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Can't drink protein
FocusOnMeNow replied to scarlep's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I did the Bariatric advantage shakes pre-op but for the first two weeks post op those were actually too thick. So I just resorted to premier protein vanilla (I could not fathom chocolate at that point). I drank about 4 oz at a time over the course of an hour in my little medicine cup shot glasses. Good luck! -
You have to remember that many of us bariatric weight loss patients lose our weight rapidly. Due to the high speed of our weight loss, our skin begins to sag and our faces look fallen. Now, everyone is different. There are so many factors that come into play with ones outcome (starting BMI, age, genetics, etc.), but you need to give your skin's elasticity time to catch up. My family would criticize me and mention that my face looked fallen. And, even now, when I look back at pictures of myself within the time frame of that first year post op--even past that first year--I can see what they are talking about. My face and neck looked sickly and tired. My turkey neck hung. I am now over 2 1/2 years out and I can honestly say that your skin will retract. It just takes time. So, even though your family's comments are hurtful--despite that they are coming from a good place--remember, they are seeing the after effects of rapid weight loss. Once you stabilize and your body begins to stabilize, you will start to look healthy again. I will say that I also began practicing facial expressions that a lady advised me on. There are a series of facial exercises that one can do to help "tone up" your face. Here is a website that has a few of them, but a quick search will reveal many more: http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2010/05/18/the-best-exercises-for-your-facial-muscles-to-stay-looking-young.aspx It is a long journey. As cliche as that word is, it is true. This is a process. A time consuming one at that. However, it is one that hopefully leads us to a better and longer lived quality of life.
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Here are some more that I found... http://ww2.khou.com/Global/story.asp?S=2126357 http://www.lapsurgery.com/BARIATRIC%20SURGERY/Before&AfterPics.htm http://www.inamed.com/products/obesity/us/patient/lapband/photos.html http://www.inamed.com/products/obesity/us/clinician/lapband/photos.html http://gastricband.com/html/stories.html http://www.whyweight.com click on success stories http://www.obesitydoctors.com/NY/BeforeAndAfterPictures.htm
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what multi-vitamins to take??
YankeeChick75 replied to YankeeChick75's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I do take Biotin daily and tried the Flinstones with Iron (per my surgeons suggestion) and Bariatric Advantage multi and calcium and all 3 made me so queezy. So much that I have no desire to take them. I was taking a multi that agreed with me (pre surgery) but the gel capsules are horse pills! I'm not sure I can take them. I will check out the other brands and go from there. Thanks! Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using LapBandTalk -
What Is Lap Band W/plication by ♥carolinagirl♥ Jun 21, 2012 9:43 AM I copied this for you from CG's site - I follow her posts and I also, had the lap band with plication done on January 24 - doing very well, all the best to you !! Band over Plication The gastric band and the gastric plication weight loss surgery procedures are less invasive and possibly safer than other bariatric procedures currently available. In both cases, however, there effectiveness is somewhat diminished because they are not as invasive. There is a growing consensus that by combining these two procedures bariatric surgery patients may get the best of both worlds. Each of the procedures individually may yield over 50% excess body weight loss (EBWL), however combined, there is the belief that EBWL may reach or exceed 75%, similar to that of the much more invasive gastric bypass. Original Stomach Shape and Size The procedure will begin with a gastric plication to initiate weight loss. The surgery, combined with diet and exercise, will yield excellent excess body weight loss within t... (Read More) 0 Comments
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Hi All- My name is Brittany and I'm 25 years old. I'm currently trying to decide if Bariatric Surgery is the right route for me, given my circumstances. Basically, if I decide to go through with it all, I'd like to try to get the surgery done before I turn 26 in October. Until that point I'll have two insurances (through work and my dad-- thanks Obamacare!) and I figured that would be the cheapest way to get it done. I have my first Doctor's consultation in a couple of weeks and I've been researching the options. Right now, sleeve or bypass seem best for me, but I just don't know. I think once I meet my doctor he will be able to give me his professional opinion on the matter. I guess where I'm struggling right now is deciding if it's actually something I actually want to do. I've been overweight my entire life and have grown quite comfortable with my appearance. I'm very proportional for my size- and I've always thought of myself as attractive. I actually worry, very vainly, that I'll be less attractive if I lose weight. I'm dating someone who loves my curves and wouldn't change me for the world and I worry that if I lost weight he might look at me differently. (Although I think that's more of a personal concern, because I know he would support and encourage me if it meant I was being healthy). I have infertility issues and my doctors have told me repeatedly that losing weight will only increase my chances at getting pregnant. I also know that losing my excess fat will make me healthier in the long run. But I'm so comfortable the way I am now. Was anyone else afraid to take that leap?
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Hello,my name is Shannon Neel, I am married with 4 children,for most of my adult life I have been obese, and it wasn't until a few months ago, when my wife had bariatric surgery, that I had even considered my own health and the issues that I have due to my being overweight. My wife looks great and feels better (healthwise) and she has been worrying about me lately because I have high blood pressure,bad knees and also am diabetic, not to mention high cholesterol,shortness of breath and back problems...soooo she said,"Why don't you consider the lap-band if you don't want to go as invasive as I did?"...So I gave it some thought and out of sheer morbid curiosity, I have been looking into it and am having my insurance company send me all the literature for the steps I would need to take to get approved. I would like to lose at least 80 to 100lbs...I want to be active again...and participate in activities with my family as well as maybe eliminating SOME if not ALL the costly medications that I must take daily.I love my family and want to be around a long time for them.So wish me luck...this is the beginning of a long journey for me....
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Great Question! My moment was being told by my doctor that I had insulin resistance and that I needed to watch my diet, lose weight, and exercise or I would soon have diabetes. Suddenly at age 49 I realized that I was all out of tomorrows. As in I'll go on a diet tomorrow. From that moment it had to be TODAY or I would end up with a serious chronic illness. I gave myself 6 months to lose weight and get with the program and told myself that if I wasn't able to do so, I would have surgery. I gave it my best try. I lost weight, I exercised, and all symptoms of insulin resistance went away. But just as with so many times in the past, I found I couldn't maintain my new way of living permanently. So here I am. With normal blood sugars. And a renewed spirit. Nancy
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My moment came when my doctor told me that my cholesterol was 347 and my blood pressure was 180/100. I had been on weight watchers for several months at the time and I was sure that they had gotten my blood mixed up with someone else. I insisted that she re-run the blood test before I could accept the truth. My father died at age 60 from complications after a stroke, and apparently I was on the same track. I realized that I had to do something drastic to gain control of my ever increasing girth. My daughter had been banded just about a month prior, and I began to consider this for myself. I began researching and learning all that I could about the band. My insurance excluded bariatric surgery entirely, but I was determined to get this surgery even if I had to pay for everything myself. I am thankful that I found an excellent surgeon, and it was affordable to me. Now my cholesterol is 195 and blood pressure is 145/75. I'm only half way to my weight loss goal, but I have attained a healthier state. Love my band!
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Relationship issues 2.5 years post op..
FLHappyGirl replied to EmilyJune's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
First let me say what a spectacular job you are doing! You are changing your life for the better and in doing so, probably doing the same for your children. Congratulations on your success! The divorce rate for bariatric patients is high. You are making changes that can affect your entire family's life style; your husband is fighting these changes. For your sake and the sake of your children you need to decide if you are going to allow him to sabotage these changes and potentially your continued success. His other choice is to hop on board and be a part of something wonderful. I don't know a lot about bipolar disorder but it sounds like a really convenient excuse to blame his sh***y behavior and allow a vicious circle of verbal abuse to continue. If it truly is his bipolar he needs to figure out a way to fix it, be it meds, counseling or both. Please don't allow yourself to get sucked in and try to deal with his insecurities. You will never be able to fix it, he has to want to do that! You can support him but you can't do it for him. Good luck! -
URGENT QUESTION: Getting an unfill for Plastic Surgery????
BetsyB replied to Mia26's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
This is a question for your plastic surgeon to field. (S/he's the one to talk to, rather than the bariatric surgeon.) The PS I'm using does require unfill. -
Advice Please!! Thinking about changing surgeons!!
ashleyc posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have been seeing preparing to have surgery and have completed all my insurance requirements.... I want to have surgery as soon as possible! My surgeon is requiring me to have a sleep study done and then IF (you know they will) they say I have sleep apnea they are going to make me sleep with the cpap for 14 nights straight before being cleared for surgery.... WELL there is another center of excellence bariatric surgery place here that DOES NOT require a sleep study that my friend works at and I could possibly have surgery with him within 2 weeks.... I am seriously thinking about switching surgeons... What would you do?? -
Marty, please go check out the Insurance forum. As I recall there are quite a few folks there who have had UHC. Also, just a word of caution, if YOUR policy does not cover Adjustable Gastric Banding because of an EXCLUSION, then you are sadly stuck. Just because you and I may both have United, my employer may have paid for a Bariatric surgery rider, but yours may not have. That is why you may not have coverage, but I may. Good LUCK! I hope this helps.
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I threw in the towel, and gave up!
mrsto replied to TatorTot's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Wow, I feel terrible for you. That is a LOT to go through, with the insurance company giving you a bunch of B.S. Most all of us who decided on WLS, have major issues around food. We're emotional eaters, depressed, addicted to food, etc. As you said, if you weren't, then you would not be here! I feel angry just reading your post; totally unfair. There is absolutely no guarantee that any of us, bipolar or not, will maintain our weight loss. This is a life long issue, and the surgery doesn't end the battle. Surgery is a tool, not a cure. It certainly sounds like you no longer have the wherewithal to continue the fight. And I understand that. But fast forward a year or two from now; where will you be? Heavier? Have you considered having surgery outside of the country? Have you discussed a cash pay scenario with the bariatric facility of your choice? I really hate to see you throw in the towel. Given who we are, and the curse we live with, I'm rooting for you to find a way around the system. Ugh.....I feel so bad for you. Your insurance company needs some enlightening! -
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty HELP
Belle3endosleeve replied to jdunn72's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I have scheduled my ESG for sept 28th and am also a low bmi (30) and didn't qualify for traditional Bariatric surgery. This procedure is covered by my insurance as well. So stocked!! I called all over the country for weeks to finally locate a facility in California that performs this new procedure. Perhaps call some of the more established hospitals that perform it and ask if anyone in TX is doing it. Johns Hopkins, UCI, Mayo Clinic, etc. Good luck and keep us posted!!! -
If anyone is looking for a doctor in NJ I highly recommend Dr. Ajay Goyal, Dr. Angela Jack and Dr. Stephen Forrester at the NJ Bariatric Center. I was sleeved on 1/31/11 and I received top-notch care from day one. Everything including the educational seminars, websites, insurance authorization process, and most of all, the care pre and post op was excellent! Their team made this process easy for me! P.S. I'm doing well! I've lost 55 lbs. and feeling great!!!
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I have posted the same comment on several people's posts about the pre-op diet. That is strictly done for insurance purposes. It does NOT need to be done for surgery. This is what was explained to us by the bariatric surgeons. They just need to document that they told you to do the diet and you are able to lose weight- meaning you are committed. That is the only reason. So dont stress out about keeping an all liquid diet like that.
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I threw in the towel, and gave up!
B-52 replied to TatorTot's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I guess I was an emotional eater, or something similar. All I know was I could not stop eating, 24/7..... The lap band cured me of that...pure and simple!!! granted, it wasn't easy, and I read here all the time where people back down from accepting change. (only to complain later they are failing, falling off the wagon, etc) I never understood when people say they had to loose weight prior to surgery to prove they can do it...the fact that I could not do it was exactly the reason surgery was my last resort.... I had to do a 6 month medically supervised diet program, mandated by my insurance...I asked the staff at the bariatric center why....I was told I had to prove to the insurance co. that I did sincerely attempt loosing weight the traditional way, and FAILED! I told them all about every diet program I have ever been on, and failed at every one of them. I was told simply saying so was only my word. They wanted something official, with charts, graphs, weekly visits and counseling, all documented and signed off by a MD....and put into my file. So I did, and just like every other diet, I started out good, positive results, then about month 4 I started to cheat, and then by month 6 it was all a bust......but that was exactly what the insurance co.wanted to see......without directly saying so. But yet I read here all the time that people have to "Loose" weight in order to qualify.....I guess the thinking is that a Dr. will not tell you to do it and not take it seriously, they want you to give it your best effort and let thee truth stand out.... Bottom line, you do have to follow your dr's directions.... -
I filled out my insurance forms for a Bariatric Program here in Oklahoma and after 3 months got a call that I was approved and started the process. Attended a Seminar in May and finally got to my first visit with my surgeon. I was extremely happy because he has a 5 star rating!! Just got all my other appointments set up for nut and cardiologist and the many many other appointments that are required with this program only to get a call that I have to go through BRS for my insurance to pay. I call them to register mind you I have been dotting my Is and crossing my Ts getting ready with diet and exercise, quitting smoking etc. BRS informs me I have to be enrolled in their program officially as of yesterday and they require my surgery to be done at a Center of Excellence. There are none in Oklahoma!!! I now have to start all over and travel states away for all my appointments. I feel like everything was just ripped out from under me and defeated! So disheartening! There are absolutely no out of pocket benefits so there is no way I can afford to continue to move forward at this time. I know I should be happy my insurance covers it at all but right now I can't see past the veil of tears. So frustrating!
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Weird that no one at work has commented on my weight-loss..
Frustr8 replied to Sleeved in DFW :-)'s topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Maybe they think you are dying, more likely they think you have cancer and don't want,to embarrass you by asking. Me and my big mouth , I actually asked my friend T if she had cancer and what stage she was at? Turned out she had a VSG 3 months before. Facepalm to the forehead! Oh did I felt a dolt! 😁 And now I'm going to have bariatric surgery myself. Lucky for me,she has a forgiving nature and is cheering me from the sidelines as I make my run💃 for Weight loss Glory.😁 -
4 months after surgery........what is going on?
B-52 replied to prolife2014's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Welcome all to "Bandsters Hell" During my entire weight loss experience with the band, this phase was definitely the hardest time of all...not to mention frustrating. My first fill was 4 week after surgery...after my first fill, I started to GAIN weight. I can't begin to say how upset I was, all the preparation and anticipation for nothing! To add insult to injury, the staff at the bariatric center started giving me handouts and lectures about counting calories, measuring portion sizes, and all these little self help do's and don'ts to help me stay on track.... I've been on every diet imaginable over my lifetime, know them all inside and out...and what they were telling me was no different! That really got me angry!! I did not need weight loss surgery just so I can do all that again! You think I wanted to have this surgery if I felt I didn't need it??? I'm going to say somewhere 4-6 months after surgery, a few fills later, a lot of hard lessons learned the hard way, (stuck, sliming, pain) and it all started to fall into place.... One year after surgery and I could say it was the EASIEST, most EFFORTLESS thing I could have ever done to make sch a major lifestyle change in myself... I learned to let the band be the band and to get out of it's way... learned to "Listen: to the band" and follow it's lead. Four years later and it is still Heaven! And it keeps getting better as I keep accepting this new way of living.. -
I know you said you don’t want to travel, but would you consider Las Vegas? I’ve seen lots of mention of Blossom Bariatrics here and on other WL forums. I believe they have an all-inclusive package for self-pay folks that is fairly reasonable. They are also a pretty quick (and cheap) flight from the PNW.
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Hi TaterB, This is the reason why so many come to Mexico. There is nothing to be afraid of as long as you do your research. Thousands of patients come to Tijuana for their surgery and most leave with a very positive experience. Check out Dr. Jalil Illan in Tijuana. He has more experience and accreditations than most US surgeons and is well respected in the Bariatric community. You can learn more about him here: https://hospitalbc.com/dr-jalil-illan/ Please contact me if you have any questions.
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GOT SLEEVED? My journey begins 02/20/17
Keahsha Barbiiemonroe Harris posted a topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Hello World, I am Keahsha Harris a Mother of one 5 year old girl, student obtaining my BS in Healthcare Management, a licensed nail tech BASICALLY a jack of all trades.I've contemplated about getting VSG for many years and finally decided last year this was the surgery for me. I've always been overweight starting at the tender age of 7 and I've tried many diets workout programs nutritional guidance and even played sports and I always ended up the heaviest of most. So to make a long story short I researched and asked many questions for approx. 6 years. I'm receiving my surgery abroad in Tijuana Mexico I'm going through Tijuana Bariatrics and my Surgeon is Fernando. Garcia (Don't worry I've spoke with clients that used him they gave the thumbs up). I just hate so many people are so judgmental and do not understand the struggle of being overweight. I want to prove them wrong not only wanting this so I can be healthy but; for a overall better life. I'm 5'2 HW:246.8 CW:225.0 GW: 130. I want to hear from you guys and hear the encouraging stories to settle my fears. Wish me the best!!!! -
I still have to take the chewables for a while and I bought some from Bariatric Advantage, but I hate the taste. I have to grin and bear it when I chew them up, and then I chase them with a bite of food to try and wash the flavor out of my mouth. I can't wait until I can just take a Centrum and swallow it, and not worry about tasting it. The only supplement I have that's decent is the calcium chew, which is basically like a caramel. But the iron chew sucks and the multivitamin is really bad.
