Search the Community

I never had issues with the store - but then, I'm several years out so I no longer buy bariatric-specific food, so it's probably been six years since I bought anything from there. I suspect they're dealing with the same issues everyone else is - shipping delays. re: vitamin patches - the jury is out on those. My clinic advises again them, and from what I've read here over the last few years, they're not alone in this. Patches seem to work well for some people, but not for others. I've never tried them since with my luck I'd be part of the latter group, although I've considered getting them for traveling since it would mean no vitamin bottles to lug around (and take up space in my suitcase). Since I'm almost never away from home for more than 10 days or so, even if they didn't work for me, no harm done.

I guess its different for different parts of the USA. My bariatric center is body mass index of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35-39 with co-morbidities such as type II diabetes.

I think you're fine. I think bariatric pal has some chili for the early stage. I had it because that was the most difficult part of the journey for me (other than pre-op diet) and it was pretty good. lol

How did you get approved for surgery with a bmi of 30??? Even if you were self pay (not sure if you were or not) I would think 30 would be too low for bariatric surgery.

This is what I found about the SADI: SADI-S stands for Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy. It is a new surgical treatment option for morbid obesity that is basically a variant of duodenal switch surgery, in which a single intestinal bypass is made as opposed to two. Patients spend less time in surgery and are exposed to a reduced risk of complications. DFW Bariatrics and General Surgery has got you covered if you are considering undergoing the SADI Procedure in Dallas and surrounding areas. How Does SADI Work? There are two steps involved in the SADI-S Procedure: Firstly, the surgeon performs a sleeve gastrectomy to remove approximately 80 percent of the stomach. Secondly, they detach the intestine just below the stomach after which they reattach it to an intestine loop roughly 2 meters down. The effect of the SADI-S Procedure is to bypass food from the part of the intestine that is metabolically active. This results in the lessening of the length of the intestinal loop in which nutrients are absorbed. Patients experience a smaller appetite, consume less meal portions, and have hormonal changes that positively affect their metabolism. Benefits of the SADI-S Procedure Reduces the risk of diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies often associated with the duodenal switch Gives patients greater weight loss when compared with standard gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, which is great for those with a BMI above 50. The SADI-S Procedure can be performed on patients who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy but experienced insufficient weight loss or a relapse. Reduces the long-term risk of intestinal obstruction when compared with duodenal switch and gastric bypass. It is great for people with poorly controlled Type-2 Diabetes as it offers a more powerful metabolic effect when compared with a standard gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, patients experience a reduced likelihood of issues such as unstable blood sugar fluctuations, dumping syndrome, marginal ulcers, food restrictions and intolerance. Potential Disadvantages of SADI-S Procedure Potential risks associated with the SADI-S Procedure are similar to those of any other bariatric procedure. These include: Anastomotic leaks Infection Bile reflux Intestinal perforation Venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism Bowel obstruction in the long-term Abscess

I haven’t shopped In the bariatric pal store yet. Please let us know how it goes and what’s good if you do. The patches though I did ask my NP about them. She said she has yet to find any reputable research that shows that they do indeed work. She said that doesn’t mean they don’t of course but she hasn’t seen anything yet to prove that they do. Idk if that helps. Made me decide to give the capsules a fair shake first and they work fine for me.

My bariatric center said no on the patches but i just dont want to do pills right now until i am on solid food. So far no issues that i know of with the patches. I wear them everyday on my arms.

I have bought several things. I am currently using the patches but just for the first few weeks til i can get into solid food. I also bought the Barimelt multi vitamin and the Bariatric pal Multivitamin ONE with 45mg iron. Tho i have tried that one and that one makes me nauseated for about 30 minutes about 15 minutes after taking it. Also i love the Chike Nutrition High Protein Iced Coffee (Chocolate mocha) Its delicious. I also got the little protein shots but i see they been sold out for a while.

So I have been browsing around the bariatric pal store. Has anyone bought from here? If so, do you have recommendations of vitamins, protein powders or anything you can think of? There does seem to be alot of things out of stock. I am curious if the PatchAid patches work? Has anyone tried these and whats your thoughts on them? Also, if there is something you buy frequently and its out of stock, given the supply chain problems; does it take long before they restock? I have read reviews where the shipping is slow? But I didnt know if thats a warehouse problem or USPS problem?

I feel like doctors are really failing their patients by not having these conversations prior to surgery. Every bariatric surgery patient should have a good idea of what the progression of healing will look like before they ever sign the consent forms. That being said, I'm 3 years out from surgery and I don't have to weigh or measure quantities at all if I choose not to. I can eat a small, but regular-sized meal without worrying about my restriction. There are only two things I used to eat that I don't now - ground beef and barbecue. Ground beef upsets my tummy and barbecue doesn't taste good to me anymore. I don't drink beer, but I was served coffee in the hospital the day after surgery (thank goodness, because I'm a total coffee addict 😁). So with possibly a few exceptions, you should be able to eat whatever you want eventually. And as your restriction eases, you won't have to measure your intake precisely (although you will always want to be aware of portion sizes). I hope that helps!

Hi and welcome ! If you don’t like the protein shakes then get the Isopure unflavored and put it in something. I use it in V-8 6oz can and never know it’s there. You really need to meet your protein and hydration goals daily for healing. The Isopure is best in cold drinks or fluids below boiling, If you add to a sauce put it in right before you plate. As far as food perhaps some sauces from your favorite Korean food? Watch the labels, not to exceed 5 GM of sugar. I used a lil Mayo and balsamic vinegar with canned tuna and canned chicken. It was great. The purée phase is temporary, it is a time to learn portion and texture. Most important is protein, hydration, and moving. If you want cooking ideas you can find bariatric cookbooks on Amazon for ideas. Best of Luck!!

Hi, my surgery went well. Dr. Ortiz is great at his craft. Most of the staff are fluent at English and the facility is nice and clean. They will take good care of you. Dr. Ortiz and OCC are on the pricey side when it comes to bariatric surgery in Tijuana. They promise up to 5 yrs of nutritionist counseling which I found useless. Their nutritionist there really does not do much. Infact I am very disappointed as I feel like they never provided the a more structured guideline to how what you post op diet after your stomach heals should be. They never told me how calories I should have per day, how many ounces of food I should eat per meal. Every time I would ask, the answer was there is no limit as long as I meet my protein goal foe the day. Well that did not work for me. part of the reason why I paid extra to go to occ was to get better support post op with my diet, and unfortunately I don't feel like that was true. I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions. Have you scheduled your surgery yet? Sent from my SM-G991U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yay I got the call yesterday and got my surgery date..June 13th 2022. Tbh I almost gave up. I have complex PTSD and being in control is one of my coping mechanisms. So this whole process of not knowing when I was going to have surgery and having to wait for each step has been beyond frustrating and put me in a bad head space. I lost a work promotion because I didn't know when I would be out. The person I was going to take over for has decided to wait a year before moving up. Because of this my supervisor has decided to open up the position to everyone next year..so at min I have lost the pay increase for a year if not the promotion all together. My apartment lease is coming up for renewal and if they up the rent too much, I will have to move....without being able to hardly lift anything I had done 6 months of a Dr. lead weight loss program as a last attempt to avoid going the surgery route. Luckily the ofc I used also has surgeons so I had records already on file for the 6mnth weight loss attempt. Then I also had to pass a psych eval (150 questionnaire and a visit with their mental health clinician (to rule out eating disorders), nutritional eval, fitness eval, lose 20lbs, a barium swallow (Dr wanted upper endoscopy but had one last yr), They normally want a sleep study but since I use a apap machine that met that. My insurance made me speak to one of their nurses who could either recommend the preauthorization the Dr submits either be approved or declined. While the nurse was great, and hour conversation when all I am thinking is don't mess this up, was stressful. Every time I got one thing done I had to wait about 14 business days to do the next. I literally called and left several messages with my Dr's coordinator begging her to call me with a surgery date. So June 13..the day before my daughter's birthday. Luckily she is supportive and we are going to celebrate before I start my preop diet. I was able to call my apartment management and they are sending me the renewal documents so if I needto move I can do it before the surgery. Unfortunately there was nothing that can be done about the promotion though my job is now conducting cost of living surveys due to inflation to see if they need to raise pay across the the company. My health insurance company stlllhas to approve the surgery. But since all the paperwork is in order and the criterias are meet that will be no problem. Sorry just really needed to vent. Thanks

You will get to your fluid goals one sip at a time! Trust the process of healing. Start as soon as you open your eyes. Try a variety of flavors if you don’t like plain water. Gatorade zero and Propel are my favorites after cold water. Also herbal teas and broth count. Before you worry much about food the priorities are protein and hydration. There are tons of bari vitamins out there. Immediately post op stay away from gummies as they can get stuck and they have sugars and not a lot of quality vitamins. Some companies have sample packs. Bariatric Advantage has them. You can also email company directly to ask. In a pinch you can take 2 Fred flinstone vitamins. Centrum has a liquid adult version. As you get more comfortable with your hydration and protein the rest will follow.

Welcome. It’s ok to feel scared & nervous. It’s surgery. Food likely is something you depend upon as an emotional support & that is going to change & you will be changing what & how you eat. Things like how much pain you will experience after surgery is very individual. You may have a lot of gas pain or nine at all (I didn’t after my sleeve) but there are things you can do to help the gas escape your body. You may experience surgical pain for a couple of days or a week but again you’ll have access to pain meds to help. You may have muscular discomfort & struggle to get up & down for a little while or you may have very little at all. Pre surgical diets differ a lot too. Some are two weeks, some are just a couple of days. Some are all shakes. Others 2 meals shakes & 1 meal protein & vegetables. Mine was keto so … (I have done shake diets before & for a couple of months at a time.) The first challenge to the pre surgical diet is the psychological loss of the crunch & chew comfort of solid food. This can increase your head hunger & cause a lot of emotional turmoil. The second is the withdrawal symptoms (headaches, nausea, tiredness, etc.) from cutting out caffeine & sugar. This usually lasts less than a week. These things are small & are only a couple of weeks in duration. Nothing when you consider the big picture of your whole life & your health. The surgery is an opportunity to makes big changes but you have to be psychologically & emotionally ready. Don’t be afraid to seek support from a therapist (one who specialises in bariatric patients & disordered eating are best). A lot of people have found therapy extremely helpful. Yes, you are on a low calorie restricted diet & eating small portions to begin. Initially it is to support your healing. Then to make you look at the nutritional benefits of what you eat but within a few months you’ll be eating more & a greater variety of food. By maintenance you’ll be eating the portion sizes we all should be eating (not those giant plates two & three times more than what we actually need & lead to our obesity). And you’ll be consuming only the calories your body needs to function effectively & maintain your weight. You’ll discover your relationship with food will change. I still enjoy eating & the taste & texture of food but I see it as something my body needs to function & not as something to comfort & soothe me emotionally - because I’m bored, sad, happy, angry, etc. I’m not continuously thinking about what & when I’ll eat next. It’s that maxim of eating to live not living to eat. All the best.

This part of the journey can be really hard. Try focusing on the reward at the end. What really helped me also, was burying myself in Instagram stories of bariatric patients' progress photos and with those who have reached their goals. Their pictures are truly incredible, and so inspiring. I also agree with Bariatric Hero, try completing a shake first, then take your medications. Hopefully that will help. You got this! You are doing great! 🙂 Is your surgery Monday 5/2? In all honesty, I may have sucked on a french fry from my kid's happy meal. Not one of my proudest moments. I kept repeating to myself during my week pre-op liquid diet..... "I'm shrinking my liver. I'm shrinking my liver. I'm shrinking my liver."

I tried the bariatric pal once daily multi vitamin with iron. It is so much more palatable than the bariatric advantage. The smell alone was worth switching. The Bariatric Pal does not have that awful smell and seems to be a little smaller...but that could be because the taste/smell of the others is so bad it is hard to get down.

What did the ER say? I never experienced this post-sleeve. That doesn't sound normal. Call your bariatric surgeon and try to get in to see him/her. How far post-op are you?

You are right this is hard! But worth the effort. My doc started me out sipping 1 ounce every 15 minutes, it seemed crazy at first but the small sips were comfortable. I am 3 weeks out (RNY) and drinking 52-64 oz a day comfortably now. I keep my drinks varied. Plain water is of course the best. As far as food goes, go slow. Introduce 1 food at a time 1-2 tbls. at a meal. I was on clear liquids for 2 Wk post op. Most of us went from clear liquids to purée. I am using a lil baby spoon and a lil seafood fork to keep my bites small. As for vitamins, they are very important post op because our nutrition is so limited. You can try a Bariatric High Protein Meal Replacement like Bariatric Advantage for a lil extra nutrition in your protein drinks. Talk to your doc or dietitian Re your challenges. This will pass. Keep trying, but go slow.

My surgery was 4/25. GasX was recommended by my Bariatric team. I tried it the first evening and it didn’t seem to help. I then had an extended issue with vomiting so I didn’t continue with the GasX and now it has mostly passed.

Also from my research i thought the affordable care act covers bariatric surgery in North Carolina. I would double check. Tho idk if What you have on your profile would get covered that Duodenal Switch thing.

My insurance doesn’t cover WLS. I am making arrangements to be able to pay out of pocket and started the process at Duke in NC but then the surgeon said she wouldn’t do the surgery since my insurance wouldn’t cover the surgery due to risk of complication and high medical bills. Has anyone else experienced this??? I have an appointment with WakeMed BARIATRICS on May 10th, I explained to them what happened at Duke and they seemed surprised by it and said they except self pay. I am just terrified that I am going to be be crushed again for the 2nd time in 3 weeks and don’t know if I can take it. Any advice??? I have checked in to ACA insurances and multiple agents said none of the policies cover WLS.

I know it's really common to be cold after bariatric surgery. I've been cold all the time MY WHOLE LIFE. Now that I'm down over 100lbs it's becoming impossible. Today, I'm wearing a silk long sleeve undershirt, a long sleeve knit shirt, and a fleece, plus dress pants, thick socks, and short boots. I AM SO COLD! It's especially terrible when I have to sit still during work. Has anyone found a good solution?

I have just started my journey for bariatric surgery, but it's approved. I still have to go through the nutritionist, psychiatrist, etc. However I have told everyone and I don't care if they agree with my decision. I'm doing it for me and not anyone else. Very determined!

Unfortunately you will not find a plan that will cover it in Texas thru the affordable care act (obama care) I have done lots of research on this specifically because here in Florida its also excluded... These are the states where its covered. Your option would be to move to one of these states temporarily, Establish residency, get healthcare, get your surgery and leave. If you notice most southern states are excluded because people in southern states tend to be overweight when compared to northern states. (according to multiple articles i read about bariatric surgery. This is my backup if i end up needing a revision is to move. South Dakota seems to be the easiest from the research i did.