July 10th is the DAY.....
Hey Dana,
Good Luck!! It will be here before we know it, although, mine may seem like it takes longer since tomorrow is the first day of a 2 week bout of "full liquid diet" 
in prep for the surgery 
. Keep us posted on how you are doing! And thanks for all the replies from everyone, it's nice to know there are people out there in my corner!
Be safe and happy, everyone!
Hugs from NH - Trudi
in prep for the surgery . Keep us posted on how you are doing! And thanks for all the replies from everyone, it's nice to know there are people out there in my corner!
Be safe and happy, everyone!
Hugs from NH - Trudi I don't have to go on a liquid diet before surgery, but I have been on a diet since the beginning of January because at my facility, we have to lose 10% of our excess weight before they will put us on the surgery schedule.
Did you have to lose weight first? One of my friends had her surgery done out of the country with a really good surgeon in Mexico, and her surgeon didn't make her lose weight 1st, but she did have to do the 2 week liquid diet before her surgery.
Dr Gould, who is with Dartmouth Hitch**** Medical Center in Manchester (using the Elliott Hospital) requires a 15 lb weight loss. The two week full liquid diet is for two reasons, the first to shrink the liver, so that it isn't in the way for surgery and to get the patient up and running for post op dining pleasures, lol. The 15 lbs is just about the 10% ratio anyway for me! We found out about the "out of country" option just a month or so ago, but I have already put so much time and effort into this one, it would have been like starting all over again. The article in Times said that a lot of insurance companies are covering the cost of the surgery and of the travel costs because it is still cheaper than having it done here in the States.
I hope all has gone well for your friend and that you continue doing so splendidly as well!
I know why some doctors have patients do a 2 week liquid diet. 
My facility makes us diet for much longer, (rather than a 2 week crash course) which also shrinks the liver and reduces fat around the organs. My HMO through Kaiser is covering my surgery. We also have to attend lots of classes, which are mandatory. They have us get "up and running" for post op for months and months. We have had to do all the vitamins, exercise, and protein shakes, etc. They say if it is a habit pre-op, it will be much easier for us post-op to take our vitamins and such.
I could not afford a self pay. My friend who went out of the country had to take out a 2nd mortgage on her home! I had to lose 31 lbs for my pre-op goal, but have lost over 53 lbs because the process has been taking longer than usual due to 2 of the 3 surgeons leaving to start new practices, back in March. Personally, I would be afraid to go out of the country, especially if I ended up having serious complications or something, and being so far from family. My surgery will be only about 10 minutes away from home.
My facility makes us diet for much longer, (rather than a 2 week crash course) which also shrinks the liver and reduces fat around the organs. My HMO through Kaiser is covering my surgery. We also have to attend lots of classes, which are mandatory. They have us get "up and running" for post op for months and months. We have had to do all the vitamins, exercise, and protein shakes, etc. They say if it is a habit pre-op, it will be much easier for us post-op to take our vitamins and such.
I could not afford a self pay. My friend who went out of the country had to take out a 2nd mortgage on her home! I had to lose 31 lbs for my pre-op goal, but have lost over 53 lbs because the process has been taking longer than usual due to 2 of the 3 surgeons leaving to start new practices, back in March. Personally, I would be afraid to go out of the country, especially if I ended up having serious complications or something, and being so far from family. My surgery will be only about 10 minutes away from home. 
Congrats and good luck!
Jaime 
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