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Hi Su. Yeah, I'm not surprised nobody at Dr. Amson's office got back to you. Their office admin is a mess - in fact it's one of the reasons I gave up on having gastric bypass. All worked out in the end, though - I am deliriously happy with my band and soooo glad I didn't go the RNY route, even if I did have to pay for the band myself. Worth every penny! In any case, it's possible that the support group offered specifically for Dr. Amson's patients might not accept patients who have had lapband or bypass done by another doctor (Amson only does RNY). However, there have got to be other, more generic bariatric support groups in your area, and it's just a matter of finding them. Hopefully if you can reach someone at Amson's office they can give you some info on that. Are you aware that there is a bariatric conference going on in Victoria the weekend of March 27-28? First of its kind on the island, apparently. It's called Beyond Bariatrics, I think, and anyone who's had any kind of bariatric surgery can go. Registration fee is $120 and includes dinner Saturday night. I'm attending. Google "beyond bariatrics victoria" and you'll find the link.

Im going to henry ford. It has thw rating of "center of excellence". I have heard a lot of positive comments about dr. KRAUSE at beaumont, royal oak. I did meet a lady in my nutrition class who works in the bariatric dept. for beaumont, and was having the sleeve done at HF, instead of beaumont bc of the center of excellence accreditation. I found that interesting. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Yes I'm from Queens. I'm going through my bariatric surgeon hopefully they approve me with 3 months visits to him.

We did our classes pre-op, but our phases were about 2 weeks. Discharged on full liquids (yogurt, protein drinks, cream soups, etc.) Two weeks later, puree. Two weeks after that soft, two weeks after that full diet. (I was never so happy to see a scrambled egg as I was in week five.) Do the people who do the nutrition classes work with your bariatric team? My nutrition classes were taught by RDs who were in my surgeon's office so the program was continuous. In fact, they went through the stages with us during a 4 hour pre-op special class right after we got our surgery date talking about the pre-op and post-op diets.

Ok, so I am Self-pay. I have narrowed my surgeon search down to two. Each is from a different surgical center, one provides BLIS coverage the other does not. I am torn because I like the place without the BLIS coverage more than the place that does provide it. Here are the specifics: 1) Their prices are very close to each other. 2) I called my health insurance provider and asked them their policy on self-pay procedures and the possibility of complications. The general jist is this - if you have a problem that requires additional surgery to fix, correct or otherwise revise the original self-pay procedure it will not be covered. If, however, you go the emergency room for dehydration and that is what they code - you are covered. If I later require gall bladder removal - covered. So still a huge risk if I have a leak, infection, or bleeding due to the VS procedure itself. 3) Both are within 30 mins of home - so no travel issues. 4) The place without BLIS does VSG as outpatient, you go home the same day and come back in the morning for iv fluids and leak testing. The other is an overnight stay. 5) They both have all of the certificates and awards, centers of excellence, etc. 6) Both have fans here at Bariatric Pal - saying the center is awesome, loved the people, loved the surgeon, etc. 7) I am terrified that I will have a complication and bankrupt my family. But I never have never had complications in the past Self-payers in the US - what have you done? Did you have BLIS? Did you make your decision based upon the availability of BLIS? Has anyone had a complication that BLIS paid for? How did it go? I thought I remembered a previous post where BLIS was difficult to work with but I couldn't find it again via the search....

I only had to do 3 months, since I did it through a verified Bariatric program! I'm in Yonkers, so I went up to Montefior New Rochelle -- they have a great program, with a great monthly support group as well. I'm not sure quite where you're located, though I think I recognize your face from the NY thread. Queens, maybe?

Today I had my appoint with my surgeon to officially start my journey as a sleever! I really did not have any questions to ask because I have been reading everything on here and talking with a few people that I know that have already been "sleeved." The next step was to call the Bariatrics woman at our hospital and give her some information. It was mainly name, address, DOB, weight, and insurance. She is to send me an email with what to do next. I am excited about this! I feel very positive! So glad I found y'all! I need to go take my official BEFORE picture.

I'm the only person I know in real life who is banded, or had WLS at all, for that matter. The bariatric support group from my hospital was comprised of pre- and recently-post-op patients. I stopped attending those meetings mostly due to scheduling issues. A few people on this site are my role models. They don't necessarily know who they are, but they are forces of good here and are always supportive not only to me, but to newbies. Love them to bits.

:smile2: Omg I love my doctor so much! I was going to interview at least 2 doctors, but decided that there was no one else to meet after meeting Dr. John Feng of Crystal Springs Surgical Center in San Mateo, CA. My first meeting lasted over 2 hours and he explained soooo much to me in detail. My husband totally got along with him after meeting at the hospital on the day of surgery and get this.......he calls back within a matter of hours. I know he's very busy these days as everyone seems to want to get banded or get other bariatric surgery before the holidays, but he actually calls to check in and see if you just want to chat.....seriously, who does that?! :tt1: Last night I suddenly felt like I was coming down with the pukey feeling you get when you have the flu and I paged him worried that it might be too soon for me to throw up since I was banded only a few weeks ago. He called me back and talked me thro it, and altho I still feel sick, I'm not as worried about throwing up if it happens. Anyone else have any great stories about Dr. Feng? Please feel free to share them here :tt1:

I've been researching, and after speaking with my dad, i am now at a crossroads. I am seriously considering RNY but i'm still considering lap band. On a happier note: i went to my appointment and now have my overview class scheduled for May 8! My PCP is very positive and right behind me every step of the way. She said, "we'll get you through this process as quickly and painlessly as possible" I'm very happy she's with me. I also this I'm her first refferal to bariatrics as shes just as interested in the process as i am.

Here is my Vitamin regiment per day as prescribed by my doctor: 1 Bariatric Advantage chewable in morning (huge, nasty taste...ruins the taste of my highly cherished food bites) 2 Calcium chewies (these are fine...I can handle these the rest of my life) 1 Iron tablet at lunch (very small, so I can handle it) 2 calcium chewies 1 Bariatric Advatange chewable in evening (did I mention how nasty these are?) After 1 month I will have to start doing the B12 tablets or get an injection. I am just having a very hard time with the big Vitamins. I think that is the hardest thing for me right now. They seem to be getting harder for me to take than easier. Last night it almost made me gag as soon as I put it in my mouth. I have heard people taking Flinstones, but I don't guess they have the Biotin for hair loss. Anybody have other good options? Will I be able to move to a swallow vitamin later? I honestly don't see myself taking this particular vitamin the rest of my life. I even ordered the vitamins from powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury and they were even bigger and worse!

I am so sorry. PPI's are Proton Pump Inhibitors. They're drugs that reduce stomach acid. They can interfere with B12, so that's why for bariatric patients, you need to be VERY careful of them. VERY careful. For a short period of time, fine, but any length of time, B12 is not a Vitamin deficiency you want. You want a GI who knows about these things or willing to learn so that you're careful of them. I'd be very leery of any one who uses them over the counter constantly too. I don't find that simple things like this are noted to bariatric patients.

I feel your frustration. I was banded 1/11/11 and have lost 30 lbs. I was a super slow loser before the band and the curse seems to have followed me. In spite of that, I feel great, my lab numbers have improved and I'm able to do Zumba a few days a week so those are serious non-scale victories. I went to my bariatric doctor on Weds and thought I might need to have some fluid removed. Sometimes I struggle to eat...feel like I'm stuck after just a couple bites. I've been careful not to eat between meals but when you only eat a tiny amount, it's easy to get hungry again in an hour or so. I also think my metabolism is fighting me. I'm eating a fraction of the calories I ate before the band and I'm doing Zumba 2-4 days per week and I didn't exercise at all before. I'm no math expert but eating less and exercising more should equal weight loss. Well my doctor didn't want to remove any fluid from the band and thought the 3 lbs I lost in 6 weeks was excellent. The nurse suggested that I get my basal metabolic rate (BMR) study. It's called an indirect calorimetry. You can do a BMR online by putting in your age, height and weight but this is an in-depth test done at the hospital. It determines how many calories you burn just by being alive...breathing, organ function, etc. Once I have that, I'm going to meet with the nutritionist at my doctors office and figure out just how many caloires a day I need to be consuming to lose a little quicker. If I could lose 1lb a week consistently, I'd be a very happy camper! Can't wait til that scale at the doctors office has a number less than 200. I'm having the BMR test done next Weds so hopefully this will get me going in the right direction.

I am 4 weeks post op. I renewed my gym pass. Before surgery I was taking phentermine 37.5 (appetite suppressant, energy booster) so I'd be able to work out for hours. On phentermine I would push hard and burn lots of calories. I loved what the pill did for me. But my doctor no longer wants me on it because of the long term risk. Going to the gym without my energy booster is awful. I can barely do 10-15 min on the elliptical at a low resistants. And the treadmill is just a joke. I can barely get to 5 min. Can someone please help me... Is there something out there that will help me in the gym? Get me going.

Hello everyone. I had my surgery on April 1st. After two weeks I went for an update with my doctor. Oddly he cleared me to work out a train after two weeks. Thankfully I had family & friends who had this bariatric sleeve surgery the same one that I did. They were there for moral support and any questions or concerns I had. They told me not to work out after two weeks and wait up to six weeks. While I was having side pains from nerve muscles, I scheduled an appointment with the doctor two weeks later which made it a month from the day of surgery. He told me work out it was okay and take a painkiller if you're still having their pains. Not my pain is gone, so I started working out normally, yesterday was chest day, so I was benching 150 I usually bench 275 to 300. Well now my stomach is in severe pain and I am concerned. Can anyone give me some insight. I am new on this application. So I hope I am commenting in the correct subject

Hi Kate, I definitely think your gut feeling is guiding you well, and IMHO it is vitally important to work with a plastic surgeon that knows all about Lap Bands. They might end up having to move and switch out your port, and this should really be done by someone who is familiar with it to ensure the best results. Also as has been said many times, people who have lost as much weight as us need to work with a plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with bariatric patients. Here's a good website for finding plastic surgeons that specialize in bariatric patients: www.asbps.org It is really tough to find just the right fit with a PS -- much tougher than finding a Lap Band surgeon by far, but keep looking until you find someone who you feel 100% certain about. It might take a little time, but you will find that right Dr. ( I second Becky's suggestion regarding Dr. Schulman, by the way.) Living where I live, I know first hand that it can get a little pricey to meet the surgeons in person, as I consulted with surgeons in both the US and Mexico, but trust me, it is truly money well spent in the end.......

My brother's girlfriend works as a nutritionist for a bariatric surgeon. She has said that she sees people that can't get health insurance now because they had weight-loss surgery. If your current insurance covers your surgery, but you have to change insurance afterwards for some reason, can you get insurance? I have also heard people say that as long as you get insurance within 60 days of your old coverage ending, the new company can't consider it a pre-existing condition and therefore deny you. I need to know because I will be dropped from my parents' insurance plan when I turn 24 next August, but I am hoping to have surgery before the end of this year, or at least before my classes start again at the end of January. I don't want to be uninsurable at the age of 24.

I agree about putting it in print and the accountability that goes along with that -- it's why I'm on here so often as it really helps me to reiterate the reasons I chose the surgery and what my longer-term goals are. In the short term I just want what I want, lol -- this site helps me keep the long view in perspective. It sounds like you were listening to your body very well and knew just what you were doing but then the surgeon inadvertently gave you permission to stop being mindful. It's such a fine line, isn't it -- for those of us who were very restrictive, all those years of dieting. One thing I've really learned is that it's not the same for any one -- we are all so different. The key is to find what works for you and stick to that. I gave myself permission to nibble on cheese and olives all day yesterday and drink wine. So today my scale is up, up, up. But I do go up and down anyway -- and often up before a real loss. Congratulations on the great loss you have had since your surgery! Try not to worry too much about the ten pounds as a lot can be accounted for with salt and accompanying retention, stress, etc. And today is a beautiful new day, you're reconnecting with your surgeon and from here it's one foot in front of the other, as it is for each of us. Best wishes to you for spring and the renewal that brings!

The bariatric group wanted it from my primary care doctor so she wrote the letter, she had my history of the many failed diets yada, yada, yada. Keep it direct, simple and to the point, the letter that she wrote was a few sentences. I wish you all the best!

Any news on your revision nikki2524? Are you feeling any better? That's strange, that nurse telling you since your body wouldn't use the calories to go ahead and eat anything. Doesn't sound like any Bariatric nurse I've ever met. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Surgery is 3 days and a wakeup away! I am staring to think more and more about it of course. On my liquids I have lost 13.5 pounds. I have "cheated" though and the guilt is killing me. I am not hungry, stomach wise, but my mental hunger is still there. Please tell me someone understands that. I am used to eating even when I am not hungry. This battle is going to be mostly mental for me anyway. I am spending time this week making homemade Soups and pureeing them, then freezing them. I hate how much sodium store bought soups have. I am going to be making homemade popsicles today and homemade chicken broth so I should be set. I haven't had the surgery yet, obviously, but I scared to death of my first fill. My doc does mainly bypasses and sleeves but since he is an insurance provider that is where I needed to go. He does first fills at 2 weeks post op and I am worried about it. We live 3 hours one way away from the doc so I can't just come back in a few days or so if he tries and it doesn't work...especially not with gas prices :-)! The bad thing is walking around WalMart last night is I saw a lot of people just like me, morbidly obese. It is so sad to me that this surgery isn't easier for people to get if they need it. Seeing those folks renewed my wanting to do this. I want to be healthier and I want to look better :tongue2:. My hubby was helping me take off my bra last night cause it was hurting so bad on my shoulders, he saw the bruises the straps had caused and he just said, you need this surgery, you are going to feel so much better very soon. He is a sweetie, said what I needed to hear! Laura

I went to Belgium in October through ECFS and am thrilled with the service and attention that I received. I looked into going to Prague but decided on somewhere a little closer to home. I met the guy from Belgian Surgery Services and the clinical representative from ECFS and ECFS won hands down. The whole thing was organised down to the last detail and I couldn't have been happier with my treatment and follow ups. I am a very happy sleever who wishes she'd had it done years ago. By the way, have you noticed that it was on the news just before Christmas how much Bariatric surgery could be saving our hard up NHS? As I am wasn't high enough in the BMI stakes I obviously couldn't get my surgery done on the NHS. When I told my GP what I had organised he was not approving and suggested that I might like to try 'portion control' first!!!!!!!!!! Hmmmmmm.........that half baked solution hasn't worked for the majority of my dieting career (roughly 45 years) so why would it work now!!!!!!!!!!!

Just curious has anyone evr purchased foods from this site or any other sites? Thanks, Pudgy

Hi, oh dear, your situation sounds challenging. I’m 3 weeks out also, to be exact. 16 days, and healing ok, inside and out. Very little nausea, onto soft mushy food.. Did you have a upper GI the day after surgery? The Dr. then checks for any leakage and/ or problems after surgery and if so, keeps you in the hospital for further observation/ correction. It’s pretty standard procedure..Yes, your abdomen and stomach will be swollen a bit after surgery, normal, but your situation sounds unique. In comparison, I take my chewable bariatric vitamins daily, Isopure Protein Drink and Premiere Protein Drink, 1 Greek yogurt, smushed banana or avocado when the mood strikes,..Refried beans have been ok, not spicy..sugar free jello is nice. Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. (more soup than noodle) and constant hydration.. your getting hydrated and nutrition through your IV. which is great. The calories add up quick so, I would keep at at about 1,000 in the future, once your situation stabilizes..Maybe your body is going through a shock or serious readjustment. Maybe your very sensitive to surgery.. it’s possible your liver or gall bladder is acting up.. if your dialing back any medication after surgery, that could be giving you headaches. Protein is the key. For future reference, Unjury medical quality protein powder can be added to anything to bump up the protein levels.. but, I did meet a gal last week who couldn’t have the surgery because she couldn’t tolerate any protein due to kidney or liver problems (I can’t remember which,, geez). I’m so sorry..your experiencing this. I would ask some hard questions if this doesn’t start to ease up in another week.. Hopefully it will, and this event will be a distant memory.. Hang in there...Good Luck!!

Hi Everyone!!! I am in the initial stages of my weight loss journey. I'm scared, yet excited! My weight has been an issue since I was a small child. I can remember starting Weight Watchers for the first time, when I was in the 5th grade. Even though I've always had "a beautiful face", my weight seems to be what people have judged me by. I've accomplished a lot in my life, but yet my weight has kept me from being everything I can be. It's time for change. Back in 2002, when I was 39 years old, I joined Weight Watchers (again). This time it stuck and I lost about 110 lbs. I worked really hard at it and the only way I could lose the weight and maintain it was to workout 5-6X a week, for about 2 hours a time. In 2003, I made a huge change in my life and joined the Army! Who joins the Army at 40??? I'm now convinced I was having a mid-life crisis and instead of buying a convertible and getting my hair cut, I joined the Army. All joking aside, it was the best decision I have ever made! I love(d) the Army! I was serving my Country and providing a service to my brothers and sisters-in-arms. I am a Dr. of Audiology, and I knew the #1 and #2 disabilities from the global war on terrorism, was hearing loss and ringing in the ears. I wanted to serve my Country. I was very proud of myself. Here I was this girl who always had a weight problem, but now I was fit enough to be in the Army. I felt very accomplished. I had convinced myself that I would NEVER return to being an obese person and I actually kept off the weight until 2012. In 2012, I returned from a combat tour to Afghanistan. While in the "sandbox", I was hurt in a vehicle accident. I injured both shoulders, my left hip and back. When I came back to the good ol' USA, I was sent to a wounded warrior unit. I spent the next 2 1/2 years getting "fixed". During these 2 1/2 years, I had 5 orthopedic surgeries, received care for PTSD and was diagnosed to have Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease. Between no longer being able to workout, being placed on an anti-depressant and taking large amounts of steroids, I quickly gained 50 lbs. I started a downward spiral. My commitment to myself to never return to being obese, was shattered. I am the only one to blame. Even though I have numerous anchors in my body from surgery, I still deal with pain every day. This weight is only making it worse. This is what brought me to the decision that I need bariatric surgery. I was medically retired from the Army, but I still receive all my benefits. My Army doctor has been very supportive in my desire for surgery. With his blessings and referral, I am now on my way! I'm very thankful I found this site, and I look forward to posting my progress and cheering on my new friends! Thank you everyone for just being you! Bonnie (Army MAJ retired)