Recidivist

Hello, all. I have been happily using soft-chew multi-vitamins from Bariatric Pal for the last four years. I live in Australia and shipping has always been expensive but manageable. I just placed an order for more vitamins and three types of protein snacks, and the cheapest shipping option was US$ 225! That is way more than usual--and more than I'm willing to pay. Can anyone recommend a comparable product that is available on Amazon? Thanks!

I got bypass for standard weight-loss purposes, but my insurance company denied coverage initially. I had the doctor call the insurance company directly to explain the medical necessity of the surgery. That did the trick and I was approved. Perhaps it would be worth a try in your case.

I'm not sure how long it has been since your surgery. The challenge I found in the first couple of months when going out to dinner was getting enough protein with very limited capacity. As a result, I brought along my own protein when I traveled (powdered shakes) and had them in the hotel before going out to eat. I would then have just a small appetiser or something to drink at the restaurant while others were eating. You could do the same at family events, although I realize that's easier easier said than done. In my case, family and friends kept insisting I eat things because they were low-calorie, without understanding my need to prioritize protein and not fill up on other foods. It can be quite challenging to keep telling insistent relatives that you really don't want to eat more. For the road, there are some wonderful snacks in the Bariatric Pal store than you can bring along. None of this is ideal, but it's worth the effort!

I was on a full liquid diet for two weeks before surgery (protein shakes) and found the first few days the hardest. I was also going through caffeine withdrawal, which gave me terrible headaches at first. It was pretty easy by week two. Rest assured that it will be easy to stick to your diet for a few months after surgery, because you won't feel like eating. I totally understand your breakup with food. I binged on some of my favorite food the day before my pre-surgery diet. I'm now four years out and am eating more or less normally, although not in the same quantities nor the same unhealthy things I used to eat. I'm no longer tempted by my pre-surgery favorites and don't miss them.

I'm a male who was 59 when I had gastric bypass--and yes, loose skin is an issue. I have it on most parts of my body to varying degrees, but it was most noticeable on my stomach and neck. I was obese for decades and skin just hasn't snapped back. I look older than I did prior to surgery due to sagging skin on my face (jowls and neck), and the only plastic surgery I've considered is a lower face lift and neck lift because they are always visible. (I still might do it.). I can live with the loose skin everywhere else--but I'm now almost 64 and am way past caring about what other people think of my body. Yes, it's a bit embarrassing to appear on the beach in a swimsuit, but I've managed to find a high bathing suit that covers the worst bits. In spite of all the above, I have zero regrets. I'll take a saggy body that is healthy and energetic over my old fat body any day!

What she said!

I was a profuse sweater and always felt hot prior to RNY surgery. Now I'm always cold and want the heat turned up! That has been an unexpected side benefit surgery, as my spouse is also always cold, and we used to fight about the temperature of the house.

Hi, all. I had bypass surgery almost exactly four years ago. I've taken bariatric vitamins religiously and my bloodwork has always been perfect. Now, all of a sudden, I have iron deficiency anemia. My most recent bloodwork showed an iron level of 24. Then, after five weeks of iron supplements, it had dropped to 14. What?? (I'm not exactly sure what those numbers mean, but my doctor says they are concerning.) I know that bypass causes absorption issues. However, nothing has changed in terms of my diet or vitamin intake. You would think this would have shown up long before now. Even my doctor is perplexed and is running tests to see what the cause might be. Has anyone else experienced this issue years after surgery? I'd be especially interested in hearing from other men, as we are less prone to iron deficiency than women.

In general it's true that you don't have to actually lose weight on a supervised diet program for it to "count" toward your surgery. However, I don't know about Carefirst specifically. Perhaps you could check with them now to see what their policy is so you know what what to expect--and hopefully give you some comfort that you will ultimately be approved for surgery. One thing I would say is that your diet is by far the most important factor in whether you lose weight, now or later. Exercise plays almost no role. (I did not exercise at all during the first year after surgery and lost more weight than I expected.). Perhaps you could check with the dietician on your team (if there is one) to ensure that you are not doing something to impede your progress. For whatever it's worth, I did a supervised diet for six months and lost only 20 pounds, which isn't great. However, my surgeon and insurance company didn't care about the results, only that I had done it.

I was on shakes only, and I found that it was extremely hard only for the first three or four days. After that, it seemed like my body adapted and it was much easier. I looked at it as a good test of my willpower for later on when I would really need to be disciplined about my diet. (Turned out that I wouldn't feel hungry again for months!)

My favorite is grape, but they will turn your tongue purple.

Big Sue took the words out of my mouth. In general, I don't think the amount of weight you will lose is a major factor in determining which surgery to have. For me, it was gastric bypass because of GERD, which was already an issue for me before surgery. The bottom line is that you are going to lose a significant amount of weight with the sleeve, which will vastly improve your health and your quality of life. At this point, that's what you should focus on and not the fact that you "might" have lost more weight with a different surgery. People have very successful long-term outcomes with both sleeve and bypass.

First, you should ask your surgeon about his/her guidance on caffeine after surgery. Most surgeons don't want you to consume caffeine for a certain period. (Mine recommended a year after gastric bypass, which is when I resumed drinking coffee.) I think the only acceptable option would be black coffee, with skim milk and artificial sweetener if you like. (That's my go-to drink every morning, made at home.). You really shouldn't do anything with sugar or fat after surgery, including whole milk, syrups, whipped cream, processed sugar, etc. Any of those would be empty calories when you should be prioritizing protein. When your surgeon says you can have caffeine, you could do an iced coffee with skim milk, but I'm not sure there is any way to make a Frappucino bariatric-friendly.

And sue him for malpractice!!

Arabesque, that's the cheapest option offered on Bariatric Pal. I think my best bet might be to send them to a friend in the U.S. and have them send it via the U.S. post office. Since you're in Australia, where do you get your multi-vitamins--and what kind do you use?

Hi, Sigh. I did find Bariatric Pal on Amazon, but when I go to purchase it says that they can't be delivered to my address. I should have mentioned that.

Spinoza is exactly right. The "reset" people talk about is a psychological fresh start, not an actual physical phenomenon. I have said here before that I think it's a little extreme, but I support anything that helps people find a way to get back on track.

Hello to everyone! It's a bit late, but happy 4-year anniversary to everyone. (Can you believe it has been that long?). I hope everyone is doing well in their journeys. I'm in a good place. I've gained about 20 pounds since my low weight (which frankly was too skinny, although I was thrilled at the time) and have managed to stay there for the last 2 1/2 years or so. I'm still following the plan pretty closely (high protein, low carb, low fat, almost no sugar) but allow myself indulgences now and then, such as a glass of wine or a scoop of ice cream. At this point, I feel like I'm eating "normally," though it's definitely different than pre-surgery. I'm happy that I've developed healthy eating habits and don't really have to think about it any longer.

My bariatric surgeon is in Washington DC but I'm now living in Australia, so I'm working my primary care doctor. He does understand why I need to do regular blood tests and has been quite good about it. I have done the fecal smear and am awaiting results. My doctor wants to rule out colon cancer, but he has not mentioned the possibility of bleeding at the stoma. I'll raise this with him when I go in to discuss the results of this test. I just started iron supplements in response to these most recent low iron levels. I'm also going to raise the possibility of an iron infusion at my next appointment. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments!

Thanks for the very helpful comments. My doctor didn't mention ferritin but I will ask him about it. I'm also going to see whether an infusion would be an option. (Medicare for all in Australia, and it can be difficult to get approved for some treatments like that.). Meanwhile, he is running tests for possible explanations for my anemia, other than malabsorption due to gastric bypass.

Hi, Devi. I went with the RnY in large part because of GERD. As others have said, the sleeve can actually cause GERD, although I'm certainly no expert on that. I can say that I've had no GERD issues whatsoever with RnY, As for whether or not to get the surgery: that's a very personal decision. I can tell you that I tried for decades to lose weight, never successfully. Over the years I lost the same 50 pounds more times than I can count--and then gained back even more. Statistics show that most people who lose a significant amount of weight without surgery don't keep it off. Your body will always want to return to the weight at which you started. I can also tell you that my only regret about surgery is not having done it many years earlier. You look relatively young, so having surgery could give you a lifetime of health and well-being. As you will see on this forum, almost nobody regrets their decision to have weight loss surgery. As for having surgery in Mexico: please make sure you research the doctor and facility before committing to it. I know that some people have had less than optimal outcomes after having their surgeries in Mexico.

Based on comments on this board (and my own experience), a stall at about three months is quite common. As long as you continue to lose some weight every month, you are on track. Not everyone loses at the same pace but we eventually all get there as long you we stay on the program, as Catwoman said above. If you had lost six pounds in one month prior to surgery, you would have considered it a major success!

Oh, yes--along with drooping jowls. I look so much older than I did before surgery. However, that's a small price to pay for the overall benefits of weight loss. As a man, I'm not so interested in plastic surgery on any other part of my body, but I've been looking into a lower face and neck lift. Perhaps later this year.

Yep, still happening to me after four years! After I've eaten, the sight or smell of food makes me naueous.

I understand your frustration. However, 20 pounds is definitely not "gaining like crazy." It's fairly common to gain +/- 20 pounds in the second year after surgery and beyond. Very few of stayed at the low weight we reached in the year after surgery. Your focus now should be to stay more or less where you are without gaining more, and your best bet would be to consult a nutritionist. Your surgeon wouldn't be very relevant at this point in your journey. Many people claim they have "stretched their pouch" and can therefore eat more food, but my surgeon claims that is an urban myth and is essentially impossible. Our restrictions do ease over time and we are able to eat a greater volume and variety of food than we could at first. Also, a "pouch reset" does not shrink your pouch and increase your restriction. It's really just a psychological/motivational tool to get you back on track with healthier eating habits. Personally, I think it's a bit extreme, and you can do the same thing by simply re-focusing and shifting your mindset. However, if it works for you, then go for it.