I'M APPROVED! NOW WHAT?

Many of you are aware that I've been going through a small battle with my insurance provider, GUARDIAN. Well I finally got my HR department involved (thanks to Beetle Baby and Tara Holly at doctor E's office) and Friday I received a call from the HR dept. saying that I'm Approved! That means, I'll have surgery on or before February 9th. So now I have a few questions for all of you post ops. 1) Why is it that some people are placed on a 2 week liquid diet before surgery and others are not? 2) What things must I absolutely purchase before surgery (like vitamins, protein shakes, and other food sources, etc.)? Please advise.

Wendy, Congratulations on your approval! Every doc is different in regards to the liquid diet pre op. Mine only had me sub 1 meal a day with a protein shake and did not require me to loss any weight pre op. You should stock up on sf jello, soups (broth and creams), sf popsicles....etc for your liquid diet post op. Best of luck, Alisha -32 lbs

Check with your surgeon's office on what type of diet you will be on after surgery. I was on full liquids for three weeks. I bought way way too much food. Just buy a little, enough for a week, then add as you need.

Hi Wendy, congratulations on the victory with the insurance company! Just to add to what you've already been told (your surgeon's office will tell you their protocol for the post-op diet). Preop diet: your surgeon probably has you doing that to shrink your liver to make your surgery and maybe even to deal with sugar-withdrawal as well, some have patients do it also to get you used to what will likely be your immediate post-op diet, although on the latter, frankly it's an entirely different feeling to do it *before* surgery as compared to *after* surgery! Before surgery you still have your appetite and current large capacity, whereas after surgery it's the opposite--small size and no physical hunger, so it's harder before surgery but folks manage to do it. With kindest regards, Donna Earley http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NC_WLS_Information_and_Support/join

There is an awesome support group in Clovis. I used to live there, now I live in Alamogordo, which has no support group. They meet the second Thursday of the month at the Java Loft at about 6 or 6:30 pm. They are having a meeting this Saturday (4/22) at 6:00 at the Java Loft. I am visiting them. I am having my gall bladder out Monday (4/24). Most of the girls had Dr. Frezza. I did as well. My surgery was 11/14/05. You should stop by if you can make it. Good luck and welcome aboard!-Val Cline

Valerie, Thank you for the information! So, you come to the Java Loft when you still live in Alamogordo? Dr Frezza isn't doing RNY these days because of all the complications associated with it and his travel schedule. I'm hoping to meet someone that's had his new procedure that involves a lap band and removal of about half of the stomach. I hope to meet you Saturday. Congrats on the weight loss! Kym

Actually I am going to Clovis because Dr. Frezza is removing my gall bladder on Monday 4/24. That's a little too far for a meeting. I am not surprised about Dr. Frezza not doing RNY's there have been some complications. But hopefully there will be someone at the meeting that has had this done. The meeting is scheduled for 6pm I believe. (last I heard) I will let you know if I hear that it changes. See you there!-Val

Welcome back! Glad you are wll!! Darlene

Oh, my. I can relate, I thought I was going toooooooo.....well never mind but that first ftttttttttt was an award winner. Or is that just a guy thing? Be well and God bless!

Jennifer, Welcome back glad your surgery went well welcome to loserville. best wishes hugs lisa