Newbie - 4 Weeks Post-Op

Hi everyone! I've been lurking on the general board for a while now, but just realized they had a board for people in their 20's! I'm 23 and I had RNY on August 10th, 2007. So far, I'm about 25lbs down and feeling awesome! Originally, I went into the surgeon's office absolutely set on having the LapBand. Then, I found out my insurance didn't cover the band because it was considered an "experimental procedure." My boss had RNY in December, and she convinced me to look into it more as an alternative. I was against the whole permanency of the procedure and the fact that the band could be reversed was my main factor for preferring the band. Then I realized, if I'm to the point of having surgery, then I need to go all the way. I don't want to have a "way out". So, I made the decision to have RNY, called my surgeon to start the approval process, and 4 months later, I was in the OR. Apparently, when I was coming out of the anethesia, my blood pressure spiked and I was having trouble breathing. I hardly remember anything, but apparently, I had sleep apnea and it was causing problems coming to. I didn't even know I had it! The first day and a half in the hospital was hell. I remember my mom asking me "was it worth it?" and my response was "Don't ask me that right now.." followed by a push of my morphine button. But if you ask me now if it was worth it, I say YES! I've had a few moments where I've tried eating things a little sooner than I was supposed to, but I was quickly notified that my body wasn't going to have it. After reading through the board, I've become grateful that I can tolerate scrambled eggs and milk after 4 weeks. I bought some protein shake powder before the surgery that I thought tasted awesome, but post-op, I can't even stomach the stuff! So I've been trying to find alternative protein powders, or just trying to drink a lot of milk. It's been tough mostly because I've been broke. I found out 2 days before my surgery that my employer hadn't paid for our health coverage in months, and it was supposed to be canceled the day prior to my surgery. They weren't even going to tell me! I heard a rumor and called them on it, and then they fessed up. SO After completing paperwork for a conversion to an individual plan that would start on the day of my surgery (retroactive coverage upon approval), I decided to chance it and show up at the hospital like normal. I figured I would deal with claim hell afterwards, but I knew I needed to have the surgery. I was supposed to work up until noon the day prior to my surgery, but after the insurance bull, I walked in and packed up my stuff. The company was going out of business also, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn't have a job after surgery, so I headed them off and quit. I was planning on getting 6 weeks of state disability payments while I was out, so I'd be O****il I could get a new job - or so I thought. Apparently, my surgeon forgot to put a date on the claim form and it was denied! So today, a full month after my surgery, I finally found out that my claim is approved. I'm going to be getting a fat check for back payments that I was eligible for, but I'm late on rent, my credit card bills, and I have no money to buy new protein. SOO that's my story! I'll be around more often, although I tend to be a lurker. Congratulations to everyone who has had weight loss sucess!

welcome- always glad to see new faces on here. By the way don't be a lurker- Would love to have you post.

Welcome to the board chick!

Welcome to the 20s!!

Sorry about skimming over your story earlier.  You have been through alot chickadee!  The powders will take some time getting used to.  How about mixing chocolate with your milk?  Make some chocolate milk protein :)  I use the EAS from Walmart... mixes well enough for me!

 

Welcome to our board. Glad to hear your surgery was a success...bummer about the employer letting you down though. Don't dwell on it though.  Dust yourself off and put your best foot forward. Youve taken the steps to make yourself new - you need to do the same for your career now. The cir****tances are tough but they don't define who YOU are. YOU do. So just wake up tommorow think how awesome the day is going to be and MAKE it awesome with your thoughts and your actions. And in the meantime, drink your nasty protein - think of it as medicine - LOL