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Thank you. I think you’re right and I will talk with her again to clarify some of things she mentioned. She didn’t tell me to run out to Mickey D’s and get a double quarter pounder meal. But I also think that she probably meant that I should do the “testing” when I’m actually on regular foods after I’ve healed. She’s been extremely successful and leads a very large Bariatric help group. I should’ve had her clarify before posing the question here. I feel like a little kid getting scolded for having candy before dinner lol

Contact your surgeon or their office. They are the only ones who know what you've been through. I had some gastritis over the weekend and my surgeon called to talk to me on Saturday. I think it's safer to speak with someone who knows about Bariatric Surgery and the recovery.

Bariatric Fusion Chewable. It contains everything you need so you don't have to take as many pills, unless you have a deficiency. You can also crush it up and add it to water or food.

I actually just purchased a year worth of the bariatric pal multivitamin one w/iron chewable to be stocked up. It was 140.00 after the 10.00 off coupon which isn’t too bad. I am going to order the calcium chews as well. I was hoping to find them somewhere else cheaper as 32.00 monthly seems very expensive or the calcium tabs. Does anyone else have any advice on the calcium tabs? And did anyone start these vitamins before the surgery?

It has been many years since I checked into Bariatricpal. My surgery on 9/1/2011 was at the INDIANA University Medical Center Bariatric Dept. The decision was made for weight loss and diabetic control. Over the years of owning two businesses, raising two sons, getting my husband through dental school then music school, while practicing my own career as an artist, my struggle with healthy eating and controlling diabetes was eventually too much. At the weight of 299 lbs and age of 71 yr and the consistently worsening sugar control, to the point that I was giving myself daily insulin shots, was a wake up call. It isn't an easy decision to jump into a serious surgery, like this if you don't have access to the specialist medical practice like the IU Medical campus. The Department offered lectures and programs to educate people about their obesity and ways to get help. I never felt pressured to sign up for the surgery but after a few appointments with the surgeon and nutritionist, several medical tests reassured me that my basic health was able to handle the surgery, I followed through with the required initial diet and weight loss. I lost 45 lbs in the first 4 months. It was rather easy to do by following the diet prescribed and I even thought about forgoing the surgery, except for the diabetes issue. Going ahead with the recommended RNY and strictly following the diet, I got down to 165 lbs. That was higher than I thought would be ideal but the sight of boney neck, face and arms seemed fine. For anyone who is older like me, I strongly encourage that you research your area for a surgery clinic that is recommended and consider your options. The following advantages that I received: 1. Loads of energy. 2. Longer life, (said my cardiologist) 3. Feeling younger. 4. More interest in going out for travel and exercising. Having recommended it I must say that I don't recommend it for young people who are doing it for vanity alone. Why? 1. You have to follow strict regiment on vitamins and follow up care. 2. You have to absolutely restrict your food intake. You have to be prepared for a complete change of food choices. 3. You have to be psychologically prepared to be successful over all temptations. ISSUES that I have encountered may be due to lack of nutrition. My current medical care is concentrated on low hemoglobin , anemia, kidney function. The good news is that my diabetes is under control and I haven't needed insulin or any medication since surgery. After years of sticking to the rules for eating, I cannot overeat. A couple of bites of protein, tiny veggies, a bite of fruit fills my stomach to the point that I can be in pain. This is one issue that I wonder about and if other long term RNY patients have experienced. You comments are welcome.

I tried the Aetna website too and it was awful, but it did mention that they required an "Aetna Center for Excellence" cert, so I googled "Aetna + Pittsburgh, PA + Bariatric" and looked for those centers, since obv. they'd take Aetna insurance.

Does anyone use or have experience using Humapro Protein Powder? It was recommended to me but not by a bariatric patient. Tomorrow, I’m 6 weeks post op from gastric sleeve. Thank in advance.

Also any suggestions for Multivitamins for Canada?! Bariatric Pal and Opurity seemed like good choices from theor labels. Has almost all of that is needed except both of them charge shipping for Canada! Any free shipping types for Canada which are just as good!

I found these: http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0157.html https://www.castleconnolly.com/top-doctors/giselle-g-hamad-surgery-81cc043162 https://www.excelahealth.org/Services/Weight-Management-Center https://www.upmc.com/services/south-central-pa/bariatrics/surgery/choose

I am working on trying to find a bariatric surgeon in my area (Pittsburgh, PA) who is considered In-Network for my insurnace (Aetna), and having a little bit of a hard time. I don't know what exactly to search for on my Aetna member portal that will provide me with a list of In-Network bariatric surgeons, and so far doing a google search for local bariatric surgeons, finding the names and then searching for them in my Aetna member portal, isn't providing me with much of anything. Is there an easier way to do this? What am I doing wrong? Or is it just that there are no In-Network bariatric surgeons near me? TIA for any help..

Thank you all for the advice. I greatly appreciate your input on what to do. My bariatric support team is broken and I am stressing my family out so much. My providers said if i went back to weighing on a scale and not by volume that I would stretch my sleeve. I feel like my body is accustomed to this 1/3c now because now I can barely swallow only a few bites of solid food without it hurting my chest and I am losing more weight. I always wanted to be "pretty and skinny" 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ and now I can count all of my bones and look like a Halloween skeleton. I poked myself the other day and was like ow what'd I hit?! ...JUST A SHOULDER BONE!😭😭😭 I missed bread so I found these mini Bob Evans bread and sausages, they're tiny about the size of my 1/3c. Mentally I thought I'd start slow because I don't remember the last time I ate bread and that went down just fine but made my abdomen feel full of air and the sausage was good. I couldn't finish it though even though I was still hungry because the way my stomach felt. I was excited to eat more and I couldn't even finish it. I couldnt even finish cottage cheese because I felt full and the dairy didn't set well

People will whine about though how 98% of the recipes are not "bariatric friendly", lol. 😂

a lot of people have had WLS in their 60s. There are a few here on Bariatric Pal, in fact..

Hi! I’m new on here but I have a question. I had my sleeve done January 2020 and was very happy with my results and so glad I did it. I have lost 135 lbs and want to loose another 20-30 lbs more. Now being out 15 months I have developed heart burn, acidic reflux which at times is horrible. I have had heart burn in the passed but infrequently. The GI doctor has done an endoscopy and took biopsies plus stretched me as pills and food were getting stuck in my throat. Now I have this horrible pain after I eat anything like chicken, pork, fish and red meats. I don’t cook with spices, onion, or garlic. The doctor has given me different meds but nothing has worked. Right now I’m on Protonic 40 mg 2 times daily and Pepcid at night. I had an abdominal ultrasound which they found no gallstones but an minimally enlarged spleen. By the way had my gallbladder was removed 37 yrs ago. I was told by her nurse practitioner that the next step is to have a revision. Is this correct? Is there anything the GI doctor or Bariatric surgeon can do before this? Can anyone tell me about the revision? Does it hurt worse than the sleeve? Everything is basically the same as the sleeve except of course the surgery itself? Thanks in advance.

Hi Ladidi and welcome! It is not uncommon at all for 60+ folks to have bariatric surgery! I was sleeved last year at age 67. No adverse events, and I had a successful recovery. Go for it!

Thinking hard about getting bariatric surgery but I’m 67 years old and worried I’m too old. Had lap band unsuccessfully in 2008. Just wanna feel good about myself again. Has anyone had surgery over 65 years old.

I feel like you need a dietitian for our specific bariatric surgery need. I’m only 4 weeks out and I can’t fathom getting in that much protein. Especially with you having previous liver issues. Too much protein can also shut down the kidneys. I would seek a second opinion for sure.

I am having my VSG at Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas. The surgery is outpatient. I have a visit before and then hydration IV the day after Then I fly home

Hi Tracyringo, My Bariatric Dietitian did warn me against eating cream of wheat, oatmeal and other cereals. When I was on the soft food eating plan after my VGS, I was able to eat my favourite cream of wheat and other soft cereals. As I am in the soft food eating plan for the RYGB when I saw the dietary restrictions about the cream of wheat, I had no idea why my Bariatric dietitian would restrict the grains, like cream of wheat and oatmeal. Your post to me about staying clear of cream of wheat really enlightened me. As I previous VGS person, I didn’t have to deal with dumping syndrome. On the RYGB, I might have to deal with dumping syndrome. Some other members of BariatricPal forum have indicated that around 30% of individuals who have gotten the RYGB have to deal with dumping syndrome. I have no idea as I progress with my post op dietary eating plan, if I will have to deal with dumping syndrome. I will most certainly follow my Bariatric dietitian recommendations about staying clear of grains like cream of wheat cereal and oatmeal. Thanks for your enlightening post, Tracyringo.

Short version: I'm 45 yo, 6'3", 275. Pre-surgery eight years ago, I was about 440. Weight has plateaued for the last 15 months, whether I eat well or carelessly. A dietitian has recommended that I need significantly more calories and protein than I've been getting, but I'm having a very difficult time getting close to her recommendations though I'm constantly eating throughout the day, while still stopping when I start to get full. Having a very hard time exercising because of debilitating back pain. My questions: 1) What's your opinion on the dietitian's recommendations of 2,700 cal and 220g of protein per day? 2) How do you all (especially guys) get enough calories and protein given our small stomachs? 3) Are there any good resources for long-term post-sleeve eating plans? All I can seem to find on here and elsewhere are focused on the weeks and months after surgery. Long version/background: I'm 7.5 years post-gastric sleeve, and am currently at 275 lbs., close to my lowest post-surgery weight of 267. (I'm 45 years old and 6'3", with, my doctors and massage therapists tell me, a very large, wide frame.) In the nine months to a year after my surgery, I got down to 285, then plateaued there for a while. I have spent most of my time since between 290 and 305, once getting up to 330. In 2017, I nearly died from a massive, undiagnosed liver infection, and after my three-week hospital stay, I was down to 267. I was back up to 310 in Jan. 2019, and since then a year-long progress to 270, and I've been between 270-280 for the last 15 months or so. During those 15 months, I have had a couple of months-long periods of being very careful and planned, logging food and staying under 2,200 calories and over 100g of protein per day. I have also had a couple of extended stretches of not being as careful eating—consuming more junk calories, but being pretty consistent not over-eating and stopping when I'm full. I was confused as to why my weight stayed the same no matter what I did, so I consulted a regular dietitian, someone who is not focused on bariatric patients, but who has worked with several before me. Her opinion was that I wasn't getting enough calories, that I should be aiming for 2,700 calories per day, with macros of 220g protein, 200g carbs, and 110g fats. I have tried doing this, but am finding it very, very difficult to hit those marks. To get even close while stopping when I start to get full, it seems like I am eating all day long every couple of hours. (One more note: I have been getting little to no exercise mainly because of debilitating back pain (from degenerative disc disease and arthritis) that just keeps getting worse and does not respond to any medications or treatments. Hydrocodone, which I'm not taking currently, does nothing, I feel zero effects from it, like they were placebos. Nerve ablation made it worse, and one highly respected back surgeon says all I can do is lose weight.)

Headed home pain is just from gas no site pain was able to get a lot more fluids in. My program has a weight loss app called Bariatrics. I was able to set up 15 min reminders to drink something this is very helpful since time goes by so fast and you need to stay hydrated I haven’t mastered how to reply on my phone but Thank you everyone for the support

that's one of the main reasons I've stayed active on bariatric sites. It keeps my head in the game.

I recall feeling the exact same at that stage! Felt very despondent that I had gone through surgery and it hadn’t seemed to help, I was convinced at one point the surgeons had just made incisions and forgotten to actually do the operation!! I carried on with my eating programme and as the days went on I learned to discern head hungry from tummy hungry, I actually found that when I told my head to get over itself as I wasn’t hungry it really worked!!! At around 14 days I was allowed to start on very soft, mushy baby food type things and this is when things started to change. I keep carbs to below 30g a day and eat lots (well, as much as Bariatric surgery allows...) of healthy, real protein like chicken and fish which were blended with a bit of low fat Mayo, ff yoghurt and some little spices coupled with veg like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and butternut (2 veg per dinner) and my hunger definitely changed. I eat the above type meals twice a day with a protein shake daily to keep me topped up. I’m on soft, real foods now and I still stick with the above meal layouts and I am not finding too many issues with being hungry. Oh, almost forgot that keeping water up in between was super important. When I get bored of water I would mix some low cal juice concentrate with the water which works a treat getting fluid in. Keeping a check on the carbs (less than 30g) and good, real protein (between 50-70g) seems to be working for me right now and keeping my calories between 550-700cal pd without the starving to death feeling. Good luck 😊

I found one in “the complete bariatric cookbook and meal plan” Chocolate pudding protein pops One 3.9 OZ Package of chocolate flavored instant pudding 2 cups cold low fat milk 2 scoops chocolate protein powder I haven’t made it yet but I am going to try a chocolate protein shake and the pudding mix!

I talked to my Surgeon about this hunger issue yesterday at my one-week post-op appt. He said with the DS there is "more stomach" than the other surgeries, so its not unusual to be hungry. He wanted to make sure it was not the pyloric valve (stomach to the duodenum) that was inflamed and making it feel like hunger. I have had no other issues and have easily been able to meet hydration and protein goals. He let me go ahead and add a small amount of plain Greek yogurt, applesauce, and cottage cheese to my full liquid diet. I also started in drinking several glasses of hot green tea with stevia (helps). Just an FYI, but I would suggest asking your Dr if your hunger is really feeling like an issue. He also recommended some gas x, and Devrom (sold on bariatric pal), as it seems I'm somewhat sensitive to all the whey protein...if you know what I mean.