Weight Loss Surgery

Saturday, 14 February 2015

Results of the Adominal Ultrasound and Upper GI Barium Swallow Series

Each surgeon will have various tests that they will require the patient to complete before surgery can be scheduled. My surgeon requires a complete abdominal ultrasound and an Upper GI Series Barium Swallow. I completed my abdominal ultrasound on February 3, 2015. The abdominal ultrasound is painless and just examines the internal organs such as stomach, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, etc. It takes about 20 minutes or so to complete.

The Upper GI Barium Swallow was completed on February 13, 2015. It was a painless test. It took about 30 minutes to complete. They took a couple of normal x-rays and then I swallowed 2 different types of really disgusting tasting barium and a fizzy drink that had air crystals in it. They took xrays in different positions as I was swallowing the barium. I received the results later that same day and everything was 100% normal.

Posted by brokenangel2003 at 7:23 PM CST
Updated: Saturday, 28 February 2015 7:28 AM CST
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Friday, 13 February 2015

Dietician Visit #2
The dietician visit went well. She was glad to hear that I have cut out the sodas and caffeine. I am eating better and feel better. She approved of my vitamins and protein supplements. Since I have been hungry in between meals she told me to eat 3 small meals and 3 snacks per a day, nothing with more than 10 grams of sugar, low carb, no bread, potatoes, crackers, pasta, chips, or popcorn. 90 grams of protein a day, 500 milligrams of calcium twice a day, 2 Bariatric Fusion multivitamins in the morning and 2 at night. She said no additional vitamins are needed for me because my multivitamin has all the B vitamins in it and it has iron too. She said if my levels come back too low on anything that they will add additional vitamins as needed. She was pleased with the amount of weight I have lost already. At my next appointment she said she will go over my pre-op and post-op diets in detail and then they will send off for insurance approval. She said as soon as approval is received they will call to get me set me up for my pre-op appointment with the surgeon and give me instructions for when to start my pre-op diet. She said we are still looking at a surgery date of between late March to early April.

Posted by brokenangel2003 at 6:26 PM CST
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Abdominal Ultrasound and Upper GI Series

The Upper GI Barium Swallow was complete on February 13, 2015. I am awaiting results of that. It was a painless test. It took about 30 minutes to complete. They took a couple of normal x-rays and then I swallowed 2 different types of really disgusting tasting barium and a fizzy drink that had air crystals in it. They took xrays in different positions as I was swallowing the barium.

Posted by brokenangel2003 at 7:28 AM CST
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Wednesday, 14 January 2015

1st Dietician Apppointment
I had my first consult with the dietician today. The dietician went over the basic diet and the protein requirements that I will need to follow before and after the surgery. She placed me on a 1600 calorie a day diet. I am to start eating 3 meals a day instead of my usual 1 meal a day. I have a bad habit of not eating all day long then eating supper in the evenings and then snacking on junk food all night long. I am supposed to cut out all sodas and caffeine. I am also not allowed to have anything carbonated. Carbonation can cause gas and air bubbles in your tummy after surgery is what she said.

Posted by brokenangel2003 at 7:14 PM CST
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Appointment #1 with the Bariatric Surgeon
I had my first appointment with my bariatric surgeon today. He was really nice and caring. He spent almost an hour talking with me. I could tell that he really cares about his patients. He explained the surgery in detail, the types of changes I would need to make before and after surgery in my diet. He asked me why I wanted to have the surgery and what I hoped to acheive by having the surgery. After his exam the doctor declared me an excellent candidate for surgery.

Posted by brokenangel2003 at 7:12 PM CST
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Insurance Consultation

I met with the insurance coordinator today at the bariatric surgeon's office. She told me the requirements that each individual must complete before surgery are different according to which insurance that you have. My primary insurance is through Cigna-Healthspring and my secondary insurance is Texas Medicaid. After verifying my insurance she told me that bariatric surgery is covered by my primary insurance if it is medically necessary for the treatment of morbid obesity (which mine is). She gave me a list of requirements for my insurance.
My insurance requirements:

1. BMI of 35 or greater AND one or more of the following comorbidities:

a. Type 2 diabetes

b. Uncontrolled hypertension(high blood pressure)

c. Uncontrolled hyperlipedemia(high cholesterol)

d. Obesity induced cardiomyopathy

e. Obstructive sleep apnea

f. Obesity related hypoventilation

g. Psuedotumor Cerebri

h. Severe degenerative arthrtis of the spine and/or weight-bearing joints where obesity prohibits appropriate treatement,

i. Hepatic steatosis without evidence of active inflammation.

(health problems caused by another condition. In this case that would mean health problems caused by obesity).

2. 3 months of meetings with the dietitian for nutritional counseling and 3 weigh-ins to be completed at the meetings with the dietician.

3. Documented evidence in your medical record of a repeated failure to lose weight through diet, exercise, programs such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, and/or diet medications.

4. Psychological evaluation

Posted by brokenangel2003 at 6:20 PM CST
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