Howdy folks.

I hope all are doing well today.

I've had a lot of activity leading up to today and now it slows down for a short while.

I had my pre-op with my surgeon yesterday, pre-op with the hospital yesterday and my EGD this morning and it went really smoothly.

Seems like it's been a whirlwind of activity.......checklist items completed.....one after another after another. NUT, Physche evals, appointments, workshops, education and etc.

Now I'm done with all that and can relax. I started my 14 days of liquid diet this morning after the EGD. I can tell it's going to suck.....but, that's just part of it. The NUT guideline says I can have 5 Protein shakes per day (from the approved list of protein powders and ready-made shakes), however my surgeon is sticking to his guns.....he says only 3.

I've lost 40 pounds since deciding to do the surgery......it wouldn't surprise me to lose 20 more during this next two weeks.

The whole time I was seeing my first surgeon it was a foregone conclusion that I would have bypass (my choice). I chose this thinking it would offer the most benefit long term and I'd make biggest changes with it. He supported it.

As things progressed...and my insurance really started to present delays and roadblocks.....I switched over to the other local option. It's another bariatric center.....a center of excellence and is much larger than that previous program I was in.

More insurance delays after switching over the center of excellence finally made me made enough to tell them to piss off. I self funded the procedure and things began moving at a very fast pace. I'd completed 2 of my required 6 months diet when I made this decision. I'm able to have the surgery in the 4th month vs waiting what was actually going to most likely take several months more.

My employer is dropping our current insurance provider and doing open enrollment now for our new provider.....things were being delayed to the point where I could see my late December surgery being pushed back well into next year.....new deductibles to meet with a new provider to work with........arggghhhhhh. At best they were going to pay only 50%. The decision to self fund actually was cheaper for me in the long run. Crazy, insane scenario but a testament to the games played by insurance companies.

Anyway.....the new surgeon has been good. He's been upfront and consistent in his message from the first time I met with him.

He's sees my very pronounced umbilical hernia and knows that is going to be a large repair to work around. Today he also found the hiatal hernia that he's repairing at the same time.

He's concerned over my high bmi and doing the bypass at this point. He said it could be very tight having to pull it far up to reconnect it. He reserves the right to make a decision once inside to go with the sleeve after looking around and evaluating. He's done many of these and I trust his judgement. If it's not safe, then its just not safe.

The options were for me to delay the surgery and keep dieting for a couple more months and burn off some of the internal fat to provide more room........or do the sleeve now.

He maintains that he's seen equal effectiveness with each procedure in terms of weight loss in his 8 years of practice.

He also is aware of my poor knees and back injury situation and prior surgeries as well as the fact that nsaids are a source of relief for me.

I don't have reflux trouble.

There were other reasons he went into as well that everything in his opinion was pointing me towards having a sleeve not bypass.

So......after a long night staying up reading, studying, evaluating......I told him this morning that a sleeve was what I wanted to do.

Ordered my Vitamins, Iron, B12, D, Protein powder and Calcium. I know what I'll be taking to the hospital. Have my script for post-op pain meds. Recliner and extra pillows for the bed are ready....

A couple more weeks.....

Not only did the samples come in today.....but so did the regular order.

i haven' tried their Protein powder yet.....but wow.....each of the chewables taste great. Like candy.

These Calcium citrate bites are off the chain !!!!

I will look forward to Vitamin time every day. I need to refer back to the info the nutritionist gave me about the timing of all this. I'm fairly certain she said to stagger the combustion of the various supplements throughout the day. Some don't play well with others and have to be timed separately to get the benefits. Also some were to be taken with the Protein shakes.....some as stand alone.

The flavors, though....so far without even trying their protein powders......I'll give Bariatric Advantage an A+ on product flavor and desirability. Their standard and even free shipping at this order level....was really fast. There was also a freezer pack enclosed inside the box. Everything was very carefully packed. These folks impressed me. It's pricey....but I figured I'd start of with the stuff I liked during the next couple months of weirdness. It's certainly less pricey than what I've spent on my own frequent drive-thru forays before & after work.....combined with the expensive fried grub at the worksite cafeteria. I figure that I was spending $36 a day on fast food & Snacks. The financial cost and the physical toll such eating was taking on my body.........INSANE. Quality supplements and protein will be so much better all the way around.

I have some unjury powders coming and that should take care of me for a good while. I grabbed some of their chicken Soup in hopes that it's a nice change up when I'm home from the hospital and sore but hungry.

I am considering switching to these supplements. My clinic gives samples. I've only tried the orange. They sell them in the pharmacy as well as Unjury. I got 2 tubs of Chicken soup as I had bought the single use packets early on and loved that one. I wasn't too happy with unflavored but from what I've read it's something I'll be thankful for later. So, I'll hold on to it.

Good luck on your journey! I still have a few small items to purchase before hand too! You sound so ready to go!

Boy, do people's opinions about shakes differ!

My fave Protein shake was / is the GNC Lean Shake - 170 calories, 25 grams of protein. Comes in vanilla, Swiss chocolate and strawberry. My fave was (shocker!) Swiss chocolate.

Isopure was my least favorite -- still cannot believe how bad that stuff tasted to me. And some others adore it.

My favorite GNC Lean 25 is the Orange Cream. I just get so tired of chocolate everything that it's a nice change!

Dub! You're going to do great! I have lost 5 pounds in two days on this all liquid diet. Once you stick to it and really put your head in it, you'll conquer all things. I started my journey May 29th - 271.1lbs. I am a week pre-op and down to 243.3. I am having the sleeve also. My out of pocket is around $350 for everything - eternally grateful for my wonderful insurance, despite the shitty company I work for (least they could do).

You're going to do great! Follow my blog at http://fromatosleeve.blogspot.com/

We are here for you!

Edited October 4, 201510 yr by MissAKY

Syntrax Matrix flavors, I have found, are the best tasting. I order mine off Amazon. (I enjoy reading about your journey)

What flavors have you found that you like?

@@MissAKY Cookies and cream is the best, then fuzzy navel and strawberry.

I just bought the GNC Lean 25 in pumpkin Spice - bringing in the Fall season.

Jeez, there are way more Lean 25 shake flavors than I knew about.

Thanks, all.

Not only did the samples come in today.....but so did the regular order.

i haven' tried their Protein powder yet.....but wow.....each of the chewables taste great. Like candy.

These Calcium citrate bites are off the chain !!!!

I will look forward to Vitamin time every day. I need to refer back to the info the nutritionist gave me about the timing of all this. I'm fairly certain she said to stagger the combustion of the various supplements throughout the day. Some don't play well with others and have to be timed separately to get the benefits. Also some were to be taken with the Protein shakes.....some as stand alone.

The flavors, though....so far without even trying their protein powders......I'll give Bariatric Advantage an A+ on product flavor and desirability. Their standard and even free shipping at this order level....was really fast. There was also a freezer pack enclosed inside the box. Everything was very carefully packed. These folks impressed me. It's pricey....but I figured I'd start of with the stuff I liked during the next couple months of weirdness. It's certainly less pricey than what I've spent on my own frequent drive-thru forays before & after work.....combined with the expensive fried grub at the worksite cafeteria. I figure that I was spending $36 a day on fast food & Snacks. The financial cost and the physical toll such eating was taking on my body.........INSANE. Quality supplements and protein will be so much better all the way around.

I have some unjury powders coming and that should take care of me for a good while. I grabbed some of their chicken Soup in hopes that it's a nice change up when I'm home from the hospital and sore but hungry.

I am considering switching to these supplements. My clinic gives samples. I've only tried the orange. They sell them in the pharmacy as well as Unjury. I got 2 tubs of Chicken soup as I had bought the single use packets early on and loved that one. I wasn't too happy with unflavored but from what I've read it's something I'll be thankful for later. So, I'll hold on to it.

Good luck on your journey! I still have a few small items to purchase before hand too! You sound so ready to go!

Ordered everything.

The samples I tried at the doctors were enough to know the chewable Vitamins were good.....but the chewable calcium citrate is truly outstanding.

I am schedule for surgery on Oct 8th and all set. I just was wondering how long the scars are? And where they are located?

Thank you!

where do you buy the supplements? Like the calcium?

I love the Bluebonnett Isolate Protein in chocolate. Has 25g protein and is delish. I also just recently discovered the whey Shots. They have 43g protein in different flavors. Just add Water or put in propel bottle and drink.

I love the Bluebonnett Isolate protein in chocolate. Has 25g protein and is delish. I also just recently discovered the Whey Shots. They have 43g protein in different flavors. Just add water or put in propel bottle and drink.

@@Runner1 I have 6 small incisions with the largest one being about 2 inches.

where do you buy the supplements? Like the calcium?

I ordered the calcium citrate chewables directly from Bariatric Advantage. I am not kidding when I say they are like candy. Very tasty.

I have been following my pre-op diet plan very strictly and have found having these to provide a nice flavor is something to look forward to and savor them. 1 or 2 really does tame the head-hunger-beast.

I love the Bluebonnett Isolate Protein in chocolate. Has 25g protein and is delish. I also just recently discovered the Whey Shots. They have 43g protein in different flavors. Just add Water or put in propel bottle and drink.

I love the Bluebonnett Isolate protein in chocolate. Has 25g protein and is delish. I also just recently discovered the Whey Shots. They have 43g protein in different flavors. Just add water or put in propel bottle and drink.

That sounds really interesting. Who makes them and where do you get these ???

@@Runner1 I have 6 small incisions with the largest one being about 2 inches.

I've been wondering the specific locations, too.

I have a ginormous umbilical hernia that my surgeon is going to repair during the sleeve surgery.....and a small hiatal hernia.

I wonder if there will be additional incisions. If there are....so be it. No biggie. Just curious.

It'll make for some interesting theories while enjoying the swimming pool next summer. Was he shot? Stabbed? Attacked by a bear ?

@@tcrehm

Funny, I have 7 incisions?

So weird how surgeons do things differently.

@@Dub

Mine are pretty small and faded now after 13 months out, but definitely still noticeable. My biggest one is on my right where they took out the stomach. Not gonna lie, that one hurt the most!

I'd show you a picture of my scars, but nobody wants to see my stomach