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The website is Fill Centers USA - Weight Loss Surgery - Bariatric Surgery - Gastric Bypass Surgery - Lap Band Surgery Information and Support

my Dr. said that he must have cut knicked a blood vessel during surgery ,but I was'nt bleeding when he closed me up. I'll never know the truth, this surgeon was suppose to have 20 years experience w/ bariatric surgery. Just make sure you try to talk to other patients that have used your DR. before your surgery, I wish I had

In my state, when you get your license renewed, they don't take the old one. So I have my licenses from the last 20 years. I happened to pull them out the other day and was horrified! I had no idea I looked as bad as I did. In one, my face was as round as a balloon with no neck! It's now stuck to my refrigerator door as a reminder. Every time I look at it I want to puke. .

Mine isn't due for renewal until 2013, but might have to have it done sooner.. I look very little like my picture since -180 lbs. I've talked to others who've had problems because they changed so much.. Police & Airport Security didn't want to accept the ID.

My suggestions are: Cytosport's Whey Isolate ready to drink (RTD) drinks are better than Isopure in my opinion. I have bought them at Vitamin Shoppe, 3.79 a bottle. It's 32 oz of whey isolate Protein in each 16 oz bottle. Do NOT buy a bunch of anything until after your surgery - make sure you try everything first as your taste does and will change. Cytosport drinks can be bought in singles, refrigerated from Vitamin Shoppe. I personally hated Isopure. And those nasty protein bullets. In my support group last week, someone mentioned that sunkist makes protein bullets that are good. IDK as I haven't tried them, but fyi. unjury chicken soup (just don't heat it above 160 degrees or it'll clump). Unjury also has unflavored that you can mix into crystal light or Jello (mix it with homemade jello). nectar syntax has some flavors that are good mixed with Water ... you can buy them on BJ Bariatrics in a sample pack (it's like 12 for $14). GOOD LUCK!

Hi and welcome, I live in the UK. Well done for making the decision to go ahead with surgery, its a big step. I am currently on the pre-op diet which is two weeks of nothing more than fluids with a few jelly pots thrown in for good measure. Its tougher than i anticipated, and if its a pre-requisite of whats to come then I know i'm going to have to be strong and committed. Like you I was a tubby child that turned into a fat teenager thats turned into an obese adult, I yo-yo'd for years and then I had my son in 2003 and weight just wouldn't shift. I developed Diabetes type 2 and Hypertension, I spoke to my Dr and she made me read up loads on the internet on Bariatric medicine, and here I am 6 months later on my pre-op diet and my surgery is scheduled for next Friday 24th. I wanted to improve my health so I would be around to see my son grow-up and with luck his kids too. This site has proved invaluable for hints tips and information, even in the short time I've been using it. I know it will help you to. The surgery is the easy part I'm sure of that, its the living with the band and its restrictions thats the hard part.:rolleyes2:

I agree, call your insurance to get a copy of the policy so you don't have any surprises. Mine was all the weights they recorded prior to submitting to my insurance.....this included weights recorded at the 2 visits at my surgeon's office, one at nutritionist's office, and my last bariatric surgery education class....and they all had to be within the guidelines.

I have heard of this on this, Several times, on BP. And if I remember correctly, it was around the 2 year mark. Personally, I have not experienced it. Maybe get hold of your nutrionist from your bariatric team for suggestions. I specifically remember at least one person coming back and mentioning the issue had resolved, but can't recall how. On another note, it's great you have maintained your weight, relatively well. I never got down to my goal weight and have regained about 11 pounds! It's a real struggle to get it off.

YES! My mom recently told me I was too skinny. My therapist gently reminded me to pay attention to where these comments are coming from. In my case, usually other women that might feel threatened that my role in the friendship or familial relationship has changed; i.e. I was always overweight and they were always smaller or "better" than I was. Now that I am smaller than my mom (she's never been overweight but she's now a size 10/12 and I'm a 6/8), she feels that the balance in that part of our relationship has changed. I try not to internalize it. I don't care what anyone says, I'm a size 8 down from a 32/34 and I feel fantastic! I simply tell people I will stop losing when my surgeon tells me to. After all, they know the post-bariatric body better than anyone.

So glad to hear he’s coming around! I think that is a common fear with partners. Realistically the divorce rate after bariatric surgery is high, but a lot of that is people who settled for a partner now discovering options, or a person in an unhealthy relationship being willing to pull the plug.

@@LipstickLady thank you dear heart...please list me in the will as a titanium benefactor (ha!). I appreciate all you've guided me through more than you could know! I will go dormant, but definitely keep in touch and update (if that's OK?). I guess all perspectives are good in a bariatric forum...it keeps things real. I just don't know if that's a violation? <3 K

$5500 - Dr. Kelly for a BMI up to 50. $6000 - Dr. Kelly for a BMI over 50. $4000 - Dr. Illan at Baja Bariatrics. (I *believe that Dr. Illan was the second surgeon in the room when I had my surgery with Dr. Kelly. I think he still works with Dr. Kelly and is building a practice of his own. Omar, my coordinator with Dr. Kelly, is a coordinator for Dr. Illan.)

Hey Team WLS, Wanted to post a proper farewell to the community before ghosting, since so many of you have been supportive and informative since June when I began classes at Kaiser. As of last week, I'm just 5 pounds shy of 100 total pounds lost from my all-time highest weight of 426 pounds. The reason I decided to pursue surgery is that I plateaued—and thought then 70 pounds lost was the best that I could do. Yes, the loss has been slow, but it is a fact: I've maintained this 72 pound loss over the last three years. Since starting the Kaiser preop classes in July, I've lost another 23 pounds (I learned about macronutrients and protein!). I've been treading deep waters in the community for 16 weeks, and have gained invaluable knowledge. Surgery, at least where I stand now, is not for me. There isn't enough data for women of childbearing age, and I'm concerned about a host of issues. Short term? Yes: surgery addresses weight and the various complications that come with obesity. Long term? I want to see data on osteoporosis, and what the aging Bariatric population looks like. I understand the very valid arguments for everyone who is pro-surgery, and I totally respect you for the decision to go under the knife—more so now. It addresses the immediate and/or looming threats of obesity...when the surgery is used as a tool. In the past sixteen weeks, I've seen more trouble than not in the WLS Community, and quietly observing the trials and tribulations...at least in regard to **my individual case**, the surgery would make my quality of life terrible. From where I stand now, I don't want to spend the rest of my life not drinking Water with dinner. I don't want to worry about spicy things, mineral water, fruit acids, and knowing that I have titanium staples in my body. I don't want to have the very serious major surgery, and with the statistically guaranteed future weight gain, go through the mind-**** that is post-op guilt/freak out. Currently the only comorbidity I have with obesity is the number on the scale; no issues with blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, etc. I've had long talks with the physiologist that is our class counselor, and my past injuries in running are quite common. The more active you are, the more likely one is to get injured, especially with running. Injuries happen; keep going. Strengthen. Come back better. If I lost all the weight with surgery, I'd still be the same young woman I am right now, just smaller. If I lost all the weight without surgery, I'd still be the same young woman I am now, just smaller. ...and at 5:00am right now, I am who I am. I weigh 330.4 pounds, am a size 20W, 2X. I surf, swim, do yoga. I'm strengthening my legs and am able to sprint for short spurts, working up to long distance running again. I travel the world. I was in a professional photoshoot 2 weeks ago for an upcoming event, and loved every single picture. This past weekend, I purged my closet, and literally donated 75% of my prior wardrobe instead of hanging on to the past 4-6X, 26-32W pieces. My life is fun, my brain is cool...and I am comfortable in my current body. There is always room for improvement and the human body is capable of incredible things—I will continue to pursue improvement and peak fitness, but I am also grounded in the present. This is all telling in and of itself. The only guaranteed outcome of the surgery is forced portion control. Physiologically, with surgery or not, our bodies will fight us to stay fat for our entire lives. It will always be a battle. I'm giving myself until my next birthday to quietly and diligently keep plugging away at my weight now that I've learned information that has clearly broken the through plateau. In eight months, I will re-evaluate. Should I hit my benchmark of continued weight loss, I'll know I made the right choice. If I have gained weight back? I'll reconsider the surgery. For the surgery OGs that stepped in to provide tenured knowledge, for the newbies who shared their recent experiences, for those successful; but above all, for those who are struggling, I am inspired by you. All of my love, and thank you, —K Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today is my 2 week post op! Since surgery I have lost 21 pounds! I have been weighing myself daily which was great until yesterday when I stepped on the scale and it said I had gained 3 pounds. Today I stepped on it again and it said I lost 1 of the 3 I gained. This was frustrating to me. I am not over eating and in fact I'm not getting more than 500-600 calories in a day. I feel a little bloated too. I just had my menstrual cycle so it isn't premenstrual swelling. I have my first 2 week post op apt in an hour so I will see what the doctor says. I'm hoping she allows me to move onto pureed food. We spend years putting on the weight and expect it to come off in days. I need to relax! Slow and steady. I'm so glad I have Bariatric pal to turn to when I have questions and there are tons of people who have had or are having the same questions. This site is so helpful! Love it!

I had my Sleeve done last November, right in the thick of Covid. I am not sure if Covid made a difference but I imagine it did. My private hospital was picking up a lot of ops from the NHS. It was very busy. In all it took 8 months from start to finish. I was initially told 4 - 6 months. The hospital that I went to had to stop its Bariatric work and have its practices audited. That took an extra, very frustrating 2 months. Every surgeon has their own pre op diet some lucky people have none or just a day on liquids. I got 3 weeks of milk and vegetables. High carb veg was not allowed.

Thank you for your replies. May post op appointment is on Tuesday the 15th, so I’ll be talking to them about it then. Hopefully they can suggest a psych that has experience with bariatric patients. If not, I see my primary later that week. I’ve felt a lot of stress and anxiety that I can’t find the triggers. It’s also possible I’m starting a manic phase because I know mine are triggered by extreme stress. My moms picking me up for a “mani/pedi” day later, so fingers crossed that helps. 🥰

This is interesting. You are the second person I've come across not on the regular list of Vitamins & nutrients. From everything I have read bariatric patients need a multi Vitamin 2x's a day, Calcium, Vitamin D, & B12 supplements and some may even require extra Iron. It was my understanding that our bodies no longer can absorbs all the nutrients we need and thus require supplements for life. I'm wonder if this is a new thing. It may be why you are feeling so tired and week. Here's the discussion with the other person I came across.

OK.. Here comes the tough love I haven't had surgery yet, so if you are thinking you haven't done this yet so you don't know.. I will respond you are right, but i am a few days out and will be in the same seat as you by the end of the week. Think about all the reasons why you did this? The good that will come out of it in the end. Think of all the things you want to do that you don't or won't because of your size. I will give you two of my things that i will focus on after surgery for when i am feeling just like you are. 1. It sucks to have season passes to Universal and NOT fit in the seats. You know I bought season passes to Disney because they accommodate bigger people? My Goal is to renew my Universal Pass this month JUST SO i can ride EVERY RIDE in the park at the end of next year. 2. I take ballroom dancing as a hobby, more so because my son is a professional dance instructor and I got tired of him asking me to try it for 7 years. But i did, now i love it, but i REFUSE to wear one of those amazing bejeweled dresses for competitions because of my size. I went to a competition in September in Miami that my fellow students were competing in and my son was competing in, wishing i could participate. Next year! I will Participate. My point being.. focus on the reasons that led you to decide to get this done. I too have no health issues, heck i didn't even have a PCP until i decided to do this and that is only because my EKG came back that i needed medical clearance, so i had to go find a doctor. From what i have been reading here within 2 weeks or so we will be back to normal. Think of this as a vacation from normalcy LOLOL.. Anyways, I am here to listen, and can try to help for as long as needed.

i use them and they arent new,that hospital just became a center of exxcellence for bariatrics,they were sending us to monclair for the surgery.i had dr.reich do my surgery and his team are awesome.good luck with your appointment

I have Kaiser in Southern California and my PCP was VERY unsupportive! All I needed from her was a referral to the Health Ed dept and the Bariatric program takes over from there. Don't let the first DR discourage you! She's obviously closeminded and shouldn't be in a field where she helps people!!

@@Alex Brecher love, love, love The Good Wife (drama) you deserve/need a break after seeing/and hearing from some of those weird people on bariatric pal ohhhhh can anyone else see that i wrote that?? have fun catching up on your shows kathy

My bariatric team has advised me to find a new pastime since I watch way too much tv, but can't stop me from watching the series finale of my favorite show tonight, parenthood!!!! I don't want to say goodbye to the Bravermans!!!!!!

The bariatric coordinator told me that I could not leave the hospital unless someone was there to drive me home but there were no other requirements for anyone's attendance while in the recovery room. But I didn't ask about that either.

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Right now, I'm in a holding pattern, because I found out last week that my employer's policy with United does NOT cover any kind of bariatric surgery AT ALL. This, despite me calling UHC on three different occasions and each time giving them the procedure code as well as my group and subscriber numbers. Each time, they told me that our policy covered it at 90% with an in-network doctor. I was going to the seminar with Dr Hitchcock at KC Bariatric, and thanks to the advice of their front office, I contacted my HR to get a copy of the coverage details of our insurance. It was only when I spoke with HR that I was told that our policy doesn't cover bariatrics. Even if I were to have a BMI over 40, and co-morbidities, they will not cover. So right now, I'm stuck. I really want to do this, but self pay isn't an option. I could more easily deal with paying off 10% as opposed to 100%. I kind of don't know what to do next.

I had gotten the starter kit from unjury and sample packets from (bjs bariatrics website )Syntrax. I also have pure Protein powder(store bought). I tried them all while on my pre op diet...they saved me and kept me going each day..the different tastes they all gave were a nice change. Post op, they all tasted the same to me. But you won't feel up to much of anything besides clear thin liquids for a few days or a week or two. All depends on your sleeve and recovery. I had and still have a very tight sleeve..even at 3 months post op. It was swollen shut post op for the first couple days and I couldn't take anything in.. (that doesn't seem to be the norm tho) I started to feel human again about a week n a half 2 weeks. I wasn't a fan of the Clear Liquids stage at all..but trudged threw it and followed the plan. Once I was allowed the shakes again was when I felt better for sure. I never had buyers remorse as they say...I just really disliked the clear liquids stage. I have followed my plan to a T and have had great results so far. 3 months post op and I've lost 48% or 68 pounds. Now, for Breakfast I have either a rtd pure Protein shake (target or walmart) or I will add a scoop of syntrax cookie flavor to my cooled coffee. Good luck with your journey!