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And you both inspire me, lI have arthritis and have since 25. 2 knee replacements and I'm a very,painful 72. I'm still struggling to get my surgery, I am hoping to get accepted into another bariatric program, I have a seminar March,9th and one booked also for March 10th. If #1 does pan out I'll cancel,my reservation at #2. I'm actually hopeful of #1, probably should have gone there instead of where i did. I vow to win my surgery, I won't let my bad experience stop me. I don't have to meet a minimum like you girls I have a BMI of 47 with 2-3 comorbidities.But I want to have both of you as friends Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Am still waiting for my doctor to submit to my insurance company. My POP sent all of my medical records to my GYN instead of the bariatric doctor. How frustrating. Had to have a D&C and biopsy's two weeks ago after having had no period fo 4 years. I have been reading that being overweight can create too much estrogen. I did not know this. Is this true? Having trouble driving because I have a stick shift car and my stomach is now becoming an issue. How very embarrasing. Have a bad knee and am using that as an excuse to look at an automatic. I really hope I can get this lap band surgery done because I feel I am just about out of options and the extra weight is compromising my ablility to live the life I want.

Just found a link to this story on my google news feed. Thought it was a great read and very much agree with what it's saying. The best line is "Surgery is, by far, the most effective tool in managing or reversing Type 2 diabetes. Just as doctors wouldn't wait until a patient has advanced-stage cancer to treat their disease, patients shouldn't have to wait until they are severely obese to undergo surgery," Brethauer said. https://www.wfmz.com/features/life-lessons/scientists-want-to-change-criteria-for-bariatric-surgery-eligibility/1100520796 Thought I'd share with the group

NewHope Bariatrics DFW I am in no way associated with that site. I am just passing it on.

i have anthem bcbs . Hey , Before i started this process i didnt have a PCP. I went to anthem website found a PCP threw them called and scheduled. I told my dr what im doing and he agreed surgery is whats best. With in 2 days my NEW pcp sent my medial necessity form to my bariatric center . Let me know if you have questions i just had my surgery 5/6/2019

Great news! If you have Presbyterian Insurance and live close to the Albuquerque area, we no longer have to go to El Paso Texas for bariatric surgery. Presbyterian now has a brand new startup local Bariatric program affiliated with Presbyterian Rust Hospital in Rio Rancho. Del Sol is still contracted with Presbyterian insurance and you can still use their bariatric program there, but, if you live closer it may be worth looking into. Dr. William Van Rice is the bariatric doctor for their program. I had lap band to sleeve revision surgery and can only give Dr. Van Rice the highest of recommendation. Jake

I use Bariatric fusion brand vitamins, the strawberry ones. Best tasting bariatric Vitamin I've found. My RTD protein of choice is Nature's Best Isopure in "Grape Frost" flavor, with a half a packet of grape flavored drink mix added in. My favorite powdered protein is Six Star, doesn't matter what flavor because I always doctor up the taste. HTH

So the time is coming around again for the Canadian Bandster bash out in Mississauga. I am a member of the planning committee and we have rounded up some great people to come and speak. The organizers are all bandsters, but we wanted to open up the bash to all bariatric patients so we are changing the focus to wellness this year. I got involved after going to the first bash and learning so much, and having so much fun. We have some great people confirmed to speak to us including Monica Ganz of Obesity Help, Julie Janeway of Little Victories, Dr Barry Simon and a ton of others. We are focusing not just on the newly banded/WLS patients but on people in all stages of banding weight loss, maintenance, thinking about WLS etc. How do you take off the last little bit of weight, how do you maintain. How do you get over body issues all sorts of stuff to help out all sorts of people. If you are interested the website and registration is located at the following site. I can't say how much it helps people to meet others who are going through the same stuff they are and who understand. Besides we always have a blast hanging out together. www.canadianbandsterbash.com If you have any questions let me know. Hope to see you there. Heather:clap2:

My insurance covers wls however I'm going to Mexico. We don't have any in network providers here and I'm in Alaska so the option to travel to another city or state isn't available to me... my insurance will only cover 70% for out of network providers and the maximum out of pocket does not apply to bariatric surgery so I felt that ultimately it would be cheaper and faster for me to to go to Mexico Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Has anyone tried Smile Bariatric pods? This just popped up on my Facebook news feed and I'm thinking this may be the route I go post op with my PCP's approval. (I am not affiliated with Smile Bariatric nor receive compensation for this post) https://smilebariatric.com/product/dispenser/

Not supposed to take gummies after sleeve either. I found a multivitamin that formulated for Bariatric surgeries Bariatric Advantage Multi EA It’s a chewable.!I got it on Amazon it has everything but the kitchen sink in it VitD3 B’s E A ext it is formulated so your body absorbs the vitamins.

I tried the Celebrate Vitamins too. I found the big ones chalky and the chewy ones had a weird aftertaste. I prefer the Bariatric fusion chewables but you have to take 4 a day. They do include Iron and Calcium though, so no need to take extra of those.

It's three weeks since you started this topic. You may have everything under control already, but I'll respond anyway. You are no way the only banded person to regain. You're also not the only one who felt too embarrassed to ashamed to make an appointment with her surgery practice. It's okay to feel that way; the feelings happen to us. What's not okay is not to make the appointment. Surgery staff from surgeons to NP's to RD's and all the others have seen and heard it all many times before. When a patient comes back after a long time away, they are still there to help. There's the old saying about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Why do that to yourself? March your little, red face into that office. As to the band itself, I think it's more a matter of re-establishing the partnership than having the band work for you. You're the one with ultimate responsibility for the work. We all are. You can build a support system by attending the band support groups at the hospitals in your area. As far as I know, they all welcome each other's patients: We're all in this together. (It's probably also a matter of not costing anything to accept patients from other practices into the groups. So much the better.) Take part in BP. An appointment with your practice's RD may help you plot out your food choices anew. Laurie Thank you so much for this post! It's been a little over 2 weeks (liquid) & I've lost 9lbs. I went for my first fill this last monday and I still have no restriction so I'm going back tomorrow for another film. My doctor's office does not have a nutritionist but, I am going to call around and see who has a nutritionist specialize in bariatric patients! Thank you again! I'm ready to get restarted in this

Hi! I received my band last Tuesday (May 7) in El Paso at Southwest Bariatrics with Dr. Bruce Applebaum. I had the best care, and was up and moving only hours after the proceedure. There are NO bariatric surgeons here. Closest ones are in El Paso, Lubbock, Phoenix or Colorado. Good Luck!! If your insurance covers it (mine did) they propably have a network surgeon in mind that they use.

Hello, SunnyRachel! I just posted before regarding chewing. It's so important, I see. I'm really trying! As far as the breads go... I decided to give them up now, the conventional loaf breads anyway. I've been doing wraps. I would like to give that up eventually as well and just roll my sandwiches in lettuce leaves. My downfall is RICE. I'm Asian and grew up on it. I can eat it with ANY meal, any time of the day or night. It was a staple in our house rather than a side dish. I've almost given up the white rice :cursing:. I'll still have it every once in a while. I eat brown rice and though it just okay, it really doesn't replace the white stuff. I really appreciate your honesty. I want to know the plain truth about everything! It looks as if you are doing well. Not one of my friends know what I'm doing. As a matter of fact, the only one I'm talking to about this is a coworker whom I've only known for about 6 months. She has weight issues as well. She is not overweight by any means, but she can have the potential. She works out constantly and always watches what she eats. Her hubby went thru gastric bypass surgery 2 years ago so she is able to give me a fresh point of view... being the spouse of someone who has had bariatric surgery. She's been a wonderful supporter and I vent to her when I am stressing. I will be sure to look for you now when I need to discuss or vent! Good luck to you as well and keep up the great work!

my surgeons office has an insurance policy built in with the cost...I want to say bliss insurance...but I could be wrong. Anway, that policy covers you up to 6 monts post op! Everything is included too ie..hospital stays,more surgery if needed! He said they can provide this insurance because it is only available for bariatric surgeons who have very low complication rates! Hope I don't need to use it...but it's comforting knowing that it's there!

Hey everyone, I do not like being the bearer of bad news, but we need to work together and get some help here…brace yourselves. I don’t know if many of you have heard, but it has recently come to my attention that there are NO MORE DATES being given out for WLS through the Richmond bariatric program with Dr. Sampath or Dr. Nguyen. The funding for this program has been cut and there are no more surgeries scheduled after October at this time. For those of you just finding out, I am incredibly sorry for having to share this news with you. For those of you who already knew, I am also sorry to think of how this might be affecting you and your families at this time. Some of you may be waiting for your first consultation at this time, or just beginning to go through the battery of tests and appointments required in this program. To you I say please, please, please do NOT give up. This program changed my life long before I had my surgery and I can’t begin to stress how valuable the experience was in preparing me. I know the pre-op waiting period is a rollercoaster of difficult emotions and struggles, but there is hope and value in learning about yourself and making changes as you go before having this surgery. We all have unique stories and experiences that have brought us to where we are on this journey. For me, it took 7 years to find the right surgeon…when I decided to switch to Dr. Sampath, it wasn’t because I knew my surgery would come up sooner (although that was an exciting thought I considered). What “sealed the deal” for me was knowing that I would be safe and taken care of with West Coast Bariatrics…my post-op care is guaranteed and there is a whole team of specialists willing to help me at any given time with whatever issues or obstacles I may encounter along the way. That, to me, showed a dedication to my health and well-being that I had never experienced with any health professionals before. It was a promise to look out for my best interests and it was definitely the turning point and deciding factor for me. For those of us who have already had this surgery, I’d like to ask that we take a moment and think about how different our lives would be if we hadn’t done this. Those of us who had the opportunity to go through West Coast bariatrics know what tools and experiences are being withheld from countless others in this province who need their help. I also know that there are many individuals who had their surgery in other parts of BC or out-of-province who have shared how they wish they had a program like this to support them before and after surgery. Some of you even have friends and family on the waitlist for the Richmond program and I can only imagine how difficult this news has been to deal with. We all have different issues and histories that brought us to the point of needing this surgery; it is unfair and ridiculous that anyone should be deprived of a life-changing weight loss surgery when there are capable, successful, and willing professionals who want to fight for us. So to all of you, I’d like to ask for some help. The team of specialists at WCB are doing everything they can to support patients through other branches of their program, but they are stressing the importance of reaching out and contacting our Minister of Health in BC and speaking to our MLA’s. They believe that we can make an impact by speaking out in volumes and showing the government that its constituents care enough to demand a change. I am not a political person in any way, but this is an issue that directly affects me and many of my loved ones so I cannot bear to sit idly by. Many of us in the support group for WCB patients on Facebook have already written letters and sent emails or been in direct contact with our MLA’s. At this time, anything helps! Some of us are reaching out to the media as well. Family members, co-workers, friends…anyone who knows about you, your struggles, and the value of this surgery can help us make a difference if they are willing to take the time to send an email or letter. To contact our Minister of Health, Margaret MacDiarmid, please email her directly at margaret.macdiarmid.mla@leg.bc.ca To get in touch with your local MLA, please visit http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-5.htm to find them on the list of BC’s Legislative Assembly. Email them, mail letters, place a call and speak with them...anything! Once again, I apologize for having to bring this up and hope that many of you will reach out to the support systems in your life (i.e. friends, family, support groups, health professionals) to deal with any issues this may bring up. Thank you for getting this far, I appreciate your consideration and hope that we can help West Coast Bariatrics get back its funding so it can keep changing lives and making a difference in the WLS community. Aleya aleyazl@hotmail.com

Hi everyone !!! I'm getting my things ready and making sure I have everything I need .... and I haven't been able to find a list of the Vitamins I will need ... Any suggestions ? I have already started taking Biotin and have bought bariatric vitamins but I'm not sure if I will need to take anything else? Thanks

kckaye: if you call Syntrax and let them know you are a bariatric patient they will send you a varity pack of 10 for $13. That way you can try it, I went to The Vitamin Shoppe and the 3lbs tub was for $36.00 I was told that Syntrax and Isopure are one of the best. Their phone number is 1-866-333-7403 ext. 803. I just ordered today. Good Luck....

I only had to get an EKG and then my cardiologist asked me if I could walk without being extremely out of breath. That was it and they sent that in to the Bariatric center as my cardiac clearance needed. I even have a slight heart arrhythmia I got diagnosed with last year but he still said I am clear and ready for surgery.

I find myself noticing others who might benefit from knowing more about bariatric surgery. I have kept my mouth shut thus far but it's getting harder when I see struggling,and our of breath young people. I want to tell them there is hope and answer, but in their place(where I was until I started my journey) would I have accepted a gentle suggestion? I have found 2 acqaintances who are post surgery but they didn't tell me of their plans. I'm afraid I asked one if she'd had cancer- well she was thinner and so was her hair- how was I gonna think? She is looking better now cause her is thickening back up, and most important she feels better about herself. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

My bariatric team has been reviewing my chart for nearly 2 weeks. I emailed my patient coordinator asking how long it normally takes for them to review it. She messaged me back saying there is no time limit. How long did it take your team to review and approve your chart so it can be sent to your insurance?

You're doing so great! It's nice you have your spouse to help you. I talked to the Bariatric Coordinator today at pre-op and she said sugar free gum is ok - Yay! She just said don't go crazy because it can make you salivate and may make you more hungry. It's encouraging you have not had any nausea. Has your family mentioned the tummy noises are loud enough for them to hear? I read that never goes away. Already cutting back on BP meds --- look at you GO! The emotional part if the best to hear and I can understand feeling down. Something has shifted in me in recent months from "no hope" to "I'm going to fight this obesity once and for all!"

My insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, so I've decided to get it done in Mexico. That's not the "wrong" part though, believe it or not. I do feel there is value to the pre-op hoops you jump through to get approved and other preparatory and follow-up work that I'm worried I'm not even aware of. Like everyone else here, I want the best possible chance at success and I feel like I'm already behind the curve. Here's where I stand with my own attempts to get the right support network in place: DIETITIAN - Do I need one after surgery? I'm not currently seeing one, but I used the services of an RD for 2 years, 2006-2008, so I've got all the knowledge regarding portions, balance, nutrient density, etc. I tried to find one, both locally and remotely, but the bariatric specialist RDs are all affiliated with surgical centers and only deal with those patients. I will try again if I need one, I just don't know if I do. THERAPIST - I've tried therapy five times before and never got anywhere. I'm currently getting medication management by a psych nurse, who is on board and has changed my anti-depressant scripts to regular not extended release. Anyway, I'm utterly convinced that this surgery won't succeed without 'head work' and I'm giving it another shot. Unfortunately my first appointment isn't until 2 weeks before my surgery, but at least I'll have it in place for afterwards. He does bariatric psych evaluations for insurance companies, so I'm feeling positive about this choice. POST-OP SURGICAL SUPPORT - I get follow-up support via phone afterwards. My primary doc where I live is on board with ordering the vitamin level tests and such afterwards. This is, unfortunately, all I have figured out...I simply don't know what else I need. BOOKS - I've read Bariatric Mindset Success by Kristin Lloyd, but it didn't really resonate the way I hoped it would Feel free to recommend a book that takes you through all the steps, or a dietitian who does skype sessions, or even just write a bit about a valuable piece of the puzzle I'm either understimating or missing completely. Thank you.

Here is a suggestion..try swallowing your pills while exhailing...I'm taking the bariatric vitamins and I hate pills plus the surgery makes u paranoid lol but it is the easiest thing and no pain I promise