My New Birthdate is June 3rd!!!

This one should stick too! The approval isn’t back...yet. But both the coordinator and I think it will be by my surgery date since it has been over 4 weeks now since it was submitted. She was even going to call and check on the status. Neither of us are worried since we’ve both been told several times that a pre-approval wasn’t needed by my insurance company. I called them after getting my date and asked for it in writing. (The rep even asked, "Didn’t you already call on this today?" When the coordinator called earlier, they logged it. They’ll probably just approve it to get us to quit calling them!)

It is only 2 weeks from today! My pre-op appt is on Friday. When I realized I wouldn’t have 2 full weeks on the diet prior to surgery I called the coordinator back. She was working on getting my 1 week prior and 2 & 6 week post appts set and I didn’t want her to have to do all that work over again. She said that not having 2 full weeks was fine. I told her I have protein shake mix and some of the sample stuff left. She said it was OK to eat it, but not as the pre-op diet, that they didn’t want me to start before the meeting with the dietitian.

I am just thrilled!!...especially after meeting up with those 3 fine ladies from this board yesterday. I am sure the time will go fast. We are planning a great big cook out this Sat - smoked turkey, ribs, corn on the cob, pasta & potato salad, etc. and this comes as a big blessing. Now I have a REAL reason - Dr’s Orders - to not eat that stuff! (I know, I say that now...)

Sorry this is a book....I’m just so excited!!!

Gwen: I'm so happy for you! And it's happening so quickly too. Wow, I hope this is the time for sure. You know, I almost think it's better to get a date like this, quickly, than to have to know it months in advance (as I did) and have to wait and wait and wait for the date to arrive. Quick, get off caffeine NOW because after, you won't be able to have it and it will be so hard for your body to adjust. (It was hard for me to kick caffeine ... although now I'm a regular user again ... because back then, I was getting up to work at 3 a.m. and I was a real bear to my coworkers when I was giving up caffeine. Better to wean yourself gradually!) Or maybe you don't have to do this with the surgery you're having ... I forget that not everyone has the RNY anymore and has to go through what I went through. Well, anyway, congrats on getting a date and if you have anymore questions, e-mail me (although right now I can only answer at night) or message me.  You're going to join us all on the loser's bench really quickly now!

Thanks!!!  I gave up caffeine (and carbonated drinks) in February.  I have had maybe 3 or 4 ice teas, 3 cans of diet coke,  & 1 regular coffee in that time.  I am very familiar with being caffeine & soda free.  My girls are 7 months and I don't do caffeine when I'm pregnant - only a little once in a great while....so that won't be a problem.  (my java the other day was decaf too. ) One thing I meant to ask you gals was about chewing.  Was there any reminder tricks you learned/used?  That is my biggest worry - forgetting to chew and chew and chew. Thanks for offering to answer questions.  Be prepared, I will probably have a lot!! Have a good day (or night) at work! (I am guessing that is where you are at.)

Chew until the food is mush ... at least 45 times for everything. Oh I should have realized you knew about giving up caffeine, having had kids. I never had to do it before and it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. On the chewing, I sometimes have to remind myself lately that I should slow down, put my fork down between bites, because if you eat more slowly, you consume less, because your pouch (or stomach or whatever) has time to catch up and realize it's full. That's good advice even for those with normal stomachs and not pouches or sleeves or whatever. I tend to eat slowly anyway, but lately I've been making a conscious effort of it again.  Good luck! 

Congrats on your date. 

Thank you! How are you doing?  Hope you are healing well and feeling good!

Doing fine.  The hand that had the IV is still swollen so difficult to type much.  I figure by tomorrow the swelling will be down.  No gas as of yet nor other swelling besides the hand.  The only problem I had was the antinausea medicine gave me diarrhea for several hours.  That was not fun.  But everything else went fine.  Only have ten days left of the liquid diet then the mushies.  Am looking forward to real food even if it is only soup.  lol

YAY!!! That is so fabulous. I am happy for you.  This will be the new beginning you have been waiting for!

All right Gwen,,,, Glad things have moved forward and you have that date- sounds like pretty solid one to me... Congratulations from surviving through all the headaches, trials and wringers you have bee through,, Now you can focus on the future,,, Wigglypoo

Thanks!  The past is behind me and I am only looking onward!!