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My sleeve journey has officially started!

SarahSleeve

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SarahSleeve    170

SarahSleeve
Posted (edited)

I was trying to decide between two different programs and went to my second informational meeting last night - made the decision then and there to go with that program after seeing how much more detailed and involved they are with their patients both pre and post-op. They've done over 2K bariatric surgeries in the past 15 years, with almost 400 being sleeves. I like those numbers!

SO I handed in my 20 pages of paperwork/history last night, put an insurance referral request in to my PCP when I got home, and await the call to set up my many appointments/classes/tests. Looks like they run about 4 - 6 months on average. My insurance is easy so it will mostly be the surgeon requirements- and since they'll require me to lose about 22 lbs before surgery, that will likely be a major factor in determining how long I'm in the pre-op process.

I freaked out a little on the drive there last night. Knowing that this is finally going to happen. I'm finally DOING something solid with regards to my weight. I've been obese since I was 5. I'm 36 now. I can't believe that by this time next year, I have a real chance of not being obese anymore, with a real chance of staying in the "normal" range for life. I can't even imagine what it feels like to be a normal size.

It's a bit terrifying, but exhilarating at the same time :)

Yay!

Edited by SarahSleeve

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Christinamo7    4,041

Christinamo7
Posted

Congrats! I am really looking forward to seeing your progress!

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JamieLogical    8,684

JamieLogical
Posted

It's a long road, but it will be so worth it in the end!

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becomingmandikaye    262

becomingmandikaye
Posted

Congratulations! This really is an exciting process, isn't it?

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SarahSleeve    170

SarahSleeve
Posted (edited)

Got the call a couple days ago that my referral info and application docs were all in place, and scheduled my first three doctor's appointments (physical, nutritional, fitness) but they aren't until the middle of June! I will be heading in sometime this or next week so they can get an official start weight so I can get started on the 8% weight loss they require. It seems that will be the most time consuming part so I want to get started asap.

It's starting to feel real!

Anyone use Weight Watchers to lose the pre-op weight? I've got MFP on my phone but I've been using it on and off for years (like, 5 years) so I wonder if I should do something different right now to kinda shake things up and help me drop these first 20lbs. Or maybe I should just stick with MFP since I'll have to use it to track Protein and stuff after - make it easier if I start paying closer attention to those details now and it won't be such a shift after surgery. Hmmm. Choices choices :D

Edited by SarahSleeve

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SarahSleeve    170

SarahSleeve
Posted

I have done WW twice, the first few weeks you loose a good amount if you stick to it and get some sort of fitness in.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've done it in the past as well but it's been a while. Thanks! :)

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JamieLogical    8,684

JamieLogical
Posted

@@SarahSleeve My recommendation for losing weight pre-op is to go high protein/low carb, since that is what you will be doing for the rest of your life post-op. You could replace one meal a day with a Protein Shake or bar (be careful about which ones, some are high in sugar) and then focus on putting Protein first at your other meals and eating high protein Snacks. That will maybe give you a chance to start finding high protein recipes and foods that you enjoy and to experiment with different brands and flavors of Protein Shakes and bars.

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SarahSleeve    170

SarahSleeve
Posted (edited)

Official starting weight is now on file! Time to get started on the 8% weight loss! (But I have to be careful, they won't submit until after I reach that goal and meet with the surgeon, and about 9% puts me under 40 bmi!!! And they didn't seem to think my hypertension - the only 'real' health issue I have - would count with my insurance as a co-morbidity if I drop below 40. Yikes!!).

Sent from my Nexus 5 using the BariatricPal App

Edited by SarahSleeve

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • KeeWee

      KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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