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I had surgery in November and just told people I was going to rent a house a few hours away with my family for two weeks. It was true, but I was also getting surgery as well. At first nobody commented on weight loss, probably because I had been dieting since July so it’s not like anything dramatically changed. Suddenly this last week I have had multiple comments per day from coworkers and i appreciate the sentiment but I work with hundreds of people and to be honest I’m getting tired of it. I just hit 100 lbs lost, but I have another 70 or so to go. I told my husband, and one coworker actually ran into me at the bariatric class so she knows. I just told one of my good friends a few days ago, because she’s overweight as well and if she’s interested in the surgery then I feel she deserves to know. Other than that, it’s my business and unless I’m very close to someone and I think they might benefit from knowing about the surgery, I’m not going to share it.

@Staggs I’m not 100% sure on that, but I know they do offer coaching programs that include customized nutrition. So my assumption is that they would be able to work around the needs of a bariatric patient as well.

They can offer a nutrition plan for bariatric patients?

One of the recommendations from my dietician was to see a psychologist as part of the process. This tool is only one part of a lifestyle change, and not the easy way out. My foods were fine beforehand, but the volume I was eating was out of control. Also alcohol was a crutch for me too manage my extremely demanding life. So I have stopped drinking, and managing stress in other ways. If you aren't ready to make holistic changes, I would seriously reconsider the surgery and delay it. Find a bariatric specialised psychologist who can really delve into your dependency that I think you are eluding to. You can do this, believe me. But maybe not right now.... just my thoughts. Xxx

In retrospect, I wish my doctor had said that when suggesting bariatric. I suppose they don’t want to overprescribe surgery, but it is important for physicians to understand the shame and guilt that comes with obesity and provide more context when recommending WLS.

I always KNEW it wasn't my fault I couldn't lose weight successfully. Over the years I picked up so many healthy eating habits that stuck with me, and ate healthier than most people I know, and still was fatter than all of them. I still saw myself as a failure for never being able to lose weight and keep it off. The surgeon who took out my gallbladder recommended wls to me and I'll never forget him saying it is almost impossible for someone, especially the bigger they are, to lose weight and keep it off, and surgery resets all of that. His words were so validating. I had considered wls for years but never seriously until he said that to me. I made my appt. with a bariatric surgeon that day. It's so different now that I've had surgery. I actually see results for my efforts and I couldn't be happier. It really upsets me when I see articles that tell people that weight it basically all within our control, because it really is not. I'm not staying our habits don't have anything to do with it, because they do, but it's so much more complicated than that. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was told by my nutritionist to check out the Great Low Carb Bread Co. Wow am I glad I did! They make it all-breads, pastas, rice...whatever you want. There's no risk of dumping or weight gain. Just stick with a serving and you'll be good. It's all about portion-control when it comes to anything with our new lifestyle. I was sharing in another post on here that the other night, I mastered the art of "bariatric friendly mac and cheese" and tbh I couldn't be happier. In addition to that company, there's a whole slew of low carb and carb-free brands of pastas, breads, etc to try. I've tried several and while pricey, they're definitely worth it if you need that occasional "pasta fix." FYI if you're wondering about sauce, Ragu and Prego both make no sugar added sauces that are quite good! Good luck!

HealthWise is an excellent brand for microwaveable meals. The only downside is they're not sold in stores and have to be ordered online. I find I can eat their pasta-based dishes without worrying about weight gain or dumping. Their lasagna is especially delicious. As a side note if you ever do have a hankering for pasta though, I highly recommend you try out the Great Low Carb Bread Co. I mastered bariatric-friendly macaroni and cheese thanks to their macaroni and am more than pleased! Unfortunately, a lot of what we can eat as far as "quick fixes" just aren't sold in stores and/or are hard to find. It sucks. 😕

I actually heard Mexico is really bad with the Covid Pandemic right now so, personally I'd go somewhere closer to home. I mean, Blossom Bariatrics is in Vegas have you looked into that? There's a lot of people on this site who went to Blossom and their prices are pretty close to those of Mexico. And they're in the US...

I had the RNY Bariatric surgery laparoscopy Sent from my U693CL using BariatricPal mobile app

I was drinking Premier Protein before surgery, but can really stomach them since. I really like the fairlife protein drinks. Salted caramel is my absolute favorite. I have also been playing around with making my own flavors with using the powders. I just went to Pinterest and looked up bariatric shakes. I've tried a few different recipes just to change it up some.

Hi! I'm new here and was considering going to Dr Ramos Kelly in Mexico for gastric sleeve surgery however this is the email that I got back and because it is so poorly put together, I am reconsidering. Has anyone else here had recent surgery with Dr Kelly? what was your experience? HI ,Tacey ,My name is Cecy and working office of a Dr Kelly Thanks for requesting more information, and we're glad to hear that you're interested in having surgery through . Please fill out your complete medical form, send the link . https://www.drramoskelly.com/full-form/ practically all include the same, Our All-Inclusive, Best Value Pricing All Prices Include the Following ☑️One travel companion’s stay ☑️Blood work, EKG, and physical ☑️Ground pick-up and drop-off ☑️Hospital stay (2 nights) ☑️Surgery ☑️Anesthesiologist ☑️Antibiotics and pain medicine ☑️Special price the Hotel room (1 night) ☑️before surgery after surgery ☑️Local sightseeing tour (optional) ☑️Calls home to USA ☑️WiFi ☑️Aftercare support bariatric nurse STARTING AT GASTRIC SLEEVE $3950 GASTRIC SLEEVE $ 4350 GASTRIC SLEEVE HOSPITAL ANGELES TIJUANA $6500 of the most common weight loss surgeries and the #1 surgery we perform at Dr. Ramos Kelly I SHARE THESE TESTIMONIAL LINKS https://youtu.be/kR4jHP5WTfI https://youtu.be/JCdyFjuPDKg https://www.facebook.com/drramoskelly/ https://www.instagram.com/drramoskelly/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBVCpr0YOEsDosECgF_JumQ Financing available https://secure.citerrafinance.com/apply Please also let us know what would be the best time to call and what time zone you are in. We would really appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and discuss more about the health benefits that bariatric surgery offers and how we can help you. So thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon Sincerely, Cecilia Thacher RN

I'm a sleeve to bypass revision and I've lost 40 pounds since my bypass surgery on 10/29/20 (17 weeks post-op). Since my surgery was for GERD and not officially bariatric, I didn't have as much to lose to get to my goal weight. But I want to lose a few pounds more just to give myself some "wiggle" room once I'm past the honeymoon period. I know that weight gain is possible, and very likely probable, after the 1st year. I wasn't really prepared for maintenance after my sleeve surgery in 2014 and gained almost 50 lbs. in the 6 years following surgery. I want to be better prepared to maintain a normal weight since I've been given a second chance to truly change my relationship with food!

Same. I had my surgery in October. I told 4 people close to me because I didn't want to be known to the rest of the world as the girl that had the weight loss surgery. A friend that had the surgery said that she felt that way and wished she hadn't shared it with others. I'm a pretty private person, so her comments stuck with me. As I've been losing weight and people ask what I'm doing, I just tell them I'm doing keto. The bariatric diet is high in protein and low in carbs, so the diet they see me eating reflects that. Also, I don't feel like I'm lying because I am basically doing keto. Everyone has their own path- just do what's best for you!

This is what my surgeon gave me...your mileage may vary! Protein shakes, Milk 1% or less (I recommend Fair Life), Greek Yogurt in addition to the clear liquids (Bariatric Clear Liquids, Broth, De-caf Coffee or Tea, Diet Jello). I highly recommend looking into the Bariatric Hot Cocoa from this site or Amazon. I also recommend Swanson Sipping Bone Broth at this stage. Good luck! Post Op Diet & Boot Camp.pdf

This is an interesting article about the myth of soda stretching your stomach written by a doctor and medical director of a bariatric center. Soda is not a good choice. Even diet soda might make you overeat. It's devoid of nutrition. It might deplete your calcium. It really should be eliminated as much as possible. But it's not gonna stetch your sleeve/pouch. With two weak valves at either end, the PSI simply isn't there to stretch a muscle with gas. Yes, doctors and nutritionists tell you this routinely. Because soda is a lousey choice and maybe you won't drink it if they make it sound scary. Again...not advocating for my choices...just sayin...not all doctors sell this myth. https://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/drinking-soda-after-wls-debunking-the-myth/ There are some great REAL reasons not to drink soda, however! Very worth a read.

BCBS FED Basic olan has no deductible, it is PPO (out of network providers not paid) and out of pocket maximum is NOT affected by bariatric surgery (they keep it secret). Hospital care: inpatient $175 per day, up to $875 per admission, outpatient $100 (my surgery was outpatient). Surgery: $150 in office settings, $200 in non-office settings.

Hey, whats is the best tasting chewable vitamins? I was online looking at bariatric advantage. Has anyone tried these? What's your favorite?? Feb 23 rd is my surgery date. Less than a week! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

The only person who knows is my mother because I'm under her insurance so she would've eventually found out. I chose not to tell my 6 siblings or my father because I witnessed how they spoke about my sister's sleeve surgery, and while it wasn't negative I just didn't like the idea of someone discussing me, my body, or my eating habits. Coincidentally, I had a different health issue I was going to physical therapy for, so I told them I was having surgery for that. For the past 6 months I've just been relating my doctor visits to that issue instead of bariatric surgery.

lots of people have revised, so some may chime in here. It usually does resolve GERD (although not always -- tracyringo, who's on here, hasn't seen any improvement yet, unfortunately) - but for most people, yes - it stops it. most RNY'ers don't dump (the statistic that gets thrown around a lot is 30% of us dump, although I don't know if there's any hardcore medical research behind that number. However, I've been on bariatric boards for the last six years, and I know a lot of us don't dump - so that number doesn't surprise me. And no - you don't dump on Splenda or other artificial sweeteners. Just sugar - and for some people, fats (although I should add that some artificial sweeteners, esp sugar alcohols, give some people G/I distress - but that's true of normal people, too - not just WLS patients). weight loss supposedly isn't as fast or easy with revisions as it is with virgin surgeries, but some people do manage to make their goal.

The reason your nutritionist said not due is most likely due to the fact that the studies on them are still in progress. The only finished study I found said that B12 and D3 were still low after those. I am trying the patches but am also taking oral D3 and B12 with this information known. Edit: I only bought a 1 month supply (before surgery) but never used them so I am only using htem while waiting on some bariatric pills to ship in. I am working on still taking pills to cover the vitamins as they have a lot higher rate of absorption and have more studies already done on them without deficiencies.

I only know this through hanging out on this and other bariatric boards for the last six or so years, but for both types of surgeries, it depends on the surgeon (like it does with so many other things, it seems...). Many surgeons say no - forever - to carbonated beverages - but some are OK with it once your a ways out if your stomach can handle it. I've tried it (even though my surgeon is one of the "no" people), but it hurts my stomach, so I can't do it. It's fine, though - after being away from it for so long, it tastes like a bunch of chemicals to me now (which is basically what it is..)

I was 47 with a 35 BMI, the minimum my insurance would cover. Looking back, I would have had the surgery at a lower BMI to avoid the negative feelings I had about myself as my weight continued to grow and dieting continued to fail me. After a certain age, which is different for all of us, our metabolism slows making weight loss much more difficult. This surgery is the absolute BEST thing I've ever done for myself physically. Prior to the surgery, I shared many of the concerns others share on this site. While I never suffered from eating disorders or food obsessions, I certainly loved to eat and eat well. I cooked frequently for myself and large groups of friends, and my lifestyle is social -- most of my social activities revolve around eating and drinking. So what has changed? Nothing, and everything. I still love to eat, and I still love what I eat. Other than pre-surgery and the first 2 months or so after, I haven't counted calories, haven't tracked macros, etc. The pre-surgery diet, although it felt brutal at the time, was extremely beneficial in getting my mind used to smaller portions. Knowing that I could do it, even with my whole stomach intact, was empowering. The post-surgery diet, which included counting calories for ~2 months, and more importantly accurately portioning my food (½ cup, ¾ cup, etc.), allowed me to gauge what a "sleeve" meal should consist of and look like. My social gatherings still revolve around food and drinks. I still cook for large groups. I still eat whatever I want. Pizza, pasta, French fries, etc. In that respect nothing has changed. I didn't drink alcohol for almost a year, but now I have a glass or two of wine almost every day, plus the occasional vodka (Deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka with water -- in Austin, TX they call it "pink crack). What has changed is that I mostly only WANT to eat things that are high in protein and otherwise healthy. Rather than wake up and drink 2-3 Diet Cokes, I drink water all day, every day. And not only do I not miss the soda, I crave the water. I carry it with me everywhere. If I've portioned correctly, I stop eating when my plate is empty. If I happen to add more to my plate than the recommended amount, my stomach tells me I've eaten enough before my plate is empty. I have more energy, I feel stronger physically, and I don't hate the mirror or the camera. FOOD: I eat every 3-4 hours. Breakfast is typically either: 2 eggs + 2 strips bacon, or a bowl of Kashi Go Lean high protein cereal with Fairlife (higher in protein) milk. Sometimes I go wild and use Fairlife chocolate milk on the cereal - LOL! Lunch: if not leftovers of last night's dinner, usually it's 6 Triscuits with lunchmeat and cheese, or 6 saltines with chicken or tuna salad. Not sure why, but 6 seems to be my magic number when it comes to crackers. If I want a sandwich, I eat a sandwich, but I buy those little party rye loaves with the tiny pieces of bread and I always toast them -- like a grilled cheese sandwich, but with meat and cheese. I will add horseradish to roast beef, or chipotle mayo, spinach leaves, tomato slices, or whatever. You'd be surprised how flavorful and satisfying you can make a tiny little sandwich. And I savor every bite. Dinner: Salmon, chicken, steak, shrimp, fish -- I have at least one of those every night for dinner, broiled, grilled, sautéed, stir-fry, or occasionally fried in coconut oil. Sides include a green veggie and a starch -- rice, pasta, potato. Those are mostly for my husband. I eat the protein, plus a very small portion of the sides. The fourth meal, either between lunch and dinner, or after dinner depending on what time we eat, is the same as what I described for lunch. I don't prioritize fruits or veggies, but I eat them when I want or when my body tells me it needs them. I get random cravings for oranges or salad, which I think is my body's way of telling me I need them. Also, I eat every meal now on a salad plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a small thing, but helps with portion control and to combat the visual impact of a nearly empty plate. THE DOWN SIDE: For me, months 3-9 were the most challenging, and mostly with social environments. I'm one of the people who didn't share my journey with my friends. After the third month, the weight loss was drastic. Month after month I dropped size after size. A good thing, right? Of course. But trying to maintain the secret, sit at a dinner table filled with food and friends, and eat at most a cup of food with no wine or cocktail? Sheesh, that was hard. The worst part was having overweight acquaintances ask me about the secret to my success. I wanted to share this amazing gift with everyone, but I chose not to trade the privacy of my personal health journey to become an ambassador for bariatric surgery. Now the questions have died down and I'm just normal me. I weigh myself 4-5 days a week. I hit goal about 8 months after surgery, and since then (21 months) I've gone +/- 3 pounds. If I eat pizza or fries, it's a small portion and not on a regular basis. Same with dessert. I'm actually satisfied with one Hershey kiss. Bizarre. It's like everything our doctors told us -- eat less, move more, eat healthier, use moderation. What seemed impossible to accomplish on a regular-sized stomach became simple with a tiny one. Sorry for this long post. I read everything I could find on this site pre-surgery and it really helped to have so many different perspectives from so many people. Our journeys are all different, and what works for some may not work for others. It's normal to feel nervous. But if you were to tally the regrets on this site, they would mostly be that we didn't take this step sooner.

Today, I was reading a list of guidelines regarding supplies that households should keep on hand to survive 3 or more days in case of earthquakes, winter utility outages, etc. One prominent requirement is to have non-perishable foods stocked, for example, but many of the emergency kits seem to be hugely slanted towards pasta. I wonder if anyone here keep an emergency kit stocked, and, if so, what do you stock for your non-perishable bariatric food needs?

Hi! I had my SIPS surgery about 2 and a half weeks ago at Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas. They specialize in helping out of state patients and the whole thing from consultation, meeting with the dietician, EGD, pre-op/post op checks are included in 5 days and you get to go home. The only thing not included was the care companion which I had to pay additional for to help me after my surgery. The care companion is optional and if you have someone who can go with you and take care of you after surgery then you don’t need that. I went alone and everything was included in the price quote plus hotel, transportation, surgery etc. hope this helps. If you have more questions just let me know