Search the Community

check out bariatrix. I'm picky as hell, but they have some tastey products that were designed with the bariatric patient in mind.

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.......

Some postulate that we are indeed in Iraq for the oil, but for a different purpose. It's to keep the prices high in order to keep all of Bush's cronies' wallets fat. Question for you: Is being able to drive to work (instead of taking the bus, carpooling, or riding a bike) really so important to you that you believe that a people's entire way of life should be destroyed? It breaks my heart to know that Iraqis live in constant fear and TERROR. I know what that feels like just from one day. I couldn't imagine feeling that every single day like these people do. No human deserves that, and definitely not over a trivial resource that could easily be replaced by other forms of renewable power, just so that you can maintain your precious life of excess. That is so disgusting!

Good question. I hadn't located a Dr. up here because I planned on going back to Dr.Ortiz. I routinely go on his web site and chat board and have his book and knew that at a year post op he advised patients to have a flouroscopy. This happened to be when I found I was six weeks pregnant. I work for 2 different hospitals up here and am surrounded with physcians, the one bariatric Dr. I first approached was very negative about low BMI peaople having the band...so quite frankly I decided I only wanted to deal with Dr.Ortiz. I'm pleasantly suprised by this new Dr. and his views, I'd rather not have to head back to Mexico with a new born.

I definitely want to be in a Hosptial not a bariatrics clinic.

For a while, I could only have one serving per day, either applesauce or canned peaches. At three months I was more able to eat raw fruit. Now, I am 17 months out. When I make a smoothie I will be liberal with berries, but cautious with bananas. Most days, I will eat one piece of fresh fruit or the berries. Last week I read A Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner. He is a bariatric surgeon and recommends that once we are several months out and hit an arduosly long stall of several weeks, a person's diet could be adjusted by eliminating processed sugars (white sugar, corn syrup, powdered sugar, molasses, etc) and artificial sweeteners including Stevia (which I have mentiond many times is my one vice in this whole process). He also recommended eliminating wheat and grain products, but I am already there a long time ago. He implies that since sugar from fruit is natural, the body processes it differently than processed sugar and should be embraced months out from surgery. Based on his theories in the book, starting on Friday morning I eliminated Peanut Butter, milk, cheese and sweetener (I was up to 30 a day) from my diet. I added more greens and veggies, and made a huge bean salad with cuke, tomato, mushrooms, green pepper, celery and salsa added to mix in with spinach and greens cold salad. I have also had a pear and an apple each day and either apricots or cherries at bedtime. I am also drinking 80-100 ounces of Water in between all that. I was skeptical, since the scale has not moved for months in spite of my best efforts and an aggressive exercise program. I should not be surprised that my bowels are moving properly like crazy without laxatives, stool softeners and prune juice. But from Friday morning to Monday morning, I have lost three pounds. When I get to 135, I will be recommended for a panni. Although I was checking in ok on water, Protein, carbs, and calories, my Fiber was very low. These adjustments certainly add fiber and reduce fat (I lovvvvvvve cheese and could eat it all day). My one year labs were excellent except that my bad cholesterol was off the charts. I have a doctor visit and blood labs coming up on June 23rd I think.....well it's that week anyway. I am hoping that this added fiber add reduced fat will help. I am still not off of my blood pressure meds. Even though I have have good numbers at the doctors office, he will not take me off of my blood pressure med cocktail until I get my cholesterol down. I can see his point since I already had a stroke when I was heavier. If that visit goes well, I will keep eating fruit and Beans and greens.

Hello everyone, my current employer's health insurance does not have any bariatric benefits, neither will the new health insurance for 2016. Any suggestions as to where I could get health care insurance? Other than Obamacare? I have a complication on my sleeve and I need revision. Thank you.

I called Dr. Bellanger's office and was informed that he doesn't see other surgeons' patients. Dr. Hargroder told me the same thing. I'm hoping they aren't the only two in town, to where the only way I can see one of them is if I go to the ER in excruciating pain and tell the ER I may need to see a bariatric surgeon, that it's possible any pain I'm having may be lap band-related.

I am seeing my Banding Dr on Sept 6th and will be having my surgery 3-4 weeks after that. I am starting to get myself prepared for post op period by trying different Soup brothes and protien drinks. My personal trainer that works with Dr. Mckee my banding Dr, said I should try to get as close to 25G Protein per a shake. So I found a whey powder that is choc and it has 23G protein. The weight watcher high protein had 19 so if I dont find one I can stomach I plan on doing that one. so I just thought I would ask all of you what you did for Protein Drinks during your post op or even now. What liquid diet suggestions do you have? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks... Dr. Mckee Augusta Maine (Maine Bariatrics) Surgery Oct 2006 Highest weight 272 Current weight 269 5"8' tall

Hi all! I am scheduled for revision of my bypass on March 16! Original stats : 260lbs pre-op RNY Bypass : November 2009 Lowest : 135lbs Plastics - Abdominoplasty; Panniculectomy; Thigh Lift : June 2011 Divorce - Remarried - Regained Sept 2020 : Re-entered Bariatric Program at 279lbs Current : 245lbs I will have my pouch resized and reconnected distally for a little bit of malabsorption. Hoping for ~ 70lb weightloss and then to maintain.

First - shop in your closet. Anything that you used to be able to wear that will fit again? SOmething you bought earlier that didn't quite fit but you never had time to return? I found a TON of clothes in my closet that are 1-2 sizes smaller than my surgery size. Dresses are my go-to - especially belted ones. Those can be worn for about 3 sizes because you can belt them in so they don't look so loose. I tend to like the fit and flare ones with belts. I also watch for clearance/sales on staples (jeans, black work pants, work tops) and buy a couple sizes when they're on sale. If you're plus size, Lane Bryant has some decent sales at the holidays. For example, right now they have $20 sweaters (don't buy too many because winter won't last long), 40% of most clothing and clearance. I think I got jeans for like $30 at Thanksgiving. Old Navy also often has sales and Target is a good place for basics. Some folks also shop at Goodwill/Salvation Army, etc. I don't, just because my area doesn't have a lot of plus size offerings, but its a good place to start. Finally, some bariatric surgery support groups will have a clothing exchange. Its worth asking your surgeon's office. Or, maybe start one?

I'm having my surgery July 19th and I bought the bariatric Fusion chewables they are huge I don't know how we're supposed to get for these chewed up a day and try to eat some food too.

I am using Centrum chewables (the ones with iron), I use fish oil which are large so for after surgery I bought two flavors of liquid fish oil that I can add to food I eat (lemon & pina colada), I bought a Bariatric Advantage b-complex which I have yet to receive in the mail so am not sure what that is like, I use the Bariatric advantage Calcium chewables (my Dr. recommends calcium citrate not calcium carbonate)...I think that's it. I currently take glucosamine chondrotin or however it's spelled....for arthritis in my knee. I bought a mortar and pestle to crush them but then found they are available in liquid. Haven't worried about that one as it isn't as crucial although once I am cleared to work out, I will need to start it back up.

Hi I've just been searching for this topic as I've recently realised I have just started showing symptoms of Reactive Hyplogylcemia. I'm exactly one year post-op sleeve surgery and I had no idea us sleevers could suffer these symptoms. I'm a vegetarian so trying to cut out carbs has been a huge challenge for me and must admit that recently they have come back into my diet and my weightloss has also stalled. I now find that if I try and exercise in the mornings I have a massive hypo attack, the shakes, sweating, low blood sugar, feel like I'm going to faint, need to sit down and then an urgency to eat something. I then continue to feel terrible for the rest of the day like I'm all washed out and very tired even though I've done almost nothing. This is a very worrying new complication of the sleeve surgery that I did not sign up for and I'm trying to find out as much as possible about the condition so I can learn how to manage it. I'm confused as to whether I need to cut the carbs or increase them? I've been eating about 1,000 calories a day but burning around 2,700 cals per day (I wear a BodyMedia monitor so I know exactly what I'm using). I'm now really worried about this new development.. I'm seeing my surgeon next week for my one year review, I will be asking about this as from what I've researched, it seems as though there are a lot of people post bariatric surgery complaining of the problem and not much can be done from what I know??. Mine so far has been manageable but I am very worried it might get worse and I've read some people having their Pancreases removed which seems very extreme!. Any help or advice would be gratefully received. Prior to surgery I had PCOS, under-active thyroid and had been told years ago that I was insulin resistent but I never had diabetes. I must say, had I known about this complication it would have made me consider very carefully whether I should do this? Please has anyone any advice as it is worrying me a lot??

You don't need to fixate on a specific number. Look at where you are now and figure out if this is the right weight or if you want to weigh less or more than your current weight. There are a lot of things to consider, but to generalize, how do you feel and look at your current weight, and how sustainable is it? If everything is good now, congratulations! This is your goal weight. It's probably not that simple because it can be a bit of a balancing act, but figure out, overall, if you'd be better off losing more weight or staying where you are. Are you physically comfortable, able to be as active as you'd like to be, and have good mobility? (Of course, there are factors other than your weight that affect these things, but consider whether losing more weight would improve these things.) Are you satisfied with how you look, what size clothes you wear, how people perceive you? Do you look healthy or do people often ask you if you're sick (which may indicate that further weight loss would be a negative for your appearance)? How easy or difficult is it for you to stick with your current calorie level for the long term? If you're hungry all the time and struggle to stick to your plan, you may be setting yourself up to fall off the wagon and regain. If you're satisfied with what and how much you're eating and exercising to maintain your weight, it's sustainable for the long term. How are your health metrics? How's your blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, etc., and would losing more weight be likely to improve anything? Do you have any vitamin deficiencies that indicate that you're not eating enough (or not taking the right supplements)? I would take the numbers from your dietitian and GP with a grain of salt because bariatric surgery patients are different from their average patients, and without specialized training, they may not understand the nuances and may be basing their advice off the good old BMI chart. In my opinion, if they are giving you a specific number as a goal weight, or telling you that your weight is "too high" or "too low" based solely on your height and weight rather than your actual health metrics, they probably don't have great knowledge in this area. The bariatric dietitian will probably be more helpful. I know you have to wait a couple of months, but you seem to be doing fine for now, so unless you have major problems, you can probably just keep on doing what you're doing until then.

Hello everyone! My name is Kaila and I am brand new to this forum (actually any forum) and I am definitely looking for some help with this journey. I will start a little about myself. I grew up the majority of my life in New Hampshire, am currently a proud army wife and mom of an almost 3 year old boy. I work as an office assistant and also as a home sales consultant with Seacret. I've spent the majority of my life taking care of others that it wasn't hard to forget about myself, leading to my unhealthy diet and with stress and anxiety, an addiction to food. After moving to Colorado I gained a lot more weight in a short period of time because trying to breathe in this elevation was so difficult it took away my physical activity that I had in our other home. Within 3 months I became prediabetic, hypertensive, and had high cholesterol. I had my surgery and all my preop appointments at Evans Community Hospital at Fort Carson. My doctor was Dr. Mayfield. He was amazing. Very personable and straight forward. He didn't sugar coat anything, but definitely made you comfortable to talk to. I had a month of pre op appointments including mutliple nutrition appointments, wellness (metabolism testing), bariatric surgery group counseling and psychological evaluations. Going through the appointmetns were really important and informative. My doctor was very lenient on the pre op diet. I ate reasonably and cut my calories down by half, but I still enjoyed my cravings occasionally. The day before surgery I ate up to 1:30 pm (only 2 very small meals concidering my Vitamins definitely helped minimize my diet, so I definitely reccomend takin them before surgery for at least 2 weeks) and they provided me a magnesium drink that cleans out your system. At that point I could not have anymore solid food. Day of surgery was a bit tough phsycailly. I just remember waking up and all I could say was pain and shake my head. I spent 2 nights and 3 days admitted. They try to make you walk right away, but I didn't walk until the 2nd day. I was very much under the anestisia for a lot longer than I wanted to be. In order for me to go home I needed to drink 4 - 5 oz of clear Fluid within 1 hour. The first time I tried to drink it I became really sick. Eventually I was able to drink 8 oz. within 3 hours, so they let me go home. My problem right now is that I am on the full liquid diet, but I cannot injest more than 35 oz a day, and only clear fluids. Its painful to drink still ( 5 days post op) and I can't really drink any full fluids yet The first day I tried I ended up in the hospital again dehydrated. Has anyone else had such a hard time drinking after surgery? All I keep hearing is that the 1st week is the worst, but people I've read their information or seen youtube are drinking full liquids like champs the first week, so it makes me feel a little broken. Im also having a really hard time with commercials. If I see Little Caesars pizza one more time I may snap. I have also had such a heightened sense of smell. I could smell my grandmothers plain toast while she was upstairs. It seems like it's making it more difficult. Also, walking is increditbly difficult. There's always a sharp or dull (it changes) spot under my left breast where my stomach would be, but when I walk it becomes more painful. Should you push through it or take it easier? Any advice would be wonderful. I am definitely open to anything that would make my life a lot more comfortable right now!

"Think of your operation as an investment like a stock. If you buy a stock and it goes down, you don't ride it to the bottom. You aren't married to it. You decide it isn't working for you and sell." I was impressed with this statement and think it should run across the top of this site like a stock ticker, but Pleatman, what data suggests guaranteed regain after reversal of any bariatric operation? I realize it's only been 4 months since removal, but I'm down 5 pounds since removal, and I think that kind of negative statement might implant itself in my subconscious and play head games with me. Like tomorrow maybe donuts are going to be okay because I have that guarantee of regain. That statement is depressing; is it backed up by proof?

I met my doctor on Wednesday and I've lost 18kg/40 pounds!! I was so happy. And he was very happy with me. He didn't want to give me a fill since I'm doing really well. He also said I'm putting too much pressure on myself. That he was happy and I should be as well. I should read too much about how much other people are loosing because our bodies do not work the same. But I'm incredibly happy. Also this is kind of a milestone. This is the second time I've lost 40 pounds in one run .... and well then I gained weight again. But this time, I'm going to get further, I'm going to loose more so ever pound after this will be a new milestone yay. This Friday I was sooooo hungry at lunch that I was dreaming of all kinds of food I was gonna eat that day. I had an omelette at work. I ate a bit too much. I ate until I was full and I never do that. But hunger does that to you. I was full all day! I couldn't imagine eating dinner even. I did but just a little. Before the lap band, if I got full, I could begin to eat again in 2 hours but not now. And guess what, I love it. This rarely happens that I eat so much. maybe happened 3-4 times in 6 months. I told my doctor that I was still learning and he understood that. I will do mistakes and learn from them. Ok 3-4 times eating to much haha, ok I might be a slow learner hehe But I'm so happy now. I tried on a dress I wore last Christmas and it's too big now And my panties. Seriously, I need to renew them! They are a size too big. My bra is still the same size ugh! hate that. But I was telling a coworker how much I'd lost and she told me that she noticed my hips ass getting smaller and yay again! soooo happy! I've always hated my hips and ass. I would do the Kardashians proud. They were even large when I was in a normal weight. But so far so good! loving my new life

The sleeve helps us lose, but we have to be mindful of sliders and nutritionally void foods. It is possible to gain back with any bariatric surgery. But just like losing takes work, so does gaining it back. Complacency is not something that we can really afford.

I found this article on donating skin if you do have the surgery to remove it. You should have lost a least 100 lbs. At least it is a way to help someone else while becoming beautiful : ) How to Donate Skin After Bariatric Surgery Donate Skin After Bariatric Surgery | LIVESTRONG.COM Finding hope in donations of 'excess' skin Finding hope in donations of 'excess' skin - The Boston Globe

Intro - My name is Edie and I'm 54. I've been waiting for this surgery since 2008. FINALLY BCBS North Carolina stopped calling it investigational. I've finished all my pre-op testing and the doctor's office submitted it to the insurance company. Now I wait in suspense. I think it could happen pretty quickly once they get approval. I had to have a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy and some samples were sent for biopsy so that could take a couple weeks - I don't know if they will wait for those results before scheduling me. The GI doc said everything looked good and that he was going to clear me for surgery. After waiting all these years, it doesn't even seem real. My surgeon has done MANY bariatric surgeries, but only about a dozen sleeves. He seems very comfortable with it though and I am comfortable with him and the reputation of the practice. I was tested up one side and down the other!

it probably depends on your particular policy and your situation. Some companies will cover it if you have documented evidence of medical issues such as chronic rashes that don't respond to conventional treatments...and some will cover pannilectomies if your "apron" hangs below a certain level - and some don't cover plastic surgery at all (mine doesn't). As for particular policy - those can vary between employers even if they use the same insurance company. Employers can purchase coverage above and beyond basic items - or not. For example, for years my insurance company offered bariatric surgery, but it was a rider that an employer could buy - or not. My employer chose not to purchase that rider until very recently (I think two years ago) - so those of us who wanted it had to either change to a different insurance company that my employer also worked with (although it was much more expensive than the one most employees went with) - or self-pay. check on your Kaiser policy and see if it's covered. Or check with your employer's HR department - they should know, too.

there are statistically more complications with bypass, but complications with either surgery are really pretty low. The rule of thumb lately seems to be if you have GERD issues, go with bypass, otherwise, it comes down to personal preference. They're both good surgeries, and you'll find people on this site who've been very successful with both. you will have to take vitamins for life with both surgeries, but there are more consequences if you slack off on vitamin-taking with bypass because of the malabsorption. But if you're diligent about taking your vitamins, then vitamin deficiency is rare. about 30% of sleeve patients develop GERD (or if they have it prior to surgery, it can get worse), and about the same percentage of bypass patients (about 30%) experience dumping syndrome, and in both cases that's kind of a crap shoot. You can't really predict ahead of time if you'll get those or not (although if you already have GERD, it's very likely not to improve and there's a decent chance it'll get worse with the sleeve. On the other hand, bypass usually improves if not outright cures GERD). If you have bypass and are one of the 30% who dump, it can be controlled by not eating a lot of sugar (or fat - some people dump on fat) at one sitting. hair loss is very common with both surgeries. Actually, it's a potential side effect of any major surgery (and childbirth, too), due to stress on the body. I think we see it more after bariatric surgeries than other surgeries, though, because in addition to the trauma from the surgery, we're also taking in very few calories the first few weeks/months. The good news is, it's temporary - the hair will grow back - and in most cases, you're the only one who'll notice it. A few people don't lose any hair at all, a few lose noticeable clumps of it, but most of us are somewhere in the middle. It's more like "shedding", and it's not enough for others to notice. I didn't lose much at all. It lasted maybe three months and then started growing back. But anyway, don't make your decision based on hair loss, because that's very common regardless of surgery. I don't think you can really make a wrong decision either way. I'd take into account what your doctors say, and also consider your personal preference. Some people are more comfortable with one or the other. As I mentioned, they're both good surgeries and you can get good results with either one.

Call your bariatric team and ask -- each has their own rules. I wasn't allowed raw veggies for six months.

Hello Everyone - I'm one year 3 months post op, and I've probably had depression most of my life. I've never tried any medication to deal with my depression, just "suffered through it" most of my life. I decided recently that enough is enough and informed my PCP that I wanted to try meds. She prescribed Prozac. Anyone have any experiences post-op dealing with Prozac or any other antidepressants? I know most people are looking to come off meds after bariatric surgery - not go ON them.