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I just got a cookbook for protein shakes on Amazon and it has totally improved my life. I'm not kidding, I couldn't choke another shake down no matter what it was. At least now I have some variety... Sent from bariatric pal app

I don't know of any specific doctors, but I see you're in California like me. Stanford Children's up north has adolescent bariatric surgery and they list their doctors who do the surgeries with their hospital too. I know Stanford is a great hospital and family who have gone to the hospital (non-bariatric reasons). Here's a link to their bariatric page for adolescents. I wish your son and you the best in this new journey! https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/service/bariatric-surgery

But for those of you interested about no loose skin..so was my bariatric doctor..he said good genes were a main part and more than likely the vitamins I took as well so he wanted the list and how I took them as well.. I take them religiously every night. Started them a week before surgery.

Crazy plant lady- I am going thru the exact same thing. I am nearly 4 weeks out and I went to work after 2 weeks. Simultaneously I received a HUGE promotion at work that requires me to work long hours, on my feet (I'm in Law Enforcement). After working in my new position for only a week, I cried every day on my way to work, every day on my way home, cried myself to sleep. My husband finally said enough is enough- this past Monday I went to see my family Physician and she told me I went back to work way too early. She gave me some anxiety meds, which make me really tired, and told me to take another 3 weeks off at the least. I then went and saw my bariatric physiologist today and she said the same. She explained that I am recovering from major surgery at the same time learning an entire new life change and to add a huge promo on top of that, put me over the edge. She too suggested to take at least 3 more weeks off to take it day by day, meal by meal ( I didn't eat the entire week I went back to work and got really run down and emotional). She made so much sense now I have to really concentrate on me and apply it.. Please keep me in your thoughts, this is going to be SO HARD FOR ME.

I agree with the Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate chews. I like the assorted fruit flavors. https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatric-advantage-calcium-citrate-chewy-bites-500mg-10-flavors?variant=29100128436301

The chocolate soft chews from this site taste like candy! Bariatric Pal Belgian Chocolate Caramel. I also have a liquid calcium citrate, Nature’s Blend blueberry flavor (online or a specialty pharmacy can order it). Easy digestion and not as sweet as the soft chews if I’m not in the mood for sweets.

I am over a year out and have never crushed anything. Although since my surgery I am on no meds and don't have to take any pills. I use Bariatric Advantage chewable vitmamins.

So sorry you are dealing with these difficult emotions. So often the emotional part of WLS is tougher than the surgical part! But it it so important to remember that what you are feeling is SO NORMAL and to remember to BE KIND to yourself about how you are feeling! What great responses you have been given here so far! Please let me repeat--seeking therapy is NOT a weakness or anything to be ashamed of. I have had (and continue to have) a lot of therapy, both from traditional therapists and from those specializing in WLS patients). Has it given me all my "answers" and made everything "all better?" Of course not. Does it give me a release to just spit out my frustrations in a non-threating one-on-one setting? YES! If availability for you and your financial capability allow you to obtain care, it will help you. CHANGING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH food is the core premise from which everything else falls in place for the rest of our lives. This does not happen over night--it is an ongoing process that we must work on every single day--even when we don't feel like it. No disrespect to hubby, but his reaction to your want/need to seek therapy is typical to what so much of our society still feels about mental health care. That it is somehow a weakness, and just "suck it up" and therapy won't help anyhow. Nothing could be further from the truth! Still, many people do not have the opportunity to get formal therapy. But they still can receive awesome help with the deep emotional issues connected with WLS that come up. There are so many wonderful books out there written by professionals who specialize in WLS, and many more to come. Search, search, search Google! There is one in particular that has so much valuable info about the emotional part of WLS. I still, at three years out, often refer to it for motivation and inspiration. It has been mentioned many times on these threads, but in case you haven't seen it: The Emotional First+Aid Kit, A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery, By Cynthia Alexander, PsyD (psychologist). Available on Amazon. One final thought--It's so often HARDEST to develop a new lifestyle habit (like learning and accepting what our WLS healthy meal content and portions look like) when we feel DEPRESSED. When we work hard to develop the little ways to lighten our depression, we get more POWER to work on building those new WLS habits.

Alex, FINALLY completing the course today! lol. Only taken me a year! Thanks again for the hookup! Also, where is the thread giving list of moderators etc and the threads addressed to them? I can't seem to locate on new version ????

Good morning all! I'm super excited and very scared as today I finally join the losers bench as I go into surgery around 1:30 this afternoon. Please send good vibes and prayers my direction and if anyone else is having surgery today, please let me know so I can say a prayer for you and we can be bariatric buddies!!!!; Hope everyone has a great day!!!! Sent from my Pixel using BariatricPal mobile app

Sorry but your story and what you wrote doesn’t add up. Number one, anorexia nervosa is a mental condition that makes the person starve themselves because they think they are too fat even when they are thin. A doctor would not diagnose you with anorexia just because you are losing too much weight because of bariatric surgery. You haven’t posted anything regarding how you still think you are obese and you starving yourself to lose weight, so you aren’t anorexic. So your “doctor” story rings shady. Number 2. Just because you posted a before and after photo doesn’t prove that’s even you in the photo. The woman in the before photo is nowhere near 400 pounds, unless she’s 7 feet tall. Number 3. Sorry again but NOBODY can lose 280 pounds and not have any loose skin. Your story has too many holes and doesn’t seem legit.

The BariatricPal Store carries a HUGE selection of Bariatric-friendly Calcium at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium. Check out the newly released BariatricPal Sugar-Free Calcium Citrate Soft Chews 500mg with Probiotics at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/brand_bariatricpal+vitamin-form_soft-chews . They come in 4 AMAZING flavors: French Vanilla Caramel, Belgian Chocolate Caramel, Strawberry Watermelon Twist, and Wild Grape. We also carry other brands of Soft Chews at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_soft-chews

i too have the strict, liquids only, plus raw veggies for 14 days. i've had one small cheat. it's HARD. but i've lost 7.5lbs in 5 days. many of my friends went to the 'other' bariatric surgeon in town and he allows his patients to do the Atkins diet for 2 wks prior to surgery. i would WAY rather have steak and eggs than shakes, shakes and more shakes! just try to do what they tell you. i'm not perfect, i'm certainly no saint, and i will tell you that this entire journey is tough, but totally worth it! good luck!

I had my surgery last week. I took my Kindle (my second husband as my family calls it), Galaxy Tablet, iPhone and all chargers. I used my phone only. I packed chap stick and I did use it. I did take lotion but with the nausea, the smell made me feel yucky so I wished I had brought unscented. The hospital provided slippy socks. I hate hospital gowns so I packed loose comfy jammie pants, oversized cotton panties and cotton tank tops. I worse both sets and used the bariatric gown as a robe. Braless was my friend. SWEAR! With the abdominal distention from the gas and trauma plus the incisions, any bands would have killed. Worked perfect. I was allowed a shower my second day and they asked if I had brought my own supplies, I said no and they provided everything I needed (soap, shampoo and conditioner). I honestly had very little idle time on my hand nor the concentration to read or web surf. I walked, sipped, walked, sipped, rested, napped and time passed quick ..... I did watch a bit of TV but don't remember much of it .....I had the poots but there was no odor to worry about (it was CO2 and I had no solid food in my system to cause it) .... I packed baby wipes however preferred the cool or warm washcloths from the in suite restroom so I did not even open them. Hope this helps!

I am 3 days post op. I agree...walk, walk, walk, walk. I was getting stir crazy in the hospital and was walking constantly. I was told this was the best thing I could do to start feeling better, and they wished other bariatric patients on the floor would follow my lead. I'm making progress with the Spirometer, too, so that my lungs stay open. Keep sipping Water. My headached finally went away after people suggested I might not be drinking enough water. Good luck to you!!!! PS: how do you guys put a tracker on your posts?

Update for anyone interested in this practice. So far my experience with U.S Bariatrics has been great. They really help you with each stage. Jenn, the surgery scheduler has been wonderful in taking me through each step. The only thing that I just found out was that I have to have my surgery with Dr. Marema instead of Dr. Koppman. Not that that is bad but I did my consult with Koppman and have planned on him being the surgeon since the seminar. The problem: I am self pay and Dr. Koppman can not provide the 1 year complication insurance. So I have to go with Marema. I really wish they would have mentioned this sooner so I could have had my consult with Marema. I will still have my pre-op appoinment with him. I am so far into at this point there is no turning back. Good thing I know that Dr. Marema is a fine surgeon. PCP appointment next week and then all of the final stuff from bariatrics. WhoooHoo:thumbup:

Shay I didn't have any co- morbities either, but my BMI was 42 that alone qualified me. I have Aetna. Be sure to contact your insurance company an get the facts. I know with Aetna I was able to go online & print their clinical policy for bariatric surgey.

Tony Robbins says, "“The secret to unleashing your true power is setting goals that are exciting enough that they truly inspire your creativity and ignite your passion.” I agree with this idea, I LIVE this idea and my clients who reach their weight loss and wellness goals LIVE this idea. It is a beautiful concept but it can be easy to get lost in the implementation of it. Everyone would like to unleash their true power to achieve the body they dream about! Everyone would like to be creatively inspired and ignite their inner passion to achieve physical health! So why does it seem that many people, maybe even most people, fall short of this desired state? Weight Loss Surgery is a great tool to help us along the way but something I realized, in the years after WLS as the pounds returned along with unhealthy thinking and calorie choices, was that the part of my body that REALLY needed surgery was my brain! Surgery changed my ability to use food in a certain way, but I was still left with two hands and a mouth, both programmed by my mind to look for soothing and comfort by lifting things from the fingers to the lips. WLS doesn't prevent us from continuing to harm ourselves with food. If we don't change our thinking and our beliefs about our lives and the place of food in our lives we will find creative ways to continue to seek comfort through unkindness to the body. How often have you eaten something that you knew would generate "dumping" or vomiting in search of a comforting sensation from food? I know I've done this. One way to change the trajectory of our relationships with food after surgery is to actually consider with the help of another person what we are trying to achieve when we make unhealthy choices and to set small, achievable goals for slowly, kindly changing our relationships with food. Then, once these small changes are cemented in us we make another small change. After a few months who we ARE has changed. We become a healthier mind inhabiting a healthier body. The key is to start small. Set an achievable, small goal. Live that goal. Embody it for 3 weeks. Then make the next small change. And talk to someone about your thinking and self-limiting beliefs along the way. That will truly set you free from the post-surgical food and high-calorie liquid addictions that are so common. The clients I have partnered with have taught me that there is no goal too small and that the achieving of small goals over and over again is how we achieve what Tony Robbins describes......the source of power that exists in every human gets excited, inspired and comes to life with each small success. Then, once success is no longer surprising but is expected, inspiration and creativity arise within us and ignite our passion to create a level of health and wellness beyond our wildest dreams. At that point this journey becomes an "inner and outer party!" But it all starts with making a small change and embodying it for 3 weeks. My journey to lose 170 pounds and become a mountain climber (with a body people think is that of an Olympic athlete) began with cutting myself down from three 800 calorie Starbuck's drinks per day to three 500 calorie Starbuck's drinks per day......but it started!! That is the important thing! What small behavior would you like to get started changing today and who can help you change it? A Bariatric support group, a therapist or a certified Life Coach specializing in Bariatric Obesity can help you achieve the body and wellness you desire, help shift your beliefs about yourself, and end the struggle with food. Whatever path you choose make sure you have challenges and accountability. They are a recipe for success.

@"Sleeveforme2017", you can read more about them here on their website: https://gettespo.com/ They are a bit pricey, but they taste good, and they have been easy on my stomach, both pre-op and post-op. I prefer liquid vitamins to any others because there are no fillers or additives that other vitamins have. Plus I believe that they are more easily digestible. I have just never been able to find a liquid version that tasted good. The Tespo ones are really good. The multivitamin tastes like orange Tang, and the bariatric one tastes a little fruity. I don't now what to compare it to, but it is not a bad taste at all. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Yes!! My dr called it " bariatric brain" she said it will pass. It's also coming from lowering your carb intake as well. The brain uses carbs. So if you are not taking in a lot of carbs- this happens. I have it too.

Bariatric surgery is no easy way out. Because getting 80% of your stomach removed is not an easy thing for your body or your mind. You might even feel regret the first few weeks. I am two months out and just one year older than you, I also had been struggling with my weight for a long time. I already have lost around 46pounds, I went back to sport and it actually felt great instead of just feeling like a damn punishment. It's only been two months and I can see many differences. Good luck in your journey, your body is yours and if you feel that the surgery is your only help, don't let people who have no idea what's it like to be fat and obese to tell you otherwise.

When I first met my surgeon in April and asked how many sleeves he had done it was 12. He had been doing them just over a year. However he has done over 650 bariatric surgeries, 2/3 of his practice is this. He is specialized in laproscopic surgery and does NO open surgeries. I asked to meet someone in person who had the sleeve and they set me up with a mentor. She thinks she was 5th or 6th of his sleeves. She is now a year out. I am not sure how many sleeves he has done between April and August but my NUT told me no one is going lapband and all want the sleeve now - problem is a lot of insurances still don't cover it. He was asked in support group this month if he had a favorite surgery to perform and he said bypass. He didn't press me to do one surgery over the other and basically let me choose. I didn't have any co-morbidities and my BMI was high 40's. I think experience isn't just in the particular surgery.

The best way to find the requirements for your surgery is to go to the web site for your policy and search "bariatric" to see what comes up. There should be policy guidance which lists the requirements. Some require a history of trying to lose weight (doctor's records can be enough), others require a monitored weight loss plan - often your surgeon's office already knows the requirements because they do this. Do make a list of questions you want to ask your surgeon. Consider bringing a trusted relative or friend with you to the appointment. My first consult was 3 hours and had to be done after attending an informational seminar at the hospital. There was a lot of information to digest (no pun intended) at that first meeting, so having another set of ears around doesn't hurt. best of luck.

My sleeve surgeon was Dr. Brebbia, Medstar Montgomery Hospital in Olney, Maryland. I don't know the exact percentage of stomach removed. My understanding is that, in general, around 85% is removed. I was just sleeved a few weeks ago, so can't answer the long term question. However, my surgeon said I needed clear fluids for the 2 or 3 days after surgery. It's hard to get much down then, so I had stocked up on a few bottles of Isopure clear flavors. A large bottle has 40 grams of Protein. I'm not sure having protein right after will help with the hair loss, but I figure there would be no huge drop off in the amount of protein I'm taking in, so no shock resulting in hair loss. I get all my Vitamins from Bariatric Advantage: 1 Calcium citrate caramel-flavored cube in the morning, 1 Ultra Multi Formula with Iron in the middle of the day, then another calcium citrate in the evening. That way, the calcium and iron won't negate each other... they will always be more than 2 hours apart.

Hello, I am wondering if any one on here knows of any good personal trainers in the Bay Area who work well with Bariatric clients? Thanks for any ideas..