Post-Op Bariatric Procedure IV

Grannylois

WOW !!! I looked up thr ghrelin and it sounds just like I've been talking about here at work with my partner. The spiking of the hormone makes a lot of sense to explain what is happening. I am currently trying to do the portion control eating only 1 cup of food at a time, and making it 2-3 hrs in between putting anything else in my mouth other than water. 8 oz of food is not a lot of anything and I have to tell ya that by the time I finish that my saliva glands and cravings are terrible!!!! I feel worse after eating that little bit then I did before I put anything in my mouth at all. It wakes some terrible hunger/craving down deep and it's a real battle. I'm hoping I can stick with it long enough to see it taper off and not be a problem.

I did call my insurance yesterday while my BMI qualifies me I don't have a current wt related health issue such as diabetes or excessively high blood pressure that helps to qualify me. I also have to be under the care of a nutritionist (which they will not pay for) or my physician for a year showing monthly visits with me unable to take the weight off under his/her program. And the first $2,000. off the top is mine to pay once I get everything else in order. They said they would count a weight loss program toward my "time" but it's been too long since I left Curves for it to help. I gained wt while going to curves...very depressing. It wasn't muscle either...my waist and my hips got bigger and I was there 4 days a week working out.

So for now I'm thinking trying the portion control again will be my best option.

Thanks for all the info !!!

~Julie =0)

That sounds like my metabolism. so sad ha? I wouldn`t have a chane then with my insurance, I doubt, because I do not have any health issues that would be having to do with weight except cholesterol. I`d do better to try breast reduction with my insurance and save 9 thousand to go do surgury in Mexico.

I would not go to another country for surgery? U.S. is the best but that is your choice. As far as going on a supervised program for a year I don't see anything wrong with that? It is a good way to change ones eating habits. Of course it will fail as all prior diets failed for me but a nutritionist was a big help to me as she opened my eyes to certain harmful foods that gave me a larger appetite when consumed. Anyhow what is a year compared to a lifetime of happy living? I started my plan in September of 05 at the age of 69 and had the surgery March of 06. Three more months and it would have been a year. My coverage did not require a year waiting period but did require a nutritionist prior to surgery. As far as portion control goes "Good Luck" been there, done that, failed that also! I don't recall anything that worked for me except medication and when I had to stop taking the meds the pounds came back plus. Never tried wiring my jaw? That was a little too drastic.

I don't think a year is a long time in comparison to a lifelong condition. I'm looking at the big picture. First off I'm in a rural area which means I have to take a day off work and travel each and every visit, seminar, what have you for the specialist and maybe the nutrionist the specialist recommends or works with.
I wasn't even able to get my vacation time off work this year so I see that as a possible problem...lol.

Secondly there is the cost involved. I just don't have $2,000. off the top to plop down plus pay all the costs with regard to the nutritionist or whoever will be required as part of the package of necessaries for BCBS. Besides which by the time the year passes I wouldn't be surprised if BCBS has changed the formulary. For now I will have to be content to do what I can , same as always.

~Julie =0)

Julie BCBS has had the year policy for several years and they don't generally require an entire year...after about six months have your doctor petition again and they should approve it.

i am more depressed now because I know my insurance will not pay and I do not have 20k. Utah is cheaper in the U. S.

Sometimes where there is a will there is a way. Everyone's way may be different. You may have to fight for your health. Insurance makes money on sick people not healthy ones. Some might be able to change insurance, look into CareCredit for financing, start now with documented effort for weight loss and possible weight related health issues (knees, bones, High blood pressure, diabetes to name a few) a year will pass so quickly. Do your research and make sure in your heart and head that surgery is right for you. Sometimes surgical weight loss is right but not for right now.

I had a Roux-en-Y in 1999 and have no regrets. If the Lap-Band were offered then I may have tried that.

Congrats TPlant, you are an inspiration. As always I am here to support Ted (mostly silently). I am also in silent support of all tomato growing efforts! Oddly enough I am quite the talker in person-LOL

-Kim

Julie --- The nutritionist cost is a flat $400. The doctor required $200 up front plus $20 per visit after a three month period. The phsyciatrist was $200 for an evaluation of stability. The hospital required $200 but let me pay in payments if necessary. All in all my out of pocket expense was about $1200 but over an eight month period and certainly not all at once.
Seminars are once a month and only four are required at one's leisure and doctor's visit is only once or twice prior to surgery. The seminars are very informative and enjoyable and are normally 90 minutes and held in the evenings. One of our people was exempt because she had to travel sixty miles to attend. She was given literature plus communication by e-mail. I'm certain they would do the same for anyone so call all those involved if you are really serious and you will be surprised how they will work with you.
My lap-band cost $15000 and this is in south Florida the home of bariatric and plastic surgery so it may cost much less depending on one's insurance coverage but heck I'd get a bank loan if I had too? What the heck people don't hesitate to buy a car these days that cost over $20,000.
Hi Kim --- Good to hear from you again. Wish Julie could see your before and after photos especially now that you look like Marilyn Monroe. Your boyfriend is a lucky guy! If I were only forty years younger I'd give him some competition.... LOL

Stepped on the scale this morning and it reads 245lbs no change except in my girth. Seems like the fat moved around as my stomach is getting flatter and flatter. Must say I'm looking good and feeling great. However, I'm still not drinking enough water! Just can't do enough. The cool weather has slowed my intake and without it weight loss will be noticeably slower. Man Oh Man! This is one heck of a challenge. Even carrying a bottle of water doesn't help as I can drink only so much. I guess it is because I no longer sweat when working in the garden. All I can do is my best but I know I'm still reducing whether it be by pounds or by girth and that is OK by me....

Way to go, T.
I know you feel like a new man.

AMEN

Just came in from my garden and have a glass of water by my chair. It is chilly today and cloudy and windy but I remembered my water. We are going to have cool weather for Florida for the next couple of days. Sweater weather. Low 60's high 50's with alot of wind. I prefer 72 and balmy.

We are about 70 and clear

We broke a record this morning with 11 degrees. :-(

woo, day time?

Around 6 a.m. I think. Now it's 11 p.m. and 15 degrees. This is really cold for us. But things will bounce back to normal in a few days, they say.

what is normal? If this isn`t are you losing plants?

We do have frost, ice, and snow in winter - usually Jan. and Feb., with our first frost coming the middle or end of October usually (and that did happen this year, as normal). The perennials should survive this cold spell.

Our normal temps (in NE Tennessee) for December are: high = 50, low = 28. The forecast is for 'normal' temps again, starting Tuesday. That will seem so nice after the past few days of brrrrrrrrr.

Stay Warm. It is supposed to get cold here and rain possibly.

When I went to my supermarket today I met a young lady that used to manage my condominium where I lived three years ago. She wasn't sure it was me until I said "Hi Lorraine". I told her about my surgery and she said I looked terrific and I thanked her. She told me of an individual that lives near her that had the gastric by-pass and is not doing so well. He is my age late sixties. I told her that 10% of those over 65 do not survive the first year. She was amazed! Why people take such a chance with that proceedure is a mystery to me? Doesn't their doctors advise them of the risk? I'm surprised that any doctor would perform such a SURGERY INSTEAD OF A LAP-BAND? My doctor would not perform such a proceedure on me and he told me why. I just don't understand why anyone would want to go through all the discomfort of gastric by-pass when lap-band is virtually painless, has a rapid recuperation time,(three days or so) a matter of hours as a hospital stay versus four days or more for gastric by-pass, and is reversible if rarely necessary, and weight loss is about the same with far, far less complications except for temporary bloating but only if I eat to fast! Strange????

I am with you. That shows how despirate we can be to be a normie

My son is an excellent cook plus he makes an eggnog that is irresistable and guess what? Yep I gained three pounds. Back up to 248lbs. Glad that holidays come once a year! I intend to enjoy even though I can't eat much but I don't have to eat a lot to enjoy. It is the eggnog that put on the weight. Liquids go down easy and almost unlimited so I'll have to be more careful. Must say that I am feeling terrific except for my arthritic shoulders but Aspercreme helps reduce and sometimes even eliminate the pain.

T - Continue to be proud of you! Only a couple pounds showed back up, but that is okay, it is only temporary! You can do it! Take care, relax and enjoy the Christmas season! ~ Suzi :)

ditto T. You enjoy it, it isn`t much and it isn`t often. Have you ever tried biofreeze or sombra for your shoulder? Chiropractors often sell it or therapy places, it is like 7 to 15 dollars usually. It works better and longer. One gets hot and cold sombra, bio is just menthol and it gets only cold.

My doctor prescribed an anti-inflamatory med that I will pick up today at my pharmacy. Hope it helps?

I'm will Hell with the biofreeze I love mine...i use it with the anti-inflamatory for my arthritis and it does wonders

I'll know more tomorrow. Meanwhile the name of the med is"sulindac." It only cost me $13 with my med plan. However, I must also take prilosec with it because of my past duodenal ulcer. I pray it helps because at times the pain can be maddening as there is no relief in any position. I don't know if the med works this fast as I took my first pill at 2pm and my shoulders are not bothering me today but it may also be because of a change in the weather as the sun finally came out today after all THE RAIN we've had in the past few days and that is a no no for arthritis. I know I should move to Arizona but I love the ocean and even have it in my will to be buried at sea. My heart is already there!

Not so fast thogh Mr. T. I know about the ulcer thing and the antiinflamatory thing, I am prone to them and even with prilosec or Nexium, it is only a little time till it burns through anyway. It is horrid, the pain.

Hey! The sulindac seems to be working as I am not stiff in the shoulders nor am I in pain. It sure works fast. I'll be sure to take my prilosec with it.

hellnzn11 --- I know what you mean and am well aware of the symptoms. My doctors seem it to be an acceptable risk and will be keeping a close eye on me. I'm to let them know if I feel any gastric distress but they are confident that I will not for my ulcer has, supposedly, healed! I must take my meds after eating and never on an empty stomach. I feel like a new man....

that is so good. I am 43 but I have been a massage therapist for 15 + years and until my recent surgury, from the damage, I worked a regular job doing it 4 full days a week so I have all these joint problems and arthritis in my fingers and shoulder and probably in my knees too because the job messed up my knees horribly( wierd ha?) I will have to see how you do long term on this med because I need something in the winter but as we said, it is tough with ulcers. Alot of my patients who had fibromyalgia or severe joint pain would get a prescription for these two things, they work good together but if you can`t take hot things on your skin the one called Gabapectin6%lidocaine2% can be left out( that crap is so hot, but it lasts for those miserable rainy cold days) . They are both ointments, this one is called ketoprophen/cyclobenz20/2% that one is a topical pain killer/antiinflamatory/muscle relaxer. A girl asked me to rub it on her back for her while I worked on her and I couldn`t feel my fingers for a while. It was like a memory of my childhood fingers. You can only get it at a compound pharmacy, atleast in Ca. They can tweek the amounts too if you need it stronger. Talk to your doctor.

Don't seem to need it as the sulindac is working real well. Time to take my prilosecand sulindac as I just finished lunch and know never to take meds on an empty stomach. I went for my regular MD visit and dropped five pounds from the last monthly visit. I could have done better but good enough as my doctor told me to enjoy the holidays. This is not a punishment plan but an enjoyable plan where I can eat what I want as long as I don't resort to gluttony. That means eating even though I'm not hungry! I don't see how one could possibelly overeat as the stomach just will not allow it? If one has this problem than I am sorry as I am never, ever really hungry. As a matter of fact I can't recall having any hunger pains since my simple surgery of 3/10.

Hey my friend who had bypass was explaining why you can`t drink while you eat and he asked me if you have had a fill or something like that (where they add more water to tighten your band through a pickline or ?????), I am clueless and I said who knows in answer. He said that insurances are less likely to pay for lapband than bypass, that is why he had that one 2 years ago. He has no probs but said he would have preferred to have had the band too.

They add saline to tighten the band if necessary. This is done until one reaches a comfort level as I have. The band is tightened on a monthly basis for the first few months. Then approxiametely every two months until no longer necessary. Can't say when that will be!

Interesting. I`ll tell him since he showed some interest. You should feel proud of yourself. You still have to have discipline.

Yes, you can only sip (if that) while you're eating because the water fills up your stomach and gives you a very SICK feeling. You end up 'dumping' = regurgitating everything you've just eaten.

I just passed the 4 year anniversary of my RNY gastric bypass surgery (12-19-2002). It has been such a blessing and given me a whole new life. I'm 58 years old and feel better and have more energy than I've had for over 15 years.

As T-plant knows, the diet and most of the after-care is identical to his. I just don't have a band that needs tightening. Different strokes for different folks, but I'm glad I had the surgery that I did, drastic as it was. You just have to know what you're getting into - and be psychologically ready - in whichever eay you choose.

Congrats to you again T-plant ! You've done so well. Not everyone does. It takes a good deal of following doctor's advice and being responsible.

Me three, I'm a huge fan of T-plant and his growing self-esteem coupled with his dwindling body mass!

xxx, Carrie

Thanks all but as time goes by it seems to get easier! I know my weight loss will slow as I approach my goal of 200lbs. This is to be expected as body fat is getting less and less. Instead of 2lbs a week loss I may go 1lb per week but that's okay as I am in no real hurry.

Bravo bravo all of you, I applaud your work and the risks you took, which are scary, I imagine at the time, but now you can be beakons of light for those of us who may need light.

Did anyone watch Dr. Phil last night?

Carrie -- I did not watch Dr Phil last night. Did it pertain to obesity?

Had eggnog all week and also some homemade ice cream and still I lost 2lbs this week. I now weigh 246lbs. As I said before I can eat most anything I want but I just can not eat as much as I used too! My dinners consist of Lean Cuisine meals in the small packages. Can just about finish it. My favorite would be the salisbury steak with macoroni and cheese.