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I just had a fantastic experience at Mexicali Bariatric Centre at the Hospital Almater. I posted about it in the Mexico forum. I can re-post it below. I certainly have no issues with my experience there at all

@@Ryan TN Tennova Turkey Creek (unless things have changed very recently). They used to be at Parkwest but moved their practice and hospital center to Tennova a couple of years ago. They take great care of you there -- the whole fourth floor is for bariatric surgery patients.

I have a friend that is researching Bariatric Surgery and very interested in the Sleeve. She has seen several doctors in the Pacific Northwest and has been given various expert opinions on whether by-pass or sleeve is the best. She is on an emotional roller coaster. I would like to give her some advice from actual sleeve patients. Any thoughts on this? (I did not have to have a hernia repair, but I know several of you did.) Any thoughts are welcome!!!! Surgeon A strongly advises against the sleeve for people with a hiatal hernia, even after repair. Since he does more sleeves than the other surgeon, it seems wisest to listen to him.

Omg..I actually am opposite of you..I had health net 3yrs ago and was referred to Pacific bariatric. .went to seminar in October and by December I was told I would be scscheduled for surgery in January. .did everything from pre op classes to all the testing required. .sadly the medical board denied me last minute despite my countless pages and pages of documented attempts to lose weight that spanned almost 10 years...fast forward to last year in April I am back with Kaiser and I was approved for the options program..had surgery 3weeks ago..Pacific bariatric I thought did good in terms of making you informed. .perhsps not as much as Kaiser but maybe things have changed I was under the care of Dr. Suh at the time...I was happy overall in the way things moved smoothly. .but unfortunately like I said getting approved last minute wsd an issue.

Thanks for posting this! I will look for these! It seems like a good thing for right after surgery when I am trying to get even small amounts down but trying hard to get in my protein. I think I will do half at a time like you did and then I will be sure the absorption issue is covered. What all flavors do they have? I was thinking about ordering some things from Bariatric Advantage but after hearing your disappointment in them and how long it is taking to get your order, I may rethink that and just get some Unjury powder instead.

I am using Dr. Strain at Englewood Hospital in Englewood, NJ. He is at a Bariatric Center of Excellence. He works with two other surgeons, Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Morales. Dr. Morales just took out my Lap Band yesterday. She was great and Dr. Strain will be doing my Revision in September, he is great too. They also have a nutritionist right in the office (which is located on Engle St.) Their website is www.bergenlap.com

I actually was shocked with the insurance, it’s not through our regular health plan, its like an add-on that my husbands company has. Every procedure they cover is based on The Dr’s recommendation and not insurance guidelines. The only requirement is our deductible has to be met. It’s really a nice benefit. I was supposed to see Dr. Gorjala but he only sees patients on certain days. I was nervous about Dr. Lytle but ended up completely at ease. A little back story, I did not want the surgery, but all of my local doctors said I needed it. My BMI was only 32 I weighed 188 and am 5’0” and had been on weight watchers after a botched hysterectomy. I had gotten up to 201. I developed a large incisional hernia and no one would fix it until I was down to my ideal weight and weight watchers and gym was not doing it fast enough. My regular insurance would not cover it because my BMI was to low, I was only borderline diabetic, and no cardiac issues or high blood pressure. I was going to file a complaint with the health insurance and our insurance advocate told me about the program. Dr. Lytle reviewed my medical records and had to convince me that my local Drs were right and that I needed to have this surgery to get the hernia fixed. I just met with a local surgeon for the hernia, through the same program and found out how bad things really are, but because I had the surgery I can be fixed. All of my large and small intestines are outside of where they are supposed to be and I have no stomach wall so they need to rebuild it. I will lose my belly button. I live in Central Florida half way between Daytona and Orlando. My next surgery will be in Orlando at ORMC. Atlanta is huge and I do not miss driving around there. Thankfully we were staying in Sandy Springs around the corner from the hospital. We did travel to Centennial Park when we were there for consult. The traffic is horrible there so I can understand your concern. Lol. I want to wish you luck with everything. It sounds like you have been through a lot yourself. I know everyone at Bariatric Innovations will take great care of you! The trip was well worth it. I wanted Dr. Lytle to fix my hernia also and he agreed to do it, but I needed to consult with a local surgeon first. If it wasn’t so far I would have gone with Dr Lytle but because of the seriousness of the hernia I decided to go with a local surgeon to avoid all the traveling.

I'll see your Scrawny Neck bet and raise you emaciated old lady forearms, they are do thin they look l8je a skeleton with a thin layer of easy- bruis3 skin. And I am now bruising in areas I swear i I never bumped. Old age, no fat layer anymore or is my blood chemistry skewed? Know I was already an Iron INFUSION in March, wonder if this will be a quarterly event? If so, shouldnt somebody be ordering me a blood lab? We reach June the end 9f this week, and I think my Bariatric Clinic is beginning to neglect me, no visit scheduled until August , when I will be 11 months past Surgery.vMaybe since I'm this far out I am no longer interesting? Lets take care,of the New Surgeries, let Frustr8,swing in the breeze somewhere, kinda feel like I've been hung and nobody wants to cut down my body! I am nearly down to Onderland, And the only people,interested are,my Peeps on Bariatric Pal. Am I right to feel slightly neglected?

Well guys it has been 11 days since surgery. I have lost 18 pounds and 1 pant size... I dare say it has been a good experience so far. The only thing I don't like is the Bariatric Meal drinks I have to drink (7 a day). I am really looking forward to eating real food again even though I'm not really hungry right now. I have to say the sugar free popcicles have been a God send.... Without them I would have probably killed someone by now. Well gotta get back to being a loser... hehe

@MotoZen, I'd read that the author of Proteinaholic was a bariatric surgeon. Does he have anything written about pre-op and post-op plant-based diets, or would you be willing to share information from your nutritionists there? I've tried asking the dietitians at my program about plant-based options and they are really not helpful. I'm not 100% plant-based, but mostly plant-based, and I don't eat meat or consume dairy. I was really curious for his recommendations...

Morbid obesity is a life sentence without surgical intervention. Despite endless debate about the relative value of different approaches — in every scientific head-to-head comparison, diet plans that provide the same exercise and calories through different types of food lead to similar weight loss and regain within similar timeframes. The science could not be clearer: there is no diet that overrides the basic complex biological reality of obesity. Bariatric surgery is currently the only way to permanently alter your genetics, reset your defended weight or set point, lower your metabolism, and alter the pathways and production of brain and gut hormones such as PPY, GLP-1, CRF, CCK, NPY, leptin, ghrelin, dopamine, cortisol, etc. *Edited to add that I regret squandering several years of optimal health and well-being by attempting overcome biology and evolution with a WFPB diet, instead of just having WLS. Good on you for not doing that! WLS got you to where you are now, and WFPB will keep you there for life.

Have you utilized a BMR calculator and or TDEE calculator? They can provide some helpful insight. BMR calculator tells you how many calories your body burns at complete rest in a day. TDEE calculator tells you how many calories you burn a day at your specific activity level. These calculators can give you an idea if you're perhaps eating too few calories a day, especially if you're burning more calories than you realize when you work out. Also you mentioned weight lifting, and I was told by my trainer and bariatric surgeon to not lift heavy until I reach goal weight. Something about your body can't lose weight and build muscle simultaneously... so lower weights and higher reps is what I was told to do while losing weight. Best of luck to you! You'll get there!

I use the Jay Robb Egg Protein they have it at GNC, they may also sell it on the bariatric pal site too not sure.

cuorius... Has anyone actually tried and/or are taking the Vitamins from powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury????? i have my multi vitamins From Twinlab called Bariatric Advantage and im pretty happy with those ... however im still shopping around for a good combo of Calcium vit D3 and magnesium DONT JUST VIEW COMMENT TOO!

I had an umbilical hernia repair a few years ago when I had gall bladder surgery. My bariatric surgeon asked if I knew whether the hernia repair had mesh and I did know it did not because the surgeon didn't want to risk infection re gall bladder removal. I wonder if mesh is the issue. I know nothing about hiatal hernia repairs.

Syntrax nectar is fruit flavored Protein powder. At Bariatric Pantry you can get 25 different flavors. The sample pack has 13 flavors. Most of them mix well with Crystal Lite Lemonade. My personal favorite is the Grapefruit Nectar because when it is mixed with lemonade, it tastes just like Fresca Soda. http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/Syntrax_Nectar_Protein_s/4.htm

I'd like to eat or have you cater a bariatric meal. Some of the combinations you've come up with sound strange at first but the more I read they actually sound tasty. You are the Van Gogh or Leonardo DiVinci of food. And yeah, New England Clam Chowdah, ymmm! I loathe Manhattan , one time I had it NASTY. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

My Vitamins must be chewables, no gummies what so ever. They're sugary and don't have the vitamins we need. And my Calcium must be calcium citrate with Vitamin d, chews, which is very hard to find. Luckily my doctor sells Bariatric Advantage Sent from my SM-G900P using BariatricPal

@chris1985 hey dude/aka newbie!!! I agree @Diana_in_Philly - eating too fast is very bad. you must slllllow it down. chew into small bites, THEN swallow. No gulping allowed!! (people have been shot for less!!) use small (baby) utensils, that will help FORCE you to eat slowly. put utensil down between bites. then start again with eating. DON'T drink any water while you are eating anything! don't drink 30 minutes before you eat, then wait 30 minutes after you eat til you drink. find a support group in your area. (doc should help you/or office) maybe you could make a friend, then you can help each other. this board is very helpful, informative. continue to ask your questions, you'll there are bariatric books with recipes too. one example is Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies lots of information on various web sites!! KNOWLEDGE is POWER!! Good luck - kathy

I originally wanted the RNY, but after my bariatric surgeon consulted with my other physicians it was decided that VSG would be best due to a chronic disease requiring anti-inflamatories and other medications. 10 months post op and I don't regret my decision to have VSG. My stomach is still here, just smaller. I love the restriction it provides. I am still alarmed daily by the amount of food I used to eat!

Bariatric advantage chewy bites for iron and calcium. Store brand Flintstones chewable for multi vitamin.

and I figured it was time to check out Bariatric Pal and see if it is a good fit for me..being as I have tried lots of diets and lost lots of weight and gained it back every time plus..well, to put it mildly I go into this very cynically. It's a drastic move for me and I feel as if it is a last ditch effort. Its' exciting to look at before and after pictures and read the stories behind them but I don't want to get my hopes up. This will probably be more of an emotional situation for me then just a dieting thing- I can do diet with the best of them but hate limiting myself forever. I don't sit around eating bags of chips or quarts of ice cream or pkgs of oreos but I could eat healthier and exercise more except I have gotten into a rut as I've gotten older-eat out too much and I have so many aches and pains that I shy away from serious exercise. So..what's the success rate with this attitude? I have 6 weeks before the big day,I've read a BUNCH of books on the sleeve-recipe books,spiritual readiness,and a couple of funny ones about personal experiences and how they dealt with the ups and downs of this life-changing step (no pun intended) Look forward to learning how to navigate around this site and meeting some kindred spirits, gmalinda

Dear NAK77BRR, First of all, let me offer you my sympathies on your Mom passing away. My Mom is also one of my best friends. She is 90 now, and although still healthy and in her own home, I know she won't be around forever. I dread the day she is no longer there for me! Secondly, Congratulations on making a life changing choice! Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is truly a Life Changer! I was overweight ALL my life! I have been to every weight loss group, taken part in every new program, tried EVERY diet ever published in the Women's magazines. In short, I have DONE IT ALL (several times!), and NEVER with any lasting success! I joined (and when I got bored, quit) Weight Watchers 17 times! Every single time I lost at least 40-60 pounds. But every time when I quit, I gained it all back, plus a couple more pounds. It was so frustrating. I went from being mildly overweight (5'7" and 175 lbs) to being morbidly obese (258 lbs) after about 35 years of weight loss efforts. I thought about getting skinny 24/7. It consumed me, but I was always paralyzed with inaction. I could never really take a step towards doing something permanent. Finally I needed surgery for a hernia, and went to my 1st cousin, who is a general surgeon, but has had bariatric surgery himself. He is now specializing in bariatric surgery, specifically Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomies. When he was getting ready to do my hernia repair I asked him how hard it would be to slip a Lap Band in while he was repairing the hernia. He told me he didn't do Lap Bands anymore. He gave me all the stats about how they didn't have a very good success rate long term. He told me about VSG and highly suggested it. Unfortunately, my insurance wouldn't pay $0.01 towards bariatric surgery. So even though Steve (my cousin) offered to do my surgery free of charge, I chose to go to Mexico to have it done. (I would still have had to pay for hospital and anesthesia charges myself, which he estimated would be $15-20,000!) So off to Mexico I went last summer (June 18th) where I underwent a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Although my hospital experience was not perfect, I have had fantastic results (and no complications)! Just last week (or maybe it was the week before) I hit the 100 pounds lost mark. I have another 8-18 pounds to loose to reach my goal. Originally I wanted to weigh around 150, now I am thinking of adjusting my goal downwards to 140. (Currently weigh 158 lbs) I too was a boarderline diabetic. I had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, was on anti-inflammatories for my joint aches and pains, bad environmental allergies, horrible fatigue, my life just sucked! When I was 47 I had to have a total hip replacement because I had worn out my right hip socket. My surgeon said if was largly due to being overweight my entire life. (Thankfully my left hip is healthy!) My knees were getting bad, and I was afraid that bilateral knee replacement was in my near future! Since the surgery and my weight loss, I am off my cholesterol meds, I am no longer boarderline diabetic (off that medication), my blood pressure is normal (off that medication), my joints don't ache all the time, (off the anti-inflammatory medication). And for some strange reason, my allergies are SO much improved. I quit taking my sinus meds and using the nasal spray that I used for the environmental allergies. I feel so much better, Have tons of energy, and can't tell you how much my life has improved. When I was discussing with my husband why I wanted to proceed with the surgery, I told him I wanted to be healthier, to live longer. (He was AGAINST the surgery 100%!) I told him looking better was just "frosting on the cake". (His argument against the surgery is that he loved me no matter how I looker.) But I have to say, it is Tasty Frosting!!! I LOVE being able to shop in any department store for clothes. I love clothes and I love dressing nice and looking good! I also love that I no longer am limited to shopping in Lane Bryant, Catherine's, Fashion Bug and Dress Barn. I go to all the trendy stores and love it that I can fit into a regular size! Never in my life have I been able to do that before! It is SUCH a HIGH!!! I can't stop looking in the mirror, and it never ceases to thrill me how I look now! I have to admit, there are down sides to being a smaller size. I gave away most of the clothes that were to big for me. I am now at a point where I am going to have to give my clothes to Goodwill, or find smaller friends, as I am smaller than all my friends, and have no one left to give my clothes to as I continue to lose! Also, I am a cheap date. We used to go to Sam's Club or costco on Saturday mornings for our groceries and then out to lunch. Now when Bill and I go shopping at Sam's or Costco, I only need six to eight bites of the samples they are giving away, and I am full. So when he wants to impress me, Bill takes me to Sam's on Saturday morning and feeds me their sample bites. After that I am to full to go out for lunch! Have also found out that I can't drink as much alcohol as I could pre op. I have to limit myself to one glass of wine or one mixed drink. So am REALLY a cheap date! Seriously, I think you are making a wonderful choice for a healthier life style. Best of luck to you. Please continue to frequent this web site and post how you are doing. Everybody here is great at cheering you on, offering encouragement and advice when you need it. Looking forward to Welcoming you to The Loser's Bench! (Sorry this turned into such a long epistle!) Again, welcome and Congratulations! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Comparing info... I asked my Dr. at our initial consultation if you can gain weight back after the sleeve? He told me the new stomach can not stretch more than 5%. At my psych eval, I mentioned that & the psychologist was floored; said he knew people that gained it all back after the sleeve! That scares me. Curious what others' bariatric surgeons told them about possibility of weight gain? My doctor, Dr. Kuhn, also sad the max. you could expect to lose is 80% excess body weight (on his web site, it says 70%).. Yet, on the forums, I see people who have lost more weight. Wondering if that is a rare occurrence? What did your Dr. Tell you?

I use bariatric advantage protein shake mix from my surgeon office. It comes in a 3.3 pound bag Sent from my SM-J727U using BariatricPal mobile app