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SORRY JUST NOTICED I’M ON THE GASTRIC SLEEVE FORUM - I’M A BYPASS PATIENT hence the comments below about injecting B12… SORRY! I’m in the UK and 8 years out from my op - the first few weeks I was forced to take liquid vitamins that were disgusting (drinks that fizz!!) but I’m now on permanent prescription tablets here in the UK and because I’m over 60 I get it free at the point of delivery (all working individuals pay into a national insurance scheme). I do know that we were told categorically that 1) we had to take multivitamins (bariatric grade), plus zinc, calcium, (and if you’re a pre-menopausal lady) iron daily; and 2) that we had to do B12 injections. I take 500mg chewable Calcium with vitamin D (daily), Zinc 220 mg (2 0r 1 alternate days), Iron 210mg twice a week and Foreceval multivits & minerals (daily). B12 can be done either intramuscular (absorbs quicker, but done generally by a health care professional) or intradermal which is easy to do yourself. I do the latter, as I do the injections once a month by myself. There are videos on YouTube about how to self-inject. The syringes are only small like insulin needles, and painless. I source these myself as the UK is very behind the US in their appreciation of the merits of B12! Oh - and I barely, if any, lost any hair… maybe a few more than usual when washing for a couple of weeks, when the weight was coming off quickly, but nothing I could ever see.

You're not alone. I'm already depressed. I am a sugar addict and have questioned, "what's left after the food is gone? How will I find relief?" I've also questioned the point of anything going forward because, well, "what's the point if I haven't got my best friend food to support me?" I'm questioning whether it is a good idea to even get the surgery, however have been encouraged by two bariatric psychs that it's totally normal to grieve food. Food is 100% a drug for me. It's deeper-rooted than the cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, alcohol and sedatives I used to use. I'm assembling a team of online video support groups weekly, a bariatric psychologist and a therapist to help carry me through the next couple of months.

My nutritionist told me that according to recent findings, some tiny percentage of the B12 is absorbed, and that is indeed why they put an absurd percentage of the RDA in the bariatric vitamin tabs. I'll find out whether it's enough for me when the blood work is done. I think the injections are just once a month, so I would probably do that over the sublingual option. The injections are much less expensive. I did enoxaparin injections three times a day for two weeks after surgery, and they weren't too bad.

My surgeon's office told me to start the vitamins about a week after surgery. The first month a used a chewable one that was unpalatable. Since then, I've been using these from Amazon. They have 45 mg of iron, so I don't need additional iron supplements. Vitamin B12 is often a problem for bariatric patients. These also have 41,000 times the FDA's required daily allowance of B12, which I hope will be enough that B12 shots aren't required. (They will do my blood work on the 5-month post-surgery visit.) I also take a 500 mg calcium citrate tablet three times a day. The link to the vitamins: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HZ3YQ5X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Edit: The price is $30 for three months, which isn't too bad.

Your dietician or your clinic may have samples of the bariatric advantage. I think the sample was mixed berry and one other I can’t remember. I got them from my dietician.

Ditto! I am looking for vitamins as well! I tried the Optifast chews and I don’t like the chalk taste. I tried the bariatric advantage chewables in wild grape, it has a bitter after taste……has anyone tried any other flavor of the bariatric advantage gummies? Or any other brand that taste good?

I started taking mine during the pre op diet. I started with bariatric advantage chewable multivitamin but I just switched to bariatric pal with my NP’s go ahead. My clinic is super strict on vitamins and insists that I take bariatric formulations and strongly encouraged the bariatric advantage but I needed something cheaper so I did some research myself and found the bariatric pal. I am also taking a calcium citrate I found on Amazon by 21st Century Vitamins instead of the bariatric advantage chews but this is NOT with permission of my clinic. I just figured I am having labs again and would see what difference it made in three months time so I will see next month. In the beginning I took the bariatric advantage chews and they taste great and labs were perfect. They are just a bit pricey.

Hi there, Bloodhound. I started taking my supplements (chewables) the day I got home from the hospital. Unfortunately, I don't have any good recommendations as I have struggled to find some that don't make me nauseous. So, for now I've been taking Flintstones Complete. My nut says these aren't ideal and the goal is to get me onto standard bariatric supplements. She's ok with them for now though, and says they are a "band-aid fix", until we can find some that my body tolerates. I also add in 45mg of Iron, calcium, and also Folic Acid vitamins (per doctor's orders) too. Hopefully, I will find some standard bariatric ones soon.

Hi, when did you start taking bariatric supplements, and which brand is the best?

I read a couple of posts from people who were told by Kaiser that skin removal and other post bariatric plastics are not part of their plan. I don't want anyone to suffer for years as I did because of being told the wrong information! I'm learning to push back when told NO since often times the people on the other end of the phone tend to not have all the answers or are told to derail people with questions from learning the real truth in order to save $ Anyway, there was a class action in 2015 against Kaiser sparked by post WLS denials. And as it turns out this can have repercussions for insurance that systematically deems skin removal as an elective surgery that isn't covered in cases of extreme weight loss. Link https://blog.cvn.com/kaiser-ordered-to-broaden-reconstructive-surgery-coverage-after-class-action-trial https://legalnewsline.com/stories/510629463-calif-judge-rules-that-insurer-at-center-of-class-action-over-skin-removal-surgeries-must-broaden-coverage When I went to be evaluated for plastic surgery in 2017, we were told we could have one procedure. Dr said I didn't qualify for a panni because it didn't quite hang low enough, just to clarify...their measurement is 'abdominal skin must cover pubic region entirely'' which is BS with the years of skin rashes I have had. He said I just barely qualified for breast reduction surgery which I had 5 months later, the waiting list was long. He said I would be a C cup (from a DD) and I wasn't happy when I ended up a B but worse things could happen. I'm 16 years Post Gastric BP and should've had a revision 4-5 years ago when weight gain started creeping up, no longer going down... about 15 lbs a year since 2018. I could never break past 170 to reach goal of 155 but I'm goin to pursue the distal revision as of this week. It's now or never, I have to get a social life! The rule is you have to be at your goal and stable for months before a skin removal surgery will be covered by insurance so I'll have to wait longer even longer for that as consequence of procrastinating on a revision! I've been disabled with an autoimmune illness so I never returned to the job I enjoyed after the WLS. I didn't put much effort into pursuing solutions for skin removal after research showed it would be very costly out of pocket expense and not covered by insurance. So I haven't really felt the freedom of losing 140 lbs because I still cover up my body! No swimsuits, no sleeveless anything or clothing that accentuates the possibility of a waist, LOL. I wish I had the confidence of those who wear what they want, no matter their size! I've wanted to leave Kaiser to return the awesome Dr I previously had who actually listened and treated me like a human being. Staying with Kaiser only until these surgeries are done and I'm out of there! Kaiser ruling.pdf

It's so funny that years later this is still a staple! In the bariatric program here in Columbus through OhioHealth, they actually include the recipe as an example of food to eat during Stage 2 Puree, and I've modified throughout my progress to be a little thicker at stage 3 and now normal food stage. I use a bit of ricotta or cottage cheese and LF Sour Cream in place of the Greek yogurt. Great post!

I was like that, too. I thought being in the 300s that I would be one of the smallest people in my cohort. Nope - I was the biggest. Although I'm not that great at judging weight, I'd say most of the women I went through classes with were more like 250-ish, give or take. After I lost all my weight, I was a regular speaker for the pre-op classes. I did this until the pandemic hit, so three or four years. At least once a month. So I've seen hundreds of pre-op patients. I'd say in any given class, most people are in the 200s. And there are usually a handful that look like they're probably in the 300s. Maybe a very occasional person over 400. But never anyone the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life". I don't even think my clinic would accept them - they'd have to go to a bariatric surgeon like Dr. Now who specializes in high-risk patients.

95 pounds in 6 months makes you a bariatric rock star! You're not just doing "okay", you're crushing it! Recalibrate your expectations and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Getting down to goal is hard, those last few pounds definitely fight you, but it will happen if you stick with it. It took me almost 2 years to get to my final goal, but it happened! Congratulations, you're a success story!

My bariatric clinic's nutritionist just quit, and they're not sure how long it'll be before they find a new one. Anyone have a NUT they love in Southern California (specifically OC)? I know I won't need a NUT right away, but I don't want to be casting about trying to find one when I do.

Thanks so much for the responses. I do not have GERD, fortunately. These things are good to know. The surgeon did mention that Sleeve was the most popular among the bariatric surgeries he performs. My OBGYN said the same thing about COVID - hope it doesn't push back bariatric surgeries.

Hi there, I just started my bariatric journey and am awaiting my one-on-one appointment with my surgeon. My basic healthy history is High Blood Pressure, NAFLD, PCOS, Sleep Apnea, Anxiety/Depression. I had my gallbladder removed 5 years ago, just had my colonoscopy and was just diagnosed with Type II Diabetes (A1C was 7.8). The 2 options for surgery are either gastric sleeve or RNY. According to all the charts, etc., looks like RNY may be best but of course it's more invasive. My surgeon only does RNYs laparoscopically, not open. Not sure what the final outcome will be but...would like anyone's 2 cents about which surgery they chose if they have a similar medical profile. I just changed my diet - and rather drastically - because of the diabetes. As low carb as possible, lots of water, veggies, etc. I'm hoping to bring my weight down as much as I can before surgery and then of course, there's the liquid diet yet to come.... My largest concerns are my liver - I've been taking Organic Milk Thistle for quite a while, not sure it helped much according to recent bloodwork - guessing my diet is what's going to help? I've also had a liver biopsy when I had the gallbladder removal. Second concern is getting that A1C down. Diabetes came as a surprise as my A1C had been in the 5 range for the longest time. Of course, I gained weight over COVID...and have been stressed, you name it. Going through perimenopause, etc. Any advice, I'm all ears! Thanks!

Hello and welcome to this great site. My nearest private hospital was once Bupa and now is Spire. I started this process in late March. I saw the doctor at the end of April. I have been given my date, 10th November 2021.. I think many people have had the same thought that life is too short and the NHS is too busy to reinstate Bariatrics any time soon, So even going private isn't quick. I have had to see a raft of people to see if I am suitable. I dont know if the long wait time is due to the hospital being busy because of covid and the amount of surgery cases postponed by the NHS

I personally think you made the right decision. I also think you should use this time to practice the post-surgery mindset - see a bariatric therapist to work on good eating behaviors and change to a high protein low carb diet. Make sure you try not to use food as a way to cope with stress or other emotions - I always used to eat a lot when doing mental work like school.

I dropped into the 100's this week. I'd been looking forward to it for so long that it almost seemed unreal that there was no trumpet fanfare when it happened 📯. I haven't shared it with anyone and am savoring it. The last time I remember being this weight for certain was just around high school graduation. But just so my ego didn't get too big, surgery kicked in the next and gave me foamies and pain when I didn't eat slowly enough. That hasn't happened in a long time. I think it was a poetic-justice reminder. On a slightly less exciting note, "the girls" have dropped to a size I don't recall since early high school . I've always been well-endowed, even before being morbidly obese, so it is quite a change. I have broken down and purchased some new clothes. I realized for myself, despite being told, that I look terrible in all my too-big clothing. I think it was a security blanket of sorts. For so long, nothing was ever too big or too loose. I still hate shopping. I have no idea what size I need from what store. I asked the doctor in my program for a suggestion for a therapist. I couldn't get an appointment until February. But I was able to get into a cancellation next week. I'm excited as I had some very specific criteria for a therapist, experience with bariatric patients was only one. I'm looking forward to having someone to process changes with as well as the road ahead. I again want to thank all of you on this board for the ongoing advice and support. I'm grateful for having found you. I belong to a few FB groups and am astounded by the misinformation and lack of preparation/education that is out there. That's all ❤️

I have read A LOT of research studies on the theory that diet soda causes weight gain, and the evidence is far from convincing. Dr. Matthew Weiner (a bariatric surgeon with a huge YouTube presence) says he doesn't mind if people drink fizzy water, but doesn't want his patients drinking diet or regular soda. The belief that it stretches the stomach isn't really true from what he says, and from other evidence, but also it just doesn't make sense. But he says, many people just find it uncomfortable. Like @PolkSDA said, it can be hard to find non-carbonated unsweetened drinks on the go other than water. I travel a lot for work, and I had given up soda 6 months ago as I prepared for surgery, and when I started to travel more again, I gave up and started drinking diet soda again. I've stopped now that I'm on my pre-op diet. One thing I did at first was carry packets of sugar free drink mix (like crystal light, but I don't like that brand) and a water bottle and just refill it and add a packet of drink mix. That worked when I didn't want plain water. I met a woman on a trip who drank Coke Zero from day one and drank it with her meals. She said she had gained some weight back, but she felt it was from too much alcohol.

I have not, but you can check to see if they are a Bariatric Center of Excellence.

Anybody use Torance Bariatric Institute?

I'm slated for September 13th. I'm nervous as hell. Torrance Bariatric.

I had trouble with getting my liquids in until I tried warm/hot herb tea. It seemed to help going down into my stomach, and I did not experience that knot of pain in my sternum that I sometimes get drinking cool water. Now I don't have any trouble getting my liquids in. The protein, however, is still a struggle. Starting full liquids tomorrow, so I can finally have my low fat creamed soups, V-8 and my full strength Premier Protein (instead of the yucky clear stuff). That will definitely help with the protein. Also, Bariatric Boy, I feel your misery with the drained feeling. I was fine for a couple of days but today, I could barely walk across the floor this morning, let alone walking 30 minutes a day! I don't know how people do it!

It seems extremely expensive for what you get—my meal prep service just started doing what could be considered bariatric portions, but it's 10 meals for $55, delivered, which is about half the price of the Bari Box. https://www.valleymealprep.com/shop/10for55/