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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..

I have been unable to have chewable vitamins due to getting sick from them! Chalky! I don't know how far out you are, but in my case, the doctor said it was ok to take regular vitamins as long as I cut them in half and suplemment them with B-Complex. I found one Calcium chewable that's taffy and tastes good. It's from Bariatric Fusion berry flavor chewables. So I have mainly been taking pills instead of chewables. I'm 4 months post op.

All plans are different. When in doubt, contact your dietician or look at your bariatric food stage paperwork.

So I'm 5 days away from my 8 month anniversary of VSG surgery and finally admitting that my old habits and obsession with snacking have not miraculously disappeared because of WLS. On May 28th, I had lost 60 pounds and was so positive that I'd reach goal by my 8 month anniversary. But rather than stay focused, eat healthy and follow the plan, I got over confident and reverted back to snacking on all the high carb, high sugar, high salt comfort foods that had originally caused my weight gain. I stopped going to my monthly support group meetings, stopped my daily involvement in on-line bariatric and weight loss support groups and as a result, I've gained 8 pounds rather than losing the last 6 pounds that would have gotten me to goal. I know what I have to do to get back on track. Any suggestions on how to break my addition to carbs? I'm focused on Protein today with the hope that once I break the carb cycle, I can get back to making better food choices for my late night Snacks. Yes, the honeymoon is over!!

I was talking to my husband about the judgement passed on people who have bariatric surgery. He is on the fence about the whole "easy way out" thing. But he is being supportive of me. So he tells me that when he thinks about the easy way out, he compares it to jumping off a plane. The easy way out would be when someone pries your fingers of the plane and pushes you out. That's the easy way out but the problem is that after that the is no getting back on the plane. So you are screaming all the way down hoping the parachute will open. My response was, think about it this way you are on a plane that has lost its engines. They tell you they are going to try landing it but chances are it will still be a crash landing and many on the plane will die. Or you can put on one of the parachutes and jump? So what do you choose? The plane is obesity. We know it is a killer. Some live long, normal lives while being obese, but the majority will get sick in various ways and die prematurely. If you jump, which is having the surgery, the parachute might not open but the chances of that are minimal. The parachute might open late and you will get seriously hurt, but you survive and end up living a long life. You might not land well because you don't know how to parachute and break your legs. But you still land and live. So which one do you choose? Stay on the plane and hope you survive the crash? Or jump and take the risks of jumping with the more likelihood of survival? It is a personal decision that only you can make for yourself. I choose to jump off the DAMN plane!!!! Because I am already on the plane and the only decisions you can make are jump or crash. The option to never get on the plane to begin with is long gone.

I had my VSG on 4/8/2013. I lost @50 pounds and gained back about 20. I have several underlying medical issues which complicate my exercise but overall I am usually good with my food intake. Over the last year, I have developed what I think is acid reflux. It is so bad that I can't lie down and my healthy eating is now becoming more bland carb-focused because that's what I tolerate best. Even drinking a protein shake can be bothersome. I have NEVER experienced this before, not during any of my 3 pregnancies or at my heaviest weight. I am miserable! I have tried over-the-counter acid reducers and eat tums like candy. I finally talked to my PCP about this yesterday, she is sending me to a GI doctor. She mentioned she wasn't sure what my anatomy would be like now. That caused me to wonder if I should actually see a bariatric surgeon? I of course started to google and found that this can happen even so long out of surgery and that sometimes revision can fix it. Honestly, I don't hate this idea as id like to lose more weight but more so I just want to feel better. My BMI is 32.1 and I have the same insurance as I did 9 years ago. I'm clearly jumping ahead of myself but was wondering if anyone has experience with anything like this?

So I had my first (of six) appointments with my bariatric specialist today, who believes with my insurance and situation, I should have no problem being approved for surgery. That being said, he discussed the differences between the sleeve and bypass and before our talk, I was set on the VSG surgery, however now I'm beginning to think that maybe the bypass may be a better option for me. He said that if I'm wanting to lose 60-80lbs, that the VSG surgery is the better choice for slower weight loss, but if I'm looking to lose 100+lbs, I should consider the bypass. I'm currently 5'5", 294.1 lbs and definitely want to lose more than 100lbs, but I've done so much research on VSG that I feel the most comfortable with that option, but also want to give myself the best opportunity to lose the most weight. What are your experiences with loss after either bypass or VSG? I'm not opposed to bypass, it was just never the direction I thought I was headed so I have done little research and feel my nerves all over again! Any advise helps, thank you!

I’m in the pre-surgery stage as well. Here is all the things my program encouraged me to start before surgery. The last 3 months I worked my way up to working out 5 days a week for at least 30 min. It was a slow progression but I really think it will help me after surgery. I also drastically decreased my sugar and carb intake. I measure, weigh, and track my food and water. I’m trying to learn to eat slower. That is so hard for me! I also quit all carbonated beverages. I am half way through a required 12 week class on healthy weight and my bariatric class is in October. Only then do I get to make an appointment to see the surgeon. It is a long road to surgery but I think that is a good thing. It gives me plenty of time to prepare and be really sure I can do this. Also, I’ve lost 35 pounds so far. That is a nice bonus! Good luck on your journey!

I have a friend that used Bariatric Solutions. There are several locations, one is in Waco. He used the one in Decatur and really liked them, had only positive things to say about them. Has lost over 120 pounds. . He was self pay and said the price was very reasonable.

Medically, coffee with no creamers/milk/etc is on a clear liquid diet. However, as others have said, during the bariatric process the caffeine is the issue. As all doctors seem to have their own dietary recommendations, please consult your surgeon's office for their dietary guidelines.

According to ASMBS guidelines, “Q: Do I need to avoid caffeine after bariatric surgery? A: Caffeine fluids have been shown to be as good as any others for keeping you hydrated. Still, it is a good idea to avoid caffeine for at least the first thirty days after surgery while your stomach is extra sensitive. After that point, you can ask your surgeon or dietitian about resuming caffeine. Remember that caffeine often comes paired with sugary, high-calorie drinks, so be sure you’re making wise beverage choices.” The BariatricPal Store carries a large selection of bariatric friendly coffee options at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/coffee .

I don't have any advice because my insurance excludes anything bariatric related. So I am going the self pay route. I just wanted to tell you to not give up. You are obviously determined because you went through all the work to get as far as you have. Keep fighting the fight!

I have been using this site for a lot of my research throughout my decision process, and now that I am moving towards my surgery date. This has been my journey so far: Around Thanksgiving of 2016, i had made my final decision to pursue bariatric surgery. I had the support of my family and friends, and I was ready to go. I had a recommendation for a surgeon, and so I made my consult appointment. I had my first consult on December 6, 2016, and I brought every piece of medical information with me to that appointment that could possibly prove that I had met the insurance qualifications for approval. I left that appointment fairly certain that I would have my surgery some time in January 2017. On December 14, 2016, I had an appointment with my PCP for medical clearance, and I also had my psych evaluation that same day. They were both kind enough to provide me copies of my records right after the appointment so that I could give them immediately to my surgeon's nurse. Once they received all of those documents, along with the proof of following a 6 month medically supervised weight loss program, they scheduled my surgery date for January 17, 2017. YAY!! I had my Endoscopy done on December 20, 2016, and was cleared or surgery. At this point, I am scheduled on January 4, 2017 for a pre-op class that will explain pre and post op eating plans, and any other surgery prep items. I then have my last appointment with my surgeon on January 5, 2017 before my surgery. This whole process has moved so fast, which I am so excited about. At each step of the process I have been worrying that one piece or another would disqualify me from the insurance approving the coverage. My surgeon's office has assured me that I meet all of the qualifications, and there is no reason the insurance should deny me. At this point, I am just counting down the days to January 17, 2017. I am so excited that I have already started cleaning out my closet! Thanks to everyone on this site for sharing your journeys, and allowing all of us newbies to learn from you! I look forward to becoming an active member of this group.

But you're doing it! I'm less than a month I will,be doing it too. Don't have a band but I'm sure I could rent the Salvation Army Tambourine Band if I wanted on September 5th. Point those toes ahead, it's your DAY OF DAYS, me along with everyone else out here at Bariatric Pal are sending our very Best Wishes to you! Update us when it's been completed but we are VERY PROUD of YOU today.😛🌸😷🌺😛

How is bariatric surgery cosmetic???? I get having a tummy tuck or something afterwards, but really?! Good luck! It's right around the corner!

@@kelly lynn I hear a lot of people who share in your struggle. I'm glad to see you're reaching out as that is the first step back to success. There's a wonderful website called bariatriceating.com. They also have a Facebook page with thousands of people in your exact same situation. The website was started and is hosted by a woman who is 15 years out so she knows all about the regain. I hope you'll check it out as there's a world of great information on the site. I just love it! I wish you the best and know you will succeed!!! They have a program called BOT (Back on Track): Information is pretty thin stuff unless mixed with Experience. Just one year ago I had a closet full of clothes. AND. NOTHING. FIT. ANYMORE. I was ashamed, astonished, upset, despondent and had to do something. I’m older and my body is different but I figured it out again. The Secret to Losing Weight AFTER Weight Loss Surgery is Diet & Exercise. Yes, the big bad ‘Fad Diet’ that the negative Nellies are up in arms over is Diet & Exercise! (that’s okay, let them wallow in their Oreo and Tortilla eating while we lose regain weight) The secret sauce of a plan is simply Old Fashioned Diet & Exercise fueled by Bariatric Surgery, Inspire Protein drinks, small workout routines and our Kick Butt Bariatric Eating Support Group on Facebook! Thousands of members in our Facebook Support Group excitedly post their ‘BOT’ or Back On Track successes. People are losing a lot of weight again. ‘BOT’ works! It is hard to get the ball rolling but you have what it takes to dig in and do it. I know exactly how you feel and what you face and so do BE Team members on Facebook who are there to help you! Make up your mind and lets get moving. There are two parts… follow both and you will see that it is like flipping on the switch for weight loss. No kidding. Nothing like a fast ten pound weight loss for an amazing attitude adjustment! 1. DIET – 5 SMALL PROTEIN MEALS A DAY Reality Check. IF we made good food choices before bariatric surgery, we would not have been Morbidly Obese. The same denial works against us now. I tried telling myself I was not eating differently than I was ten years ago! You are trying to float that by folks too. Get real with yourself. I gained weight back because of my food choices. You know you are eating differently. Say it out loud. Admit it. Own it. There are bariatric groups all over Facebook where they talk about how much they can eat, that sugar doesn’t make them sick, that Mountain Dew or drinking soda doesn’t hurt them, they compare notes on how many slices of pizza they can fit and how much of a Subway Sandwich they can eat. Until you admit YOU are the problem and take ownership of the situation, it’s pretty certain that you will continue along the same path to where you started. This is where we split into two groups – the Dreamers and the Doers! Solution? Removing choices to limit calories, carbs and sugar. Five Small Protein Meals a day – 4 of those consist of Protein Drinks and the last is a Healthy Protein & salad Meal – this will limit your total caloric intake. This premise of protein drinks throughout the day paired with a healthy protein and vegetable supper is the cornerstone many successful diet plans, including world renown Johns Hopkins Hospital medically supervised weight loss programs. (there is a $6000 program fee to join the JH plan and it’s an amazing program that shepherds many to large weight losses, but ours is free so you might want to try us *first*) #InspireLiquidWillpower You can use any brand of Protein Drink to follow the plan but we recommend and use Inspire Protein powder and my current pantry contains vanilla, strawberry White chocolate, banana Smoothie and Peanut Butter Cup. The satiety or ‘fullness factor’ of Inspire protein drinks is off the charts and they taste fantastic. Inspire is liquid Willpower for me, it is applauded by nearly all in our Support Group and it should do the same for you! One bag of Inspire makes 20 drinks & at 4 per day, you will need 3 bags for your 2 week commitment, or 6 bags for your 4 week commitment. A smaller investment than Nutrasystem! We do recommend a 5th shake to be used after supper IF nighttime snacking is a problem for you as it is for me. I drink an Inspire Peanut Butter Cup drink while watching The Real Housewives so I will stay out of the fridge. It’s a 100 calorie indulgence that works like a charm. My Day Breakfast – 1 scoop Inspire protein powder blended with about 6 ounces of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk or Skim Milk or Water. TIP: I am a reformed *lifetime breakfast skipper* I fix myself a huge mug of black coffee and at the same time blend an Inspire protein drink. Inspire is like a glass of chocolate milk, small and thin: and allows me to ‘break the fast’ with protein. No Blender Needed. Glass – Milk – Powder – Stir – Sip Mid Morning Protein Snack – 1 scoop Inspire protein powder blended with about 6 ounces of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk or Skim Milk or Water lunch – 1 scoop Inspire protein powder blended with about 6 ounces of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk or Skim Milk or Water Mid Afternoon Protein Snack – 1 scoop Inspire protein powder blended with about 6 ounces of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk or Skim Milk or Water Healthy Protein Supper – Bariatric Eating Menu for the Week The easiest meal plan is Protein FIRST, followed by lower carbohydrate vegetables, fruits. Our ultimate goal is to transition to a really sensible healthy diet that you read about all the time. For Back on Track the nightly meal consists of a grilled, broiled, pan seared, roasted or poached protein such as salmon, shrimp, cod, halibut, chicken, beef sirloin, turkey tenderloin served with seasoned lower carb vegetables or salad. IMPORTANT: 1. No bread, no potatoes, no tortillas, no rice, no rolls, no Pasta, no high carb foods. 2. Do NOT drink with your meals. If you have been drinking with meals. STOP IT. 3. Drink 8 cups of water or zero calorie liquid daily. If it’s difficult for you, download our free Hydration app at GetHyApp.comHere is your first week of evening meals. All recipes are linked on our site. Monday – Salmon with Mango Salsa, broccoli Tuesday – Asparagus omelet, lettuce tomato salad Wednesday – Chicken Cutlets, baby spinach salad Thursday – Cheesy Meatball Skillet, romaine tossed with lemon, olive oil and parmesan Friday – Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps Saturday – Warm Shrimp Salad with Avocado Sunday – Grilled Marinated Flank Steak, lettuce tomato salad 2. EXERCISE – THE NEW ‘EASY WAY OUT’ OF OBESITY There's a whole plan laid out on the website for this! The Skinny It’s a beautiful thing and you’ll be So Proud when the fat begins to slowly melt away, almost as it did when you first had surgery. The clouds clear and the sun shines more brightly when you’ve got your Groove Back! In just a few days you will feel better and notice a difference. In two weeks your clothes will fit differently and this great feeling will begin to pull your through this plan with EXCITEMENT instead of the PUSH that it will take right now. This plan for weight loss after bariatric surgery is proven to work for either first time or regain. I have lost over fifty pounds that ‘I found’ after all these years, but more importantly I redirected my life. I am talking ‘tough love’ because I am the person who put away her skinny jeans that no longer fit and ignored the problem until I had to do something. I was the one in danger of failing. My experiences can help you if you truly want to lose more weight or take control of a gain. This plan turns on the fat burning engines. No kidding. Let’s roll. The only reason not to begin right now is fear of failure and I promise if you follow this, YOU WILL NOT FAIL. We got this one.

Hey hon! I also have PCOS. I had my son naturally but then had 10 losses before I was diagnosed with PCOS (even though I have all the classic signs and symptoms, not a lot of doctors knew about it). This was back in 2005. I went on birth control for a few months, then had to take Metformin and Clomid to get pregnant with my daughter. I had her in 2006 (my kids are 8 1/2 years apart because of the PCOS) and after I had her, I was never able to get pregnant again. My hormones are all over the place and I CANNOT lose weight and keep it off no matter what I do (I always have initial success but it never lasts). I was told that bariatric surgery is huge in helping PCOS patients get pregnant because weight loss is the #1 thing that helps. It *can* help with hormones, but not always. The weight loss is really the biggest factor for PCOS patients. But that can also make birth control pills (which regulate periods, add estrogen to low estrogen hormones) more effective, as well as fertility meds (Metformin and Clomid, Femara, etc) more effective. Also makes your body healthier for pregnancy (almost no diabetes or high blood pressure issues). So the surgery is definitely huge for helping PCOS patients have a baby. Good luck!!!

I am 6 days post-op and my shoulder has been screaming with pain. I have a torn rotator cuff amongst other tears verified by an MRI. I was given tylenlol 3 and tramadol for the bariatric surgical pain but the shoulder pain cuts through this. I have had issues with my Walmart pharmacist just to get the tylenlol 3 that was prescribed to me. They treat me like a junkie and ask a million questions and act like I should not be given my medication. I was on T3 pills for a week for shoulder pain pre-surgery and then prescribed the liquid T3 after bariatric surgery. I also have bulging discs and bones spurs in my neck and diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Pre-surgery was taking Celebrex and Gabapentin but was told could no longer could take the Celebrex which was most helpful per gastric sleeve and not allowed any Naproxen / Iboprofen type meds. Has anyone else had problems with Walmart Pharmacy and getting your pain medications? Tylenlol 3 is not a very strong pill and yet they treat it like it is heroin. I am so frustrated to have to get the 3rd degree and fight for something my doctor prescribed. Am I the only one that's had any issues? Is it just Walmart?

http://5daypouchtest.com/ Try this, also call your counselor with your Bariatric program, and dietician. If you were in a bariatric program before surgery, they should be able to help. Also most employers offer an Employee Assistance program where you can get at least 6 counseling sessions for free. The first step is admitting that you need help and glad you recognized it and seeking help. You will gain control, and it will get better, but you will need some coping strategies to get you through these tough situations. You have done so well with 105 pound loss!!! That is amazing!! You can keep that from coming back if you get some guidance. Best of luck to you

sounds like you might need to CUT calories, not increase them. How many are you eating in an average day now? I can maintain on 1500-1700 a day - but some people maintain on less than that - some even on 1000-1200. That range is going to be different for everyone. Start logging your food in an online tracker and after a week or two see what your average is. Then cut it by like 100 calories for a couple of weeks. If that's still not doing it, cut another 100. Rinse and repeat. You'll eventually find the spot where you're starting to lose weight again. p.s. There are definitely people who can maintain on 1800 calories, but that is pretty high. Even my 1500-1700 range is on the higher end for bariatric patients - a lot of people can't eat that many and maintain, unfortunately.

@@chrisredjeep do you have your date yet ? Exciting times isn't it mixed with a bit of nerves no doubt. How are you feeling about everything? @@rosieuk : What company did you go with? How are you feeling after the op? Are you taking any Protein drinks yet and if so what brand? So many questions, so little time lol. I am with the Bariatric Group and they have sent loads of info and kept in touch by phone. It's made me feel less nervous and more confident in them and what they can provide post op. Please keep in touch, it would be fantastic if we could support each other especially with stuff you can buy in the UK. Kate (from a very hot south of France!!)

So do I have to get vitamins that are bariatric or can I just get a they otc Sent from my SM-A215U using BariatricPal mobile app