that due to my BMI I qualified for surgery so I thought she would have no problem supporting it. Does she not know I will see a nutritionist before I get to the operating table?? They are submitting my paperwork today and I should know in two weeks if I'm accepted. I still feel hopeful but I was not expecting this. Any thoughts out there?

I too had the lap and in 2008. The first two years were wonderful and I got as low has 185. I too am 5'2" and a petite female, in other words I was far never big boned. In 2012 I finally admitted to having some serious issues with my band; reflux, heartburn, not eating until 4 in the afternoon because my band had to warm up. It was two years of hell for me. I finally went in and had an egd and found out I had intestinal metaplasia, caused from the reflux and heartburn caused from the band. I decided then and there to have it taken out. My surgeon advised me that revisions are more complicated but I was an excellent candidate. I was revised to RNY on June 12, 2013. I weighed 218 on the day of surgery. I hit my goal weight in the summer of 2014 and had a circumferential lower body lift at the beginning of November. I feel fantastic, am holding steady at 110 to 112 and now have the figure I felt I always should have had. I eat sensibly, exercise and take my Vitamins daily. I bought jeans last week at lucky brand and got size double zero. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be that tiny. I look normal and healthy and when I look at pictures of myself at my highest weight of 270 size 24 I can't believe it's me. Anyone starting this journey know it isn't easy but it can be done. I wasn't a fast loser but I worked the process every single day. Good luck!

I too had the lap and in 2008. The first two years were wonderful and I got as low has 185. I too am 5'2" and a petite female, in other words I was far never big boned. In 2012 I finally admitted to having some serious issues with my band; reflux, heartburn, not eating until 4 in the afternoon because my band had to warm up. It was two years of hell for me. I finally went in and had an egd and found out I had intestinal metaplasia, caused from the reflux and heartburn caused from the band. I decided then and there to have it taken out. My surgeon advised me that revisions are more complicated but I was an excellent candidate. I was revised to RNY on June 12, 2013. I weighed 218 on the day of surgery. I hit my goal weight in the summer of 2014 and had a circumferential lower body lift at the beginning of November. I feel fantastic, am holding steady at 110 to 112 and now have the figure I felt I always should have had. I eat sensibly, exercise and take my vitamins daily. I bought jeans last week at lucky brand and got size double zero. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be that tiny. I look normal and healthy and when I look at pictures of myself at my highest weight of 270 size 24 I can't believe it's me. Anyone starting this journey know it isn't easy but it can be done. I wasn't a fast loser but I worked the process every single day. Good luck!

I know mine is very mild compared to many, I'm very independent and like it. I hate having others looking after me, even for short periods. Having this surgery for me means I have to depend on the husband and roomies for several weeks while I recover. I get to run the house from the recliner lol. Hubby knows to expect me to be cranky, I'm not sure if the roomies are ready for it, I've started deferring household tasks to everyone else to prep them now rather than 3 weeks from now, it's meeting resistance at the moment. I think it's not real to anyone in the house yet, think it will be once the liquid diet starts.

Last week I had my one month follow up with my primary care provider and everything was great with me physically and with my labs. I have since developed this sensation in my sleeve that I've posted about before. It's almost like a hunger pang. It can't be though because sometimes I feel it immediately after I finish eating. It's so weird. My health provider told me to restart Omeprazole twice a day and/or try TUMS or Rolaids. I have tried those things and sometimes it helps but not always. So then I called my provider again and asked if it was ok if I tried GasX and they said it was fine. I have discovered that sometimes that works too. Pre op I took Omeprazole once a day for acid reflux but never had any problems with gassy stomach. I am wondering if anyone else is, or has been, going through this? Maybe this is something that will resolve after more months on healing? Please chime in if you have any experiences with this. Thank you.

Yep I was approved in September but surgeon for unknown reasons pushed me out til January. .I'm just now getting over the anger so I'm still just counting down the days and trying to be thankful for the approval alone. I should get a surgery date at my appointment the first week of January. If it is out further than January I will seriously blow a gasket!

@"verionca page" yea I'm having to wait to get my long copy of my birth certificate which is located 4 hrs away so I have to get that before I can apply so hopefully next week and did u do its reg processing time or expidited?

Hi. I had my surgery in Charlotte on Nov. 11. I believe Dr. Voellinger is part of the same group as my surgeon. It's called Carolina's Weight Loss Surgery. Dr. Roc Bauman did my bypass at CMC Northeast. Where does your doctor do his surgery? If I'm correct he either does his at CMC University or downtown at Mercy Hospital. The pre-op experience was very complete and and staff was wonderful. I've heard that all the surgeons in this group are excellent. My surgery went well, with no complications. I've saw Dr. Bauman at 1 week and 4 weeks post op. I saw the nutritionist at 2 weeks out. I will meet with the nutritionist once a month for a full year. I'll see Dr. Bauman at 3,6,9 and 12 months. As far as my success, so far so good....... I've lost 34lbs so far. I feel really good with the exception of some constipation. I'm now adding new foods everyday or so, and am tolerating them well. I'd love to hear from you. Good luck.

Congrats! I have uhc community plan too and was approved 2 weeks ago. Exciting!!!!

OH MY WORD TALK ABOUT BURN!!! Does anyone out there have suggestions on what to do about heartburn? I have it so bad that sometimes I just start puking up the acid (I know gross). I get it no matter what I eat. I seriously always have to have a bottle of tums with me & sometimes the tums don't work either. I will be 8 weeks out on the 24th of December. Does this get better or will I always have this problem? I have never in my life really had experienced heartburn before this. Any help would be appriciated!

some folks say the 1 or 2 weeks of liquid diet prior to surgery is your bowel prep.

I'm also doing a 2 week pre-op diet

Well, I started to lose a little hope for getting approved. The doctor's office was moving and hired a new (inexperienced) insurance coordinator when I finished all the insurance prerequisites. I felt like I worked for the doctor's office because of all the calls I had to make to the insurance company with verifying what was needed and what was missing. What should have took only a couple of weeks took 2 months. I'm a woman of faith so the delay started me wondering if this is God's way of saying I should reconsider the surgery. I just completed the Daniel fast for 10 days and lost 6 lbs. Now I'm around 200 lbs at 5'3 BMI 35.4. My mind fluctuates every now and then but I still have the overshadowing feeling that I'm so tired of battling this weight. Will be scheduling surgery tomorrow!!!!!!

Hello! March 5th is my date, bright and early in the morning. This Thursday I start my pre op diet to help shrink liver. Pretty standard for WLS. Of course I am nervous, but I have found that if I "embrace" what I am doing.... and do what I can to research and prepare myself, it lessons my fear and helps me feel empowered. I know that I don't have a choice to not have the surgery if I want to live an extended life . One with out health problems. Feeling good about your surgeon and the hospital makes a big difference . I am fortunate to have an excellent surgeon and at a "center off excellence" hospital I am having my house cleaned the day before I go in, fresh sheets on the bed for when I come home. I am stocking up on my waters, Soups that will be mixed with Protein , and sugar free pop cyles.. that's for the first two weeks. I am also looking for ways to "pamper" myself through the hospital "experience" . I feel like I might as well make the best if it! I bought a new night gown and bathrobe to take to the hospital. I'm bringing my own pillow and a fuzzy throw for the bed. And of course my own toiletries , cell phone and charger. I"m bringing a sound machine that has nature sounds. I like the white noise to lull myself to sleep. If you have someone to rub your feet or back, lotion would be helpful too. I am very blessed to have an awesome and supportive husband Your doing something positive and wonderful for yourself by having this surgery, your taking care of yourself!! I'd love to hear about any other tips and suggestions that any one of you would have

Hi Sarahbeth;-) I'm having my surgery here in Seattle at Virginia Mason hospital. My Dr. Is Dr. Chang. And I tell you that the only way that I can be at ease with all of this is because of the hospitals credentials and reputation along with my Drs. I picked up my two week pre op diet... Ugh, good thing it's only for 2weeks! My poor husband LOL! Luckily I can have all the salad and carrots I want along with sugar free hello, yum! Oh well, sigh, it's for a good reason. Seems we tend to have " fatty livers" and the docs have an easier time in there if our livers aren't in the way. I'm thinking the next two weeks will actually be the hardest of all. keep me posted

I had dips of low blood sugar when I first started so I would get dizzy or start shaking so I had to get just a couple pieces of fruit or one of my luna protein bars I found in the super market & that seemed to help me but fainting no I just felt real week , even before surery and after so I hope this helped.

I saw my surgeon about a week and a half ago and he said I was a great candidate for the surgery. My initial weigh in was 227lbs and within four days of diet I was down to 223lbs. My surgeon has my goal of losing 3lbs for the surgery to be at 220 lbs but even though I've been watching what I eat I'm not losing anything! I am ovulating so would that be the hold up?

4 pounds in a week and a half is great. The other 3 pounds will come. Try to increase your Water, Protein, and exercise. You will get there.

I'm 2 weeks post op and am feeling hungry a lot now. I know it's not head hunger. Then when I start to eat I hardly can take more than 3 bites. Is this normal at this stage? Sent from my iPhone using VST

I use Silicone Scar sheets as recommended by my surgeon. They help significantly reduce swelling, puffiness, keloids, etc... You wear them 12 hours a day for approx. 10 to 12 weeks. I've read good reviews.. www.myscaraway.com. I have a tendency to get "hyperthropic" (sp??) scars.. that can get raised and look very similar to keloids. I've read these silicone strips prevent that from happening. Just started wearing them so keeping my fingers crossed!

@@leag78 Hang in there---MANY of us have crazy stories like that, here's a synopsis of mine: --Hubby's work policy has specifically excluded WLS for at least 10 years --Last fall (early Oct), I looked into purchasing a policy for just me on the Affordable Care Marketplace ("Obamacare") --I'm in AZ, and all Marketplace policies must cover WLS -- not a well-known fact. I think it's 23 states ACA policies must cover WLS. Who knew? A fluke I found out... --Found a policy thru BCBS of AZ that costs about $600/month, but we save about $200/month by not included me on hubby's work policy. Expensive, kind of, but $3500 out of pocket max, after that, all is 100% covered. --Waited for open enrollment; purchased policy --BCBS sent me bariatric guidelines -- said 8-week pre-op diet; covers band, sleeve or bypass --Surgeon's office said have to do 6-month dr-supervised diet. Went round and round w/them since BCBS told me 8-week diet, not 6 months. --Yada, yada, yada -- finally, BCBS told me that they accidentally gave me the wrong guidelines. --UGH UGH UGH --'Real' guidelines say 6-month dr-supervised diet (which I'd done elsewhere, so that was ok for me), but only cover band and bypass, exclude sleeve. I have no idea why. --I get everything set up w/surgeon's office, have them change my file from wanting sleeve to bypass. They confirmed they had done that so when submitted to BCBS, it would say bypass since they don't cover sleeve on my policy. --Surgeon submits paperwork, I get call that my sleeve is approved. Yes, sleeve. --Dead silence on my part, then I ask 'so they now cover sleeve on my policy?" --Surgeon's office: "yes, they've specifically approved sleeve." I said, BUT IT'S NOT COVERED. --Surgeon's office checks w/BCBS again and lo and behold, sleeve is not covered. they were extremely apologetic, but I could have had sleeve surgery and they could have said 'oops', you're not covered for that!!!! --Plus, my surgeon's office had confirmed they'd changed my file to say bypass, but they obviously hadn't, and submitted me for sleeve (mistake) which BCBS approved (mistake) --Bottom line: Bypass surgery scheduled this Friday, day after tomorrow --Other bottom line: YOU have to be in charge of everything and know what's covered, what's not, get it all in writing, and triple-check EVERYTHING. Not to discourage you AT ALL, just offering advice. HANG IN THERE and keep your eye on the prize! Feel so very fortunate to have bypass covered, but what a huge hassle!!! I keep a spreadsheet of "to do's" and who I spoke with, etc. Names, dates, etc.

Friday was a big day, 4 hours worth of appointments. sleep Study set up, thankfully it's at home. I have to do it for two nights, and will finish that tonight. Yay. This was a part I was not looking forward to, maybe I am afraid of the results. Not sure. But I will find out on Friday what the verdict is. Medical Assistant did my body composition (down 3% in fat since August-woot!), EKG, blood work and metabolic test. They did the Resting Energy expenditure. Turns out my metabolism is slow, I only burn just under 1800 calories at rest. Well no wonder the diet I had been on hasn't been working. I've been eating too many calories. Which leads me to... Nutritionist, where we went over what the diet will look like and what my goals will be. It was pretty general in the sense that I didn't get much in the way of written instructions. She said the Dr. will go over that when I meet her in a few weeks. She did say to start getting in the habit of slowly eating and chewing a lot. She told me to find a Protein drink that I like and can tolerate for 6 weeks. She said she's not very "strict" on the nutrition label, besides being 20g of protein or more. She said she'd prefer that it be sweetened with Stevia. Ok, I can do that. She also said I should aim for 1500-1800 calories a day (more on heavy exercise days). I had been doing 2200, so this is going to be a bit to get used too. Then I met with the Exercise person who set me up on a strength training program to bulk up my muscle. He told me to cut back on my spin classes, only 2 now instead of 3. He wants me to lift 3-4 times a week instead, really aiming to build the muscle mass. He said the muscle mass will increase my metabolism which will burn more calories. I kind of knew that, but he was really cool; avid cyclist too! He gave me tips on wheels for my bike! Best part was telling me I will be back on my bike and spinning 4 weeks post op! That was the best news!!! Next up is psych evaluation on March 2, then I meet with Dr. Patterson on March 12! This was starting to get real, and I was very nervous last night. But I am feeling better about it. The exercise Dr. said most sleeved women lose 20-25 lb a month. Wow! So for those waiting to do the pre-op, this is what I did. Hope this is informative to you.

I was already on the following plan when I started my 3-month supervised plan: 1200 calories a day + exercise calories Low carb (10g or less per meal) Lean Proteins Exercise 4-5 days a week (3 days weights + cardio, 2 days cardio only). My cardio preference is HIIT on elliptical. My nutritionist approved my plan an I continued doing that until my pre-op. Best wish on your journey!

If it helps at all, you should be cleared for all physical activity at 6 weeks, which should have you cleared to go snowboarding. Since the Disney trip largely involves walking and riding rides, you would likely be cleared for that even earlier. Also, at 4 weeks I was able to eat whatever I wanted in tiny, well-chewed portions, so food while you travel shouldn't be a big deal. Cooking Thanksgiving when you can't eat is going to be a hassle, but your other plans shouldn't be completely ruined by the surgery date. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you- good luck!

I did about three weeks of pre-op diet, but mine was a mixture of shakes & protein bars. Think I had like 5 small shakes & 4 small protein bars per day.