WLS

Good Morning and welcome.  As someone else said your post was in reply to someone else and since it may not have been read that is why you were not answered or welcomed.  If you have a question, post a separate post and you will get a response. Like everyone has said, ask your surgeon's ofc about your eating now while you wait.  I know our group requires a low fat, low carb high protein diet 30 days prior to surgery but all surgeon's are different and have different requirements as do insurance plans.  Your surgeon's ofc will kow about your insurance plan and you can check that also.  The liver shrinking makes it easier for the surgeon to lift it during surgery if you want a Lap Rny.  But being a iabetic you are probably on restricted diet anyway.  Just take one step at a time during this process and research as much as you can. I have lost 160 lbs since surgery and it has changed my life completely for better. Again, welcome!

My surgeon did not require that I diet prior to surgery but cautioned against gaining weight.  I started following the post-op protocol by eating my protein first and stopping when I got full.  Good luck to you!  I hope you have your approval soon.

Good Morning Sharon.....it is so great that you decided to join us. Sorry if I missed your post. This is the #1 board on OH. Everyone is so helpful and friendly...kind of like family here!! You will gain alot of knowledge and make some good friends. As for your diet...I would start eating healthier and smaller amounts. I can't advise you on what you should eat ....I think you need to ask your doctor about that.  I look forward to seeing you here more often.....just jump right in. Ask anything you need to know, nothing is off limits as far as weight loss goes, your feelings, your journey whatever. I can tell you that you will get as hooked on this board as all the rest of us have.....WELCOME!!!!!! Hugs, connie d 

Good morning, Sharon, and welcome to the OFF.  The ladies and gentleman on this board are so full of knowledge and are always so helpful.  Everyone who has answered has had great information for you.  Be sure to ask your doctor about diets.  I did not diet before my surgery except for the liquid diet two weeks before to shrink my liver.  As of today, I have lost 80.5 lbs and I'm so grateful for the life I'm living.  I did not have health issues before, but was afraid of getting them, and of not being able to live life to the fullest during retirement.  I've really had to re-learn alot about how to eat, and sometimes I slip a little.  But I know my pouch will help me stay on track.  It's a great journey, and if the insurance okays it, do everything they ask and your doctor asks.  You are well on your way!      Beth

Hi Sharon, Sorry if I missed your previous post, this is a pretty active board most days, so it's possible I missed you! Anyway, a great big Welcome to OFF!!!  Here are a bunch of real caring ladies and one fine gent (well that we know of, who knows if any others lurk here ;)) The good news is that your doctor and the surgeon have put in the work for you to get this surgery done and from what I know bc/bs is a carrier that approves this surgery, though I'm not sure what any of their pre-requisites might be, however, since you are under doctor's care and it is a medical necessity, chances are they will push you through.  In the meantime, study up on what life will be like post-surgery and come to OH and ask any questions you might have.  I researched and prepared myself as much as possible before hand and most people will tell you that this was the best decision they ever made.  It's a roller coaster ride for sure, but it's mostly a good ride!  I wish you good health!

Sharon, welcome to OFF!  Hope you didn't feel left out.  Wishing you well on your journey! Debbie

Sharon, I am sorry that your first post was missed. Like everyone said this is a very active board and sometimes things like that happen. I am so glad that you came back and started your own thread. Now you will get to know all of us here. I got on this board a couple of months ago and I feel like I am part of the OFF family now. I have been made so welcome. We are all glad that you are here. I hope that you post often and let us get to know you and you in turn get to know us.  I had my open RNY 4 and half months ago. I have lost 72 pounds and can't even beging to tell you how wonderful I feel. I am 53 years old and my only regret was that I waited until now to begin my journey but I was not ready for it earlier. This is a learning process for sure. As far as diets go I too would ask your doctor about that. With every doctor there is a different way that they prepare for this. I too am a diabetic. I was on oral meds and 5 shots a day. In January of last year I got an insulin pump and that changed my life. I stopped my oral meds 1 month before surgery and my insulin pump came off 1 week before surgery and I have never looked back. I am now donating my pump to one of the endocrinolgolists patients that will really need it. I am off most of my meds with the exception of the heart meds. That is going to be a lifelong thing for me. I can handle taking them. I have gone from 15 different meds a day to 5. I am happy with that for sure. It sounds like things are moving fairly rapidly and that is a good thing. All in all mine took about 6 months to get moving and have my surgery.  My husband was supportive too but he wasn't ready for the changes that have came. He thought that things were going to change for me and he never thought that he was included in those changes~oh no no no! :) It is a definte adjustment to both and really it is going to affect Petey too. It is to my Misty who is my little kitty girl.  I hope that things go well for both you and hubby. Just keep coming back and make sure you ask any questions that you have. These people are very knowledgable and caring and you will feel like you are in a new family because you are~the OFF family and there isn't any better. This is family that you get to pick.   

Hi Sharon! I was 5-0 when I had my DS surgery. It was not the RnY but I chose the DS for numerous reasons. I became gestational diabetic when I was preggers with my first and only child. I knew it was only a matter of time before I became TypeII.  While researching WLS, I found out that DS portion of this surgery (Not the stomach reduction part) is done in Europe to CURE diabetes on non-obese patients. That was impressive to me. Just a suggestion, but you might want to check out the DS forum and ask about the diabetes. I too had venious stasis in my legs.  http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/a,messageboard/board_id ,5357/ You may want to check www.duodenalswitch.com for more information about the diabetes connection. I have other medical journal references on my other computer that I've not booted up in almost 2 years. This is a great board! I encourage you to research the different surgeries available to you first. Look at the life you have to lead afterwards. Post messages on all the boards. Look at the complications. THEN, once you choose your surgery type, CHOOSE your surgeon. (Don't let them "sell" you... you make the decision because this is the rest of your life we are talking about and you want it to be a quality one! Our disease here is obesity and it is a hard fight. When you come to realization that nothing else will work for you, OH is the place to start your research. Check out yahoo boards too.  You are in the prayers, Sharon and ask any questions you want! Dianne from FL

I want to think everyone on here you have been so  nice and caring.   More support then I ever dreamed of.  I was thinking the other night if I had some one to talk to about my wls I would probably f eel much better.   Some how I don't feel so afraid and worried when i can talk to someone and ask questions.  Thanks so much everyone and I plan on coming here a lot and learning all I can.   I want to feel better and have my health back and WLS is the only way I can see that happening.  My pcp is on board with me and said she would do all she could to help me.  I guess  now I'm just waiting on my Insurance approval and for the surgeon to set a date.  But, I feel better about the surgery since you guys answered  my post and made me almost cry. That was the nicest thing I have ever had happen to me I already feel closer to the people on this board .  Thank you again  Sharon

Welcome to the family.  I had the DS in October of 2006.  We all go through similar feelings.  You are quite normal.  Hang in there.  We made it and so will you.  The decision to have the DS was one of the best ones I have made in my life.  I have energy I did not believe was possible at my age (54).  The surgery has given me a new lease on life.

Blessings and good luck,

Caroline