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Hi everyone - I am glad I found you all. I live in Apollo Beach and having my RNY on 8 November. Nervous, nervous! Dr. Murr is doing the surgery. So far the staff at the TGH Bariatric Center have been great. So..there is no post-surgery group that meets periodically? If there is let me know, thanks!

I am in the same boat as it relates to band and weight. I am going to use Dr.Carlos Altamirano in Mexico through BariatricPal eventually. I am having to save up. My insurance does not cover Bariatrics either.

Hello sleevers. I am a 35 BMI with hypertension. I've spent my life dieting (losing and then gaining more). I consider myself a dieting expert. The problem is I just gain it all back later. I am sure many of you are like me. So now I am 4 months out before I start my pysch eval and cardio workup. My doc says he wants me to lose weight now, during this 4-month period. I wil be doing a liquid diet 2 weeks before surgery next year as well. My doc says he wants me to show the bariatric team I can make changes. I wanted to scream. I've spend my life doing this, doc. So now I'm going to diet again, only to do the two week liquid diet before surgery? I totally understand the liquid diet--it's a safety issue. As for the losing weight now, on a diet, I feel like it is punishment. I feel punished for being fat. I was surprised at how it made me feel. I can understand not gaining weight, but full-fledged dieting right now? GRRRRRRR.... Please don't chastise me that I'm going to need to make changes and be disciplined after the surgery--I get that and am all for it. I've been doing it all of my life without the tool of the surgery, so I'll be fine with it. I am just emotionally drained with dieting and the scale right now! Did anyone else feel this way? Bottom line: I'll lose weight and follow the rules. I just need to move past my diet burnout stage. TDSK

Many insurance companies list their bariatric surgery policies on the internet or you can call and have them send it to you. I have Anthem BCBS and they require 6 months of continuous nutrition counseling prior to approval. My surgeon says the whole process from start to surgery for me would be approximately 8 months, but your time could vary.

Congratulations on starting your journey. I'll be curious to hear what your primary care physician has to say about lap band. My pcp didn't know much about the procedure but she was supportive in my quest for more information. I went to 2 different bariatric seminars. The first time I actually went to one in support of my sister who was considering gastric bypass. This was about 4 years ago and they were just starting to do lapband at our hospital. After making the decision to pursue it for myself, I went to another seminar where they talked about both surgeries in detail. Based on the surgery itself, the reduced complications and the recovery time, I knew lapband was for me. My BMI was just under 40 but I had high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and high cholesterol/trigs. The cholesterol/trigs are unfortunately just part of my genetic makeup but my blood pressure and blood sugar are now normal. My primary doc kept me on 5mg of blood pressure medicine for kidney protection (based on the prior pre-diabetes diagnosis) which I was bummed about BUT my nurse at my surgeons office agreed completely saying it doesn't hurt anything. I'm a little over a year out and based on my scale this morning, I'm down 50 lbs. I had a great surgeon and he and his staff are awesome. I feel like I'm part of a family there. I'm going to make a suggestion on a book you should buy or check out at your library. It's titled Band Wagon. It's written by a lady who had lapband and it's full of great information that I have found really helpful. I got the book after my surgery but wished I would have had it prior. I've read it several times and go back from time to time and re-read sections over again. It's real basic terminology, what to expect stuff and it's an easy read. She's pretty funny too which made it hard to put down. Check it out and Good Luck!

It always is ok to make your health a TOP priority. I had to hire a wonderful advocacy group to help me navigate the muddy waters of insurance to get my date but his letter to my carrier was so eloquent in pointing out the ongoing prejudice still out there and very much thriving against the obese in society today. If you had to have a coronary bypass, they wouldn't DARE stand in your way or throw up an obstacle for fear of be sued but, people don't treat obesity as a REAL illness. In the letter my advocate wrote for me, he reminded them that obesity is now nationally recognized by law as a real disease and should be treated as such and the people in need of treatment should be treated with the same respect as all ill people receiving treatment for a disease. All these posters are right, don't sink to his level by being angry or rude but do remain firm in your rights and convictions and forge the trail for your own health. You are your own best advocate. However, if you have continuous issues, I would be more than happy to pass along the information on the obesity advocates who did this amazing work for me. They are well known all over the country for their work, seminars, work in congress to change healthcare laws and advocacy. The husband of the team is a bariatric patient himself as well. So, he gets us. Keep your chin up, your doing all the correct things, don't let this guy guilt you. Keep on the right path and good will win out!

I take a one of the chewy vitamins, I think vita craves too. I take 2 a day but maybe I need to look into that. I tried bariatric advantage but I just could not get them down, yuck.

I’m 62 pounds lighter since my May 28th LAP-BAND® surgery. In eighteen weeks, there has been such significant weight loss and, more relevantly, so much positive change in my health that I can hardly remember the time when I was medically obese and “lost.” First, let’s dispense with the formalities. Need to know exactly what LAP-BAND® surgery involves? Click on The LAP-BAND® I : "Entering the zone" | Babyboomers.tv. Want to know how civilians react to news that I’ve elected to have surgery? Click on http://babyboomers.tv/content/LAP-BAND®-zone-ii-dealing-civilian-response. Interested in hearing about my status and what happens next? Read on. In addition to monthly post-op visits with Dr. Gellman, my bariatric surgeon, -- click on www.northshoresurgical.net -- I’ve lived through 4 months now as a post-operative LAP-BAND® patient. It doesn’t feel that much different than following Weight Watchers, Atkins, and other weight loss programs. Except … I’ve had laparoscopic surgery to help cure my lifelong addiction to food; There is this device inside of me banding the upper portion of my stomach; The LAP-BAND® is a “tool” to help me cut down on food consumption; While my 62-pound weight loss has been sensational, the doctor reminded me this week that the band was inserted for a reason and it’s time to tighten it now. So, this is a different reality for me. The band will be tightened in a few days by injecting saline solution into a port which has been surgically inserted on the inside of my stomach epidermis. The net result is that the band will be tightened and my little stomach pouch (the “stoma”) will feel full with less food. I’ll have to go back on a liquid diet for a few days to allow the stoma to adjust to its new tighter reality. Aside from my regular visits with Dr. Gellman, I also attend a monthly support group with other post-op patients. These groups are enormously helpful for both the camaraderie of those who have been through my same experience as well as for the practical advice I get from participants. At the last group, the topic was “How have you changed for the better or worse following surgery?” I believe life is drastically different (and better) since surgery. However, I’m still a LAP-BAND® rookie so I asked the group “do you all tell people that you’ve had LAP-BAND® surgery?” Interesting responses: “it’s none of anybody’s business”; “nobody has to know”; “they don’t understand”; and, “I only tell my closest friends and relatives”. I understand. Even though I’ve gone public on this website for the entire world to know my story, there are specific people in my life who don’t know about my decision to go through with LAP-BAND® surgery --- most importantly, my mother and father-in-law. They are in their 80’s and they just wouldn’t understand the surgical procedure (or the need for it). Mind you, they are each thrilled to hear about and see my weight loss progress. The best advice to come from the support group, however, has been “If anyone asks how you lost the weight, tell them you’re on Weight Watchers.” This echoes a similar sentiment from Dr Gellman, who reports: “so many of the patients in our practice simply default to “Weight Watchers” when asked how they lost the weight. There is logic here … the final phase of post-operative eating adjustment encompasses a diet that is very much like the Weight Watchers protocol: Eat fruits and vegetables liberally; Follow portion control: 1 ounce of meat = size of a matchbox; 3 ounces of meat = size of a deck of cards; 3 ounces of fish = size of a checkbook; Medium apple = size of a tennis ball. [*]Use little, if any, sugar; [*]Choose lower fat foods; [*]Avoid fried foods; [*]Eat 3 meals a day; [*]Exercise regularly, preferably 3 or 5 or 7 times per week (I walk 4 miles every day;) Who, among us, has not seen this movie before? And yet it really is unlike the thousands of diets I’ve previously been on. I think it has a lot to do with my commitment to a new way of life once I agreed to the surgery. And, I strongly believe in my ability to do this. Also, there is the reality that the little stomach pouch won’t hold the huge quantities of food I had become accustomed to eating. But, if we’re honest, I believe it’s that I don’t want to betray the promise I made to myself: this time, it’s for good and will be different than before. At our tender age when death and illnesses are dodging us, who is gonna argue? I’ve learned from my support group that the post-op fellowship strongly resembles Alcoholics Anonymous: it’s critical to keep sharing your feelings and to report any incident(s) of falling off the wagon. Fine with me, so far. But then, I’ve never really had a problem losing weight --- it’s maintaining my goal weight that has always done me in. For now, I take it one day at a time. The weight loss has been thrilling and I’m extremely grateful for my newfound health and mobility. I’m off blood pressure medicine, I don’t need the sleep apnea machine and my knees have magically stopped hurting during my 3-4 mile daily walks. As for the outside world and how to respond to the queries about “how did you do it?” … I smile like a Cheshire cat and reply that my answer lies in a renewed commitment to exercise and a diet of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. I guess my real shorthand answer can be “I’m going to Weight Watchers.”

Looking back over the past 19 years I don't remember a day that has gone by that I have not been concerned about my weight. My weight started to fluctuate after I had my first child 19 years ago. Before pregnancy I was 105 pounds, always a small child & teenager. I have tried every diet imaginable; diet pills, gym memberships (yes that is plural), nutritionist and several personal trainers. If the word weight loss was involved I tried it. 2 years ago I began researching different types of weight loss surgeries. I narrowed it down to the gastric sleeve and the lap band. I met with a Bariatric Surgeon in Raleigh NC and he discussed both options in detail with me. After the discussion with the surgeon I knew that the gastric sleeve was the best option for me. The doctors office went over all the cost with me and what my insurance company would require. So this is where my journey begins! Appointments were set; lab work, sleep study, ultrasound of my stomach, upper GI, and several meetings with a nutritionist and a psychologist. Let me tell you after all of the those appointments I was exhausted! The results were back and everything was submitted to my insurance company, BlueCross BlueShield of NC. IT CAME BACK DENIED!! I was devastated!! I could not afford the out of pocket cost with the surgeon in NC! (estimate $25,000) I knew I wanted this surgery and I knew there had to be a way I could get it! After surfing the web I came across this website and began to read everyones experiences and costs. Mexico looked like the best option for me! I would have never even thought about going to Mexico to get this surgery performed but the price was GREAT and everyone's experiences were too! My next step was getting my husband and my two teenaged children's blessing! They did not take it very well when I first mentioned it. After MANY discussions and arguments they agreed that if the gastric sleeve surgery meant that much to me they were going to support me. My mother however, was NOT supportive at all! She said that if I went to mexico she would be very angry with me. So I decided not to tell her my final decision and just get it done and deal with her afterwards! Now to pick a surgeon! There seams to be a lot of wonderful surgeons in Mexico but I had to chose one! I decided on Doctor Kelly and scheduled my surgery with him for May 24th! I FLY OUT TODAY!

Excellent video about regain or inadequate weight loss after surgery: http://vimeo.com/25570146 This is a video of a talk that Dr Mitchell Roslin, Chief of Bariatric Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in NY and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt Kisco, NY gave at the ASMBS in Orlando in 2011. The purpose of the talk is to try to explain some of the physiology behind bariatric procedures and weight regain or inadequate weight loss following bariatric surgery. I hope this helps someone.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.algaecal.com/expert-insights/the-surprising-long-term-complication-of-bariatric-surgery/amp/

Did u go through this? How do u feel. Are you able to eat? I'm so scared of hairloss too... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App No, I haven't but I have seen and talked to a lot of people who has gone through it. When I went to my check up at my bariatric center, I spoke to one girl who said she cried every day since her revision, poor thing . Yeah, I'm worried about hairloss too. I didn't go through it with my band because the weightloss wasn't as drastic, a normal 2-3 lbs a week or slower... So I'm a little worried this time around because our calories are sooo much lower.

It isn't the Health Plan that's your problem, it's the Medical Group or IPA that you're in. I'm confused when you talk about "my clinic" and "the doctor". which is which? Your medical group/IPA handles your day to day authorizations, Health Net just pays some of the claims and writes the policies. I changed surgeons because the first one had an office staff that was chronically disorganized. You can do the same. I don't know which surgeons are in-network for you unless I know which medical group you're with. HN B & G has contracts with the Mercy hospitals in Sacramento. Here is a link to their bariatric surgery info: http://www.dignityhealth.org/sacramento/services/surgical-services/bariatric-surgery/bariatric-surgeons Dr's Eslami, Shadle, Gatschet, and Machado all have privileges at both hospitals and are part of their program. I think they all have their own offices and staff. There are two different ways for you to see a surgeon: ask your PCP for a referral, or your PCP requesting an authorization. An authorization shouldn't be required for referral to an in-network surgeon, but in the case of bariatric surgeons, it often is. You need to go through your PCP to get the ball rolling, that's just the way it works. I know Dr. Eslami wants all his patients to have completed all health plan requirements before he sees patients for an initial consult. Your health plan isn't making the decision about your surgery, but your medical group/IPA have to use the health plan criteria in making their decision. Dr. Eslami expects PCP's to order necessary preop testing ahead of time so all that is done before he sees patients initially. His office communicates directly with the PCP's to get this done. I used to work with clients out in the Central Valley, many of who surgeries done by Dr. Eslami, so I'm most familiar with his practice. I hope this helps!

I would like to thank everyone for their sincere thoughts and prayers for my surgery Monday, December 16. I woke up from surgery in relatively little pain, the procedures ended up being very routine and uncomplicated. My problems came the day after surgery, when I attempted to take in any liquids. Any liquid going down, would cause my digestive system to go into painful spasms. My surgeon decided to keep me hospitalized for an additional day to see if they could convince by body to tolerate liquids and keep me hydrated with IV fluids. Muscle relaxers were administered to help with the spasms. Additionally, my blood sugar weirdly went up and I was administered 2 doses of insulin. Never before had blood sugar issues and no family history of diabetes. The second day after surgery, Wednesday, I was feeling much better, could sip without pain, and was cleared for discharge. That night, in my own bed, I slept an unheard of, for me, 10 hours.  I have had 4 previous abdominal surgeries, 1 open, 3 laparoscopic and this is, by far, the least painful. I have not needed any of the prescribed narcotic pain relievers sent home with me. Had to go back to the hospital Thursday for a blood test. There is history of DVT blood clots, so I have to be on injectable blood thinners for 3 weeks. The blood test was to check the therapeutic level of the medicine. I spent the first few days at home taking in clear liquids and soon moved on to full liquids. Today is my 4th day on puréed foods, and I’m doing OK. It was a bit difficult, mentally, during the holidays, but I made it through. Tiredness is an issue, but I have to be gentle on myself since I’m still healing. I’ve still not had any real pain except, when I accidentally take too big of a drink or a deep breath, I get a pain in my left shoulder. At my post-op appointment, the surgeon explained that the hiatal hernia repai must have irritated a nerve that runs through the shoulder. It should go away in time. I’ve also been dealing with constipation, but just started with Miralax. I get to go back into the pool for water aerobics on Monday (can’t wait), but was ordered back to the gym to walk, do the treadmill, and recumbent bike on January 1. Weight wise, I am down 16 lbs since surgery, 72 lbs since I started the bariatric program, and 129 lbs from my all-time high weight. I have no regrets. I go back to work Monday, January 6.

In the first 6-8 weeks it was definitely a challenge to eat anything more that 1/4-1/2 cup at a time. Now that I'm 12 (almost 13) wks out I am up to about 3/4-1 cup at each meal. I'm Canadian and had my rny surgery via a bariatric centre where I live. It has a whole team that has supported me throughout the process, and my dietitian has assured me that my intake amount is right on track. She stresses that when eating, the focus should be on getting the Protein consumed first. So I do just that. I've been eating a lot of peanut & almond butter lately, lol. I also love cheese so I try to have some of that everyday too. Tuna is something else I've been enjoying. My dietitian said that at this point any deficiencies from not being able to eat any or very little veggies & fruits should be balanced out by the daily multi-Vitamins and calcium/Vitamin D supplements that I've been prescribed to take. I stopped drinking the protein shakes (powder & liquid) at about 3 weeks because I couldn't find any that I liked. I then focused on Protein Bars (the soft, brownie consistency kind, not ones with nuts) and ate about 1/2 a bar at a time. Again, my dietitian said this was fine as long as they were sitting in my tummy fine. Now that I'm further along I make my own protein shakes using unflavoured Protein Powder. There are quite a few good recipes online - I just googled "high protein smoothies for gastric bypass surgery". One of my faves has soy chocolate milk, protein powder, 1/2 banana, 2 tbsp. Peanut Butter & ice. I admit that I don't really keep track of my protein count so I may be falling short. I have my 3 month follow up in a couple of weeks, and just went to get my bloodwork done for that this morning. So I'll be finding out where all of my levels are at - hopefully all is good!

A report in a scientifically based press source lists the following as areas for follow up studies to look at: "Previously suggested reasons for the association between bariatric surgery and the subsequent risk of self-harm include: permanent changes in body image, diet-related stress and unmet expectations of weight loss, which could increase mental health problems, leading to behaviors such as binge eating, substance misuse and self-harm behaviors. Changes in metabolism of alcohol could play a role, as well as changes in neurohormonal levels, which could lead to depression, addiction and suicide."

In October I had decided to go for lap band surgery. My insurance says that I need to complete seeing a nutritionist for 6 months before I can even speak to a surgeon. I have finished 4 appointments and I have finished all the blood work that I needed done plus a complete physical. I still need to have my last 2 appointments with my nutritionist and have 2 psych evaluations done. Since seeing my nutritionist I have lost 15 pounds My insurance doesn't demand that I lose a certain amount of weight before surgery but I want to be 250 pounds on surgery day. I still have 3 appointments with the bariatric program I'm going through before I can see the surgeon. I also have to watch 3 lap band seminars online and fill out 3 questionaire's also before I can have surgery. I'm hoping to have surgery anywhere between may and august. It's a long process but definitely one that is worth pursuing. The seminar that you are going to need to go to definitely tells you a lot of information. You are going to want to get into the habit of exercising a lot now because yes the band restricts how much food you can intake at a time but without exercise you're only going to lose a little. good luck

depends on your pickiness. If you have a bullit you can puree almost anything you liked prior to your sleeve. Veggies cooked very well and thinned with some chicken or beef stock is yummy. I particularly liked zucchini that way. Deviled eggs with a little of the unjury powdered chicken broth is really yummy. I didn't not particularly like it made into a broth however but it did make for a really good seasoning for things like deviled eggs and pureed veggies. I added the powder dry to the eggs with a bit of Water to make a paste. It is also good to have some tomato basil Soup, pureed cottage cheese and a little canned fruit pureed into it, Yogurt, go thru some bariatric websites for some great ideas.

I know what you mean. I was told get the psych consult done and we will give you a date. I did that...now it's you need your GI consult, fitness consult and bariatric PCP appointment completed before a date can be given. I'm like wtf?! It's incredibly frustrating. Hang tight and all will be well.

Ps I take 4 Flintstones complete and 2 500mg Bariatric Advantage Chewy Bites (Strawberry) and Nascobal B12 nasal spray weekly. But I had RNY (this is the RNY forum).

I know this is not really going to get answers but maybe someone might have some insight. I have lifelong chronic illness and disability. A challenge is being sensitive to medications and side effects and having allergic reactions (my list of antibiotics I am allergic to is growing) It started with Umbilical area pain that radiated upward to the right shoulder blade area like spasms. Admittedly I am also dealing with diverticulitis issues, bleeding and pain I'm not sure the source as well as Interstitial cystitis. My gastric bypass surgery inadvertently revealed a form of neurological dysphagia I have difficulty drinking thin liquids. landing in hospital with aspiration pneumonia a day after I got home, I found out that was why. started before surgery but I didnt know why I was having difficulty drinking water. normally i could chug it no issues. For a while I had trouble with eating which turned out to be stricture. I had history of ulcers prior to my gastric bypass surgery. and they found it afterward as well. I had dilations. and eating got a bit easier I just had to be careful what types of foods I ate. But then some weeks back it got really bad I found myself feeling sick just taking nibbles of my lunch. I always meal plan daily and prepare portion control sizes so I know how much calories and protein I am getting and what my portion is so its never too much for my pouch. But Id get partway through nibbling slowly and at times depending what Im eating Id just have to stop. and then feel the need to throw up but cant at times heaving but only a thick mucus comes up. I saw my general practitioner and had a CT scan and bloodwork. I also made some appointments. She told me to see my Bariatric surgeon. I had to wait until just recently to have a Endoscopy. I am just frustrated. because the CT scan showed Hepatic Steatosis. My one liver level is high it was not high when I was losing weight. Only when it was stable already. I did not have fatty liver prior to surgery. But they want to assume I did and that no one told me. But that's something they check for because its a co-morbidity! Also my gallbladder was checked at the time it had to be removed due to chronic inflammation. People have gastric bypass to get rid of fatty liver ... I have only read of maybe a rare case of liver disease post surgery. Anyway. back in June I had a enteroscopy to check the remnant portion of stomach and dilation. no mention of ulcer then. I have trouble with proton pump inhibitors not working and they just seem to deplete my vitamin levels too much. plus trigger my migraines. Ive had ulcers go away without the PPI and gotten ulcers while on them so they just dont seem effective. Then there is carafate. one side effect is constipation and with diverticulitis I cant afford that especially since the CT also showed inflammation and narrowing of my colon ... and I am trying to get iron and even the supposed non constipating kind in my whole foods based multivitamin is throwing my system off. so I had the Endoscopy this month and it showed Jejunal ulcer so the doctor just prescribes proton pump inhibitor and carafate (my insurance decided to not pay for carafate) but what other options are there besides these? and what could be causing the ulcers if Im not taking motrin or similar meds even though I do need them. Ulcer at the junction between the pouch and small intestine can happen in the first months post op and common treatment is PPI and carafate but not nearly two years out. Hard to believe April will be two years ... my gut keeps telling me its issue with my remnant stomach. perhaps even with the staples used. but I dont know how to get answers. I have seen when these things dont work doctors do a surgical revision of some kind. my surgeon is great but yet he seems to address it as it too simply and its not that simple anymore. Also I cant figure out the fatty liver aka hepatic statosis and the high ALT (liver enzymes) they assumed it was high before but no not really. Also I had blood transfusions in June and the levels went down due to the transfusion but then went back up again. so one would assume if it had to do with the weight loss the levels would have stayed down. I cant sort out what move to take next. I kind of sat on this post a while and didnt post it. I still hesitate. I know its probably not something anyone can answer. I am just getting frustrated. I am also retaining fluid in my abdomen along with a lot of pain.

I did my course at San Francisco and waiting for a phone call from bariatrics Richmond to start the program. Are you going to the over view or the program?

Ok thanks sooooo much. It's weird that I just haven't been able to find much info on him but I guess it's really actually not given the amount of TJ bariatric surgeons not all get press on the web and add to that the many popular Ortiz, Kelly reviews and it gets anything on Dr.M tucked away.

Awesome! Yeah I'm a Colorado native but am new to this bariatric site and am just starting the process. Very excited for you. Keep me posted on your progress. What is the preop diet consisting of?

I haven't even been to my first consult yet but I am so excited to start the wls process. I know Dr. Chung taught at Harvard med and put together the bariatric program at Capital Health just a few years ago. I was wondering if any of you are her former patients? I'd really like to hear about your experiences good or bad with Dr. Chung as your surgeon. Thanks in advance! Sent from my VS985 4G using the BariatricPal App