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I would ask your surgeon. You could also compare the vitamin content in a Bariatric vitamin to the content of your prenatal. Usually you can find the label with specifics online. I know some surgeons say use good Bariatric vitamins for a year at least then after that switch to centrum or something like that.

Could you let us know? I HATE the bariatric vitamins!!! 2 miles Beth's later, they still hurt, make me nauseous and I sweat and then smell like them. It is disgusting!

Only a hug, a pat on the back, a reminder that Bariatric surgery can stop or at least slow down the Diabetes Monster. Every blood lab I have drawn I worry mine will come back like yours. My PCP shakes his head " By all that is holy, you should be diabetic by now!" darn dude sounds disappointed, does he really want all the extra work it would ensue? Peeved him my BP is better, cholesterol lower, pulse Ox higher and better than his, I have COPD, don't smoke and I'm maybe 35 years older, and then I have the audacity to not turn diabetic, I'm losing weight like a house afire. All his Doom and Gloom was for naught, and looks like I might even outlive him! He is starting to develop a mid-age paunch, should I get in his face and read him the Riot Act.? if he doesn't know,it by now, KARMA IS A FEMALE DOG! (snicker-snicker!)

With the sleeve it all depends on the facility. If you are going to an MTF that has a Bariatric program then it will be covered but from what I understand if you have to go out in town then they won't cover the sleeve. I have gone both routes. Try finding written covered benefits. I want to say the last time I saw it still wasn't covered tho. Good luck :/ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

No worries...yes, i had mine in 2007....i was a self pay...insurance didn't even know what it was back then. I also had it done in San Francisco, and my husbands ex-wife is a bariatric nurse so I sorta had an "in" with a surgeon.When I moved to Vegas 2 yrs later...and even until now I have to explain what it was because people here are...well...to be nice...set in their ways.... Fascinating! After almost 3 years on these forums, you are the longest term sleever I've ever seen! I've seen a lot of long term bypass peeps, like my hubby who is 10 years out, but never a sleeve! So tell me, how is your restriction at 10 years out? What would you say your portions are now? Like me at over 2 years out, I would say my max is a cup, depending on what it is.

I received a lap band in 2009 (had complications with it and had to have it removed in 2010) and now getting a sleeve on the same date, July 9. I can tell you from experience, the pain is minimal. If you do experience discomfort, you will be given pain meds to minimize it. Gas pain is probably the biggest cause of discomfort from this type of procedure, although not as common as in years past. If you experience this type of discomfort (pain in your chest, shoulders, back, etc), walk as much as possible. This helps to disperse the gas. I can tell you that this surgery is a very safe, not only as a patient, but as a medical professional. I am a Surgical Technologist and can attest that this procedure is extremely common and safe. There a many abdominal procedures that use a laparoscopic approach and patients tolerate it well. Your experience will most likely be a good one. When you return home, you will have a new life to ahead of you. This is my third trip to the operating room (as a bariatric patient) and it's well worth it! I am so grateful to have this second chance. Good luck to you all and God Bless!

I just received the following email from Unjury and I felt it was really important to share with our community! "We recently sent two bottles of a Vitamin product labeled "ProCare Health Bariatric Chewable Dietary Supplement" to one of the leading independent nutritional chemistry labs in the country. See footnote 1. We asked them to assay this bottle for a selected sample of nutrients. (Assays are costly.) We were curious for at least two reasons: One RDN, on the WM DPG Bariatric Subunit online board, posted a question: "We have been recommending Procare to our patients for quite some time now....Recently, we have started noticing that a significant number of our patients Folate levels are dropping" (see note about folate testing2) Upon visual comparison, the multi tablet appeared very small compared to other bariatric chewable multi's, and while the ProCare website, www.procarenow.com, states "lack of binders and fillers makes us smaller", we are not sure of the technical feasibility of using no binders and fillers. Note that this paper comments on the laboratory results for one bottle of the ProCare product, except for the folate retest on the second bottle. (The results of the folate test on the second bottle were consistent with the original result. See notes about purchase of bottles.3) The assay results from the single bottle,4 of ProCare Health Bariatric Chewable Dietary supplements for 6 of the 9 nutrients assayed (see chart below) shows less than 1% of the levels claimed on the label. Regarding the folic acid result: unless the source of folate was methylfolate, then the folic acid result is also less than 1% of the levels claimed on the label (see note5 below). The assay results for the remaining two nutrients are also below what is claimed on the label. 5 Results: Please note that when the lab result includes the "less than" symbol (<), the value reported is the lab's limit of detection - the lowest that the lab believes it can detect - and thus it was unable to find any of the nutrient within its limit of detection. PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE FOR RESULTS! Note: The ProCare label did not mention the use of an expensive and rarely used form of folate called methylfolate. For this reason we did not test for it. If the company responds that it used methylfolate, we will test for methylfolate and publish the results for your review. We are not saying that ProCare Health Bariatric Chewable Dietary Supplements never contain the nutrients claimed, as we cannot test every bottle. We do believe however, that it is important and valuable to the bariatric community to provide the limited-scope assay results we have received. We have made initial contact with the...FDA...and are in the process of providing them the results. As some of you may already know, the FDA's ability to protect consumers-specifically in the dietary supplement market-is limited. Dietary supplement manufacturers are not required to get FDA approval before producing or selling supplements. All patients ultimately need your expert advice about which supplement brands they can trust. As responsible healthcare professionals, it is important to know the quality of supplement brands before recommending them. Footnotes 1 We originally sent one bottle, but the lab requested a second bottle to retest the folate level using that second bottle because the results from the first test were lower than expected. We did send the second bottle requested. 2 We mention the RDN's observation because it contributed to our curiosity. We cannot comment on the validity or accuracy of those patients' folate test results. 3 The lab confirmed that both bottles arrived still sealed. The bottles were ordered on the company website in late May 2015 and assayed in late July and early August 2015. 4 Note that this paper only comments on the laboratory results for one bottle of the ProCare product, except that a second bottle was requested by the lab to retest for folate when the initial results came in unexpectedly low. 5 We did not instruct the lab to test for methylfolate, which is an expensive and infrequently used form of folate. The ProCare label does not list methylfolate as the source of the folate in their Multivitamin on their label. 6 The lab indicated that various tests have expected error ranges, such as +/- 20% for example. However, the results show variances from label claims that are 99% or more, which is outside the lab's expected error ranges. 7 The lab assayed for both beta-carotene and Vitamin A acetate. For simplicity, we are showing the total result because the combined total is less than 1% of the Vitamin A claim. We welcome your feedback on this email. Please direct emails to RD@UNJURY.com The UNJURY® and OPURITY® Team"

Bariatric Fusion vitamins are one of the most popular vitamin brands in the BariatricPal Store. Bariatric Fusion continues to release innovative and popular Bariatric products. They've recently released the following 3 innovative Bariatric vitamins for 2018: Bariatric Fusion Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement NO IRON Chewable - Available in 2 Flavors! This great tasting vitamin and mineral supplement was designed and formulated by a Bariatric Surgical Team to meet the needs of their patients who do not require daily iron or prefer to take a separate iron supplement. The unique formulation provides the highest amounts of what the team believes are the key micronutrients vital for weight loss surgery patients. Bariatric Fusion Calcium Soft Chew with Bone & Metabolic Support (Fruit Punch) Bariatric Fusion calcium soft chews optimize bone strength and metabolic function by maximizing absorption through a unique soft chew formulation. This great tasting chew delivers 500mg of Calcium Citrate, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Vitamin K to enhance absorption and provide maximum bone health and strength. The addition of Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Niacin will give your body the efficiency and ENERGY you need to enjoy a happy and healthy lifestyle. This is truly a one of a kind supplement. Bariatric Fusion Probiotic Soft Chew - Orange Tropical Flavor Bariatric Fusion Probiotic soft chews are designed to promote a healthy intestinal environment, regulate metabolism, and enhance your immune response. Bariatric Fusion's unique soft chew formulation optimizes better absorption and provides the results you are looking for. One great tasting chew provides 10 billion live organisms! These products are all in-stock and ready to ship same day from the BariatricPal Store.

I am so happy you found some answers. I too have been more proactive in my own health for a while now. Researching online and reading has really helped me solve some of my own issues. I get very frustrated at drs for their lack of care and concern. The ones here make you wait 3-4 hrs to see them then walk in the room, barely even make eye contact, then leave the room, usually before you've had time to think of any questions to ask. So 3-4 hrs waiting to get less than 5 mins of their time. Ridiculous!!!! The way your dr treated you is horrible. That was abuse if you ask me. Even if there wasn't a med affecting your loss, there is NO reason to treat a patient in that manner. Then to laugh at you?????? OMG I wanna slap him so bad!! He knows you had this done, he is treating you and one of the first things he should of done was look at your meds. I am truly appalled. I am so sorry you went through this, especially at a time you were probably already feeling bad and blaming yourself as it was. You trusted his skills and knowledge, and as drs we go in assuming they care about their patients. I am seriously sitting here questioning HIS sanity and mental stability. To be rude, uncaring, then downright cruel is unexcusable! I hope you are able to report him, but if not I would definitely confront him, tell him what you discovered, tell him you think his behavior was unacceptable, and I would insist there be another medical person there as witness so anything he says back to you, you will have a witness. I would try not to be emotional, use an even tone of voice so he can't try to tell anyone you were a raving looney so he can put the blame on you. Then I would never see him again and tell him you are going to tell everyone you know, go to the newspaper and media to expose him and if their are websites that he's on that will allow you to leave a review, do it!! No wonder so many of us go to Mexico!! Not just cost but the arrogance of some drs is sickening. Bariatric patients generally already have low self esteem problems, without jerks like him to contribute to that. I am so p.o'd!!!!!! Sorry for my outburst lol

Hi, I am just beginning. June 25th is my consulation with the bariatric doctor. Then the week after with my cardiologist. I have had a major heart attack and I am 230 pounds, 5'2. Not sure what the BMI for that is but it has to be a lot. So my question is does anyone out there have any experience with Oxford Insurance? I am really hoping they cover this because I will probably have to stay in the hospital longer than most of you. I am trying to get it done at Mount Sinai in NYC, Dr. Kini- Anybody familiar with him:confused:

I am working on my pre-op diet, I am about two months out from my surgery. Has anyone here used Sentara Martha Jefferson for their gastric sleeve before? I'm just curious as to how they did for you? Thanks! Sent from my SM-G970U using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m about 5 weeks out from rny gastric bypass and I’m starting to get back to a more “normal” diet. Are there any meal kits out there that anyone knows of? a couple years ago I was in a ldr and my bf used to order 3-4 meals a week. When I visited, it was enough for two and when I was not there, he always had leftovers since they are designed for 2. Since I’m obviously not eating as much as I did pre op, one kit would probably be 4 or 5 meals and that seems so wasteful because I can’t imagine eating the same thing 4 meals in a row. Are there meal kits out there that make smaller portions?

One of the things that contributed to my stress about this surgery was not knowing what was going to happen. (What can I say, I'm a control freak.) So here is the play-by-play as it pertains to me of my surgery. Your mileage may vary! I'll try to come back and update it. Hopefully it'll be of use to someone—"and knowing is half the battle." Day before surgery Liquid-only diet; two bowls of phở broth, some Protein2O, apple juice, and sugar-free lemon jello. Got about 830 calories in. Had to take a shower with a special CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) anti-septic body wash. It made my skin a bit "slippery". Packed my bag with my CPAP hose, a book, a spare shirt, some chanclas for walking, my cell phone charger, and my reading glasses. Put out the two pills I was supposed to take (no losartan because it interferes with anesthesia). Day of surgery Took another shower with CHG as required. Reported to the hospital at 0630 as requested. Was checked in and taken to pre-surgery holding. My fiancé was allowed to go with me as an exception, because I'm hard of hearing and rely on lip-reading which is impossible with so many masks and partitions in the way. A surgical RN came and told me to wipe my abdomen with CHG wipes, then put on my surgical gown (which was HUGE on me—I understand I'm a bariatric patient but I literally couldn't keep it on my shoulders). Then he put an IV in the back of my hand, took my vitals (I lost 10 lbs in the two weeks between my surgeon's consultation and surgery day), went through all my medications, put an anti-nausea patch behind my ear, and gave me a blood thinner in my IV. My surgeon came in and asked if I was ready, went over a few things, then went to scrub up. My anesthesiologist came in and asked if I had had anesthesia before (yes), and if I had any questions. I asked him to give me a TAP block at the end of surgery, which is a localized nerve block, like an epidural for your abdomen. It lasts 12-18 hours. I was whisked away and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, where I was given cognitive tests (what is your name, what hospital are you at, who's the president, etc.) and given ice chips. Once that all proved satisfactory, I was wheeled to my room. I don't remember it, because I fell asleep. Once in the room they put leg compression stockings on me and gave me water, Crystal Light made way too sweet, chicken broth that tasted like a salt lick, and a thicker vegetable purée soup. I couldn't get the vegetable soup down. I forced the chicken broth, Crystal Light, and water. I felt very, very hungry and it was frustrating not to be able to just eat something. I took 3 or 4 laps of the surgical unit floor in my fetching anti-slip socks, and kept falling asleep. The pain from the gas was pretty bad and I spent a good 30 minutes just burping, much to the chagrin of the man in the other bed in the room (though he was moaning so he doesn't get to say anything). Around 1730 the nurse came in, saw that I had drunk what I could and had peed sufficiently (you pee into a graduated container), and that I could walk. She asked my surgeon's permission to discharge me, and I was in the wheelchair going out the door at 1830, exactly 12 hours after I arrived. When we got home, I pretty much washed my hands and face and went straight to bed. I got up probably every 2 hours or so, would have a couple of sips of protein shake or water, along with Gas-X (simethicone) or, as needed, Tylenol. I did get about 7 hours of sleep, in various chunks. I was able to lie, carefully, on my side, which is how I prefer to sleep. My CPAP did increase the gas pressure inside a bit but it was tolerable. Day 1 post-op My first bout of the 'foamies'. I tried to drink a CorePower protein milk way too fast and spent an hour and a half wandering around whimpering. It was actively painful and it felt enough like I needed to vomit that I had a lined bucket at the ready. Eventually, though, it subsided. Gas pain is still here and very real, but better. We went for a walk which absolutely tired me out—and it was barely 500 meters! Right now I am using the timer on my cell phone to remind me to drink 1/3 oz. of fluid every 5 minutes, and I feel full but it's manageable. I am alternating full ounces of regular water and protein water. I also made some Jell-O with extra protein powder but the thought of eating it leaves me cold. If I can get these bottles down plus the shake I had earlier, I'll be pretty close to 48 oz. of fluid which is my surgeon's requirement for the first week (bumps up to 64 oz. after that) and 41 g of protein which will have to do for the first day unless I manage to get some of the Jell-O down me. I have been taking Tylenol, Gas-X, and my ondansetron—the nausea is there but it's in the background, like when you step off a ship onto land at the end of a cruise. I haven't had enough pain to necessitate anything stronger than Extra Strength Tylenol. My incisions are clean (I took a shower).

When did you start your 6 month plan and when did it all get submitted to insurance? Insurance has denied me because they say there isn't 6 months of a documented weight loss plan. I went to my PCP in October of last year. She weighed me and we talked about diet/exercise along with getting my referral to a bariatric center in our area. I started going to them in November and have not missed a month. So, March should have been month 6, correct? I'm not sure if they just aren't counting the PCP one or if they count their months differently (October-November, November-December, December-January, January-February, February-March would only be 5?). If anyone has had this situation and had it resolved, I would love to hear from you! Although I will know the answer in a few days I can't help but ask!

Hi everyone, I was a low BMI bandster. I had good weight loss success with my band, but it has been a journey. Fills, unfills, episodes of being so tight I had to have an immediate unfill, etc. About 6 months ago I started having symptoms associated with a slip and the upper GI tests I've had done definitely show a slip. My choices are: remove lap band (which is not what I want to do), reposition lap band, or revise to a sleeve or bypass. I work for one of the largest health care providers in the St. Louis area and my insurance will cover a revision, but only with a provider in their network. Guess how many bariatric providers there are in the network? 2! One is the surgeon who did my lap band and he only does lap band. The other surgeon is currently not doing revisions and won't be for potentially another year. I could go to another surgeon and do self-pay, but that seems crazy to go through that again. I was self pay for my lap band surgery because my BMI was not high enough and I just recently paid all those bills off. I am also leery of the sleeve surgery because it is so permanent. Lap bands can always come out. I feel like the decision is being made for me. I prayed for assistance making this decision and all arrows are pointing me this way. Has anyone had success after a lap band slip, then reposition? I am worried about it happening again in another three years.

Hello all - I just started the process for Gastric Sleeve surgery after doing a lot of research on my own. My insurance requires 6 month on a nutrition program, which thankfully I am already in Month 5. The part that has me nervous is the referral requirement. I really have not had a steady primary care physician for the past 6 years - mostly due to the fact that I’ve been so ashamed of my weight. So I really don’t know if I can just walk into a Dr’s office as a new patient and ask for a referral. Can I ask my OBGYN? Not sure if she would be open, but I can try. I have a BMI of 43 along with high blood pressure and sleep apnea so from that sense I don’t believe qualification is an issue. I have completed the initial application for the bariatric surgery clinic and am waiting for them to contact me for next steps. I am concerned about the referral becoming a blocker. I would appreciate it if anyone who has gone through a similar situation can share their experience or advice. Thank you!

self pay Bariatric Pay Mexico. https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/486-mexico-self-pay-weight-loss-surgery/ The owner of this site (Alex) bariatricpal will delete any negative reviews of bariatric pal Mexico off this site. Note a surgeon has left their employment. Many have not received their refunds and the office and Alex are not giving explanations. Please read the reviews on this link from yelp . The owners and affiliates cannot edit or censor comments from clients. https://www.yelp.com/biz/bariatricpal-tijuana Alex will most likely delete this post.

Oh, those first days and the anxiety over the first BMs. I remember being afraid to push, being afraid of what I'd see in the stool, you name it. Glad you're on the road to regularity. At this point in my game, I don't really take anything and am regular without any interventions. BUT, constipation is an ongoing threat in the bariatric community. Get your fluids. Stay active. Once you transition to regular food, include fiber (if you can't, supplement). I used to chew a fiber gummy every day, but I don't find that I really need it anymore. If you find yourself in a "situation", I relied on good old MOM (milk of magnesia). You can adjust the dosage based on the severity of your need. It tastes god-awful going down, but it does the trick. Other effective agents: smooth move tea, Miralax, Dulcolax. Here's to happy, regular BMs!

So far, the only problem I'm having is with Bariatric Pal

I am at the very beginning of my WLS journey and meet with the bariatric surgeon for the first time next week. What are some things you wish you had known or had asked questions about at the start?

The world according to eggface Bariatric foodie Emily bites Iowa girl eats These are a few websites that help me with recipes Good luck

I have attended seminar 8/3/13. Turned in my paperwork and medical records 8/15/13. Now waiting on nurse to call to schedule my appointment at the bariatric center by suburban. How did you decide on Dr. Gellar? Dr. Tanner was the one who did our seminar and I liked him. Haven't met any of the others.

I checked on Aetna's siteand Advent Health Celebration is not an IOQ, but the surgeon is in network for me and listed under their in network bariatric surgeons. The only hospital that is on the list has one particular surgeon that 2 of my coworkers (very large employer) have been to and both have said while the surgeon is ok, the office staff is terrible. Both recommended I go elsewhere. My plan covers the whole Advent Health System.

I had a job switch in January last year and when my insurance switched to a different care provider I had to choose a new PCP. It turned out to be the best thing for me. My new insurance covered my bariatric surgery and the doctor I chose in my new network was very supportive of my wanting surgery. I made my appointment and on my first visit I had a referral to my surgeon, I did already have a surgeon picked out that I wanted the referral for. I was open and upfront with my doctor about how my weight has affected my life and my health. He was understanding and agreed 100% that bariatric was an option for me. Sometimes it’s hard to initiate that talk, and I think sometimes as patients people get defensive when confronted with their weight. I know I was obese for years and my previous doctor was never overly concerned, or was too concerned with what my reaction would be if he mentioned it. Good luck!

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post-op and a follow-up with the bariatric team. Purees are coming! Today I saw my GP about my glucose and BP. She confirmed no more diabetes meds (YAY!!!!!) but then she said something odd. She noted that my numbers are excellent on this full liquid diet, but we'd see how I do when my diet "progresses." Now, she's young and clearly still developing her bedside manner (she's awkward) but she insinuated that my diabetes would probably come back and I'd have to go back on meds once I'm on solid food. I guess I thought most docs (even GPs) would know that bariatric surgery has a high likelihood of "curing" diabetes immediately post-op, especially as our weight goes down. Mine was mild to begin with and almost controlled through diet alone. I kinda feel like she threw a bucket of cold water on me. (Getting rid of diabetes was one of my top reasons for surgery.) ANYWAY, I told her I'm consuming about 400-ish calories per day on the FL diet. And I know (I KNOW, I KNOW) we're supposed to concentrate on water and protein at this point, but I'm curious what everyone else's average per day is. Eventually I think we top out around 600-800 with 1,000-1,200 max, but anyone else willing to share where they are in the beginning stages?