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Almost done with my 6 months have only lost 5 lbs



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I have my last appointment next week to finish out my 6 months required for insurance approval. Im worried I wont get approved because ive only lost 5lbs... I am hoping that being I didnt gain I will still get approved. I did change my diet alot, no pop of any kind, cut back on sweets but I did have a few cheat days here and there... its the mental after surgery I wont be able to eat this mind game.. Ugh what do you all think will I still have a shot? I have upmc for you I live in PA

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The goal of the six month program is not necessarily loss, so much as showing that you can adhere to a program, since you'll have to change your habits for good postop. I wouldn't worry. You're almost there!

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Were you supposed to lose weight or just maintain?

My insurance plan wanted me to have a 5% weight loss over my six months to show that I was dedicated to the plan. Some insurance companies want more, some want nothing at all.

I'd check with your provider for details.

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I was told not to gain weight. But im not sure if that was every month or overall lol

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Every insurance is a little bit different. Mine was looking for no gain, plus the PA I'd been working with had to submit documentation that it appeared I'd been following the plan well. If your insurance doesn't require a certain amount, and your surgeon/team didn't give you a specific amount to lose, it doesn't seem like they'd have grounds to deny you based on that. Good luck!

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I had Gastic bypass surgery in 2002 my start weight was 303 and within a year I lost 134 pound putting at 169. In the last three years I have gained most of my weight back CW269 I have been talking with my doctor about revision surgery. I'm just not sure which revision surgery will be the best one to have.

If anyone has had revision surgery I look forward to hearing from you Thanks

(I also had a healthy baby boy 16mnths ago)

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I think what you lost is pretty much exactly what you want in this situation for the most part. You don't want to disqualify yourself from surgery, but you also don't want to arouse concern due to weight gain (practically impossible if you've followed the prescribed program...this is the proxy they use to determine whether or not you have done so). So there is a Catch-22, but there is a sweet spot that avoids it, and it is right about where you are.

You have more than a shot...I expect this to go through without a hitch.

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My dietitian never gave me a "prescribed program" so I've been floundering along trying to eat better. These past 3 weeks I resorted to Atkins because I gained 3lbs on my last visit (4th month). I feel like we're in the same boat. I've lost a little, but I'm not sure what my insurance company is looking for. Mainly I've focused on better eating habits, chewing for long periods, not drinking with meals, that sort of thing. Joined the Y three weeks ago, so hopefully that will help some, too.

My dietitian told me last month that the companies don't want to see a gain over your initial weigh-in. They want to see that you can keep to a plan, show dedication and prove you can make the surgery work for you. Doesn't stop me from being worried for this Thursday's appointment! We can be 6-month "losers" together.

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You are probably fine as many others have said, the purpose of the 6 month program is to test your ability to follow a program and stick with it. The fact you have such low results is actually good for getting approved! If you lost like 50lbs they'd say "hey this is working for you, just do another diet!" But if you gain weight to them it shows you aren't in it for the long haul and the diet is very strict in the beginning especially so you have to wrap your mind around all that. The fact that you stuck with it and walked away with only a 5lb loss says you tried and you need help.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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