January 29, 201610 yr Hi all! I'm having gastric sleeve in April (hopefully). If anyone out there is looking for a support buddy to share experience with, drop me a line.... Ramona
February 8, 201610 yr Hi Ramona, I'm Courtney. I'm in Texas also (north of Austin), and I'm about 6 weeks away from finishing all my presurgical appointments. (Last one is March 17). If the insurance approves at that point, I should be getting surgery in April as well! I was hoping to find someone going through this all at the same time, I'm glad I found your post! Are you excited?
February 8, 201610 yr Author Excited! Nervous! Hopefull! I feel like I'm sitting in a plane on the Tarmac, waiting for it to take off. My appt with the surgeon isn't until March 2. I keep calling to check for cancellations. Then I need an endoscopy, psych consult, nutrition consult. And I'm going to Mexico for a week. And as much as I love Puerto Vallarta, I'm more looking forward to my surgery. I'm going to start my 2 week preop when j get back so hopefully I can have the surgery the first week in April. Of course that's my plan. I haven't even met the surgeon yet...LOL! I'm nervous about the preop diet and screwing up. What has your process been like so far?
February 8, 201610 yr Excited! Nervous! Hopefull! I feel like I'm sitting in a plane on the Tarmac, waiting for it to take off. My appt with the surgeon isn't until March 2. I keep calling to check for cancellations. Then I need an endoscopy, psych consult, nutrition consult. And I'm going to Mexico for a week. And as much as I love Puerto Vallarta, I'm more looking forward to my surgery. I'm going to start my 2 week preop when j get back so hopefully I can have the surgery the first week in April. Of course that's my plan. I haven't even met the surgeon yet...LOL! I'm nervous about the preop diet and screwing up. What has your process been like so far? Sitting on the tarmac, that's a great analogy! My process has been long, for lack of a better word! I decided while visiting family July 4th weekend that it was time to pursue bariatric surgery, after considering it off and on for 20 years or so. Did some research, found a doctor that I felt looked super credible, asked my endocrinologist for a reference, and they referred me to the doctor I had already picked. Called the surgeons office to get the ball rolling and found out our insurance didnt cover the surgery. I went back and forth about just doing self pay and getting the surgery asap, but instead opted to change our insurance to a plan with bariatric coverage during the next insurance enrollment period, which thankfully was in August. New insurance started 10/1, and I called the surgeon that day and got the initial preauthorization and an appointment for the following week! My insurance requires 6 months of medically managed weightloss, and nutrition classes. At first I was bummed that I had to jump through all the hoops to finally get to the surgery but in retrospect Im so glad I've had to 'practice' eating healthier, moving more, etc. I've been to all of the nutrition appointments as of last week, and I've only got two more surgeon appointments left (net week, and March 17). I've already had cardiac clearance, and psych clearance, but need to get primary care physician clearance still (going to see him in March, for that, and prescription refills!) It just hit me last week that I'm almost done with all those 'hoops' and surgery is coming up faster than I realized! The past 4 months kind of sped by, probably because of all the holidays packed in there! I've had good luck with the change in diet. I basically just stopped eating fast food and chocolate, donuts, Cookies, brownies, ice cream, etc. i have a major sweet tooth, so I've substituted fruit for desert. I have apples/oranges/pineapple/bananas/etc after or with almost every meal Using the myfitnesspal ap helped out a ton when I first started too. I stopped using it religiously around Thanksgiving and have just been mindful of each meal being somewhere in the vicinity of 500 calories, as well as ensuring I am eating enough Protein and vegetables. I've managed to continue to lose weight regardless, but I need to get back on track with the ap in the coming weeks. I'm down 30lbs from my initial surgeon visit, insurance required I lose 25, surgeon wanted me to lose 33. So I have 3 more pounds to get off in the next 6 weeks. At the rate Im dropping weight I think I'll bypass that! I hope! This is probably waaaay more information than you were expecting! Fingers crossed for your appointment and a quick surgery date!
February 12, 201610 yr Hey April sleevers! I'm scheduled 4/15 & have started a support group (secret group) on Facebook for people in the same timeframe - send me a friend request if you want to be added :-D Alea Birbeck, pic is my smiling face
February 18, 201610 yr Hello my name is Maryann, it is so nice to meet you! I live in Alabama and I'm going to Mexico to have my surgery done on April 4,2016. So excited!!! Sent from my iPad using BariatricPal
February 25, 201610 yr I have my surgical consult on Monday. I was told they are booking into April, so I'm thinking that's when I'll go in (fingers crossed.)
March 3, 201610 yr Hey I am Bill... I am scheduled for April 18th. Hope to keep in touch to compare notes!!
March 9, 201610 yr Hi all! I'm having gastric sleeve in April (hopefully). If anyone out there is looking for a support buddy to share experience with, drop me a line.... Ramona I am having mine April 12th.Let's be buddies. Sent from my Nexus 6 using the BariatricPal App
March 9, 201610 yr Author April 4! So excited. Start preop diet March 21. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
March 9, 201610 yr If anyone is interested in joining the Spring 2016 VSGers secret Facebook page send me a friend request & message and I'll add you! Alea Birbeck, same pic :-) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G530AZ using Tapatalk
March 14, 201610 yr Sending a request! Never mind. Just saw this was Houston. Lol I'm east coast! Oops! Edited March 14, 201610 yr by shrinkingkimber
March 14, 201610 yr Sending a request! Never mind. Just saw this was Houston. Lol I'm east coast! Oops!Hey! My Facebook group is worldwide & now for anyone having surgery this spring. Feel free to friend & message me if you wanna join! Alea Birbeck, same pic Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G530AZ using Tapatalk
March 18, 201610 yr My surgery date is 4/26/16 in the Houston area. Very excited, nervous, etc.... Doing self pay as insurance does not cover the procedure. Good luck to all of those getting closer to their dates. Mine still feels far away, but I know it will be here quickly. Pre-op appt with the doc is 4/6 and then the pre-op diet will start soon after. Yay!
March 31, 201610 yr My surgery is April 7 in Houston. Waves to the Texas folk. My hospital pre-op is the Monday 4-4. I start my 5 day liquid diet on Saturday. Eep!
April 7, 201610 yr Go Texas! My surgery is here in Houston, next Monday April 11. No special requirements for pre-op diet and will not have a full liquid diet after the surgery. Jell-O and puddings are allowed, clear broths and yogurt. Soooo excited!!!!! Houston colleagues, where are you going to have your surgery? Mine will be at the Memorial City Center, at Gessner. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
Hi all! I'm having gastric sleeve in April (hopefully). If anyone out there is looking for a support buddy to share experience with, drop me a line....
Ramona